Join Sensible Colorado and supporters as we rally in support of veterans and file a petition to add Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to the list of conditions which qualify for medical marijuana in Colorado.

Nearly 20% of returning soldiers from Afghanistan and Iraq suffer from PTSD and many of these brave soldiers use medical marijuana to cope.  This use is currently illegal under Colorado law.  Join us at the rally where we will file an official petition to change this policy!

What:    Rally to add PTSD as a medical marijuana condition
When:   Tuesday, May 29 at noon

Where:  CDPHE office, 4300 Cherry Creek South Dr
Denver, CO 80246

If you are in the area next Tuesday and support PTSD being added to the list, try to show your support at the rally.

- Joe Klare

Advocates In Colorado Push To Add PTSD To Colorado MMJ Qualifying Conditions is a post from: The 420 Times

With all the scary and destructive drugs that there are, what sense does it make that authorities spend so much time trying to get people to stop using marijuana?

- Joe Klare

The World’s Scariest Drug? is a post from: The 420 Times

Police say Jonathan Hoffman was shot at least five times with a .40-caliber handgun in the suburban Detroit condo he shared with his maternal grandparents.

His grandmother, Sandra Layne, has been charged with murder. Her attorneys say she shot the teen because she was afraid. They have not said what caused her fear.

However, the senior at Farmington Central High School had at least two run-ins with police. Court records show Hoffman was pulled over March 17 in nearby Farmington Hills and ticketed for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He later received a 93-day, suspended sentence and was placed on 12 months’ probation.

On March 21, West Bloomfield Township officers responded to complaints outside Layne’s condo.

“I’m not sure who called. It might have been neighbors,” Lt. Tim Diamond said Tuesday. “The grandma indicated she was having a hard time because he was very upset and yelling.”

No arrests were made and no citations were issued, and West Bloomfield Township officers had no further contact with Hoffman or Layne until Friday.

“We’re still scratching our heads” trying to determine the events leading up to the shooting, Diamond said.

According to testimony Monday at Layne’s arraignment, Hoffman called 911 on Friday evening and told a dispatcher his grandmother shot him. When officers arrived at the family’s condo, Layne was standing inside a door with the gun. She put it on the floor after officers ordered her to and exclaimed “she had just murdered her grandson,” a detective told the judge.

Layne has not told investigators why she bought the weapon, Diamond said. She is due back in court Thursday.

Hoffman was living with his grandparents, while his parents, who live in Arizona, were going through a divorce.

Rabbi Josh Bennett said during Hoffman’s eulogy Tuesday that it was the teen’s decision to remain in Michigan to complete his senior year in high school and that he recently had been accepted to Eastern Michigan University.

Classes were cancelled Tuesday at Farmington Central. Dozens of classmates and students from the school joined Hoffman’s parents and other relatives at his funeral in Southfield.

“It’s easy to focus on the tragic end of Jonathan’s life,” Bennett said the funeral. “What happened or what the details may be is not our job as a community of mourners. He really did count. We know that his short life mattered.”

Along with his parents, Michael and Jennifer Hoffman, he is survived by a younger sister, Jessica Hoffman.

Mich. Teen Shot By Grandmother Had Drug Conviction is a post from: The 420 Times

The Assembly Judiciary Committee heard almost uniformly supportive testimony before unanimously approving the proposal Monday.

The measure downgrades possession of up to 35 marijuana cigarettes and drug paraphernalia, making both civil offenses punishable by fines of $100 to $500.

Supporters say decriminalization is long overdue. Fourteen other states have already done so, including New York and Connecticut.

Of course opponents say marijuana is a gateway drug, a theory that has been dis-proven time and again. With 15 Democrat and 3 Republican sponsors the bill has some bipartisan support.

Under any analysis the resources wasted on arresting and processing people for marijuana possession is immense. Since marijuana use continues to go up, one has to wonder what the point is?

And in current economic and budgetary conditions, no state can afford to waste that much money. They really can’t afford to waste any money at all, and it seems like an expensive, failed policy would be the first one to cut.

The Senate version of the bill was introduced last week by Nick Scutari, chairman of the State Senate Judiciary Committee.

- Joe Klare

Bill To Decriminalize Marijuana In New Jersey Advances is a post from: The 420 Times

The Massachusetts Medical Society approved a resolution at its annual meeting this past weekend opposing legalization of medicinal marijuana without scientific studies proving it would be safe and effective.

The organization’s House of Delegates also backed a second resolution opposing any legislation that would involve doctors prescribing marijuana to patients except for scientific studies or clinical trials.

The group representing about 24,000 doctors did call on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to reclassify marijuana to permit more studies on its possible medical benefits.

While the DEA should certainly allow more studies on cannabis, the fact is that cannabis is the most studied plant in the world. Of course what they mean is FDA approval. But the FDA refuses to consider medical marijuana while approving drugs that kill tens of thousands of people every year in the U.S. alone.

It’s scary to think that a state has this many doctors who don’t know about the studies and effects of marijuana. Do most doctors just rely on the FDA to tell them what medicine is?

- Joe Klare

Massachusetts Doctors’ Group Opposes Medical Marijuana Legalization is a post from: The 420 Times

Calling the synthetic drug Marinol “useless,” Judge Gustin L. Reichbach says marijuana is the only thing that helps him sleep and gives him an appetite, as well as quelling his nausea. With the help of some friends, Judge Reichbach has found the wonder that is cannabis.

Sometimes things aren’t as obvious as they should be until you are forced to focus and rely on them.

- Joe Klare

NY Supreme Court Justice Says Legalize Medical Marijuana is a post from: The 420 Times

U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn II on Monday also sentenced Exsaul Silva-Garcia of McAllen, Texas, to five years of supervised release. A federal jury in Louisville in February found Silva-Garcia guilty of possession with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana.

Silva-Garcia and five others were arrested on Feb. 25, 2010 near Louisville. Police say they found a tractor-trailer stuck in sod that was carrying 3,766 pounds of marijuana in a hidden compartment. Prosecutors say Silva-Garcia and two others had called for a tow truck and were arrested.

Four other men were sentenced from three to 26 years in prison.

10 Years In Prison For 2-ton Marijuana Bust is a post from: The 420 Times

A boater spotted 160 bales of pot around noon Sunday about 15 miles off the coast of Dana Point. Orange County authorities and the Coast Guard sent boats to gather up the pot and turn it over to the U.S. Border Patrol.

They say it’s unclear who dumped the pot, which together weighs about 7,000 pounds and has an estimated street value of $3 million.

Authorities say there was no boat in sight and they didn’t get any distress calls from a vessel.

Tons Of Pot Found Floating Off Southern Calif. is a post from: The 420 Times

Sacramento, CA – Californians to Regulate Medical Marijuana, a Political Action Committee formed in the fall of 2011 to push for passage of statewide regulations of production and distribution, is holding a press conference and mass lobby day today starting at noon. Fresh from a two-day “Unity Conference” at the Sacramento Central Labor Council hall in Natomas, three hundred or more safe access, union, business and environmental advocates will gather today at the Capitol to lobby every State Assembly and Senate office.

What: Press conference to announce lobby day and push for passage of AB 2312 & SB1182
When: Monday, May 21st at 12 Noon
Where: State Capitol, 10th & L Streets, Sacramento (South Lawn)
Who: Senator Mark Leno (D-SF), Asm. Tom Ammiano, D-SF; Steph Sherer and Don Duncan, Americans for Safe Access; Dan Rush, UFCW Local 5; Alison Sterling Nichols, Emerald Growers Association; Dale Sky Jones, Californians for Cannabis Policy Reform; Dale Gieringer, CA NORML
Photos: Excellent photo opportunities with 300+ activists from across state, holding signs and banners

At the $50 weekend Unity Conference, each day more than two hundred diverse Californians built consensus, gained advocacy skills and strategized on passing statewide regulations. Attendees from every region of California heard video addresses from Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) and Sam Farr (D-Carmel), State Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), and State Assembly Member Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco).

“Today the medical cannabis movement will show the sate legislature that we’re diverse and we’re organized. We’ve come together to pass AB2312, to create sensible statewide regulations for safe access for patients and safe communities across the state of California.” said Steph Sherer, Executive Director of ASA.

The Unity Conference was organized by Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, California NORML, the Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform, and the Emerald Growers Association. Sponsors and presenters included the American Herbal Products Association, Grassroots Labs and several labor organizations.

Brochure on Unity Conference: http://AmericansForSafeAccess.org/downloads/CRMM_2012_Unity_Conference.pdf

It starts soon so spread the word!!!

UPDATE: What Happened at the Press Conference

- Joe Klare

Medical Marijuana Advocates Hold Press Conference In CA Capitol is a post from: The 420 Times

In this video he speaks with a woman about further study of medical marijuana and his support of marijuana legalization. Barring a third party run by Ron Paul, Gary Johnson is going to be the only candidate talking about marijuana law reform and raising awareness about medical marijuana in this election.

- Joe Klare

Gary Johnson On Whether Medical Marijuana Should Be Studied is a post from: The 420 Times

From The 420 Times:

CA: WeGrow Owner Charged With Defrauding City Of Oakland

CA: L.A. City Councilman Paul Koretz Proposes “Gentle Ban” On City Dispensaries

CA: MMJ Advocates Urge Supporters To Back Two Bills In California

MT: Sponsor Of Medical Marijuana Restrictions In Montana Proud Of Hurting MMJ Patients

NY: Will Medical Marijuana Come To New York This Year?

WA: Marijuana Activist Running For Congress In Washington

OR: Pot Groups Hope Ore. Race Sends Feds A Message

CO: Marijuana DUI Standard Dies A 3rd Time In CO

ID: Idaho’s Crazy Marijuana Laws

MI: Medical Marijuana Patient Appeal Denied In Michigan

From Around The Web:

NY: The Judge Uses Cannabis as Medicine

OR: Marijuana Advocates Spend Big and Defeat Drug War Proponent in Oregon

If your state didn’t make this week’s “United State Of Weed,” it’s most probably because there is no recent political cannabis news coming from that state. If there is a story I missed, let me know at joe@the420times.com.

- Joe Klare

The United State Of Weed 5/20/12 is a post from: The 420 Times

Many people can’t smoke marijuana or simply prefer not to. For them the world of edibles is a wonderful place with many medicating or recreational options. Edibles also have the advantage of longer lasting effects for those who need them.

- Joe Klare

How To Make CannaButter is a post from: The 420 Times

His claim comes amongst increased media attention on marijuana use among college players, including a CBS report that says 4 out of 10 draft-eligible players failed at least one drug test while in school, and 20% failed more than once. Add to that 3 marijuana-related arrests of players from the Detroit Lions this offseason and you have a story you’re going to hear about for some time to come.

But is it really that big of a deal? Marijuana is not like steroids, it doesn’t give a physical advantage. So even if players are blazed when they get to the stadium on game day, who cares? And it’s obviously not doing the players any harm, you have to be in great physical condition to be an NFL player; even 350-pound lineman can outrun most of the people watching the games. If half use marijuana their performance isn’t suffering.

So if makes no difference in the games, why should the NFL worry about it? They shouldn’t, but sadly they do have to deal with players being arrested for marijuana offenses and the legal entanglements that ensue, something that will last as long as cannabis prohibition does.

- Joe Klare

Former NFL Lineman Says At Least Half Of Players Use Marijuana is a post from: The 420 Times

Dhar Mann is facing 13 felony counts as prosecutors allege he stole thousands of dollars from an Oakland grant program that reimburses property owners for renovations.

Mann’s lawyer admits that his client “took shortcuts” but says the charges are overblown. Prosecutors say Mann bilked the city for $44,000 using fake checks and fraudulent paperwork and are accusing him of fraud in 4 of the 12 projects he got grants from the city for, including one of his weGrow store locations in the city.

Mann’s attorney – John Runfola – says Mann was ”discouraged by … the complex bureaucratic process and the struggling economy, [and] my client admittedly took shortcuts to complete reimbursement for the development process.”

Mann comes from an influential family in the bay area and has a stake in several businesses, including his family’s cab company in Oakland.

Mann is obviously innocent until proven guilty and time will tell what happens to him legally. We will bring you further developments in this story as they become available.

- Joe Klare

WeGrow Owner Charged With Defrauding City Of Oakland is a post from: The 420 Times

Hollande’s choice as Minister of the Interior – Manuel Valls – is against any kind of cannabis law reform as well. All indications are that France’s drug policies will continue on as before, and perhaps become even stricter.

And for what? The ultimate goal of all these restrictive policies is to stop cannabis use, right? So how has France been doing in that regard?

The data suggest it is a failure. According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA),France’s adults (age 15-64) in their most recent national survey had a 4.8% past-month cannabis use prevalence, compared with 3.3% under the Dutch “coffee shop” tolerance system and 2.4% under Portugal’s far reaching decriminalization. Young adults in France (15-34) reported 9.8% past-month prevalence, compared with 5.6% and 4.5% in the Netherlands and Portugal. Among youth aged 15-24, France boasts a 12.7% past-month cannabis use rate, vs. 5.3% and 4.1% in the Netherlands and Portugal. These numbers go back to 2005 and 2007, but things are similar enough today to make the point. As the World Health Organization concluded in a 2008 global study, harsh drug laws do not correlate simply with drug use rates.

Can France’s new President not read these numbers as you just did? Or does he just not believe them? In any case, it’s clear that harsher penalties for marijuana aren’t bringing down use. So why waste so much money on enforcement when just about every country in Europe is in a budget crisis, including France?

- Joe Klare

France’s New President Wants To Continue Failed Marijuana Policies is a post from: The 420 Times