City Ordinance Would Legalize Marijuana in Portland, Maine...Kinda

I found one of these on my door this weekend

A proposed city ordinance is on the November 5, 2013 ballot in Portland Maine. It claims to legalize possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana within the city, but can it? Maine statutes still make possession a civil violation, and marijuana is still illegal under federal law. Here's some explanation of the current state of Maine's law, what the ordinance says and what it might actually do if it passes.

The Banality of False Confession: This American Life and Detective Jim Trainum

Detective Jim Trainum

In case anyone missed This American Life Episode 507 entitled "Confessions" check it out. Act one centers on Jim Trainum a long serving Washington DC Homicide Detective. He worked a big case early in his career and got a 19 year old woman named Kim to confess to a murder. The thing is, she didn't do it. After getting the confession, Trainum accidentally found an alibi for Kim and the case was dismissed for that and other reasons. It was only many years later that Trainum discovered he had unwittingly created the false confession. The arrest and months of incarceration ruined Kim's life and the murder charge still shows up on background checks. Use the embedded player to listen to the story:

David Jones and Former Attorney Implicated in Federal Drug Trafficking

David Jones, AKA Dave Kaos, of Portland Maine was arrested late last week on a federal drug trafficking charge. The complaint alleges a single count of conspiracy to distribute 100 kg or more of marijuana. He faces up to 40 years in prison.