A Press Democrat Blog

The Marijuana Empire

News and views about California's cash crop

SSU scholar takes on pot

Monday, at 6:00 by

An SSU Professor and Jack London scholar who has written about counter culture subjects from poet Allen Ginsberg to political activist Abbie Hoffman has published a book about marijuana. Communications Prof. Jonah Raskin is apparently a longtime weed smoker and High Times contributor. The magazine published his 2011 book “Marijuanaland: Dispatches from an American War.” Tuesday evening, Raskin is giving a free talk on his new book, which chronicle’s his conversations with “growers, dealers, dispensary owners, lawyers, smokers and cops… Read More »

Do pot clubs discourage crime?

Wednesday, at 6:00 by

That’s what the Rand Corporation reported. But then they took it back. From the Associated Press: LOS ANGELES (AP) — A nonprofit think tank has removed a study from its website that said crime increased near medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles after they were closed. Warren Robak, a spokesman for Santa Monica-based Rand Corp., says the organization is reviewing the study released last month and has removed it from circulation. The Los Angeles city attorney’s office had said the… Read More »

Marijuana mysteries and pot on the ballot

Friday, at 6:40 by

After an unseasonable hiatus, the pot blog is back. Just in time for harvest. SF Weekly reported that Mendocino County activist Pebbles Trippet has joined others in the march toward getting an initiative before voters that would legalize marijuana. Read Trippet’s “Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act of 2012.” 632,058 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed from the Mendocino National Forest during Operation Full Court Press. During the raids, 132 people arrested on various federal and state charges, including marijuana, firearm and… Read More »