Month: November 2019

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Jackson and Morant Shine as Grizzlies Fall to Lakers 109–108

CREDIT: Sharon Brown

There are no moral victories; a loss is still a loss. However, a young Grizzlies team can take positives away from Saturday night’s loss to the Lakers — and learn from it. 

Jaren Jackson, Jr. and Ja Morant performed like the Grizzlies must have envisioned they would when they were paired together. It was the first time this season that Jackson and Morant scored 20+ points in the same game.

Morant ended the night with 26 points, six assists, and a career-high five steals in 33 minutes. It was Morant’s eighth game of 20-or-more points this season. The rookie point guard entered the game averaging 23.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in 27.3 minutes in his last seven home games. 

“I think it just flat out shows (our game),” said Morant about the loss to the Lakers. “That no matter what, we can be in ball games and win ball games. We weren’t able to close out tonight, but tonight showed what type of team we are and who we want to be. I’m never satisfied with losing, but I can say I’m satisfied with how we played tonight. We played together, competed to the end and just came up short.”

Morant had many “wow” moments in the game. See below. 

Jackson and Morant Shine as Grizzlies Fall to Lakers 109–108

Jackson and Morant Shine as Grizzlies Fall to Lakers 109–108 (2)

According to Grizzlies PR, Morant became the first NBA rookie to record 25+ points, 5+ assists and 5+ steals in a game since John Wall on Nov. 2, 2010.

Jackson Jr. finished the night with 20 points, seven rebounds, and two steals, shooting 8-of-16 from the field and 4-of-7 from deep. It was Jackson’s fourth game with four-or-more three-pointers in his first 14 games this season after having two such games in the 58 games he played during his rookie season.

Jackson also saw the positives in the loss. “It just shows that we came to compete today — we brought all the energy; it started on defense,” Jackson said. “I am just proud of the effort we gave. Obviously, we wanted to pull it out at the end but the ball doesn’t bounce your way. We just got to take the good things and move on and the bad things and try to figure them out, too.”

Jackson added, “We understand that if we bring it we’re always gonna be in ball games. Little things like that, we learn more and more every day. We have to focus on our effort because our youth and energy can sometimes win out if we’re running hard and we’re playing defense and we’re scrambling and wearing teams down and playing in transition. So, I think those are the things we’ve gotta focus on.”

Jackson and Morant Shine as Grizzlies Fall to Lakers 109–108 (4)

Jackson and Morant Shine as Grizzlies Fall to Lakers 109–108 (3)

Jae Crowder chipped in a season-high 21 points while knocking down 4-of-9 from the three-point line. 

After the game, Crowder said, “We have to play better on any given night. I feel like we brought it tonight because of who we were playing. Good teams bring it every night, no matter their opponent, so once we learn from this game, we can continue to build, take this to Indiana and get us a win on the road. It’s definitely something to build off of.”

Crowder acknowledged that the team doesn’t bring it every night. “I think it’s just being with a young team,” he said. “Knowing that shots may not fall on a nightly basis but your effort and energy have to be there on a nightly basis. So you have to take care of your bodies and be prepared to play at a maximum level each and every night.”

Kyle Anderson came off the bench and garnered 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists while shooting 5-of-11 from the field.

LeBron James led all scorers with 30 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while grabbing his 9,000th career rebound.


What They Said!
Taylor Jenkins, Grizzlies head coach

On the game: “Heck of a game by our guys. I’m super proud of their efforts from the beginning of the game to the end of the game. One-point loss against the best team in the league. I know there are no moral victories, but how our guys competed for 48 minutes, I’m beyond proud given how we played the last two games. (We) had a chance to win at the end — a couple of plays on offense, big time rebound at the end that we have to learn from, but we got significantly better today, and I’m proud of how they played. If we can play like that every night we give ourselves a chance.”

On Jackson Jr.’s contribution to the offense: “For him to be very versatile, plays off the bounce, hitting threes. … He’s an inside-out player. It’s huge for his growth. He’s still really young in his career, so as he’s identifying those opportunities to be in attack mode I think it really benefits our offense. We need another dimension outside of just our point guards being playmakers. To have him be a playmaker for us is huge.”


On the Grizzlies’ youth: “Like I said to them after the game: super proud. Their effort was unbelievable. Our defensive activity set a tone to start the game. If we can play up to that standard night in and night out you’re going to hopefully have a chance to win more ball games. Obviously, in the fourth quarter, a couple of moments there where we have to execute a little bit better. But what they were able to do for a majority of the game, that’s where we have to be. That’s what we’ve hung our hat on. A week ago, it kind of slipped away from us, but if they can kind of engrain that into their mind, this is what it is. This is the fun style to compete that way. I’m super proud, and that’s the Grizzlies I love to be a part of.”

Up Next
Grizzlies travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers on Monday night. Tip-off at 6 pm CST. 

Categories
Sports Tiger Blue

Memphis Routs USF 49-10

CREDIT: ESPN screenshot

Quarterback Brady White and the Memphis TIgers overcame two early interceptions to roar to a 49-10 victory over the University of Southern Florida in Tampa, Saturday afternoon. 
ESPN screenshot

Brady White

USF started the game with a 75-yard drive for a touchdown. Memphis quickly returned the favor to tie the game at 7-7. White was intercepted on the Tigers’ next two drives, but USF was only able to generate a single field goal off the turnovers to take a 10-7 lead.

The Tigers then got into gear on offense, scoring two quick touchdowns — one by newly reactivated running back Patrick Taylor Jr. and one on a 50-yard TD throw from White to Kedarian Jones. After another stop by the Tiger defense, the offense took over with two minutes left in the half. White led the Tigers to the end zone again (even overcoming a second-and-38, after a botched snap), tossing a 23-yard pass to Damonte Coxie seven seconds before intermission. The Tigers took a 28-10 lead into the locker room.
ESPN screenshot

Kenneth Gainwell

Antonio Gibson’s 18-yard TD run put Memphis up 35-10 in the third quarter — and demonstrated the depth of the Tigers’ running back corps behind Taylor and Kenneth Gainwell. Taylor scored his third touchdown of the day a bit later in the quarter, making it clear he’s fully recovered from his lingering injury. It was 42-10 at the end of the third quarter, and Norvell pulled White and most of the starters for the fourth.

Backup quarterback Connor Adair promptly led the offense downfield and scored on a nifty 23-yard quarterback keeper, making it 49-10. USF never mounted another threat.

The Tigers moved to 10-1 with the victory.

Game stats.

Categories
Sports Tiger Blue

Tigers Scrape By Ole Miss, 87-86

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

The Memphis Tigers squared off against regional rival Ole Miss at FedExForum Saturday. It was the Tigers’ third game without star center James Wiseman, who is serving a 12-game suspension levied by the NCAA.  Larry Kuzniewski

Precious Achiuwa

The first half was close, with the lead see-sawing back-and-forth, neither team able to create much separation until five minutes before the intermission, when the Tigers made a few stops and stretched the lead to seven points, 45-38, at half. Memphis was led in scoring by Precious Achiuwa (13) and D.J. Jeffries (10) in the first half.  Photographs by Larry Kuzniewski

Coach Penny Hardaway

Achiuwa came out aggressively in the opening minutes of the second half, scoring a quick seven points on a couple of strong drives and a steal at mid-court that was followed by a drive and dunk. The Tigers defense also ramped up a notch, forcing several turnovers and pushing the Tigers’ lead to 11 at the 16-minute mark.

Tyler Harris knocked down a pair of three-pointers to push the Tigers’ lead to 14 with 12 minutes to go. But Ole Miss began chipping away, and with three minutes left, the Tigers’ lead was down to eight. Ole Miss cut the lead to three with 16 seconds left, and then to 2 with 8 seconds to go. Damien Baugh made one of two free throws, giving the Tigers a three-point lead — and giving Ole Miss a shot to tie with a three-pointer.

The Tigers fouled Ole Miss guard Breein Tyree in the backcourt with 5 seconds left. Tyree made the first of two and missed the second, giving the Tigers a quick fast-break bucket, which was followed by a buzzer-beating Ole Miss three-pointer from half-court, making the final score 87-86.

Achiuwa led the Tigers with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Jeffries had 23 points; Tyler Harris added 15, and Lomax finished with 14. 

Categories
Music Record Reviews

Never-Heard Material & Killer Riffs On Jesse Mae Hemphill’s Latest LP

While some carry the torch of the North Mississippi blues tradition, no one on the scene now really compares to the great Jessie Mae Hemphill of Senatobia, (and later of Memphis). Her exacting riffs, spare and stinging, have an intriguing intricacy, yet never sacrifice the hypnotic quality of the form. They are instantly recognizable, but, as we hear on the never before released tracks of Run Get My Shotgun (Big Legal Mess), can vary subtly across different versions of the same songs.

Thus, it should not surprise listeners that only four of the titles here — “Run Get My Shotgun,”  “DC9,” “Holy Ghost,” and “Nothing That You Say” — have never been heard on vinyl.  Nevertheless, these new songs alone make it well worth the price of admission. The title track is especially gripping, as the She-Wolf threatens death to her lover with grim ferocity: “I’m gonna blow my baby away, keep on messin up on me! Yeah! 1990, I’m gonna do something I ain’t got no bidness doin’! Me and my shotgun. Yeah. I say run get my shotgun…and me a box of shells.”

Jessie Mae Hemphill

It’s telling that she shouts out the year. These are solo recordings made on New Years Eve, 1989, to which the folks at Big Legal Mess have added some spare bass and drums. These overdubs were done with such finesse that the final product is indistinguishable from Hemphill’s full band tracks from the same era. Perhaps they have the advantage of foregrounding her guitar and vocals even more prominently.

And her singing and playing shine here, revealing a more pronounced aggressiveness than in her classic studio tracks on She-Wolf (Vogue, 1981) and Feelin’ Good (High Water, 1990). Perhaps she used a different guitar in every recording session, but for whatever reason, the guitar here is especially powerful and biting in her nimble hands. And she delivers even the unfamiliar songs with the authority of having lived with them for ages. 

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Don’t Give Up on Jaren Jackson, Jr

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

Last year, Jaren Jackson, Jr. was seen as the face of the future for the Memphis Grizzlies. Fans fell in love with the Michigan State product during his rookie season. Now, as he struggles to learn a new system implemented by new head coach Taylor Jenkins, Jackson finds himself drawing the ire of some of those same fans who praised him a year ago. A group of fans on social media have even called for Jackson to be traded, this early in the season. 

Larry Kuzniewski

Jaren Jackson Jr.

What a difference a year makes. Last year, fans were furious and thought the team was wasting his first season in the league with J.B. Bickerstaff as his head coach. Many said Bickerstaff didn’t know how to play Jackson to showcase his talent. Since then, the Grizzlies have had a front-office makeover and almost a complete roster overhaul.

When Jackson first came into the league, the locker room was completely different. There was a heavy veteran presence with Grizzlies mainstays Mike Conley and Marc Gasol.
He also learned from JaMychal Green, Garrett Temple, and Joakim Noah.

Now Jackson has to rely for guidance on veterans Jae Crowder, Solomon Hill, and fellow big man Jonas Valanciunas. The players have to gel and he knows it is a long season and the team can’t get too high or too low, but has to take it one game at a time. After the ugly loss against the Warriors on Tuesday night, Jackson said, “I just have to play better  —  I wasn’t good by any means. I didn’t help us out there today.”

He went on to say, “You just have to improve, keep doing the same things. You can’t really change too much.  I need to see the game first and look at it. Definitely not something I’m proud of.”

Jackson is prone to foul trouble and has fouled out of three out of the team’s 13 games this season. Teams have scouted him and know that getting him in foul trouble
early in games messes with his psyche. Early foul trouble has often been an
indicator Jackson won’t have a good game.

Jackson knows he has his work cut out for him to right the ship for his sophomore season.  “I have to get better offensively and work on the things that I work on, as well as playing with my teammates better and reading things better,” he said. “A lot of things I have to work on for sure.”

Jackson took responsibility after the ugly Warriors loss. He said, “We just didn’t do what we needed to do. I can’t speak on them [Golden State] and their locker room. I just know, in here, we need to be better, I need to be better. I have to bring it next game.”

Jenkins says he isn’t too concerned about Jackson’s slump. Thursday after practice,
Jenkins said he would “keep encouraging him with positivity. I think if he can latch on mentally to how he could be good defensively, he can be a two-way player. He is still trying to find his way on the offensive end if he just focuses on the defense, the offense will come in time.”

Jenkins said that Jackson and Ja Morant are still developing chemistry in the young season, adding that that Jackson’s rookie season was cut short after playing in just 58 games last season. He also pointed out that Jackson is adjusting to a new system, a new coach, a new style of play, and a new role. 

Through 13 games played, Jackson is averaging 14 points, 4.9 rebounds, while shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from the three-point line.

Among sophomore players in the league, Jackson is in the top 10 in scoring, based on traditional stats. His usage is 22.7 percent and he is ranked in the top 15th percentile for second-year players. And it’s worth pointing out: Jackson’s numbers aren’t terrible. He’s scored in double figures in 8 out of 13 games and has scored 20 or more points in four of those games.

The Grizzlies have a roster full of young players who need development. As Jackson said, they don’t have time to be rookies. They’re being thrown into the fire and have to learn on the fly. Building chemistry will ultimately help Jackson and his teammates compete for 48 minutes and win some more games. 

Grizzlies fans need to understand and accept the necessity of growing pains for this young team this season. There is plenty of basketball left to play. Patience is the key for Jackson, his teammates, and the coaching staff  — and for the fans.

Categories
News News Blog

Memphis Pets of the Week

Each week, the Flyer will feature adoptable dogs and cats from Memphis Animal Services. All photos are credited to Memphis Pets Alive. More pictures and more information can be found on the Memphis Pets Alive Facebook page.

[slideshow-1]

Categories
Film/TV TV Features

We’ve Got Movie Sign! Mystery Science Theater 3000’s Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour Comes to The Orpheum.

The 1990s were a time of peak irony, but the three comedies that defined the sarcastic tone of the decade all started inauspiciously in the late 1980s: The Simpsons began as an animated segment on The Tracy Ullman Show in 1987. Daniel Waters’ caustic teen comedy, Heathers, was a box office disappointment in the spring of 1989, only to gain a cult following on home video. And on Thanksgiving 1988, KTMA, a small cable channel in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area premiered a homegrown show called Mystery Science Theater 3000.

TV stations frequently licensed old movies to squeeze a few extra ad dollars out of their (frequently stoned) late-night viewers. Occasionally, these films were great, such as It’s a Wonderful Life, which became a Christmas staple because it was a box-office flop that was cheap to license. But they were usually terrible.

Hiring a regular local host to introduce low-budget horror and sci-fi films was a frequent local TV gimmick, such as Memphis’ favorite ghoul, Sivad, who ruled the WHBQ airwaves in the 1960s. Mystery Science Theater 3000‘s innovation was that the host stayed on the screen and pointed out exactly how bad the movie was.

The creator and original host of MST3K was Joel Hodgson. The Minnesota comedian spent much of the 1980s trying to get his aggressively eccentric prop comedy noticed in Hollywood, with some success. But after an NBC deal fell through, he returned to Minneapolis and got a job at a T-shirt shop, hoping to revamp his act. He pitched the concept of a movie host who spiced up the questionable films by doing comedy riffs over them to Jim Mallon of KTMA, and he built the props — two sarcastic androids named Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo — himself. The show was an instant local hit, seemingly springing from the id of the blunted late-night audience who were already hate-watching the movies. By Thanksgiving 1989, the show was airing on the startup cable outfit The Comedy Channel; when the network merged with rival Ha! in 1990, MST3K became the flagship production of Comedy Central.

With the laconic Hodgson as the show’s low-key guide and a cast that included ace comedy writers J. Elvis Weinstein, Trace Beaulieu, Mary Jo Pehl, Frank Conniff, and Michael J. Nelson, the show introduced America to the works of anti-auteur Ed Wood, the low-rent Japanese turtle monster Gamera (“Gamera is really neat/Gamera is filled with meat/We are eating Gamera” went the lyrics the crew wrote to go with the films’ ear-bleeding theme song), and the near-mythical worst movie of all time, Manos! Hands of Fate.

Gary Glover

Joel Hodgson (above), Crow T. Robot, and Tom Servo take on No Retreat, No Surrender.

After a falling out with Mallon, Hodgson left the show in the middle of the fifth season, but not before epically pissing off Joe Don Baker by pissing on his tough-guy cop disaster, Mitchell.

The show continued with Nelson as host for the rest of the decade, moving to the Sci Fi Network for its final two seasons. But it never really went away. The extremely geeky fan clubbers were early adopters of the internet, and the VHS tape-trading culture the show inspired transitioned seamlessly onto YouTube. Hodgson and the rest of the cast hit the road with live shows like Cinematic Titanic and RiffTrax. Then, in 2015, Hodgson launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring the show back, on Netflix. For four years, the $5.7 million he raised was the biggest success on the crowd-funding platform. With an all new cast that included Jonah Ray, Felicia Day, and Patton Oswalt, the show has run for two seasons on Netflix.

“I know I’m lucky to have it last so long, but I never really thought about it like ‘How long is this going to last?'” says Hodgson. “I feel like it’s just so much a part of my life I can’t really get outside of that.”

Hodgson will bring his blockbuster live show, The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour, to The Orpheum Theatre on Saturday, November 23rd. “It’s a live version of the TV show with 1,000 people in the room,” he says.

The film that will provide the backbone of the evening’s festivities is No Retreat, No Surrender, a notoriously awful martial arts movie from 1986 starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. The audience can also expect lots of songs and skits from Hodgson — who says this is his final tour — and his talented cast. “I found a lot of good people to help me,” Hodgson says. “That’s the secret — it’s just finding people who care about it like I do.”

Categories
Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Moxy Bar & Hotel Slated to Open Early December

Moxy’s public space. The hotel, which is slated to open in early December, still is under construction.

Someone with a lot of moxie came up with the concept of Moxy.

The slogan for the bar and hotel, which is slated to open in early December at 40 North Front, is, “If you got guts, you got Moxy,” says general manager Curtis Pandes. “It’s Marriott’s response to Airbnbs and independent hotels.”

Moxy, which is a chain of Marriott hotels, is a “disruptive brand,” says operations manager Ryan Marsh. “We go against trends, norms. Moxy is for the fun seeker.”

Just about everything is the opposite of what you’d find in a conventional hotel. There are no “bellmen,” “deskmen,” or other hotel job titles. All employees are referred to as crew members. Their uniform consists of jeans, T-shirts, and tennis shoes.

Moxy crew members have a “smart-casual approach to service,” Pandes says. “Everyone is on a first-name basis.”

The lobby, called the “public space,” features a 360-degree bar which serves as the front desk, a spot for morning coffee, and the place to go for drinks later, Marsh says.

When guests check in, they are given a complementary Moxy cocktail made with Bacardi dragon-berry vodka. They’re also greeted with Moxy’s own aroma. “There’s a scent machine on all the entrances that gives you that Moxy smell,” Marsh says.

That Moxy smell, in case you were wondering, is “wood and jasmine infused and features a burst of Italian and zesty lemon invigorated by a green floral heart with nuances of creamy woods white amber and musk.” It’s also available in Moxy candles.

Marsh says Moxy will also serve smoked cocktails, including a “smoked hemp cocktail with CBD oils.” There will also be a “curated selection of wines, spirits, and regional craft beer unique to Memphis.”

A variety of espressos are available, including ghost pepper, aged-barrel rum, maple syrup, and whiskey, as well as in-house-made doughnuts and local Mexican pastries.


The public space includes pinball machines, as well as foosball and shuffleboard. Social media is displayed on the giant “Moxy Board” above the shuffleboard table.

Pandes says Moxy’s public space and patio aren’t just for guests; the public also is invited to hang out and play.

The meeting room is called the “collaboration room” and includes a “communal table”  and two barn doors to close it off from the public space. The 1,500-square-foot porch overlooks Court Square and includes two large fire pits and music speakers, plus a 700-square-foot bocce court.

Moxy features 115 rooms and four suites, with room numbers crafted by the National Ornamental Metal Museum. Bedrooms feature king-sized or double beds and “the fastest WiFi in Memphis.” Another local touch are the drink coasters made by ARCHd Memphis.

Moxy wants guests to get out, come downstairs and play, or get out in the city. Or go to the gym, which includes a punching bag and a stationary bicycle that’s a converted city cruiser bike.

“Whether you’re 19 or 99, if you love to have fun, this is the place for you,” Marsh says.

Michael Donahue

Michael Donahue

Michael Donahue

Michael Donahue

Ryan Marsh and Curtis Pandes at Moxy.

Michael Donahue

Categories
News News Blog

Hearing to Modify Consent Decree on Police Surveillance Set for June


The city will get to make its case for modifying the 1978 consent decree prohibiting 

police surveillance in June.

Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Jon McCalla denied the city’s motion to immediately “significantly modify” the 1978 Kendrick Consent Decree. The city argued that the decree prohibits the Memphis Police Department (MPD) from “using other agencies or persons as ‘surrogates’ to do indirectly what it could not do directly,” preventing coordination between law enforcement agencies.

But McCalla denied the request, saying that because all parties have not agreed to the modification of the consent decree, there would have to be an evidentiary hearing before the court could make a ruling.

Thursday McCalla said an evidentiary trial hearing on that matter is set preliminary for June 17th. Then, the court will review all of the information it’s received and make a decision on if the consent decree should be modified and if so, what changes should be made.

The team appointed to ensure and monitor MPD’s compliance to the consent decree gave its third progress update to the court Thursday.

At Thursday’s hearing, Rachel Levinson-Waldman, the monitoring team’s social media and public policy expert, discussed the social media policies for federal agencies. Levinson-Waldman said the FBI and IRS are the only two agencies that use social media for investigative purposes and have a publicly available policy.

The FBI guidelines allows for collecting First-Amendment-protected information only if its related to an authorized investigation. The collection will not interfere with the individual’s Constitutionally protected rights, and if the method of investigation is the “least intrusive alternative.”

Levinson-Waldman said that these guidelines mirror language in the 1978 Consent Decree.

Generally, the FBI guidelines allow for more intrusive investigative methods as the level of the investigated increases.

One key piece of the FBI guideline Levinson-Waldman noted is that during an inquiry, unless related to federal crimes or national security, the agency is allowed to search and review public social media accounts, but is prohibited from using fictitious personas or engage in undercover activity.

MPD’s use of the undercover Facebook account of Bob Smith was one of the violations noted in McCalla’s ruling last fall. The account friended more than 200 activists.

One of the takeaways from Thursday’s hearing for local activist Hunter Demster is that there aren’t many clear, outlined policies nationally of local and federal law enforcement agency’s social media use.

“From the get-go, a lot of us have said that is going to be one of the most important elements that comes out of this entire process,” Demster said. I think we have an opportunity to set the standard for the rest of the country. I think it’s important to look at what other federal and local departments have done, but I think we need to pave a new path forward. At the center needs to be people and their civil rights, not necessarily public safety.”

The monitoring team and the city were given until Tuesday, November 26th to submit the most recent draft of the new MPD social media policies and training procedures, as well as an audit and compliance plan to the court.

The monitor team is looking to hold focus groups early next year. Dr. Sheila Peters, an associate professor of physiology at Fisk University will lead those groups. McCalla said this is an important piece of the process as “everyone is entitled to be heard.”

Attorneys for city questioned if the discussions from the focus group will be used for evidentiary purposes. McCalla said the discussions won’t be evidence but “important input.” The groups will create space for the public to bring new concerns to the table and gather public sentiment, he said.

Categories
News News Blog

CannaBeat: Cohen Pushes ‘Landmark’ Cannabis Legislation

When the House Judiciary Committee approved a “landmark” and “historic” cannabis reform bill yesterday, Memphis was there pushing it right along.

The committee approved the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. The legislation would decriminalize cannabis at the federal level, reassess and expunge past cannabis convictions, and fund a series of programs to help those unduly affected by the War on Drugs.

Memphis Rep. Steve Cohen, a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and a longtime cannabis advocate, voted to advance the MORE Act to the House floor. The committee vote was 24 to 10.

Ninth District congressman Steve Cohen

“These failed and racist policies disproportionately affected communities of color,” Cohen said in a statement after the vote. “The effects extend well beyond arrest and prosecution.

“This bill’s expungement provisions help those convicted of non-violent marijuana offenses fully reintegrate into society and pursue their potential. Without a criminal record, they will be better able to find good jobs, access housing, and vote. I’m proud to advance this measure to the House floor and look forward to voting for it there.”
[pullquote-1] In January, Cohen introduced the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States (CARERS) Act. It will allow access to medical marijuana for patients in states where marijuana is legal without fear of federal prosecution.

He also introduced the Fresh Start Act which would expunge criminal records for non-violent offenders with seven years of good behavior.

Watch Cohen’s committee remarks on the MORE Act below:

CannaBeat: Cohen Pushes ‘Landmark’ Cannabis Legislation