Pittsburgh NORML is working to push forward legislation to allow cannabis for adults in Pennsylvania.

In Pennsylvania’s second-largest city, advocates are busy working to legalize adult-use cannabis.

Last month, two lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 846 to legalize adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania. The bill currently waits for review from the Senate Law and Justice Committee for further deliberation. Next Pittsburgh reports that advocates at a local Pittsburgh branch of NORML are gearing up for legalization efforts in the state.

“This is a much bigger issue than just cannabis—it’s about giving people the right to be able to find health and wellness in the way that they want to and to not have to feel like the government will tell them how they’re allowed to heal,” says Gina Vensel, a cannabis educator and advocate in the area. Vensel is also on the executive committee of Pittsburgh NORML, the Pittsburgh branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

SB 846 is a bipartisan effort and was spearheaded by Sens. Daniel Laughlin and Sharif Street. The bill would establish a Cannabis Regulatory Control Board, and allow adults 21 and over to purchase cannabis from retail locations. It would additionally allow medical cannabis cardholders to grow cannabis at home. Lastly it would expunge nonviolent cannabis-related convictions.

“Legalized adult use of marijuana is supported by an overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians and this legislation accomplishes that while also ensuring safety and social equity,” Laughlin said in a statement. “With neighboring states New Jersey and New York implementing adult use, we have a duty to Pennsylvania taxpayers to legalize adult use marijuana to avoid losing out on hundreds of millions of dollars of new tax revenue and thousands of new jobs.”

Problems Remain in Pittsburgh

High Times reported in 2018 that Solevo Wellness was the city’s first medical dispensary, and is the fourth operating medical cannabis dispensary in the entire state of Pennsylvania. The process of establishing, licensing, and opening Solevo Wellness took about 18 months. The company credits much of their success in obtaining the proper permits to their hired industry consultant, Sara Gullickson.

Pittsburgh, located in Allegheny County, decriminalized cannabis in 2015. Part of the policy shift involved giving law enforcement a choice between arresting people for suspected cannabis offenses or simply giving them a citation. Further downstream the criminal legal system, prosecutors in Pennsylvania’s major cities enacted “decline to prosecute” policies for minor cannabis cases that went to trial.

Despite decriminalization locally, arrests for cannabis increased since Pittsburgh enacted decriminalization policies. Many officers at police departments are having a hard time letting go of the old policy, continuing to arrest rather than ticket suspected offenders.

 Analyzing all the criminal dockets filed in Allegheny County from 2016 to 2017, The Appeal broke down the 2,100-some cases where the top charge was possession of less than 30 grams of cannabis. They also looked at the thousands of arrests for minor possession police made over the same period.

Of the 2,100-plus cannabis-related cases in Allegheny County where the defendant received a misdemeanor possession charge, 51 percent of the people charged were Black. According to the most recent U.S. census data from 2017, 13.4 percent of all Allegheny residents are Black. And the dramatic racial disparity across the county is even more acute in Pittsburgh: Black people were charged in more than 400 of the 600 cases filed by the Pittsburgh Police Department. Black people comprised two-thirds of all cannabis cases in the city, despite representing just 24.3 percent of the city’s population. In other words, Pittsburgh police charged Black people for cannabis twice as much as white people.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Decriminalization

On a few notable occasions, Pittsburgh Pirate games provided a stage for decriminalization efforts and awareness.

Wiz Khalifa, a Pittsburgh native, is an advocate for both cannabis and psilocybin. He tossed the ceremonial first pitch on Monday at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, prior to a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Guardians. “Finna get stoned af and throw this first pitch at the pirates game,” he tweeted, before following it up with more specifics. “Shroomed out throwin a baseball is crazy,” Wiz said in another tweet moments later.

Former Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis pulled off a pitch on acid as well on June 12, 1970. 

It was on that day that Ellis reputedly threw a no-hitter while tripping on LSD. 

“According to Ellis (and, it should be noted, all of this is according to Ellis), he went to visit a friend in Los Angeles the day before his start, took some acid and stayed up late into the night drinking and doing drugs, subsequently losing track of which day it was,” Sports Illustrated wrote in 2017. “The day of his start, he woke up and, thinking he was supposed to pitch the next day, took another hit of acid at noon, only to learn two hours later from his friend that he was, in fact, supposed to be on the mound against the Padres that evening in San Diego. Ellis got on a plane an hour later and made it to the park 90 minutes before first pitch.”

For the time being, advocates in the city remain busy at work.

Source: https://hightimes.com/news/pittsburgh-advocates-unite-to-legalize-adult-use-cannabis-in-pennsylvania/

There’s never been a better time for lovers of true crime stories. The topic, usually explored in books, novelizations, and TV dramas, is now experiencing a resurgence through Netflix documentaries and podcasts. The really great and notable works are being developed by experts in their respective fields, who deliver information on the cases in ways that are informative, sobering, terrifying, and always entertaining. Here are what we think are 5 of the best true crime podcasts.

Ever since Truman Capote wrote In Cold Blood, we have been drawn to true crime.  So why not escape into the darkest experiences of our recent past?

Cold

“Cold” looks into the case of Susan Powell, a young mother of two who disappeared from Utah in 2009. The podcast dives deep into the story of her husband Josh, the prime suspect of her disappearance. Conducted by reporter Dave Cawley, the podcast analyzes Josh’s violent past in detail and supplements the story with journals and written accounts from observers, which paints a vivid and thorough picture of a case that will bug you long after your listening is over.

Crimetown

Season 2 of “Crimetown” is being released this year and it focuses on the city of Detroit, Michigan, mainly the rise and fall of Kwame Kilpatrick, the city’s youngest elected mayor who’s currently serving a 28-year prison sentence. The podcast begins in the 70s, with a racially charged police shoot-out, and continues to track the events that take place in Detroit over the years, painting an in-depth picture of the city and the entire community that was involved.

Happy Face

This twelve part podcast follows Melissa Moore as she reckons and follows the investigation of her father, Keith Hunter Jesperson, a man who was charged with the murder of eight women over the span of five years. Popularly known as the Happy Face Killer, Jesperson committed most of his known crimes during the early 90s. He earned his name from the smiley faced notes he used to send to policemen after his kills.

Dr. Death

Hosted and reported by science journalist Laura Beil, “Dr. Death” tells the story of Christopher Duntsch, a real life neurosurgeon who killed and maimed dozens of patients under his care. Over the span of two years, Duntsch operated on 38 patients, leaving two dead and 31 paralyzed or gravely injured. The podcast explores his life, his medical training, problems with drug abuse and finally, his imprisonment.

Serial

In its third season, “Serial” switches things up. The podcast that used to track a single crime per season, decided to set camp in a Cleveland courthouse and document the different cases that were filed. The podcast is comprised of nine episodes, each focusing on a different case and its subsequent journey through the justice system.  The result is an interesting documentation of crimes that range in styles and that highlight how justice isn’t always served.

Hope you enjoy 5 of the best true crime podcasts!

Source: https://thefreshtoast.com/culture/5-of-the-best-true-crime-podcasts-2/

Privacy rights and civil liberties could be out the window for cannabis users on social media!

The Drug War in the Digital Era & Why Your elected Officials hate you!

In the digital era, the War on Drugs has taken on a new dimension, raising profound concerns about privacy, civil liberties, and the abuse of power by elected officials.

For decades, this relentless war has been waged against drug use, leading to a massive prison population in the United States.

The very people who advocate for this draconian approach are complicit in violating our human rights and undermining the principles of freedom and justice. And who are these people that advocate for these laws?  I’m so glad “I” asked, allow me to explain.

In this opinion piece, we explore how the War on Drugs has evolved in the digital age, how it infringes upon our rights, and why it’s high time to rethink this failed policy (obviously).

The failed war on drugs is evolving…maybe

The War on Drugs, with its heavy emphasis on punitive measures and mass incarceration, is not supported by science or evidence-based approaches. There is no credible research to suggest that one can “arrest” their way out of a drug problem. Rather than addressing the underlying issues of addiction and substance abuse, this failed policy perpetuates a cycle of punishment that does little to promote public health or address the root causes of drug use.

One of the most concerning aspects of the War on Drugs is its role in recreating a prison population that is owned and controlled by the state. The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, passed in 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, “except as a punishment for a crime.” This exception has been exploited to target and incarcerate individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities, for non-violent drug offenses. The incarceration of millions of people for drug-related offenses has created a modern form of legalized slavery, where individuals lose their liberty and freedom due to the criminalization of drug use.

Moreover, the War on Drugs has given law enforcement unprecedented power to encroach on other freedoms, such as search and seizure, surveillance, and asset forfeiture. RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) laws have been used to target drug offenders and strip them of their assets, often without due process or fair trial. This erosion of civil liberties raises significant concerns about the abuse of power and the erosion of the principles upon which our nation was founded.

Now, while I have spoken a lot about the past of the War on Drugs, it’s time today to take a look at a proposed future…if passed.

The Digital War on Drugs

The Cooper Davis Act, as reported by MarijuanaMoment, has raised significant concerns about privacy, civil liberties, and the potential for abuse in the digital era. The act proposes amending the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to require social media companies and other communication service providers to report instances of suspected drug activities, such as sales, manufacturing, or possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, prescription opioids, and counterfeit drugs. While the bill does not specifically target marijuana and other controlled substances, it creates a landscape of mass surveillance that could have far-reaching implications on individual freedoms and privacy.

The article highlighted the stance of Senator Ron Wyden, who firmly opposed the bill, arguing that it would perpetuate the discriminatory consequences of the War on Drugs. He argued that the legislation’s broad mandate would require platforms to scan user communications for any content that could be interpreted as related to drug sales or use, leading to a significant risk of unwarranted surveillance and referrals for prosecution. Wyden expressed concerns that this approach could disproportionately impact communities of color, replicating the historical patterns of racial bias seen in drug law enforcement.

The Cooper Davis Act, while claiming it does not “require” companies to actively search for drug-related content, imposes substantial fines for failure to report such content to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) if the companies become aware of it. This potential for financial penalties places significant pressure on service providers to monitor user communications and report any suspected activities, regardless of their accuracy or legitimacy.

Furthermore, the bill allows social media companies to report to the DEA based on a “reasonable belief” that a user is involved in prohibited drug activities. This broad and vague criterion further adds to the risk of unwarranted surveillance and referrals, as it leaves ample room for subjective interpretations and potential misuse of the reporting system.

In the digital era, where technology plays an integral role in our daily lives, the Cooper Davis Act raises alarming possibilities of mass surveillance. Imagine engaging in casual conversations with friends or acquaintances about a cannabis convention or a marijuana-related event, only to be unknowingly spied on by law enforcement at the bidding of the government. The very technology that has become an essential part of our existence, connecting us to the world, could be turned against us, potentially violating our privacy and rights.

This scenario paints a disconcerting picture of a society where private conversations, online discussions, and personal interactions are subject to scrutiny and potential intrusion by government agencies. The Act’s emphasis on encouraging social media platforms and communication service providers to report any suspected drug activities creates a pervasive culture of suspicion, where individuals may hesitate to express their opinions freely and openly, fearing unwarranted consequences.

The impact of such surveillance on personal freedom and autonomy is profound. The right to engage in private conversations and express oneself without fear of surveillance is a cornerstone of democratic societies. When individuals feel compelled to self-censor or avoid discussing certain topics due to potential monitoring, the very essence of freedom of speech is compromised.

Moreover, the Cooper Davis Act could potentially lead to the surveillance and targeting of individuals for simple drug possession discussions. Innocent people may be referred for investigation and prosecution based on misinterpretations or misunderstandings of their conversations. This scenario further underscores the risks associated with mass surveillance and the potential for overreach and abuse of power.

It’s not as if we haven’t seen the US government use their “special powers” to push agendas that do not benefit the population. Of course, we’re all already aware that we are being surveilled. In fact, some stoners believe that if you’re not on a list somewhere – you’re not living your best life!

What can be done?

Combating the oppressive policies of the War on Drugs from the comfort of our homes may seem like a daunting task, but there are several powerful ways individuals can make a difference and contribute to change. While revolution may not be the immediate solution, collective efforts and grassroots actions can have a significant impact on dismantling unjust drug laws and advocating for more equitable policies.

One of the most accessible ways to participate in the fight against the War on Drugs is through civic engagement. Individuals can call, email, or write to their elected representatives to express their concerns and opposition to legislation like the Cooper Davis Act. By voicing their opinions, constituents can remind their representatives that they are elected to serve the people and not the interests of corporations or law enforcement agencies.

Education is another potent tool in challenging the War on Drugs. People can engage in conversations with friends, family, and community members to raise awareness about the harmful consequences of drug criminalization. By disseminating accurate information and debunking the myths surrounding drugs, individuals can challenge the stigmatization and fear-based narratives that have perpetuated the War on Drugs for decades.

Inventing new slang for drug-related subjects might seem like a lighthearted approach, but language plays a powerful role in shaping perceptions and cultural attitudes. Creating new terminology can help shift the narrative away from negative and punitive associations and towards more empathetic and compassionate views of drug use and its impact on individuals and communities.

While Nixon was the president responsible for the passage of the Controlled Substances Act, the ramifications of this law continue to impact lives to this day. It is essential to understand the historical context of such legislation to recognize its roots in systemic racism and the influence of corporate interests. Although direct evidence of pharmaceutical companies’ involvement may be speculative, it is not unreasonable to be vigilant about potential conflicts of interest between corporations and lawmakers.

To combat the system, individuals must come together and build communities that reject oppressive ordinances and draconian policies. This grassroots approach can start at the local level, with town by town and city by city movements advocating for drug policy reform. Local initiatives can include advocating for decriminalization, supporting harm reduction programs, and demanding greater transparency and accountability from law enforcement agencies.

Additionally, supporting organizations and advocacy groups focused on drug policy reform can amplify individual efforts. Joining forces with like-minded activists and experts can create a more substantial collective voice that demands change on a larger scale. These organizations often engage in lobbying efforts, conduct research, and mobilize communities to influence policymakers and public opinion.

As the war on drugs relies heavily on punitive measures, advocating for alternatives to incarceration is crucial. Supporting diversion programs, restorative justice practices, and drug courts can lead to more compassionate and effective approaches to addressing drug-related issues. These programs focus on treating drug use as a public health concern rather than a criminal offense, fostering rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

Finally, individuals can use their voting power strategically. Supporting candidates who prioritize drug policy reform and social justice can create a path towards legislative change. Researching candidates’ positions and records on drug-related issues can inform decisions at the ballot box, ensuring that elected officials are accountable to their constituents’ interests and well-being.

While revolution may be a distant goal, the collective actions of individuals can create meaningful progress in dismantling the War on Drugs. By challenging oppressive laws, fostering education and understanding, and supporting alternative policies, people can work towards a more just and equitable future. Together, we can shift the narrative surrounding drug use, address the root causes of the drug crisis, and build a society that values compassion, freedom, and individual rights.

Source: https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/social-media-companies-required-to-report-cannabis-users-to-the-dea-the-war-on-drugs-in-the-dig