A writer takes psychedelic mushrooms and embarks on an adventure through downtown Sacramento First it hits your gut. A tinge of unease. Pupils fix, lights enhance. Sizes, shapes-malleable. Keep your cool. Ride it out. If you find yourself in the confusions of an M.C. Escher labyrinth, do your best to keep it together. And when all else fails, find your favorite tree and never leave its side. It's Friday night. We're high on mushrooms outside the California state Capitol building, ogling the massive orbs hanging from the state's Christmas tree. Disco balls, we decide. These are disco balls and January must be Disco Month. [continues 566 words]
I have decided to stop using marijuana for various reasons, but I am having a hard time falling asleep at night. What can I do? - -Wyatt E. Wake Habits are a hard thing to break. It's funny, when I stop using cannabis (Hush. I have gone without cannabis for days at a time in some small Idaho towns.) I generally don't have a hard time falling asleep but I do have crazy-vivid and funky dreams. Everyone is different. I looked it up online and all the advice seems to be the same: Exercise a little more during the day, don't look at electronic media while you are in bed, read a book, do some breathing exercises, yadda yadda yadda. Eventually your body will get used to the new paradigm and you shouldn't have any problem. Good luck and enjoy your vivid dreams! [continues 358 words]
A criticism of legalized medical marijuana is that medical cards are easy to obtain (i.e., buy) and that a large proportion of card holders are basically recreational users. What is your view and experience? - -Waiting for Legal Here is my view: So what? Marijuana should be legal anyway. If going to the doctor and claiming you use cannabis to treat your pretendinitis will keep you out of jail and away from the criminal justice system, do it. Going to jail is a gigantic threat to your health and well-being. [continues 408 words]
You made a few errors about the [Adult Use of Marijuana Act] initiative. We should be able to possess 8 grams of concentrates legally. Cities can't completely ban personal home growing anywhere in California. They have to allow indoor, greenhouse or in a secured location out of public view, even in places that have bans. The current law for over an ounce has a penalty of $500 or six months in jail. This unfortunately doesn't change under the initiative. It's what we have now and will stay that way. Most other common penalties will be downgraded. [continues 433 words]
So is this Facebook dude's new marijuana initiative gaining traction or what? - -Jah Q. Public It is picking up steam. However you feel about the initiative itself, it would seem that the people pushing it through are savvy operators. For those of you not up to speed, here is a quick recap: Sean Parker, Facebook billionaire, has decided to sponsor an initiative to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis sales in California. The Adult Use of Marijuana Act has been building alliances and picking up supporters (Gavin Newsom is a fan, as are a bunch of folks at Reform CA, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Marijuana Policy Project, The Drug Policy Alliance, Tim Blake from the Emerald Cup-I could go on but you get the drift). Parker has the money and he has the support of many of the big names, but I still have some misgivings. [continues 365 words]
City Working Against Clock to Implement New Cultivation Laws Before State Deadline After 19 years of practically zero guidance or oversight of California's estimated $1.3 billion medical-pot industry, the state passed a bowlful of marijuana laws this year-and now cities such as Sacramento are on a tight deadline to comply. "All of the sudden, there's just this flurry" of new rules, explained Chris Lindsey, an analyst with advocacy group the Marijuana Policy Project. Lindsey described the new laws, which he praised, as putting pressure on cities "to do something before the clock runs out." [continues 433 words]
Doing the holiday shopping. Any good ideas? - -Quan Za Oh yes. I love the winter holidays! I feel like people should practice gift giving year-round and not just when it's cold outside or someone has a birthday. Anyway, weed is always a great gift. Giving your cannabis colleagues a nug or a doobie or a nice wax will make you very popular during the holidays. If you can afford it, look into the "weed of the month club" at www.potbox.com. It's like Harry & David, but for pot. I will take a Sweet Island Skunk over a summer sausage just about any day of the week. If you would rather just give cool marijuana-themed gear, www.cannabox.com is Loot Crate for potheads. Here is an idea for a win-win: Maybe you can sign yourself up for a Cannabox, then give your friends small gifts on a monthly basis. Frugal yet generous is always a good look. [continues 354 words]
Is it legal to sell weed in other states? - -Pez D. Spencer It depends on what you mean by that question. Can you sell weed in Oregon, Alaska, Washington, Colorado, California and a few other states? Yes. You have to follow a bunch of rules and pay your taxes, but yes, it is legal. In fact, it is more legal than ever. Alaska's Marijuana Control Board just voted to allow some recreational-er, adult use-retail cannabis dispensaries to allow onsite consumption of cannabis. How cool is that? And new Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has already started to work on legalizing cannabis. This is incredible. Just think: You can be high all day on the Alaska Highway. How about a cannabis-tasting road trip from San Diego all the way to Fairbanks? Good times. Hell, you could start in Mexico, since Mexico's Supreme Court just ruled that growing and smoking marijuana is a "fundamental human right" as defined in the Mexican Constitution. Daaaaamn. Way to go Mexico! [continues 345 words]
I have been smoking weed for years and always held my hits in as long as possible. I am now thinking that maybe I should smoke weed like a cigarette without holding it in long. Has there been any research into what's most effective and is less harmful to the lungs? - -A Reader Gone are the days when people thought you needed to hold in a hit as long as possible to let that good THC swirl around in your lungs. Giant coughing jags and teary eyes are so last century. The new way is to just take a good hit and let it out normally. You get the same high, but with no lung irritation, less coughing and less tar. If you would like to invite me over to give you some tips and pointers, let me know. [continues 355 words]
Just wanted to know if you can give me some info on these two local speakeasies or breadcrumbs that will lead me in the direction I seek. - -JP I really shouldn't. These spots exist in a legal gray area (kinda like cannabis clubs back in the day). Dry snitching is almost worse than real snitching. However, if you look for "City of Trees Smokeout" or "Orbitz" on the Instagram, you could probably find the info you are after. I will remind you that these events are for MMJ patients only and you will need a valid letter of recommendation from your doctor plus a California ID. Good luck and have fun. [continues 378 words]
Why do some strains make me paranoid and anxiety-ridden and some strains don't? - -LFM Good question. The short answer: No one really knows. We do know that the amygdala, the part of the brain that controls anxiety and fear, contains cannabis receptors and produces its own set of endocannabinoids. That's right. You create your own form of cannabis just by being human. Anyway, it's generally the THC in cannabis that can make you feel self-conscious and weird. Try to avoid anything with a super-high THC content, and maybe look for a strain that has a good amount of CBD. CBD has been shown to help with anxiety. Or just don't use cannabis. I'm kidding. Smoke weed every day. Still kidding. Be yourself. [continues 377 words]
Can pot cause skin rashes? I recently returned to pot smoking after a 40-year absence. Weird red rashes have broken out in the most unusual places-behind my ears, on the palms of my hands, in the creases beside my nostrils, behind my knees. And they itch like crazy. I've swapped out all of my soaps, skin lotions, shampoo, after-shave, etc. (all of which I have been using for years) but nothing seems to help. I don't think I'm having a typical allergic reaction to any of those types of things. [continues 413 words]
How high is "too-high-to-drive" high? I get stoned and drive all the time. I have never had an accident. Am I tripping? - -Tenfor Guudbuddy You aren't tripping and you may have a point. According to a recent study from the University of Iowa's National Advanced Driving Simulator (http://tinyurl.com/highdriving), marijuana doesn't really affect driving skills at all. The study found that stoned drivers had no real problems except for a tendency to weave a little bit inside their own lane, but only after consuming enough THC to have a BWC (Blood Weed Content. Like blood alcohol content but different because I just made it up) of 13.1 milligrams of THC. At that point, the stoned driver weaves like a person with a BAC of .08, but stoned drivers still performed better than drunk drivers in all three categories of the study. (By the way, the National Institute on Drug Abuse was a co-sponsor and they hate weed, so the fact that they even released this study is kind of a big deal.) The state of Washington says you are automatically guilty of a DUI if you have 5 milligrams in your system, but according to this study, 5 milligrams is no problem. [continues 300 words]
Gov. Jerry Brown has finally signed the new medical marijuana regulations into law. What happens next? - -Willy Wonky Chaos. Perdition, Cats sleeping with dogs and riots in the streets. Psych! These rules will create a huge demand for lawyers and consultants, but the game won't change much. People who don't want to be involved in the medical cannabis industry can still grow marijuana for their personal needs. Folks who want to sell weed will have to sign up and pay fees and be regulated. You know, like any other industry in America. [continues 408 words]
I am a single mother running a small herbal business. I make herbal body oils with an emphasis on herbs that promote pain relief, relaxation and restful sleep. I'd love to combine these herbs (especially St. John's Wort) with infused cannabis oil this harvest season. It could bring profound relief to medical marijuana patients. How should I go about getting my product into dispensaries? Are there state regulations I need to follow, or anything else I need to know? Thanks so much for your good work; I read your column every week. Much love, [continues 411 words]
I have two questions for you: (1) Have you ever been the victim of "laced" weed? (2) Is marijuana addictive? - -TJ First: I have never been the victim of "laced" weed. One time I did have a huge, heart-racing panic attack whilst driving to a gig in the boonies of Montana, so I went to the ER and they laughed at me. But reports of unsuspecting people smoking marijuana laced with PCP or cocaine are very rare. By the way, there's a special spot in the depths of perdition for anyone that would slip someone a drug. Drug use should be a consciously made decision. Robbing someone of agency over their cognitive functions is vile. End rant. [continues 381 words]
Have you had a chance to look into Assembly Bills 266 and 243 yet? What do you think? - -Eric As of last Friday afternoon, Gov. Jerry Brown had yet to sign the bills. He has until October 11 to sign. However, many cities and jurisdictions are acting in anticipation of these bills passing. Humboldt County is working on a plan to regulate large scale grows. Long Beach is coming up with a new medical marijuana plan based on these new rules. [continues 433 words]
I heard the Legislature finally took action on comprehensive, statewide medical cannabis regulations. Any thoughts on the matter? - -Medical Matt I don't really know what to say. Last week, the California Legislature pretty much kicked everyone out of the room and created a set of regulations. They posted the new bill shortly after 2 p.m. on Friday and voted their approval around midnight. Since the governor's office was heavily involved in drafting the new provisions of this bill, it is expected that Jerry Brown will sign it into law. I haven't had a chance to read superdeep into the fine print, but I think it will be OK. [continues 421 words]
First, a disclaimer: I used to smoke pot back in the '60s and '70s. During that time, I worked a 40-hour week, drove four hours per night to school, spent three hours a night in class and graduated with my Masters in six years. Like many at the time, I segued into the socially acceptable cigarette-and-alcohol mode. Remarkably, at the time, we all "knew pot would be legal within a few years." Here we are decades later, and we're still dealing with the absurdities of deciding what drugs adults can or can't consume. [continues 422 words]
Howdy! I'm planning a trip to L.A. (from Sacramento), and I'm wondering about the ins and outs of taking cannabis on the plane within the state of California. Is that a good idea, or would I be better off to visit a dispensary in L.A. once I land? Thank you. - -Very Curious in Sacramento How-do! The TSA doesn't really care about a small amount of cannabis. Don't bring a pound, have your letter of recommendation next to your cannabis and enjoy your flight. But if you are going to be in L.A., why not try a few of the medical cannabis dispensaries and delivery services in the L.A. area? Think globally, smoke locally. [continues 351 words]
You failed to mention the devastating impact many cannabis grow-sites have on California's natural environment. Cultivation of cannabis on public or private land can and should be done with the utmost respect for the surrounding environment, and without harming the wildlife, native vegetation or limited water resources in the state. In the last year alone, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife found 340,000 pounds of trash and close to 70 gallons of chemicals and fertilizers dumped at cannabis grow-sites, along with more than 135 diversions in rivers and streams that equated to close to 5 million gallons in stolen water. [continues 411 words]
So did some big marijuana person get arrested or something? What's going on? - -Connie Phused Yup. United Food and Commercial Workers honcho and cannabis activist Dan Rush has been indicted on a variety of bribery and corruption charges. The FBI alleges that Rush solicited bribes in exchange for him influencing the dispensary permitting process in Oakland, as well as taking bribes to teach dispensary operators how to avoid becoming a union-run shop. (Read more at http://weedactivist.com/wp-content/uploads/rush_indictment.pdf.) This allegation, if true, is heartbreaking. The idea that a union organizer would give advice on how to break unions is stunning. [continues 411 words]
What's up with the California Legislature and comprehensive statewide medical-cannabis regulation? Anything happening? - -Jim Quisitive Nothing on the Assembly Bill 266 front (I think the Legislature is on summer recess, so debate should resume when they get back), but Gov. Jerry Brown has just signed two new bills and I am not a fan of either. Senate Bill 212, introduced by Senator Tony Mendoza, adds "proximity to schools and residences" as an "aggravating factor" during sentencing for people found guilty of manufacturing BHO or hash oil. You do realize that it is already illegal to make cannabis concentrates using chemicals (butane, CO2, propane, whatever) in the state of California, yes? It's part of the law against making meth. [continues 389 words]
Cannabis, by the gallon About your recent column: Does it really take six gallons of water per day to grow a cannabis plant? - -Dro Savoire Right? I also feel like that number is a little high, so I did some more research. Here is what I found: According to these folks (www.theganjier.com/2015/07/02/ how-much-water-does-one-marijuana-plant-need-to-grow), a cannabis plant needs one gallon of water per day per useable pound of cannabis created. So a plant that yields 6 pounds would in fact need six gallons per day, while a plant that yields 2 pounds would only need two gallons per day. Most indoor plants yield way less than 6 pounds after harvest (if you can get more than 6 ounces from a decent sized indoor plant, you are a pretty good gardener), and outdoor noncommercial gardens will usually give you two to four pounds per plant. So while the "six gallons of water per day" may be accurate if everyone is growing monster plants, it doesn't tell the whole story. Also consider that a bottle of wine may run you 400 gallons of water, while an eighth of an ounce of quality cannabis will cost about 1.9 gallons of water. Which one looks like a better deal for a drought-conscious state? Maybe we should start some sort of "Save water, grow weed instead of wine" campaign? [continues 254 words]
What Does the Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy Mean for Weed on the 2016 Ballot? Marijuana is green. Sometimes purple or brown. Even tangerine. But mostly green. That's a simple, even Seussian approach to pot. This week in California, however, cannabis just got a helluva lot more complicated. A widely praised report on pot legalization in California released last week warns that recreational weed in the state won't necessarily mean more green for its financial coffers. The report, by the Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom-led Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy, is a 93-page opus nearly two years in the making. The hype was that it would be a greenprint for legalizing grass in California. But now that the smoke has settled-now that experts and pot activists have had a few days to actually read and dissect the epic-one thing is clear: Legalizing pot has dozens of moving parts, and, little surprise, there will be those who never agree on how to greenlight green bud in the Golden State. [continues 1287 words]
Did you get a chance to read Gavin Newsom's Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy recommendations for legal recreational cannabis use in California? What did you think? - -Hope Fullwishes Yeah, I read it. Meh. This thing took two years to produce? Really? My problem with this report is that it isn't telling us anything new. You can read it for yourself at www.safeandsmartpolicy.org/ wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ BRCPathwaysReport.pdf. But if you already follow cannabis-law reform in California, you won't learn much. Yes, of course we need to keep cannabis out of the hands and lungs of children. [continues 412 words]
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors just passed a law stating that growing medical cannabis is a "waste of water." Can you elucidate? - -Wet Willy Yup. Sigh. Last week, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors revised a few parts of the water code to further Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan's vendetta against medical cannabis users. The new laws state that anyone growing more than the county limit of nine plants is "wasting water" and can be fined up to $500 per day. MacGlashan told the local press, "According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, a single marijuana plant uses an average of six gallons of water per day during the growing cycle." I am not sure where the DFW came up with that number, but I can tell you that marijuana doesn't need that much water. [continues 354 words]
Re "Pot and pregnancy" (SN&R Editorial, July 16): Regarding the use of cannabis by pregnant mothers: There is research on this topic. It just fails to show any harm, so more research is required to find the elusive harm proclaimed by the prohibitionists. I would direct those with questions to the "Five-year follow-up of rural Jamaican children whose mothers used marijuana during pregnancy," available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1957518. The children of cannabis-using mothers apparently did better than the others. What about the children! Jay Bergstrom via email [end]
Should women smoke or consume marijuana while pregnant? In his recent The 420 columns, our resident cannabis expert Ngaio Bealum-who conceded that he is not a medical expert-wrote that weed use during pregnancy should be a personal decision. He rightly noted that, like all things marijuana, current medical research is insufficient. We'd like to point out recent studies that show using marijuana while pregnant is probably not a good idea. One study, under the umbrella of the National Institute of Health, says that "cannabis use both during pregnancy and lactation ... may adversely affect neurodevelopment, especially during periods of critical brain growth both in the developing fetal brain and during adolescent maturation." [continues 70 words]
What's up with that bill to create comprehensive medical marijuana regulations in California? Any progress? - -Willy Wonky There has been progress, but I feel like they may be making it worse. Assembly Bill 266 has been amended (again) in the Legislature and the new one is horrible. Cities and counties can still ban cannabis clubs (although Dale Gieringer, the head of CA NORML, expects this rule to be changed), the grow limits are way too small, there's a $50 per plant fee (!), yadda yadda. You can read it for yourself (http://tinyurl.com/amended266), but you may not like it very much. [continues 409 words]
I hear Oregon has legal recreational marijuana these days. How does it work? - -Jefferson Stater So far, so good. As of July 1, adults (meaning people over the age of 21) are allowed to possess and use marijuana recreationally! Woo hoo! Not only that, but the great state of Oregon is expected to allow medical cannabis dispensaries to sell cannabis to recreational users starting in October. You heard me. While the legislators are working out the rules and guidelines creating recreational cannabis facilities, people will be able to buy cannabis at their local medical cannabis dispensary. Did I mention that the cannabis will be TAX-FREE? That's right! Oregon weed has no sales tax! At least until 2016 when the new rules kick in and folks will have to pay a 17-20 percent tax. Wow. Oregon is so cool and smart, you guys. [continues 368 words]
Our Writer Encounters Mavmit, the Department of Fish and Wildlife's Mysterious Anti-Marijuana Task Force After a strange encounter with an agent from the Mountain and Valley Marijuana Investigation Team, our writer asks: If the Department of Fish and Wildlife is trying to catch drug dealers, do they know what they're doing? The next time you're running errands around town, beware: You might wind up in the Department of Fish and Wildlife's marijuana dragnet. I know, that sounds ridiculous. But, seriously, watch out. [continues 1447 words]
Hey, Ngaio. Love the column. My son is interested in a job in the weed industry. What jobs are out there for those looking for employment? Can you please roll up a big fat list of jobs and their respective qualifications? I love him a lot and want him to be successful in his search so I thought your column would be a great place to start. - -Proud Dad You are a good dad. Way to support your kid! My parents looked at me hella funny when I started my cannabis career, and now they think it's pretty cool. I was just down at the High Times Cannabis Cup in San Francisco last week, talking to some friends about how amazing it is to have a career in the cannabis industry. Ten years ago, no one really knew what was going to happen to the cannabis industry, and now, there are so many employment opportunities, from being a budtender to having a brick-and-mortar dispensary or a delivery service or working in a testing facility, a grow room, or whatever. This is a good time to get involved in the fastest-growing industry in America. [continues 311 words]
Is there any consensus based on scientific data or professional opinion regarding the need for pregnant women to stop smoking cannabis? Also, how about just before becoming pregnant for both the future mother and father? While my first question refers to the health of the fetus, my second question refers to the condition of the egg and sperm. - -Sacto Mike Consensus? Hah! We are talking about cannabis. There is no such thing as "consensus." Everyone has an agenda. That being said, the studies that were done in the '60s and '70s showed that cannabis use was not harmful to fetuses. [continues 445 words]
California Lawmakers Appear Ready to Finally Regulate Medical Marijuana After nearly two decades of uncertainty, lawmakers appear ready to greenlight policy regulating medical pot Marijuana isn't legal in California yet, but it could become even more legit going into next year's legalization debate. The Golden State's billion-dollar medical-cannabis industry stands a good chance of getting its first-ever state-level regulations this year. Here in the Capitol, Assembly Bill 266 passed by a landslide vote-62-8-on the Assembly floor earlier this month, on June 4, and experts say it faces decent odds of passing the state Senate and being signed by Gov. Jerry Brown. [continues 896 words]
Hey, I thought Senator Dianne Feinstein had recently come out in support of medical cannabis. What's this I hear about her voting against a recent bill? - -Medical Mark Your info is almost correct. This is what happened: Just about two weeks ago, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a vote on an amendment to the Department of Justice appropriations bill. This amendment would keep the DEA and the DOJ from going after legal businesses in states with medical marijuana laws. An identical amendment has already passed the House. The SAC voted to approve the amendment 21-9, with California Senator Dianne Feinstein being the only Democrat to vote against. [continues 400 words]
Your post about Assembly Bill 266 was a little confusing. Can we get an update? - -Brad You got it! Last Thursday, California bill AB 266, "The Medical Cannabis Regulation and Control Act," passed the House and has been sent to the Senate. The bill is pretty good, if you ask me. The gist: AB 266 allows the governor to appoint a "Weed Czar"; the Board of Equalization is pretty much in charge of the whole deal; there is a 99-plant limit for larger grows (this may be changed, because the farms in the Emerald Triangle are hella bigger than that); and cities and counties can still ban medical cannabis dispensaries. You can read it for yourself here: http://bit.ly/1AXVXdy. [continues 388 words]
High. I was just wondering how our U.S. senators feel about marijuana. I haven't heard much. - -Jeff I'm glad you asked. And, no, it is not too early to start discussing the 2016 election for the Senate. As it stands now, the Democratic field has two main challengers, with Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez recently throwing her hat into the ring against California Attorney General Kamala Harris. Although Harris is the favorite, I feel Sanchez would be a better choice for cannabis users, and Californians in general, since marijuana legalization would be a boon to the welfare and economy of the entire state. Sanchez has a history of marijuana law reform support: In 2009, she told CNN, "So maybe it would be a good pilot program to see how that regulation of marijuana might happen in California since the ... majority of Californians believe maybe that should happen." Harris has recently shifted her stance somewhat; last week, she told the annual Convention of California Democrats that, "The war on drugs has failed," and, "Now is the time to end the federal ban on marijuana," but she still giggles every time she mentions marijuana, like she can't believe what she just said. Either one would be better than Senator Dianne Feinstein though. When does she retire? She hates weed. [continues 292 words]
I like taking my medicine in the form of a joint while walking around the block. It gets me thinking, though: Is it legal to do that as long as I'm a patient? Where are places I can smoke if I can't smoke at my apartment? - -Juan DeRoor A little exercise, a little medicine. You sound like a health-minded person. According to California law, medical cannabis patients are allowed to consume cannabis anywhere tobacco consumption is allowed, except for a moving vehicle, so a walk around the block is a great idea. Be aware that some cities have designated entire areas as "smoke-free zones," mostly in the chichi downtown spots (looking at you, Walnut Creek), so if you aren't paying attention, you could get a ticket. But in general, although you may get a few odd looks and maybe a knowing smile or two, a good walk and a good weed go a long way toward creating a good day. [continues 350 words]
I'm a 100 percent disabled veteran and I have a question about oils. I stopped using marijuana because it was a little hard on my lungs and left me short of breath sometimes. The oils with the vape pens are easier on my lungs and simpler to use. Please explain the difference in oils versus marijuana and whether the oil's safer for me to use. Thank you. - -Earl Thank you for your service. You are right-vaporizers are definitely easier on the lungs, and they are superconvenient. Most of the new pens work by combining hash or hash oil with some sort of solvent, like glycol. The thing about some of the oil vapor pens on the market is no one really knows the long-term effects of glycol on the lungs. These pens are all relatively new and haven't really been studied. Look for a pen that burns pure hash oil. It may be a little more inconvenient (you have to load the hash oil yourself, and that stuff is goopy and kinda messy if you aren't careful), but I think the flavor and effects are superior to most of the other products. I also really like the PAX Vaporizer for cannabis flowers. It works by vaporizing the THC-containing glands of the plant without burning the plant material itself. Have a good one. [continues 287 words]
Author Scott Thomas Anderson's new book explores America's appetite for incarceration Journalist Scott Thomas Anderson has stuck his trickiest deadline yet. The author, hard-news evangelist and former SN&R colleague spent the past three years researching and writing his second nonfiction book, The Cutting Four-Piece: Crime and Tragedy in an Era of Prison Overcrowding, a tough work of long-form journalism that pries open the iron gates on America's penitentiary binge. The book is his second stab at crime-centric literary journalism, following his book Shadow People: How Meth-Driven Crime is Eating at the Heart of Rural America. Both books are bruising examinations of a society failing both victims and addicts. But his latest also contains a love letter to a profession in flux, particularly small-town reporters who out-hustled their big-market colleagues in illustrating how California's prison realignment experiment warped their communities. Over pints of hard cider and IPA, Anderson explains the origins of our prison crisis, why he hopes his work resonates with convicts and what he learned from SN&R's most notorious writer. [continues 719 words]
Hey, what the hell is going on with the medical cannabis industry in Oregon and Washington? - -Wes Coast Business and politics. The Washington State Legislature recently passed Senate Bill 5052, which will force all of the medical cannabis clubs in Washington to close so that the recreational clubs can take control of the market. The law also decreases the amount of cannabis a medical patient can possess, and the amount of cannabis that they can grow. This law is dumb and it is an insult to all of the medical patients that supported recreational legalization in Washington because they were told that I-502 (the initiative to legalize cannabis in Washington) would not affect medical cannabis users. [continues 391 words]
Last year we scored a historic victory that bans the Department of Justice from undermining state medical marijuana laws for one year. But the department recently declared that it will ignore the Congressional mandate and continue prosecuting people for medical marijuana. Do you think medical marijuana will never be safe unless we change federal law permanently? Is the CARERS Act the big chance to do it? - -Lickity Split Good question. I suppose we'll find out. The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States Act, originally sponsored by senators Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, is picking up steam. According to a tweet from Senator Booker (yes, Twitter is a legitimate way of gathering information, so hush), the bill now has 14 co-sponsors, seven Dems and seven Repubs. That's pretty sweet. Not only that, this bill is really nice. The CARERS Act allows banks to handle medical cannabis money, amends the Controlled Substances Act so states can have legal medical cannabis and reschedules marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II, meaning it would no longer be classified as a "dangerous narcotic." (I always giggle when someone calls cannabis a "narcotic.") By the way, United States District Court Judge Kimberly Mueller decided to allow cannabis to remain listed as Schedule 1 in a hearing last week. The defense's lawyers are, of course, planning an appeal. It would probably be easier to get this bill passed. [continues 225 words]
Hi, Ngaio, I enjoy your articles. I've never smoked it but once, finding it wasn't my thing, but I have no issues with those that do. Which brings me to my question: I'm a 73-year-old male diagnosed with low-stage prostate cancer that will eventually kill me. Luckily for me, a friend with stage 4 metastatic lung cancer, not wishing to spend her final days in misery, elected to use the Rick Simpson procedure. In two months, the tumor had shrunk a third and there were no signs of other progression. Her last checkup showed no change in her status. [continues 422 words]
I thoroughly enjoy your column. It's the first page I read. You are a well of information. I like the sativas. Could you suggest some strains that have the highest percentage of this and what dispensaries have them? Thanks. - -CM Thank you! I must confess that I am a little confused by your question. If you are asking which strains have the highest amount of THC (THC is the chemical that gets you "high"), the answer is: It depends. The best way to find out is to ask your budtender. Most dispensaries these days have their cannabis tested for potency. Most strains contain between 15 to 20 percent THC, but I have seen some up to 27 percent. If you are asking which strains are the most "sativa-esque," i.e. containing the characteristics of the cannabis sativa plant, I like Trainwreck, Durban Poison and Haze. As always, Leafly and weedmaps.com can tell you where to find good cannabis. Have a good one. [continues 333 words]
Hey, Ngaio. I am hella stoked that marijuana legalization is on the way. However, when I go to conferences and look at marijuana businesses, all I see are white faces. Are people of color going to get a chance to get a piece of the legal marijuana game? - -Tokely Carmichael Good question. In 2014, Michelle Alexander, author of the book The New Jim Crow, said, "After 40 years of impoverished black men getting prison time for selling weed, white men are planning to get rich doing the same things. So that's why I think we have to start talking about reparations for the war on drugs. How do we repair the harms caused?" Reparations would be cool, but I feel like people would be waiting forever for the government to pass anything close to a drug war reparations bill. Fortunately, some activists and ganjaprenuers have also noticed the whiteness of the green rush and have started taking steps to keep marijuana culturally diverse. [continues 329 words]
I see plenty of people getting excited about legalizing marijuana in California, but are there any ballot initiatives ready to go? Any you can recommend? - -Ivana B. Puffingwun There are a few ready to go, but I am not sure they will have much of a chance. The folks behind the California Cannabis Hemp Initiative are trying (again) to get their initiative on the ballot. While I really like the language of their proposal (the tax on pot is really low, you would be able to grow an incredible amount of weed in your home and it would free people in jail for nonviolent cannabis crimes), I don't think they have a chance. The CCHI has no money, and no real organization. Sigh. [continues 389 words]
Hi Ngaio. If you have a doctor's recommendation and are traveling by air and you have a small amount of medical cannabis with you, how likely is TSA to find it and what is their likely reaction should they discover it in your carry-on? I'm curious if they confiscate it, let it go through, write you a ticket, haul you off to jail or what. I'm traveling to a bowling tournament next month and use it to help with the arthritis (I'm 63 and bowling 12 games can have an impact). I'm just trying to determine whether it is worth the effort to take some medicinal cannabis along. Thanks for the info and keep up the good work. [continues 408 words]
- -Hans and Frans Not yet, but a few things that happened last week will definitely pump (clap) you up! While U.S. congressional reps Jared Polis, D-Colorado, and Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, have both introduced bills that would legalize marijuana at the federal level, I don't expect them to get very far in this Republican-controlled Congress. However, Washington, D.C., has gone ahead and decriminalized marijuana, despite threats from some of the more conservative members of Congress. I would pretend to be shocked that these so-called "proponents of small government" (looking at you, Jeff Chaffetz, R-Utah) would threaten D.C.'s mayor with jail time for ratifying an initiative that won with 69 percent of the vote, but is anyone surprised at the amount of hypocrisy displayed by today's politicians? I would suggest that everyone in Congress spark a fat bowl right now. It might help them get their shit together. [continues 317 words]
I'm looking to experience Cali and would like your opinion on the finest this state has to offer. Any recommended strains or places to visit? - -B Rockk I am glad you asked. With springtime on the way, now is the perfect time to start planning daytrips through the cannabis countryside. You will need a letter of recommendation from a California doctor. Technically, you don't have to be a California resident to get a letter of recommendation, but some clubs will not let you inside if you don't live in Cali. [continues 434 words]
