Retired Judge Backs Pot Legalization
April 28th, 2009 by RickA bill coming out of San Francisco to decriminalize marijuana and regulate it like alcohol, is being backed by retired Orange Country Judge Jim Gray.
Gray says:
We would make marijuana less available for our children than it is today. [...] Why is that? Because alcohol is controlled by the government, and illegal drugs are controlled by drug dealers, and they don’t ask for ID. So what’s not to like?
Gray brought up another good point:
We glamorize it by making it illegal. We fund an awful lot of juvenile gangs because they want to be a part of the action selling this stuff.
While on the talk show circuit, Gray says:
Drug treatment works. What else works? Honest education. [...] Education is working today with regard to a real killer — a mind-altering, sometimes addictive drug — namely, tobacco.
Unfortunately, even if Governor Schwarzenegger signs off on the bill it would take an act of Congress and the President’s signature for it to be legal. Ah, the cogs of politics always in perpetual motion.
U.S. Attorney and ASA Chief Counsel Lock Horns
April 13th, 2009 by Eric
Last Wednesday, federal prosecutors and an attorney for American’s for Safe Access (ASA), a marijuana advocacy group, faced off in the bay area. For the feds, U.S. Attorney Joseph Russoniello faced off against ASA’s Chief Counsel Joe Elford at the University of California Hastings College of Law.
Russoniello is in his second term as U.S. Attorney in Northern California, and is in charge of the Barry Bonds steroids case. He insists that his office’s priorities will not be medical marijuana patients or dispensaries, and vows to focus on more pressing issues; like national security, gun control, and child porn.
But Russoniello admits to having a “cynical view of Prop 215,” and while he said there is “little likelihood” dispensaries will continue to be raided, he also clearly said that “if you’re in the business of selling marijuana for profit, you’re in harm’s way.”
The battle between the lawyering Joe’s ended predictably, without any substantial results or either side making concessions, but at least the conversation is happening. And it seems to be taking place much more frequently under the current administration.
Drug Agents Raid SF Dispensary
March 27th, 2009 by RickDoing a complete about face regarding their shift in policy, DEA agents raided Emmalyn’s California Cannabis Clinic in San Francisco. DEA spokeswoman Casey McEnry said the documents regarding the raid are sealed, so the DEA was not able to give any details.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Anthony D. Williams in a written statement:
Based on our investigation we believe there are not only violations of federal law, but state law as well.
Emmalyn’s has a provisional permit from the city, according to Eileen Shields, spokesperson for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, which she said is an indication the club is in good standing with city laws.
Brendan Hallanin, the pot club’s attorney, said Emmalyn’s is in compliance with state and local laws. Hallanin said the DEA would not tell him why the club was being busted.
It’s strange that President Barack Obama’s top law enforcement official, Eric Holder Jr., just last week repeatedly said that the raids of medical marijuana dispensaries would be suspended.
SF Says Hands Off Our Bong Shops
February 16th, 2009 by Perry
A member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, who represents the Haight Ashbury area, wants to pass a moratorium on new headshops. Apparently Ross Mirkarimi wanted to be run out of town with pitchforks, and figured taking away bongs in a city that pioneered usage of the devices was the best way to go.
Mirkarimi actually tried a DEA line about a proliferation of stores leading to illegal drug sales, loitering, and littering. Sounds like political suicide in San Francisco, even for an admitted advocate of decriminalization and medical marijuana like Mirkarimi.
Although, if you’ve ever been to Haight Ashbury, you know there’s more headshops there per capita than any other place in the country (three to a block in some areas), and no one complains.
Hey Mirkarimi, next time you try to grab headlines by picking on weed users, try to remember your constituency.
[img via AP Photo/Eric Risberg]
Dispensary Numbers Dip in San Fran
January 28th, 2009 by Perry
Regulation efforts, which include a new series of hoops a potential dispensary owner would have to jump through, resulted in a slow start for cannabis clubs in San Francisco, CA.
So far this year, 10 clubs have been authorized, while 13 more permits are currently undergoing the application process. Right now the city has 23, but at one time had as many as 40, before regulatory measures were put in place by Senate Bill 420.
Residents have been patient with local officials because the authorities have been supportive of the medical marijuana community, and remain true to their word regarding regulatory/approval policies.
[img via Thomas Hawk]
SF to Go Dutch on Prostitution Policy, Maybe
October 23rd, 2008 by Perry
The American city that continues to embody and pioneer radical left-wing politics, is at it again. On the November ballot, its citizens could be the first in the country to have legalized prostitution.
If Proposition K passed, the measure would prohibit local authorities from investigating, arresting or prosecuting anyone for selling sex. Advocates say it would free up roughly $11 million the police spend each year arresting prostitutes, and allow them to form collectives.
And let’s not forget about the working girl’s perspective. “It will allow workers to organize for our rights and for our safety,” said Patricia West, 22, who said she has been selling sex for about a year by placing ads on the internet. She moved to San Francisco in May from Texas to work on Proposition K.
Genius Calls 911 After DEA Confiscates Stash
November 21st, 2006 by Alex
It’s a well known fact that marijuana use is the most freely tolerated in San Francisco and its surrounding areas. They have a liberal mayor and supportive government. Well, those things can only take you so far when the big, bad federal watchdogs are around.
This one is almost too funny to be true, but some unlucky son of a bitch in San Francisco got a seriously raw deal. Walking near the Philip Burton Federal Building around 1PM, a 20 year old, un-identified man was carrying his baby – a box filled with 1.5 pounds of herb and 12 ounces of hash – to the local marijuana co-op. His plan was to sell the greenage for $4,000 a pound and use it to fund a snowboarding trip to Tahoe. Unfortunately, he never got that far.
DEA agents, also near the federal building, were going to lunch when they smelled the un-mistakable stank of buddha. Seeing this man carrying a box with a well known hydroponics logo on it, they asked him to show its contents. Figuring this was San Francisco, and everyone smoked, he showed them the greenery. Big mistake. The DEA agents flashed their badges and confiscated his crop. It wasn’t enough marijuana to prosecute under federal law, but the government still considers it contraband, so it was taken anyway.
Most people would curse their luck and go home, but not this dude. He followed the DEA agents back to the federal building and tried to go in through the employee entrance. When he finally got the picture that he wasn’t getting his herb back, he called 911 and tried to convince the police to come out and get it back for him. Which, of course, they didn’t do.
Sucks to be that guy. But, maybe this has taught him to be a little more low-profile with his crop in the future.
[via ContraCostaTimes]
San Fran Decriminalizes It
November 15th, 2006 by Tim
De-prioritization makes its way to San Francisco as the Board of Supervisors pass more lenient guidelines to restructure marijuana policy. This would probably be bigger news if drug usage wasn’t such a serious part of San Fran culture already, taking into account that people there smoke crack so casually. Nevertheless, these are positive signs towards imminent legalization and I think that’s progressive.
Slow down buddy, it’s not all roses and fairytales. There are still laws that remain in place to punish obvious criminal acts: driving under the influence, possession or use by minors, and if marijuana is the source of a public safety threat. Public safety threat? On pot? Well, anything is possible I suppose.
This change in policy has some critics believing the law has become too tolerant and almost allows a free-for-all. Kim Stryker, Fair Oaks Community Coalition said:
There’s no reason to get a permit for a medical facility, there’s no reason to get a medical card – you just go to your neighbor and buy what you want in unlimited amounts according to this legislation.
Reminiscent of the newly approved laws in Santa Cruz, there is always going to be some backlash while people adjust. Still, this is damn good news.
[via ABC 7]
