Federal investigators headed to Connecticut yesterday to determine the cause of an explosion at an unfinished power plant that killed at least five workers and hospitalized dozens of others.

International

Pressure grows for sanctions

International pressure for new sanctions against Iran grew yesterday after Tehran announced plans to make higher-enriched uranium and add 10 nuclear sites in a year, raising Western fears it wants to develop atom bombs.

The Word

Stern: I’d do ‘Idol’ for $100M

Howard Stern took to his radio show yesterday to address the rumors that he’s a possible replacement for Simon Cowell for the next season of “American Idol.” To sum it up? He’s not going for it.

New York Arts

Dancing while the skinny lady sings

You’ve heard of the jukebox musical? David Parsons and singers AnnMarie Milazzo and Tyley Ross of the East Village Opera Co. offer a jukebox opera, playing nightly at the Joyce. Eleven Parsons dancers share the stage with Milazzo and Ross, who clutch microphones cranked to 11 and stroll through the action. On the recorded soundtrack, three drummers create a wall of sound so loud you — well, I — want to hide under the seat. Digital video of abstract patterns, natural landscapes and stunning architecture change for each song.

Business

‘Free’ ad leads to fraud suit

NEW YORK. A Wisconsin college student is suing credit firm Experian — the brains behind the ubiquitous FreeCreditReport.com jingles — for fraudulent advertising after she inadvertently signed up for a monthly $14.95 monitoring service.

My Wellbeing

Let me count the ways ...

‘Tis the season for writing love letters. But that can be a daunting endeavor, especially when you’re not sure where to start. Should you put it in verse, use flowery language, get erotic? As with almost anything in life, the simpler you keep it, the easier (and often better) it will be. It doesn’t sound that romantic, but think of your love letter as a laundry list of the reasons why you adore your sweetheart. It’s kinda like Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43: “How do you love your partner? Count the ways!” Here’s how to do it without rhyming or pulling out a thesaurus:

Updated 21:49, March the 17th, 2009

Send

If marijuana really does bring in cash, could the city be tempted to plant its own pot-of-gold garden? Metro photo composite

Metro: photo composite

A new way for city to get pot of cash?

Arianna says:

"Incarceration of non-violent drug offenders does not improve public safety. Treatment and accountability do. We need to rethink America’s war on drugs, which has increasingly become a war on young people of color — especially in these desperate economic times."

"I could support making marijuana legal for medical purposes if there was demonstrated public support for such a policy.”

Pennsylvania state Rep. Mark B. Cohen

According to one pro-marijuana legalization group, the state could raise $117.8 million a year from legalizing medical marijuana alone.

And if they were to consider legalizing all marijuana, imagine what a state that taxes liquor at more than 18 percent could bring in, let alone save in money now spent in the criminal justice system to prosecute and jail those found selling or using pot.

PHILADELPHIA. With their economy floundering, one lawmaker in California wants the state to consider a radical move to raise money — legalize marijuana and allow the state to tax it, which could raise more than $1 billion a year.

As Mayor Michael Nutter prepares to introduce a budget tomorrow that will include calls for steep property tax hikes and service cuts and Pennsylvania mired in its own budget crisis, it begs the question whether the state and city should consider a similar move.

"If marijuana were legalized in the city and not elsewhere, it would be highly profitable for growers and distributors,” said Frederic Murphy, a professor at the Temple School of Business. “This creates a real opportunity for very steep taxes that would help balance the city budget."

But even if Philadelphia did legalize it, Murphy says that the relief would only last as long as it was prohibited in the rest of Pennsylvania. "If it were legalized in other parts of the region and state, the business would move out of the city because city taxes are still too high," he said.

Even if the city approved a local law, the state pre-emption law would likely allow state lawmakers to override it.

So, would the city or state ever consider such a move to raise funds? Don’t hold your breath.

State Rep. Mark B. Cohen, one of the leading liberals in Harrisburg, said that he doesn't see any public support for the move. But he doesn't entirely rule it out, either.

"The Great Depression was followed by the re-legalization of alcohol,” he said, “so I guess it's possible that our current economic distress could lead to legalization of marijuana, but I see no evidence of that at this time."

Old handling of offenders needs to go

PHILADELPHIA. Thousands of inmates at any one time are in city jails on drug charges, although a spokeswoman for the city’s District Attorney’s office said they didn’t keep figures on the annual amount spent to prosecute suspects charged with marijuana-related offenses.

"We’ve never had a plan other than to arrest people and throw them in jail, and that hasn’t worked. if we catch you with a joint, we’ll arrest you and put you in jail," said Leon King, the city's former prisons commissioner.

King said that any plan to legalize pot would have to include a component to deal with addiction problems.

Medical marijuana measures spread through U.S.

NEW JERSEY. A bill is moving through the legislature in New Jersey that would allow for medical marijuana in the state, as Attorney General Eric Holder has said that the U.S. government should allow states to make their own rules on

The New Jersey Compassionate Medical Marijuana Act passed the New Jersey Senate last month, but its fate in the Assembly is uncertain. Gov. Jon Corzine has said he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.

Thirteen states already allow medical marijuana, as opposition to the drug for medical reasons seems to be waning and many medical professionals support these measures. The New Jersey Nurses Association and the Academy of Family Physicians are among the groups who support the bill.

"Most of these efforts are the result of grassroots campaigns by locals who have taken it upon themselves legislators about medical use and the many questions surrounding it," says Robert Dougherty, chair of Philadelphia NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.) "And I think that the information society we live in has contributed to this uptick in support and more people are aware of the issues where some time ago the only information provided was through nationally funded anti-drug campaigns."

Jerome Nottingham IV

Music

MMMpod

The February MMMpod features conversation from Ozzy Osbourne. Michael Emerson from "Lost" tells us about his days enjoying punk rock in Boston. We also dig up an old interview from the late great Howard Zinn. We have a song from Delta Spirit and The Soft Pack, who tell us where they got their name.

[Flyers by PaperG]

US – Tuesday, February 9

A new way for city to get pot of cash?

Arianna says:

Old handling of offenders needs to go

Medical marijuana measures spread through U.S.

Metro Life Panel


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