Author Steve Elliott ~alapoet~

City To Cops: Stop Arresting For Less Than 40 Grams Of Pot

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 7, 2011 Legislation, News

Prosecutors in Spokane, Washington have ordered the local police department not to arrest anyone caught with less than 40 grams of marijuana.

Prosecutors said there is a problem with both the current city law and the state’s marijuana law — as in, right now, the laws don’t match up, reports KREM.com

But Spokane Police, apparently unable to follow simple instructions and seemingly reluctant to quit their marijuana bust habit, claim state law gives them a second option.

Costa Rica and Guatemala Reject Marijuana Legalization

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 6, 2011 Global, Legislation

Photo: Latin America News Dispatch

Guatemalan President Álvaro Colom and Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla during their anti-marijuana meeting Sunday.

The presidents of Costa Rica and Guatemala on Sunday showed themselves to be good little obedient Drug Warriors, rejecting a recommendation from a committee of former Latin American presidents and other former world leaders to legalize marijuana in an effort to help stem the violence caused by organized crime in Central America.

Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla (yeah, that’s really her name, man) and her Guatemalan counterpart President Álvaro Colom met over the weekend in San Jose, reports Andrew OReilly at Latin America News Dispatch, where they agreed to claim that last week’s proposal by the Commission on Global Drug Policy to decriminalize marijuana “would not work,” and would be just an ever-so-icky thing to boot.

Cali Bill Would OK Medical Marijuana Crackdowns By Cities

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 6, 2011 Dispensaries, Legislation

Photo: Los Angeles Times

With numerous lawsuits pending across California against cities that try to crack down on or ban medical marijuana dispensaries, a new bill aims to make it clear that municipalities are allowed to tell pot shops when, where and how they can do business.

The bill, AB 1300, just passed the California Assembly, reports Dennis Romero at L.A. Weekly. It was introduced by Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield (D-Los Angeles).

According to the bill, localities can adopt “local ordinances that regulate the location, operation, or establishment of a medical marijuana cooperative or collective…”

First Medical Marijuana Dispensary Licensed In Michigan

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 6, 2011 Dispensaries, Legislation, News

Photo: Tom Perkins/AnnArbor.com

Super Lemon Haze medical marijuana at the 3rd Coast Compassion Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan. 3rd Coast just became the first municipally licensed dispensary in the state.

A medical marijuana center in Ypsilanti has become the first in Michigan to receive a dispensary license from a local municipality.

The 3rd Coast Compassion Center, which was also the state’s first medical marijuana dispensary to open its doors in late 2009, received its licensed from the City of Ypsilanti in May, reports Tom Perkins of Annarbor.com.

The dispensary, located at the corner of Hamilton and Pearl streets in Ypsilanti, was open prior to the city establishing zoning ordinances and a licensing process. It was the first allowed to submit its application for a license.

Michigan patients, caregivers, law enforcement and civil authorities are still sorting out whether or not dispensaries are legal in the state since the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act was approved by an overwhelming 63 percent of voters in November 2008. Opponents argue that nothing in the law allows the centers to exist, but medical marijuana advocates argue they are acting within the law, saying that nothing in the act says they can’t operate.

Dude Busted For Pot After Catching Ride From Deputy

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 6, 2011 News

Photo: Mat Lemmon

Be careful accepting a ride in a cop car, or you may end up in the back seat. A rural Nebraska man didn’t just catch a ride from a deputy — he caught a marijuana charge, too.

Just after midnight Sunday morning, a Buffalo County Sheriff’s deputy saw a 26-year-old Kearney man and a 20-year-old Lexington man walking north on Highway 10, around five miles north of Kearney, Nebraska, reports Kim Schmidt of the Kearney Hub. The 26-year-old man’s car had a flat tire.

The deputy offered the 26-year-old a ride to the man’s home about a mile north. Before allowing the guy into his cruiser, the deputy patted him down for security reasons.

Connecticut Senate Votes To Decriminalize Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 4, 2011 Legislation, News

Graphic: The Fresh Scent

18-18 Tie Was Broken By Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman

The Connecticut Senate has passed a bill that decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of marijuana. The bill now goes to the state House.

The measure passed on Saturday after Democratic Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman broke an 18-to-18 tie vote. The bill now moves to the Connecticut House of Representatives for final action, report Susan Haigh and Cory Ziman for the Associated Press.

11 Things Holder Could Say About Pot That Would Make Me Happy

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 3, 2011 Culture

Photo: The Troubled Patriot

By Jack Rikess

Toke of the Town

Northern California Correspondent

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that he will “work with states” to clarify the Department of Justice’s position on medical marijuana. This is what I’d like him to say…

11. Marijuana is no longer a Schedule I drug.

The Good News: Marijuana will finally be reclassified as having medical value.

Bad News: Big Pharma doesn’t like to share…

AG Says Feds Will ‘Work With’ States On Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 3, 2011 Dispensaries, Medical, News

Photo: Reuters

Attorney General Eric Holder: “We are in the process of working [on]these issues”

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said on Thursday that the Justice Department will work with governors and other state officials to reach a “satisfactory resolution” to the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries in states with medicinal cannabis programs.

“We are in the process of working [on]these issues with the U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island and other U.S. Attorneys across the country,” Holder said, reports W. Zachary Malinowski at The Providence Journal. “My hope is that sometime in the not too distant future … it will be addressed.”

California Rejects Plan To Reduce Cannabis Cultivation Penalties

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 3, 2011 Growing, Legislation, News

Graphic: disinfo.com

The California Assembly on Friday rejected Assemblyman Tom Ammiano’s bill, AB 1017, to reduce marijuana cultivation from a mandatory felony to a “wobbler,” which would have allowed discretion on charging a misdemeanor. The vote was 24 yes to 36 no.

The bill had been supported by the district attorney of Mendocino County, but was opposed by the state D.A.’s association.

“The state Legislature has once again demonstrated its incompetence when it comes to dealing with prison crowding,” said disappointed California NORML Director Dale Gieringer.

“With California under court order to reduce its prison population, it is irresponsible to maintain present penalties for nonviolent drug offenses,” Gieringer said. “It makes no sense to keep marijuana growing a felony, when assault, battery, and petty theft are all misdemeanors.

We Have A Winner! Mike’s Going To Spring Gathering Concert

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 3, 2011 Culture, Products

Photo: Mike Sillman

Mike Sillman after hearing the news: He’s going to Spring Gathering!

One lucky guy’s going to see Tommy Chong, Snoop Dogg, and Cypress Hill — just because he reads Toke of the Town.

Last month, when we announced our Spring Gathering Music Festival and Medical Marijuana Expo ticket giveaway, you guys responded: 156 of you entered and dared dream of winning.

A lucky winner has been randomly selected from the entrants…

Congratulations to Mike Sillman of San Francisco!

“I am very excited to win these tickets,” Mike told Toke of the Town Friday morning. “I am an avid reader of Toke of the Town!”

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