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Medical Marijuana: Is A Federal Crackdown, Similar To That In California, Coming To Colorado?

Thursday, 15 December 2011 10:48 administrator

Medical Marijuana Colorado From Huffington Post - Denver

Could a large scale medical marijuana crackdown be coming to Colorado like the one seen in California? That's exactly what a law enforcement official told The Associated Press is being considered for Colorado next year. The official did not want to be identified and did not provide specific details because the the matter is still under review.

CBS4 discovered that warning letters -- similar to those that were sent out in California -- will go out to dispensaries and grow facilities near schools (within 1,000 feet) and would be given 45 days to shut down or move their place of operations or face prosecution by U.S. Attorney in Colorado John Walsh. However,CBS4 also reported that it's unclear when that process would begin and Walsh has not released a statement on the matter since it was first reported.

The reasoning behind the 1,000 foot boundary stems from federal law which uses that measurement as a factor in drug crime sentencing. There are many dispensaries in Colorado that are within 1,000 feet of schools, according to High Times, because they were approved by local laws to do so. However, the federal law would trump the state law if and when a federal crackdown would begin.

All of this comes just days after a new poll was released by Public Policy Polling that a large group of Coloradans believe that marijuana should not just be legal medically, but fully legalized. From the Public Policy report:

Congress Set To Escalate Drug War After Decades Of Failure

Sunday, 11 December 2011 08:38 administrator

By Steve Elliott

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on two bills that would escalate the War On Drugs.

One bill scheduled to be voted on Wednesday (HR 1254) would criminalize possession and sales of chemical compounds found in products such as "K2," "Spice," and "bath salts." A second bill which is expected to be voted on next week (HR 313) would make it a federal crime to engage in an activity in another country that would violate U.S. drug laws if committed in the United States -- even if the activity is actually legal in the other country.

Both bills are expected to pass and would subject more Americans to lengthy federal prison terms -- while increasing already-skyrocketing prison expenses that taxpayers have to pay. This comes at a time when members of Congress are cutting drug education, treatment and prevention, citing the need to "reduce federal expenses."

Getting High Vs. Getting Hammered: Which Is More Dangerous?

Wednesday, 07 December 2011 14:58 administrator

By Richard Read

Cheech Marin 'Tis the season to be jolly, so now is as good a time as any to look at the dangers of holiday overindulgence. Through countless education programs, we already know a good deal about the dangers of drinking and driving, but how does smoking marijuana affect our abilities behind the wheel? A new study indicates that sparking up may not be as dangerous as some fear.

In a review of past research on the topic, Slatepoints out that drunk drivers are far more likely to be the cause of fatal car accidents than stoned drivers are -- 10 times more likely, to be precise. In fact, one study suggested that sober drivers are actually more dangerous than their pot-smoking peers. Countless intrepid reporters have come to similar conclusions.

The newest study comes from Dr. Daniel Rees and Dr. D. Mark Anderson, who examined traffic fatality statistics across the country. Those statistics are good fodder for research because they contain detailed information about the probable causes of accidents.

What Rees and Anderson found was fairly surprising: in the 13 states that legalized the use of medical marijuana between 1990 and 2009, traffic-related deaths fell 9%. Part of the reason for this may be the fact that in those states, alcohol consumption among young people between 20 and 29 declined. In fact, beer sales dipped a not-insignificant 5%. (Video after the jump...)

Last Updated on Wednesday, 07 December 2011 15:01 Read more...

Colorado Will Ask DEA To Reschedule Marijuana

Sunday, 11 December 2011 08:35 administrator

By Steve Elliott

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper apparently doesn't plan to sign a petition from Govs. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island and Chris Gregoire of Washington which asks the federal government to change the classification of marijuana, but Colorado will reportedly file its own request before the end of the year.

Gov. Hickenlooper's spokesperson told Fox News that the governors have a valid point in pushing the petition, reports Scot Kersgaard at the Colorado Independent.

"The governors in Washington and Rhode Island raise a valid conflict that needs to be resolved," said Eric Brown, a spokesman for Gov. Hickenlooper. "Colorado law requires that we make a similar ask of the federal government by Jan. 1. We will do that. We will also continue to consult with other governors on the issue and with Colorado's attorney general before deciding whether anything else will be done."

U.S. marijuana policy pits law-makers against law-enforcement

Monday, 05 December 2011 07:56 administrator

Last week, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration led a crackdown on medical marijuana dispensaries in San Diego, and two U.S. governors petitioned for the reclassification of of the drug and law enforcement officers who got fired.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Tuesday that 139 of the current 222 medical marijuana dispensaries in San Diego were shut down by the D.E.A. last week, with authorities expecting to shut down at least 20 more in the upcoming weeks.

California law-makers legalized marijuana for medical use 15 years ago but have been at odds with federal agencies as under federal law all use and/or distribution of the drug is still deemed illegal.

Several California cities, including Los Angeles, are now considering measures to shut down marijuana dispensaries due to the difficulty to enforce local laws.

Professor Alex Kreit, from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, in San Diego has his doubts about the crackdown.

Kreit told the Tribune, "If you only had 10 places operating and you prosecute five, the other five are going to close. But if you have 200 and there's still 100 operating after these letters, well, the letters clearly haven't worked.

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