Marijuana enthusiasts, activists, and those who just feel like people of color shouldn't be persecuted for possessing a plant that does substantially less harm than many legal drugs marched from Washington Square Park to Union Square yesterday afternoon. According to photographer Jim Kiernan, rappers Immortal Technique (his second appearance in a week in Union Square) and King David performed and "Ganja Granny" Arlene Williams as well as a representative from Law Enforcement Against Prohibition spoke. We also spotted marijuana activist and John Lennon pal David Peel in the crowd.
1
Results tagged “marijuana”
Photos: Cannabis March In Marijuana Arrest Capital Of The World
Medical Marijuana Approved By Connecticut State Senate
And legal medical marijuana inches ever closer to the Empire State. Earlier this morning, after nearly 10 hours of debate, the Connecticut Senate voted 21 to 13 to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule 1 drug to a Schedule 2 drug. Once Governor Dannel Malloy signs the bill (which he is expected to do) the state will join 16 other states and (not to mention DC) in legalizing the drug for medical purposes. Time to try in Albany again?
Kilos Of Drugs Keep Appearing In Bags On Chinatown Buses
Drug dealers looking to bring their wares into the Big Apple have apparently discovered what most New Yorkers already knew: Chinatown buses are the best deal in town. Since last August the (apparently well-named) Golden Horse Tours bus company has been involved in multiple impressively large drug busts, the city's Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor says. Naturally, an investigation into the company is now ongoing.
Giant Elk Spotted Unironically Celebrating 4/20 In Central Park
While we were busy bemoaning the commercialization of Puff The Magic Dragon Passover, some people were out actually celebrating (*cough cough*) 4/20 around the city yesterday. And that included "Nappy," a 24-year-old man dressed as an elk who smoked bowls in Central Park Friday afternoon with a group of like-minded, painfully sincere pot connoisseurs. “You would have no overdoses because they would be controlled,” he responded when questioned why drugs should be legal. Nappy: your trusty spotter in New York City's futuristic lung gyms.
Is 4/20 Cashed? Marketing Companies Turn Sacred Pot Holiday Into Advertising Green!
Unless you're already so blazed you've forgotten what day it is, you know that this year 4/20 falls on a Friday, which makes it very convenient for those who observe the holiday to toke right over the line into the weekend. It's also a prime opportunity for marketers to drum up some pot-related profit. The Wall Street Journal reports that this 4/20 in particular features more commercialized connections to the high-liday, with film studios and television stations (among others) clamoring to capitalize on it. We've certainly done our part to let you know where you can take advantage of 4/20 here in NYC. But there's so much more! Let us count the ways people are cashing in on the holiday:
Celebrate 4/20 With These Sticky Icky Food Specials
Tomorrow is a major holiday for some (*cough*) people—it's the Stoner Easter, the Puff The Magic Dragon Passover, the Mary Jane Administrative Professionals Day. While we can't all be hanging out with Snoop Dogg for the occasion, there are at the very least a few tantalizing food deals available to sate your munchies.
Montclair's Marijuana Dispensary First To Grow Grass In NJ
Yesterday New Jersey issued its first permit to a facility that allows the cultivation of medicial marijuana in a town also known as "Park Slope West." The Greenleaf Compassion Center in Montclair will be allow to grow the plant, but not sell it, as an additional permit is necessary pending another state inspection. "The patients we work with and represent are ecstatic," New Jersey's director of the Drug Policy Alliance, Roseanne Scotti says in a release. "They have waited so long for safe and legal access to medical marijuana and this gives them hope that that wait is coming to an end and relief is in sight.”
Tourist Marijuana Ban In The Netherlands May Be A Pipe Dream
A major phase of the Netherlands' ban on tourists patronizing coffee shops goes into effect in the country's southern provinces on May 1. Shops in Amsterdam are scheduled stop selling marijuana to foreigners on January 1, 2013. But enacting this ban may be harder than finding a 22-year-old who hasn't seen EuroTrip: the benign, psychotropic plant that grows naturally in the ground makes the country a lot of money.
We Smoked Illegal Fake Weed And Survived!
Yesterday, after tabloid pressure, New York State banned sales of synthetic weed. But before that could happen your hardworking Gothamist editors got ahold of a few packages of the bowel-wrecking "drug" for a blind taste test so we all might get a better idea of what all the fuss is about. The things we do for you!
Fake Weed Gets Banned In NY, Stoner Dreams Go Up In Smoke
Nothing like a little tabloid hysteria to go and get things banned. The Daily News, which has been on a weeklong war against synthetic marijuana is now happily crowing that the New York State Department of Health is getting ready to ban the stuff statewide. Like, today.
Pro-Pot NYU Physician Gives HIGH-lights Of NYC's Weedy Past
Last weekend, we posted about the NORML rally that took place at City Hall, right before the St. Patrick's Day parade. One of those demonstrators was Dr. Sunil Aggarwal—a resident physician at the NYU Rusk Institute Of Rehabilitation Medicine—who posted the text of his speech in our comments section. The speech is worth a read as it contains some interesting pot-related NYC history:
Does Rand Paul Have "Blood On His Hands" For Blocking Fake Weed Ban?
The Daily News continues its war on fake pot today. After running a front page story scare story that "EVERY PARENT SHOULD READ" (they shouldn't) the paper happily crowed that Councilman Peter Vallone now wants to ban the stuff in the city ("I guess we all assumed that the federal government was going to act on it, but we can’t wait because our kids are dying," he told them). And today they run an interview with a woman who says her son died after smoking the legal product. She also thinks that Senator Rand Paul has "blood on his hands" because he isn't rushing to ban the stuff on a federal level.
Jeremy Lin's Lawyers Move To Weed Out Linsanity Pot
Linsanity may have given way to Timsanity at this point, but Knicks breakout point guard Jeremy Lin has been playing very well lately on the court as the Knicks have gone on a five-game win streak—and he's still getting plenty of endorsement deals off the court, including Volvo and Coke. Now, he's also making sure to wrest control of his name back from the various moochers who have re-appropriated it. To that end, Lin's legal team has sent a series of cease-and-desist letters to medical marijuana dispensaries who are selling the "Linsanity" brand pot.
Fake Weed Terrifies Reporters! Senators! Lazy Parents!
Synthetic weed's demonization in the media continues—harsh! Already despised by Senator Schumer and blamed for everything from teen suicides to hospital visits, the totally legal "incense" today gets the front page treatment from the Daily News in a "STORY EVERY PARENT SHOULD READ." Oh noes! Just one puff and your spawn will turn into the (fictional) narrator in Go Ask Alice.
Marijuana Advocates On St. Patrick's Day: Pot Safer Than Drunken Vomiting
About a dozen demonstrators from Empire State NORML, the New York State chapter of the marijuana law reform group, gathered on the steps of City Hall yesterday in the spirit of a healthier St. Patrick's Day. Specifically, they wanted to highlight the importance of alternative forms of intoxication during the green beer-bathed festivities.
LI Man Arrested After Grenade Launchers, Military Assault Weapons Found In Closet's Secret Compartment
An inquiry about a domestic violence incident unfolded into a discovery of grenade launchers, military assault rifles, and thousands of rounds of military-grade ammunition in a Long Island home yesterday. Michael Anderson, 27, was arrested and charged with third-degree assault, possession of marijuana found on him and at home, and five counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. And it all started after his girlfriend stopped a state trooper, saying she had been thrown down a set of stairs.
Reefer Linsanity: Jeremy Lin Now Comes In Marijuana Form
Things have not been very good for Jeremy Lin and the Knicks since coming back from the All-Star Break—it's gotten to the point that USA Today and Christian Post are saying Linsanity is over. Well not so for some entrepreneurial marijuana peddlers in LA, who have concocted a Linsanity strain of pot. And it's Rick Ross-approved!
Cop Who Killed Unarmed Teen "Feels Bad" As Bronx DA Continues Investigation
NYPD Officer Richard Haste fatally shot unarmed 18-year-old Ramarley Graham last month in his family's Williamsbridge home, and his colleague tells the Daily News that while he feels remorse, he also thought Graham was armed. "He didn't want the kid to die. He feels bad. But it happened very fast," the colleague said. "He thought he was carrying, that's why he did what he did. He had a split second to react."
How Does Someone Fit 23 Bags Of Marijuana In His Underwear?
An ex-con who police observed dropping a bag of cocaine in a Greenwich Village pizza shop turned out to have a lot more than just a bag of coke on him. Tyrel Henderson, 22, could probably use a lesson in keeping a low profile: after he was busted with the coke, police allegedly found five more bags of cocaine as well 23 bags of marijuana in his underwear.
Primo Weed Rushed To NYC In Private Jet By "Westies" Gang
A well-financed criminal organization has been using a Dassault Falcon executive jet to cater to discerning marijuana connoisseurs who cannot tolerate reefer that's grown dry and impotent during a long truck ride from the West Coast. The operation is allegedly run by the formerly powerful gang the "Westies," and don't let their cutesy name fool you; these guys mean business. Just look into the eyes of John Bokun, the alleged kingpin. If he doesn't creep you out, the guns on his buddy should. Whatever you do, don't make fun of his watch.
Spitzer For Spliffs: Former Gov "In Favor Of Legalized Pot"
Perhaps it should come to no surprise that a guy who paid for (a lot of) sex is cool with legalizing harmless flora, but Eliot Spitzer did used to be the Governor of New York and all. After some gentle ribbing by host Bill Maher (who is no stranger to smoking dope and copulating with prostitutes) Spitzer says, "To spend prosecutorial resources on pot is ridiculous...I'd be in favor of legalized pot. Legalizing pot is the right way to go."
Alan Thicke's Son Busted For Pot In NYC, Just As Paul McCartney Gives It Up
Alan Thicke's son, singer Robin Thicke, has been arrested in Manhattan for marijuana possession. According to the Daily News, "Thicke was being processed Friday afternoon and is expected to received a desk appearance ticket." Apparently he was "arrested at 12:25 p.m. by patrol officers who saw him smoking a joint while sitting in a Cadillac Escalade near 3rd Ave. and E. 21st St." A source said, "He wasn’t driving. He was sitting in the car. He was arrested and a small amount of marijuana was recovered on him.”
Duh: Smoking Pot And Driving Is A Bad Idea, Says Science
Of all the many, many duh "science" reports we've heard, this might be the duh-est: according to a new study published in the British Medical Journal, smoking pot within three hours of driving more than doubles your chance of getting into a car accident. Future reports from these researchers include, "Smoking Pot Increases Chance Of Hunger," "Smoking Pot Increases Insights, Man," and "Is Nicholas Cage Really A Civil War-Era Vampire?"
Junior High Times: Middle Schooler Sold Classmates Pot Brownies
An eighth grader at a Queens public school has been accused of selling pot brownies to her Junior High classmates. Officials say at least 20 students bought the marijuana-laced brownies from a female student, who sold them for $3 each, or two for $5. Some parents were so agitated and upset, they lapsed into talking like it was happy hour at a '20s speakeasy: “They slipped my son a mickey,” one such angry mom, who didn’t want her name used, told the Daily News. “How come nobody noticed these kids were high?”
Cop Kills Unarmed 18-Year-Old In His Bathroom
For the third time in a week, an NYPD officer has shot and killed a suspect. Yesterday an unidentified officer killed 18-year-old Ramarley Graham with a single bullet to the chest. The officer, a member of the narcotics unit, had chased Graham into his home, seen him flush something down a toilet and reportedly saw him make "furtive" movements, apparently prompting the cop to fire. Graham—who lived with his mother, grandmother and 6-year-old brother—was immediately mourned by family and neighbors. "Nobody deserves to get shot like that, in your own house," his bereaved mother, Constance Malcolm, cried to reporters.
Bronx Pot Farm Had Street Value Of $7.5 Million
Yesterday, police raided a Bronx building which happened to house a five-story marijuana growing operation. Around 800 plants were seized, the equivalent of over 1500 pounds, including 75 pounds of dried marijuana. And the street value? Oh, around $7.5 million.
Buzz Kill: Cops Seize 800 Marijuana Plants From 5-Story Bronx Home
A five-story grow house in the Bronx was raided by police. Narcotics detectives, who were tipped off from someone in the community about the 610 Morris Park Avenue home, took 800 plants, some of them were 6 feet tall.
4-Year-Old Busts Out Dime Bags At Snack Time
Small children simulating the throes of alcoholism is guaranteed viral GOLD. But society is less kind to kids with kind, even if they have no idea what they'd do with it. A 4-year-old boy brought nine bags of marijuana, which according to CBS "appeared to be wrapped for sale," to his pre-kindergarten class in Meriden, Connecticut yesterday. "Our concern is for the 4-year-old student, who had no knowledge of what he was bringing to school," Superintendent Mark Benigni said. Oh really? Then why he'd pull them out at snack time?
Man's Mile-High High Harshed By JetBlue Narcs
Making it past airport TSA screening with that illegal substance that does not harm your lungs and has never killed anyone, is difficult but not impossible. But 43-year-old Adam Blumenkranz was arrested on a JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale to Newark for allegedly smoking dope. Crew members told the AP that they gave Blumenkranz the stink eye after he "dropped a clear plastic bag in the cabin."
Spray, Spray, Pass? Weed-based Mouth Spray Seeks FDA Approval
For one of the oldest drugs going, marijuana sure has room for innovation. While pot enthusiasts in states without legal weed have been turning to synthetic bud of late, researchers in England are hard at work on a weed-based mouth-spray that they hope will help cancer patients. And the FDA is taking it seriously. Like those chloraseptic sprays, but someone put their weed in there.
send a tip
tips@gothamist.comsubscribe
Use an RSS reader to stay up to date with the latest news and posts from Gothamist.