By Mary Wisniewski
(Reuters) – People caught with small amounts of marijuana in Chicago will be ticketed instead of arrested under a new ordinance passed by the city council on Wednesday, as the third largest U.S. city became the latest to support more lenient penalties for using the drug.
The council voted 43-3 in favor of the measure, which was backed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Under the ordinance, police in Chicago can issue a written violation with a fine of between $250 and $500 for possession of 15 grams (0.5 ounces) of marijuana or less rather than make an arrest.
Read complete article here:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/27/us-usa-crime-marijuana-chicago-idUSBRE85Q1FU20120627
Month: June 2012
Mother Nature’s Solution to Soil Contamination – Phytoremediation
Phytoremediation is the environmentally friendly science of using plants and trees to remove heavy metals and other toxins from contaminated soil. By planting specific plants and trees, called hyper-accumulators, in polluted areas, the contaminants can be reduced.
The science is simple, and basic to plant life.
Toxins can enter the soil through a multitude of paths, from chemical fertilizer applications to urban runoff. The toxins can then become embedded in the Earth and are considered bio-accumulates. These bio-accumulates may include metals, pesticides, solvents, explosives, crude oil and its derivatives.
As the remediating plant grows, it develops a root system. The roots draw the bio-accumulates along with beneficial nutrients as part of its nourishment, and concentrate them in its stems, shoots, and leaves, which can then be harvested and disposed of safely.
The marvel is how the plants can flourish while simultaneously rendering the toxins harmless through the nutrient uptake process, resulting in clean, balanced and nutrient rich soil, which can then be safely used for agriculture or improving the wildlife habitat.
Mustard, alpine pennycress, and pigweed are all phytoremediators, but one particular plant shows potential above the rest; Hemp.
Hemp’s industrial uses in the production of food, fuel, and fiber are widely documented, but few people are aware of Hemp’s potential as a remediator. Why is Hemp superior to other phytoremediators? Hemp grows quickly, reaching full harvest in just 180 days and produces a root ball extending into the ground from 6 to 8 feet. At that level, toxins can be extracted without the need to remove any of the contaminated top soil, thus avoiding the expense of transportation to offsite disposal facilities. Other factors making Hemp the champion of remediates are its ability to grow unaffected by the toxins it accumulates, its fast rate of absorption and its ability to bind compound contaminants from the air and the soil. Hemp actually removes CO2 from the air as it removes heavy metals and other pollutants from the soil.
Read complete article here:
http://www.hemp.com/2012/06/soil-contamination-phytoremediation-with-hemp/
War on drugs ‘fuelled HIV pandemic’
(UKPA)
Governments around the world have failed in their war on drugs and fuelled a pandemic in HIV, a leading think tank has said.
The Global Commission on Drug Policy criticised nations for imprisoning non-violent drug users and for driving them away from public health services.
In its report, The War On Drugs And HIV/AIDS – How The Criminalisation Of Drug Use Fuels The Global Pandemic, the commission condemns “the remarkable failure of drug law enforcement policies” in cutting the world drug supply.
The global supply of illicit opiates, such as heroin, has risen by more than 380% in recent decades, said the commission.
The report’s authors praise countries where “addiction is treated as a health issue” such as Australia, Portugal and Switzerland, where newly diagnosed HIV infections have been nearly eliminated among drug users.
Read complete article here:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hZxCmRfMR9hG5tsUCTDXxwKZIlag?docId=N0092511340637985809A
Ex-police chief says new solutions needed in ‘war on drugs’ in Metro Detroit – Bill Dwyer says legalizing certain drugs could decrease violent crime, jail populations
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. –
Former Farmington Hills and Warren police Chief Bill Dwyer is saying leaders need to find new solutions to stopping drug use and crime in Metro Detroit.
Dwyer says the “war on drugs” simply is not working.
“There just has to be a way,” he said. “We’re not winning the war at all on illegal drugs in this country.”
Dwyer’s home is filled with newspaper headlines of his exploits busting drug lords back when Coleman Young was Detroit’s mayor. Dwyer traveled to Columbia and Mexico to break up cocaine labs. He was a general in the local drug war. He was convinced it was the right answer.
However, after nearly 50 years, Dwyer says the profits are too high, the willing pushers are too plentiful and the junkies are too prevalent.
“I think you will see in the very near future marijuana legalized here as it has been in other states,” Dwyer said. “I always believed it was a gateway drug to other drugs. I’m not sure that it is anymore.”
Read complete article here:
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/Ex-police-chief-says-new-solutions-needed-in-war-on-drugs-in-Metro-Detroit/-/1719418/15238568/-/7gqiouz/-/index.html
Cannabis Quilt
Inspired by the tremendous statement and awareness caused by the Aids Memorial Quilt, we are working with our members, and other Cannabis organizations, to complete a Quilt that represents a showing of solidarity and unity in our demands for the legalization of Cannabis.
Then, beginning in October of 2012, our quilt will be sent across the United States to be on public display through a series of regional conferences/rallies, at which our members will gather to raise awareness and network with others within our communities.
After each conference series, we will create a new design,
accept new patches, and add new panels to the quilt, in a hopes to continue these conferences through out the years…
until our voices have been heard and Cannabis prohibition has been repealed.
~VOLUNTEER TO CREATE A PATCH~
We would be thrilled to have you be a part of this historic and memorable event by volunteering to create a patch for the quilt.
You don’t need to be experienced in quilting, or sewing.
Just sign up for a patch, and someone will be in touch to help you get started and answer any questions.
Our current design calls for 50 state patches, and 24 Cannabis leaf patches from volunteers.
If you would like to volunteer, you can sign up for a patch here.
If you would like to donate to help fund this campaign please visit
our wepay account-
If you have any questions, please email cannabisquilt@momsformarijuana.org
.
http://www.momsformarijuana.org/blogs/blog1.php/cannabis-quilt
Marijuana drug war kills thousands more than drugs
By Stephen Frye
The drug war kills thousands more people than drugs ever kill. Our 25,000 gangs now kill more than 10,000 Americans yearly, and our drug war also causes about 10,000 Mexican murders yearly. Thousands more drug war deaths occur in prison where one third of prisoners are dead by age 45. Marijuana is the safest recreational, over-the-counter or prescription drug in history. You absolutely cannot die from it, but gangs, prison, the DEA or cops can kill you as they did a guy in Las Vegas last year.
Read complete article here:
http://guardianlv.com/2012/05/marijuana-drug-war-kills-thousands-more-than-drugs/
Abu Dhabi – Two young men to be executed for 20 grams of hash
‘
[Image via Shutterstock]
An Abu Dhabi criminal court sentenced two men, including an Arab and European, to death after they were convicted of dealing in drugs.
The Arab, 19, and the 21-year-old European had been seized by police for possessing 20 gm of hashish “with the aim of trading in it,” Albayan newspaper said.
“The court sentenced the two to death and the means of execution is to be determined by the leadership,” the Arabic language paper said.
Read complete article here:
http://www.emirates247.com/crime/local/two-drug-dealers-to-be-executed-in-abu-dhabi-2012-06-26-1.464620
Jazzfest Preview: Ziggy’s solution – Marley is standing up for the civil rights of the ‘herb’
BY LYNN SAXBERG, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN
Ziggy Marley will play Ottawa Jazz Festival June 26, 2012
Ziggy Marley has been openly crusading for the rights of a plant ever since the release of his fourth and latest album, Wild and Free, last summer. A breezy duet with actor Woody Harrelson, the title track envisions fields of hemp growing wild and free, set in a landscape of lilting roots-reggae.
“The herb,” Marley says, warming up to a recent phone interview, “Cannabis, hemp, marijuana, whatever name you want to use. I was into learning more about it, and trying to understand why the world is not taking advantage of it as a natural resource. It was a big influence on the record, the idea of hemp and growing hemp.”
A year later, fields of hemp are still not growing wild and free, but Marley doesn’t sound like he’s giving up. “It’s almost like a civil rights issue,” he says, chuckling at the comparison. “In the plant world, this plant is like the black people back in the day. I’m standing up for the civil rights of a plant.”
Read complete article here:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Entertainment/Music/Jazzfest+Preview+Ziggy+solution/6833321/story.html
Okanagan Valley Moms for Marijuana CHALK WALK (Kelowna)
This summer, join us in this family friendly event to raise awareness, promote education, and create discussion about Cannabis in your local community.
Sidewalk Chalk is a fun and colorful way to leave behind some temporary Cannabis education. Just grab some chalk and doodle facts and drawings on the sidewalks around town. Do it while on a walk, or ask people to join you in a planned event.
Bring some color to your sidewalks while leaving a little Cannabis education behind for someone else to find!
~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~
WE HAD SO MUCH FUN WE ARE DOING THIS ALL SUMMER LONG!!!
For those of you who are not sure…the Sails are located at the corner of Abbott Street and Bernard Avenue in Kelowna.
We would love to see you all there!
https://www.facebook.com/events/418697721484357/
N.M. lawyer takes Montana pot case – Producers cite constitutional amendment about state powers vs. federal powers
Phaedra Haywood
New Mexico-based attorney Paul Livingston is representing a group of Montana medical marijuana producers who are challenging the federal government’s authority to regulate marijuana on the basis that such enforcement is a violation of the 10th Amendment.
The 10th Amendment states in part that all powers not specifically designated to the federal government are the jurisdiction of individual states.
Police powers and the power to protect the health and safety of citizens belongs to the states, Livingston argues.
Livingston’s clients in the case are a group of Montana businesses and individuals who were the target of a federal drug raid even though they were licensed to grow and sell medical marijuana by the state of Montana.
The case now rests with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. According to court documents, “the federal agents seized and destroyed thousands of live plants,” and “took away hundreds of pounds of dried marijuana” during a March 2011 raid on licensed producers, and stripped certain providers of lights and other equipment used to grow and distribute the herb, which caused his clients significant financial damage.
Read complete article here:
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/N-M–lawyer-takes-Montana-pot-case