Marty's Travels

My house has wheels

WA Followup

Yesterday I mentioned the poor bill filed to limit the THC in concentrates to 10%. 35 people signed up to testify at the hearing, all but 3 testified against. Some of the other points made were that the elected representative who filed the bill likely meant 10mg of THC, not 10%, but it's still ridiculous. Another was that this would shut down about 30% of the industry, with a corresponding loss in tax revenue to the state. That's around 100...

WA Lawmaking

I'm watching bill filings in the legislature for cannabis topics, which is entertaining when some really crazy stuff comes in. Every session someone files to split Eastern WA into a new state, for instance. I laughed when I saw a bill to limit the THC in concentrates to 10%. I laughed until I realized that when a bill gets filed, it's for real and has to be dealt with. Regular flower runs about 14-24% THC. Concentrates (the plant material has...

New Mexico Pot

Yesterday the NM Senate committee passed the marijuana legalization/regulation bill, with the House committee expected to do the same in a day or two. Last year it was the Senate that stopped a similar bill, so it looks like it will pass easily this year. New Mexico has a functioning medical system which is prepared to convert rapidly when the first licenses are issued in January, 2021. NM will be unique in the country in that it specifically...

What I’m Doing

Next week I take my rv into Jimmy's for a roof replacement. Last spring I scraped an overhanging branch, then moved on without knowing it. I discovered the problem when it rained in Santa Rosa, but couldn't patch it until the rain stopped. This was the third patch in the same place. When I took a close look at the roof, it looked "thin", like it was dissolving away. The texture was more fine powder than rubbery. Before I left for Texas, I...

WA Homegrow?

Washington doesn't allow homegrown marijuana. I've been watching the bills for a few years trying to change this law, and just a few moments ago the bill to legalize was passed out of committee. A huge advancement. People have been home growing in Washington for over 50 years and will continue to do so whether there is a law or not. What WA gets is that it no longer is the odd state that doesn't allow homegrow.

Deming

Here I am again. I have some work to be done on my RV at Jimmy's, which I'll write about later. Meantime I'm avoiding Quartzsite right now because I don't like being there while the tent show is going on. I'll get to Q when the crowds go away. It will be cold here, more than I usually like.

New Mexico Marijuana

I'll be watching the project to pass a legalized cannabis law in New Mexico, the 12th state to do so, the second by legislative action and not by citizen initiative. The proposed bill was filed yesterday in advance of the session which opens Monday. A good article can be read here. I skimmed the bill last night and am quite impressed with what they are trying to do. A recent poll shows 75% approval by citizens, it has the full support of the...

Marathon, TX

I've been driving for three days in a fog bank. West Texas is bad enough, but to not see anything but the road is miserable. But, tonight a rain storm comes in. To avoid it I'm resting for two nights in Marathon. I like parking at Marathon Motel and RV because of it's location, but it's fairly small and popular (closest to Big Bend). They were filled up but I could dry-camp out back. Great spot off the highway and a lot of bird activity. Now to...

Laredo; back on the road

I'm glad I'm back to moving again, and happy to be headed for Deming. The RGV has become a pain in the butt with traffic and people. It used to be you could avoid all that, but the population boom means more cars on their (in)famous expressway system. And harder on the frontage roads. Same problem as everywhere: too damn many people. Now I spend a few days in west Texas, moving as weather allows.

Texas pot

Texas has some of the most strict and draconian anti-marijuana laws in the country, down there with Idaho and Mississippi. So it was a surprise when it came to light that arrests for cannabis are down about 50%. Since hemp was legalized. The storyline here is that prosecutors claim that they can't prove someone has been arrested with illegal marijuana or legal hemp. Hemp is arbitrarily defined has having .3% THC content, marijuana anything...

Illinois is a bit different

I'm impressed with how Illinois rolled out it's pot legalization program. There are far more people standing in lines around the state than I've seen before, far more than possibly could be served by any store. The day was marked by politicians showing up (governor's office, legislators, mayors, aldermen) and participating. The sheer number of folks is remarkable. I don't think they were standing in a mile-long line (quiet, orderly, few police...

Illinois Pot is legal

Sales began this morning at 0600 in Illinois, the 11th state to legalize and the first state to do so by legislative action, not by citizen petition. There are about 30 stores open today state-wide, around half in the Chicago area. The lines are very long, by far the longest I've seen on other opening days. The shops will run out of inventory very quickly despite extra effort the last month to stock up. And it's about 20 degrees out there. But...