4/20 Denver Whupped My Ass

All photos by Bob StarrettBy Bob StarrettThat’s not true; I admit it right off. Replacing the radiator in my car whupped my ass, or rather my right shoulder and neck. So when we did arrive at Civic Ce

Obama Explains Increasing MMJ Crackdowns

Amid an increased crackdown on medical marijuana producers across the nation, including a recent high-profile raid on a California training school, President Barack Obama faced questions in a new interview with Rolling Stone about the seeming disconnect between his 2008 campaign rhetoric and his administration’s actions since he took office. “I’m not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws [on medical marijuana],” Obama promised in 2008, according to an earlier Rolling Stone report. But Attorney General Eric Holder announced in 2010 that federal authorities would continue to prosecute individuals for marijuana possession, despite its legalized status in some states. The Huffington Post’s Lucia Graves reported recently on subsequent enforcement activity: Since then, the administration has unleashed an interagency cannabis crackdown that goes beyond anything seen under the Bush administration, with more than 100 raids, primarily on California pot dispensaries, many of them operating in full compliance with state laws. Since October 2009, the Justice Department has conducted more than 170 aggressive SWAT-style raids in 9 medical marijuana states, resulting in at least 61 federal indictments, according to data compiled by Americans for Safe Access, an advocacy group. Speaking with Rolling Stone, the president tried to explain his original comments, claiming that the recent pressure on dispensaries and providers was in line with his intent. “What I specifically said was that we were not going to prioritize prosecutions of persons who are using medical marijuana,” Obama said. “I never made a commitment that somehow we were going to give carte blanche to large-scale producers and operators of marijuana — and the reason is, because it’s against federal law.” The president continued: “I can’t nullify congressional law. I can’t ask the Justice Department to say, ‘Ignore completely a federal law that’s on the books.’ What I can say is, ‘Use your prosecutorial discretion and properly prioritize your resources to go after things that are really doing folks damage.’ As a consequence, there haven’t been prosecutions of users of marijuana for medical purposes.” Obama then shifted gears away from marijuana, saying that a “broader debate” on drug laws was warranted. While the president appears to believe that his administration’s actions against medical cannabis don’t conflict with his earlier statements on the issue, some lawmakers around the country disagree. Lawmakers in five states that have legalized medical marijuana recently wrote a letter to Obama criticizing him for a supposed “contradiction” on the matter and calling on the federal government “not to interfere with our ability to control and regulate how medical marijuana is grown and distributed.” Source: Huffington Post (NY) Published: April 25, 2012 Copyright: 2012 HuffingtonPost.com, LLC Contact: scoop@huffingtonpost.com Website: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

The Case for Increased Funding for Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections

Written by Stephanie S. Arnold Pang for RH Reality Check. This diary is cross-posted; commenters wishing to engage directly with the author should do so at the original post. This article is published in partnership with the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) as part of our joint series on STD Awareness. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) remain a Related Stories It’s 2012. Shouldn’t College Students Know to Wrap It Up Already? (A Graduate Student’s Perspective) Title X and The Role of Family Planning Providers in Preventing and Treating Sexually Transmitted Infections Is Criminalization of HIV Transmission Effective? Swedish Case Reveals Why the Answer is No

Doomed To Repeat It: Is Tennessee’s New "Monkey Law" Just Scopes All Over Again?

The Volunteer State has set itself up for a replay of its 1926 Scopes Monkey Trial humiliation. And the ACLU attorney who won Kitzmiller v. Dover can’t wait.

Supreme Court Asks Hard Questions at Oral Arguments Over Arizona’s Extreme Immigration Law

The justices signalled that this may not be the end of the fight over SB 1070.

The World’s Insurers Brace For Climate Change — Except In America

Climate change is increasing insurance costs all over the world. But a recent Ceres report finds that American firms are still in denial.

City of Miami Beach Settles False Arrest Case with Marijuana Rights Activist

A staple joke from late night comedians, going back to George Carlin in the 1970s, is about how cannabis law reformers are too stoned to gather signatures and turn them in, when, ironically, or not, it is usually agents of the government who more often than not interfere with the democratic process of citizens gathering signatures in public to petition their government for grievance. A case example from a local effort in Miami Beach to reform the city’s cannabis laws has resulted in NORML-affiliated lawyers procuring a monetary settlement with the city, that now, almost karmically, will help fund a cannabis reformer’s further advocacy. From the law firm of NORML board member Norman Kent of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida: The City of Miami Beach has agreed to pay a monetary settlement to marijuana rights activist, C.D. Flash, for damages he suffered during a false arrest in October, 2010.  The settlement was paid as Mr. Flash was preparing to file suit claiming that his arrest was a direct violation of his First Amendment right to engage in political petitioning in public spaces. Mr. Flash was collecting signatures for a marijuana decriminalization petition on the Lincoln Road mall when he was stopped by Miami Beach Code Enforcement and Police officers, who incorrectly informed him that he needed a permit to collect signatures. When Mr. Flash asserted that he had the constitutional right to collect signatures in public, he was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct.  Mr. Flash maintains that he was never disorderly and complied with the requests of the police, but that he insisted upon exercising his right to remain and gather petition signatures. Mr. Flash was jailed for 24 hours a result of his arrest and was required to face the charges in court.  On January 12, 2011, Mr. Flash appeared in court with his attorney, Russell Cormican, only to have the State dismiss all charges moments before the case was called for trial.  The prosecutor indicated that the arresting officer, John Pereira, no longer had any recollection of the arrest, despite the fact that it had occurred less than 90 days earlier.  Officer Pereira has a long history of disciplinary issues, with numerous internal affairs complaints, including one filed by the sister of singer, Beyonce Knowles. “Mr. Flash was clearly targeted for arrest based on the fact that his political beliefs were unpopular with police officers” said Mr. Cormican, attorney for Mr. Flash.  ”It is very encouraging to see the City of Miami Beach offering to quickly settle this case and acknowledge the right of individuals to engage in peaceful political expression, no matter what their viewpoint is.” Mr. Flash was working in conjunction with the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy (CSMP) and was gathering petition signatures for a ballot initiative that seeks to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.  The initiative would allow police officers to give offenders a citation in lieu arresting them if the possession was for less than 20 grams. The violation could then be satisfied with the payment of a $100.00 fine.  Mr. Flash intends to utilize the proceeds from his settlement to continue working for the reform of marijuana laws. *   *   *   *   * Mr. Cormican, and his law partner, Norm Kent , have set up CAFA, Citizens Against False Arrest, to redress grievances of citizens who are illegally prosecuted or arrested while exercising their constitutional rights of free speech.  

Occupy The Progressive Movement: Why Occupy Should Embrace "Co-Optation"

An Occupy organizer asks: When established groups show up wanting to help, then who’s really co-opting whom?

How a Rising Block of Countries Will Challenge America

There’s a rising new bloc on the planet: BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). What does that mean for America?

Was It The Odor Or Posted Photo On Instagram? Regardless, Wiz Khalifa Busted In Music City

The Tennessean reported last night that popular musician Wiz Khalifa and a friend were busted in Nashville after police received complaints of the strong odor of cannabis apparently emanating from Wiz’s hotel room (I’m shocked !). After unsuccessfully trying to ditch a blunt out a window upon police entry, the pair were busted. Every 38 seconds in America, another cannabis consumer is busted on ganja charges ( 850,000 per year ), and with a pro-cannabis profile as high as Wiz’s (heck, hours before he was busted he posted a photo to Instagram depicting his branded rolling papers next to what looks like some excellent cannabis!) whether it was his super stinky stash or Wiz’s number as a cannabis consumer simply came up to become yet another tragic statistic in the 74-year old failed Cannabis Prohibition. If Wiz needs legal help in Nashville or wants to perform a benefit concert for Tennessee NORML when he has to soon return to deal with their criminal justice system…NORML is here!

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