Sudden Outbreak of Common Sense

‘Respect State Marijuana Laws Act’ Introduced In Congress

"United States Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), along with a bipartisan coalition of three Republicans (Reps. Rohrabacher, Rep. Justin Amash [R-MI], and Don Young [R-AK]) and three Democrats (Reps. Earl Blumenauer [D-OR], Steve Cohen [D-TN] and Jared Polis [D-CO]) today introduced House Bill 1523: the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act. The measure would amend the federal Controlled Substances Act to exempt from federal prosecution individuals and businesses, including marijuana dispensaries and/or retail outlets, who comply with state marijuana laws." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Respect State Marijuana Laws Act’ Introduced In Congress

Extra! Extra! New daily papers arrive as Myanmar lifts press monopoly

"Privately owned daily newspapers hit Myanmar’s streets for the first time in decades on Monday under new freedoms that represent a revolution for a media shackled under military rule. Four Burmese-language titles — The Voice, The Golden Fresh Land, The Union and The Standard Time — made the transition from weekly as new rules came into effect that swept away state media’s long monopoly on daily printing. The country’s military rulers seized control of private daily papers in 1964, according to veteran journalist Thiha Saw of Open News weekly." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingExtra! Extra! New daily papers arrive as Myanmar lifts press monopoly

Do Police See Guns as a threat to “Officer Safety”?

"The view that so-called weak gun laws endanger the lives of police doesn’t seem to be shared by many police officers. A survey of 15,000 active-duty police officers conducted on behalf of PoliceOne.com found that nearly all of them – 95 percent – said that a federal ban on high-capacity ammo magazines would not reduce violent crime. Seventy-one percent said that a federal ban on so-called assault weapons would likewise be useless as a crime reduction measure – and twenty percent said that it would actually have a negative effect on reducing violent crime." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDo Police See Guns as a threat to “Officer Safety”?

Atlanta: Anti-Police Rebellion, Rocks And Bricks Thrown At Police Cars

"Today, April 9th 2013, there was a riot in Edgewood, a neighborhood northeast of downtown Atlanta. Around fifty people gathered for a 'March Against the Police' with drums, banners, and a desire for vengeance at the playground in Edgewood Courts, an apartment complex in the back of the neighborhood. Edgewood Courts contains some of the few remaining low income housing units in Atlanta. Yesterday, the police pepper sprayed a group of kids and beat and arrested a man grieving over his lost father. All in all the police were forced to retreat 4 times — leaving the neighborhood completely. The crowd of people never backed down." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAtlanta: Anti-Police Rebellion, Rocks And Bricks Thrown At Police Cars

HBO executive: Rampant piracy of ‘Game of Thrones’ is a ‘compliment’

"Contrary to popular thinking, the rampant piracy of 'Game of Thrones' has not harmed the network that airs it, HBO programming president Michael Lombardo told Entertainment Weekly on Sunday, just hours before the show’s season three premiere. 'I probably shouldn’t be saying this, but [piracy] is a compliment of sorts,' Lombardo reportedly said. 'The demand is there. And it certainly didn’t negatively impact the DVD sales. [Piracy is] something that comes along with having a wildly successful show on a subscription network.' The show’s creator, George R. R. Martin, said as much earlier in March." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHBO executive: Rampant piracy of ‘Game of Thrones’ is a ‘compliment’

Idaho Court of Appeals overturns marijuana DUI conviction

"The Idaho Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court's decision upholding a Boise man's conviction for driving under the influence of marijuana. The court ruled last week in the case of Geirrod Stark, who was found guilty in 2010 of driving while impaired. In its ruling, Judge Pro Tem Jesse Walters overturned the conviction, arguing Stark's blood test results only prove he'd used marijuana recently — not the day he was stopped. There's no question Stark was impaired that day Walters said, but there's no proof that drugs — and not some other condition — caused his erratic driving." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIdaho Court of Appeals overturns marijuana DUI conviction

Hope in Hawley

"Hawley, Massachusetts. A small little town in a rural New England area west of the Berkshires. A recent article run by the Associated Press stated that: 'Select Board member Tedd White resigned Thursday, the fourth official in the town of about 330 residents to step down since a March 12 special election to replace a selectman who died in office. White said in his resignation letter he would rather ‘pound my thumbs with a hammer’ than attend ‘crooked, rigged’ board meetings. The town clerk, town moderator and a member of the regional school committee have also resigned this month, saying they cannot work with the board.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHope in Hawley

Trust in Gold Not Bernanke as U.S. States Promote Bullion

"Lawmakers in Arizona are poised to follow Utah, which authorized bullion for currency in 2011. Similar bills are advancing in Kansas, South Carolina and other states. The Utah Precious Metals Association, established after passage of the 2011 law to advocate for the use of gold and silver coins, has about two dozen members enrolled in a two month-old bill-pay service in which their accounts are held in gold, said Lawrence Hilton, the group’s chairman. Hilton envisions a future with an alternative monetary system based on precious metals in which merchants accept silver coin while gold mostly backs electronic transfers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTrust in Gold Not Bernanke as U.S. States Promote Bullion

As marijuana goes legit, investors rush in

What's striking is how conventional many of the business people's backgrounds — and their plans — increasingly are. Instead of backing marijuana dispensaries, investors such as Privateer and San Francisco-based ArcView Group are rushing to find consulting firms, software companies and insurance agencies to serve the new market. Even Privateer's strategy of merging small companies to form a big one is familiar: In traditional buyout shops, it's called a 'roll-up.' Just don't say that word to Kennedy, unless you want him to blush. Scratch the term 'growing the business' — he catches that one in midsentence, correcting his wording to 'expand.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAs marijuana goes legit, investors rush in

Armed protesters show up to counter Indianapolis gun control rally

"A group participating in the 'National Day to Demand Action' to end gun violence in Indianapolis this morning faced a counter-protest from gun rights advocates, who brought their loaded firearms with them. The group Moms Demand Action held the rally outside the Indiana Statehouse on Thursday to call for an assault weapons ban, restrictions on magazine sizes, and an end to the so-called gun show loophole. A member of the organization told Think Progress she was unsettled by the presence of armed counter-protesters, who were from a group calling itself Indiana Moms Against Gun Control." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingArmed protesters show up to counter Indianapolis gun control rally