It's 4:20 Somewhere

The new American Gladiators!

2008-02-01T10:11:00.000+01:00

Happy & I watched the first episode of the 2008 edition of American Gladiators and have to say...it was AWESOME! We both used to love this show growing up and used to shake our heads as these contenders went up these beasts of humans in the various events. Now the show is "new and improved" and it totally rocks. The Eliminator is seriously fierce and the women seem to be at the very end of their limits when they finish that thing. But now Shanae (hope I spelled that right) has set a hell of a time for the other women to try to beat - she seriously dominated that thing!

We're looking forward to the next couple of episodes and have a bit of catching up to do...but since we're living "across the pond" anyway we don't have the luxury of flipping on NBC every Monday night to get our Gladiator fix. But at least this way we can catch up whenever we are ready...and can elect to go through the entire season at once if we just can't contain ourselves and have slacked off on the watching!

Oh, and we can't wait for this stupid writers strike to finally end...we're having serious withdrawal from our favorite shows...but at least House is finally back!

Watching movies the first time, every time

2008-01-31T13:26:00.000+01:00

We created a little slogan here a while back when we first formed 420-Movies. It goes like this, "Watch a movie for the first time, every time."

You might wonder what that's supposed to mean. Well, we've noticed that when we're smoking, we often can watch a movie that we know we've seen before - but somehow not really remember clearly what will happen next or what the final outcome of the movie is. Strange how that might happen, right? ;-)

That being said, last night I decided to watch Pirates of the Carribean - Dead Man's Chest. I love these movies. Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow is just fantastic and the whole pirate world they create in these films is just incredible.

We saw The World's End a few weeks ago and during the whole film I kept wondering if we'd actually seen Dead Man's Chest. I couldn't remember much of what I would have seen anyway since it had been a few years...but somehow I couldn't remember anything leading up to this third part of the trilogy. S

So last night I was here alone because Happy was traveling, and I decided to give Dead Man's Chest a try to see if I recalled anything. As it turns out, I didn't remember it at all. That's doesn't always mean a lot since I don't really recall most of the details of a film until the second or third viewing...but this was one film I couldn't remember at all. So I asked Happy about it on the phone and he didn't remember anything either...so apparently we just skipped a film. Not that it really mattered...you can almost watch them in any order but it does fit together much better when you've seen the second one since they lead right into each other...

Sorry for the rambling, just had to comment on that :)

In Memory of Heath Ledger: April 4, 1979 - January 22, 2008

2008-01-23T08:23:00.000+01:00

As we woke up this morning and started checking to see what happened in the world while we were sleeping, we were stunned to learn about the sudden death of actor Heath Ledger. At only 28, he was far too young to leave this world and it's tragic that his 2 year old daughter, Matilda, will likely have very few memories of her father when she's grown.

Another talented actor, gone far too soon from this world.

Let's just remember him for some of his performances:

10 Things I Hate About You Patrick 'Pat' Verona
This was actually the first scene I thought of when I heard he had passed - such a cute moment.

A Knight's Tale Sir William Thatcher/Sir Ulrich Von Lichtenstein of Gelderland
This is one of my favorite movies. Loved the soundtrack and the eleborate sets and costumes. Add it in with the romance and warrior mentality - just a great film!

Monsters Ball Sonny Grotowski
I only recently saw this movie and was pretty shocked with Heath's role. He definitely started on a much more serious path with his acting lately...and I'm sure he would have contributed a lot more great moments to the Silver Screen. His role was far too brief in this movie but still great.

To the family and friends of Heath Ledger, we're all sorry for your loss and hope that you can find solitude and peace in the wake of this terrible event. Heath was one of the few actors lately who seemed to really have his feet planted on the ground. It's hard to grasp why the most talented die so young.

Some wierd & useless facts for Wednesday

2008-01-16T14:27:00.001+01:00

In the 1400's a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have 'the rule of thumb'

Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled 'Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden'...and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.

The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.

Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S . Treasury

Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.

Coca-Cola was originally green.

It is impossible to lick your elbow.

The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska

The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this...)

The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $ 16,400

The average number of people airborne over the U.S. in any given hour: 61,000

Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.

The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.

Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:

Spades - King David
Hearts - Charlemagne
Clubs -Alexander, the Great
Diamonds - Julius Caesar

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.

Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?
A. Their birthplace

Q. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested?
A. Obsession

Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter 'A'?
A. One thousand

Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?
A. All were invented by women.

Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A. Honey

Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?
A. Father's Day

In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase......... 'goodnight, sleep tight.'

It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.

In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England , when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.' It's where we get the phrase 'mind your P's and Q's'

Many years ago in England , pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. 'Wet your whistle' is the phrase inspired by this practice.

At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow!

Freaking out about lizards

2008-01-16T14:16:00.000+01:00

You've probably seen this video a million times but it's always good for a laugh!!

Best Colleges for Stoners

2007-08-24T08:24:00.000+02:00

The 2008 Princeton Review of the "Best 366 Colleges" is out and for anyone who has "marijuana friendly" at the top of their list of "most important characteristics about my future college," you might want to check out Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina.

Not surprisingly, the US Air Force Academy tops the list of the least pot friendly campuses, and most of the other US military academies are at the high end of that list.

Here's the entire list of the "Reefer Madness" schools

Warren Wilson College
Bard College
University of Vermont
University of California - Santa Cruz
Lewis & Clark College
Pitzer College
Hampshire College
New College of Florida
The University of Texas at Austin (HOOK 'EM HORNS!)
Sarah Lawrence University
West Virginia University
Wesleyen University
Guilford College
Skidmore College
University of Colorado, Boulder
Ithaca College
University of California - Santa Barbara
Eckerd College
Vassar College
Oberlin College

Alcohol And Cocaine – But Not Cannabis – Linked To Violent Behavior, Study Says

2007-08-24T08:17:00.000+02:00

Damn, I could've told them this!! I always love these studies that they pay so much money for and when the results come out you just look and them and think, "Well duh!" They could have just conducted a survey to potheads...we're too couch-locked to be violent! :) But since so many still think Reefer Madness is actually a legitimate interpretation of what people do after smoking, I guess a study like this might be worthwhile somehow...

Alcohol And Cocaine – But Not Cannabis – Linked To Violent Behavior, Study Says

Victoria, British Columbia:

Cannabis use is not independently associated with causing violence, according to the results of a multivariate analysis to be published in the journal Addictive Behaviors.

Investigators at the University of Victoria, Centre for Addictions Research assessed how frequently subjects in a substance abuse treatment facility reported using cocaine, alcohol, and/or cannabis in the hours immediately prior to committing a violent act. Researchers also evaluated subjects’ personality for characteristics associated with violent behavior, such as risk-taking, impulsivity, and/or disrespect for the law.

Investigators concluded: "When analyses were conducted controlling for covariates, the frequency of alcohol and cocaine use was significantly related to violence, suggesting that pharmacological effects [of the drugs] may play a role in violence. Frequency of cannabis use, however, was not significantly related to violence when controlling for other factors."

The study’s conclusions are similar to the findings of a pair of recent government reports refuting allegations that cannabis use triggers violent behavior. The first, published by the Canadian Senate in 2002, determined: "Cannabis use does not induce users to commit other forms of crime. Cannabis use does not increase aggressiveness or anti-social behavior."

The second review, published by the British Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, reported: "Cannabis differs from alcohol in one major respect. It does not seem to increase risk-taking behavior. This means that cannabis rarely contributes to violence either to others or to oneself, whereas alcohol use is a major factor in deliberate self-harm, domestic accidents and violence."

Most recently, a logistical regression analysis of approximately 900 trauma patients published in the Journal of TRAUMA Injury, Infection, and Critical Care, determined that the use of cannabis is not independently associated with either violent or non-violent injuries requiring hospitalization. By contrast, alcohol and cocaine use are associated with violence-related injuries, the study found.

For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, "Predicting violence among cocaine, cannabis, and alcohol treatment clients," will appear in the journal Addictive Behaviors. Additional audio commentary regarding this study is available on the August 15, 2007 broadcast of the NORML Audio Stash at: http://audio.norml.org/audio_stash/NORML_Daily_AudioStash_08_15_2007.mp3.

Going organic with your papers

2007-06-12T10:52:00.000+02:00

Are you sick of the same old rolling papers? Not interested in flavored or printed papers that contain lots of dyes and who knows what else? You no longer have to settle for anything less than organic. The Happy Husk Company has created the ultimate in natural rolling papers by rolling up a pieces of corn husks. A 3-pack of tubes containing 12 papers each is only $8.99. Plus they come in a very cool little waterproof container that you can use over and over again. Single tubes are also available along with a line of clothing. You've gotta love that happy little dancing corn husk.

But I have to wonder if you could do this yourself with cornhusks off ears of corn in your local grocery store or market? Naturally they would need to dry out a bit before you try to use them but we're growing corn in our own back yard so I have to wonder if we could do this for our own use. Truly something I never would have thought to try before. Someone must have had a MacGuyver smoker around when they came up with these things!

"I think we're dying!" Stupid cop calls 911

2007-06-12T10:23:00.000+02:00

"We made brownies and I think we're dead."

"Time is going by really, really, really slow!"

These are just a couple of the brilliant remarks made by office Edward Sanchez when he called into 911 to report an overdose of marijuana by himself and his wife Stacey. Apparently Stacey decided to make some brownies post 4/20 and lifted a bag of weed from his cop car. Or perhaps he brought in the grass himself...we may never know the whole truth. Either way the weed had been confiscated from someone else and Officer Sanchez was supposed to be delivering it to evidence. Read the full news story here.

Here is the complete 911 call made by Sanchez.
Edward Sanchez Calls 911

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And here are a series of follow up calls made by DJ Frane who was just trying to get his hands on this stellar brownie recipe. They claim it was probably a 1/4 oz in the brownies...but if he only had one and she ate the rest of the batch it's no wonder she was on the floor passing out.

DJ Frane calls the Sanchezes Parts 1-3

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Personally I'd say this was just karma catching up with him and his wife who apparently has a bit of a substance abuse problem as it is. Maybe next time they'll leave the weed to those who can handle it or stock up one some munchies before they chow down on pot brownies. Almost everyone knows that eating something will help start breaking down the grass you've ingested.

Weed it & weep! Granny's busted

2007-05-01T11:25:00.000+02:00

Seriously - don't the cops have something better to do??

Weed it & weep! Granny's busted

She is 71 years old, a great-grandmother - hardly the type of person you would expect to see in Bronx Criminal Court to answer charges of buying two dime bags of pot.

Yet at the appointed time today, Barbara Jackson will make her way to the courthouse, a colorectal cancer survivor ready to plead her case.

"I smoke it to live," the feisty granny told the Daily News. "I don't think I should have been arrested."

Jackson said she started smoking the green, leafy drug eight years ago - a year after being diagnosed with cancer - to restore her appetite after chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

"After cancer treatments, I was very sick," she said. "I couldn't eat and could not stand the smell of food."

Even though her cancer is in remission, she lost her appetite, Jackson said.

On March 13, she set out to find some more of the illegal drug shehas grown dependent on. She found some close to her house on E.179th St. and began walking down Walton Ave.

Plainclothes cops suddenly descended on her and found the two bags of marijuana on her.

"I am looking for a dismissal in the interest of justice," said Ron Kuby, one of two lawyers representing Jackson. "I would hope the Bronx district attorney's office has more important cases than prosecuting a great-granny for medicinal marijuana."

After her arrest, Jackson was handcuffed and brought to jail. She was taken to the 46th Precinct stationhouse, photographed, fingerprinted and issued a desk appearance ticket that she must answer today.

Her other lawyer, David Pressman, said it's heartbreaking to see a senior citizen who was "just trying to survive" handcuffed and held in police custody for five hours.

Steven Reed, a spokesman for the Bronx district attorney's office, said his office is not aware of the case because it hasn't come into the the DA's office.

Jackson hopes to get a chance to tell her story.

She weighed 99 pounds when she entered Lincoln Hospital in 1998. After surgery and treatments she lost even more weight. Jackson said her doctor prescribed an appetite enhancer, but it made her sick.

"The medicine gave me a terrible headache," said Jackson, who was raising three great-grandchildren at the time. "I was very weak and sick after treatments. I had diarrhea and was vomiting all the time.

"The smell of food made me sick and I was nauseous," she said. "The marijuana calmed me down and gave me back my appetite. My taste buds are gone, but the marijuana helps me get the food down."

Jackson said she puffed marijuana twice a day in the privacy of her home. Jackson, who now weighs 124 pounds, credits the marijuana with saving her life.

"The marijuana has kept me alive; I wouldn't be here if I didn't smoke," Jackson said. "I know it's illegal, but I did what I had to do to make myself comfortable and restore my quality of life."

That's a lot of weed

2007-04-29T11:31:00.000+02:00

We used to live in Miami...and every time we would see headlines like this, it usually meant that another even more massive shipment of drugs was going unseen. You know, take down something sorta big as a decoy for the massive one that the goverment has agreed to let through. I mean we all have our own thoughts about the corruption of the governments of the world and the drug trade that has been going on... But Miami is another world so I have to wonder if AZ is also in on the game... :)

With any luck they'll burn what the officers don't take home for themselves & the neighbors will be having a hell of a party lol

BODY FOUND; 2,798 POUNDS OF POT SEIZED

A large drug seizure in Green Valley and the discovery of a body believed to be an illegal border crosser in Cochise County marked a busy early week for the Border Patrol.

On Tuesday, a ranch owner near Skeleton Ranch about 30 miles east of Douglas called authorities after a worker on the ranch discovered a man's body, said Gustavo Soto, Border Patrol Tucson Sector spokesman. The agency didn't know his name or age.

Through the end of March, the latest figures available, the agency has reported 49 border deaths in the Tucson Sector, down slightly from the 55 at the same time last year, figures show.

On Monday, Border Patrol agents found nearly 2,800 pounds of marijuana inside a van in Green Valley. A helicopter spotted two vehicles that appeared to be preparing to load illegal entrants. When agents arrived at West Continental Road and South Camino de Sol, they found the van and a white pickup truck, Soto said.

Agents arrested two Mexican citizens, ages 24 and 25, Soto said. Both vehicles were reported stolen.

The 2,798 pounds has an estimated value of $2.798 million, according to figures from the National Drug Intelligence Center.

Through the end of March, agents in the Tucson Sector had seized 498,815 pounds of marijuana, a 38 percent increase from the same time last year.

No there's something useful!

2007-04-29T11:26:00.000+02:00

So we've got the economists on board with decriminalization...and many of the law enforcement officers...so just what sort of logic do we have to use to convince the goverment they could be making a fortune with weed??

According to the report, lifting prohibition and allowing for the taxation of marijuana would save the government approximately $7.7 billion per year in enforcement costs. Of these savings, $5.3 billion would be accumulated at the state and local levels from such expenditures and $2.4 billion at the federal level.

Maybe that's the problem? The states will benefit more than the feds & this is what they have a problem with? ;)

COLLEGE PROFESSOR SAYS THERE MAY BE HOPE, THE FINANCIAL KIND, IN DOPE

College economics professor Carl Moody has endorsed a report advocating the legalization of marijuana, which, according to research done by a Harvard University professor, would create savings and tax revenues resulting in a net gain of approximately $10 to $14 billion annually.

Harvard economics professor Jeffrey Miron's report, published in June 2005, is called "The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition," and has garnered the support of over 530 economists from colleges and universities across the nation.

Focusing on federal budgets, Miron's report notes that "prohibition entails direct enforcement costs and prevents taxation of marijuana production and sale."

Moody decided to express his support for the matter because he has long agreed with Miron's argument, despite the controversy surrounding the issue.

"It just makes so much sense. I've done lots of research, never published it, but I looked into it, and the cost of drug prohibition is just enormous," Moody said in a phone interview. "It is controversial, but look who else supports it. I'm with Nobel Laureate winners. If [Nobel Laureate recipients Dr.] Milton Friedman and [Dr.] Vernon Smith can take the heat, so can I. It's just so sensible, why wouldn't people agree?"

According to the report, lifting prohibition and allowing for the taxation of marijuana would save the government approximately $7.7 billion per year in enforcement costs. Of these savings, $5.3 billion would be accumulated at the state and local levels from such expenditures and $2.4 billion at the federal level.

In Virginia, the police, judicial and corrections budget combined is $2,935 million, of which $99.46 million is attributed to expenditures related to marijuana prohibition, the report says.

In addition to these savings, the report says that the tax revenue gains would be considerable. Depending on the method of taxation, anywhere between $2.4 billion ( if marijuana were taxed like an ordinary product ) and $6.2 billion ( if it were taxed like alcohol or tobacco ) would be accrued annually.

Many of the esteemed endorsers of the report, however, think that the economics are only part of the problem about marijuana prohibition.

"Look at the factual consequences: the harm done and the corruption created by these laws," Friedman said in an interview with Forbes magazine. "The costs are one of the lesser evils."

Although the report espouses the view that legalizing marijuana would have many economic benefits, it acknowledges that the social impacts and consequences of eradicating prohibition were not considered.

Moody, however, feels that the social impacts of lifting prohibition would all be positive.

"It's an unnecessary infringement on rights as a person and the right to do what you want with your body. It's not anybody else's body; it's not the government's. I support [legalization] on philosophical grounds," he said.

His support for the issue of legalization also stems from his view of the negative impacts of prohibition on society and individual freedoms.

"Prohibition leads to empowerment of the law enforcement and police side of government. We're not a police state, but if you stop people from doing what they want it reduces freedom overall. [In situations like this,] police are forced to go undercover or rely on snitches or break into houses [to seek out the criminals.] If prohibition were lifted, there would be a significant shift of usage from alcohol to marijuana, and also from more intense drugs to marijuana, which [in comparison] is pharmacologically mild," Moody said.

Prohibition, in Moody's opinion, is the reason that harder drugs have become more popular.

"[During prohibition in the 1920s,] beer wasn't smuggled in, they took in hard alcohol. Essentially the same thing holds true now. Dangerous, designer drugs are popular because they're easier to smuggle in. You can't fly a plane of marijuana leaves," Moody said.

The report has been summarized in a letter to President George W. Bush, requesting "an open and honest debate about marijuana prohibition" and advocating reform that would allow a system of regulation and taxation similar to that used for the distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages.

"I don't expect significant movement [to change marijuana policy as a result of] the report," Moody said. "This is essentially one drop in a Chinese water torture method to change [the current] policy. Our one drop says 'your policy is stupid.' Sooner or later, reason will win out."

Step away from the cheese kids

2007-04-29T11:21:00.000+02:00

I'm sorry, but what the hell is wrong with these kids & people in general who do this crap? I just can't understand why it seems like a good idea to put this sort of thing in your body?? Heroin & Tylenol PM...and then they end up dying? Well duh!

I mean really. Come on kids - weed, it's the healthy choice!! Although at age 11...or even 15 - you still shouldn't be doing it. Can't you find something to amuse yourselves with instead of thinking, "Hey, why don't we go huff some spray paint? Doesn't that sound like fun??" NOOOOO! Maybe it's just survival of the fittest...I apologize for the rant. It just makes me angry at the stupidity!

POLICE KEEP EYE ON DALLAS AS HEROIN MIX SPREADS, DEATHS RISE

Olga Sanchez thought her 15-year-old son had stopped using "cheese," a heroin mixture making its way across the Dallas area.

But this spring, Oscar Gutierrez's brother found him dead in bed.

"He was very purple. He was very cold, cold," said Sanchez, who had been attending drug counseling with her son since discovering his cheese habit last fall.

The deaths of at least 18 teenagers, ranging from ages 15 to 18, have been linked to the mixture of black tar heroin -- a less refined form of the drug -- and Tylenol PM tablets ground into a powder.

The spread of cheese in schools has parents and law enforcement officials worried. Children as young as 11 have been caught with the concoction.

Right now, cheese heroin seems to be a Dallas phenomenon. But experts note that drug dealers are always eager to expand into new areas. Dallas school district police first spotted the trend in 2005.

"Cheese is just a different makeup for mixing with heroin, but it's still heroin," said Dr. Jeffrey Barnard, chief medical examiner for Dallas County. "It's the heroin that's the problem."

Several factors appear to be driving the popularity of cheese. Kids often buy the drug from other kids. It's affordable, selling for about $2 a dosage. And it is usually snorted rather than injected.

"Hopefully we can try to contain it," said Dr. Sing-Yi Feng, a toxicologist at Children's Medical Center Dallas. "The concern is that the stuff is pretty cheap, it's easy to use."

During the 2005-2006 school year, the Dallas school district police arrested 90 students for possession of the heroin/Tylenol PM mixture. The number has soared during the current school year. Through February, 122 have been arrested. The average age of those arrested is 14.

"From an overall perspective, the numbers are very high," said Julian Bernal, deputy chief of narcotics for the Dallas police, who make 6-12 arrests a month for possession of cheese heroin. "The number of heroin users is going up dramatically in the school system."

"The resurgence of heroin in society in 11 to 16 years olds -- that's unprecedented," Bernal said.

Experts say that calling the drug "cheese" is a marketing ploy by drug dealers, along the lines of dying methamphetamine different colors and putting marijuana in candy.

"It becomes much more appealing to younger kids because it doesn't have the stigma, they're not as afraid to get started," said Dr. Collin Goto, a toxicologist at Children's Medical Center Dallas. "They're calling it cheese, they're not calling it heroin."

Experts say cheese usually has about 2 to 8 percent heroin mixed with the Tylenol PM -- which contains acetaminophen and diphenhydramine -- or similar over-the-counter drugs.

As their tolerance increases, some kids may use the drug 10-15 times a day. Others turn from snorting cheese to injecting it with needles.

Gary Hodges, deputy chief of the Dallas school district police, said cheese arrests in the district have nearly equaled those for marijuana, still the leading substance involved in drug arrests.

The deaths have been reported throughout the county. Most of the victims are male, and involve equal numbers of white and Hispanic youth. One girl who died was found with the phrase "Cheese Please" scrawled on her body with a marker.

Authorities say they are just now beginning to understand how widespread the mixture has become and the toll it is taking on Dallas area youth. Even the exact number of cheese heroin related deaths was not known until The Dallas Morning News analyzed medical examiner records and published the results earlier this month.

"Basically, it flew under the radar screen," said Zachary Thompson, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services and a member of the Dallas County task force on cheese.

This isn't the first time the Dallas area has seen an outbreak of drug deaths in teens. In the mid-1990s, black tar heroin had a deadly run in the affluent Dallas suburb of Plano, with as many as 17 fatal overdoses and three more near-fatal.

Young people often don't understand the potential for an accidental overdose, said Carol Falkowski, director of research communications at Hazelden Foundation, an addiction treatment, education and research center based in Minnesota.

"There's no way of knowing ahead of time what the purity of the drug is and even experienced users can get fatal overdoses," Falkowski said.

Dave Cannata's son, Nick, died June 5, 2005, with heroin and diphenhydramine in his system. Nick Cannata, who had been in rehab for a drug problem the summer before, was found dead in his bed in Coppell, a bedroom community just outside of Dallas.

The 16-year-old with a talent for music and drawing had spent the day building a deck with his father before going to a friend's house. Dave Cannata said he knew something was wrong when his son returned home that night, but he decided to delay a confrontation.

"If I had to do it over again, I wouldn't hesitate to pickup the phone and call 911," said Cannata. "It's alarming the epidemic proportion of kids that are messing with this stuff."

Olga Sanchez agrees. She knew her son Oscar, an 8th grader at a Dallas middle school, sometimes hung out with kids who used drugs, but remembers him as a respectful boy who didn't get into trouble.

She and Cannata want others to understand how deadly heroin can be.

"I would like for kids to realize that lots of other kids have died, that they should look for help, that they could lose their life," Sanchez said.

Cannata said, "At this point in my life, my objective is to save a life."

Willie gets busted

2007-04-27T14:30:00.000+02:00

Is it really any surprise? I mean who doesn't know that he smokes? Unfortunately that makes him a prime target...but I'd say the sentencing was VERY fair. Rock on Louisiana!

Willie Nelson pleads guilty to weed

Willie Nelson and his tour manager were spared jail time Tuesday after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count of marijuana possession.

Nelson and tour manager David Anderson, along with Nelson's sister, Bobbie Nelson, and two drivers, were issued citations on Sept. 18 after Louisiana state troopers said they found marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms on the country legend's tour bus during a commercial-vehicle inspection on Interstate 10.

State District Judge Paul deMahy fined Nelson and Anderson $1,024 each and put both on probation for six months. As part of a plea agreement, the citation against Bobbie Nelson was dismissed.

Up In Smoke on 420

2007-04-20T22:23:00.000+02:00

This is a great editorial I came across today...and since it's still 420 (actually happy 4:20 to the East Coast - we'll be smoking one soon lol), I thought I would share it.

WORLD GOES UP IN SMOKE EACH APRIL 20

Tomorrow seems like just another day to the average person, but to a number of people, tomorrow's date marks a special occasion where all responsibilities and worries go up in smoke.

Why is there such a fuss about April 20? Why do all the slackers always seem to hype this date? When April 20 finally comes around they are nowhere to be found. What are they doing?

Perhaps they are just taking a day of rest to stay inside, take it easy and study.

However, this doesn't seem likely considering the origins of 420 ( it's pronounced "four-twenty," not "four hundred and twenty" ). April 20 is called 420 because April is the fourth month of the year, and it's the twentieth day of the month.

Supposedly, a dozen California high school students used 420 to refer to the time they would meet around a statue. They eventually turned it into a slang term referring to marijuana so teachers and parents wouldn't understand what they were talking about.

Throughout the years, the term has spread like a wildfire.

High Times magazine got a hold of the term and published an article about the meaning and the slang term became a popular term all over the world.

It no longer seems to be an underground term that teachers and parents don't understand.

People have taken the origins of 420 out of context. The term has many theories about its origin.

To put the urban legends to rest, a review of false origins is needed.

People might believe that the term is used as a police dispatch to refer to marijuana use. A review of police dispatch codes revealed that 420 is not a police radio code for anything, anywhere.

Another false origin is the thought that there are 420 chemicals in cannabis. However, there are only about 315 active chemicals in cannabis, according to High Times.

Some say that it started because the Grateful Dead would only stay in room 420 while touring. This, however is also false, according to Grateful Dead Productions spokesman Dennis McNally.

Whatever the reason for making April 20 a worldwide cannabis smoking day, doesn't matter. It just is, and that's enough reason to fly to Amsterdam and partake in the festivities. It's a day of peace, happiness and paranoia.

The day is not meant to be a rebellious, lawbreaking celebration -- but people are certainly breaking the law if they are in possession of Ms. Mary Jane.

Rather, the day should be thought of as a day to relax and enjoy the gifts that Mother Earth and the shady dude on the corner have provided.

April 20 is not only a day of greatness but also has negative connotations. It is the birth date of Adolf Hitler. It is also the anniversary of the Columbine school shootings in Littleton, Colo.

Every pothead worldwide will embrace 420 tomorrow. Look around when the clock strikes 20 past four and you will most likely notice that a number of your peers have dipped out of class for a quick toke.

If your friend next to you reeks of smoke tomorrow, try not to think twice about it. If you notice a red-eyed kid munching on Cheez-Its next to you, again, don't think twice.

So tomorrow when it's 4:20 p.m., just think -- there are people all over the central time zone lighting up their joints, bowls, bongs or whatever unique contraption they have thought up.

Enjoy the day and be careful.

White & Nerdy

2007-04-20T19:02:00.000+02:00

I've always loved Weird Al...but this may be one of his best.

The Definition of 420

2007-04-20T12:45:00.000+02:00

You gotta love Wikipedia!

4:20 or 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty) is a term used in North America as a discreet way to refer to cannabis and, by extension, a way to identify oneself with cannabis culture. Phrases such as "420 friendly" sometimes appear in roommate advertisements, indicating that the current occupants are tolerant of cannabis users.[1]

Origins and Observances

It is widely accepted that in the early 1970s, a group of teenagers at San Rafael High School in San Rafael, California used to meet every day after school at 4:20 p.m. to smoke marijuana at the Louis Pasteur statue.[2] [3] Many cannabis users continue to observe 4:20 as a time to smoke communally. By extension April 20 ("4/20" in U.S. dating shorthand) has evolved into a counterculture holiday, where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis. [4] [5]

420 Campaign

The widespread popularity of 4/20 celebrations in the U.S. has brought about calls advocating for the reform of American marijuana laws. The 420 Campaign urges individuals to become involved in the political process and the drug policy reform movement. Specifically, the Campaign calls for leveraging "April 20th as a focal point every year to concentrate pressure on Congress to legalize marijuana."[6] In addition to contacting state and national legislators, people can take action by supporting organizations—such as NORML and MPP—that represent the interests of marijuana users and other concerned citizens.

By the way, if you can join NORML today for only $4.20 & receive a cool 2006 conference poster.

Happy 420!!!

2007-04-20T12:41:00.000+02:00

In honor of this very special day, we've listed our Favorite Stoner Movies...but not in any particular order.

Which one will we watch today? Haven't decided yet but it's about time to revisit How High or Half Baked I think...then we'll order some take out since we'll be too high to actually cook, smoke a few doobsters and just enjoy the evening. Few things are better than when 4/20 falls on a Friday!!

- Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
- How High
- Tomcats
- Dude, Where's My Car?
- Van Wilder
- Half Baked
- Saving Grace
- Evolution
- Road Trip
- Outside Providence

Maybe we should move to Madison, WI

2007-04-12T19:38:00.000+02:00

Here is an interesting story we came across:

AFTER 30 YEARS, ANOTHER PUSH TO RELAX POT LAWS

MADISON - Thirty years ago, Madison was at the forefront of the effort to bring the nation's marijuana laws in line with growing public opinion that, among adults, smoking a joint is akin to drinking a beer.

But after three decades, Madison's historic ordinance permitting possession of small amounts of marijuana remains at odds with state and federal laws, putting city police in a difficult position.

And Madison advocates are still pushing for Wisconsin to join other states that have relaxed their laws against pot.

"Once again, from the bottom up, we're seeing an upswing in activism," said Gary Storck, co-founder of the Madison chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and a medical marijuana activist and patient.

On April 5, 1977, Madison voters passed what is now the nation's second-oldest municipal ordinance still on the books decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana.

The binding referendum - which made its way onto the ballot after proponents obtained 8,800 signatures - went beyond an ordinance the City Council adopted just two months earlier by eliminating any penalty for private possession of small amounts of pot.

Minutes after the February law was adopted, "several persons lit up marijuana cigarets in a hallway outside the council chambers," the State Journal wrote at the time.

By the time Madison's referendum passed, five states - Oregon, Colorado, Alaska, Ohio and California - had decriminalized pot. Madison's ordinance also followed a similar measure in Ann Arbor, Mich., the oldest municipal decriminalization law still in existence.

"Relaxed Atmosphere"

Madison's ordinance 23.20 allows possession of up to 112 grams of marijuana - just under four ounces, or about 112 joints - or up to 28 grams of cannabis resin, or hashish, in a private place.

It prohibits possession in a public place without a prescription or order from a physician or other practitioner, violations of which are subject to a $109 fine. Selling the drug is also still prohibited.

But Madison police Lt. Sandy Theune, commander of the Dane County Drug Task Force, questions whether it would be appropriate for city police to say, "Hey, just feel free" - even in a private home.

"It's still not 100 percent legal," because of state and federal law, Theune said, but "I think it's pretty well known that there's something of a relaxed atmosphere about marijuana in Madison."

Still, Theune said, police are likely to confiscate marijuana, and, depending on the circumstances, could seek to press charges under state law. "There's not always a black-and-white answer to what will an officer do."

"It depends on who it is . . . on both sides," said Ben Masel, a fixture on the marijuana legalization front for decades.

Discretion ultimately rests with the district attorney's office, which determines whether to file charges under state law. In March, District Attorney Brian Blanchard, citing a lack of resources, said his office will no longer file criminal charges against individuals possessing less than 25 grams of marijuana - just under an ounce, or about 25 joints.

Public use has declined dramatically in Madison in the years since the passage of the city ordinance decriminalizing pot, as federal authorities have continued to crack down on marijuana as part of the "war on drugs," Storck said.

"Back then, Madison was a lot more free about cannabis," he said, adding that it was common to walk into the Memorial Union Rathskeller and find people smoking pot in a corner. "Everybody was doing it."

Anniversary

But not everybody agreed on its effect.

Despite a national task force report in 1972 that recommended decriminalizing pot for personal use, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration has steadfastly opposed relaxing the law.

Such moves, the DEA said, would hurt children and public safety by creating increased dependency and treatment needs and open the door to the use of other drugs, while increasing health risks, delinquent behavior and impaired driving. It also argues that the potency of marijuana today is much greater than it was in the 1970s.

Advocates such as Storck counter that there was potent pot back then, and he likened responsible marijuana use by adults to using alcohol or tobacco.

Storck is hoping the anniversary of Madison's ordinance will renew debate, as well as support for changing state law.

About 50 people attended a 30th anniversary celebration of the ordinance last week at a Williamson Street cafe.

The commemoration was marked not with raucous chants or demonstrations, but with a PowerPoint presentation on events leading up to passage of the law. A band performed "cannabis tunes," including Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #12 and 35" with the popular refrain "everybody must get stoned" for the laid-back audience, some of whom stepped outside to smoke pot.

Despite federal prohibitions, other states and municipalities have followed in Madison's footsteps. Twelve states have now decriminalized marijuana for personal use, and 12 states - many of the same ones - have legalized marijuana for medical use.

There are now 29 bills pending in 19 states to decriminalize marijuana or allow its medical use, said Allen St. Pierre, executive director of NORML.

"Today is the busiest period ever in marijuana reform," St. Pierre said.

"Sky Has Not Fallen"

Madison's experience has played a role in the passage of marijuana reform in other cities and states, he said.

"The sky has not fallen," St. Pierre said. "They are still productive people. The children are born with 10 fingers and 10 toes."

A Zogby poll commissioned by NORML in March found that 49 percent of Americans supported removing criminal penalties for the personal use of marijuana by adults, while 48 percent were opposed. The telephone survey of 1,078 likely voters nationwide was conducted Feb. 22-24. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

In Wisconsin, Storck said, "There's some very hopeful things happening."

Last year, then-Rep. Gregg Underheim, R-Oshkosh, introduced a medical marijuana bill after he was diagnosed with cancer, but the bill did not make it out of committee in the Republican-controlled chamber. This year, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, said he plans to join Rep. Frank Boyle, D-Superior, in introducing similar legislation.

Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, said he plans to hold a hearing on medical marijuana in the Democratic-led Senate this fall.

But Rep. Leah Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa, who chairs the Assembly Committee on Health and Healthcare Reform, said she will continue her opposition to medical marijuana because of concerns about its safety.

Vukmir, a nurse, said she believes it is better for patients to use medications that have been approved or may soon be available than to have people grow their own marijuana.

"I will refuse to put members through the circus of a hearing for a bill that is not going to go anywhere," Vukmir said. "This is nothing more than a backdoor attempt to legalize marijuana, which is not going to happen on my watch."

Kirsten Dunst Praises Pot

2007-04-11T17:27:00.000+02:00

I always knew there was a reason I liked that girl :)

Kirsten Dunst Praises Pot

She might have an angelic appearance on the outside, but Kirsten Dunst says “Bring it On” when it comes to marijuana.

"I drink moderately, I've tried drugs. I do like weed. I have a different outlook on marijuana than America does,” Dunst told a British paper, as reported by U.K’s The Sun.

"My best friend Sasha’s dad was Carl Sagan, the astronomer. He was the biggest pot smoker in the world and he was a genius.”

The “Spider-Man” star also believes that the world would be a “better place” if everyone followed her lead in weaving a web of weed smokers.

"I've never been a major smoker, but I think America's view on weed is ridiculous. I mean — are you kidding me?” Dunst added. “If everyone smoked weed, the world would be a better place.”

How To Moonwalk

2007-03-30T12:10:00.000+02:00

You've always wanted to know how to moonwalk like Michael Jackson, right? Well Wiki is telling you how...too bad there's no video but I'd have to guess there are probably some people showing us on YouTube...may have to check that out should I get really bored later lol

How to Moonwalk

Life Insurance For Responsible Marijuana Smokers!

2007-03-30T08:46:00.000+02:00

Washington, DC: The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), the nation's oldest and most respected cannabis-law reform organization, today announced that life insurance is finally available for adult cannabis consumers.

NORML has partnered with The McLaughlin Company and a pair of nationally recognized insurance providers to offer life insurance products to responsible cannabis consumers. Previously, adults who self-reported using cannabis -- even in moderate amounts -- were denied life insurance coverage or, at best, offered coverage at a grossly inflated premium. Starting today, cannabis consumers will have access to the same types of life insurance plans as non-users, and they will no longer be forced to pay excessively high premiums.

"Unlike cigarettes or even alcohol, moderate use of cannabis -- even when used long-term -- is not shown to have significant negative ramifications on health or mortality," **

NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said. "As a result, responsible cannabis consumers should not be forced to pay inflated premiums or be denied insurance coverage because of their marijuana use." NORML and its partners hope to expand its life insurance program to offer cannabis-friendly disability and health insurance products later this year.

For more information, please contact NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre at (202) 483-5500 or visit: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7128.

To listen to an audio message about the NORML Life Insurance program from The McLaughlin Company's Webb Hubbell, please visit: http://audio.norml.org/audio_stash/staff_psa/webb_jazz_test_2.mp3.

** D. Vinson. 2006. Marijuana and other illicit drug use and the risk of injury: A case-control study. Missouri Medicine 103: 152-156 R. Blondell et al. 2005. Toxicology screening results: injury associations among hospitalized trauma patients. Journal of TRAUMA Injury, Infection, and Critical Care 58: 561-570 S. Sidney et al. 1997. Marijuana Use and Mortality. American Journal of Public Health 87: 1-4 Editorial: "Deglamorising Cannabis." The Lancet, Nov. 11, 1995. (346:8985).

Office Space - of a different kind...

2007-03-22T21:27:00.000+01:00

All I have to say is that these guys have way too much time on their hands. They took the movie office space and re-cut it to make a slasher movie trailer. This is some funny stuff.

A classic.....

2007-03-22T20:08:00.000+01:00

Judge in Anna Nicole Smith Case Charged With Smoking Pot in City Park

2007-03-21T10:49:00.000+01:00

Judge in Anna Nicole Smith Case Charged With Smoking Pot in City Park

A judge who had a secondary role in the recent Anna Nicole Smith proceedings was charged with smoking marijuana in a city park, police said Monday.

Lawrence Korda was smoking marijuana while sitting under a tree Sunday, police said. Three officers who were training there saw Korda and field-tested the cigarette, said Capt. Tony Rode, a police spokesman.

The judge was not arrested. He was given a misdemeanor citation to appear in court.

"Judge Korda was not given special treatment because of his status as a circuit court judge," Rode said. "He was provided with a notice to appear. That's exactly what 99 percent of other offenders would have been given for this type of offense."

A message left by The Associated Press at the judge's chambers after hours Monday was not immediately returned.

The fight over control of the former Playboy Playmate and reality TV star's body began in Korda's courtroom. It ended up being heard by Circuit Judge Larry Seidlin, who carved his own slice of celebrity from the televised hearings with his relentless one-liners and blubbering announcement of his decision.

Seidlin allowed a court-appointed advocate for Smith's infant daughter decide where Smith should be buried, and the lawyer decided it would be in the Bahamas.

Korda later heard brief arguments in a related case, seeking to determine the biological father of the baby. He ruled that a Bahamian court had jurisdiction over the child's custody.