Richard Kirk Is Charged With Murder, but a Lawsuit Contends That Edible Marijuana Made Him Do It. DENVER - Kristine Kirk's last moments were a harrowing collision of terror and confusion. Her husband, Richard, had burst through the door ranting about the end of the world. He began climbing in and out of a first-floor window, lying on the bedroom floor and asking for someone to kill him. Then he retrieved a pistol from his safe. "He's taking the gun out, sir," Kristine, 44, told a Denver 911 dispatcher. "I don't know where to go.... Richard, please stop ... please stop ... please stop." [continues 897 words]
John Hickenlooper, Once a Leading Critic, Now Says the Industry Looks 'Like It Might Work.' Here's Why. DENVER - When Colorado voted to legalize recreational marijuana four years ago, one of the move's chief critics was Gov. John Hickenlooper. The moderate Democrat said that if he could "wave a magic wand" to reverse the decision, he would. Then he called voters "reckless" for approving it in the first place, a remark he later downgraded to "risky." "Colorado is known for many great things," Hickenlooper said. "Marijuana should not be one of them." [continues 636 words]
Things Looked Bleak When Oil Prices Dropped DeBEQUE, Colo. - When the oil and gas industry tanked and plans for gambling fizzled out, this conservative town of ranchers and roughnecks found salvation in an unlikely place. Weed. "We are going to survive by it," said Darrel Kuhn, who owns the local liquor store, "because we sure as hell can't survive without it." Hemay be right. Colorado's billion-dollar marijuana industry has boosted the economies of many struggling towns. Empire, Trinidad and Parachute have all benefited from infusions of pot money. [continues 692 words]
DeBEQUE, Colo. - When the oil and gas industry tanked and plans for gambling crapped out, this conservative town of ranchers and roughnecks found salvation in an unlikely place. Weed. "We are going to survive by it," said Darrel Kuhn, who owns the local liquor store, "because we sure as hell can't survive without it." He may be right. Colorado's billion-dollar marijuana industry has boosted the economies of many struggling towns. Empire, Trinidad and Parachute have all benefited from infusions of pot money. But DeBeque, on Colorado's Western Slope, owes its very existence to the cannabis trade. [continues 953 words]
Members of Colo. Group Say Pot Strengthens Faith CENTENNIAL, Colo. - As snow began to fall outside, Deb Button snuggled up on her couch, fired up a joint and spoke of the nature of Christ. "Even if Jesus didn't smoke weed, he'd still be a stoner," she said, exhaling a white cloud. Her kitten sniffed the air curiously. "Jesus was peaceful and loving. He went from house to house and was always accepted," she explained. "Only a stoner could do that." [continues 984 words]
Members of Stoner Jesus Bible Study Say Pot Strengthens Their Faith As Snow Began to Fall Outside, Deb Button Snuggled Up on Her Couch, Fired Up a Joint and Spoke of the Nature of Christ. "Even If Jesus Didn't Smoke Weed, He'd Still Be a Stoner," She Said, Exhaling a White Cloud. Her Kitten Sniffed the Air Curiously. "Jesus Was Peaceful and Loving. He Went From House to House and Was Always Accepted," She Explained. "Only a Stoner Could Do That." [continues 966 words]
Judge Blocks a Denver Institution That Wants to Serve the Cannabis Industry, Saying He's Upholding Federal Law. DENVER - Saying he could not look the other way in the face of criminal behavior, a federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a local credit union seeking approval to become what would be the first financial institution to openly serve the cannabis industry. Doug Pensinger In his nine-page order, U. S. District Judge R. Brooke Jackson rejected the lawsuit filed by Fourth Corner Credit Union against the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, which oversees Denver, for refusing it a master account that would enable it to do business. [continues 502 words]
Colorado Credit Union Seeks to Do Business With the Pot Industry. DENVER - Calling itself the "littlest David" battling the "biggest Goliath," a fledgling Colorado credit union took the Federal Reserve to court Monday in a case that may determine whether the cannabis industry will bank openly or continue to operate almost entirely in cash. Denver's Fourth Corner Credit Union is looking to be the first financial institution in the nation that caters openly to the cannabis industry. But the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, which oversees the Denver district, has denied it a master account needed to do business. [continues 715 words]
Legal Sellers Also Face Difficulties As Marijuana Remains Federally Outlawed DENVER - The Fourth Corner Credit Union occupies a prime spot in downtown Denver, not far from the state Capitol. It has a big safe, four teller windows, drive-up service and a banner out front that says, "The Fourth Corner Credit Union Coming Soon." But there's a problem. The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in Missouri, which oversees Denver, has refused Fourth Corner's request for a "master account," essentially a bank account allowing it to do business. [continues 920 words]
DENVER - The Fourth Corner Credit Union occupies a prime spot in downtown Denver, not far from the state Capitol. It has a big safe, four teller windows, drive-up service and a banner out front that says, "The Fourth Corner Credit Union Coming Soon." But there's a problem. The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in Missouri, which oversees Denver, has refused Fourth Corner's request for a "master account," essentially a bank account allowing it to do business. "You can't have a bank chartered by the state of Colorado and then nullified by the federal government," said Mark Mason, an attorney for the credit union. [continues 1238 words]
Two Coloradans Sue Over Pesticide, Saying a Grower Is Acting Like Corporate America. DENVER - For years, Brandan Flores has treated his chronic back pain with marijuana, a remedy he champions as a natural alternative to traditional medication. But recently he heard rumblings that his drug of choice might be less wholesome than he had imagined. "There was talk about Eagle 20," he said, "and it concerned me right away." Eagle 20 is a fungicide used to kill mites, mildew and assorted pests that flock to plants like hops and grapes. It also contains a chemical called myclobutanil, which produces hydrogen cyanide gas when burned. [continues 719 words]
Colorado Asks Federal Agencies to Let Its State Universities Grow Their Own Pot - Just for Purposes of Study. DENVER - After years of trying to stamp out marijuana use on college campuses, Colorado officials are now asking the federal government to allow its state universities to grow their own pot. The reason, they say, is that the legalization of the drug here has raised questions about its health effects, questions that can be answered only by studying large amounts and different strains of marijuana. [continues 484 words]
Mainstream Pot Guide Not Afraid to Get Down in Weeds DENVER - Jake Browne sauntered into his neighborhood marijuana shop recently and asked the "budtender" for a look at his wares. The lanky attendant spread half a dozen Mason jars across the counter, each holding a fat, fragrant bud of cannabis. "Mmmm," Browne purred as he opened a jar of Jack Flash. "Smells like drain cleaner and urine. Sounds unappetizing, but it's actually great." He sniffed another. "You get a nice Grape Skunk off of that," he said. "You can smell the sandalwood and cardamom spice notes." [continues 668 words]
A Denver Post Blog Is the First Mainstream Media Site Devoted to the World of Legal Pot. DENVER - Jake Browne sauntered into his neighborhood marijuana shop recently and asked the "budtender" for a look at his wares. The lanky attendant spread half a dozen Mason jars across the counter, each holding a fat, fragrant bud of cannabis. "Mmmm," Browne purred as he opened a jar of Jack Flash. "Smells like drain cleaner and urine. Sounds unappetizing, but it's actually great." He sniffed another. "You get a nice Grape Skunk off of that," he said. "You can smell the sandalwood and cardamom spice notes." [continues 750 words]
A Cannabis Bakery Seeks to Elevate Edibles Beyond the Pot Brownie It was midafternoon and a disciplined team of chefs began rolling out the day's offerings - four kinds of baklava, oatmeal butterscotch cookies and a toothsome Parisian macaroon. There wasn't a pot brownie in sight, and the mere mention of it caused Hope Frahm's eyes to narrow. "That's the first thing people think of when you tell them you work with marijuana," said the executive chef at Love's Oven, a cannabis bakery near downtown Denver. "But we are developing croissants, eclairs, maple bacon bars, olive oil. The sky's the limit." [continues 727 words]
Area Officials Are Angry That the City Has Sent Young Illegal-Immigrant Offenders to Inland Empire Group Homes. The City Concedes Shortcomings in Notifying Authorities in the Homes' Localities. San Bernardino County officials vowed Thursday not to become a dumping ground for San Francisco criminals, saying they may sue that city for exporting juvenile offenders to local group homes. "The county is exploring every option to recoup all our police expenses," said county Supervisor Gary Ovitt. "This lunacy needs to stop now." [continues 880 words]
Construction boom makes the Inland Empire more vulnerable to efforts by desperate crooks -- authorities say they're meth users -- stripping wire from phone cables, windmills and even hospitals and schools Fueled by methamphetamine and working like termites, they have blacked out entire neighborhoods, stripped building sites and reduced telephone poles to splintered wood. Whether at a school, business or hospital, the thieves' quarry is always the same: copper. Over the last few months, copper-wire thefts have skyrocketed statewide and across the nation. Although copper has long been a target of those desperate for quick cash, the price of the metal -- which has climbed as high as $4 a pound -- and plentiful construction sites in growth areas such as the Inland Empire are driving the current crime wave. As of Tuesday, copper was selling at about $2.82 a pound. [continues 1214 words]
Anita Thompson Describes the Anger, Confusion - and Finally, Peace - of the Writer's Last Day. DENVER -- On the last day of his life, Hunter S. Thompson woke with his usual breakfast of fresh fruit inside a thin layer of jello with gin and Grand Marnier drizzled on top. His wife, Anita, carefully put a lemon on the side and hovered near his chair. It was 5 p.m., the time the writer normally began his day. "Suddenly he began talking about something weird, I can't remember exactly what," she recalled in an interview Friday. "He began to get angry with me. He had a strange look on his face. He told me to get out of the room. I was like: 'What do you mean?' He had never kicked me out of a room before." [continues 1005 words]
Illegal Immigrants and Drug Traffickers Stream to New Mexico to Avoid Patrols Elsewhere. COLUMBUS, N.M. -- Frustrated by security crackdowns in Arizona, thousands of illegal immigrants and drug traffickers are flooding once-quiet New Mexico, making it the newest frontier in America's struggle to control its southern border. Border Patrol agents who once caught handfuls of immigrants a day here now arrest 140 or 150 a night. Armed confrontations are increasing, high-speed chases have become routine and officials say they lack the resources to hold the line. At the same time, Mexican crime syndicates using two-way radios and sophisticated cellphones have American law enforcement under surveillance. [continues 1685 words]
Methadone Clinic In Oshawa Councillor Louise Parks of Oshawa feels that a methadone clinic is not appropriate for the city's downtown. Where would it be appropriate? Perhaps in some other community? The widespread barriers and discrimination faced by people with addictions would not be tolerated in any other part of our health-care system. The continued marginalization of people with these serious health issues perpetuates the problem our system faces with addictions and ignores the true cost all of us bear.For example, $1 spent on the treatment of an alcohol-use disorder saves $4 to $12 in long-term societal, economic and medical costs. [continues 68 words]