In his op-ed article against the legalization of cannabis in California ("Marijuana's harms ignored in push for legalization," Aug. 14), guest columnist Thomas Elias yearns for a time when shaming and fear-mongering, not facts, drove the marijuana policy debate in America. Those days are largely over. Voters' views on pot have evolved in recent years based on both the failures of marijuana prohibition and the success of its legalization and regulation. For decades, those opposed to amending cannabis criminalization warned that any significant change in marijuana policy would lead to a plethora of unintended consequences. Yet the initial experiences in Colorado and Washington, in addition to many other states' deep-rooted experiences regulating the production and distribution of marijuana for therapeutic purposes, has shown these fears to be misplaced. [continues 677 words]
SACRAMENTO - President Franklin D. Roosevelt cheered the end of Prohibition in 1933 with these famous words: "What America needs now is a drink." Roosevelt and other federal officials had been expecting the demise of America's widely panned policy of banning the sale, transportation, production and importation of booze. As various states put an end to the prohibition of marijuana, I've heard of no politicians extolling Americans to enjoy a good "toke" - but many are nevertheless plotting the regulatory and tax strategies for a post-legalization world. To many California officials, the issue is not whether to legalize recreational uses in a state that 19 years ago approved medical marijuana. It's about when change will happen and what the world is going to look like after it does. [continues 2760 words]
THE ISSUE: Medical marijuana is in the news as Wyoming law officers have launched a campaign to fight a petition seeking its legalization. WE BELIEVE: While we remain opposed to recreational marijuana, we believe medical marijuana should be available in the state. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: Contact us via email at opinion@wyomingnews.com. Wyoming's law enforcement community has every right to speak its opinions on such issues as the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana. But as law officers, they should focus on truth-telling and supplying credible information rather than trying to mislead the people of this state. [continues 622 words]
In expectation of legalization, state officials are charting the regulatory and tax framework for a coming marijuana boom President Franklin D. Roosevelt cheered the end of Prohibition in 1933 with these famous words: "What America needs now is a drink." Roosevelt and other federal officials had been expecting the demise of America's widely panned policy of banning the sale, transportation, production and importation of booze. As various states put an end to the prohibition of marijuana, I've heard of no politicians extolling Americans to enjoy a good "toke" - but many are nevertheless plotting the regulatory and tax strategies for a post-legalization world. To many California officials, the issue is not whether to legalize recreational uses in a state that 19 years ago approved medical marijuana. It's about when change will happen and what the world is going to look like after it does. [continues 2441 words]
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Advocacy groups have poured millions of dollars into legalizing both recreational and medical marijuana in states across the country. One of the most powerful and influential groups - Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project - was behind successful recreational measures in Alaska and Colorado, two of four states that now allow recreational use. Organizers hope to replicate those efforts in five other states during the 2016 elections, an undertaking they say will - if successful - prove significant for the effort to end marijuana prohibition. [continues 3106 words]
After 24 Years, and Several Locations, It's Still Going Strong. "Not so sure about hitting Hempfest this year, bro," said my biggest stoner pal TJ, loading yet another fat bowl of black market Blue Dream. "I mean, we legalized it. What's the point?" "I'll tell you why," I replied, sucking down the tube. "As soon as I can remember what the question was!" Amazingly, Hempfest is celebrating its 24th year this weekend. In addition to being the world's largest cannabis rally, Hempfest has always advertised itself as a "protestival," commemorating the advances of cannabis, and protesting the ongoing War on Drugs-and the fact marijuana is still very much illegal at the federal level. [continues 861 words]
Legalization Manifests Itself in Tasting Parties and Shrugged Shoulders About 30 party guests wearing suits and summer dresses mingled in the candlelit back yard of a small, private home in the Forest Hills neighborhood in Northwest Washington and snacked on hors d'oeuvres to the sound of jazz. Instead of cocktails, they sipped gourmet coffee and tea infused with marijuana. In the kitchen, servers poured hot and iced drinks for the tasting party. They were showcasing products from House of Jane, a California-based company that sells cannabis-infused beverages. Jane's Brew C-Cups were on display in the living room, stacked on a table alongside similarly branded coasters. [continues 1405 words]
CHEYENNE - A Wyoming law enforcement group is planning a campaign to fight back at efforts to legalize medical marijuana in the state. The Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police is gauging interest in starting a statewide outreach effort to inform residents on the "harmful personal and societal effects of marijuana." But Byron Oedekoven, executive director of the group, said he expects there will be support for the project and that it will be launched this month. "We are looking for statements of support for this education campaign," he said. "We anticipate that there will be support, and armed with that grassroots support, we will undertake an educational campaign." [continues 601 words]
Media outlets, including The Sacramento Bee's editorial board, and public officials, including the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, have seized upon statements from state Fish and Wildlife officials about marijuana and water use in a few creeks in Northern California to greatly overstate the problem, causing unfair backlash for genuine medical marijuana patients. California NORML has challenged the figure of 5 to 10 gallons of water per day that's being used to further vilify cannabis during the drought ("Pot grown outside is a waste of water," Editorials, July 31). [continues 310 words]
With marijuana prohibition finally ending in states and cities across the land - including full legalization in Alaska, Colorado, Washington State, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. - who could be better than my friend Willie Nelson to lead the way for weed quality and social responsibility? The iconic musician and intrepid fighter for justice has announced that he'll market his own marijuana brand, "Willie's Reserve," and open a group of stores selling top-quality pot and paraphernalia. "I feel like I was buying so much of it, it's time to start selling it back," Willie said of his new weed venture. "I am looking forward to working with the best growers in Colorado and Washington to make sure our product is the best on the market." [continues 171 words]
What Does Roadmap for Legalizing Pot Mean for Recreational Weed on the 2016 Ballot? 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 blueprint for legalizing pot in California. But now that the smoke has settled-experts and pot interests have had a few days to actually read and dissect the document-one thing is clear: Legalizing pot has dozens of moving parts, and, little surprise, some will never agree on how to greenlight bud in the Golden State. [continues 1029 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]
MMJ vs. Legalization It is a sad but true fact in the world today that politics, lobbying, and action take money, lots and lots of money. This means that to enforce the will of popular opinion we must band together as a cohesive force and make our voices one. There has been a long history of infighting in the cannabis industry. If NORML and other groups of their day had worked together in the 1970s this conversation might be long over. This didn't happen. [continues 684 words]
One of Ohio's oldest marijuana-legalization group has kicked out its president for supporting the ResponsibleOhio effort to legalize marijuana in Ohio. Rob Ryan of Blue Ash was removed in June as leader of the Ohio chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). The decision comes amid escalating tensions among Ohio's marijuana activists over how to legalize. Ryan and others see ResponsibleOhio as an important step forward. Others see the well-financed effort as wealthy people manipulating the political system to cut out the little guy from what could be a billion-dollar industry in Ohio by 2020. [continues 861 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]
By any measure, prohibition has been one of the greatest social policy failures in Canadian history It's been 92 years since marijuana was made illegal, so why don't we say we gave prohibition a fair shot and try something else? This October, marijuana prohibition will be a federal election issue for the first time since 1923, when the substance was first outlawed. The onus is on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to make the case for extending prohibition into year 93 and beyond. [continues 724 words]
DENVER (AP) - Microscopic bugs and mildew can destroy a marijuana operation faster than any police raid. And because the crop has been illegal for so long, neither growers nor scientists have any reliable research to help fight the infestations. As legal marijuana moves from basements and backwoods to warehouses and commercial fields, the mold and spider mites that once ruined only a few plants at a time can now quickly create a multimillion-dollar crisis for growers. Some are turning to industrial-strength chemicals, raising concerns about safety. [continues 612 words]
New Questions Arising As Nascent Industry Develops DENVER (AP) - Microscopic bugs and mildew can destroy a marijuana operation faster than any police raid. And because the crop has been illegal for so long, neither growers nor scientists have any reliable research to help fight the infestations. As legal marijuana moves from basements and backwoods to warehouses and commercial fields, the mold and spider mites that once ruined only a few plants at a time can now quickly create a multimillion-dollar crisis for growers. Some are turning to industrial-strength chemicals, raising concerns about safety. [continues 862 words]
The march to bring marijuana legalization before California voters in 2016 ramped up Thursday with the announcement by a group of longtime Bay Area cannabis advocates that they have hired heavy-hitting Democratic political strategists and plan to release a draft of the proposed initiative in the coming weeks. Santa Rosa-based attorney Joe Rogoway is part of a team with the Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform that is crafting an initiative under a project dubbed ReformCA, backed by California NORML - the state branch of the national marijuana reform group - that would create a framework for a "robust set of regulations" to legalize cannabis for use by adults while maintaining regulations already in place for medical use. [continues 784 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]
