Personal Marijuana Use

Another Cover Story Ruined by Stupid Pot Jokes

Paul Waldman points out the latest example of incredibly dumb marijuana reporting, courtesy of a cover story in National Journal:

The matter at hand is typically dearer to the stoner minds of the Grateful Dead "Truckin'" crowd: marijuana legalization -- as in the blissful freedom to light up a bowl in one's own home, purely for one's own pleasure (crank up the stereo and pass the chips, giggle, giggle), and to grow small amounts of the weed on one's own property, too. Says one dazed pot-head to another: Is this a great country, or what?

It's an unbelievable mouthful of lame clichÃ©s and stereotypes, rendered self-evidently frivolous by the fact that National Journal decided to run a cover story about this in the first place. If only a few wasted hippies cared about the issue, we wouldn’t be talking about it, would we? The modern debate over marijuana policy in America bears no resemblance to these ignorant characterizations, and anyone who still views the issue through that lens has nothing to add to the conversation.

If having to read such thoughtless crap is our punishment for driving this issue into the political mainstream, I suppose it's a small price to pay.

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Medical Marijuana Will Soon Outsell Viagra (And Become Unstoppable)

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A new market analysis of the medical marijuana industry is turning heads in the mainstream press and blowing away the myth that there's no money in marijuana reform:

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$75 Million in Marijuana Arrests and NYC Still Smells Like Skunk

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A new report from the Drug Policy Alliance reveals that New York City spent an eye-widening $75 million arresting and locking people up for marijuana last year alone. It's quite an achievement considering that concealed possession of small amounts isn’t even supposed to be illegal in NYC.

drug arrest scene, "10 Rules for Dealing with Police," flexyourrights.org

Mass Marijuana Arrest Policy Costs NYC Big Bucks

New York City has earned the dubious distinction of being the world's marijuana arrest capital. But such (dis)honors come at a price. A big price.

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Colorado Drugged Driving Bill Generating Confusion and Concerns [FEATURE]

A bill moving in Colorado would set threshold THC blood levels to determine whether drivers are impaired. The question is would exceeding that level cause an automatic conviction or just more evidence to convict? Right now, the bill does both.

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The Incredibly Simple Case for Decriminalizing Marijuana

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It's so easy and obvious, even politicians can use it. In fact, here's Connecticut's Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney demonstrating how to discuss marijuana reform in terms almost anyone can understand.

Looking old but thinking new in Utrecht (Image via Wikimedia)

Dutch City Wants Marijuana Growing Co-ops

The Dutch city of Utrecht wants to let pot-smokers form co-ops to grow together, but the national government does not approve.

The plant is getting popular in Connecticut (Image courtesty of the author)

Connecticut Voters Support Marijuana Law Reforms

Connecticut legislators pondering medical marijuana and decrim bills might want to take a look at the latest Quinnipiac poll numbers.

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Support for Marijuana Legalization Creeping Up

Here's yet another public opinion poll showing a rising trend-line for freeing the weed.

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The Drug Czar Shows Weakness in the Marijuana Legalization Debate

There's been much discussion recently about the Drug Czar's request to meet with the Seattle Times editorial board in an apparent response to this editorial endorsement of marijuana legalization. You can read here about how that meeting went, but I think this video more perfectly captures the absurdity of the situation:

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