2011 August

$10,000 Reward Offered In Medical Marijuana Delivery Murder

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on August 1, 2011 Dispensaries, News

Philip Victor Williamson, 29, was gunned down in a Long Beach alleyway.

A $10,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to the arrest of whomever is responsible for the murder of alleged medical marijuana hauler Philip Victor Williamson, whose body was discovered on March 24 in an alley in Long Beach, California.

The award was proposed by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, reports Allison Jean Eaton at the Long Beach Post. Police believe Williamson, 29, reportedly a medicinal cannabis deliveryman, could have had up to $500,000 in cash on him when he died, reports Nick Schou at OC Weekly.

Williamson was shot in a Pine Avenue alleyway, and Long Beach Police say his death “could be linked” to his distributing medical marijuana from a collective in Chico to dispensaries in Long Beach and Los Angeles.

The reward money “may prompt witnesses to come forward,” Knabe said.

Wayward Bill Takes The Helm At U.S. Marijuana Party

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on August 1, 2011 Culture, News

Photo: Deadheads United

Wayward Bill, the new president of the United States Marijuana Party: “Like a phoenix we will as a party once again rise to shine”

The torch — or is it the spliff? — has been passed at the United States Marijuana Party, which this week announced Wayward Bill (also known as William A. Chengelis) of Denver, Colorado is taking over its top position.

Wayward Bill replaces former party President Richard J. Rawlings at the top spot.

“After eight hard years managing the party Richard was ready to move on,” Wayward Bill said in a press release. “Sheree Krider, VP, United States Marijuana Party recommended me in a party memorandum for the top position. She also resigned her position within the national office. I spoke to both her and Richard prior to making my decision to accept. It was a happy coup.”

According to Wayward Bill, his taking the helm means that the USMjP will now be located in Denver. “The address has yet to be determined,” he said. The party was previously headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

“I will be taking a more proactive approach by hopefully first moving our current USMjP chapters close to their state capitols so that they can be more involved with marijuana law reform in their respective states,” Wayward Bill said. “You will see us everywhere. The halls of government, in the media, in social media, at political functions and rallies, on online forums, everywhere.

California Clinic Refuses To Treat Medical Marijuana Patients

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on August 1, 2011 Medical, News

Graphic: Rose Law Group

Can a clinic refuse medical care to you, simply because you are a legal medical marijuana patient?

Several medical marijuana patients have reported being told they were unwelcome at clinics operated by Mark Twain St. Joseph’s Hospital in San Andreas, California.

More allegations came to light after hospital officials in early July claimed they had no policy stopping medical marijuana patients from receiving care, reports Dana M. Nichols at the Stockton Record.

The first patient to go public with the allegations was disabled veteran Sam Slayter. He said Dr. Rafael Rosado told him that he wouldn’t receive care at at Mark Twain clinic in Valley Springs unless he signed an agreement promising to stop using medical marijuana.

N.J. MS Patient Loses Appeal; Prison For Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on August 1, 2011 Growing, Legislation, Medical

Photo: Robert Sciarrino/The Star-Ledger

Multiple sclerosis patient John Ray Wilson is handcuffed after being sentenced to five years in prison for “manufacturing and drug possession”

A New Jersey multiple sclerosis patient appears to be headed to prison for growing 17 marijuana plants behind his home.

John Ray Wilson said the plants were for medicinal use, and New Jersey — since Wilson’s arrest — has legalized medical marijuana. But patients in the Garden State still aren’t allowed to grow their own medicine.

Wilson was acquitted of maintaining or operating a “drug-production facility,” which could have gotten him 20 years behind bars, but was found guilty of manufacturing and possessing marijuana and sentenced to five years in prison.

Is California AG Burning The Medical Marijuana Community?

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on August 1, 2011 Legislation, Medical

Photo: The Mad Professah Lectures

California Attorney General Kamala Harris appears to be taking orders from law enforcement in drawing up the state’s new medical marijuana guidelines

In her bid to defeat Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley for the job of California’s top cop, then-San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris got the support of the state’s medical marijuana community — not so much because she was great, but because Cooley royally sucks ass.

In a rare show of unity (unlike what happened with pot legalization initiative Prop 19), the state’s marijuana activists seemed to all agree on an “Anybody But Cooley” campaign. That effort may well have been the difference between the two candidates last fall, as less than 80,000 votes separated the victorious Harris from Cooley. There are 750,000 medical marijuana patients in California.

But, as pointed out by Chris Roberts at LA Weekly, if Harris feels any gratitude for the support of the medical marijuana community, she’s doing a good job of hiding it.

Monthly Archives: August, 2011