Drugs & Prohibition

Schwagstock founder Jimmy Tebeau enters federal prison; should other music-festival organizers worry?

"At first prosecutors weren't sure what charges to press against Tebeau. They used asset-forfeiture proceedings to take his land and freeze his bank accounts. Finally, six months after the raid on Tebeau's property, they accused him of 'maintaining a drug involved premises' — a violation originally intended to punish landlords who lease houses to crack dealers. The law, broadly drafted to criminalize properties maintained 'for the purpose of unlawfully manufacturing, storing, distributing, or using a controlled substance,' dates back to the mid-1980s, but it was amended in 2002 at the urging of then-U.S. Senator Joe Biden." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSchwagstock founder Jimmy Tebeau enters federal prison; should other music-festival organizers worry?

French government minister urges public e-cigarette ban

"French Health Minister Marisol Touraine has called for electronic cigarettes to be banned from public places and their sale to be restricted to over-16s only. In an interview with French radio station France Info on Friday morning, Touraine urged that electronic cigarettes be treated in the same way as normal cigarettes. 'We want the same laws that apply to normal cigarettes to apply to electronic cigarettes,' she said, adding that advertisements for e-cigarettes should also be banned. The pen-sized instruments have grown increasingly popular among the smoking community, especially young bar-goers. 'I want us to rally against smoking,' she said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrench government minister urges public e-cigarette ban

Colorado Governor Signs Marijuana Legalization Bills

"In a public ceremony at the state capitol in Denver Tuesday, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) signed into law four bills that will establish a legal, regulated marijuana market for adults and begin the development of a regulatory framework for industrial hemp production. The package of bills had passed the legislature earlier this month in accord with the requirements of Amendment 64, which won with 55% of the popular vote last November. That groundbreaking vote led Hickenlooper to sign an order legalizing marijuana possession and to appoint an Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force late last year, which provided guidance to the legislature." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingColorado Governor Signs Marijuana Legalization Bills

Army Vet: Police Raided Wrong Apartment, Found No Drugs, Killed His Dog

"Adam Arroyo has lived in his Breckenridge apartment for three years but has never experienced a day like this past Monday; when police busted down his door in search of drugs, shooting and killing his dog in the process. When Arroyo returned home Monday evening he found his apartment torn apart, door busted down and several bullet holes in his kitchen wall. Arroyo is a combat veteran who served in Iraq and plans to join the National Guard. This incident, however has left him heart-broken and angry. Arroyo now has to pay to have Cindy cremated. He also had to repair his door at his own cost and has had to miss work." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingArmy Vet: Police Raided Wrong Apartment, Found No Drugs, Killed His Dog

DEA Rehires “Con Man Extraordinaire” and Admitted Multiple Perjurer as Paid Informant

"The Drug Enforcement Agency is so determined to bust folks that a snitch who admitted to multiple instances of perjury has been rehired. According to AZCentral, the man once labeled the 'highest paid snitch in history' -- Andrew Chambers, Jr. -- is back in business as a paid informant, never mind the fact that he was terminated in 2000 for incessant lying. Chambers gave false testimony under oath in at least 16 criminal cases nationwide before he was ousted in 2000. An informant since 1984, he worked with DEA and other federal agencies in at least 280 cases, with sting operations in 31 US cities." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDEA Rehires “Con Man Extraordinaire” and Admitted Multiple Perjurer as Paid Informant

Former Mexico president calls for marijuana legalization

"Ex-president Vicente Fox says Mexico should legalize marijuana to steal business back from violent drug cartels — and when it’s legal, he’s in (as a grower). 'Once it is legitimate and legal, of course, I do some farming. I can do it myself,' the conservative former leader said from his ranch in San Francisco del Rincon. Fox, a former Coca-Cola executive who was president from 2000-2006, surprised many when he was among early voices in Mexico calling for illegal drugs to be legalized, seeing it as the only way to break the cycle of violent crime. 'Mexico should become an authorized producer, and export marijuana to places where it is already legal,' argued Fox." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer Mexico president calls for marijuana legalization

New York ‘soccer mom’ accused of $3 million marijuana operation

"Andrea Sanderlin was described by friends and neighbours in the upmarket town of Scarsdale as a 'soccer mom' who drove a Mercedes SUV and competed in horse riding competitions. But the federal drug enforcement agency alleges that the 45-year-old was in charge of a 'sophisticated operation to grow and process marijuana', according to the criminal complaint. Investigators linked Sanderlin, who has two daughters aged 3 and 13, to a warehouse that was using 'an unusually high amount of electricity'. In a separate raid on her Scarsdale home authorities found books on how to grow marijuana and how to launder money, according to the DEA." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew York ‘soccer mom’ accused of $3 million marijuana operation

Hundreds of protesters in Toronto call for Mayor Rob Ford to resign

"Hundreds of protesters gathered in Toronto on Saturday to call for the resignation of embattled city mayor Rob Ford over a scandal involving a video of him allegedly smoking crack. The event, called Stand up for Toronto – Let’s Demand Rob Ford’s Resignation, comes on the back of a week of resignations among Ford’s close aides and continued denials of drug use by the controversial politician. The Star and the Globe and Mail have reported that the police are now investigating links between the video and a recent homicide in Toronto. The Star also reported this week that the third man in the photograph was injured in the same shooting, two months ago." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHundreds of protesters in Toronto call for Mayor Rob Ford to resign

Marijuana’s IRS Problems Spark New Bill

"Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) will introduce the Small Business Tax Equity Act of 2013 on June 5, with the goal of ending the Internal Revenue Service’s persecution of medical cannabis dispensaries. The Small Business Tax Equity Act of 2013 will amend IRS Section 280E of the tax code to resolve a crisis in the newly legal billion-dollar industry, according to Betty Aldworth with the Washington D.C. lobby National Cannabis Industry Association. Marijuana is a federally illegal drug that 20 states have legalized for medical purposes. Two have legalized its use for adults over 21. But the IRS treats all marijuana-related businesses as 'drug trafficking organizations'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMarijuana’s IRS Problems Spark New Bill