MetaFilter posts tagged with marijuana

Obama Told Me I Was Doing The Right Thing

reenum — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 07:59:13 -0800

A medical marijuana provider in California is mounting a novel defense after his marijuana farm was raided by Federal agents. James Dean Stacy is arguing that statements made by President Obama while on the campaign trail about easing marijuana laws constitutes "entrapment by estoppel, defined as when an official tells someone that something is legal, then busts them for it. Put plainly, Stacy would not have formed the collective if the government hadn’t assured legal collectives that they wouldn’t be prosecuted."

As If It Weren't Obvious Already

kliuless — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:12:00 -0800

Saving Mexico "To weaken the cartels, some argue the U.S. should legalize marijuana, let cocaine pass through the Caribbean and take the profit motive out of the drug trade."

Only the rich can safely get high

mrgrimm — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:09:21 -0800

Medical Marijuana Apartheid -- as the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy misrepresents (PDF source) the new policy of the American Medical Association (PDF source) in regard to medical marijuana, and the U.S. Congress lifts the ban on Washington D.C.'s Initiative 59 ("the first time Congress has given its assent to a state or local law that permits medical use of marijuana") -- one writer questions whether the "back-door" decriminalization of cannabis has institutionalized class- and race-based discrimination.

Re-Meet Ricky Williams

Lacking Subtlety — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:17:39 -0800

In case you haven't, please meet Ricky Williams. He has had one of the most fascinating careers of any professional athlete: he was a high school phenom in Football, Baseball, Track, and Wrestling. He played FOUR YEARS of minor league baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He was a two time all American at Texas and winner of the Heisman Trophy. He translated that success into a great early start in the NFL. He also grew up in an abusive home. He has tested extremely high in both IQ and diagnostic tests. He is incredibly shy and has been diagnosed social anxiety disorder. Hating the effects of medications, he opted for Marijuana claiming that it had a much better effect. A string of positive drug tests forced him to leave the NFL. He wasn't broken up about it. He joined in the CFL. He suffered a string of debilitating injuries. One of his best friends is a homeless guy named Mystic steve. They hiked the Himalayas together. He rejoined the dolphins in 2008 as a complimentary player and he grew an awesome beard. With his teammate Ronnie Brown, Ricky and the Dolphins have developed an entirely new and popular offense for the NFL called the Wildcat, which helped turn a 1-15 team around and have great success the last two years. Why mention this all today? With an injury to Ronnie Brown, last night the 32 year old running surprised just about everyone by rushing for 119 yards and 3 TDs in a great 24-17 win over the Carolina Panthers, a remarkable achievement for someone who was considered a washed up, crazy pothead. A remarkable career indeed.

Double tall mocha and a vaporizer bowl, no whip cream

Burhanistan — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:07:11 -0800

America’s First Cannabis Cafe Opens (at 4:20). [Via]

Harvest Time.

gman — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:45:37 -0800

A Mendocino mid-fall marijuana harvest as documented by photographer Mathieu Young. (via - with some info)

Obamaryjane

gerryblog — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:43:33 -0800

MEMORANDUM FOR SELECTED UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS: As a general matter, pursuit of these priorities should not focus federal resources in your States on individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana. For example, prosecution of individuals with cancer or other serious illnesses who use marijuana as part of a recommended treatment regimen consistent with applicable state law, or those caregivers in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state law who provide such individuals with marijuana, is unlikely to be an efficient use of limited federal resources. (SLUSDOJM)

"Why I Give My 9-year-old Pot"

PissOnYourParade — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:12:51 -0800

The titles grabbed me - Why I am going to give my 9-year-old Pot. and the four month follow up, Why am I giving my 9-year-old Pot. But, my mind was changed, and heart softened, by the articles. via

highDEAS: Unique ideas or insights generated while one is under the influence of cannabis that wouldn't have existed otherwise (like the one for this link)

carsonb — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:26:56 -0800

Dude, wouldn't it be totally cool if there was an opposite microwave to cool tasty canned beverages in seconds? What if underwear had pockets? They'd be called Underawesomes! And don't you think ketchup packets should be bigger? Oh man, speaking of munchies, what if you had see-through fudge? You could see right through it! Dang, it would be rad if there was smokable tape you could use to repair your busted spliff, huh? But I mean, dude, there should like really be a website where stoners could post and discuss the ideas they get when they're super high. I'd call it highDEAS.

You'll Be Surprised How Close One Is To You

Xurando — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:57:10 -0800

Is it a long trip from your physician to the nearest approved cannabis dispensing station? Here's a solution. Get on your Iphone and download cannabisapps.

How to Enjoy Reality

digaman — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:07:29 -0800

Rest in peace, Simon Vinkenoog [Dutch blog w/English option], poet, friend of artists like Karel Appel, translator of Beat Generation figures like Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, psychedelic enthusiast and "weed ambassador" of Amsterdam, and author of such guides to hip living as How to Enjoy Reality. One of the European jazz-loving proto-hippies who made the '60s swing and mentored several generations of culture hackers, though he was never widely known in the US.

Marijuana Goes Mainstream

Joe Beese — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:57:53 -0800

The New York Times discovers the significance of today's date. "Allen F. St. Pierre, the executive director of Norml, said he had cautioned supporters that any legal changes that might occur would probably be incremental. “The balancing act this year is trying to get our most active, most vocal supporters to be more realistic in their expectations in what the Obama administration is going to do,” Mr. St. Pierre said."

Obama on the Marijuana Prohibition: "No"

tybeet — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:05:38 -0800

Obama holds Internet 'town hall' meeting (previously) (previously). What was the #1 issue on the public's mind? Well, the legalization of marijuana set the stage as the #2 question under "Health Care Reform", the #1 and #2 questions under "Green Jobs and Energy", the #1 - #4 questions under "Financial Stability", the #1 and #3 questions under "Jobs", and #1 - #7 under "Budget". Clearly, this is one of the most important issue on the public's mind. What was Obama's response? It was "equivalent to a parent telling a child 'No.' and when asked why? 'Because I said so.'" Jack Cole, executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), said in response: "Despite the president's flippant comments today, the grievous harms of marijuana prohibition are no laughing matter. Certainly, the 800,000 people arrested last year on marijuana charges find nothing funny about it, nor do the millions of Americans struggling in this sluggish economy. It would be an enormous economic stimulus if we stopped wasting so much money arresting and locking people up for nonviolent drug offenses and instead brought in new tax revenue from legal sales, just as we did when ended alcohol prohibition 75 years ago during the Great Depression."¹

The Play at Home Game!

cjorgensen — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:30:21 -0800

Become a Virtual Texas Deputy! (via)

The Audacity of Dope

Chinese Jet Pilot — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:26:03 -0800

With its $41 billion deficit spiraling out of control and federal judges ordering its prisoners released to relieve overcrowding, can legal marijuana save California?

Thomas Pynchon is 71 years old.

Joe Beese — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:43:42 -0800

"To make off with hubby's fortune, yea, I think I heard of that happenin' once or twice around L.A. And… you want me to do what exactly?" He found the paper bag he'd brought his supper home in and got busy pretending to scribble notes on it, because straight-chick uniform, makeup supposed to look like no makeup or whatever, here came that old well-known hard-on Shasta was always good for sooner or later. Does it ever end, he wondered. Of course it does. It did. Thomas Pynchon's next novel, the 416-page Inherent Vice, is described by Penguin Press as "part noir, part psychedelic romp, all Thomas Pynchon — private eye Doc Sportello comes, occasionally, out of a marijuana haze to watch the end of an era as free love slips away and paranoia creeps in with the L.A. fog." While we wait for its August 4 publication, we can read an essay on the dystopian musical he co-wrote at Cornell or watch a clip of that movie they made of Gravity's Rainbow. related posts here and here

Ow! My brain hurts!

stonedcoldsober — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:21:41 -0800

How will Alzheimer's researchers ever reconcile this study and this study? Pardon me while I go find something to munch on while I ponder my options. Marijuana's effect on Alzheimer's has been covered before but the convergence of the two memory studies on the same day was too good to bogart.

The Spice Must Flow

furiousxgeorge — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:43:40 -0800

(Some links NSFW) Any down on their luck stoner is familiar with so called, "legal bud" Herbs of all kinds have been marketed online to the connectionless or legally restricted that offered a marijuana like high without the legal consequences. Everyone knows they are all scams. It might surprise you, that some were not. Commonly sold under the names Spice or Zohai, mixtures of herbs sprayed with synthetic cannabinoid substances such as HU-210 or JWH-018 have been available online for at least the past four years. This thriving grey market has recently come to a grinding halt. Spice was listed as containing a varying mix of herbal ingredients, some of which could plausibly offer a psychoactive experience. The government in Frankfurt was not convinced that the listed ingredients could account for the reported THC like effects. A study was commissioned that revealed the presence of an unlisted ingredient, a synthetic cannabinoid. Several nations were quick to enact bans. In the United States, a shipment of spice was intercepted by customs agents. Tests of the material confirmed the presence of HU-210, which is illegal under the Analog Act. Spice, and similar products, in a matter of weeks have been made near impossible to find. This is a rare, sweeping victory in the War on Drugs. Will these synthetic cannabinoids never be heard from again, despite potential promise in medical research? Will they be demonized out of our medical culture like their mother drug? Will other individuals find a way to stealthily market similar compounds to those just looking for fun? Time will tell.

No surprises here

Pope Guilty — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:34:26 -0800

Salon has an article up which is a pretty solid summary of why marijuana is illegal.

Higher State of Consciousness

gman — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:17:27 -0800

Drawing on drugs by Jeremy Eaton. All but one drawing can be enlarged. Previously.

Kop Busters.

gman — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 19:21:15 -0800

The Odessa narcotics unit was tricked (stand alone video) by Barry Cooper and his show (currently over bandwidth), into raiding a house they thought had a grow-op. Was the probable cause based solely on their use of thermal imaging equipment? Canadian courts have already visited this invasion of privacy issue. Barry Cooper with Marc Emery. Barry Cooper at New Hampshire Liberty Forum.

ANCIENT GANJA STASHES FOUND IN CHINA

terranova — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:25:00 -0800

The Western press is heralding the discovery of the "world's oldest marijuana stash" (789 grams) in the tomb of a 2,700-year-old blond-haired, blue-eyed mummy in the Xinjiang region of China (photo). The mummy is believed to be a Nordic-featured Gushi shaman from the Tarim Basin. Scientists conjecture that the cannabis was being saved for use in the afterlife. In actuality, according to the Journal of Experimental Botany, the stash is the oldest pot to be tested for its properties. In 2006, the Chinese press reported that Chinese scientists had unearthed an older marijuana "baggy" in a 2,800-year-old Caucasian shaman's Xinjiang tomb.

Another week, another benefit

Mr_Zero — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:55:03 -0800

We all know that marijuana has some medical uses. It has been discussed on Mefi many times before. Earlier this month a group of pharmacists and chemists published a study in which they found that cannabis is a source of antibacterial chemicals for multidrug resistant bacteria. If you are a pharmacists or chemist here is the actual study. A synopsis of the study for everyone else.

Bad medicine

kid ichorous — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:46:02 -0800

The owner of a California medical marijuana dispensary has been found guilty of violating federal drug laws. [LA Times] FTA: ...jurors had a clear sense that Lynch was not an ordinary street-corner drug dealer, but the fact that he was dispensing medical marijuana didn't matter under federal law. [...] "It was a tough decision for all of us because the state law and the federal law are at odds." Detailed coverage of the trial by Reason TV. Federal raids on California's medical dispensaries were recently featured on MeFi.

One Toke Over the Line

porn in the woods — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:04:19 -0800

Dr. Kush: The New Yorker takes a detailed look at California's medicinal marijuana dispensary industry.