Since cannabis has a calming affect and has actually been linked to increased driver awareness, it’s virtually impossible to prove a man is “under the influence”–which this Michigan police offer failed to do. It’s an interesting case to keep an eye on

It’s illegal for Michigan drivers to consume marijuana. But the state high court said medical marijuana users have some protection. The court says police must show that a driver actually was “under the influence” of marijuana for a charge to stick.

At the same time, the law prohibits driving “while under the influence of marijuana.” But it fails to specify what level of marijuana in the body constitutes being “under the influence,” the opinion said.

The court suggested lawmakers consider setting a marijuana limit, similar to a blood alcohol level.

“It goes almost without saying that the (medical marijuana law) is an imperfect statute, the interpretation of which has repeatedly required this Court’s intervention,” the justices said. “Indeed, this case could have been easily resolved if the (law) had provided a definition of ‘under the influence.’” [USA Today]

Again, numerous studies have shown empirical evidence that driving after blazing actually increases driver awareness and perhaps equally safe (if not safer) as driving sober. And certainly safter than driving while texting. Or drunk.

Yet, in the legal weed state of Colorado, one hit off a joint means you’ll soon get nailed with a DUI. 

As fellow New Yorkers grow disgusted over the NYPD’s 2012 arrest rate for the possession of small amounts of weed. Representing nearly 40,000 lost souls rotting in jail for possessing petty amounts of pot. And at a cost of nearly $75 million a year… politicians and citizens alike have had enough and have called for today’s Pro pot conference – to discuss sensible possible solutions.

New Poll: At Least 60% of All Voters Continue to Call for Fixing Marijuana Possession Laws, Including Half of Republicans; Poll is Third This Year Showing Strong Majority Support For Reform

Thousands More New Yorkers Have Been Arrested – at Cost of Estimated $7.5 Million – for Possessing Small Amounts of Marijuana Since April 1 When Reform Talks Failed During Budget Negotiation

“The First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the making any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble…”

Apparently the federal and local police took exception to Adam’s weed friendly comments while speaking at a pro-pot rally on Saturday.

Mr. Kokesh has been accused and charged  with “assaulting a federal police officer,” even though the video of the incident shows him clearly not putting up any resistance to his unwarranted arrest.

Video of the incident shows Kokesh holding up his hands as he is dragged away. Not only did Kokesh not resist arrest, he made no aggressive moves to any police officer, as the footage clearly shows.

The United States district court filing (PDF) claims that Kokesh “physically blocked and obstructed the Ranger” and also “grabbed the Ranger by the arm to hold him back.” The video does not appear to show any of this.

Along with assaulting a police officer, Kokesh is also facing charges of impeding a federal officer and resisting arrest.

Kokesh will not be allowed out on bail until at least Thursday because he is refusing to provide police with his home address and also refusing to divulge if he has firearms at his residence.

If he is charged with assaulting an officer, Kokesh will become the latest of a plethora of Americans who have been hit with such a charge despite acting in a totally peaceful and compliant manner. In some cases, people who have received brutal beat downs at the hands of police have later been charged with assaulting a cop.

The charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail, would almost certainly scupper Kokesh’s plans of leading an armed march on Washington DC in July if authorities are able to make it stick.

Supporters of Kokesh are encouraging people to politely but firmly demand information on Kokesh’s circumstances by calling the numbers below.

(1) US Attorney (Phila): (215) 861-8200
(2) US Magistrate (Phila): (215) 597-6079
(3) Philadelphia Federal Prison: 215-521-4000 (wait a sec, then press 0)
(4) US Federal Courthouse (Phila): (215) 597-7704
(5) US Park Police Office of the Chief in DC: (202) 619-7350 and Philadelphia: 215-597-7077

Adam Kokesh is currently being held at:

FEDERAL DETENTION CENTER
700 ARCH STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106
Phone: 215-521-4000
Fax: 215-521-7220
E-mail address2: PHL/EXECASSISTANT@BOP.GOV

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Safe access to medical marijuana in Los Angeles hit a slight bump in the road last night. That’s right, Los Angeles city residents overwhelmingly decided to restrict the number of medicinal pot collectives that have germinated and taken root throughout LA over the last several years.

As a surviving cancer patient, as well as a strong supporter of medical marijuana, LA City Councilman Bill Rosendahl came out early and loud in support of proposition D. So late last night, it was with great excitement that he began proclaiming that the voters of Los Angeles have elected to “take us out of chaos.” Noting that the pot clubs which have been operating in Los Angeles since 2007 have demonstrated their ability to be good neighbors.

As of 2:00 AM Wednesday morning [yes, I'm an insomniac], after a long day – and even longer evening with the pollsters furiously slashing their way through the ballots – the current results posted online by LA’s city clerk’s office look like this.

PROPOSITION D – MEDICAL MARIJUANA REGULATION AND TAXATION

YES  Votes 160,349  – or 62.91%

NO Votes 94,524  – or 37.08%

INITIATIVE ORDINANCE F – MEDICAL MARIJUANA REGULATION AND TAXATION

YES Votes 97,353 – or 41.58%

NO Votes 136,764 – or 58.41%

History can be hard to grasp when viewed through the myopic lens of disinformation. Sure measure F would’ve required stringent regulations on collectives, while proposition D almost ensures a medical marijuana monopoly. But this battle is far from over …. no doubt we will see lawsuits based on the outcome of this election.

After all… this is LA.

PROPOSITION D – MEDICAL MARIJUANA REGULATION AND TAXATION

YES  Votes 160,349  – or 62.91%

NO Votes 94,524  – or 37.08%

INITIATIVE ORDINANCE F – MEDICAL MARIJUANA REGULATION AND TAXATION

YES Votes 97,353 – or 41.58%

NO Votes 136,764 – or 58.41%

The immediate future of Los Angeles’ Medical Marijuana Dispensaries was decided by the voters and the injust repercussions are bountiful. And unfortunately, the wrong, low kind of voters were the ones to show up at the polls. Ordinance F loset, countless citizens will now lose safe access, their jobs, and their businesses. Likewise, the severe decrease in dispensaries will resuscitate and help the Black Market flourish, inflate the price points at clinics, and create a monopolized market that veers away from compassion.

Yet it’s still worth reveling in our progress, and realizing the future holds greener pastures. The forces are unifying, the majority wants it, and legal cannabis will come to Los Angeles sooner rather than later. In the words of WeedMaps’ CEO and progressive cannabis entrepreneur Justin Hartfield, we’re on the brink of our Tipping Point:

“The mere fact that marijuana initiatives are on the ballot speaks to a new era that prioritizes patients’ rights over rampant ignorance. Ordinance ‘F’ is what Los Angeles needs to ensure patients have safer and more cost-effective access to medical marijuana, but regardless of the election’s outcome, I am confident that voters will eventually prevail in their quest to remove the legal impediments that do more harm than good.

“We are nearing the end of prohibition for marijuana, and the cannabis initiatives that are surfacing throughout the country are indicative of change that is very similar to what this nation experienced when prohibition ended for alcohol in 1933,” Hartfield added. “The sooner local and federal governments understand how to regulate the industry in a similar fashion to alcohol, the better off our society will be in its approach to this burgeoning industry.” [Market Watch]

It’s a bold, brash move that’s potentially controversial and politically risky for a mayor.

But that’s not atypical of the former “Freedom Rider” who served two months of jail time in Mississippi during the early years of the Civil Rights Era.

“This is way overdoing it when local laws, state laws allow compassionate use of medical marijuana,” Filner told reporters at the downtown U.S. District Court complex Monday. “Someone should not be going through this stage of prosecution for trying to help people to have access to medical marijuana.”

Filner spoke after attending a pretrial hearing for Ronnie Chang, a San Marcos man busted along with more than a dozen marijuana collective and dispensary operators countywide in late 2009.

The case has is now heading to a trial, expected to begin this fall.

Chang has been in custody since his bond was revoked last year.

On Monday’s docket were prosecutors’ arguments that Chang’s attorney, Michael McCabe, violated a judicial order against discussing the case in public by giving a videotaped interview to medical marijuana activists that was posted YouTube. It has since attracted a little more than 500 views.

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Today’s the day Los Angeles, not only do you get to step up and make a choice for who you’d like to see govern Los Angeles as your new mayor – you also get to voice your opinion on how you would like to see LA’s many medical marijuana dispensaries, and the patients that need them, handled.

Today’s special election is an all or nothing vote – according to the way the ballot is worded, “if any or all of the three competing measures are approved by a majority of voters, only the one ballot measure that receives the most votes will become effective.” Obviously, this means if you’re heading out today to cast your ballot for LA’s new mayor, and safe access to medical cannabis is important to you… or someone you know? You most definitely want to voice your opinion and vote yes on “F”! Treating medical marijuana collectives like any other business…allowing supply and demand to dictate the number of storefronts in any community.

All Angelenos concerned over their ability to have safe access to medical marijuana should give serious consideration to Ordinance F, which states that: “it is time that people take control of the situation and pass strict but reasonable regulations of medical marijuana.” Like any other business enterprise, Ordinance F will allow the market place to determine the overall number of dispensaries. Furthermore, F provides the city guidelines for those dispensaries that are found guilty of violating zoning restrictions.

Conversely, Ordinance D caps the number of medical marijuana collectives allowed in the city of LA to those that were permitted and operational by late 2007… approximately 135 collectives. Thereby jeopardizing the legitimacy and legality of the other 900+ collectives that dot the city and the volunteers that work there.

The divide and conquer fear is real. Many Angelenos believe that if neither ordinance gathers the required 50% voter approval needed to pass, the LA city Council will take that as a ‘green light’ to ban collectives under the municipal powers granted by the California Supreme Court recently.

Rather than regulating the number of medical marijuana collectives in any given municipality, we as a pro-pot voting bloc, should concentrate our efforts on educating our state representatives, seeking protection for medical marijuana patients from any unwarranted federal action.

Everyone has a different definition on “average” smoke use, but considering the average, daily smoker smokes at least an 1/8 of weed a week, that mean number is probably a lot closer to six ounces a year. Likewise, industry members and outside observers must take all this data with a heavy grain of shake–as with all studies– because a lot of the data is variable and conducive to response rates.

Which, when we’re talking about stoners, isn’t always the highest. TIME broke down all the data, and brought these numerical estimations on money spent and bud smoked to light:

Researchers estimate that in 2014, 642,772 Colorado residents, or about 12.5% of the state population, will take advantage of pot’s newly legal status. Analysts assumed each person would smoke or otherwise “use” 3.53 ounces of marijuana annually, for a total of 2,268,985 ounces (about 142,000 pounds) per year.

Again, these look like fairly low estimates. Based on lots of personal experience at varying smoke levels, the average daily smoker goes through between an 1/8 and a 1/4 of flower a week, and half an ounce to an ounce a month. Yes, weed in Colorado is cheap (about 30-35 bucks for an 1/8), but even so, a daily smoker will easily spend more than $1,000 on bud–not to mention extracts, smoking devices, and oh so much more the industry has to offer and dispensaries do and will sell.

And the $650 number is a mere fraction of what Big Tobacco gets on average. If you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day at an average of $5, you’ll spend about $2,500 a year. Or enough money to sustain four to five “average” weed smokers for a year. Cigarettes kill people, cannabis cures them. But one is still a much, much bigger–and far more legal–industry. America clearly needs a lot more blunts and a lot less butts–or the former will remain a shadow of the latter’s economical impact.

Which is clearly a crime, a shame, and a gap that only legal weed all over America would close. But, until there’s a distinct way to track cannabis sales–like through MMJMenu and WeedMaps.com’s tracking of weed from seed to sale, these numbers are kind of irrelevant: we cannot and will never be able to track the black market.

On a separate note, the study also gave some predictions on what Colorado’s tax will do for the state’s economy, and those numbers also underwhelm.

Oh, and about the point of the Colorado State study, regarding tax revenues for the state? Researchers estimate that the 15% excise tax on wholesale marijuana would yield $21.7 million annually, which is far short of the $40 million annual target.  [TIME]

Considering recreational businesses won’t sprout up in Colorado till early next year (at the least), that $21.7 Million number is essentially irrelevant. The industry today could double, or triple in size a year from now, which means that number will only climb.

Unless, you know, the Federal Government decides they’d rather have Drug Cartels, the Black Market, and BitCoin profit off God’s plant.

p.s. How much money do you spend  on weed a year and how much weed do you buy with it?

As Dr. Manny Alvarez asks “the medicine Hunter,” Chris Kilham: “what is it about cannabis that makes it that special?”  Chris checks off some of the better-known applications of marijuana’s active ingredients.

From THC to CBD / cannabidiol – the medicinal application of marijuana was treated uncharacteristically fair by the GOP loving, good old boys over at the Fox.

I wonder if Rupert has an investment somewhere in one of his stock portfolios, which might benefit from an actual truth being told about medical marijuana on his channel?

However it happened, I’m glad to see it.

alcohols kills, pots heals and now we can see the Emperor is truly naked.

Alcohol makes you sloppy, unable to remember, and regretful of the things you did during your untidy intoxication. Over-the-counter prescription pills are addictive, expensive and potentially lethal when taken in the wrong combination.

Like many baby boomers that grew up experimenting with the occasional bong hit, only to have been convinced at some later point in life that Weed was “bad” because it was illegal. And all other forms of relaxation, regardless of how deadly or destructive to society they may be, as long as their legal – are fine.

History is full of these backwards, nonsensical oddities. Some things become the ‘norm,’ thanks to political lobbying and human greed – and for a while no one thinks to object. However, as time progresses and people come to understand the inherent craziness in following archaic and outdated laws, created to make those connected rich. We reluctantly pull our heads out of our “scared straight” ass…and start thinking for ourselves.

In November 2012, pot smoking baby boomers made their voice heard, not only in Washington and Colorado, where marijuana was legalized for recreational purposes. But also in a handful of other states, which said yes to medical marijuana. Tired of the federal government’s overreaching and mandating of their unjustified prohibition against medical marijuana, limiting the state’s ability to serve their citizens and create tax revenue for their financially strapped states – the boomers came home to roost at the ballot box.

Sure, some baby boomers gave into pressure from their peers, which believed the ‘reefer madness’ propaganda – and stop hit the bong for a couple of years. However, as science and public perception evolved to understand marijuana’s helpful cannabinoids. Pot slowly began winning the moral high ground amongst boomers for both medical purposes and as a healthy alternative to slamming some mind rotting booze, or pounding a fistful of pills, just to take the edge off another crazy day of unrelenting stress.

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