Month: November 2019

Dark Star Orchestra with freedomisgreen.com co-founder Jim Bissell (far right)

Just having performed two sold out shows in Reading, Pa and Tarrytown, NY, Dark Star Orchestra played again to another packed house for Mardi Gras at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ last night.

It was a rare acoustic performance and the band played twenty nine songs lasting just over four hours with one set break.

“Where else can you listen to some of the best music on earth in the true spirit of the Grateful Dead?” proclaimed ‘Starhead’ Alex.

He’s right. There are GD cover bands that play the ‘Top 40, but if you were in attendance last night, you heard treasured classics Reuben and Cherise, My Brother Esau, and Mountains of the Moon.

Vocalist Lisa Mackey’s brilliant rendition of Bob Dylan’s Chimes of Freedom was spiritually moving and that was obvious to all those in attendance.  Complemented by Jeff Mattson on lead guitar, her strong vocals resonated throughout the crowd with the heartfelt justice the song deserved.

The Dark Star Orchestra Facebook Page is Here

Sometimes my typing get ahead of me…

Two important corrections to the blog: Rally in NYC: Marijuana is Safer for St. Pat’s

1-     State of New York decriminalized marijuana in 1977 not 1979.

2-     Marijuana in Public View is not a municipal code as stated in the blog.

Professor Harry Levine clarified today: “New York State Criminal Law 221.10 specifies that possession is a misdemeanor if it is ‘burning or open to public view.’  The phrase ‘MPV’ was invented by Andy Golub, a researcher, and as far as I know has never been used by the police or courts in New York.”

Further there are no specific municipal codes for marijuana in NYC but police practice has changed accounting for the 50,000 annual pot arrests despite decriminalization.

Corrections to East Coast gets serious about marijuana:

1- Omitted the bill active in North Carolina – that has been added.

3-     Finally in the same piece I did not highlight the strong medical cannabis caregiver network that exists in Maine. Added a link to the sixth paragraph.

Please send any questions or corrections to chris { at } freedomisgreen.com.

Thanks for your feedback!

Chris Goldstein

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 4, 2012

ATTORNEYS WILLIAM H. BUCKMAN AND ANNE M. DAVIS

CONTACT: Anne Davis Esq. 732 477 4700, William Buckman Esq. 856 608 9797 or Chris Goldstein 267 702 3731

CONSTITUTIONAL LAWSUIT FILED OVER FAILED NJ MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM

Trenton- Today a lawsuit was filed against the State of New Jersey over the failure to implement the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. Named in the suit are the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Commissioner Mary O’Dowd and the newly appointed director of the Medicinal Marijuana Program John O’Brien.

Civil rights attorneys William H. Buckman of Moorestown and Anne M. Davis of Brick brought the suit on behalf of a New Jersey medical patient who would qualify for cannabis access. The suit also represents one of the few medical doctors who have registered with NJ to recommend medical marijuana.

The compassionate use law was passed in January 2010 with a six-month implementation timeline. But since 2010 a series of politically motivated regulatory, legislative and bureaucratic delays have kept the program from operating at all. None of the six approved Alternative Treatment Centers have been fully permitted by DHSS to open.

“We represent a patient who suffered actual damages as a result of these delays,” said Anne Davis, “He cannot utilize the cannabis because New Jersey’s lack of a working program means he could lose his disability pension if he tested positive for cannabis.”

Davis continued, “Our neighbors with AIDS, cancer, MS and the worst of medical conditions have testified before the legislature and changed the law. Now, patients and doctors have to go to court to win the rights that they should have already been afforded.”

The lawsuit gathers more than two years of facts demonstrating that those in charge of the implementation process for New Jersey’s medical marijuana program have been unable or unwilling to put the law into place.

“Today we are filing suit to require the DHHS to do what every other citizen must do – follow the law,” said William Buckman, “We are also insisting that pursuant to the legislature’s will, sick people have access to medical marijuana without fear of arrest.”

For more information about this advisory please contact Anne M. Davis Esq. 732 477 4700, William H. Buckman Esq. 856 608 9797 or Chris Goldstein 267 702 3731

6/20/2011 – NJ Assemblyman Reed Gusciora is expected to introduce a bill this week to decriminalize the possession of up to 14 grams of marijuana by adults. A look at the Uniform Crime Report from the NJ State Police reveals some striking statistics for marijuana arrests. The 2009 report contains the most recent published data available, although preliminary data on 2010 points to an increase for cannabis violations.

In 2009 the Garden State arrested 26, 254 people for marijuana. Eight-five percent of the arrests (22, 439) were for possession of less than 50 grams. Currently, adults caught with anything from a joint to two-ounces are treated the same way; with a custodial arrest and a criminal prosecution.

In 2009 New Jersey performed more arrests for marijuana than for all other drugs combined. Fifty-six percent of all drug possession arrests were for marijuana.

The same year saw 3,815 arrests for Sale/Manufacture of marijuana. This is compared to 8,128 arrests for sale/manufacture of cocaine or opium products in 2009. Yet fewer NJ residents were arrested in possession of cocaine or opiates (14,609) than for marijuana (22,439).

The conclusion that could be drawn that enforcement of cannabis prohibition laws in New Jersey is focused on the individual user rather than those selling. This is different compared to other drugs.

Some additional information from the NJ UCR

– Forty-two percent of persons arrested for drug abuse violations were under the age of 21.

– Males accounted for 81 percent and females 19 percent of the arrests.

– Fifty-four percent of total persons arrested in 2009 were white, 45 percent were black and 1 percent were other races.

– The Hispanic ethnic origin accounted for 14 percent of the arrests and 86 were non-Hispanic.

Fourteen US states allow a civil citation to be issued at the point of encounter with police.  A nominal fine is levied at a later time and the offense is treated similar to a traffic violation for speeding. The decrim states on the east coast include: Maine, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Chris Goldstein is a respected marijuana reform advocate. As a writer and radio broadcaster he has been covering cannabis news for over a decade. Questions?  [email protected]

Capitol, Hartford

6/5/2011 – The Connecticut Senate passed Governor Dan Malloy’s decriminalization bill on June 4th. Time is running short for the legislative session and the bill is getting one last push. Recent amendments lowered the amount of cannabis adults can posses from one ounce to half an ounce.  Offenders would pay a $150 fine the first time and $200-$500 on further occasions. Those under the age of 21 would also have their driver’s license suspended for 60 days.

All of the Republicans in the Senate voted against the bill. The legislation must still pass a floor vote in the House.

More from the CT Mirror:

Backers of the bill said it would allow law enforcement to shift priorities to more important matters.

“This would free up court time, probation officer time, police time, to focus on the much more serious stuff,” said Malloy’s chief criminal justice adviser, Michael Lawlor.

They also argue that the lower penalties for small amounts of marijuana-roughly 30 joints by their estimate-will still deter use as much the current penalties do.

Sen. Eric D. Coleman, D-Bloomfield and co-chairman of the legislature’s Judiciary Committee, said the current penalties don’t deter use. What they do is saddle people caught with a small amounts of marijuana with a criminal record that harms their job, education and military opportunities.

Read full article

Governor Malloy, a Democrat, is a former prosecutor and crafted the decriminalization bill. His Republican predecessor, Jodi Rell, vetoed a similar bill that passed both houses in 2009. There are thirteen US States that treat small amounts of marijuana as a civil offense.

See NORML’s decrim map here

Chris Goldstein is a respected marijuana reform advocate. As a writer and radio broadcaster he has been covering cannabis news for over a decade. Questions?  [email protected]

photo by C. David Freitag

The Drug War Chronicle reported yesterday on some striking new polling in Connecticut. Voters are heavily favoring a variety of marijuana reforms and legislation is currently active,  giving the poll results even more importance.

DRCNet – A Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday showed strong support for medical marijuana and marijuana decriminalization among Connecticut voters. The poll comes at state legislators consider medical marijuana and decriminalization bills.

The plant is getting popular in Connecticut.

Medical marijuana had the support of a whopping 79% of respondents. Support was above 70% in every demographic, with even 72% of Republicans favoring it.

“There is a near consensus on the medical marijuana law with about eight in 10 voters supporting it,” said Quinnipiac poll director Dr. Douglas Schwartz. “It’s rare to see such a level of support for any issue.” Read full

Connecticut residents can use the NORML CAPWIZ tool to contact your legislators: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues

7/4/2011 – This week the residents of the Constitution State are gaining back some of the liberty that was created 235 years ago. Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed a law that removes criminal penalties for possession of up to 1/2 ounce of marijuana. Adults caught with 14 grams of pot or less are now given a $150 fine on the first occasion and $200-$500 for additional offenses. Those between the ages of 18-21 will need to appear in court and will also have their drivers’ license suspended for 60 days.

CT State House from WikiMedia

5/10/2011 –Medical use of marijuana is not the only prohibition policy that states are changing.  Legislators in Connecticut continue their drive to make the adult possession of cannabis a civil offense. The General Assembly’s powerful Finance Committee passed a bill today to decriminalize adult marijuana possession. The measure passed the Judiciary Committee last month and now heads to the state Senate. 

More from the Hartford Courant

On a vote of 31 to 20, the committee approved the measure after about 45 minutes of discussion. The bill would make the penalty for possession of a half-ounce of marijuana or less akin to receiving a speeding ticket. Those charged would be assessed fines instead of facing criminal penalties.

State Sen. Toni Boucher, a Republican from Wilton who is one of the leading critics of decriminalization, offered up several amendments, including one that would have toughen the penalties. But she failed to garner enough support to amend the bill.

The bill would set the penalty for a first offense of possession of less than an ounce of pot at no more than $90, less than the fines for littering, illegal fishing, having a defective muffler or damaging trees on state property, Boucher said. READ FULL ARTICLE

Massachusetts decriminalized adult marijuana possession by a voter referendum in 2008.  Adults caught with one ounce (28 grams) of pot or less are now issued a ticket for $100 without a custodial arrest. Reports have shown the shift was successful for municipalities and the state

New York decriminalized marijuana in 1977 with legislation that includes provisions for a $250 fine and $100 court fee in cases where adults are caught with 25 grams or less. But in New York City police practices have seen pot possession arrests soar in recent years to over 50,000 annually, flouting state law.

Connecticut legislators passed a bill in 2009 to decriminalize marijuana only to have it vetoed by the previous governor Jodi Rell (R). But the issue has found a stronger path in 2011 with  Governor Daniel Malloy sponsoring the bill and a group of legislators eager to see the concept finally become a law.

Decriminalizing cannabis is a pragmatic option for the state because it frees up a massive amount tax dollars needed for law enforcement.

‘Decrim’ is also a tangible and positive shift for cannabis consumers; no more arrest, bail, court, parole or probation.  Even better, the civil citation means there is never a criminal record.

CONTACT LEGISLATORS IN CT HERE

Questions?  [email protected]

Chris Goldstein is a respected marijuana reform advocate. As a writer and radio broadcaster he has been covering cannabis news for over a decade. He volunteers with local groups to change prohibition laws including PhillyNORML and The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey.

NCIA logo

3/30/2011 – The National Cannabis Industry Association held a media event in Washington DC today that showcased a powerful new lobbying effort: Medical Marijuana.  Colorado’s new House Representative, Jared Polis, joined several prominent canna-business owners at the National Press Club.

From The Washington Times:

“It is time for the federal government to take this industry seriously,” said Steve Fox, NCIA director of public affairs. “[The government has] blocked research at every step. [Medical marijuana] should be recognized as medicine already, and it is a crime that it isn’t.” read full

Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO)

The media seemed to be very attentive to the remarks of Congressman Polis (D-CO) who called for an end to marijuana prohibition overall. The Raw Story reports:

“Ending the failed policy of prohibition with regard to marijuana will strike a major blow against the criminal cartels that are terrorizing Americans and Mexicans on both sides of the border,” Polis said at the National Press Club, in response to a question from Raw Story.

“It’s been estimated that the drug cartels drive about half of their revenue from marijuana, so I think it would reduce the violence by half, and reduce the money that fuels the criminal enterprises by half.” read full

Several pieces of legislation for federal marijuana reforms are expected this year. Congressmen Barney Frank (D-MA), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Ron Paul (R-TX) have been the leaders on this issue. In the past they helped co-sponsor a medical cannabis patient protection act and a hemp farming bill.

Rep. Polis is taking on a front-and-center role in national cannabis reform. He will speak at the 40th National NORML Conference in Denver Colorado on April 21, 2011.

State Rep. Diane Russell of Maine (D-Portland)

4/8/2011 – Representative Diane Russell (D-Portland) has introduced a new bill in Maine that would cover all aspects of cannabis legalization. HP1067/ LD 1453 An Act To Legalize and Tax Marijuana sets out to carefully do everything in the title. Recreational marijuana can be sold and grown, medical cannabis caregivers will be grandfathered into larger growing spaces and industrial hemp will be farmed for profit.

Russell sat down with Freedomisgreen.com for an interview last month:

So the revenue will be coming from two areas with this bill, increasing the positive financial impact…

Well that’s what I’m looking for to be honest Chris is the economic impact of this. As a state lawmaker I have a fiduciary responsibility to my state. I really feel strongly that we need to build a long-term sustainable economy. I’m part of a younger generation I’m 34 and my dad always said in his thick Maine accent, “Jeez Diane we should just legalize it and tax the hell out of it.” And so I’m sort of doing this in honor of my Dad. He’s right. Why are we letting this market go to waste? We’re one of the states where marijuana is already the top cash crop… this is so basic.

Support the effort in Maine with this online petition:  http://signon.org/sign/support-mj-legalization

Full text of the new bill here: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/billtexts/HP106701.asp