Peter Trzos submits proposals to city government A Keego Harbor resident is working to change the city's charter with two new ballot proposals. One involves setting limits for how long a city council member can serve on the council and the other decriminalizes marijuana. The man behind the proposals, Peter Trzos, 33, said his goal in coming up with the proposals is two-fold. "I want to get good laws passed and to get a name for myself as a positive activist," he said. [continues 442 words]
Gov. John Hickenlooper took an amazing, bold step forward that could have lost him his election but definitely saved our taxpayers millions in court costs. Do we really want to have the expense of processing small marijuana cases? In the time of "The Great Gatsby" (my darling 82-year-old mom's time), a couple of martinis were just right on. Now, she thinks marijuana is a drug like heroin. And in the interim, many cancer patients and other patients with pain (like my 86-year-old dad) find relief from it. [continues 56 words]
VANCOUVER - This city has its own Prince of Pot, cannabis promoter Marc Emery. But he's minor royalty next to Don Briere. Or Donald Joseph Briere, as he's known inside the Canadian justice and penal systems. He was once this country's most prolificmarijuana producer and distributor, with 33 illegal growing operations hidden across B.C. In the late 1990s, before an informant ratted them out to police, Briere and his cohorts were growing and selling two tonnes of pot annually. "That's a lot of weed," he laughs. "We were outlaws. My share was $5-million a year." [continues 782 words]
Three-term New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg harped on the importance of vocational education and blasted Colorado's decision to legalize marijuana as stupid Friday evening before a sold-out crowd at the Aspen Institute. When an audience member asked the 72-year-old Bloomberg about Colorado marijuana, he responded that it was a terrible idea, one that is hurting the developing minds of children. Though he admitted to smoking a joint in the 1960s, he said the drug is more accessible and more damaging today. [continues 538 words]
As a primary care provider, I'm used to seeing medical trends emerge. Right now, I'm paying close attention to the debate over marijuana legalization. Colorado launched legal recreational marijuana sales on Jan. 1, 2014. Last month, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that Colorado health care providers have experienced "unexpected health effects" from the widespread use of marijuana. JAMA contributors report the state has seen an increased number of patients with severe burns from butane-ignited flash fires. According to their experts, butane is used to extract tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. [continues 600 words]
It would seem that the decision to invite Michelle Alexander, author of the book "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness," to speak Monday at Saint Mary's College was inspired by stories ripped from recent headlines. Instead, Mana Derakhshani, a French professor and associate director of the Center for Women's Intercultural Leadership at Saint Mary's, says part of her interest in the book stemmed from her desire to find good material for a faculty reading group. [continues 667 words]
About a year ago, the Yakima City Council heard accusations of hypocrisy as it supported a request by the Association of Washington Cities for the state to share recreational marijuana taxes with cities. The council's move came just weeks after the City Council had voted to ban marijuana businesses, and critics said the city can't have it both ways. But the city -- and the association -- argued that with the drug being legal after voters approved Initiative 502, the city faced increased law enforcement needs to combat offenses such as driving under the influence and minors in possession. Our position was that cities like Yakima needed to document the extra law enforcement and health care costs if it wanted a piece of the revenue pie. [continues 359 words]
At least 52 people in Chester County died from drug use last year, and police are responding The war on drugs may be best known for the law enforcement's fight against the illegal drug trade, but these days another battle is waging against the rising death toll caused by fatal overdoses. Local law enforcement officials continue to raise the alarm about the constant loss of life that has struck communities across the country, including Chester County. Last year at least 52 people died in an accidental manner caused by drug use, according to statistics from the Chester County Coroner's Office. [continues 1273 words]
I, like Town Manger Chris LaMay and the Bayfield Town Board, am concerned about the town's need to raise money, the public's regularly turning down a sales tax increase, and the seemingly limited options available for increasing town revenue. I understand that, at Tuesday's public forum and town board meeting, the issue of recreational marijuana was discussed. I would like to know how many people on the board or planning commission voted against allowing a marijuana store in town, to help bring tax revenue in. AND I'd like to know whether the board will allow the subject to be brought up again - i.e. whether it's the final decision of this current board and/or planning commission or not. [continues 413 words]