Author Steve Elliott ~alapoet~

Feds Throw Weight Around On Washington’s Med Marijuana Bill

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 14, 2011 Legislation, Medical

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire is chicken to sign legislation legalizing medical marijuana dispensaries without asking for the federal government’s permission first.

Gov. Gregoire Practically Invited The Feds To Stick Their Noses In

The feds are throwing their weight around again when it comes to Washington state’s medical marijuana law. A proposal to rewrite the state’s medicinal cannabis rules attracted federal attention after Governor Christine Gregoire asked for “clear guidance” about the U.S. Department of Justice’s position on state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, which would be legalized under the new rules.

Gov. Gregoire, who sent the letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on Wednesday, claims she “became concerned” about a “potential federal crackdown” after speaking with the U.S. attorneys for Eastern and Western Washington, Michael Ormsby and Jenny Durkan, reports Jonathan Martin at the Seattle Times.

Canada Expected To Appeal Decision Striking Down Pot Laws

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 14, 2011 Global, Legislation, News

Photo: Matt Mernagh

Canadian medical marijuana patient and Toke of the Town contributor Matt Mernagh won big this week, with an Ontario judge striking down Canada’s pot laws

An appeal by the federal government of yesterday’s Ontario court decision striking down Canada’s marijuana laws is all but certain, according to political observers.

The government is now awaiting direction from the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, reports Jennifer Yang at the Toronto Star. Lawmakers and law enforcement officers are “looking for guidance” on how to react to the court ruling.

“We are disappointed with this decision,” said Tim Vail, spokesperson for Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq. “The independent Public Prosecution Service has to decide whether to appeal this decision. While the courts have said that there must be reasonable access to marijuana for medical purposes, we believe that this must be done in a controlled fashion to ensure public safety.”

The Public Prosecution service is “studying” the decision and has 30 days to appeal the ruling, which it is expected to do.

In the meantime, Ontario Provincial Police will continue to enforce the marijuana laws, even though they could soon cease to exist.

Jamaica Taking Another Look At Marijuana Decriminalization

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 14, 2011 Global, Legislation

Photo: Matt Lennert/flickr

A Jamaican farmer in his field of ganja

Top government officials in Jamaica have said they will review recommendations to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal and religious use in the Caribbean island nation.

Six Cabinet ministers in Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s administration will evaluate a 2001 report by the National Commission for Ganja, reports David McFadden of Bloomberg Businessweek.

The commission, which included academics and doctors and was appointed by a government led by the current opposition party, argued that cannabis was “culturally entrenched” in Jamaica and that moderate use had no negative health effects on most users.

It’s Taking Effect! Arizona’s Medical Marijuana Law Kicks In

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 14, 2011 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: THC Finder

As of Thursday, April 14, the Arizona medical marijuana law is now in effect. The state is taking applications for registry cards from seriously ill patients who have a doctor’s recommendation to use cannabis for medicinal purposes.

Some are estimating that around 20,000 Arizonans will qualify for medical marijuana, reports Joleah Nowicki at Phoenix Political Buzz Examiner, but such estimates almost always turn out to be way too low.

The application system will be entirely online, according to the Department of Health Services, and anyone trying to apply in person or by phone will be turned away, reports Amanda Lee Myers at The Associated Press.

Stoner Photo of the Day: Marijuana, The Forbidden Medicine

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 13, 2011 Products

Photo by Steve Elliott

The book is Marihuana, the Forbidden Medicine by the great Dr. Lester Grinspoon of Harvard Medical School.

The bud is Seattle City Lights by The Healing Center Organization in THC-attle.

Let’s Show President Obama The Real San Francisco This 4-20

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 13, 2011 Culture

Photo: GoldenGatePark.com

San Francisco’s 4-20 celebration typically culminates in Golden Gate Park at Hippie Hill. But this year President Obama’s gonna be in town…

By Jack Rikess

Toke of the Town

Northern California Correspondent

“They say I shot a man named Gray and took his wife to Italy. She inherited a million bucks and when she died it came to me. I can’t help it if I’m lucky.” ~ Bob Dylan

I never planned on seeing the Beatles. It wasn’t my fault they didn’t sell out when they played St. Paul, Minnesota in 1965 and literally had to give away seats.

I’m sure if my Dad had to pay for tickets, my babysitter, a neighbor who had a driver’s license and one of his pals, would never have made it to Met Stadium that summer’s night to see one of the crowning events of my life.

The same could be said for Burning Man. I was just going to a bonfire. I never plan on being a part of something.

Alabama Mom Arrested After Infant Tests Positive For Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 13, 2011 News

Photo: BakedLife.com

Police in Florence, Alabama say a woman was arrested after her newborn baby tested positive for having marijuana in her system.

Jennifer Lynn Sopanos, 35, of Florence, was charged with “chemical endangerment of a child,” reports The Associated Press.

Sopanos’ baby boy was born March 16 at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital. Police claim the baby tested positive for THC, a principal psychoactive in cannabis. The mother also tested positive, according to Keith Johnson, a police detective.

Sopanos has denied using marijuana in her pregnancy, according to Johnson. She said the positive test was due to second-hand cannabis smoke.

Exactly how Sopanos would be “chemically endangering” her child is far from clear, since according to the best scientific research available, marijuana use by pregnant woman may actually reduce infant mortality.

Montana Governor Vetoes Medical Marijuana Repeal

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 13, 2011 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Graphic: Medical Marijuana Blog

Medical marijuana is still legal in Montana.

Governor Brian Schweitzer has vetoed a Republican bill that would have repealed the state’s medical marijuana law, approved by an overwhelming 62 percent of state voters in 2004.

Schweitzer vetoed the bill on Wednesday, along with several others he called “frivolous, unconstitutional or in direct contradiction to the expressed will of the people of Montana, “reports The Associated Press.

Montana now has more than 28,000 registered medical marijuana patients.

Ontario Court Strikes Down Canada’s Marijuana Laws

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 12, 2011 Global, Legislation, News

Photo: Matt Mernagh

The case was brought by prominent Canadian cannabis activist, patient and writer Matt Mernagh, above, a contributor to Toke of the Town.

An Ontario court has struck down Canada’s marijuana laws. The court struck down laws against possessing and growing cannabis as part of a ruling that found the country’s medical marijuana program is failing to provide access to the herb for patients who need it.

BUT. (And don’t you hate this?) That doesn’t mean smoking pot is legal yet, reports Adrian Morrow at The Globe and Mail. The federal government now has three months to launch an appeal or change its regulations to fix the problems identified by the court.

Justice Donald Taliano of the Ontario Superior Court struck down the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations, arguing they aren’t doing enough to ensure patients can obtain permission to use cannabis.

Marijuana Activists Hold Sit-In At San Diego Council Meeting

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 12, 2011 Legislation, Medical, News

Photo: G. Creighton/10 News

Five medical marijuana activists including San Diego ASA’s Eugene Davidovich (closest to camera) were arrested at Tuesday’s City Council meeting

Five medical marijuana activists staged a 45-minute sit-in Tuesday in the San Diego City Council chambers, protesting the final passage of a local medicinal cannabis ordinance which advocates say imposes a citywide de facto ban on collectives.

The set of strict zoning and public safety regulations for the dispensaries was passed on second reading by the Council, with no changes to what was approved the first time around, reports 10 News.

Passage came on a pair of 5-2 votes, despite vocal opposition among audience members who opposed the stringent regulations.

During the hearing, members of the “Stop the Ban Campaign” — a coalition of more than 20 local, state and national groups spearheaded by Canvass for a Cause and the San Diego chapter of Americans for Safe Access (ASA) — repeatedly chanted “We demand safe access,” disrupting the session, forcing the council to clear the chambers, and postponing a critical vote on the ordinance.

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