The Real “Air Bud”
June 15th, 2009 by ErinIn high school, my friend’s dog ate a sack of weed at a party (by accident) and we all gazed with laughter as we watched it scarf down food and pass out shortly after. It appears he wasn’t the only puppy with a taste for greenery.
People in Seward Park, Seattle need to keep a better eye on their personal stash. Jen Nestor Waddell’s dog stumbled back to her with a glazed-over look in its eyes like it was high. Unknowingly why, she brought him to the vet where they determined that it consumed a large amount of dried and harvested cannabis. After some induced vomiting, a good night’s sleep and a $1,500 vet bill, Jack, the 11-year old black Lab mix, was all clear-eyed, sober and fine.
So make your vote: Air Bud, Spuds McKenzie or Jack — who’s the biggest party animal?
Warning: Cocaine, Crack Being Cut with Levamisole
June 9th, 2009 by Rick
A reported three drug users required hospitalization in Seattle stemming from close to fatal poisoning from the drug Levamisole, a deworming medication for animals, that was used to cut the crack and cocaine they consumed.
Public Health of Seattle & King County claimed that one patient alone had a medical bill of $100,000 and another needed surgery. Apparently, Levamisole can wipe out a human’s white blood cell count and create other serious health problems:
- high fever
- chills
- swollen glands
- painful sores on the mouth and anus
They issued an alert last Thursday to rehab centers in an effort to reach the users about Levamisole. Director of the public-health department, David Fleming, said:
You can’t tell if the cocaine or crack is contaminated with Levamisole by looking at it. [...] Don’t take a chance and risk your life.
According to Bob Wood, AIDS-control officer with Public Health, until last fall, little was known about Levamisole, because it was “obscurely reported” in the medicinal field despite it being discovered in the 1960’s.
Wood noted:
It’s a good time to remind people that cocaine is a dangerous drug. [...] Now, it’s dangerous for another reason.
Cases in a couple of states as well as areas in Canada and England have appeared within the past two years — so apparently it’s a growing epidemic. Cocaine and crack users are essentially playing Russian roulette while chasing their next high.
Prince of Pot Still Awaits Fate
June 1st, 2009 by Rick
U.S. drug officials call him one of the top 50 drug traffickers in the world, having been attributed to helping $2.2 billion worth of pot being grown. Marc Emery, the self-proclaimed Prince of Pot, has had a target on his back since the last days that his company, Emery Seeds, had been selling cannabis seeds via mail order to buyers world-wide.
I had a very good reason for selling those seeds. [...] I wanted to defeat the U.S. war on drugs.
Two of his employees had already plead guilty for their involvement and both are awaiting sentencing in July, where two years probation was recommended. It’s apparent that they didn’t want the little fish, just Moby Dick.
After being arrested 21 times and going to jail another 17, you’d think Emery would lay low. Still being an activist and involving himself politically on the front of marijuana legalization, Emery, leader of the Overgrow the Government movement, is a big whale, perhaps one of the largest out there.
Emery is also ready to become a martyr to the cause:
Dying as a victim of the state’s cruelty would really help a person like me. The way you die is very important. [...] Martin Luther King was killed and that’s very important to his legacy.
Emery agreed that he would plead guilty in Seattle to one count of distributing marijuana if all other counts are dismissed. Apparently the U.S. District Attorney is gunning for a sentence of five to eight years in a U.S. prison. Emery thinks August will be the magic date and after his sentencing, he’s planning on having all his supporters rally to have him be moved to a Canadian prison.
Medical Marijuana Patient Robbed Twice
May 29th, 2009 by RickMark Spohn, a medical marijuana patient in Seattle had his home invaded by some men, pretending to be FBI agents. After they told him to get down on the floor, the proceeded to rob him of his medical marijuana.
To make matters worse, when the Seattle police arrived there they learned that there were entirely too many plants at the residence, so they robbed confiscated dozens of the plants. Under the Washington medical marijuana law, patients are allowed to have 15 plants and 24 ounces.
Spohn informed the police that several patients were growing their medical marijuana there as well, but the police merely stated that they were enforcing the law. Detectives declined to speak on camera, but neighbors had said that the home had been subjected to attempted break-ins before.
As the Seattle police carried out the medical marijuana, the actual FBI arrived on the scene and began looking into the home invasion and a possible impersonation of a federal officer.
Under the terms of the Washington law, patients that qualify for medical marijuana have either a terminal illness or a debilitating condition. Spohn is devastated and from this point on, doesn’t know what he will do.
The Other Big Three Push for Decriminalization
February 12th, 2009 by Perry
Citing the utter failure of any kind of war on drugs, several world leaders have urged President Obama to consider further reducing the penalty for marijuana use.
Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico, and Cesar Gaviria of Colombia, all made the same recommendation – coincidentally these men reside in three of the world’s four leading weed exporters.
It’s time to recognize the failure, the article states. And, if we’re doing it abroad, we might as well do it at home too.
Marijuana activists in Minnesota are leading a renewed push at legalization for MMJ. They are hoping a shift in strategy, emphasizing compassion, will garner enough votes that Gov. Pawlenty will think twice before blocking it, as he did with previous MMJ legislation.
Also on the legalization front, lawmakers in Seattle are considering again downgrading marijuana as a legal priority. Already not considered high on the list, no pun intended, a new piece of legislation will make it a $100 fine for being caught in possession.
Okay I guess if you’re used to being thrown in jail over it, a $100 ticket should be a Godsend, but I think we can do better Seattle. Why do we need to punish these people at all, they’re not hurting anyone?
Former Police Chief: Weed Shouldn’t Be a Priority
January 26th, 2009 by PerryFormer Seattle Chief of Police Norm Stamper dishes honestly and frankly about why marijuana should be legal in an interview with Reason.tv.
The interview is a rare attitude from someone who was paid to be an adversarial member of the war on drugs for several decades — an honest view that acknowledges the drug is involved in greater illegal activity but the act itself might not be as apocryphal as everyone says and believes.
Seattle Seahawks Leroy Hill Busted for Possession
January 26th, 2009 by Perry
I never fully understand why celebrities continually get caught doing stupid things behind the wheel. Apparently Leroy Hill is not above the influence. If you earn $200,000 a year or more, as every starter in the NFL does (by a sufficient margin), then there’s no reason you can’t call a cab.
Leroy Hill, a linebacker for Seattle, got caught with a couple baggies of weed in his car — because he fell asleep at an intersection at 4 am. Reportedly, Hill passed out and didn’t come to until officers responded to complaints about a motorist asleep at the wheel.
It certainly helps explain why Seattle’s defense was so awful this year.
