Cannabis Fantastic

A former member of the infamous Black Tuna Gang learned his fate this week. Back in January a former associate of the Miami Black Tuna Gang, Mark Steven Phillips, was arrested more than three decades after fleeing his trial in 1979 for charges of violating the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization statutes. He was also charged with engaging in a criminal enterprise and possession of marijuana with intent to sell. Phillips was convicted in absentia in February 1980 of racketeering, as well as possession and distribution of marijuana. He was facing additional fugitive charges as well.

Justin Timberlake, the singer and now A-list actor, was interviewed by Playboy this month and asked if he still smoked pot. Timberlake replied, “Absolutely”. He went on to explain that marijuana is the only thing that gets him to stop thinking, saying that sometime his brain needs to be turned off so he can relax. He added that some people are just better when high.

Justin continues with the story of being punk’d on Ashton Kutcher’s show in the very first episode. He said he was so high when it happened, that he stopped smoking marijuana for months following the incident.

A Korean-American hip-hop artist who was born in South Korea but maintains a home in Atlanta, Georgia was sentenced by the Seoul Central District Court on Thursday for the charge of using marijuana while he was in the US. Crown J, whose real name is Kim Kye Hoon, currently spends most of his time in the US working on his music career.

All that will be put on hold as he will spend eight long months in a Korean prison, spend an additional two months on probation and will have to pay heavy fines along with doing 80 hours of community service after his release.

Willie Nelson, who was arrested for marijuana possession in November, took a plea deal yesterday to avoid jail time. His tour bus was stopped at a checkpoint when officers found a few ounces of marijuana, although there have been different amounts reported from the time of his arrest up to the time it came before [Read on . . .]

College Sports Fans were shocked this weekend by the resignation of Ohio Buckeye’s Beloved and Winning Football Coach, Jim Tressel.He resigned over allegations of his players accepting gifts then covering up the infractions and then lying to officials about the cover up.

In an in depth look into the allegations by Sports Illustrated say the infractions can be traced back to at least 2002 when a local tattoo parlor began accepting players memorabilia, such as tournament rings, as payments for tattoos. Sports Illustrated is also alleging that some players traded memorabilia for marijuana.

The White House issued eight presidential pardons today, including two for cannabis crimes. This is the second set of pardons President Obama has granted. So far, he has granted 17 pardons in total. At this point in the previous administration, George W. Bush had only granted twelve. Both those numbers are low compared to the [Read on . . .]

A top Republican in the Rhode Island House was arrested last month in Connecticut on charges of drunk driving and marijuana possession. It will cost him his position in the House. Rep. Robert Watson was voted out of this leadership position as the minority leader earlier this month. Connecticut police arrested Watson at police checkpoint in East Haven on April 22nd and noted he smelled like alcohol and marijuana. After failing a field sobriety test, an officer found a bag of cannabis and a wooden pipe in his pocket.

Reports surfaced earlier this week that Willie Nelson’s 2010 November marijuana bust might end up in him singing in the courtroom for his freedom. Media outlets from the AP, CNN and NBC all reported that Willie might be playing the judge’s favorite song, “Blue Eyes Cryin in the Rain” in the court room to get out of jail time.

The prosecutor in the case, life-long Nelson fan, Kit Bramblett was quoted by saying about the suspicious charge of 6 ounces, reduced to just three ounces after the “packaging was removed”, the cut off to still be a misdemeanor was because he and the sheriff spilled some, or smoked enough so Wilie would remain in their jurisdiction. Now Kit Bramblett said the whole thing was a joke. He was trying to be funny and the whole thing got out of hand.