Legislation

Canada: Court Orders Nova Scotia To Pay For Woman’s Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 31, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Nova Scotia has been ordered to pay for the medical marijuana used by a woman who is on social assistance. In a decision released Wednesday afternoon, the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia ordered the Department of Community Services to pay for Sally Campbell’s prescription pot, reports Beverley Ware of The Chronicle Herald.

Campbell suffers from numerous ailments, and has a certificate from Health Canada giving her permission to use cannabis to relieve her nausea and pain.

Marijuana Legalization In Oregon: Full Speed Ahead

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 30, 2010 Legislation, News

Graphic: Oregon NORML

It’s full speed ahead for the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act (OCTA), a ballot initiative which would legalize and tax marijuana in the Beaver State, as the Oregon Supreme Court has dismissed the only challenge to OCTA’s ballot title.

The challenge — filed by Bradley Benoit from the Beaverton, Ore., area — came from an earlier comment regarding OCTA’s summary explanation. The comment requested the summary of the measure describe in detail the fact that the Oregon Attorney General would be responsible for defending Oregonians, and the law itself, should a federal case arise.

CA Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown Playing Shut-Mouth On Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 30, 2010 Legislation, News

Photo: Just Another Blog (From L.A.)

Then-Gov. Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown (center) with Linda Ronstadt (the babe), Jackson Browne (right), David Lindley (left) and the Eagles in the late 1970s

Back in the 1970s when he was dating Linda Ronstadt, hanging with the Eagles and was the dashing young governor of California, a few roaches were allegedly — and famously — spotted by a reporter in the aftermath of a wild party at Jerry Brown’s place. For a brief, shining moment, “Governor Moonbeam” was the darling of the counterculture crowd.

Especially after his 1975 signing of California’s marijuana decrim law, Brown seemed just about as hip as a politician could be, considering. He even admitted trying pot.

But it’s funny what 30 years can do.

Activists: San Diego Pot Dispensary Ordinance Is ‘A Ban’

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 30, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation

Graphic: San Diego News Network

Tough new proposed medical marijuana dispensary rules would make it almost impossible to open and operate dispensaries anywhere in unincorporated San Diego County, according to cannabis activists.

Under a proposed ordinance released for public review this month, medical marijuana dispensaries would be banned within 1,000 feet of residences, schools, playgrounds, parks, churches, and recreational centers, as well as other dispensaries.

That rule would eliminate all but a handful of the unincorporated areas of the county, according to county documents, reports Edward Sifuentes at North County Times.

D.C. Medical Marijuana Bill Would Allow 2 Ounces

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 30, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: Medical Marijuana Patients of D.C.

Washington, D.C., would allow patients to have up to two ounces of marijuana a month — enough for about two joints a day — for medical use under a bill that moved forward Tuesday.

Patients would not be allowed to grow their own cannabis under the bill, but a committee would study whether to allow home cultivation by patients and caregivers, and make a recommendation by 2012, reports Malin Berghult at WUSA9.

The bill, which was approved by two city government committees on Tuesday, still needs approval of the full City Council. That could come as early as May.

South Dakota Voters May Legalize Medical Marijuana In November

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 29, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: South Dakota Coalition for Compassion

Encouraged by their near miss four years ago, medical marijuana supporters say they have a better chance this year to persuade South Dakotans to legalize the plant for treating pain, nausea and other health problems.

A similar measured failed in 2006, getting about 48 percent of the vote. It was the only time in American history that medical marijuana lost a statewide popular election.

But a coalition of patients, doctors, nurses and others will campaign this summer, explaining how marijuana can help people with serious illnesses, said organizer Emmett Reistroffer, reports Chet Brokaw of The Associated Press.

“We feel like once people learn about the therapeutic uses, they will compassionately support the measure,” Reistroffer said. “If we help them understand marijuana is a medicine, we think we’ll gain their votes.”

N.J. Lawmakers Urge Governor To Pardon Medical Pot Patient

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 26, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Photo: Robert Sciarrino/The Star-Ledger

John Ray Wilson, a multiple sclerosis patient, is led out of Superior Court after being sentenced to five years in prison for marijuana.

Two New Jersey lawmakers called on Gov. Chris Christie Wednesday to pardon a man sentenced to five years in prison for growing marijuana to treat his multiple sclerosis.

Senators Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) and Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) asked the governor to commute John Ray Wilson’s sentence to probation, reports James Queally at The Star-Ledger.

The senators called the prison term facing Wilson as “cruel, unusual and unnecessary” in a letter written to the governor March 24. Wilson, 37, of Franklin Township, N.J., was sentenced to prison after he was found guilty of second-degree “marijuana manufacturing” and third-degree drug possession by a jury in December.

Arizona: Senate Decides Thursday Whether To Tax Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 25, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: Reality Catcher

Arizona lawmakers are seeing green, and it’s not just sticky buds they’re ogling. State voters may get the chance to legalize medical marijuana in November — and the Legislature is already deciding whether to tax it.

The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is gathering signatures for a ballot initiative that would allow using cannabis with a doctor’s recommendation, reports the Arizona Daily Sun.

Kansas: Medical Marijuana Bill Introduced

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 25, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Photo: Jim Spellman/CNN

A bill has been introduced in the Kansas Legislature which would legalize the use of medical marijuana by seriously ill individuals with certain debilitating medical conditions.

House Bill 2610, titled the Medical Marijuana Act, would create registered marijuana dispensaries known as compassion centers. These are defined as a non-profit organization “that acquires, possesses, cultivates, manufactures, delivers, transfers, transports, supplies or dispenses marijuana or related supplies and educational material to cardholders,” reports Lauren Garrison at the Kansas State Collegian.

Texas Cannabis Crusade, Austin, May 1: Be There!

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 24, 2010 Legislation, News

Photo: Texas Cannabis Crusade

The 2009 event was the biggest pro-cannabis rally in Texas history. This year’s Texas Cannabis Crusade will be even bigger.

With the third annual Texas Cannabis Crusade — expected to be the largest pro-cannabis rally in state history — just over a month away, Texas NORML, which stages the Austin event along with Outgrow Big Bro (OGBB), needs all the help they can get to make it happen seamlessly.

The Crusade, which is free to attend, is held in conjunction with the Global/Worldwide Marijuana March, which includes more than 300 cities worldwide.

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