Toke of the Town

Monthly Archives: April, 2012

Richard Lee Quits After Pot Raid; Turning Over Oaksterdam

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By on Culture, News

Jack Rikess
Oaksterdam founder Richard Lee at Tuesday’s protest in San Francisco against Monday’s federal raids in Oakland

Less than a week after federal agents raided cannabis training center Oaksterdam University, seizing property, marijuana plants, bank accounts, student records and computers, legendary founder Richard Lee has decided to quit the business.

Lee, 49, who the SF Weekly‘s Erin Sherbert calls “the most visible pot legalization advocate in the state,” told John Hoeffel of the Los Angeles Times that after 20 years, he decided it’s time for others to take over. He added that he’s concerned he could be facing federal drug charges after Monday’s raids of his university, his dispensary (Blue Sky Coffee Shop) and his home.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time,” Lee said on Thursday. “Over 20 years … I kind of feel like I’ve done my time. It’s time for others to take over.”
“I never wanted to be the quote unquote leader of the legalization movement,” Lee told the Times. “I saw myself as just one small soldier in a big war. But I look at it as a battlefield promotion.”
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Marijuana Activists Eye Dumanis Fundraiser April 15

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By on Legislation, News

Bonnie D.A.’Mantis
San Diego County D.A. Bonnie Dumanis: Despite a pledge to respect California’s medical marijuana laws, she has waged an urelenting war against cannabis patients and providers 

Don’t any of you marijuana-intoxicated reprobates dare crash this exclusive fundraiser for the well-heeled backers of District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and her run for Mayor of San Diego. I know, I know: She’s been one of the worst enemies imaginable to cannabis patients who want safe access, and has engaged in a vituperative campaign to shut down every collective and access point in the county.

Despite a pledge to respect California’s medical marijuana laws, Dumanis has waged an unrelenting war against cannabis patients and providers.

But keep in mind, cannabis-head, this is a very private, invitation-only fundraiser that Bonnie — a vocal foe of medical marijuana dispensaries — is having at the home of billionaire Irwin Jacobs (of Qualcomm fortune).
Whatever you do, don’t show up at the Jacobs’ home to protest, and don’t post this far and wide on websites everywhere to get as many protesters there as possible.
And for heaven’s sakes, don’t share and email this to as many people as possible.
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Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act Will Try For 2014 Ballot In CA

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By on Legislation, News

Repeal Cannabis Prohibition

This will be remembered as the election year with three competing marijuana initiatives to end prohibition in California — and none of them making the ballot.

Organizers behind the Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act (RCPA), one of the three (and seen by many as the most legally viable), now say their intent is to seek ballot status in 2014 with the same team of proponents, along with a much expanded professional campaign outreach and infrastructure.
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A Marijuana Bud A Day Keeps The Stroke Away

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By on Medical, News

Hey man, it beats the hell out of Bayer.

One former heart surgeon says that while some people are on a daily dose of aspirin to lower the severity of problems — and the likelihood of strokes — after a heart attack or a first stroke, there’s a better way, reports Sabrina Rodriguez at Fox 40.
Dr. Dave Allen says that marijuana is a better alternative.
“Eating a bud a day will keep the stroke away,” Dr. Allen said. “No other medicine made by man can help in this manner.”
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Israeli Medical Provider Offers Kosher Cannabis Cookies

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By on Dispensaries, Global, Medical

Abir Sultan/Flash 90
Moshe Ichiya of Cannabliss with medical marijuana in the pre-cookie stage

The graduate of a master class in pastry making has started a company registered with the Israeli Health Ministry and is now baking cannabis cookies for about 350 patients — and as of this week, they are kosher for Passover.

Moshe Ichiya, a graduate of the Estella school’s master class in pastry making, runs the company Cannabliss in a location he will describe only as being “in the center of the country,” reports Mitch Ginsburg at the Times of Israel. Cannabliss is one of several companies registered with the Health Ministry and is the sole supplier of medicinal marijuana products to the Sharett Institute of Oncology at the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center.
“You see their flyers around the ward,” one recent patient said. Patients at Hadassah then call Ichiya.
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Shady Pot Dealers No Concern To Law Enforcement

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By on Culture

Flickr
Venice Beach, California

Opinion By Cheri Sicard

Special to Toke of the Town
Like many pro-cannabis activists, I found myself shocked, outraged, and saddened by the recent federal attack on Oaksterdam University and other Richard Lee-owned businesses. Oaksterdam is, after all, my alma mater. The school put me on the path to becoming the activist I am today and changed my life for the better in a profound way.
I have been pondering why, if the feds are going to target anyone, it would be Richard Lee. After all, Richard has built a successful business teaching others how to be as compliant as possible with California’s murky medical marijuana laws. His efforts also resulted in the transformation of a formerly derelict section of downtown Oakland into a safe, thriving community.
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Feds On Pot Raid? ‘There Are Just Too Goddamned Many Of Them’

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By on Culture, Medical, News

brendonRS

By Bob Starrett
Did anybody else see just a touch of fear — and dare I say shame — in the eyes and body language of some of the U.S. Marshals who came to the aid of apparently trapped DEA and IRS agents who were discovered by protesters at the Coffeeshop Blue Sky on Monday?
After they had taken down Oaksterdam University and Richard Lee’s other related businesses, the crowd caught them redhanded. Tedious as it can be, and having watched much of it live, thanks to Oaktown Pirate’s live feed, I reviewed the footage and it seemed to confirm my observations. Now, there were not a lot of protesters there. But there was no doubt that those who were there were serious about their city and their state and their rights.
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Day of Anger: SF Advocates Protest Federal Marijuana Raids

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By on Culture, Dispensaries, News

All photos by Jack Rikess for Toke of the Town


By Jack Rikess
Toke of the Town

Northern California Correspondent

The demonstration that was planned for Tuesday morning to protest the most recent letters sent by U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag took on an added dimension of anger and unabashed outpouring of emotion with the Feds’ untimely raid on East Bay’s Oaksterdam and Richard Lee yesterday morning.  Hundreds of patients, caregivers and activists streamed to the steps of City Hall, carrrying signs and chanting slogans to relieve the anger most were feeling from the assault on Richard Lee. 
The elegant David Goldman, from Americans for Safe Access, commanded the podium and took Haag to task for making the assumption that most patients are basically faking it and dispensaries are nothing more than illegitimate drug dealers. David and others spoke of the Attorney General’s additional comment that she is only “going after dispensaries, not patients,” which garnered many boos from the crowd.  
Supervisor David Chu, observing the crowd, said, “We’re Black, we’re Asian, we’re White, we’re Latino, and today…San Francisco is Green!” Applause echoed between City Hall and the surrounding buildings, drawing in more supporters.
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