Recreational pot proposal clears initial hurdle to make 2024 Florida ballot
Backers of a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow recreational use of marijuana have passed a preliminary hurdle to get on the 2024 ballot, submitting more than enough petition signatures to trigger a Florida Supreme Court review of the measure.
Local doctor thinks sweeping changes of marijuana laws could be right around the corner
President Biden called for state-level action to provide additional relief for people with low-level marijuana convictions. While Georgians and Floridians wait to see how their state's respond to President Biden's call to action, a local doctor thinks sweeping changes of marijuana laws, could be right around the corner.
Governor candidate Crist calls for full marijuana legalization
Democrat Charlie Crist, a candidate for governor of Florida, said Thursday he supports full marijuana legalization in the state and wants the expungement of all existing charges and sentences for misdemeanors and third-degree felonies for marijuana possession.
Marijuana farms contributing to climate change, research shows
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Growing cannabis indoors is racking up energy production, resulting in large amounts of damaging gases that warm Earth. Electric usage is the highest across the southeast leading to increased CO2 emissions from indoor cannabis cultivation. In Jacksonville, the need for dehumidifiers and air conditioning adds about 1,500 kilograms of emissions to every kilogram of product. The island relies primarily on burning oil for electricity, boosting emissions to over 5,000 kilograms per kilogram of product. As it turns out, Southern Californiaโs moderate climate and renewable power makes it a prime location for the lowest emissions.
Man who was serving 90-year sentence for marijuana released
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. โ While serving a 90-year prison sentence for selling marijuana, Richard DeLisi's wife died, as did his 23-year-old son and both his parents. DeLisi was sentenced to 90 years for marijuana trafficking in 1989 at the age of 40 even though the typical sentence was only 12 to 17 years. Rick DeLisi was only 11-years-old when he sat in the courtroom and said goodbye to his father. Is there somebody that can answer to this?โRick DeLisi said his family fell apart after his father's sentence. โThere's a feeling of who's responsible for this debt in my mind, and justice," said Rick DeLisi.
The unexpected winner on election night? Drugs
While we may not know if President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden won the presidential election for a while longer, there was one clear โwinnerโ on election night, and that was recreational drugs. States across the country have been legalizing recreational marijuana every election cycle, and 2020 was no different. Residents in New Jersey, Arizona, Montana and South Dakota all voted to legalize recreational cannabis, and South Dakota also legalized medical marijuana, along with Mississippi. South Dakota became the first state to legalize medical and recreational marijuana in the same election. For the first time in U.S. history, the state of Oregon decriminalized possession of hard drugs, as well as voted to legalize psychedelic mushrooms.
$408-million of cocaine, marijuana seized by U.S. Coast Guard
MIAMI โ The Coast Guard Cutter James (WMSL-754) crew offloaded approximately 23,000 pounds of cocaine and approximately 6,900 pounds of marijuana, all worth more than an estimated $408 million, Tuesday in Port Everglades. "It is important to note that our fellow citizens aren't the only ones who benefit from these counter-narcotics efforts. Our Central American neighbors face tremendous strain from drug-fueled violence sparked by transnational criminal organizations. Efforts like this enhanced counter-drug operation significantly disrupt the criminal activity destabilizing the region." The cutter James is a 418-foot national security cutter home ported in Charleston, South Carolina.