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University of Arizona marijuana-PTSD researcher says she was fired over cannabis advocacy, study likely dead

By William Breathes on July 2, 2014 Medical, News, Say what?

Sue Sisley.

The lead researcher for a study looking at medical marijuana for post-traumatic stress disorder at the University of Arizona has been fired, and she is now claiming it is because of her cannabis lobbying.
Sue Sisley, formerly the assistant director of the Arizona Telemedicine Program at UA, was informed this week that her contract will not be renewed next year but was not given any reason in a letter from the interim dean of the College of Medicine.
But Sisley says the reasons are pretty clear. She says it is because of her advocacy at the state capitol for medical cannabis research – particularly in PTSD treatments for returning military veterans.
That included speaking at the state capitol to provide some sense to the argument when people like State Sen. Kimbery Yee blocked research funding based on her own political agenda. Keep in mind, the $6 million she blocked from being used was all excess from medical marijuana patient and dispensary fees. But Yee didn’t want it to go back to the benefit of medical marijuana patients.

Judge rules GA couple can sue cops after being taken to jail naked over a pile of weed ashes

By Jack Daniel on June 20, 2014 Legalize It, News, Say what?

V1ctorCasale/Flickr

There is only one thing worse than a judge cracking jokes, and that’s a southern judge cracking jokes in a Georgia courtroom. Unless, of course, he is busting the balls of some crooked local cops.
That was the case in Athens, Georgia last week when U.S. District Judge Clay Land ruled that sheriff’s deputies might’ve violated the civil rights of two young suspects during a warrantless witch hunt for weed.

U.S. Senators step up to protect medical marijuana patients, gun owners

By William Breathes on June 20, 2014 News

Last month, pot activists cheered as the U.S. House approved an amendment to a spending bill that will end funding for U.S. Justice Department and Drug Enforcement Administration raids on medical marijuana operations and patients otherwise following their state law.
Now a companion amendment in the U.S. Senate has found traction with Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Democrat Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey. A second senate amendment sponsored by Sen. John Walsh, a Democrat from Montana, would protect patients in medical cannabis states from prosecution for firearms possession and use.

Kentucky state officials sue federal govt over held up hemp seeds

By Jack Daniel on May 15, 2014 Follow that story, Growing, Hemp

VH HAMMER/FlickrCommons

Earlier this year, on February 7th, President Barack Obama signed a new farm bill, backed by a rare display of bipartisan politicking. Originally introduced by cannabis-friendly Congressmen Jared Polis (D – CO), Earl Blumenauer (D – OR), and Thomas Massie (R – KY), the bill contained a very special amendment. For the first time in decades, the federal government had made an allowance for the cultivation of hemp. The hemp caveat only applies to states that have passed their own form of hemp legalization, and Massie’s Kentucky is one of those states.
Also from the Commonwealth of Kentucky is Republican Senator Rand Paul, who has made clear his support for hemp cultivation in the state. The senior Senator from Kentucky and possible-Sleestack Mitch McConnell was reported to be instrumental in making sure that the bill that the president signed retained the hemp growing amendment.
Kentucky was poised to re-establish its roots in a hemp trade that flourished in the state until it was banned by the federal government in 1937. Today, however, the state finds itself embroiled in a lawsuit against the federal government, and their first hemp harvest hangs in the balance.

Colorado medical marijuana activists appeal to state Supreme Court to make medical marijuana use a right

By William Breathes on April 15, 2014 Medical, News

Colorado Supreme Court courtroom.

A group of Colorado activists have filed a request with the Colorado Supreme Court to consider the rights of patients when they review — once-and-for-all — whether or not medical marijuana patients have a right to use cannabis and whether or not the federal controlled substances act supersedes state medical marijuana laws.
It’s a complicated matter that has arisen several times, though most recently it stems from the 2012 drug-test-failure firing of a paraplegic DISH Network employee who was licensed by the state of Colorado to use medical cannabis.

Surprising nobody, head of DEA upset about marijuana acceptance

By Jack Daniel on February 4, 2014 Follow that story, Legalize It, News

Visitors to the DEA Headquarters building, located in Washington D.C., may be surprised to learn that there is an actual museum onsite. Fun for the whole family, hard-earned taxpayer dollars were used to construct not only a fully detailed mock medical marijuana dispensary, but a quaint faux crack house right next door. Because, you know, Schedule I, etc.
DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart passes by the monuments to the War on Drug’s failures each day when she arrives to work, and the constant reminder has her lashing out with blame for everyone but her own department.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry says he favors decriminalization, supports Colorado and Washington laws

By William Breathes on January 24, 2014 News

Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

Things we did not expect to happen yesterday: Pigs to begin flying, ten inches of snow in Jamaica and the Governor of Texas saying that he favors decriminalization of certain amounts of cannabis in his state. One of those things actually did happen though, and no we aren’t packing our snowboards for a flight aboard Wilbur to Kingston tomorrow.
In a move that pretty much came as a surprise to everyone including his staff, Texas Gov. Rick Perry yesterday said he wants to start his state down the road to decriminalization to “keep people from going to prison.” Even more shocking, he made the announcement on the national stage at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

New bill offers hope to Washington medical patients under fire by recreational rules

By William Breathes on January 15, 2014 Legislation, Medical, News

Washington state medical marijuana patients have been under attack by lawmakers attempting to force the state’s existing medical cannabis providers and patients into the heavily-taxed, limited recreational cannabis program. Namely, that attack has come in the form of House Bill 2149, which restricts home growing and forces existing medical clinics to follow recreational rules and laws.
The bill would essentially guts the medical program according to many patients and activists. Lawmakers say the law is justified and medical dispensaries have been running too unregulated for too long. But a newly-proposed bill stemming from a group of patients and physicians could protect the current medical program by introducing a regulatory system catered specifically for medical marijuana.

Texas lawyer killed in firefight with cops found with marijuana and penis-shaped pipe

By William Breathes on January 7, 2014 Say what?

Michael Schmidt.

There hasn’t been a satisfying explanation as to why Michael Schmidt, a successful Dallas trial lawyer described by friends as a “good, good person,” barricaded himself in an Uptown apartment complex and opened fire on police while his 11-year-old daughter sat in his apartment. Probably, there never will be. But a list of the items found in Schmidt’s home obtained by WFAA offers … clues? Red herrings? A voyeuristic glimpse of an unsettled life?
Dallas Observer has more on this extremely strange, wild saga.

Florida “Marijuana court” judge shows up to work drunk as a skunk

By William Breathes on December 23, 2013 News, Say what?

Flickr.com/walknboston

Legal blogs are abuzz with chatter saying that Gisele Pollack, a Broward County judge, came to work drunk Tuesday, causing such a scene that Chief Judge Peter Weinstein had to be called out of a meeting to deal with the matter.
Pollack is said to have come into work Tuesday obviously inebriated and calling for her staff to be fired. As one source reproted: “The staff tried to keep the Judge off the bench. The Judge’s response was basically “f*** you, you’re fired.”… Judge Weinstein has to personally remove the Judge from the courtroom. Read the rest over at the Broward-Palm Beach New Times.

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