Colorado is currently fighting a marijuana DUI limit proposal that sets a “scientific” limit to the amount of THC one can have in their bloodstream while driving. News over the weekend broke in California, however, about Assembly Bill 2552; introduced by Assemblywoman Norma Torres. AB 2552 establishes automatic DUIs for people driving with marijuana in their system.

AB 2552 “would make it a crime for a person who has any level of cannabinoids or synthetic cannabinoid compound, as defined, in his or her blood or urine to drive a vehicle.” Key words: “any level.”

“There is no scientific basis for zero-tolerance DUI standards,” says a poston the website for California’s chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). The post makes clear that, most importantly, “there is no relationship between impairment and the presence of cannabinoids in urine,” and “there is no relationship between impairment and the presence of non-psychoactive cannabinoid metabolites in blood.”

The SF Weekly attemptedto contact Torres, saying that since the news broke, her Facebook wall has been overrun with unhappy marijuana advocates: “somebody at Torres’ office must know this isn’t popular with pot users.”

Technically, the Vehicle Code that would be amended by Torres’ bill already outlaws driving under the influence of drugs. “Thinking liberally,” the SF Weekly’s Chris Roberts says, “one could interpret this to mean that it’s also illegal to drive under the influence of prescription medication, or cough syrup.”

Source:ZACH ROSENBERG, http://www.kushmagazine.com/component/content/article/38-marijuana-legalization-news/2212-california-next-on-list-to-tackle-driving-while-stoned

Lindsay Lohan is calling BS on a hookah lounge manager, who claims the actress injured his knee when she allegedly grazed him with her Porsche last night — insisting, “This is all a complete lie.”

Lindsay took to her Twitter account moments ago to blast the allegation — writing, “Scrape? This is all a complete lie. I’ve been at community service. Last night, I attempted to wish a friend happy birthday, which I didn’t even get to do because I was freaked out by all of the paparazzi.”

Lindsay insists, “These false accusations are absurd.”

A rep for Lindsay adds, “At no point was there ever any indication that her car hit anyone or anything. We are confident this matter will be cleared up in the next few days.”

Multiple eyewitnesses claim Lindsay struck the hookah lounge manager on her way out of The Sayers Club in Hollywood just after midnight.

Witnesses claim the manager was NOT injured after the bump — but the man has since gone to the emergency room. We’re told he plans to press charges.

Source:http://www.tmz.com/

In February, Mixed Martial Arts fighter Nick Diaz failed a post-fight drug test after his match loss at UFC 143. After finding “marijuana metabolites” in Diaz’s urine, the Nevada State Athletic Commission handed Diaz a temporary suspension, pending a full hearing. Now, it’s being reported that Diaz is lawyering-up and prepared to fight his suspension.

Experts said that Diaz could have come to the NSAC weeks before his fight to apply for a “therapeutic exemption” for marijuana based on the fact that it was doctor-prescribed for his ADHD. Diaz didn’t. Medical marijuana is legal in both Nevada, where Diaz was fighting, and California, where Diaz resides. As well, the NSAC does not punish marijuana use out-of-competition. According to ESPN, “Diaz and his camp have said the fighter suspends his use of marijuana eight days prior to a contest.” They argue that eight days is long enough for THC’s effects to wear off, despite the long detection window of its metabolites.

“I can pass a drug test in eight days with herbal cleansers,” Diaz was quoted in 2009 by the LA Times as saying, “I drink 10 pounds of water and sweat out 10 pounds of water every day. I’ll be fine.”

It should also be noted that back in 2007, Diaz faced a similar situation with a failed drug test and six-month suspension.

The devil’s in the details, argues Diaz’s attorney, Ross Goodman. “The basis to discipline Mr. Diaz is that he tested positive for a prohibited substance,” Goodman told ESPN. “We know he didn’t test positive for marijuana. So, you look to see at WADA whether marijuana metabolites are prohibited. They do not prohibit it in any category.”

Diaz tested positive for THC-Carboxylic Acid, which Goodman argues is an inactive marijuana metabolite.

Diaz still faces a one-year suspension if found guilty.

Source:http://www.kushmagazine.com/news/2213-mma-fighter-nick-diaz-challenging-suspension

It’s not terribly surprising that most people don’t know the difference between a DUI and a DWI charge since both are related to drinking and driving. Unless you’ve received both charges at some point, it’s not very likely that you’d bother to find out what separates one from the other. And yet, in most cases there is a very big distinction between what the two charges indicate, as well as the penalties they incur. Now, you might think that because you rarely drive after having a drink you’ll never need to bother learning your way around drinking-and-driving related charges. But you only have to get pulled over once after a single drink to become intimately familiar with at least one of these criminal charges. Perhaps if you know what’s coming should you get caught, you’ll be more likely to avoid the situation altogether.

A DUI charge is given for Driving Under the Influence (of alcohol or another substance) and it is by far the lesser of the two charges, and therefore preferable, all things considered. This charge is levied by the officer that pulls you over and it is based on a couple of different criteria. The first is a breathalyzer test, which will determine your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The legal limit is 0.08%, but a ticket can be given even if your reading is within that limit. In fact, a DUI is given only if the number you blow is under 0.08%. The real reason a DUI is generally given is because you appear unfit to drive for some reason, regardless of your BAC.
When you receive a DUI charge, you will be taken to the station by the arresting officer and your car will be impounded. You will then have to appear in court either to plead your case or simply receive sentencing. For this type of offense, you will generally get a point taken off your license and you’ll have to pay some sort of fine. Often you can reduce these penalties by taking traffic school (which may return a point to your license, depending on the state you live in). If you are a multiple offender the penalties will be higher, and if you live in a zero tolerance state such as Minnesota, your crime will not be differentiated from a DWI.

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is a much more serious charge and it comes with commensurate consequences. You will receive this charge instead of a DUI if you are pulled over and your BAC is over 0.08%. Obviously you will be taken to jail and your car impounded, since you clearly are not capable of driving. Further, you will face more severe fines and you may even be susceptible to jail time, although this rarely occurs with first-time offenders. Unless your BAC is ridiculously high, you are much more likely to receive probation of some sort, likely with a stipulation for rehabilitation.

But whether you are given a DUI or a DWI, it may be time to start rethinking your decisions when it comes to drinking and driving. Not only do you face criminal charges if you do so, but you endanger your life and the lives of others when you drive under the influence of alcohol. So hail a cab, call a friend, or rent a hotel room when you’ve been drinking. Or better yet, skip the booze altogether.

Carol Montrose writes for NJ DUI Attorney, a New Jersey DWI defense law firm (www.nj-dmv-dwi.com).

Source:http://www.theweedblog.com/guest-post-dui-vs-dwi-what’s-the-difference/

As a person who has been using marijuana illegally for over half of his life, I have had to adopt tricks and techniques to get by in the “real world.” One of the most uncomfortable situations is passing a pre-employment drug screening.

Now, I’m not advocating dishonesty with your employer but a urinalysis unfairly punishes weed smokers while cokeheads and meth addicts get a free pass since those drugs only show up in a urinalysis within 72 hours of use while marijuana can stay in the system for 30 days or more. I don’t smoke before work (usually) and it never affects my ability to perform the functions of my job, but after a long day, nothing sounds better then a big, green bowl.

First off, if you can just stop smoking for thirty days then do it. It’s the simple solution to this situation. However, sometimes you don’t have that much time to prepare so you have to improvise. I have had to take ten to fifteen of these tests over the years with a 100% success rate.

I just got a new job last week and had to give a urine sample for testing. There are too important elements when it comes to effectively passing: obtaining a clean sample and keeping it within temperature. We all have friends that don’t smoke and they are the best sources of clean urine. I’ve heard of people using the fake stuff you can order over the internet or buy at your local head-shops and passing but why pay for the fake stuff when you can get the real thing for free? I just have my buddy fill up a balloon or an unlubricated condom and seal it up. I then drive strait to the facility with the “container” of urine on my dash with the defrost on to help keep the temperature high.

This is where it can get tricky. Since you are just taking a pre-employment screening, they cannot search you, so I “hide” the “container” in my underwear and bring a small pair of nail clippers and hide the clippers in a pocket or my shoe. I then carefully walk in to the facility and register. When they call me to take the test, they usually ask you to remove all items for your pockets but I am sure to keep the nail clippers in my pocket. Once they close the door, I use the clippers to clip a hole in the “container” and fill up the cup. I then empty the remaining “sample” into the toilet and hide the empty “container” in my shoe.

I don’t like to have to do this and if there was an easier way I would use it. However this is the world we live in and until there is real change, I am forced to play this stupid game. Incidentally, I would be remiss in not at least pointing out that if you are a meth addict or cokehead and want help, addiction treatment and information is available online.

Source:http://www.theweedblog.com/how-to-pass-a-drug-test-when-you-smoke-marijuana/

Well this was a sad week for citizen’s rights. The California Supreme Court ruled Monday 5 to 2 that police do not need a warrant to search your cell phone if you are in custody. Since ‘in custody’ is a very loose term that police have always taken advantage of, this pretty much means ‘whenever they want.’ If you are in California, be aware that your phone can be a part of an investigation at basically anytime. Make sure to delete your phone log and text message records on a regular basis. Of course, they can get the records from the phone company, but that still requires a warrant. Analyzing your phone on the other hand, does not. If you want to read the entire court decision, click this link. It’s only 38 pages long…

A summary would be: a guy gets caught with marijuana and ecstasy; the cops search him and everything on him, including his cell phone. The guy says that went too far, that his phone is not his person, and therefore has more protection against searches and seizures. His attorneys weren’t saying that the cops could never look at his phone, just that they needed a warrant to do so. Unfortunately, the majority of California Supreme Court Justices did not agree. As a result, basic civil rights go out the window, and cops can now search your phone at any time in California if you are ‘in custody’ which is up to the cops prosecutorial discretion…so basically, whenever they want to be a dick about it….

Marijuana Related Texts Are Common
I was looking through some marijuana forums earlier this morning, and I saw a discussion about marijuana and texting. The person that created the thread received a picture of marijuana via cellphone, and was wondering if the cops could find out and/or use that against him. If you are ever arrested for a marijuana related offense, yes, law enforcement can easily obtain your phone records. That includes pictures, texts, etc. The reason that I know this is because I have had at least one friend of each major cellphone provider get their information used against them in court. The cops have to subpoena the records, which takes hoop jumping, but they will gladly do it if it helps their case.

There are numerous people out there (myself included) that think this oversteps privacy bounds, especially when it comes to marijuana only activity. From what I can tell, only one major cellphone provider was willing to even fight on behalf of customers. Blackberry fought to block people from accessing it’s customer’s information, but they eventually gave in due to threats from India and the Middle East. There was a proposed “blackout” of wireless Internet and messaging , which would render Blackberrys little more than an average, no data cell phone.

“BlackBerry security architecture was specifically designed to provide corporate customers with the ability to transmit information wirelessly while also providing them with the necessary confidence that no one, including RIM, could access their data,” a company statement read. So why did they change? As the Financial Times reports, it’s all business. ”While the Abu Dhabi headquarters of Etisalat, the dominant telecoms operator of UAE, still proudly and prominently displays its selection of top-end BlackBerrys, the company’s salespeople are warning potential customers off the popular handset, and urging them to buy iPhones instead.”

So as you can see, cellphone companies have no loyalty to you. If they don’t cooperate with governments and law enforcement, they will get threatened and go running to their piggy banks. I know some people that have text things about marijuana since texting became popular over a decade ago and been fine. On the flip side, I know people that haven’t had a phone that long that got busted, and what they said was used against them later. It’s up to you how much risk you are willing to take I suppose.

I know that some medical marijuana patients send texts to other medical marijuana patients all the time. They don’t have anything to hide, so they don’t worry about it. Other people involved in marijuana might not be so worry free and should be advised. Texting in code always helps of course!

After 9/11, society became aware of new levels of surveillance that tried to pick up ‘chatter’ in electronic communications. One thing that I always thought about was what surveillance people think when they come across the following text conversation, which is all too common out there in the marijuana world:

Friend 1 – Hey bro, do you got that bomb?

Friend 2 – Yeah man, it’s killer, I got the bomb til Tuesday so you better hurry up.

Friend 1 – Sick! I will meet you after work, bring the fire

I always pictured a team of people in one of those CIA control rooms you always see on television, and one of the many people hunched over their workstations exclaims, ‘hey captain, I think I have something over here!’

Source:http://www.theweedblog.com/can-police-search-a-cell-phone-without-a-warrant/

http://www.theweedblog.com/can-the-cops-see-if-i-am-texting-about-marijuana/

Even if you think you have nothing to hide, giving a police officer consent to search your vehicle could have unintended consequences. Law enforcement officers have a huge advantage in these situations and knowing how to exercise the rights you have during a police stop is the first step in leveling the playing field. Check out this great video from flexyourrights.com.

5 Reasons You Should Never Agree to a Police Search (Even if You Have Nothing to Hide)

Do you know what your rights are when a police officer asks to search you? If you’re like most people I’ve met in my eight years working to educate the public on this topic, then you probably don’t.

It’s a subject that a lot of people think they understand, but too often our perception of police power is distorted by fictional TV dramas, sensational media stories, silly urban myths, and the unfortunate fact that police themselves are legally allowed to lie to us.

It wouldn’t even be such a big deal, I suppose, if our laws all made sense and our public servants always treated us as citizens first and suspects second. But thanks to the War on Drugs, nothing is ever that easy. When something as stupid as stopping people from possessing marijuana came to be considered a critical law enforcement function, innocence ceased to protect people against police harassment. From the streets of the Bronx to the suburbs of the Nation’s Capital, you never have to look hard to find victims of the bias, incompetence, and corruption that the drug war delivers on a daily basis.

Whether or not you ever break the law, you should be prepared to protect yourself and your property just in case police become suspicious of you. Let’s take a look at one of the most commonly misunderstood legal situations a citizen can encounter: a police officer asking to search your belongings. Most people automatically give consent when police ask to perform a search. However, I recommend saying “no” to police searches, and here are some reasons why:

1. It’s your constitutional right.

The 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects us against unreasonable searches and seizures. Unless police have strong evidence (probable cause) to believe you’re involved in criminal activity, they need your permission to perform a search of you or your property.

You have the right to refuse random police searches anywhere and anytime, so long as you aren’t crossing a border checkpoint or entering a secure facility like an airport. Don’t be shy about standing up for your own privacy rights, especially when police are looking for evidence that could put you behind bars.

2. Refusing a search protects you if you end up in court.

It’s always possible that police might search you anyway when you refuse to give consent, but that’s no reason to say “yes” to the search. Basically, if there’s any chance of evidence being found, agreeing to a search is like committing legal suicide, because it kills your case before you even get to court.

If you refuse a search, however, the officer will have to prove in court that there was probable cause to do a warrantless search. This will give your lawyer a good chance to win your case, but this only works if you said “no” to the search.

3. Saying “no” can prevent a search altogether.

Data on police searches are interesting, but they don’t show how many searches didn’t happen because a citizen said no. A non-search is a non-event that goes unrecorded, giving rise to a widespread misconception that police will always search with or without permission.

I know refusing searches works because I’ve been collecting stories from real police encounters. The reality is that police routinely ask for permission to search when they have absolutely no evidence of an actual crime. If you remain calm and say no, there’s a good chance they’ll back down, because it’s a waste of time to do searches that won’t hold up in court anyway.

4. Searches can waste your time and damage your property.

Do you have time to sit around while police rifle through your belongings? Police often spend 30 minutes or more on vehicle searches and even longer searching homes. You certainly can’t count on officers to be careful with valuables or to put everything back where they found it. If you waive your 4th Amendment rights by agreeing to be searched, you will have few legal options if any property is damaged or missing after the search.

5. You never know what they’ll find.

Are you 100 percent certain there’s nothing illegal in your home or vehicle? You can never be too sure. A joint roach could stick to your shoe on the street and wind up on the floorboard. A careless acquaintance could have dropped a baggie behind the seat. Try telling a cop it isn’t yours, and they’ll just laugh and tell you to put your hands behind your back. If you agreed to the search, you can’t challenge the evidence. But if you’re innocent and you refused the search, your lawyer has a winnable case.

Remember that knowing your rights will help you protect yourself, but no amount of preparation can guarantee a good outcome in a bad situation. Your attitude and your choices before, during, and after the encounter will usually matter more than your knowledge of the law. Stay calm no matter what happens, and remember that you can always report misconduct after things settle down.

Finally, please don’t be shy about sharing this information with your friends and family. Understanding and asserting your rights isn’t about getting away with anything, and it isn’t about disrespecting police either. These rights are the foundation of freedom in America, and they get weaker whenever we fail to exercise them.

Scott Morgan is Associate Director of FlexYourRights.org and co-creator of the film 10 Rules for Dealing with Police.

Follow Scott Morgan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/drugblogger

Source:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-morgan/5-reasons-you-should-neve_b_1292554.html

Donald Trump’s two sons went on a big game hunt in Africa, and the carnage they wrought has triggered outrage by wildlife enthusiasts.

Donald’s sons — Donald Jr. and Eric — went on a hunting safari in Zimbabwe a year ago this month, and proudly showed off their trophy kills — including an elephant, crocodile, kudu, civet cat and water buck.

In one shot, Donald Jr. is holding a dead elephant’s tail in one hand and a knife which appears to have cut off the tail in another.

A wildlife enthusiast’s website has just created a YouTube video of the slaughter expressing outrage.

As for Donald Trump “My sons love hunting. They’re hunters and they’ve become good at it. I am not a believer in hunting and I’m surprised they like it.”

Trump added, “I know that anything they did was 100% OK in terms of the hunting community.”

Source:http://www.tmz.com/2012/03/12/donald-trump-sons-wildlife-elephant-kill-hunting/#.T1-byMmF_Xg

Russell Brand has been named in a police report in New Orleans … by a paparazzo who claims the actor snatched his cell phone out of his hand and fired it through the window of a nearby building.

A photog named Timothy Jackson filed the report, citing “criminal damages” over an incident that went down Monday night.

Jackson told cops he was with a group of photogs … when he began to shoot Brand with his iPhone from his car. Jackson claims Brand flipped out, wrestled the phone out of his hand … and then Nolan Ryan’d it at a nearby building, shattering a glass window.

The pap immediately filed a police report. No word if he got his phone back.

Calls to Brand’s rep have not been returned.

Cops are investigating the incident and would like to speak with Brand ASAP.

Source: http://www.tmz.com/page/3/#.T1-c2MmF_Xg

Coolio’s oldest son — who appeared on the family reality show “Coolio’s Rules” –is locked up in a Nevada jail … after allegedly teaming up with a Vegas hooker to rob some dude at gunpoint.

The 22-year-old Grtis Ivey (who went by “Artis” on the reality show) … was arrested on November 14, 2011 for allegedly busting into a Vegas apartment with a gun and forcing the tenant into the bathroom … while he and a female prostitute named Shantrice Wilkerson ransacked the place.

But the back story is INSANE.

According to the police report, Shantrice was trollin’ at LAX nightclub at the Luxor on October 26 … and met a guy named Joseph Hall … who didn’t know she was a call girl.

The two hit it off … and Wilkerson told him that she had a “dream” of having sex on a pile of money.

Hall asked if $5,000 was OK … she agreed … and the two eventually went back to Hall’s apartment to grab the cash out of a safe.

According to the report, the two bounced to Wilkerson’s pad to do the deed … but before it went down, Wilkerson asked for money … and Hall flipped out and left.

But cops say, Wilkerson REMEMBERED where Hall lived … and brought Grtis to the place 3 days later so they could rob it.

According to the report … Grtis entered the pad with a gun … and ordered Hall’s rooommate into the bathroom while he and the hooker stole a safe, 2 iPads, 2 laptops, passports, and anything else that wasn’t nailed down.

Cops say the roommate was able to identify Coolio’s son and the hooker — and both were arrested on a slew of charges including robbery with a deadly weapon, first degree kidnapping and grand larceny.

Both Grtis and Wilkerson told cops they never brought a gun to the apartment … and Wilkerson admitted to stealing some of the stuff.

Grtis is being held without bail … and is due to face a judge on Monday.

Rapper Coolio was arrested in Las Vegas today … and is currently behind bars at the same jail as his kid.

Coolio was a passenger in a Nissan Versa which was pulled over for a routine traffic violation early Friday morning.

We’re told the cops ran Coolio’s name in the system and noticed he had 2 active bench warrants out for his arrest stemming from multiple traffic violations.

Coolio was arrested and hauled to Clark County Detention Center — the same place where his son Grtis is rotting away for allegedly robbing some dude at gunpoint a few months ago.

Coolio’s bail has been set at $5,850. A court date has not yet been set.

Source:http://www.tmz.com/2012/03/09/coolio-son-grtis-artis-ivey-gun-prostitute-kidnap-robbery/?adid=hero2#.T1urxMmF_Xg

http://www.tmz.com/2012/03/09/coolio-arrested-jail-son-nevada/#.T1utUcmF_Xg