direct democracy

First major hemp crop in 60 years is planted in southeast Colorado

"Springfield, Colo., farmer Ryan Loflin on Monday planted the nation's first industrial hemp crop in almost 60 years. Loflin's plans to grow hemp already have been chronicled, and Monday's planting attracted the attention of more media in southeastern Colorado and a documentary film crew. Its cultivation in small test plots became legal last year under a Colorado law. The passage of Amendment 64 in November allowed commercial growing, even though hemp, like marijuana, is illegal under federal law." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFirst major hemp crop in 60 years is planted in southeast Colorado

League City, Texas Red Light Cameras Bagged

"Red light cameras in League City, Texas were covered with bags this week, but not by vigilantes. Australian camera vendor Redflex Traffic Systems had no choice but to shut down the devices. Last November, 77 percent of voters approved a measure banning the use of automated ticketing machines -- the fifth city in the Lone Star State to do so. City officials last year re-wrote the immediate ban initiative circulated by citizens and replaced it with a measure that would only take effect on October 29, 2014, when the city's contract with Redflex expired. The change proved politically untenable, so on April 23, the council voted to pay Redflex $350,000 to end the contract on July 1." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLeague City, Texas Red Light Cameras Bagged

Colorado passes laws for the legal sale of marijuana beginning Jan. 1

"Lawmakers in Colorado voted Wednesday night to approve a historic, first-ever regulatory framework for the production, taxation and sales of marijuana. Four bills awaiting the governor’s signature Thursday morning — SB 283, HB 1317, HB 1318 and HB 1325 — will convert the state’s medical marijuana regulatory agency into a body governing all marijuana sales and establish legal limits for driving while under the influence of marijuana. Voters will also be given the chance to approve a series of taxes on marijuana in November, starting at 10 percent sales tax at retail and 15 percent excise tax at wholesale, with additional local taxes to be set by each municipality." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingColorado passes laws for the legal sale of marijuana beginning Jan. 1

Washington lawmakers quietly approve bill to re-criminalize some marijuana possession

"Lawmakers in the Washington House and Senate quietly passed a bill over the weekend that will re-criminalize some marijuana possession, reacting to warnings from the state’s crime lab that the current law could make it impossible to prosecute large-quantity possession charges or large-scale marijuana growing operations. The Senate passed the measure unanimously on Saturday, according to The Associated Press. The governor was expected to sign the bill as soon as Monday, but had not yet by early afternoon." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWashington lawmakers quietly approve bill to re-criminalize some marijuana possession

Swiss banking chief tries to quell clamor about gold

"Swiss National Bank President Thomas Jordan won't exclude increasing the central bank's gold holdings at some point and said most of its reserves are held domestically. More than 70 percent of the SNB's 1,040 tons of gold are held in Switzerland, with about 20 percent at the Bank of England and 10 percent at the Bank of Canada, he said, for the first time disclosing where the physical assets were stored. The SNB's gold holdings are the target of a popular initiative, which demands that at least 20 percent of the central bank's assets be in the form of gold. The measure would also block the sale of such holdings and require all SNB gold to be located in Switzerland." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSwiss banking chief tries to quell clamor about gold

Drug czar: No state can nullify federal marijuana ban

"President Barack Obama’s drug czar toed a strict line on marijuana Wednesday, saying federal laws will prevail regardless of state-level efforts to legalize pot. Gil Kerlikowske said enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 — which ranks marijuana as a Schedule One drug alongside heroin, LSD and ecstasy — remains in the hands of the US Department of Justice. 'No state, no executive can nullify a statute that has been passed by Congress,' the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy told a National Press Club luncheon." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDrug czar: No state can nullify federal marijuana ban

Drug czar: No state can nullify federal marijuana ban

"President Barack Obama’s drug czar toed a strict line on marijuana Wednesday, saying federal laws will prevail regardless of state-level efforts to legalize pot. Gil Kerlikowske said enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 — which ranks marijuana as a Schedule One drug alongside heroin, LSD and ecstasy — remains in the hands of the US Department of Justice. 'No state, no executive can nullify a statute that has been passed by Congress,' the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy told a National Press Club luncheon." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDrug czar: No state can nullify federal marijuana ban

Drug czar: No state can nullify federal marijuana ban

"President Barack Obama’s drug czar toed a strict line on marijuana Wednesday, saying federal laws will prevail regardless of state-level efforts to legalize pot. Gil Kerlikowske said enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 — which ranks marijuana as a Schedule One drug alongside heroin, LSD and ecstasy — remains in the hands of the US Department of Justice. 'No state, no executive can nullify a statute that has been passed by Congress,' the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy told a National Press Club luncheon." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDrug czar: No state can nullify federal marijuana ban

Congressional Research Service says not much Feds can do about legalized marijuana

"So where does this leave the feds? They can use their limited resources to arrest and seize whomever they can get their hands on. They can tie marijuana to other federal laws — gun possession, public housing occupancy, employment drug testing, etc. None of these options will achieve the overturning of state laws. And their pettiness will turn individuals further against the federal government. Or… the federal government could listen to the states, and to the people. Just a thought." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCongressional Research Service says not much Feds can do about legalized marijuana

Feds firm on gun denials for pot users

"The federal form all firearms purchasers are required to fill out includes this question: 'Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana ... ?' An untruthful response to this question is a crime, said a spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. When it comes to marijuana law, the states and federal government have been in an awkward stalemate, with states such as Colorado taking an increasingly casual attitude toward marijuana and the federal government refusing to declassify it from a Schedule 1 narcotic – the same class as heroin and methamphetamine." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFeds firm on gun denials for pot users