March 8, 2010: According to a new report by the Brewers Association, craft brewer sales grew 7% in 2009, a year that otherwise saw beer sales slide for other brewers. The report states that craft brewers saw a 10.3% increase in sales, and a 7.2% increase in volume over 2008. Additionally, the report states that the total number of U.S. craft brewers grew to 1,542, that produced 9,115,635 barrels, up from 1,485 and 8,501,713 in 2008 respectively. According to the report, overall U.S. beer sales were down 2.2% in 2009 - from approximately 210.4 million barrels to 205.8 million barrels in 2009.
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While House Bill 1284 is under review, Rep. Tom Massey and State Senator Chris Romer are asking U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to impose a "moratorium" on medical marijuana sector raids. The request came in a letter to Atty. Gen. Holder on Friday, March 5, 2010. Massey and Romer asked that raids stop while a "rational middle ground" is established. The letter makes clear that they are not requesting the DEA stop all raids, just those raids against the "legitimate medical marijuana community." Marijuana, for any use or indication, regardless of state law, is illegal under federal law.
The Text of The Letter, Dated March 5, 2010:
Dear Attorney General Holder,As you know, the Colorado General Assembly is currently considering several bills designed to establish a legal framework to effectively regulate medical marijuana. Federal DEA raids of medical marijuana businesses, however, are complicating our legislative efforts.
March 4, 2010: The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau ("TTB") proposes to rename the Yamhill-Carlton District AVA located in Yamhill and Washington Counties, Oregon as the "Yamhill-Carlton" AVA. The size and description of the renamed AVA would be unchanged. Written comments regarding this proposed change may be submitted on or before May 3, 2010. For more information:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-4570.pdf
The attorneys at LaszloLaw are experienced in handling a range of business and commercial issues that confront the Wine, Beer and Liquor industries.
March 9 UPDATE: I-70 remains closed between Dotsero and Glenwood Springs. CDOT crews continued work on the closed section of I-70 last night until conditions became too dark. CDOT reports that great progress was made in removing the fallen boulders from the road surface. CDOT crews have begun scaling the canyon and have determined that an approximately 20' rock above the highway is too unstable at this point and have undertaken to plan for its removal. There is no official word yet regarding the reopening of this section of I-70.
Around midnight, Sunday March 7, there was massive rockslide on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon at mile marker 125, just west of the Hanging Lake Tunnel. As of 5:00pm MST, eastbound and westbound I-70 is closed between approximately Dotsero and Glenwood Springs. One boulder is reported to be the size of a semi truck with an estimated weight of 66 tons. Major damage to the road surface was also reported. I-70 remains closed in both directions between Glenwood Springs (mm 116) and at Dotsero (mm 133). Motorists can take US 40 to SH 13 as an alternate route. US 50 to the south is now closed over Monarch pass due to adverse conditions.
Making things worse, due to adverse weather conditions, many alternate routes are closed or very dangerous. Currently, CDOT recommends motorists use US 40 to SH 13 as an alternate route.
This road closure has made travel into and out of Aspen, Colo. virtually impossible as there is simply no easy way to reach Aspen during the winter months.
Today, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda apologized to Congress and American consumers. "I'm deeply sorry for any accident that Toyota drivers have experienced," said Toyoda. Toyoda also stated that Toyota's "priorites became confused." Today's hearing comes amid a growing number of wrongful death lawsuits being filed as a result of a faulty throttle system on Toyota and Lexus vehicles, and as Toyota executives meet with US government agencies regarding the recall of nearly 10 million vehicles.
