Author Steve Elliott ~alapoet~

Cancer Patient’s Medical Marijuana Seized At Airport

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 28, 2011 Medical, News

This is Checkpoint B at Indianapolis International Airport, where cancer patient Starling Wickes was caught with medical marijuana on Tuesday

Airport police in Indianapolis will destroy medical marijuana that a 36-year-old breast cancer patient from California tried to bring aboard a flight on Tuesday.

Transportation Security Administration personnel found the cannabis in luggage after it passed through an x-ray machine at Checkpoint B of the Indianapolis International Airport, according to police, reports John Tuohy at the Indy Star.

The marijuana and a black pipe were found inside a pink case, according to police. Screeners searched the bag because the x-ray alarm had sounded.

Starling Wickes, 36, of Van Nuys, California, told the cops she had breast cancer and showed them a medical marijuana card that confirmed her doctor authorized her to use cannabis.

But the officials told Wickes that though it might be OK to possess and smoke medical marijuana in California, they don’t let you do that sort of thing in Indiana.

Federal Govt.: It’s Illegal To Sell Guns To Marijuana Users

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 28, 2011 Legislation, News

CBS News

Bye-bye, Second Amendment? The U.S. Department of Justice is notifying federally licensed firearms dealers that they aren’t allowed to sell guns or ammo to anyone who smokes pot — even medical marijuana patients.

The memo from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, dated September 21, says the federal government considers marijuana a Schedule I controlled substance, even in states that have legalized cannabis for medicinal uses, reports The Associated Press.

Federal law prohibits anyone who is an “unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Exclusive Interview: Medical Marijuana Defendant Joe Grumbine

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 28, 2011 Dispensaries, Medical, News

Catrina Coleman

Joe Grumbine, The Human Solution: “We operated a collective. But the jury will never hear that part.”

Medical marijuana patient and provider Joe Grumbine is currently fighting for his freedom, facing 13 felony counts in a Long Beach, California court.

Grumbine, who founded the activist group The Human Solution to provide court support for medical marijuana defendants, now needs that kind of support himself, as the clueless judge in his case barred him from using the medical marijuana affirmative defense.

The jury won’t be allowed to even hear that Grumbine was operating legally under California law; I predict 12 very angry jurors when they learn the truth.

Unless and until more medical marijuana providers are willing to stand up like Joe Grumbine has for medicinal cannabis laws and the patients they are designed to protect, innocent people will keep being caught up in legal nightmares like this one.

Toke of the Town had a chance to chat with this hero of the medical marijuana movement.

Medical Marijuana Called Unlikely In Wyoming

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 28, 2011 Legislation

Rose Law Group

Wyoming is sandwiched between two states — Montana and Colorado — which have already legalized medical marijuana. Doesn’t that mean it’s just a matter of time before The Equality State equalizes things with its neighbors?

Well, no, at least not if you listen to state Senator Chris Rothfuss, who said he hasn’t heard of fellow lawmakers even discussing a Wyoming medical marijuana law, reports Bob Vines at the Northern Wyoming Daily News.

Not only that, but Rothfuss, a Democrat from Laramie, said now may not be the time for the state to start looking at that possibility.

“We have a lot of things that we want to focus on that we consider to be high-priority issues,” Rothfuss said. “There’s a general sense that when we have such short terms (in session), nobody wants to get into these types of issues.”

Marijuana Moments: Jodie Emery Thanked Marc’s Prosecutor

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 28, 2011 Culture, News

Cannabis Culture

Jodie Emery testifying before the Washington Legislature in March, just after meeting U.S. Attorney John McKay, who sent her husband to federal prison

John McKay, the U.S. Attorney who prosecuted “Prince of Pot” Marc Emery, ran into Marc’s wife Jodie in Olympia, Washington one day back in March. McKay is literally responsible for putting her husband in prison. But rather than the awkward scene it could have been, their encounter ended with Jodie thanking McKay.

“Mr. McKay? I’m Jodie Emery,” the attractive 26-year-old told the flustered former prosecutor. Jodie still runs a B.C. head shop and website called Cannabis Culture.

This is one of the fascinating stories about the former federal prosecutor for Western Washington which you can read at Toke‘s sister site, Seattle Weekly, in “The Evolution of John McKay,” an excellent, in-depth personality profile from reporter Nina Shapiro.

Marijuana: Plant, Drug, Or Medicine?

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 28, 2011 Culture, Growing

Kym Kemp/Redheaded Blackbelt

By Jack Rikess

Toke of the Town

Northern California Correspondent

Driving down 101 South, I was listening to the radio returning home after four grueling days of being embedded with medicinal farmers as they get ready for autumn’s harvest. The challenge of bringing in this year’s crops has been as nerve wracking as Lindsay Lohan approaching a DUI checkpoint.

Between mold, mildew and a growing season that’s been as erratic as Charlie Sheen’s career, the typical farmer has been working about 26 hours a day since July. Your average Mendoite or Humboldtian, is dog tired and dragging from spraying, battling a fungal infestation from early morning to late at night that could possible overtake our agricultural base, affecting the production volume of some of our favorite crops like marijuana, food, and grapes.

NYPD Finally Comes Aboard With Pot Decrim, 34 Years Later

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 27, 2011 Legislation, News

New York Daily Photo

The New York City Worldwide Marijuana March, an annual event held on the first Saturday of May, has been held for 40 years. New York finally got a little more pot-friendly this week — if police officers will follow the orders of their Commissioner.

Policy Shift by NYPD Could End Tens of Thousands of Arrests in NYC, Save Tens of Millions of Dollars and Reduce the Funneling of Young Men of Color Into the Criminal Justice System

Elected Officials and Advocates Affirm Support for Legislation in Albany that Standardizes Penalties for Marijuana Possession Offenses to Permanently Curb These Arrests Statewide

Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito and Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, joined by advocates from the Institute for Juvenile Justice Reform and Alternatives, VOCAL NY, and the Drug Policy Alliance, gathered in front of One Police Plaza today to celebrate an internal order issued by NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly to all precinct commanding officers to stop arresting New Yorkers for small quantities of marijuana if the marijuana is not in plain view.

Police Used Drug Forfeiture Funds For Weed, Hookers & Booze

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 27, 2011 News

Click On Detroit

Former Romulus Police Chief Michael St. Andre is charged with spending drug forfeiture money on weed, hookers and booze

Nice work, if you can get it! The former police chief of Romulus, Michigan, along with his wife and five Romulus officers, on Tuesday were charged with using drug forfeiture money to pay for prostitutes, marijuana and alcohol.

The charges come after an investigation of almost three years by Michigan State Police, reports Steve Pardo and Serena Marina Daniels of The Detroit News. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the case had “a culture of corruption and greed at its core.”

New Zealand Leader Backs Marijuana Decrim, Ignites Debate

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 27, 2011 Global, Legislation

Sarah Ivey/NZ Herald

Marijuana opponent David Parker wasted no time in putting up a sign across his billboards: “Vote Banks – Get Both Dopes!”

Party leader Dr. Don Brash of New Zealand’s ACT political party on Sunday suggested that marijuana should be decriminalized, igniting a lively political debate which has split his own party and sent shockwaves through the Kiwi political scene.

The cannabis debate was still smoldering in New Zealand’s Parliament on Tuesday after Dr. Brash’s suggestion that marijuana, a Class C drug in the island nation, should no longer be illegal, because it’s tying up police resources, reports 3 News.

Marijuana Advocates Call On R.I. Governor To OK Dispensaries

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 27, 2011 Dispensaries, Legislation

RIPAC

Medical marijuana advocates are calling on Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee to open cannabis dispensaries allowed under state law. The governor blocked opening of the shops due to the threat of federal prosecution after receiving one of the threatening letters recently sent by U.S. Attorneys in medical marijuana states.

A Statehouse protest is planned for Tuesday by the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC) to urge Governor Chafee to allow three dispensaries to open, reports The Associated Press.

The state selected three shops to dispense cannabis under Rhode Island’s medical marijuana law. Chafee last spring suspended the plans to open the shops after federal prosecutors warned that dispensary personnel could face prosecution for violating federal marijuana laws.

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