Busts

If you want to win a pair of tickets to see Lil Uzi Vert and the rest of hip-hop’s next generation of stars at Rolling Loud, courtesy of Weedmaps, enter here for a chance at the prize.

Miami’s Rolling Loud festival is experiencing a surge of rapid growth that somewhat mirrors the meteoric rise of America’s marijuana industry.

Seven marijuana activists were arrested on federal charges yesterday for offering free joints to Congressional staff, even though they were in compliance with Washington D.C. laws.

On 4/20, the D.C. Cannabis Campaign (DCMJ) brought 1,227 joints to offer to any willing Capitol Hill staff in order to show support for House bill H.R. 1227 , which would cut back federal cannabis prohibition. The activists deliberately set up on non-federally-owned land, so that they would remain in accordance with D.C. law, which allows individuals to possess and give away small amounts of marijuana.

This didn't stop the U.S.

4/20 might be a celebratory time for most cannabis users across the nation, but marijuana advocates are not losing sight of the uphill battle. After this weekend's post-holiday festivities settle down, dozens of marijuana activists, including a number of military veterans, will head to the steps of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to spark up joints.

The event, “Monday @ High Noon”, will take place on April 24, and is meant to call attention to the harsh federal stance that has hindered the cannabis industry from blossoming.

“Yeah, marijuana is not a factor in the drug war.” ~ Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly
Good to know; now somebody please inform our Attorney General.
After last Sunday’s NBC Meet the Press interview where Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Sec. John Kelly explained to Chuck Todd that marijuana is “not a factor in the drug war,” Atty. Gen.

Last year, Massachusetts voters approved a law making it legal for any adult in the state to possess up to an ounce of pot on their person, and to have up to 10 ounces and a dozen plants on their property. However, it is not legal to sell marijuana in Massachusetts yet, and retail shops won't be open until the middle of next year at the earliest.

Immigrant rights activists and attorneys are warning immigrants that states' legalization of marijuana does not prevent federal officials from deporting anyone over marijuana use. Undocumented immigrants who are caught possessing or using marijuana can be deported from the country and prevented from returning.

Marijuana possession “is still a federal offense,” said attorney Russell Jauregui. “Federal law controls immigration and thus people will still face severe immigration consequences for marijuana conviction/use.”

In January, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center issued a flier advising immigrants not to use or carry marijuana until they become full U.S. citizens.

With a vote to be held today, Atlanta’s city council could add the Peach State’s biggest city to the ever-growing list of American municipalities where cannabis possession is decriminalized. 

According to local CBS News, if council members pass the proposal, repercussions for getting caught with up to one ounce of marijuana would change from the state law’s $1,000 fine and up to 180 days in jail to a city-sanctioned simple citation worth $75 and absolutely zero jail time.

Atlanta would follow the path of neighboring Clarkson, Georgia, where an identical rule-change passed last year, and cities around the

Kansas City marijuana supporters overwhelmingly supported reduced penalties for marijuana possession last week, and the new city law has already taken effect.  Voters approved a citizens petition initiative that reduces the maximum fine in city court from $500 to $25 and eliminates possible jail time as a penalty for possessing 35 grams or less of pot, about 1 1/4 ounce.But pot possession is still illegal, and a guilty plea would involve a drug conviction.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary and Donald Trump appointee John Kelly appeared on Meet the Press Sunday morning and told host Chuck Todd that marijuana was “not a factor” in the war on drugs.

Kelly discussed North Korea, immigration enforcement, Mexico, and was touching on the war on drugs when Todd went out on a limb and asked the DHS Secretary whether legalizing cannabis stateside would help or hurt his work at the border.

"Yeah, marijuana is not a factor in the drug war," Kelly responded.

Say goodbye to citations and hello to handcuffs, Tennessee. According to the Tennessean, Governor Bill Haslam signed a law on Wednesday that effectively nullifies city-sanctioned cannabis decriminalization in the state’s two largest cities.

It was big news in Texas yesterday when local legislators in Dallas passed a decriminalization law aimed at keeping low-level possession offenders out of jail. In states without medical or recreational weed laws on the books, decriminalization goes a long way in protecting cannabis users from the long reach of the War on Drugs.