Rhode Island Politician Who Joked About Pot-Smoking Immigrants Facing Marijuana Charges

In February, the Republican Minority Leader in Rhode Island’s House, Robert Watson, described his feelings about the state’s General Assembly to a Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce group: “I suppose if you’re a gay man from Guatemala who gambles and smokes pot, you probably think that we’re onto some good ideas here.” He later declined to apologize for the remark.

You already know what comes next: On Friday night, Watson, who has reportedly been dismissive of pot legalization in the past, was charged with marijuana possession and driving under the influence after being pulled over at an East Haven, Connecticut police checkpoint, according to The Boston Herald:

A police report on Friday’s traffic stop said Watson smelled of alcohol and marijuana and performed poorly on sobriety tests. An officer found a bag of suspected marijuana and a wooden pipe in Watson’s pocket. An alcohol breath test performed at the police station determined that Watson’s blood-alcohol level was 0.05 percent, below the state’s 0.08 limit..."Trace evidence of marijuana was discovered and I was charged with operating under the influence, a charge I vehemently deny," Watson said in the statement.

More Drug-Smoking On The Debt

To read economic and political commentary with any kind of frequency is to be bombarded daily - and hourly for that matter - with breathy articles about a United States groaning under deficits that surely signal bankruptcy, Social Security checks that eventually won't clear, and of course a looming financial crisis. A recent New York Times column by noted deficit scold David Stockman naturally referenced America's "desperate" financial situation.

Much of this commentary is well written, it's certainly popular, but it's also total nonsense.

Really? What's driving that commentary? Let's examine your article and see if we can find the gist of your claim - and then see whether it makes sense!

To understand why they should, it has to be remembered that large as the Treasury's debts are, basic economic models whereby the U.S. economy grows in the 3% range show that over time the debt could be paid off with ease.

Except that, when adjusted for new debt issuance, the compounded growth rate since 1983 is -3.96%. Yes, annually. Incidentally, from 1953-83 it was 5.30%. Yes, annually, and yes, positive.

What happened? Idiocy happened. The bone-smoking by people like you happened. The premise that we could "Grow" the economy by borrowing to consume, and that we could relabel various parts of "consumption" as "investment" as a means of hiding what we were doing - in particular,as regards residential construction (that is, houses.)

But changing the label on a box of dog turds to "Chocolates" does not make them chocolates. It just makes the person who does it a liar and a fraud.

Indeed, the true crisis at present is all the government spending which signifies capital waste and destruction, and what that tells us about the myriad Microsofts, Googles and Intels that never saw the light of day thanks to our federal government consuming so much limited capital.

Bar smoking ban takes effect in Bismarck after City Commission certifies election results

A ban on smoking in bars, truck stops and tobacco shops has gone into effect in North Dakota's capital city.

The Bismarck Tribune reports that the City Commission on Tuesday certified the results of an April 19 election, putting the ban into effect after bars closed at 1 a.m. Wednesday.

Sixty percent of voters favored the smoking ban. Voters also decided in a closer vote not to allow bars to build smoking huts for patrons who go outside.

The City Commission passed a ban last August but its November start was suspended when opponents referred the issue to a public vote.

Youth smoking rates decline in Snohomish County

Smoking rates have dropped among elementary, middle and high school students in Snohomish County, with the habit now at its lowest levels since 2002, a survey of 13,000 students in Snohomish County shows.

Smoking rates among high school seniors declined the most, from 25.4 percent to 19.2 percent over eight years.

The trends in youth smoking were included in survey results of youth health and habits released by the Snohomish Health District on Tuesday.

Some 13,000 students from 14 school districts in Snohomish County participated in the survey, conducted last year. Students were allowed to answer questions on their health and habits anonymously.

The results from Snohomish County were part of a statewide survey of 212,000 Washington students conducted by six state agencies, including the Department of Health and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction at a cost of $502,000.

While smoking has declined, it doesn't mean students in Snohomish County aren't being tempted by tobacco.

"We're moving in the right direction, but still, one in five youth are smoking," said Dr. Gary Goldbaum, health officer for the Snohomish Health District.

Use of flavored tobacco products have either held steady or increased since 2002. High school seniors were the biggest users, with 18.7 percent reporting last year that they had used flavored tobacco products in month prior to being surveyed.

Menthol cigarettes no more risky, study suggests

Based on the study, Blot said he is comfortable saying menthol cigarettes are no more harmful than regular kinds, and they may be a bit less risky.

As for what the FDA should do, he said, "Our take on this is that smoking is bad. There is no doubt about that. We've known it for years and years. To single out mentholated cigarettes compared to other types of cigarettes may not be necessary."

Student Caught With Contraband Cigarettes

Frequent arrests made by Customs and Excise Department at Sungai Tujoh border control post have failed to deter people from attempting to smuggle contraband goods into the country.

On Monday evening, customs border inspection personnel and customs enforcement officers arrested a 26year-old male foreign student for smuggling in 14 cartons of cigarettes.

At the border control post in Belait District, he declared bringing in a carton of cigarettes, 12 cans of beer and two bottles of liquor. For the goods declared, he made the tax payments accordingly.

However, customs inspectors searched his vehicle and found an additional 14 cartons of cigarettes hidden underneath the seats and car mat.