Scot Bennett talks about United Cannabis Workers, Inc.

Scot Bennett, president of United Cannabis Workers, Inc., talks about his innovative plans to organize workers in the cannabis industry, recorded from Morro Bay, California, on June 7, 2013.

Platform Issue 550 at Google+ shuts down Etopia News

A remote video interview on Etopia News with guest Scot Bennett, President of United Cannabis Workers, Inc. had to be re-scheduled this morning, due to an outage on the Google+ Hangouts On Air platform.  As can be seen at:

http://code.google.com/p/google-plus-platform/issues/detail?id=550

this is a recurring problem for many users of Google+ Hangouts On Air, and no doubt results from a glitch in the newly-updated version of the platform, or even from an insufficiency of processing power in Google’s legendary server farms. 

Etopia News set an e-mail to Google, asking for help and/or guidance.  No reply yet.

Here’s the text of the e-mail:

Hi,

I’m a reporter and producer at Etopia News (http://www.youtube.com/user/etopianews).  I’m writing you because I couldn’t produce a program today using Google+ Hangouts On Air when the “preparing broadcast” button stalled at 99%.  I read at:

http://code.google.com/p/google-plus-platform/issues/detail?id=550

that a lot of other people are having the same problem and suffering graver disappointments than I did when I couldn’t conduct the interview I had planned with a guest who was able to log into the platform but couldn’t be recorded because the button never changed to “Start Broadcast.”

What’s the status of getting this problem fixed?

Is there anything I can do on my side to fix it?

Please respond as soon as possible, since we have re-scheduled the interview for 2:00 pm PDT on Friday, June 7^th, and really hope we can get it to work by then.

Regards,

Marc Strassman

Host, Etopia News

As mentioned in the e-mail, today’s cancelled show has been re-scheduled for 2:00 pm PDT on Friday, June 7^th.

The Google+ Hangouts On Air producers whose laments fill the post at:

http://code.google.com/p/google-plus-platform/issues/detail?id=550

will all be waiting to hear what Google does.  Watch the Etopia News blog at:

http://www.etopianews.blogspot.com/

for further developments.

Tom Ammiano continues fighting for cannabis reform.

California Assemblymember Tom Ammiano today issued a press release about his continuing efforts on behalf of cannabis reform.  Here’s what it said:

Medical marijuana regulation efforts continue, Ammiano says

SACRAMENTO – Medical cannabis regulation is alive in the Legislature, despite a procedural mistake that stalled AB 473 on the Assembly floor today.

“This is not an easy bill, but it is a needed bill that has the necessary support,” said Assemblymember Ammiano, author of the groundbreaking bill to regulate medical cannabis under Alcoholic Beverage Control. “Unfortunately, the vote was closed prematurely and in error, preventing all the votes from being registered. I’m going to make sure my legislative colleagues stay focused on getting this to the Governor’s desk for his signature this year.”

The bill would call on ABC to set up a division that would monitor production, transportation and sales of medical marijuana, preventing criminal control and ensuring that marijuana was not easily accessible to those who are unauthorized.

Ammiano and supporting Assemblymembers spoke on the floor to clarify that the bill would not interfere with cities seeking to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries.

“The issue of local control on this bill has been addressed,” said Assemblymember Susan Bonilla.

“I hope cities will allow dispensaries so their residents who need this product can get it safely, instead of illegally,” Ammiano said. “I believe that a Division of Medical Marijuana Regulation and Enforcement will help cities see they can authorize dispensaries. Not only will the division’s oversight ensure there is no increase in crime, more cities will begin to recognize the economic benefits that others have already seen.”

The bill is fully within the spirit and letter of the Compassion Use Act of 1996, approved by voters, and is consistent with public polling on marijuana policy.

Despite today’s incomplete vote, Ammiano is continuing to work on the bill and is already in talks with members of the California Senate.

Bruce Margolin on the May 21, 2013, cannabis vote in Los Angeles

Bruce Margolin, defense attorney and Director of the Los Angeles chapter of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), talks about the status and political dynamics of the ongoing movement to legalize cannabis, recorded from West Hollywood, California, on May 22, 2013.