Legislation

Washington Legislature Drops The Ball (Again) On Marijuana Decrim

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

Never mind what the people of Washington want. The Legislature thinks pot is just too scary.

Cowardly career politicians, out of touch with their own constituents and terrified of being branded “soft on drugs,” have once again dropped the ball on decriminalizing marijuana.

Senate Bill 5615, which would have freed up Washington’s criminal justice resources by making adult possession of small amounts of marijuana an infraction carrying a fine, rather than a misdemeanor carrying mandatory jail time, failed to get a vote in the Washington State Senate Tuesday.

“This means efforts to address adult marijuana use through a civil, public health approach, rather than a failed criminalization approach, have died for the 2010 legislative session,” said Alison Holcomb, drug policy director, ACLU of Washington.

“The ACLU of Washington is disappointed by the Legislature’s failure to pass this bill despite strong and consistent public support for it,” Holcomb said.

Legalization For Medication: College Student Speaks Out

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

Photo: Ron Crumpton

Ron Crumpton: “The truth is that the war on marijuana is almost over; the stigma is gone.”

From time to time, Toke of the Town reads something that helps to shore up our sometimes shaky faith in the possibility, at some time in the future, of sane marijuana laws in the United States. Now and again, we see a piece of writing on the Web that makes us say, “Yeah! Things are going to be just fine.”

I had one of those moments recently when reading an op-ed from a student-run university newspaper in Alabama.

“Which university?” You might ask. Well, I can’t tell you, since they don’t want their name associated with Toke of the Town… which shows us there’s still a lot of work to do.

In any event, Ron Crumpton, who wrote the editorial in question, has generously agreed to allow us to reproduce the piece in its entirety.

Patient Advocates Argue Against Marijuana Dispensary Ban

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 16, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation, News

Photo: Laurie Avocado

Are California cities legally allowed to ban medical marijuana dispensaries? We may soon find out.

Legal briefs were filed Tuesday by patient advocates Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and California State Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) in an appellate court case that is expected to decide whether local governments can ban storefront distribution of medical marijuana.

Iowa Poll: 64% Back Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 16, 2010 Legislation, Medical, News

Photo: Des Moines Register

Almost two-thirds of Iowans believe medical marijuana patients shouldn’t be arrested.

A new Iowa poll shows that almost two-thirds of Iowans — 64 percent — think patients should be allowed to use marijuana as medicine if their doctors approve.

However, fewer than a third of Iowans want to legalize cannabis for recreational purposes, the same poll shows, reports the Des Moines Register.

Fourteen states in the U.S. have already legalized the medical use of marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation.

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy plans to decide Wednesday whether to recommend that the Iowa Legislature follow suit.

Medical marijuana supporters say that cannabis can relieve pain and nausea for many patients suffering from debilitating diseases, including cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis.

New Hampshire Takes Big Step Towards Decriminalizing Pot

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 12, 2010 Legislation, News

Graphic: The Fresh Scent

New Hampshire just took a big step towards decriminalizing a quarter-ounce or less of marijuana.

A proposal to do just that got a major boost Thursday when a State House committee overwhelmingly voted 16-2 to recommend it, reports Terry Date of The Eagle-Tribune.

Long Beach Pot Dispensaries Demand Equal Time

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 12, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation

Photo: Long Beach Marijuana Collective

The Long Beach, California City Council is moving towards passing rules for medical marijuana businesses, but some local dispensaries are worried that the balance is shifting too far in the direction of unnecessary regulation, like the ordinance recently passed in Los Angeles.

Carl Kemp, of the Kemp Group, which represents about 10 local dispensaries, said that supporters of medical marijuana collectives haven’t been allowed enough time for discussion and presentation with the City Council, reports Ryan ZumMallen at LBPost.com.

Pot Dispensaries Again Try To Keep Patient Records Secret

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 11, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation

Graphic: Addo Gaudium

Lawyers for five Dana Point, California medical marijuana dispensaries are asking an appeals court to reinstate their motion to avoid turning over company records, including financial data and patients’ names, to the city under a subpoena.

The Fourth District Court of Appeals has given the dispensaries until Tuesday to file a petition for an “extraordinary writ,” for which the pot shops are seeking an extension, reports Vik Jolly at The Orange County Register.

In its January 29 order, which took at least one dispensary attorney by surprise, the court found that the appeal in the “case is not from an appealable order” and deemed it an “extraordinary writ” petition.

That petition requires the pot shops to show that an Orange County Superior Court judge abused her discretion in issuing an order to enforce the city subpoena, according to attorney Lee Petros for the Point Alternative Care dispensary.

‘Cannabis Casualty’? Brit Government Goes After Scientific Independence

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 10, 2010 Global, Legislation, News

Photo: Political Scrapbook

U.K. drugs advisor David Nutt was sacked for… well, advising about drugs.

It all started late last year when David Nutt, chairman of Britain’s Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse (ACDM), was sacked by Home Secretary Alan Johnson after Nutt said scientific evidence showed cannabis and ecstasy are less dangerous than alcohol.

Now more than 80 leading scientists in the United Kingdom have signed a document rejecting a set of government principles which they say would compromise their scientific integrity, reports health editor Sarah Boseley at The Guardian.

Missouri Woman Sees Uphill Fight For Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 9, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Marijuana is legal medicine in 14 states. A group of Missourians is taking their fight to the state Capitol, hoping to make Missouri number 15, reports Sara Forhetz at KY3 News.

Hawaii Marijuana Patients Want Dispensaries, More Plants

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 9, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Graphic: www.hawaiimedicalmarijuana.org

Medical marijuana advocates in Hawaii say it’s time to make it easier for patients in the state to have safe access to medicinal cannabis.

Ten years ago, Hawaii became the first state to legalize medical marijuana through the legislative process (California [1996], Oregon and Washington [1998] had already passed voter initiatives), but advocates say the the state program has failed to adapt to evolving patient needs, reports B.J. Reyes of the Honolulu Star Bulletin.

“We haven’t made any changes to our legislation since day one,” said Pam Lichty, president of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii and co-chairwoman of the Medical Cannabis Working Group, convened last year to study the state’s law and make recommendations to the Legislature.

The report from the working group, due this week, plans to make four recommendations:

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