Legislation

Dutch Activist: We Don’t Need A Weedpass, We Need To Pass Weed

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on November 1, 2012 Global, Legislation, News

NORML UK and other cannabis activists across Europe are welcoming the announcement that Dutch cities are set to ditch their proposed Wietpas (“WeedPass”) scheme, which would have allowed only Dutch nationals to buy cannabis in the country’s famous coffeeshops. At least 1.5 million of the city’s seven million visitors a year go to a coffeeshop.

The measure proposed by the previous Christian Democrat government would have forced the coffeeshops to become private members’ clubs, limited to only 2,000 members each and open only to Dutch residents, thereby banning sales to foreigners. The scheme had already been introduced in some parts of southern Holland, where critics say it has already lead to increased street dealing.

NM Cannabis Expert To Speak On Effects Of Medical Marijuana Program

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on October 31, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

Jane Phillips/The New Mexican

Steve Jenison, who worked as medical director for New Mexico’s medical marijuana program until his retirement, will voice his support for the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act, Issue 5

Arkansas Doctors Show Support for Issue 5

A press conference featuring Arkansas doctors voicing their support of Issue 5, the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act, will be held Thursday, November 1. Dr. Steve Jenison, chair of the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Advisory Board, will be the featured speaker. Dr. Jenison will speak about the success of the New Mexico program — its regulations, oversight and impact on the State of New Mexico, and about the similarity of the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act to New Mexico’s own program.

Dr. Jenison worked at New Mexico’s Department of Health as the medical director for the medicinal cannabis program before he retired.

Another Cheap Stunt From SB 423 Author Sen. Jeff Essmann

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on October 31, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

Montanafesto

It looks like the rough and tumble of politics is too much for Senator Essmann

Thin-Skinned Senator Files Complaint Over Campaign Rhetoric

Just 2 Weeks Ago, Essmann Staged Bogus Lawsuit Threat Against Attorney General

Not satisfied to have decimated patients’ rights, Montana state Senator Jeff Essmann is now attacking his critics with a formal complaint to the Commissioner of Political Practices.

The charge? Essman didn’t like a radio spot that mentioned his name.

“It looks like the rough and tumble of politics is too much for Senator Essmann,” said Bob Brigham, campaign manager for Patients for Reform, Not Repeal. “Maybe he should find a new career. His complaint against a radio spot of ours is untimely, wrong and desperate.”

“The fact is, the Montana Republican Party platform rejects his bill, SB 423, and calls for new medical marijuana legislation that is both workable and realistic,” Brigham added. “The writing is on the wall. SB 423 will either be rejected by the voters or rewritten in the next legislature. Senator Essmann is in denial over the fact that his handiwork is deeply flawed and won’t be law for much longer.”

Marijuana Vending Machines Coming To Arkansas? Not True!

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on October 30, 2012 Legislation, Medical

Gawker

Yes, there are a few of these in California. No, they are not coming to Arkansas, even if voters there legalize medical marijuana next Tuesday.

Lobbyists opposing the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act claimed on Tuesday that they “are working to discover whether or not medical marijuana vending machines are coming to Arkansas.” They aren’t.

“That’s simply not true; medical marijuana is only allowed to be dispensed in one of 30 licensed, non-profit dispensaries,” said David Couch, legal counsel for Arkansans for Compassionate Care. “This would not be allowed in Arkansas, unless it was approved by the Arkansas Department of Health.”

In California, vending machines add another level of security–helping to ensure that only patients get the medicine. Let’s take a look at how it works:

Clergy Leaders Endorse Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on October 30, 2012 Legislation, News

Christian Marijuana Organization

Faith leaders call on all Arkansans to support compassionate measure

Arkansans for Compassionate Care, the committee behind Issue 5, the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act, on Tuesday announced a dozen clergy leaders from across the state and from a broad range of denominations have endorsed the measure. The religious coalition was announced at a press conference in Fayetteville, featuring medical professionals and Emily Williams, who used medical marijuana to cope with the side effects of chemotherapy.

“I am proud to be among the faith leaders who have endorsed the use of medical marijuana by seriously ill patients,” said Reverend Howard Gordon, minister emeritus at the First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock. “We are compassionate people by nature and Issue 5, at its core, is about compassion.

Oregon Military Veterans Urge Yes On Measure 80 Legalization

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on October 30, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

Salem-News.com

“Denying veterans access to therapeutic cannabis is making criminals of our heroes.”

National advocates, elected officials and representatives of Oregon’s 300,000 military veterans on Monday joined together in Ashland and Portland to call attention to Oregon’s appalling policy of denying medical cannabis to sufferers of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and to urge Oregonians to vote yes on Measure 80, which would allow adults 21 and older to purchase taxed and regulated cannabis (marijuana) at state-licensed stores.

Is I-502 Better Than The Marijuana Law We Have Now?

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on October 30, 2012 Legislation, News

Sensible Washington

By Troy Barber

Sensible Washington

If I-502 — on the November general election ballot — passes, national headlines will read “Washington State Legalizes Marijuana!” This is what national marijuana law reform groups have been dreaming of for more than 40 years. The practical application of the law, however, will be something very different, the end results could yield some very negative impacts, and all the headlines would be for naught.

I-502 is not legalization; it is decriminalization. The language creates a narrow exception for the right to possess limited amounts of marijuana or cannabis-infused foods and beverages. The tax-and-regulate portions conflict with federal law and are likely to be preempted. This will leave no legal production or retail sale of product for consumers, leaving illegal markets to fill new demand.

AR Medical Marijuana Act: $10 Million In Annual Tax Revenues

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on October 29, 2012 Legislation, Medical

Arkansans for Compassionate Care

Act Would Create 500 New Jobs

The Arkansas Department of Health estimates 45,000 Arkansas patients would benefit from the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act (AMMA). According to the latest numbers, the AMMA would generate an estimated $10 million a year in new sales tax revenue to the state and create 500 new, well-paying jobs in the state.

The ADH indicated the initial startup costs for the program will be between $3.3 million and $6.4 million. This will be paid for by cardholder and license fees.

Montana Judge Blocks Key Provisions Of Medical Marijuana Law

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on October 26, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

THC Finder

District Court Judge James P. Reynolds late on Friday for the second time issued a Temporary Restraining Order blocking key provisions of Montana’s medical marijuana law. The current law, as gutted by the GOP-controlled Legislature last session, limits providers to no more than three patients, and prohibits providers from receiving “anything of value” from patients for their services.

If the law were in full effect, very few providers could continue to operate, and the vast majority of the approximately 8,300 patients currently in the state program would be denied access to medical marijuana, according to Chris Lindsey, president of the Montana Cannabis Industry Association.

Worth Repeating: Marijuana As Schedule I Violates Patient’s Bill of Rights

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on October 26, 2012 Culture, Legislation, Medical

Research Nursing 518

Patient’s Bill of Rights — You didn’t know you had rights?

Worth Repeating

By Ron Marczyk, RN

Toke of the Town Columnist

The Patient’s Bills of Rights guarantees you the right to make your own health decisions when seeking medical care, which includes all the medicines you personally choose to put into your body, in partnership with your physician’s recommendations, to prevent, heal, or improve your quality of life due to suboptimal health.

The Patient’s Bill of Rights grants you the freedom to use medical marijuana to heal yourself!

People who are ill, injured, suffering from a disease or disability, and who are prescribed medical marijuana, are patients protected by this Patient’s Bill of Rights (PBR) in or out of the hospital. Wherever your pain goes, so go your patient rights.

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