Legislation

Arizona: Medical Marijuana Law Would Protect Workers

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 19, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Arizona issued “tax stamps” for marijuana as part of Reagan’s War on Drugs in the 1980s. If a medical marijuana initiative passes in November, the Grand Canyon State will have another go at taxing cannabis.

What happened in Michigan to a WalMart worker who was fired for testing positive for doctor-recommended medical marijuana probably could not happen in Arizona — if voters approve a ballot measure in November.

The initiative would allow doctors to recommend marijuana for patients who are suffering from certain conditions, reports Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services. It would also allow creation of a network of nonprofit dispensaries that would sell cannabis to those with doctor recommendations. Patients who are not within 25 miles of a dispensary would be allowed to grow their own.

The ballot measure also contains anti-discrimination provisions, including one that says an employer cannot make hiring, firing and disciplinary decisions based on a person’s status as a medical marijuana card holder.

Possibly more significant, the protection extends to someone who tests positive unless the company could prove the person used or possessed marijuana on the job, or was “impaired” during work hours.

Colorado Health Dept. Opposes Medical Marijuana For Veterans

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 19, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: Esquire

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is actively lobbying members of the Legislature to oppose safe access to medical marijuana for Colorado veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

On Monday, March 22, the Colorado House Judiciary Committee will consider HB 1284, a bill to regulate the distribution of medical marijuana in Colorado. Rep. Sal Pace will offer an amendment to allow individuals diagnosed with PTSD to have access to medical marijuana if they have a recommendation from a psychiatrist.

The actions of the Colorado Health Department stand in stark contrast to the thoughtful process followed by its counterpart in New Mexico, which added PTSD to the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana patients in that state in February 2009.

L.A. Cops Try To Sell Reefer Madness To Skeptical Hawaiians

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 18, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation, News

Graphic: 300zxFreak

Two zealously anti-pot Los Angeles police officers on Wednesday warned Hawaii it could “see an increase in crime” if it legalizes medical marijuana dispensaries and softens its marijuana laws.

“It’s so bad in L.A.,” claimed Sgt. Eric Bixler of the Narcotics Division of Los Angeles Police Department. Bixler said law enforcement officers there “deal daily with the effects” of California’s Proposition 215, which allows patients and caregivers to possess and cultivate marijuana for personal medical use, reports Melissa Tanji at The Maui News.

People driving while smoking, and teens buying marijuana at dispensaries to resell on the street are just some of the problems caused by California’s medical marijuana law, the officers claimed.

Of course, since they’re good honest cops, we have to give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they really believe nobody in California history ever drove a car while high until the medical marijuana law passed in 1996. Maybe they’re just a little slow in getting around to actually reading the language of the law, which prohibits sales to anyone without a doctor’s recommendation to use pot.

Oregon Man Tests Whether Medical Pot Users Can Carry In Public

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 17, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Photo: KATU

Medical marijuana patient Paul McClain: “I feel that I was complying with state regulations”

Oregon medical marijuana patient Paul McClain is facing court next month on a charge he says he never expected. “If [they rule]according to the law…,” he said, “then I’m going to be exonerated.”

McClain goes on trial next month for illegal marijuana possession. Officers found a bag weed and pot pipes in his backpack during a search last month at the Springfield Justice Center, the city’s police station, reports Tom Adams at KATU.com.

“It’s our belief that he’ll be convicted based on the definition of the law,” said Springfield Police Sergeant Tom Borchers.

Rhode Island Senate Panel Recommends Decriminalizing Pot

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 17, 2010 Legislation, News

Graphic: Reality Catcher

A Rhode Island state Senate commission has recommended that an ounce or less of marijuana be decriminalized in the state.

The panel, chaired by state Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Cranston), voted Tuesday to approve a 24-page final report concluding that marijuana law reform would save Rhode Island money by avoiding “costly arrests [and]incarcerations due to simple possession of marijuana,” reports Katherine Gregg of The Providence Journal.

The report says that Rhode Island could take its lead from Massachusetts, where adults 18 or older caught with an ounce or less of pot are required only to pay a $100 civil fine “that goes directly to the municipality in which the penalty was issued.”

Maryland: Medical Marijuana To Be Debated Thursday

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 17, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Graphic: Marijuana Policy Project

On Thursday, March 18, the Maryland State Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will receive testimony on SB 627, a bill that would make Maryland the 15th state in the nation to have an effective medical marijuana law.

Sponsored by Frederick County Republican Sen. David Brinkley, the bill would allow state-regulated outlets to to dispense medical marijuana to patients who receive a recommendation from their doctor.

The bipartisan bill is sponsored by Senate President Mike Miller, Minority Leader Allan Kittleman, Minority Whip Nancy Jacobs, and Deputy Majority Leader Robert Garigiola, among others.

West Hollywood Councilman Backs Full Legalization Of Pot

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

Photo: FosseTheCat

West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran: “Marijuana is no more dangerous than alcohol”

West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran says he’s the first politician in Southern California to support a statewide ballot initiative that would legalize marijuana for recreational use in the state.

The measure, which appears to have enough signatures but has not yet been certified for the ballot by the Secretary of State, would treat marijuana like alcohol, tax it and make it available to adults 21 and older, reports Dennis Romero at the L.A. Weekly.

Polls indicate a majority of Californians support legalizing marijuana.

The Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 is funded by Richard Lee, owner of an Oakland dispensary and Oaksterdam University. His drive got 680,000 signatures; only 433,971 need be valid for the initiative to be on November’s ballot.

Missouri: House Snuffs Out Medical Marijuana

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

Graphic: Joplin NORML

The Missouri House snuffed out efforts to legalize medical marijuana during the middle of a debate on banning fake pot. One ignorant Representative called medical cannabis “a party, not an illness.”

The amendment, which popped up in a House debate to criminalize the “synthetic marijuana” sold under K2, Spice and other brand names, was voted down. But the bill banning fake pot received first-round approval, reports Marty Swant of the Columbia Missourian.

“Who are we to tell terminally ill patients that some substance that can provide them relief isn’t good enough for them?” said Rep. Jason Holsman (D-Jackson County), one of a small group of Democrats who pushed for the measure.

Holsman also said there were several other benefits to allowing limited medical usage of cannabis. He said it would keep non-violent drug offenders out of prisons, and allow the state to tax marijuana purchases.

Dutch Coffee Shops In Danger; ‘On Strike’ On Election Day

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 15, 2010 Dispensaries, Global, Legislation

Photo: Bachrach44

Pick Up The Pieces, one of the many “coffee shops” in Amsterdam

Dutch “coffee shops,” a euphemism for outlets selling cannabis, are in danger, and have announced they are going “on strike” on June 9, the day the Netherlands will hold parliamentary elections.

“The idea behind closing for the day is to encourage all those who like to smoke a joint to get out and vote for the parties which will ensure that coffee shops will not be banned in the Netherlands,” reports Johan van Slooten at Radio Netherlands Worldwide.

Idiocy In Illinois: Anti-Blunt Pot Wrap Legislation Pushed

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 15, 2010 Legislation, Products

Photo: Marijuana Reviews

Good news, folks. Preachers, police and politicians in Illinois must have already solved all the real and important problems troubling the state, because now they seem to have time to go after blunt wraps.

Clergy and cops are backing a plan being pushed in the General Assembly to classify blunt wraps — made of tobacco leaves, and often used to roll marijuana — as “drug paraphernalia,” reports Kristen Mack at WGN-TV.

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