Vaporizer Blog

Maine moving towards legalizing Recreational Marijuana

March 24, 2015

Maine, which legalized medical marijuana way back in 1999 with 61 percent approval from the residents, is moving ahead with the plan to allow recreational marijuana in the state. While 23 States in the U.S. have so far legalized medical marijuana, Colorado has approved the use of recreational marijuana in the state. In addition, Alaska, Oregon and Washington, D.C. have expressed their desire to legalize recreational use of marijuana.

Although two pro-marijuana groups in Maine have launched a massive campaign, asking residents to legalize recreational consumption in 2016, they stand divided and working independently to outwit each other. The Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), which played a key role in Colorado’s legalization efforts, has been actively involved in pro-marijuana campaign in Maine too.

Paul McCarrier, president of Legalize Maine, is not happy about the steps being undertaken by Marijuana Policy Project, saying the people of Maine do not need a group from Washington, D.C., to dictate its terms. "We need what's best for us," he said. Although his group supports the legalization of marijuana, he does not want other groups to get involved in this initiative. But, MPP wants its proposal to go before the voters early next year.

The proposals of Legalize Maine and Marijuana Policy Project differ on a key issue. Legalize Maine wants provisions that would allow growers to sell cannabis directly to consumers and create marijuana social clubs. But, Marijuana Policy Project does not have these provisions. Each petition would need over 61,000 signatures to secure a place on the 2016 ballot.

Maine is among 19 American states that have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana and does not have provisions to impose jail term on such users.

Nevada Lawmaker seeks Medical Marijuana for Pets

March 18, 2015

Democrat Tick Segerblom, a lawmaker from Nevada has proposed a bill in the state legislature, seeking medical marijuana for ailing pets. The proposed measure would allow owners get the drug for their pets with adequate permission from a Veterinarian, who may take the decision in worst circumstances if the animal has an illness that might be helped only by marijuana.

The proposed bill also included provisions related to the use of medical marijuana among humans. New regulations for dispensaries and dropping charges against motorists found driving with pot, are the other features of the proposed bill.

Nevada is one of the 23 states in the United States, which have legalized medical marijuana. The SB 372, proposed by Tick Segerblom, seeks medical marijuana for the pets only if the animal's owner is a Nevada resident. Segerblom justified his proposed bill, saying he got the feedback from many pet owners, who believe that such a bill would help their animals to a great extent.  

"I have received calls from people who ask whether they can give pot to their pets or not if they have a medical marijuana card. Since the answer is NO, that makes them feel sad," said Segerblom. Since no others U.S. states have approved such a legislation, it would be interesting to learn whether Nevada can breach the rule book and united most lawmakers in favor of the legislation.

Barack Obama bats for Decriminalization of Marijua

March 16, 2015

US President Barack Obama, who has always admitted about his marijuana habits, has said an in interview that the divide between Republicans and Democrats on the subject of decriminalization of marijuana is narrowing. The interview, telecast by Vice News, showed Obama strongly batting for use of marijuana.

The President said that it does not make sense to ban marijuana. He added that not only liberal Democrats but also some very conservative Republicans support the decriminalization of pot. The libertarian wing of the Republican Party are also favor of use of pot. He lamented the massive crackdown on non-violent drug offenders and talked about harassment of communities of color.

According to Obama, the states are suffering huge losses because of the restrictions."So we may be able to make some progress on the decriminalization side," Obama said. "At a certain point if enough states end up decriminalizing, then Congress may then reschedule marijuana," said Barack Obama. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican, was one of the three lawmakers who moved a bill, seeking removal of federal prohibitions on medical marijuana. "We, as a society, are changing our opinions on restricting people's choices as far as medical treatments," he said.

Apart from Paul, Democrats Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York are part of the marijuana battle. Obama's statement would give tremendous boost to their campaign. The recent survey conducted by Gallup, has revealed that 51 per cent of Americans are in favor of legalization of marijuana. Nearly 10 years ago, around two-thirds of Americans were against it.

Medical marijuana is currently legal in 23 states and in Washington D.C. Voters in four states and Washington D.C. have approved marijuana for recreational use. But, pot still remains illegal at the federal level.

MFLB Magic Flight Launch Box on Sale $72.99 @ Massdrop

March 12, 2015

Massdrop is running a big sale on the Magic Flight Launch Box (MFLB) -- no coupon codes necessary -- for $72.99 + shipping (usually retails for $119). California buyers may have to pay sales tax.

If you are not familiar with Massdrop, it is a group-buy website---the more people that order a product, the cheaper the price gets.

You must sign-up for a free account in order to see this deal.

Lawmakers in Alaska amend Marijuana Crime Bill

March 12, 2015

Although the Senate Judiciary Committee in Alaska had drafted a bill that removed marijuana from the list of controlled substances, the newest version of 'SB 30' - the Marijuana Crime Bill reinstated pot as a controlled substance. some crimes could be prosecuted as felonie, as per the amendments.

Judiciary committee member Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage slammed the move, saying the decision taken at the Senate Judiciary Committee, had gone through a real collaborative process and should not have been tweaked further.

Senate Finance co-chair Anna MacKinnon, R-Eagle River downplayed Bill's criticism, saying the amendments were made after hearing the public testimony and people's decision must be respected. "This is the people’s bill and so I’m not sure how it was handled in Judiciary. ... We try to work with everybody," he said.

The lawmakers have added a section that would give regulators some enforcement authority over marijuana businesses.

The Amendments in Marijuana Crime Bill:

* The new changes would allow emergency services personnel younger than 21 to enter a marijuana business if their services are needed there.
* Marijuana would not be delivered to a person's home for sale.
* Minors found guilty of marijuana crime, can be diverted to a community panel.
* It would be a crime to possess pot 1 pound or more, possess 25 plants or more, or give marijuana to someone under 21 years old twice in five years.

Arizer Solo for Sale $119.99 at Massdrop

March 08, 2015

Massdrop is running a big sale on the Arizer Solo (click to read my review) -- no coupon codes necessary -- for $119.99 +shipping. California buyers may have to pay sales tax.


If you are not familiar with Massdrop, it is a group-buy website---the more people that order a product, the cheaper the price gets.

You must sign-up for a free account in order to see this deal.

Senators seek End of Federal Ban on Medical Marijuana

March 10, 2015

A group of three Senators are all set to introduce a historic bill, which could end the federal ban on medical marijuana. The bill is moved by Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senators Cory Booker and Kirsten Gillibrand. The bill seeks to allow patients, doctors and businesses in states that have already passed medical-marijuana laws to carry on their operations without fear of federal prosecution.

Currently, 23 states in the United States have legalized medical marijuana, but it still remains illegal under federal law. While only few American states favor the legalization of recreational marijuana, medical marijuana still remains a good choice for majority of states, although many of them have been unable to pass any legislation due to several external factors.

The new bill would reclassify marijuana in the federal scheduling system from schedule 1 to 2. It would also permanently prevent the federal government from shutting down medical marijuana operations in states where they are legal. This is the first time in history the Senate would consider a bill seeking to allow medical marijuana.

Under schedule 1, the federal government does not consider marijuana as a medical substance terms it as a key factor for abuse. Under schedule 2, the federal government would acknowledge marijuana as a medical substance with high potential for abuse. The new legislation would also exclude CBD, a non-psychoactive compound with medicinal properties that's available in marijuana.

Incredibowl m420 Pipe on Sale $34.99 @ Massdrop

March 07, 2015

This deal isn't a vape, but I suspect many of you will have fun with this.

Massdrop is running a big sale on the Incredibowl m420 Pipe -- no coupon codes necessary -- for $34.99. California buyers may have to pay sales tax.

If you are not familiar with Massdrop, it is a group-buy website---the more people that order a product, the cheaper the price gets.

You must sign-up for a free account in order to see this deal.

Colorado faces Heat over Recreational Marijuana Law

March 07, 2015

Six Colorado county sheriffs have sued Governor John Hickenlooper over the state's recreational marijuana law. Law enforcement officials from Kansas and Nebraska had already filed lawsuits, alleging large number of marijuana influx from Colorado and demanded a ban on these activities. There has been a huge increase in recreational marijuana business in Colorado after it was made legal 14 months ago.

The sheriffs led by Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith, filed the lawsuit, arguing that state laws legalizing marijuana require them to violate federal law. The lawsuit further argues that federal law ensures that Colorado cannot allow people to possess or use marijuana for recreational purposes and cannot offer purchase license to the stores. However, it did not challenge Colorado’s medical marijuana laws.

The suit names Governor John Hickenlooper as the lone defendant. Colorado’s attorney general, Cynthia Coffman will fight the case on behalf of the state. Scotts Bluff County, Neb., Sheriff Mark Overman, is also a plaintiff in the suit. Apart from Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith, other Sheriffs that support the lawsuit against Colorado, are Yuma County Sheriff Chad Day, Elbert County Sheriff Shayne Heap, Hinsdale County Sheriff Ronald Bruce, Kiowa County Sheriff Casey Sheridan and Delta County Sheriff Frederick McKee.

Earlier, Nebraska and Oklahoma, had asked the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the Amendment 64 passed by Colorado in 2012, which made it legal for people over 21 to possess limited amounts of marijuana and offered licenses to stores to sell marijuana. Even, the Safe Streets Alliance filed two lawsuits earlier this year, opposing recreational marijuana in Colorado. Those lawsuits were filed on behalf of several Colorado residents.

The Sheriffs are facing severe criticism from many in Colorado over the lawsuits. The supporters of marijuana have asked them to focus more on serious crime rather than going all out against recreational pot.

Sarah Jain Reviews the Herbalizer Vaporizer

January 20, 2015

The full review of the Herbalizer is coming soon...

15 Pounds of Marijuana seized at Regina Airport, Two Arrested

March 06, 2015

The Regina Police arrested two people and seized 15 pounds of marijuana from them at the Regina Airport in Saskatchewan, Canada. 24-year-old Geoffrey Lawrence from Moose Jaw, and 24-year-old Alex Williams of Agassiz, British Columbia have been charged with drug trafficking. some marijuana resin were also recovered from the duo.

The 7 kg pot recovery, is seen as a huge seizure by the Regina Cops. Their arrest was possible with help from the Regina Airport Authority and the Regina police canine unit. The dog team played a key role in nabbing the culprits. Although the street value of the seized drugs, wasn't disclosed, seven kilos would be enough marijuana to make 14,000 half-gram joints.

They were produced in provincial court on Thursday, March 5. It is not clear whether they arrived with the pot or were planning to board the flight. A probe has been ordered into the incident. The cops are tight-lipped about the investigation process.

Mike Reviews the Zen Pen with Pre-filled Oils

March 06, 2015

A vape pen that has pre-filled oils? This industry is progressing so quickly. Read Mike C.'s full review of the Zen Pen.

Cherry-Marijuana Nexus leads to Tragic Death of Arthur Mondella

February 28, 2015

A maraschino cherry factory in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, was found of growing marijuana by flouting the rules. When the factory was exposed and investigation began into the alleged nexus, its owner Arthur Mondella shot himself dead inside the bathroom of the factory. It was a tragic end to his life, as Arthur did not want to take much pressure and burden and preferred an escaping route.

The City and state regulators raided Dell’s Maraschino Cherries owned by Arthur Mondella over allegations that it could be dumping waste into nearby water. But, the investigators were taken aback when the felt the faint smell of marijuana and flimsy shelving. They told 57-year-old Arthur that they would be back with a warrant. That was enough for Mondella to sneak into his private bathroom and shoot himself dead after urging his sister to take care of his kids.

He was rushed to the hospital, but was declared dead there. Around 80lbs of marijuana was found at his 38,000 sq. ft. family owned business. The investigators launched a massive probe to find out more traces of marijuana. Dell’s Maraschino Cherries used to supply syrup-soaked and dyed fruits to many top restaurant chains in the US, including Olive Garden and TGI Fridays.

The law enforcement agencies believe that there is more than meets the eye. It's difficult to believe that somebody would kill himself over weed. There has to be more than that, believe the investigators and looking at possible nexus, which could be much bigger and dirtier. They wonder what made Mondella manufacture cherries upstairs while growing marijuana downstairs without the knowledge of his family members, who never suspected such things.

Mondella, was the father of three children. He was doing well in his business and had a $5 million renovation last year. His relatives and neighbors always respected and admired him and nobody had any complaints against him. He was initially raided for alleged environment violations. But, the drug nexus claimed his life.

Study explains how Marijuana gives People the Munchies

February 18, 2015

For years, the marijuana users have been asking one question to themselves after waking up. "Why I am so hungry"? A lot of theories were going around. But, finally, we have an answer, as per the recent study titled, "Hypothalamic POMC neurons promote cannabinoid-induced feeding" published on Nature.com journal.

This cluster, called the POMC neurons, is in the hypothalamus, a specific area of the brain that is associated with base instincts like sexual arousal, alertness and feeding. The active ingredients in pot make appetite-curbing regions of the brain reverse functions. When that happens, neurons give the brain the munchies instead of giving it instructions to stop eating. The neurobiologists claim that marijuana hijacks the brain and controls the functions, which even the pot users fail to understand.

In the past, we had seen comedies that smoking marijuana makes users crave for salty, crunchy or sweet snacks, including potato chips and brownies. However, the scientists have now confirmed it as a brain function. These are nothing, but pot-fuelled snack attacks, they revealed it in other words. The pot compels to eat further even if the body does not need food, the study claims.

Author of the study, Tamas Horvath, a neurobiologist at Yale University School of Medicine, termed the finding as completely "nonsensical". He revealed that his group's research was supposed to confirm the nerve circuits that tamp down hunger. Instead, the results were "upside down", he said, as quoted by the USA Today.

Apart from Tamas L. Horvath, other researchers, who were part of the study group, included Marco Koch, Luis Varela, Jae Geun Kim, Jung Dae Kim, Francisco Hernández-Nuño, Stephanie E. Simonds, Carlos M. Castorena, Claudia R. Vianna, Joel K. Elmquist, Yury M. Morozov, Pasko Rakic, Ingo Bechmann, Michael A. Cowley, Klara Szigeti-Buck, Marcelo O. Dietrich, Xiao-Bing Gao and Sabrina Diano.

Vermont to legalize Marijuana through State Legislature

February 18, 2015

Vermont is all set to make history, as it may become the first state in the United States to legalize marijuana through a state legislature rather than going for a public vote. Vermont state Senator David Zuckerman’s bill, Senate 95, would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and set up a regulatory body to monitor the cultivation and sale of marijuana in the state.

The bill will also prevent public consumption, while giving individual municipalities the option to veto marijuana retailers, and grant landlords authority to prohibit possession. Rep. Chris Pearson (P-Burlington) will introduce a similar bill in the state’s House.

In Vermont, medical marijuana is already legal. However, the latest bill will pave the way for use of recreational marijuana in the state. Only Colorado, Washington state, Oregon, Alaska and Washington, D.C. have passed the measures for recreational use of marijuana, but all their moves came through ballot initiatives.

Sen. David Zuckerman argued that 80,000 out of 626,562 Vermont residents use marijuana now. He also claimed that Vermont's economy will get a big boost if the bill is approved. Every year, millions of dollars are consumed by an unregulated market, thanks to the ban on recreational marijuana. The marijuana industry in Vermont may exceed the unofficial amount spent ($125-225 million per year).

Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada are preparing to vote on legalization of recreational marijuana in 2016. In addition, Florida, Missouri and Montana are also trying to bring ballot initiatives to legalize the recreational pot.

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