TIM WALKER 

Philip Morris considered entering the legal marijuana trade and was even promised ‘good quality’ cannabis by the Justice Department’s drug sciences chief
 
Big Tobacco firms were making plans to enter the legal marijuana trade in the early 1970s, even as US President Richard Nixon launched the so-called “War on Drugs”, according to documents from the era unearthed this week.
Though the Nixon administration was anti-drugs, there was popular support for marijuana legalisation in the US at the time, much like today, and tobacco firms sensed both a threat and an opportunity.
 
Full Article:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/archives-from-1970s-show-big-tobacco-had-high-hopes-for-cannabis-9481229.html
 

David Pescovitz 

 
Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin, maverick chemist, psychedelic pioneer, and inspiring human being, died yesterday at 88 years old. 

 
Full Article:
http://boingboing.net/2014/06/03/alexander-sasha-shulgin-p.html

By JANE ANN MORRISON
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
 
A 28-page bill regarding licensing of medical marijuana establishments in the city of Las Vegas remains a work in progress, but final decisions are expected at Wednesday’s Las Vegas City Council meeting.
On Monday, a three-member recommending committee discussed plenty of changes but passed the bill on to the full council for consideration as written, with the understanding it will be changed.
After the meeting, former City Councilman Frank Hawkins said his two major concerns are the restrictions on advertising in the bill and its failure to address compassionate care.
There is no language allowing a caretaker to go to a dispensary and obtain medical marijuana for a severely ill patient unable to travel.
 
Full Article:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/las-vegas-city-council-consider-medical-marijuana-licensing-bill-wednesday

by Channing Sargent

 
In 2008, automaker Lotus took a new approach to the “green” car with the announcement of its Eco Elise. Featuring a body made of hemp and other renewable materials, Lotus overhauled its entire manufacturing process to reduce energy and water usage, boost recycling, use locally-sourced, renewable and carbon-neutral materials, and provide dash instrumentation to encourage greener driving habits. 
 
Full Article:
http://www.lamag.com/ladriver/2014/06/02/what-a-concept-cars-made-of-hemp-powered-by-air

 

People hoping to get into Nevada’s budding medical marijuana business can apply for a state license in August.

The Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health announced Friday that it will accept applications from Aug. 5 through Aug. 18.

Full Article:

http://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/11639472-113/applications-aug-nevada-accept

by German Lopez 

Congressman John Mica holds up a fake joint in a hearing about the District of Columbia’s marijuana decriminalization law.
 

The US House of Representatives late Thursday passed a measure that would prohibit the federal government from interfering with states’ medical marijuana laws.

The bill is the first time in history that any chamber of Congress has acted to protect medical marijuana businesses and users. It also got bipartisan support: 170 Democrats and 49 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Full Article:

http://www.vox.com/2014/5/30/5763654/the-house-just-voted-to-protect-medical-marijuana-patients-from

 

 
Share your harvests and trade with neighbors. Let’s move past this whole mine vs. yours mentality and start creating a world that works for everyone. Send us your Food is Free pics and fan art and keep the ripple of inspiration going!


Check out our Food is Free Project videos to get you growing:
http://foodisfreeproject.org/resources

By Vera Mikusch

 
This is the first of its kind – the Weed Ball. This autumn the event with the motto Pleasure and Rationality will address topics including weed as a global economic factor, and discuss its medicinal properties.
The ball will not have a lot in common with traditional balls such as the Opera Ball. After  the opening waltz, the event will turn into a party, according to the activist Flash Fritz. DJ´s playing will be all from Vienna, including Tommes Unisono, Parama, Helios and Tapanov Spiritbase. While Vienna has realxed its laws on cannabis growing and possession, smoking in public is still not legal. Please be sure to inform yourself on Vienna’s laws and respect them.
Ticket prices range from €29 ($39) to €299 ($407).
The dress code is not specified yet, but my guess is that long evening robes won´t be obligatory.
Ball date: 25 October 2014
 
Full Article:
http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/marijuana-bow-ties-and-tons-cakes-best-vienna%E2%80%99s-balls280514

PARESH DAVE

Members of the local media record a hemp planting at the University of Kentucky Spindletop Research Farm in Lexington, Ky. (Matt Barton / University of Kentucky College of Agriculture)
 

The week after a quick legal battle came to an end, Kentucky researchers sank hemp seeds into the earth and began an anxious wait for green sprouts to surface as part of the state’s first legal crop of cannabis since the World War II era.

The state-sponsored planting of hemp Tuesday at a University of Kentucky farm was the second of seven expected to take place before the end of the month.

 
Full Article:
http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-kentucky-hemp-dea-20140527-story.html