Legislation

City Hears From Patients On Marijuana Dispensary Ban

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

Laura Stevens, Green Hope: “Our governor failed us.”

The Shoreline City Council heard from medical marijuana patients and providers Monday night. The cannabis supporters want the Washington city to stop its plans to shut down local dispensaries.

“We’ve got cancer patients who have chemo next week; they want their next medicine, they’re coming to me crying not knowing what to do,” said Laura Stevens, who runs Green Hope, a medical marijuana dispensary in Shoreline, reports Kirsten Joyce at Q13 Fox. “I don’t know what to tell them.”

“Our governor failed us,” Stevens told the council. She said many of her patients suffer from cancer, AIDS and Crohn’s disease.

Medical Marijuana Battle Heats Up In Montana

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

Photo: Cannabis Fantastic

The Montana Legislature this spring all but repealed the state’s medical marijuana law — passed by an overwhelming 62 percent of voters in 2004 — but the court battle rages on, as does the battle for public opinion.

First, the Montana Cannabis Industry Association filed suit to block implementation of the new law. Now, the state has responded with court filings of its own, reports Scots Kersgaard at the Colorado Independent.

Montana’s attorney general claims the new, more restrictive law is not unconstitutional, and his office is prepared to fight for it in court in about two weeks. Meanwhile, that same office is tasked with certifying the language being used in a referendum drive to overturn that very law.

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

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

Photo: AJM Studios

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.

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.

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.

Californians, Contact Your State Legislators About Marijuana Now

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 1, 2011 Legislation, News

Graphic: CA NORML

This Friday, June 3, is the last day for bills to be voted on in the California Legislature for passage to the other legislative house.

Two major marijuana bills are before the Legislature and need action — one each in the Senate and the Assembly. It’s time to contact your state legislators now and tell them you support SB 129 and AB 1017. Below, you can find easy links to do just that.

Legislation that would make it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against persons who are authorized under state law to use medical marijuana is pending in the California Senate.

Senate Bill 129 declares it unlawful under state law “for an employer to discriminate against a person in hiring, termination, or any term or condition of employment or otherwise penalize a person, if the discrimination is based upon the person’s status as a qualified patient or a positive drug test for marijuana,” if the drug test result is indicative of previous, off-the-job marijuana use (e.g., a positive test for marijuana metabolites on a urine screen).

Public Forum Will Support North Carolina Medical Marijuana Bill

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 1, 2011 Legislation, Medical, News

Graphic: The North Carolina Cannabis Patients Network

If you or someone you care about has cancer or another debilitating medical condition that modern medicine is not helping — or the medicine is causing more side effects than it is worth — and you’ve considered using medical cannabis, you know how important legal access can be.

North Carolina House Bill 577, the “North Carolina Cannabis Act” would help seriously ill patients by providing them with safe and legal access to medical marijuana, and a public forum has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, to help educate legislators and the public about the bill.

The day will kick off with a press conference at 9:30 a.m., in room LB 1328. The North Carolina Cannabis Act House Bill 577 of 2011’s Public Forum is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Legislative Auditorium between the House and Senate Chambers. A lunch break at 1 p.m. out on the Halifax Mall, between the legislative buildings, will be sponsored by the North Carolina Cannabis Patients Network (NCCPN).

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