Marijuana Laws Make U.S. a Legal Checkerboard
A patchwork of laws governing use of marijuana is turning the U.S. into a legal checkerboard, where citizens can change to criminals from law-abiding citizens simply by driving through places like Idaho, which has seized three times as much marijuana this year compared with all of 2011 thanks in part to unwitting motorists from such pot-friendly precincts as Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Montana. Read it at Bloomberg.
Ex-VP Al Gore Sues Al Jazeera Over Current Media Deal
Former Vice President Al Gore has sued Al Jazeera America, charging the Qatar-based news service with withholding $65 million that it allegedly owes shareholders of Current Media, which Al Jazeera purchased last year for $500 million. In court papers filed in Delaware, Gore and Current co-founder Joel Hyatt assert that Al Jazeera has breached the sale agreement by failing to return the funds, which are allegedly left over from $85 million of the purchase price that Al Jazeera placed into escrow to cover indemnity obligations of Current’s directors. Read it at Delaware Business Court Insider.
Daily News, WPIX Not Liable for Wrong Photo, Court Rules
The New York Daily News and WPIX will not be liable for waiting as long as nine months to take down from their online sites a photo of a man who was misidentified by police as a sexual predator, a trial court has ruled. That’s because Section 74 of New York’s Civil Rights Law shields the media from liability when it reports fairly and accurately on any judicial, legislative or other official proceeding. Still, Supreme Court Judge Edgar Walker called it “unconscionable” that the outlets did not remove a photo from their websites that they knew to be false. Read it at the New York Law Journal.
At Home with Willie Nelson
Speaking of marijuana, Willie Nelson says he doesn’t fret about getting busted. “They mostly want autographs now,” the 81-year-old singer-songwriter tells Rolling Stone, referring to the authorities. “They don’t really bother me anymore for the weed, because you can bust me now and I’ll pay my fine or go to jail, get out and burn one on the way home. They know they’re not stopping me.” Nelson, who appears on the cover of Rolling Stone for the first time since 1978, talks about his career, the “outlaw country” label and life on the road. He also gives a mini-performance accompanied by Trigger, his well-worn guitar.