Dispensaries

Montana Police Now Delivering Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 5, 2010 Dispensaries, Medical

Talk about restoring your faith in humanity! One town in Montana has finally gotten it right when it comes to the proper relationship between medical marijuana and the cops.

The Billings, Montana Police Department says it has become a medical marijuana delivery service for pot growers in Montana, because shipping companies like FedEx and UPS refuse to handle the packages due to federal laws that could leave them open to criminal prosecution, reports KECI Missoula.

R.I. To Hold Hearings On Marijuana Dispensary Applications

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 28, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation

Graphic: ASA

Rhode Island’s department of health will hold public hearings Tuesday, June 29, to review and receive comments on 15 applicants to open the state’s first medical marijuana compassion centers (dispensaries). The dispensaries will operate as nonprofit entities to safely and securely distribute marijuana to qualified patients in the state.

According to recently released figures, Rhode Island has 1,562 medical marijuana patients who are currently required to grow their own medicine or have caregivers grow it for them.

Finally: A Shot Of The Mysterious L.A. Lakers Weed Lollipop Van!

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 26, 2010 Culture, Dispensaries

Photo: Derek Shields

This is the van that handed out free pop lollipops at the Lakers’ parade on Monday.

Some of that happiness among fans at the Los Angeles Lakers’ parade on Monday might have been other than the “thrill of victory” kind. As reported here on Toke of the Town on Tuesday, a mysterious medical marijuana truck emblazoned with WeedWorldCandies.com was giving out free pot lollipops along the parade route.

The truck was handing out marijuana lollipops in hues of orange and blue, the Lakers’ team colors.

N.M. Patients Face Medical Marijuana Shortage

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 24, 2010 Dispensaries, Medical

Photo: KOAT-TV

A medical marijuana shortage in New Mexico — which, for the second year in a row, is seeing its state-licensed dispensary system struggling to supply patients with cannabis — means those who use it might not be able to get the relief they need, reports KOAT-TV in Albuquerque.

According to a man who runs Peace Medical Marijuana Consultants, a nonprofit group counseling medical marijuana patients, there are around five dispensaries in New Mexico, with almost 2,000 patients.

San Diego County Adopts Strict Marijuana Dispensary Ordinance

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 24, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation

Graphic: Fox 5 San Diego

San Diego County has adopted restrictive rules for medical marijuana dispensaries, following a statewide trend of regulating the proliferating pot shops.

The Board of Supervisors on Wednesday ruled that dispensaries in unincorporated areas of the county must be located at least 1,000 feet from homes, schools, playgrounds and churches. Officials say that leaves only 16 available sites.

Weed Truck Gives Free Pot Lollipops At Lakers Victory Parade

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 22, 2010 Dispensaries, News

Photo: Richard Vogel/AP

It was a high old time at the Lakers’ victory parade in Los Angeles Monday. A medical marijuana truck emblazoned with WeedWorldCandies.com was giving out free pot lollipops along the parade route, according to Gale Holland at the Los Angeles Times.

The truck was handing out marijuana lollipops in hues of orange and blue, the Lakers’ team colors, according to the Times.

The pot truck, itself, was green, “with a photo mural of young women in bikinis sorting marijuana leaves,” Holland reports. (If anybody has or can get a picture of the truck, I’d love to run it here on Toke of the Town.)

Montana Governor Visits Marijuana Dispensary

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 18, 2010 Dispensaries, News

Photo: KPAX

Gov. Brian Schweitzer, right, talks with Missoula dispensary owner Rick Rosio

Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer visited a medical marijuana dispensary in Missoula on Thursday. No, the Governor wasn’t picking up an eighth of Trainwreck; he said he was there to learn what needs to be done to address “problems” with the state’s medicinal cannabis system.

Schweitzer, a Democrat, is, as far as Toke of the Town has been able to determine, the first Governor in the United States to visit a medical marijuana dispensary.

“Tell me what it is that you would recommend that we change in Montana’s medical marijuana law that would improve the business and maybe give it a little bit better air of legitimacy,” Schweitzer said while at Montana Pain Management, reports Irina Cates of KPAX.

N.J. Won’t Roll Out Medical Marijuana Program Until 2011

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 18, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation

Graphic: Clipart ETC

The administration of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will get an extension — until January 2011 — to roll out the Garden State’s medical marijuana program, already the most restrictive in the nation, according to the state senator who sponsored the law.

Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) also said is “considering” another request to change the law to allow just one centralized marijuana growing operation that would supply the six “alternative treatment centers” (dispensaries) that would sell cannabis to patients, reports Susan K. Livio at NorthJersey.com.

“They are looking at one secure location where the product is grown so you know what you are producing,” Scutari said.

According to the Christie Administration, Rutgers University’s agricultural center should grow the marijuana, and hospitals should dispense it under the state’s medical marijuana program, according to three people brief on the proposal, Livio reports.

San Diego County Wants $20,000 From Pot Dispensaries

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 18, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation

Graphic: The Stoned Alien Midget

First, they refused to issue medical marijuana patient I.D. cards, as mandated by the state — until their Supreme Court loss. Now, it’s Shakedown Street as San Diego County wants to charge medical marijuana dispensaries an outrageous upfront fee reaching as much as $20,000 for “inspection services.”

According to patient advocates, this is just the latest move in a long-term effort to keep the pot shops from opening.

The fee would cover what county officials claim is the 60 hours per week required for a deputy and licensing specialist to “assure compliance” with ordinance regulations, reports Mark Walker at North County Times.

Marijuana Dispensary Initiative Likely On Oregon Ballot

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 16, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation

Graphic: Oregon Green Free

An initiative to legalize medical marijuana dispensaries appears headed for the November ballot in Oregon.

Preliminary figures show that Initiative 28, the campaign for a medical marijuana supply system in Oregon, gathered more than 115,000 signatures through May, reports Jessica Van Berkel at The Oregonian.

Supporters of Initiative 28 say the measure is needed to ensure that patients have safe and legal supply of medical marijuana.

They argue that the licensing fees imposed under the measure would generate millions of dollars in additional revenue for the state.

Polling shows that the initiative is supported by 59 percent of Oregon voters, according to the Coalition for Patients Rights 2010.

The initiative, known as The Oregon Regulated Medical Marijuana Supply System [complete text: PDF], needs 82,769 verified names of registered voters to make the ballot.

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