Governor Neil Abercrombie plans to sign a bill to establish an industrial hemp research program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. A signing ceremony is planned for Wednesday afternoon. 

Full Article:
http://www.khvhradio.com/articles/local-news-390646/governor-to-sign-industrial-hemp-bill-12301347

By Wendell Edwards

 
State lawmakers said no to legalizing marijuana in Oklahoma, but a coalition is hoping to bring the issue to the voter. And they’re hoping the voter says yes.
State Sen. Connie Johnson (D-Oklahoma City) championed several pro-marijuana bills that lawmakers rejected. She believes the time is now to let the people of Oklahoma decide.
“It brings us to the point where I think it’s time to take it outside of these four walls and take it the people,” Johnson said.

Full Article:

http://www.koco.com/news/coalition-hopes-to-put-marijuana-on-november-ballot/25722898

By Ricardo Baca, The Cannabist Staff

All-marijuana cigarettes are now a reality. (Cranfords Cannabis Cigarettes)
 

The cigarette is an American icon, like it or not. And while Big Tobacco and anti-cigarette activists alike can (and will) take advantage of its iconic visage, they’re not the only ones utilizing its familiarity.

A Colorado company debuted its all-marijuana cigarettes a few months ago, and now the Rifle, Colo.-based makers of Cranfords Cannabis Cigarettes are hoping their sharply marketed and smartly designed product takes off in Colorado — and soon other markets.

“A lot of people who smoke (tobacco) cigarettes have tried our products, and they like that it’s the same feeling — the way it fits between your fingers and how you smoke it and flick it,” said Cranfords chief operating officer Chris Connors. “But there’s no tobacco in there. It’s all marijuana, about 100 milligrams in each cigarette, so they’ll definitely make you feel differently than a regular cigarette.”

Full Article:

http://www.thecannabist.co/2014/04/28/cannabis-cigarettes-marijuana-cranfords/10651/

 
 
By Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post Fine Arts Critic

 
The Colorado Symphony Orchestra rehearses on April 24 at the Boettcher Concert Hall at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Classical music and cannabis will come together with a “bring your own cannabis” concert series this summer at the Space Gallery in the Santa Fe arts district. (Jamie Cotten, Special to The Denver Post)
 

The cultural revolution that is making marijuana part of everyday Colorado life conquers another established front Tuesday as the Colorado Symphony Orchestraannounces a series of performances sponsored by the cannabis industry.

The concerts, organized by pro-pot promoter Edible Events, will start May 23 with three bring-your-own marijuana events at the Space Gallery in Denver’s Santa Fe arts district and culminate with a large, outdoor performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Sept. 13. They are being billed as fundraisers for the CSO, which will curate a themed program of classical music for each show.

While acknowledging that the arrangement is unusual, even ground-breaking, CSO executive director Jerry Kern said the concerts will help the orchestra reach beyond its conservative, fine arts demographic while raising money for an organization that has struggled financially in recent years.

Full Article:

http://www.thecannabist.co/2014/04/29/colo-symphony-cannabis-industry-collide-concert-series-marijuana-classical-music/10685/

Dina Gusovsky | @DinaGusovsky

 
Sparks City Council on Monday moved forward on medical marijuana by approving an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance, the city announced.
The amendment allows for the regulation of medical marijuana cultivation facilities, independent testing laboratories and facilities for the production of edible marijuana-infused products, the city said in a news release.
“These uses are permitted only in the industrial zoning district,” the city said in a statement.
 
Full Article:
http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2014/04/28/sparks-oks-moves-forward-medical-marijuana/8435839/

The Federal Communications Commission announced this week that it will propose new rules that would allow companies to pay Internet service providers (ISP) for special, faster lanes to deliver their content to customers. That means that large corporations like Disney or Netflix could pay to have their content delivered more smoothly, while small start-ups or anyone without the funds to pay would be stuck with slow or low-quality service.

The rule change would be devastating for net neutrality, the principle that ISPs must treat all content on the Internet equally and that users should have equal access to see any legal content. In an environment where large corporations can pay for faster service, it would become exceedingly difficult for start-ups and every day internet users to compete. 

Earlier this year, a federal appeals court struck down rules the FCC implemented in 2010 to protect net neutrality on the grounds that the agency classifies broadband providers as information service providers and not telecommunications service providers, which can be regulated more strictly. As John Nichols points out, it is well within the FCC’s power to reclassify internet access as a telecommunications service and to reassert its authority to protect net neutrality.

Don’t stand by while the internet is transformed into a pay-to-play service. Contact FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and tell him that we need a free and open internet.

Sign Petition Here:

http://activism.thenation.com/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=13853&tag=email853&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=activists&utm_campaign=Activism+-+Net+Neutrality

By Rick Holmes 

AP Photo | Don RyanVials containing extracted medical marijuana are ready for testing at an Oregon laboratory.
 
Marijuana’s illegality under federal law, with marijuana for research tightly controlled by law enforcement has led to haphazard, improvised discovery process. AIDS and cancer patients had to figure out on their own that smoking pot could ease their pain and restore their appetites, for instance.
 
Full Article:
http://www.tauntongazette.com/article/20140428/OPINION/140426782/2011/OPINION

By Josh Harkinson

US Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), playing a guitar
 

MJ: How would the environmental problems associated with cannabis change if it were legalized?

JH: I think it would change overnight. You don’t see people trekking back into the forest to grow soybeans.

Full Article:

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/04/representative-jared-huffman-cannabis-congressman

by Kara Seymour

Daylin Leach at Monday’s press event. Credit: Daylin Leach’s website
 

A state senator who is running for Congress says he and families in favor of medical marijuana want to talk to Governor Tom Corbett.

And if he doesn’t want to talk to them, they’ll just wait in his reception room until he comes around.

Daylin Leach, a Democrat representing Montgomery and Delaware county in the state senate, joined with Pennsylvania residents in support of medical marijuana during a press event Monday to announce a “sit-in” at the governor’s reception room. The group says they will wait there until he agrees to meet with them.

Full Article:

http://malvern.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/medical-marijuana-advocates-plan-sitin-at-governors-reception-room