marijuana

Noise and Notes: Not-So-Super PAC Progress Kentucky, Yum Center Woes, 'Cannabis Majority'

Phillip M. Bailey — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 03:42:47 +0000

The Louisville-based super PAC Progress Kentucky made national news this week when WFPL broke the story of them attacking Senator Mitch McConnell’s wife based on her Asian heritage.

Leaders with the group have apologized—twice, but just about every Democrat has denounced them or kept their distance, and McConnell has pounced on the comments since returning home.

Even the senator's harshest critics have cried foul.

From The Courier-Journal:

This is no way to defeat McConnell. If anything, it does what McConnell cannot do for himself. It remarkably casts him in a sympathetic light.

But some observers have pointed out Progress received sparse coverage from the local media to being with while getting plenty from national outlets.

'We've Got Bigger Fish To Fry' Than Going After Pot Smokers, Obama Says

Mark Memmott — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:07:22 +0000

It looks like the feds will not be worrying much about those folks who choose to smoke pot in Colorado and Washington state, where new laws decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.

"We've got bigger fish to fry," President Obama tells ABC News' Barbara Walters during an

Kentucky State Police Not OK with Legalized Pot

Kenny Colston — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:50:11 +0000

This month, voters in Colorado and Washington elected to legalize marijuana in their states. And this week, the superintendent of the Indiana State Police told his state’s lawmakers that he supports legalizing and regulating marijuana.

The traditionally hard-line stance American officials have held against marijuana is relaxing in some places -- but don't expect Kentucky law enforcement to follow along.

Indiana State Police Chief: Legalize and Tax Pot

Rick Howlett — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:37:52 +0000

The leader of Indiana State Police has no objection to legislative efforts to ease penalties for marijuana possession in the Hoosier State. He says if it were up to him, marijuana would be legal.

When asked about the drug in a budget committee meeting, ISP Superintendent Paul Whitesell said he’s spent some 40 years trying to enforce various marijuana laws.

"It’s here, it’s going to stay, there’s an awful lot of victimization that goes with it.

Will U.S. Try To Snuff Out State Marijuana Laws?

Carrie Johnson — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 14:38:35 +0000

The Justice Department has a big decision to make.

Parts of new laws in Colorado and Washington that legalize small amounts of recreational marijuana will take effect early next month. The Obama administration needs to choose whether it will sue to stop the legislation or let those states go their own way — even though the drug remains illegal under federal law.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, says the message he got from voters is unambiguous.

"Our voters want marijuana to be regulated, like alcohol," Hickenlooper said at a recent news conference.

Comer: Marijuana Votes in Other States Bolster Kentucky Hemp Efforts

Kenny Colston — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The push for hemp in Kentucky is getting a bump from other states' efforts to legalize the plant's unsavory cousin, a Kentucky official said.

Kentucky Leads Nation in Legalize Marijuana Google Searches

Phillip M. Bailey — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 16:34:28 +0000

Kentucky leads the country in Google searches for the legalization of marijuana, according to a list of political issues put out by the technology company.

Google went through a year of online searches to find out which states look at what topics more than others. For instance, Montana led searches in gun control while Florida looked up Social Security more than any other state.

From The Fix:

The biggest surprise for us? Kentucky is the state where searches for legalization of marijuana are highest. Yes, Kentucky. One possible explanation: There is an effort to pass a law legalizing medicinal marijuana in the state, which could generate some search interest.

Indiana Lawmaker Seeks to Reduce Marijuana Penalties

The Associated Press — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 19:25:25 +0000

An influential Indiana lawmaker says he'll introduce legislation that would reduce penalties on people found in possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Republican state Sen. Brent Steele of Bedford plans to introduce a bill next session that would make possession of 10 grams or less an infraction, rather than a criminal misdemeanor. Ten grams is equivalent to about one-third of an ounce or roughly enough to make 20 to 30 marijuana cigarettes.