Artwork: Jim Wheeler |
Safe access to marijuana remains a distant dream to many patients — even in states which have legalized medical use |
Artwork: Jim Wheeler |
Safe access to marijuana remains a distant dream to many patients — even in states which have legalized medical use |
Since voters there legalized recreational marijuana in 2014, officials in Alaska have been hashing out logistical issues, including how to transport marijuana to communities across the state without violating federal law, since there are few roads and it’s against federal law to move marijuana on planes and boats.
Alaska is massive, twice the size of Texas — but with a population of a little over 738,000, it’s ranked last for population density in the United States. The bulk of Alaska’s residents live in the city of Anchorage and surrounding areas, and most of the rest of the population resides in small cities and towns dotted across the beautiful but unforgiving landscape, with many of these communities positioned along Alaska’s extensive coastline.
Massachusetts U.S, Attorney Carmen Ortiz says her office is debating whether or not to weigh in on how close Massachusetts dispensaries can be to schools and considering shutting down shops within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds our housing.
According to the Boston Globe, six of the 15 dispensary proposals given initial go-ahead from state officials would fall within the 1,000 feet radius.
Brandon Marshall/Westword |
In the November elections of 2012, 63% of the voters in Massachusetts approved Question 3, the state’s newly proposed medical marijuana law, making the Bay State the 18th state in the nation to legalize ganja use for medicinal purposes. With Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, and Rhode Island already respecting patients’ rights, and New Hampshire looking to follow in Colorado and Washington’s footsteps, all of New England will soon enjoy safe access.
Back in Massachusetts, in accordance with the regulations set forth in the Question 3 medical marijuana law, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health sparked the process this past Friday by granting the first 20 official licenses for prospective storefront medical marijuana dispensaries.
Yes, Denver is called the “Mile High City” and yes marijuana is legal. Not surprisingly, Colorado peaked at the summit of the Movato Real Estate “Highest City in the U.S.” survey of cities and towns across the United States.
Movato.com says it took into account a large body of data, including the number of medical (and recreational) dispensaries, how many medical pot licenses are issued and whether or not adult use is legal. While it is not hard to determine that Denver is the highest city based on that criteria, we wonder what the researchers were smoking (or not) when they came up with their results
Creative commons/Matt Wright. |
Monday marked the deadline for Colorado’s 271 cities and towns and 64 counties to decide whether they want to ban recreational cannabis businesses and sales — and it is starting to look like Denver will be ganja ground zero.
Already, four of the ten largest cities in Colorado (Colorado Springs, Thornton, Westminster and Centennial) have banned recreational cannabis sales outright, and five others have placed moratoriums on shops until next year.
Oregon medical marijuana dispensaries – roughly 150 or so – are one step closer to have a set of state guidelines after lawmakers last week approved a bill creating a medical marijuana dispensary program by a 32 to 27 vote.
House Bill 3460 is now awaiting the signature of Gov. John Kitzhaber to become law. If passed, the bill would not create any new taxes and the industry would pay for the regulations through licensing fees.
Patients For Reform Not Repeal |
Prohibition’s End |
Democratic Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer called the GOP-controlled Legislature “bat crap crazy” when they voted to overturn the will of the state’s voters on medical marijuana |
Gov. Schweitzer also said SB 423 “violates your constitutional rights to illegal search.” The governor said it requires someone using medical marijuana to “be turned over to law enforcement in every town.”
This Is 420 |
Bodhi Group |
Canadian farmer harvests a bountiful hemp crop. He could be joined by his U.S. neighbors if Sen. Ron Wyden’s amendment to the Farm Bill is successful |