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US regulators might change how they classify marijuana. Here's what that would mean

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The news lit up the world of weed: U.S. health regulators are suggesting that the federal government loosen restrictions on marijuana. Specifically, the federal Health and Human Services Department has recommended taking marijuana out of a category of drugs deemed to have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” The agency advised moving pot from that “Schedule I” group to the less tightly regulated “Schedule III.” So what does that mean, and what are the implications? Read on.FIRST OF ALL, WHAT HAS ACTUALLY CHANGED? WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?Technically, nothing yet. Any decision on reclassifying — or “rescheduling,” in government lingo — is up to the Drug Enforcement Administration, which says it will take up the issue. The review process is lengthy and involves taking public comment.Still, the HHS recommendation is “paradigm-shifting, and it’s very exciting,” said Vince Sliwoski, a Portland, Oregon-based cannabis and psychedelics attorney who ru...

He lost his son to fentanyl. Now he’s working with Big Tech, California to help save other kids

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

Ed Ternan had hardly heard of fentanyl when his son overdosed on the lethal opioid in May 2020. Now he’s the president and co-founder of a California non-profit dedicated to spreading awareness about the dangers of fentanyl to teens and young adults throughout the nation. The name of the non-profit, which Ternan co-founded with his wife Mary, bears their son’s name — Song for Charlie.Fentanyl is a powerful opioid that’s 50 times more potent than heroin and is often laced in other, less dangerous street drugs like painkillers, which teens buy online illicitly. It was behind 588 deaths last year of California youths aged 15-24.Ed Ternan discussed what happened to 22-year-old Charlie, and the work his organization is doing now to prevent more fentanyl youth deaths.Q: Can you tell me a little about your son, Charlie?A: Yeah, Charlie was our youngest of three…. He attracted a lot of people to him. He had tons of friends, and would connect friends with each other. ...

Stanford and Cal join the ACC: The challenges of a choice the Bears and Cardinal had to make

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

It’s official: Stanford and Cal have accepted invitations from the Atlantic Coast Conference beginning next summer in all sports sponsored by their new home, from football and basketball to soccer, swimming and softball.Although life in the ACC was a priority for the schools following the Pac-12’s collapse, the Cardinal and Bears will face steep logistical obstacles and have made contractual commitments that could haunt them.“I question whether this is a good move for Stanford and Cal,” an industry source said. “But they believe it’s the right thing to do.”You could make the case, it seems, that the schools successfully bargained for membership in the ACC’s Faustian division.The primary reason for joining the ACC creates the greatest challenge: The athletes at each school told university leaders that they wanted the chance to compete at the highest level of college sports.The Big Ten and Big 12 made more sense logistically but did not offer ...

Three keys to Cal starting turnaround season with win at North Texas

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

For Cal coach Justin Wilcox, whose program has experienced three straight losing seasons after three encouraging ones, the big picture is no different than the goal for Saturday’s opening game at North Texas.“Winning,” Wilcox said when asked what would constitute a successful season. “Winning a lot. Winning as many games as possible.“We feel good about our team. We’re going to have to keep improving — we’re not a finished product yet. It’s a great opportunity for us to set the bar for the season and continue to try and raise it each and every week.”The Bears won’t arrive in Denton, Texas consumed by the nonstop chatter about conference realignment. Yes, the Pac-12 as we know it is dead, and Cal might find itself in the Atlantic Coast Conference a year from now.“Until something is set,” Wilcox said, “I don’t need to spend a lot of emotional capital on it.”Cal is expected to win this game against an opponent with a new coach, a new quarterback and a new conference. The Bears, coming o...

‘I deeply regret my actions’: Northern California business owner apologizes after homophobic incident during chili cook-off

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

The owner of Loco Fish Co, Jayme Knight, who was arrested for a DUI last Thursday after the Humboldt County Fair annual chili cook-off has issued a statement on the incident involving alleged homophobic comments and a box of damaged food“I am sorry for using language that was hurtful,” he wrote in a prepared statement on the Loco Fish Co. Facebook page.Thomas Nicholson Stratton, co-owner of the Foggy Bottoms Boys with his husband Cody, noted in an interview with the Times-Standard earlier this week that employees of their company heard a stream of homophobic remarks directed toward them during the chili cookoff at the fair that grew worse over time. Later, the police were called after Knight allegedly ran over a box of food by the Foggy Bottoms Boys chili station, which was next to the Loco Fish Co. station.RELATED: Homophobia alleged at Northern California chili cook-off Knight’s arrest on grounds of driving under the influence by a bicycle officer on patrol on the fairgrounds foll...

Happy Labor Day, California! You’re ranked best place to be a worker

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

”Survey says” looks at various rankings and scorecards judging geographic locations while noting these grades are best seen as a mix of artful interpretation and data.Buzz: As we celebrate Labor Day, let’s note that California was graded as the best state for workers in one new ranking.Source: My trusty spreadsheet reviewed state workplace scorecards by left-leaning Oxfam, which “tracks how states protect, support and pay workers.”ToplineCalifornia was No. 1 in the Oxfam ranking followed by Oregon, New York, Washington and Massachusetts.Worst places to work? North Carolina, then Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama.And California rivals? Texas was No. 45, Florida, was No. 28.DetailsOxfam’s grades came from studying three slices of the workplace.Pay patterns: California ranked No. 2 among the states after Washington. Then came Maine, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Worst? North Carolina, then Indiana, Alabama, Utah and South Carolina. Rivals? Texas was No. 40, and Florida...

‘Dangerous’ man with hands in shackles steals van, last seen on Interstate 5

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A man described as “extremely dangerous” managed to commandeer a van from Oregon’s psychiatric hospital and drive away, though his hands were shackled to his waist, the state police said.Christopher Lee Pray, reported as a fugitive from Oregon State Hospital. (Multnomah County Sheriff via Oregon State Police) Christopher Pray, 39, was last seen Wednesday night heading south on Interstate 5 in a white van.An employee of the Oregon State Hospital was injured during the escape, spokesperson Amber Shoebridge said.Pray had just arrived Wednesday at the hospital, in Salem. He had been in custody in Portland on charges including attempted murder and was transferred after being found unfit to proceed with trial.Shortly after he arrived at the Salem facility, he was in an altercation with another patient and was taken elsewhere for medical treatment. As he was being brought back around 10:45 p.m., he was “able to gain control of the van and drive awa...

Los Gatos council allocates remaining ARPA funds to create community center

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

Los Gatos is one step closer to getting a new community center.The town council voted unanimously to revamp the town’s Adult Recreation Center (ARC) into a community center to address some of the immediate needs outlined in the town’s senior services roadmap, which was endorsed by the council earlier this year.Councilmembers Matthew Hudes and Rob Moore teamed up to present the idea for the community center to the council, with the goal of building a new senior community center in the future. Some preliminary ideas for the ARC include reconfiguring the building to give space for nonprofit organizations to operate services for seniors, and make the space feel more welcoming and inviting.“It’s recognized that it’s probably going to take 10 years for the roadmap’s dream of a new community center to be developed, and we can’t wait 10 years for some of the improvements and services that are needed,” Hudes said. “So, the idea basically is to focus on reconfiguring the space so ...

Assault in Saratoga leaves victim with concussion

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

AUG. 20Vehicle tampering, grand theft: At 3:09 a.m., someone tampered with a vehicle parked in the driveway of a residence in the 18000 block of Devon Avenue and stole a catalytic converter for a loss of approximately $3,000.AUG. 21Battery with serious injury: At 2 p.m., the suspect assaulted the victim, who was walking on Prospect Road at Lawrence Expressway, and punched the victim multiple times in the head, giving the victim a concussion. The suspect is known and at large.AUG. 22Possession of scanning device: At 4:19 p.m., a technician discovered a skimming device in an ATM at Bank of America on Big Basin Way.AUG. 24Residential burglary: At 9:38 p.m., three suspects entered a residence in the 12000 block of Cambridge Drive by breaking a rear sliding glass door and stole jewelry valued at approximately $10,000.AUG. 26Robbery: At 2 a.m., the victims arrived at a residence in the 13000 block of Ferncrest Court after driving there from a casino in San Jose, at which time a vehicle pa...

Gun rights lobby threatens to sue Los Gatos over concealed carry ordinance

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:55:02 GMT

Gun rights activists have threatened to sue Los Gatos over its recent concealed carry ordinance, which prohibits guns in sensitive places like schools and places of worship.Michel and Associates, law firm representing the California Rifle & Pistol Association and the Second Amendment Foundation, recently sent a letter to the town saying the concealed carry ordinance approved this summer infringes on the constitutional rights of gun owners.“Specifically, the ordinance makes it so that firearms are prohibited to be carried – even by those with a permit – in town property, public transit and places of worship,” the letter reads.Town attorney Gabrielle Whelan said the council met in a closed session last week and voted to suspend enforcing the ordinance on those locations until anticipated litigation against the state is resolved.“We’re taking it seriously,” Whelan said. “The town’s ordinance is modeled on pending state legislation.”The ordinance was set to go into effect on Sept. 1...