Weed in America nears its tipping point, as on the same day Illinois’ Senate approved its medical marijuana program,  Ohio’s attorney general ratified a petition for its own. Illinois becomes all-but-certainly the 20th medical marijuana state, as its governor is expected to sign off on the measure.

Likewise, while Ohio’s measure has a long way to go, polling indicates the state’s voters will vote for legal medical cannabis. Which means, including the District of Columbia, residents in 23 regions will have some type of medical marijuana policy. While the breadth and flexibility of these laws vary from state to state, it’s exciting to see America near a 50-50 medical vs. non-medical split.

And it will ne even more interesting–on the same day the Americas Coalition discussed legalization–to see if the federal government will start taking legalization–in a country where the majority of people approve of legal weed and believe the drug War is a complete waste of government.

For reference, here are the current 18 medical states in America and their policies courtesy of Procon.org:

Doomed Policies, Federal Prohibition On The Ropes…

Some facts are hard to explain, others speak for themselves. After the last 75 + years of suffering a failed drug policy, and witnessing millions of lives being ruthlessly thrown on the trash heap of “bull shit mountain.” American’s have finally grown tired of seeing the tragic waste of human potential brought on by the feds cruel policies of craziness  and treachery. 

Reason-Rupe has just released new polling data that revealed only a minuscule percentage of Americans believe that marijuana use and possession should result in jail time. When asked which approach they thought the government and law enforcement should take toward someone found smoking marijuana or in possession of a small amount of marijuana, only 6% responded that they should be sent to jail. 35% of respondents said that these individuals shouldn’t be punished at all, 32% responded they should pay a fine, and 20% said they should have to attended substance abuse courses.

The survey also found that 52% of Americans favor federal legislation that would prevent the federal government from prosecuting people who grow [cannabis], possess, or sell marijuana in the states that have legalized it. Recently, Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) introduced the “Respect State Marijuana Laws Act” which would do exactly that. You can click here to easily contact your Representative and urge him or her to support this measure.

Full results of this poll are available here.

 Source:

Well… You won’t get an argument from this corner, that slinging weed and coffee is not a ‘step up’ – at least compared to his last gig. But apparently Patrick Dempsey is taking serious his next career move… It has nothing to do with acting, and is a world apart from his cycling, or his fast paced car racing days. That’s right, the ex Dr. McDreamy, would rather go by the pseudonym – Dr. Feel Good while slinging his newly purchased companies brand of coffee at Tully’s.

Dempsey’s newest cross venture, combining both a passion for elevated thinking and tasty Java, will cost the ex-fake Dr., a few of his Grey’s Anatomy paychecks, totaling $9.15 million.

Patrick sat down and spoke about his passion for his new chronic business project, in a brief question and answer session with bon appétit: during which Dempsey noted he “wanted to bring to Tully’s back to life.”

Making the observation “Coffee is good for your mind – it’s basically a legalized drug,” Dempsey explained. “The next step is selling marijuana, of course.“

[And another closet pot fan has come out of the dark – and joins the rest of us 420 fans in the light of day. Congratulations Patrick.]

Patrick’s latest career choice demonstrates a little bit of unorthodox, out-of-the-box thinking. And I’m sure it’s caught some of his elderly female fan base off guard, or perhaps unprepared for his seemingly left-leaning career change to Bud tender and hipster coffee barista . But there is a spark of capitalist genius there as well.

When the topic was broached regarding the possibility of a ‘to go window’ where patrons could get their coffee and weed to go… Patrick noted “there is a business model there,” he then explained. “You could present it in a beautiful, elegant way: a Michelin-starred coffee shop where you can get marijuana.” Like I said, a spark of capitalist genius – so long as you don’t smoke and drive afterwards.

Looks like the cast from Grey’s Anatomy were part of Patrick’s market research…

Not all embrace the idea that politics is a full contact sport. But it most certainly is, or at least it’s become one. “No pain, no gain” as the saying goes. And as the out party often does, on a two-term president…the GOP are trying to bring the pain down on Pres. Obama from all sides, ensuring Hillary’s defeat in 2016.

Unfortunately for President Obama’s team, his own attorney general keeps fumbling, handing over the political football – and making it easy for all to criticize his administrations play-calling.

Not satisfied with the recent fast and furious scandal – and the unjust sodomizing of state sanctioned medical marijuana collectives, Atty. Gen. Holder decided to take his undermining of the administration up a notch, as was exposed during yesterday’s House oversight hearing. While the hearing primarily concentrated on the hostile search of the AP’s phone logs by the feds, and the IRS’s invasive colonoscopy of the tax exempt status – requested by several right wing teabager groups. One righteously concerned House member seized the opening to throw AG Holder a ‘stiff-left’ straight arm to his grill. Questioning him over an equally disturbing DOJ ‘misstep’ that has fired up condemnation from both parties closet pot smokers. Pissed off, and not afraid to show it, Rep. Steve Cohen a Democrat from Tennessee ripped into the freshly bruised AG over his methodology of harassing medical marijuana collectives in states that allow them. Requesting clarity on the logic of his DOJ’s “continuing to put people in jail,” despite several national polls showing the majority of  today’s Americans play for team “legalize marijuana”:

Rep. Steve Cohen a D Tennessee — “One of the greatest threats to liberty has been the government taking people’s liberty for things that people are in favor of. The Pew Research Group shows that 52 percent of people do not think marijuana should be illegal. And yet there are people in jail, and your Justice Department is continuing to put people in jail, for sale, and use, on occasion, of marijuana. That’s something the American public has finally caught up with. It was a cultural lag. And it’s been an injustice for 40 years in this country to take people’s liberty for something that was similar to alcohol. You have continued what is allowing the Mexican cartels power, and the power to make money, ruin Mexico, hurt our country by having a prohibition in the late 20th and 21st century. We saw it didn’t work in this country in the 20s. We remedied it. This is the time to remedy this Prohibition, and I would hope you would do so.”

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“Let food be thy medicine, thy medicine shall be thy food.” - Hippocrates of Cos

As Americans try and sift through some of the rather confusing and conflicting information regarding medical marijuana, one thing remains certain…this is a growth industry that will not go away. And while those who love pot the most, swear by smoking or vaporizing it. The edible, THC infused food end of this national issue is where many believe the majority of the growth is headed.

That’s right, Marijuana’s roots have taken hold of Betty Crocker’s recipe book– and is turning things upside down. No longer do people have to smoke weed to feel the relaxing calm of marijuana’s cannabinoids. Now, with today’s technology medical marijuana patients and recreational smokers alike —  no longer need to “fire up” to get that elevated feeling.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) raised the threshold for a positive test for marijuana from 15 nanograms per milliliter to 150 nanograms per milliliter, significantly reducing the likelihood of detection for athletes who use the drug.

“We wanted to focus on the athletes that abuse the substance in competition,” said Julie Masse, WADA’s director of communications. “This should exclude cases where marijuana is not used in competition.”

Although marijuana is not considered a performance-enhancing drug, WADA included it on its initial list of prohibited substances in 2003 after caving in to pressure from U.S. sports officials.

“From a sports perspective, I was rather ambivalent (toward marijuana),” stated Richard Pound, an attorney who was WADA’s initial chief and still serves on the Foundation Board. “As we morphed into WADA, the USA was very keen to have it included.”

Although marijuana thresholds and testing are vague indicatives rather than precise measurements of use, WADA hopes that the new limit will lessen the chance that responsible recreational users will suffer disciplinary action. In recent years, a number of athletes, some of them legitimate medical marijuana patients, have faced suspensions and huge fines failing post-competition marijuana tests.

“There is no desire to go soft on the list,” WADA’s Athlete Committee announced, “but members want cheaters to be caught for cheating, not for recreational usage.”

Thanks to Amendment 64, it’s now (basically?) legal to grow Hemp in Colorado. And  Colorado native Ryan Loflin has already planted the seeds of charity capitalism in the Mile High State: 60 acres of it, in fact.

Farmer Ryan Loflin on Monday planted the nation’s first industrial hemp crop in almost 60 years.

Loflin’s plans to grow hemp already have been chronicled, and Monday’s planting attracted the attention of more media in southeastern Colorado and a documentary film crew.

Hemp is genetically related to marijuana but contains little or no THC, the psychoactive substance in marijuana.Hemp has dozens of uses in food, cosmetics, clothing and industrial materials.

Cultivation in small test plots became legal last year under a Colorado law. The passage of Amendment 64 in November allowed commercial growing, even though hemp, like marijuana, is illegal under federal law.

Loflin is planting 60 acres on acreage previously used to grow alfalfa. He and business partner Chris Thompson also are installing a seed press to produce hemp oil.

Collaborators in the documentary include the Colorado-based advocacy group Hemp Cleans and hemp-products company Hemp Inc.

“This is monumental for our industry,” said Bruce Perlowin, chief executive of Hemp Inc. “It will unlock a clean industrial revolution that will be good for the economy, good for jobs and good for the environment.”

Its a ballsy-yet-savvy business move. But you know, there’s a slight kink: it’s still federally illegal. Your move, DEA…

Source: Denver Post

Colorado lawmakers made history Wednesday by approving first-in-the nation regulations governing the retail production and sale of cannabis to those age 21 and older.

The Huffington Post has the story here:

On the final day of the legislative session, Colorado lawmakers finally passed two historic bills to implement recreational marijuana legalization in the state — making Colorado the first state in the U.S. to take such steps toward the legal sale, regulation and tax of marijuana for recreational use.

House Bill 1317, which proposes the regulatory framework for legal marijuana, passed the Senate on a 29-6 vote and passed the House on a 37-28 vote, on Wednesday.

House Bill 1318, which proposes the tax rates which will fund the regulatory framework for legal marijuana sales and will ultimately need Colorado voter approval, passed the Senate 25-10 and passed the House 37-28, Wednesday.

Both the regulatory framework bill and the tax bill head to Gov. John Hickenlooper’s desk and appear poised to become law.

The two measures do not impact the state’s existing medical marijuana laws, nor do they interfere with existing legal protections legalizing the personal possession (up to one ounce) and cultivation (up to six plants) for non-commercial purposes.

Further details about the newly approved regulatory bills is available here.

Lawmakers’ proposed tax scheme on the commercial production and retail sale of cannabis must be approved by a majority of state voters before being implemented. Proposed taxes do not apply to those engaged in the personal cultivation or not-for-profit transfers of cannabis.

Lawmakers’ proposals come six months after 55 percent of state voters approved Amendment 64, which legalizes the adults possession and cultivation of limited quantities of marijuana, and tasked the state with establishing regulations for the retail production and sale of cannabis to the public.

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