Legislation

California Considers Taxing Medical Marijuana

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

A bill to tax medical marijuana like tobacco is scheduled for hearings by the California State Senate Revenue & Taxation Committee next Wednesday, June 23.

The bill, SBX6-16, sponsored by Sen. Ronald Calderon of Montebello, Calif., would tax all sales of cannabis (except wholesale-level distribution to collectives, cooperatives or dispensaries) at a rate equal to the tax rate on tobacco products.

If it seems a little odd to you that medicine would be subject to the “vice” tax on tobacco, which has no medical uses, you’re not the only one. Many patient advocates strongly oppose taxing medical marijuana.

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.

Montana: Anti-Pot Petitioners Face Off With Pro-Pot Protesters

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 17, 2010 Culture, Legislation, Medical

Graphic: KULR 8

An effort to repeal Montana’s medical marijuana law, which would once again make criminals of the state’s 16,000+ cannabis patients, is stirring emotions from activists on both sides of the doobie divide.

The “Safe Community, Safe Kids” petition is being handed out across the Big Sky State. The group needs 25,000 signatures by Friday, June 18, to qualify for the November ballot, reports Nicole Grigg of KULR 8.

On Wednesday, medical marijuana advocates protested at Billings’ Centennial Park where anti-pot petitioners were collecting signatures.

Oregon Reclassifies Marijuana As Medicine

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

Graphic: The Boston Phoenix

Oregon on Wednesday became the latest state — and the first in many years — to officially reclassify marijuana from its Schedule I status as a dangerous drug with no medical value.

The Oregon Board of Pharmacy (BOP) voted 4-1 on June 16 to move cannabis to Schedule II, thereby recognizing its medical use.

The BOP decision came after months of deliberation and input from the public. The Oregon Legislature passed SB 728, which directed the BOP to reclassify marijuana to Schedule II, III, IV or V, in August 2009.

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.

L.A. Releases Pot Dispensary ‘Priority List’ For Choice Locations

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

Graphic: Sookiesooker/Dangerous Minds

The Los Angeles city clerk’s office has released a “priority list” of medical marijuana dispensaries with the date and time they originally registered under the September 2007 moratorium. The list will be used to determine the order in which dispensaries will have their choice of locations in the city.

For example, the first shop registered, with first choice, can locate anywhere in the city that zoning regulations allow.

Going down the priority list, each time an additional dispensary picks a location, the available choices will get a little thinner, because no other dispensary can locate within 1,000 feet, per the L.A. medical marijuana ordinance.

Volunteers Sought For Colorado Marijuana Panel

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

Photo: JustGetThere.us

Are you interested in serving on a medical marijuana registry advisory committee? Do you live in Colorado? The Department of Public Health is seeking applications for nine positions open to members of the public. Applications will be accepted until June 30.

The committee will advise the department’s executive director on devising rules required by two medical marijuana bills recently passed by the Colorado Legislature, SB10-109 and HB10-1284, reports Loretta Sword at The Pueblo Chieftain.

Recommendations by the committee on implementation of the laws will be considered by the department’s executive director and the Colorado Board of Health.

Members of the public will hold nine spots on the 11-member advisory committee. The other two positions will be from the Department of Public Health and Environment.

The department’s two committee members will be the director of the state’s medical marijuana registry and the state’s chief medical officer (or his designee).

California Town Rejects Marijuana Tax, For Now

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

Photo: John Burgess/The Press Democrat

Rich Maloney of Santa Rosa looks through the selection of medical marijuana available at the Peace through Medicine Healing Center in Sebastopol on Monday, June 14, 2010.

The Sebastopol City Council on Tuesday night rejected, by a 3-2 vote, imposing a business tax on sales of marijuana if it is legalized by California voters in November, reports Bob Norberg at The Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

“Do we want to have storefront sales?” asked Councilman Guy Wilson, who got all bent out of shape just thinking about the measure. “Do we want Sebastopol to be the place where people come for their recreational marijuana?”

The proposal was to put a tax, not to exceed five percent, on revenues of all “marijuana-related” businesses, should California voters approve the Control & Tax Cannabis 2010 initiative, which would legalize marijuana for anyone 21 and older.

Tiny Idaho Town Makes Marijuana Lowest Police Priority

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

Photo: city-data.com

Tiny Hailey, Idaho is Mayberry — plus marijuana

Could it be the Mayberry of marijuana? Pot smokers and civil libertarians won a victory in a small Idaho town Monday when the mayor announced that cannabis use on private property was officially the lowest police priority.

“This has not been easy, but I think that we have come up with something that works for those on both sides of this issue,” said Hailey Mayor Rick Davis at a City Council meeting, reports Tony Evans of the Idaho Mountain Express.

“This means that Hailey police will not go out and actively look for people smoking pot on private property — but they never have,” Mayor Davis said afterward.

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