Monthly Archives: October 2012
When can police dogs sniff at the door?
By Pete Williams, NBC News justice correspondentThe idea that your home is your castle lies at the heart of the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches. So what if the police bring a dog to sniff for evidence at the castle door?
Two cases from Florida, to be argued Wednesday, ask the U.S. Supreme Court to decide when the police need a search warrant to use drug-sniffing dogs at a house, and how much legal authority a dog’s alert gives police to search a car.
The front-door case comes from Dade County, where police received a Crime Stoppers tip that occupants of a house were growing marijuana. After watching the house for about 15 minutes, police and federal agents sent for Franky, a drug-sniffing dog.
A police handler walked the dog up to the front door, where Franky alerted the officer by sitting down after sniffing at the base… Continue reading
“Should marijuana use be legalized?” US News & World Report Asks
Today’s installment of US News & World Report’s ‘Debate Club’ asks the question, “Should marijuana use be legalized?”
http://www.usnews.com/debate-club/should-marijuana-use-be-legalized
Participating in the round table and providing the ‘pro’ arguments are Alison Holcolm (New Approach Washington) and myself.
Participating on the con side are: Kevin Sabet and David Evans (Drug Free America Foundation).
Links for each commentary may be found below:
Armentano: Marijuana Regulation Works and Prohibition Fail
http://www.usnews.com/debate-club/should-marijuana-use-be-legalized/marijuana-regulation-works-and-prohibition-fails
Holcolm: Marijuana Use Should Not Be a Crime
http://www.usnews.com/debate-club/should-marijuana-use-be-legalized/marijuana-use-should-not-be-a-crime
Sabet: There Are Smarter Ways to Deal With Marijuana Than Legalizatio
http://www.usnews.com/debate-club/should-marijuana-use-be-legalized/there-are-smarter-ways-to-deal-with-marijuana-than-legalization
Evans: Marijuana Legalization Costs Outweighs Its Benefit
http://www.usnews.com/debate-club/should-marijuana-use-be-legalized/marijuana-legalizations-costs-outweigh-its-benefits
As in past editions of US News’ ‘Debate Club’, editors are asking visitors to the debate to vote ‘up’ the commentaries they like and to vote ‘down’ the arguments they oppose. Please feel free to vote and to share this link with others.
Regards, — Paul Armentano Deputy Director NORML | NORML Foundation… Continue reading
MISSOURI CANNABIS CONFERENCE
MISSOURI CANNABIS CONFERENCE AT MU ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, October 30, 2012
For More Information:
Dan Viets 573-819-2669
Alexis Lyle 636-866-5350
The largest gathering of cannabis law reform advocates in Missouri this year will take place just three days before three states vote on legalization of marijuana for adults. Colorado, Washington and Oregon voters will decide whether to legalize, and polls currently indicate that legalization is likely to pass in both Colorado and Washington.
On Saturday, November 3, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Allen Auditorium in the MU Arts & Science building at Ninth Street and Conley Avenue, activists will gather to lay plans for similar legislation in Missouri. The morning will consist of presentations by leaders of NORML Chapters from St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield, as well as the MU NORML Chapter in Columbia. Also speaking will be members of the Board… Continue reading
Marijuana Arrests Decline In 2011, But Still Total Half Of All Illicit Drug Violations
Washington, DC: Police made 757,969 arrests in 2011 for marijuana-related offenses, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s annual Uniform Crime Report, released today. The total is a decrease from past years. During the years 2006 to 2010, police annually made over 800,000 arrests for cannabis violations.
According to the report, marijuana arrests now comprise one-half of all illicit drug arrests in the United States. Approximately 43 percent of all drug violations are for cannabis possession.
“As in past years, the so-called ‘drug war’ remains fueled by the arrests of minor marijuana possession offenders,” NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “Cannabis prohibition financially burdens taxpayers, encroaches upon civil liberties, engenders disrespect for the law, impedes upon legitimate scientific research into the plant’s medicinal properties, and disproportionately impacts communities of color. It’s time to stop stigmatizing and criminalizing tens of millions of Americans for choosing to consume a substance that… Continue reading
Letter from South Dakota Physician
|
Mailed Oct. 22, 2012 Rep. Genuine Compassion Greetings, Rep. Compassion; SoDakNORML sent the following letter to all members of a So. Dak. legislative committee scheduled to take testimony on two medical cannabis issues in 2010. Dr. Traub, a Rapid City internal medicine specialist, wrote the letter below to the committees, advocating recognition of medical cannabis in 2010. In those hearings, no legislator mentioned the letter. We reprint it here. To the legislature: Thank you for the opportunity to address you on behalf of my patients with multiple sclerosis and AIDS wasting syndrome who have found relief from their symptoms by using marijuana (THC). I am hopeful that the legislative process might be able to address their needs by reconsidering a limited legalization of marijuana for very limited medical use, similar to that in other states. I… Continue reading |
Sorting out the latest medical marijuana news
Federal agents bust a bunch of L.A. and Orange County pot shops.
A San Diego judge says its OK to purchase pot.
Medical marijuana news can leave you in a haze. Let’s sort out the latest:
First, federal prosecutors Thursday said agents arrested a dozen people associated with a chain of nine marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles and Orange Counties on drug trafficking charges.
“Most of the stores previously were the subject of search warrants executed in 2010 and 2011,” read a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office. “Most of the nine stores are now closed, but several are believed to still be in operation.”
Prosecutors allege one dispensary - Safe Harbor Collective in Dana Point - made $2.5 million in 2009. Shop owner John Melvin Walker allegedly told his bookkeeper “to destroy all records pertaining to income.” He also allegedly possessed an AK-47, and nearly $400,000 in cash. Walker’s… Continue reading
Women Needed to Legalize Pot
Colorado, and the multi-state effort to legalize marijuana in November needs you now more than ever. In Colorado especially, polls are showing an encouraging growth in support for Amendment 64 among women (from 49% support in September, to 50% support in October), but female support still trails their male counterparts by 5% points. Fact: this election will be decided by the female vote. Marijuana can only be legalized if we have a majority of support among women. It is crucial we do everything we can to support the work of Colorado’s Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcoholand make history on November 6.
Our friends at Just Say Now have created an online phone bank you can use to make calls from anywhere in the country. This tool includes its own woman-to-woman phone bank that we can use to reach out to women voters in Colorado and inspire them to… Continue reading
Loading ...