Dispensaries

Browsing: Dispensaries

Cheeba Chews Invading Mass.! West v. East – The First Salvo

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 11, 2012 Dispensaries, Medical, Products

By Bob Starrett

This is scary. “Wrapped in ‘Tootsie Roll’ style wrappers, these powerful chewables consist of the most active ingredient in marijuana — THC — and their taffystyle packaging is conspicuously attractive to kids.”

That’s Heidi Heilman, guest columnist, writing in the Milford Daily News this week. Ms. Heilman is speaking of a January incident in which a car of teenagers was pulled over for speeding. The Cheeba Chews were found inside.

Powerful chewables with THC. From California and Colorado, no less, and under “the guise of medicine.” I think that the packaging is rather conservative. But who knows what those out-of- staters are cooking up for Massachusetts? This is probably the first wave of the assault, apparently by “deep pocket outsiders to target Massachusetts to become the next ‘medical’ marijuana haven.” 

I get it about invading Massachusetts, maybe they should be left alone. Several invasions are already underway or coming up including Gamers, the Undead and Asian Longhorn Beetles.

Dutch Group: Cannabis Coffeeshops Deserve Heritage Protection

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 11, 2012 Dispensaries, Global, News

Floris Leeuwenberg

Cannabis coffeeshops are an integral part of Dutch culture, and have been for decades. A Dutch cannabis consumers group, WeSmoke, says the shops are worthy of preservation as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Netherlands, for reasons known only to the conservative government, seems intent on barring foreigners from its world-famous “coffeeshops” where cannabis is sold. That’s wholly nonsensical, since the shops are a major source of tourist dollars for Amsterdam and most of the other cities where they operate.

But curtailment of the shops — or even complete closure, which could be one of the repercussions of the new rules — would be more than an economic loss to the Netherlands, according to one Dutch pro-cannabis group. It would be a tragic loss of cultural heritage, as well.

Because of that, the Dutch cannabis consumer association WeSmoke has asked that the coffeeshops of the Netherlands be included on UNESCO World Heritage Site list, giving them protection as the unique cultural icons they are.

“World Heritage Sites are commonly understood to be culturally and/or natural important heritage that can be considered irreplaceable, unique and property of the entire world,” said Dimitri Breeuwer of WeSmoke. “This is why we can only conclude the unique Dutch coffeeshop, the very center of the cannabis legalization policies belongs on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.”

Local, State Officials Decry Federal Attacks on Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 9, 2012 Dispensaries, Medical, News

The Weed Blog

San Francisco United for Safe Access campaign compels statement from Mayor Lee and others

A coalition of medical marijuana patients, activists, dispensing centers, and concerned citizens has compelled public officials to stand up to recent federal attacks. Last week, the coalition “San Francisco United for Safe Access” held a press conference with several city supervisors and state officials, decrying the Obama Administration’s aggressive tactics before a crowd of more than 500 supporters.

By Friday, San Francisco United had secured a statement from Mayor Lee, expressing his opposition to “recent federal actions targeting duly permitted Medicinal Cannabis Dispensaries…that aim to limit our citizens’ ability to have safe access to the medicine they need.”

Israeli Medical Provider Offers Kosher Cannabis Cookies

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 5, 2012 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.

Day of Anger: SF Advocates Protest Federal Marijuana Raids

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 4, 2012 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.

Letter To Obama: End The Assault On Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 4, 2012 Dispensaries, Legislation, News

Reason

From the letter to Obama: “[Y]ou have turned your back as career law enforcement officials have run roughshod over some of the most professional and well-regulated medical marijuana providers”

Six National Drug Policy Organizations Call on President Obama to End Unnecessary Assault on Medical Marijuana Providers

Coalition to President Obama: “It is time for a new approach on marijuana policy.”

In the wake of recent attacks on medical marijuana providers and patients by multiple branches of the federal government, including Monday’s raids on Oaksterdam University in Oakland, California, a coalition of six national drug policy reform organizations is appealing to President Obama and his administration to follow its own previously stated policies respecting state medical marijuana laws.

In the letter, posted in full below, the organizations call on the Obama Administration to bring an end to the federal government’s ongoing campaign to undermine state efforts to regulate safe and legal access to medical marijuana for those patients who rely on it.

The Obama Administration’s National Drug Control Strategy Report 2012, reportedly being released in the coming days, is expected to cling to failed and outdated marijuana policies which further cement the control of the marijuana trade in the hands of drug cartels and illegal operators, endangering both patients in medical marijuana states and citizens everywhere.

City, State Officials Protest Federal Marijuana Crackdown

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 3, 2012 Dispensaries, News

MMJ Truth

It can be hard to find areas of agreement in politics — but the federal government’s assault on medical marijuana patients and providers has resulted in a lot of city and state officials finding common ground in California.

On Tuesday, on the steps of City Hall (Polk Street entrance) at 11:30 a.m., an overwhelming number of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will be joined by representatives from the offices of the City Attorney, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, State Senator Mark Leno, and the Board of Equalization to show their support for medical cannabis patients by delivering a strong message to the Obama Administration regarding recent actions by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the State’s four U.S. Attorneys against local medical cannabis dispensaries.

Medical Marijuana Initiatives Filed In 7 Cities In San Diego County

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 30, 2012 Dispensaries, Legislation, News

Neon Tommy

Activists in the last week have filed initiative proposals to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in Encinitas, Solana Beach, Lemon Grove and La Mesa, all cities in north and east San Diego County, California. Another ballot initiative is in the process of being filed in Del Mar.

Citizens for Patient Rights, in association with the Patient Care Association, announced that they are expanding their direct democracy campaign for safe access to sympathetic communities around San Diego County.

Cannabis Industry Celebrates New Jobs, Tax Revenue In DC

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 29, 2012 Dispensaries, Medical, News

National Cannabis Industry Association

NCIA representative to appear at launch of weGrow store as the District awards cultivation licenses

The District of Columbia’s Department of Health is scheduled on Friday, March 30 to award up to 10 licenses to entities to cultivate medical marijuana under the District’s medical marijuana laws. More than 13 years after the November 1998 approval of medical marijuana by D.C. voters, patients are nearing the day when they will be able to safely acquire the medicine they need to alleviate their pain and suffering.

Just Another Day For The Cops: Terrorizing A Cannabis Dispensary

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 28, 2012 Dispensaries, News

WeedMaps

In happier days: The bud room at Long Beach’s NatureCann

Plainclothes officers not providing identification as members of the Long Beach Police Department, along with Long Beach Department of Finance employees, initiated what attorney Matthew Pappas called an “illegal raid” against NatureCann Non-Profit Patient Group last week.

On March 21 at 4:41 p.m., acting without a warrant or a court order, the officers forcefully broke into the collective where three patient volunteers were assisting fellow patients. An observer recording the raid outside of the collective was knocked down by an officer, who told him the police “can do whatever they want.”

Scores of businesses along the Atlantic Avenue Corridor were disrupted by the heavily armed police presence and activity.

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