When Bill Clinton ran for president in 1992, he admitted that he had "experimented with marijuana," but said he "didn't like it," "didn't inhale it" and "never tried it again." Whatever the accuracy of that statement, he was accused of pandering to the marijuana-wary voting public. Flash forward to the early stages of the 2008 presidential campaign. At an event in Iowa, then-candidate Barack Obama disclosed that he had not only smoked marijuana as a young man, 7but inhaled it, too. "That was the point," he said. The public responded with a shrug. [continues 886 words]
Cristian Omar Reyes, an 11-year-old sixth-grader in the neighborhood of Nueva Suyapa, on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa, tells me he has to get out of Honduras soon - "no matter what." In March, his father was robbed and murdered by gangs while working as a security guard protecting a pastry truck. His mother used the life insurance payout to hire a smuggler to take her to Florida. She promised to send for him quickly, but she has not. Three people he knows were murdered this year. Four others were gunned down on a nearby corner in the span of two weeks at the beginning of this year. A girl his age resisted being robbed of $5. She was clubbed over the head and dragged off by two men who cut a hole in her throat, stuffed her panties in it, and left her body in a ravine across the street from Cristian's house. [continues 1993 words]
While in Malta the political sector of the country is greatly engaged in the debate as to whether or not drugs should be decriminalised, it would be wise to propose the Church's view on the subject. As we all know, if the Church simply ignores her golden input she would be betraying one of her main roles in the world, namely that of forming people's consciences. In order that this great ideal is lovingly realised, I shall be offering Pope Francis' teaching on the matter. [continues 622 words]
A Refugee Crisis, Not an Immigration Crisis CRISTIAN OMAR REYES, an 11-year-old sixth grader in the neighborhood of Nueva Suyapa, on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa, tells me he has to get out of Honduras soon - "no matter what." In March, his father was robbed and murdered by gangs while working as a security guard protecting a pastry truck. His mother used the life insurance payout to hire a smuggler to take her to Florida. She promised to send for him quickly, but she has not. [continues 2446 words]
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie states a mission for 2016. Trenton, N. J. (AP) - On no one's early list of issues likely to headline the 2016 Republican presidential primaries is the nation's "war on drugs." Chris Christie plans to put it there. The New Jersey governor, pushing himself back into the 2016 discussion after a political scandal at home, recently marked the 43rd anniversary of President Richard Nixon's famous declaration by expanding a program that equips first responders with a drug to combat heroin overdoses. [continues 496 words]
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - On no one's early list of issues likely to headline the 2016 Republican presidential primaries is the nation's "war on drugs." Chris Christie plans to put it there. The New Jersey governor, steadily pushing himself back into the 2016 discussion after a political scandal at home, recently marked the 43rd anniversary of President Richard Nixon's famous declaration by expanding a program that equips first responders with a drug to combat heroin overdoses. The next day, he told recovering addicts at a drug treatment center that "there is simply no more important issue to me, in my heart as governor." [continues 812 words]
The way Christian Sederberg sees it, the combination of weed and booze is a "magical cocktail." And not in a good way. Sederberg, one of Colorado's leading pot lawyers, made that comment at a Denver Post editorial board forum earlier this month on legal marijuana. He was talking about how laws governing driving while under the influence of marijuana don't fit the nature of impairment. And whether or not you agree with his contention that some heavy users of marijuana are unfairly penalized by current laws-because they can handle high THC levels without being impaired-his concerns highlight a broader point. [continues 492 words]
Marijuana-Growing Firm Has Global Ambitions Other than his last name, nothing about Christian Groh remotely hints he might be in the marijuana business. He's got close-cropped hair and wears the requisite shirt, tie and dark suit of the financial-services industry, where he used to ply his trade. Nowadays, Groh is a partner in a Seattle-based company called Privateer Holdings Inc., which has as its mission to become a global player in the (legal) cannabis industry and has raised more than $50 million in private capital to that end. [continues 1108 words]
Pope Francis' tough stand yesterday against legalizing recreational drugs had Bay State lawmen hoping his words will stiffen public opinion against a push to legalize marijuana here, even as pot backers raised doubts that the Catholic Church carries much influence on the hot-button issue. "I applaud the pope for taking a stand. I hope what he says carries some weight. I'm hoping that people will stop and at least consider the pros and cons of drug legalization when someone of the pope's stature has weighed in," said Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald Jr. [continues 527 words]
A radio ad attacking gubernatorial hopeful Tom Tancredo says the Republican candidate supported a 2012 ballot measure legalizing marijuana and now wants to legalize heroin, PCP and cocaine - an assertion Tancredo says isn't true. The ad's creators pointed to a Channel 7 news report about the former congressman's appearance before the City Club of Denver in 2009, where Tancredo said it was time to consider legalizing drugs. "I think the ad is scrupulously honest," said former U.S. Sen. Bill Armstrong, who didn't help create the ad, but contributed to the committee that paid for it. [continues 394 words]
The Colorado Health Agency's Grants Were Signed Off This Year. More than a decade after voters here first said marijuana could be medicine, Colorado is preparing to embark on the largest state funded effort to study the medical benefits of cannabis. Under a bill signed this year by Gov. John Hickenlooper, the state health department will give out about $9 million in grants in the next five years to researchers for marijuana studies. Most importantly, the research is expected to include clinical trials on the kinds of marijuana products actually being used in Colorado - something that federally funded studies on marijuana have lacked. [continues 563 words]
The Cultivation Station Is a Successful Michigan Business. So Why Can't They Bank? Bob Diefenderfer has been operating a high-end retail garden supply store since 1998. His wife, Kristen, is vice president. They built a single shop in St. Clair Shores into the largest high-end retail garden supply chain in the state of Michigan, with seven locations throughout the lower peninsula. They have 30 employees, and provide them with Blue Cross health insurance. They pay their taxes, they say proudly, and have cultivated impeccable credit. [continues 772 words]
Texas law enforcement are continuing to enrich themselves using a little-known legal doctrine known as civil forfeiture, according to a new series of investigative reports. Under civil forfeiture, property can be forfeited even if its owner has never been charged with a crime. In these proceedings, accused criminals have more rights than innocent owners and the government sues the property, not its owner. These cases can be so baffling, one Texas Supreme Court Justice recently compared civil forfeiture to Alice in Wonderland and the works of Franz Kafka. But civil forfeiture isn't just a quirky curiosity-it's a powerful incentive for law enforcement to take millions. [continues 1435 words]
BOSTON - Carrying small amounts of marijuana is no longer a crime in Massachusetts, but the state may soon ban the fake stuff. Massachusetts could join at least 43 states that have cracked down on the sale of chemical-laden synthetic marijuana now legally available on the shelves of gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops. Leafy looking products with names like "Spice," "Mojo" and "Black Mamba" are typically made from herbs but laced with acetone and other chemicals that mimic THC, the active drug in marijuana, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. [continues 960 words]
At age 15, Christian Carrington tried marijuana thinking it would help with his social anxiety. "Something inside me said I was less than," he said during a presentation hosted by Markham Stouffville Hospital. "I liked it. I felt relaxed. Pretty soon, that's all I was chasing." Later, while trying to maintain a normal life with a job and marriage, he became a chronic marijuana user and soon an addict. He began associating with potheads and dealers. Marijuana use led to using cocaine in his 30s. [continues 550 words]
Editor: Caging sick people for using the God-given plant cannabis (marijuana) is anti-Christian and vulgar("New group will regularly demonstrate for medical marijuana, industrial hemp," Star-Tribune, May 17). It's also time for free Wyoming farmers to legally grow hemp, just like communist Chinese farmers. It's clearly time for intelligent voters to end cannabis prohibition. Stan White Dillon, Colorado [end]
Supporting Medical Marijuana Is Right Choice for Politicians America will witness more politicians doing what Gov. Mark Dayton has done - support medical use of cannabis (marijuana) for sick citizens. ("Election Day pushes Dayton's change of heart," Times Writers Group column, May 15.) The overwhelming majority of citizens support medical use of cannabis, and politicians who don't will need to seek different employment. Exactly what kind of politician thinks it's OK to cage sick people for using what God created and says is good on literally the very first page of the Bible? Opposing medical use of cannabis is unattractive, anti-Christian and vulgar. As Dayton realized it's also unpopular. Stan White Dillon, Colorado [end]
Three Casper residents demonstrated for the legalization of medical marijuana and industrial hemp products Saturday, part of what they say will be regular demonstrations at Conwell Park. As people in passing vehicles stared or honked -- one person gave the group a thumbs-down sign -- demonstrators held signs that said "Help end marijuana prohibition," "Cannabis -- fuel, paper, food and medicine" and "Cannabis cures cancer." The demonstrators are part of the new group Wyoming Cannabis Activists. The organization had simultaneous demonstrations at the Cheyenne Depot in the capital city, at which 10 people showed up, and in Jackalope Square in Douglas, at which local resident and U.S. Senate Republican candidate Thomas Bleming demonstrated, said Marcia Stuelpnagel, co-founder of Wyoming Cannabis Activists. [continues 362 words]
The town council will hold public hearings Monday night on proposals that would restrict where dispensaries could open and impose strict licensing requirements for legal pot purveyors, covering everything from who can enter a dispensary to requiring facilities to have security cameras. WEYMOUTH - Town officials are looking to clamp down on the rules for medical marijuana dispensaries before any look to open up shop in Weymouth. The town council will hold public hearings Monday night on proposals that would restrict where dispensaries could open and impose strict licensing requirements for legal pot purveyors, covering everything from who can enter a dispensary to requiring facilities to have security cameras. [continues 289 words]
