MAP Drugnews

RollingStone.com
'The Truth About Cannabis': Inside New Pro-Pot Web Doc
RollingStone.com
Ten years ago, Lindsey Ward was an aspiring filmmaker looking for his first job, when a local cannabis dispensary owner near his home in San Diego asked for his help making a film. Astounded by the wide variety of patients coming into his dispensary ...

New Scientist
Stoner app lets cannabis users keep track of how high they are
New Scientist
By New Scientist staff and Press Association. Dude, am I stoned? An app that tests memory, attention and reaction – traits that are often impaired by cannabis use – aims to answer that question by giving people a measurement of how well (or badly) they ...
New app could make cannabis use saferScience Daily
New app could help make cannabis use saferBT.com

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Ottawa Citizen
Police execute search warrant at east end marijuana dispensary
Ottawa Citizen
While one officer suggested details about the raid would be available through their media relations office, that department was not able to provide further details about the warrant. The business is adjoined by a Subway shop. An employee at the ...

CNBC
Bill would allow limited-service banks for cannabis businesses
CNBC
Even though California has legalized the use of cannabis by adults, it is still illegal under federal law. That means when cannabis-related money touches the federal money transfer system, it poses legal risks for federally chartered or federally ...

Forbes
No High Rollers Allowed: Stoned Marijuana Users Cannot Gamble In Nevada
Forbes
It is here that adult citizens have the freedom to blow college funds, engage in a full menu of pay-to-pork activities and even purchase marijuana without relying on a shady street dealer out behind the Bellagio. To some, especially those folks living ...

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The legendary stoner duo said marijuana became too mainstream.

For legendary stoners Cheech & Chong, smoking marijuana was thrilling partly because of the fact that it was illegal and rebellious.

But as views towards legalized pot have shifted quite dramatically in recent years, and using pot has become more mainstream, the duo has decided it's time to move on from their typical stoner comedies. Instead, they explained, it was time to dive into "edgier territory."

It all began on Monday night when "Late Show" host Stephen Colbert said he still couldn't stop thinking about the news that former House Speaker and "maple-glazed American" John Boehner had completely changed his tune on marijuana.

Earlier this month Boehner was appointed to the board of advisors at Acreage Holdings, a multi-state cannabis business that aims to "make cannabis available to any patient who can benefit from safe and reliable access." After serving as a GOP lawmaker who was staunchly opposed to progressive marijuana legislation, he announced that his "thinking on cannabis has evolved."

"Wow," Colbert said. "In one sentence he came around on three things Republican congressman normally don't: cannabis, evolution, and thinking."

Colbert explained that he needed to check in with two experts in the field, none other than Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong.

Colbert pointed out that marijuana has essentially became mainstream, and asked if the pair thought that was a good thing.

"Actually Stephen, we think this news sucks," Marin said. "I mean, pot used to be rebellious."

Chong chimed in, "Yeah, now crusty old Republicans like John Boehner are into it."

"Pot's over man!" he added.

The two said they were not excited about legalization, because it's "boring."

"The last time I bought weed it was in a store in a strip mall," Marin said.

"Well where'd you used to buy it?" Colbert asked.

Marin quipped, "Behind a store in a strip mall."

Chong announced that the iconic duo was no longer doing stoner comedies. But they reassured Colbert they weren't quitting comedy and were just moving onto "edgier territory stuff, stuff that's still illegal," such as unpasteurized dairy products.

The two explained they were into other illicit stuff as well, like "importing exotic reptiles," and "taping an distributing football games without the express-written consent of the NFL."

Watch the full segment below:

Click here for reuse options! More than half a million marijuana arrests were made in 2016.

Texas law enforcement make more annual marijuana arrests than do police in any other state, according to newly reported arrest data compiled by Jon Gettman, associate professor of criminal justice at Shenandoah University.

Of the nearly 531,000 marijuana arrests reported to the FBI in 2016, the most recent year for which data is available, an estimated 12 percent of arrests occurred in Texas. (Marijuana arrest data for the states of Florida, Illinois, and Washington, DC were not reported that year.) Six addition states – Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia – also reported 20,000+ marijuana arrests in 2016. Here is a look at the top 5 states on this list.

TEXAS

Texas has long been the statewide leader in marijuana arrests and 2016 was no exception. Police made 64,949 cannabis-related arrests that year, 98 percent of which were for simple possession. Under state law, all of these offenders face up to 180 days in jail, a $2,000 fine, and a lifelong criminal record.

Lawmakers in 2017 introduced legislation seeking to decriminalize minor marijuana possession offenses, but members of the House of Representative failed to hold a vote on the issue. As a result of this inaction, DA’s in various Texas cities, like Houston and San Antonio, have recently enacted municipal ‘cite-and-release’ programs. Under these local policies, defendants who successfully complete a pre-trial diversion program are shielded from receiving a criminal record.

 

NEW YORK

As in past years, New York City remains the marijuana arrest capitol of North America. Despite repeated pledges from NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio that he would discourage the NYPD from making low-level pot arrests, city cops nonetheless made over 18,000 marijuana arrests in 2016 – comprising nearly half of the 36,997 total cannabis arrests statewide.

Ironically, lawmakers in 1977 decriminalized minor marijuana possession offenses – an act that should have halted the majority of these arrests. However, a loophole in the state law continues to allow for police, at their discretion, to bump charges up to a criminal misdemeanor in instances where they say the marijuana was “open to public view.” Repeated legislative attempts in recent years to close this loophole have been unsuccessful.

 

NEW JERSEY

Despite growing support among Garden State voters in favor of the outright legalization of cannabis, annual marijuana arrests in New Jersey have skyrocketed in recent years – up some 25 percent since 2014 to total 35,700 in 2016. This spike in marijuana law enforcement occurred under former Governor, and long-time anti-pot zealot, Chris Christie. By contrast, newly elected Gov. Phil Murphy campaigned on a promise to legalize adult marijuana use.

Since taking office, Gov. Murphy has stood firm on his pledge. In March, he moved forward with regulatory changes to greatly expand patients use of and access to medical cannabis. More recently, during his 2019 budget address, he double-down in his support for regulating the drug as opposed to simply decriminalizing it.

“I greatly respect those in this chamber who have proposed decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, and I thank them for recognizing the importance of doing what's right and just for those who carry criminal records for past possession arrests. But decriminalization alone will not put the corner dealer out of business, it will not help us protect our kids, and it will not end the racial disparities we see,” he said. “If these are our goals – as they must be – then the only sensible option is the careful legalization, regulation, and taxation of marijuana sales to adults.”

 

PENNSYLVANIA

Police in the Keystone State made 23,844 arrests for marijuana-related crimes in 2016. Eighty-three percent of those were for simple possession. Nonetheless, there are some signs of progress. In recent years, Philadelphia politicians have moved forward with efforts to aggressively reduce the number of minor marijuana arrests in the city. Specifically, this past February, newly elected District Attorney Larry Krasner announced that his office will cease prosecuting marijuana possession offenses altogether. Other cities, including Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and State College, Pennsylvania have also adopted municipal decriminalization ordinances in recent years. The state’s Democrat Governor, Tom Wolf, is also on the record in support of decriminalization statewide, tweeting last month: “I support decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana. [We] shouldn’t focus on incarcerating people for [the] possession of small amounts of marijuana.”

 

MISSOURI

Like in New Jersey, marijuana arrests in the Show Me State have risen significantly in recent years – totaling 22,462 in 2016. Fortunately, many of those facing low level possession charges no longer face the threat of jail time, as per legislation enacted on January 1, 2017. Under the new law, marijuana offenses involving the possession of ten grams or less face a fine, but not incarceration. Those found guilty of possessing greater amounts, however, face up to one year in jail.

Paul Armentano is the Deputy Director of NORML — the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. He is the co-author of the book, Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink? (Chelsea Green, 2013) and the author of the book, The Citizen’s Guide to State-By-State Marijuana Laws (Whitman Press, 2015).

 

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wrmf.com Larry Sanders Show (Tue Apr 24 19:49:21 2018 PDT) [$drug_related(90%), $drugwar_propaganda(100%), $celebrity_scapegoat(100%), $illegal_drugs(50%), $drug_reformer(90%), $hallucinogen(50%), $chemicals(85%), $psychedelic(50%), $intoxicant(50%), $depressant_intoxicant(85%), $alcohol(85%), $spice(50%)]

CNN
Dr. Sanjay Gupta to Jeff Sessions: Medical marijuana could save many addicted to opioids
CNN
These are desperate times, and while some may consider making medical marijuana widely available to be a desperate measure, the evidence has become increasingly clear of the important role cannabis can have. We have seen real-world clues of medical ...
Trump Basically Says Obama-Era Marijuana Policies Aren't Going to ChangeEntrepreneur
Why legal marijuana is abandoning weed's old slangWashington Post
The best way to fight illegal pot is with legal cannabisThe Hill
STAT -WWBT NBC12 News -The San Diego Union-Tribune
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