Wednesday, May 23, 2012
New Rasmussen Poll: 56 Percent Favor Legalizing and Regulating Marijuana
Legalization David Downs — Wed, May 23, 2012 at 10:49 AM
As sensible cannabis policy continues to trend across the land, more Americans approve of taxing and regulating pot than they do of President Obama's job performance, according to a new Rasmussen poll released May 17.
In a telephone survey of 1,000 likely voters nationwide conducted May 12 by Rasmussen Reports, the pollsters asked: "Would you favor or oppose legalizing marijuana and regulating it in the similar manner to the way alcohol and tobacco cigarettes are regulated today?"
Friday, May 18, 2012
Look At This Effing Hipster From 19th Century Mexico
Cannabis Culture David Downs — Fri, May 18, 2012 at 9:57 AM
Ugh, hipster-bashing is, like, so 1890s.
We were doing research for our column on historian Isaac Campos' Home Grown: Marijuana and the Origins of Mexico's War on Drugs, when we came across what, for us, might be the oldest case of hipster-bashing known to mankind.
Witness the “Don Chepito Mariguano” lithographs — an extremely popular political and social cartoon in Mexican tabloids of the 1890s.
“Don Chepito was the bourgeois figure enamored with all things foreign, the always ostentatious dandy continually showing off his appreciation for the latest imported fad,” writes Campos in the book.
Dhar Mann, Owner of Oakland's WeGrow, the "Wal-Mart of Weed", Faces Thirteen Felony Charges
Law Enforcement & Crime David Downs — Fri, May 18, 2012 at 9:04 AM
From the Oakland Tribune's Matthew Artz on Thursday: "One of Oakland's highest-profile cannabis entrepreneurs is scheduled to be arraigned on 13 felony counts for allegedly pocketing city grant money that was to be used for upgrades at four of his properties. In a complaint filed Thursday, the Alameda County District Attorney's office accused Dharminder "Dhar" Mann of submitting copies of checks made out to contractors for city reimbursement without actually submitting the checks to the contractors."
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Feds May Close San Francisco's Famous Vapor Room by June 13
Law Enforcement & Crime David Downs — Tue, May 15, 2012 at 10:18 AM
Today the East Bay Express looks at the darkening cloud over another beloved Bay Area dispensary. Haight street icon Vapor Room faces imminent closure by local U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag. Vapor Room may shut its doors June 13, a staffer said on the phone Tuesday. As we write in the review, we may be witnessing the closure of one of the coolest cannabis lounges on the planet.
On Monday the club tweeted and Facebooked that they were closing for the day:
"Hey Folks, we're taking the day off. Sorry for the inconvenience. Check back this week. We look forward to seeing you soon!"
The tweet instantly set off speculation that the nine-year-old dispensary had succumbed to a months-long crusade by U.S. Attorney Haag. "Are you guys remaining open? I thought today was the last day?" a fan commented.
UC Davis Clinical Trial of Smoked Cannabis for Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Now Recruiting
Health & Medicine David Downs — Tue, May 15, 2012 at 9:57 AM
The University of California Davis, in collaboration with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, has permission to conduct a clinical trial of smoked cannabis on 60 M.S. patients. It's extremely rare to see something like this National Institutes of Health study. This field of science has been dangerously politicized, critics note.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Connecticut Medical Marijuana Bill Expected To Become Law
Regulation & Legislation David Downs — Mon, May 7, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Connecticut's Democratic governor, Dannel P. Malloy, has said he will sign a bill to make Connecticut the 17th medical cannabis state. The bill passed the state senate early Saturday, Reuters reports, after already having passed the House. Under the law, marijuana would be sold in multiple forms at dispensaries, which must have a licensed pharmacist on staff.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Objects To Obama's Medical Cannabis Crackdown
Regulation & Legislation David Downs — Thu, May 3, 2012 at 10:02 AM
Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi saw the writing on the wall and came out in defense of medical cannabis patients and dispensaries under assault by the federal government this week. San Francisco dispensaries served her a petition with thousands of signatures May 2. Subsequently, Speaker Pelosi released the May 2 statement saying:
Monday, April 30, 2012
Berkeley Patients Group: "Today Is Our Last Day"
Law Enforcement & Crime David Downs — Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Medical marijuana industry leader Berkeley Patients Group of Berkeley will close its doors at the end of its business day today — and not re-open them. A receptionist there just confirmed the contents of an email sent to collective members this morning, stating: "Today is our last day."
Jimmy Kimmel to Obama: “What's With the Marijuana Crackdown?”
Cannabis Culture David Downs — Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 9:51 AM
At the 98th annual dinner of the White House Correspondents' Association on Saturday, comedian Jimmy Kimmel asked the president straight up: "What's with the marijuana crackdown? I mean, seriously, what is the concern? We will deplete the nation's Funyuns supply?" Kimmel continued, "You know, pot smokers vote, too. Sometimes a week after the election, but they vote."
Then turning to Obama, Kimmel said: "Mr. President, I hope you don't think I am out of line, but marijuana is something that real people care about. And the fact that you believe Speaker Boehner when he tells you he still has control of his party leads me to believe that you must be smoking some crazy-great weed yourself."
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Cannabis Patients To Flood Sacramento May 19-21
Regulation & Legislation David Downs — Wed, Apr 25, 2012 at 2:38 PM
