Archive for October 2nd, 2010
California reduces its penalty for marijuana
(New York Times): A month before California voters decide the fate of a ballot initiative that would legalize marijuana, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill that essentially puts those caught possessing small amounts of the drug on the same level as those caught speeding on the freeway. The governor — who has come out against the ballot measure, Proposition 19 — cast the new law’s effect as largely administrative, changing the crime of possession from a misdemeanor to an infraction, the lowest level of offense under state law. And like everything else in a state struggling with a $19 billion deficit, money mattered, too. “The only difference is that because it is a misdemeanor, a criminal defendant is entitled to a jury trial,” Mr. Schwarzenegger said in a statement.
Charity Commission to class druids as religion
(BBC): Druidry is to become the first pagan practice to be given official recognition as a religion. The Charity Commission has accepted that druids’ worship of natural spirits could be seen as religious activity. The Druid Network’s charitable status entitles it to tax breaks, but the organisation says it does not earn enough to benefit from this. The commission says the network’s work in promoting druidry as a religion is in the public interest. The move comes thousands of years after the first druids worshipped in Britain. Druidry was one the first known spiritual practices in Britain, and druids existed in Celtic societies elsewhere in Europe as well. Phil Ryder, chairman of the trustees of the Druid Network told the BBC: "It’s nice to have that official recognition."
It’s not why we applied originally. We applied because we were legally obliged to do so." He said the organisation represented around 350 people who had paid £10 each for membership but referred to a BBC Inside Out investigation from 2003 which suggested that up to 10,000 people described themselves as druids.
Man killed in Bodden Town
(CNS): Policehave confirmed that they have launched a murder enquiry this evening (Friday 1 October) following an incident at the Plaza Odessa in Bodden Town. At around 6:20pm emergency services were called to the scene (by Chester’s), where they found a man lying on the ground who had sustained very serious injuries and had lost consciousness. Although medical personnel administered CPR, the man was pronounced dead. Police said that they had no other details at this stage but asked for anyone who was in the area at the time to contact them or Crime Stoppers. Other sources told CNS that the man was involved in a major fight in which it appeared he was the victim of an orchestrated attack and stabbed several times as well as hit over the head. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)
People who may be able to assist with the enquiry are asked to contact Bodden Town police station on 947-2220 or the confidential Crime Stoppers number 800-8477 (TIPS).