Legislation

Yes On 80 Campaign Says Marijuana Prohibition Is The Problem

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 27, 2012 Dispensaries, Legislation, News

The Human Collective director Sarah Bennett (right) helps a client at the dispensary in Tigard. The Human Collective was raided Thursday morning.

Campaign Makes Statement on Oregon Medical Marijuana Raids: ‘Regulation is the solution.’

Washington County, Oregon sheriffs’ officers on Thursday morning raided The Human Collective, a medical marijuana facility in Tigard. Sheriff’s Sgt. Bob Ray claimed The Human Collective dispensary, which opened in April 2010, was selling marijuana.

Two people were detained during the search, reports Noelle Crombie of The Oregonian. No arrests were made, and nobody has been charged with a crime.

Arkansas Medical Marijuana Initiative Approved For Ballot

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 27, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

Arkansans For Compassionate Care

State Supreme Court Allows Ballot Language, Arkansas Now First In South to Vote on Medical Marijuana

Great news from Dixie! The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a suit challenging the language of the ballot initiative that would allow seriously ill Arkansans to use marijuana to treat certain conditions with the recommendation of their doctors. The initiative will now appear on the November state ballot as Issue 5.

Justices rejected a challenge by a coalition of anti-marijuana “conservative” groups who had asked the court to block the initiative from November’s general election ballot, or to order the state not to count any votes cast on the issue. Gotta love those wingnuts, trying to deny voters the right to choose!

With the court’s decision, Arkansas is now the first state in the Southern U.S. whose residents will have a chance to determine if their friends and neighbors will be able to use the medicine that works best for them without the fear of arrest.

Women For Measure 80 Holding Marijuana Legalization Fundraiser

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 26, 2012 Legislation, News

Women For Measure 80

Women for Measure 80, a group that is working to restore industrial hemp and end cannabis prohibition in Oregon, is hosting a fundraiser Saturday, September 29, at Plew’s Brews in the St. John’s neighborhood of Portland.

Sponsored by Ethereal Madness Entertainment, the event promises to be a full day of live music, good conversations, good brews and cannabis & hemp education. Music will be provided by Cascadia Rising, The Roaming, Xperience of Psykosis, Sam Gustafson, Cupcake, Gringo Stars, Justin James Bridges, WeSickBoss, Miriams Well and more.

A silent auction with some great prizes and a masseuse provide even more ways to support Measure 80 at this event. A medication area will be provided for OMMP registrants.

“We are excited that this event is receiving so much local support,” said Anna Diaz, founder of Women for Measure 80. “It’s time for our state to provide a more sensible approach to marijuana laws that will create jobs and protect our children.”

B.C. Municipalities Pass Marijuana Decrim Resolution

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 26, 2012 Global, Legislation, News

Cannabis Culture

The Union of British Columbia Municipalities voted Wednesday in favour of a resolution calling for the decriminalization of marijuana and the study of a taxed and regulated system. The vote followed an extensive debate of the issue on Monday where delegates heard arguments in favour and against the resolution.

Speaking in favour of the resolution were Dr. Evan Wood, physician, researcher and founder of Stop the Violence as well as David Bratzer, a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) and Geoff Plant, former attorney general of B.C.

The UBCM vote came after the Sensible BC campaign to decriminalize cannabis through a provincial referendum held a public forum in Victoria, which drew more than 500 attendees.

Guatemala’s President: Let’s Legalize Drugs

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 26, 2012 Global, Legislation, News

U.S. Open Borders

President Otto Perez Molina says the War On Drugs has failed

President Perez Molina Breaks New Ground by Proposing Legal Regulation of Drugs on Eve of Wednesday’s Speech at U.N. General Assembly

Proposal Bolsters Opposition to Drug War Among Latin American Leaders as Drug Prohibition Debate Continues to Escalate

President Otto Perez Molina of Guatemala on Tuesday announced his intention to propose legally regulating currently illicit drugs as a means of reducing crime, violence and corruption. He is expected to elaborate on his proposal Wednesday when he addresses the United Nations General Assembly.

OR Legalization Measure Yes On 80 Announces ‘8-for-80 Money Bomb’

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 25, 2012 Legislation, News

Yes On 80

Seizing on recent endorsements including former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury and State Ways and Means Co-Chair Rep. Peter Buckley, Oregon’s Yes on 80 marijuana legalization campaign is launching its first ‘8 for 80 ‘money bomb’ online fundraiser with the goal of raising $8,000 in a 36-hour online and phone fundraising blitz.

The “money bomb” online fundraiser will start at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sep. 26, and run for 36 hours, until 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sep. 27.

To participate in the money bomb, supporters must go to www.Vote80.org and click on the orange “Donate” button.

San Diego Medical Marijuana Campaigns Score Endorsements

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 24, 2012 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Citizens For Patient Rights

The campaigns to allow and regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in Lemon Grove, Del Mar and Solana Beach, California (Propositions T, H and W, respectively) have recently received the endorsements of political parties in San Diego County from across the political spectrum, including the San Diego County Democratic Party, the San Diego County Libertarian Party and the San Diego County Green Party.

“These endorsements show just how mainstream, and broad, the fight for medical marijuana access has become,” said the group Citizens for Patient Rights in a press release. “Unlike other political issues, which tend to clearly divide conservatives and liberals, the rights of the citizens of the State of California to allow qualified patients access to marijuana medicine has clearly united compassionate voters on all sides of the aisle.”

Other prominent endorsements for these initiatives include:

Worth Repeating: Marijuana Laws Stuck On Stupid For 75 Years

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 21, 2012 Culture, Legislation, Medical

All Voices

Worth Repeating

By Ron Marczyk, RN

Toke of the Town Columnist

In 1964 THC, the molecule, was first discovered. What do the last 48 years of science have to say about medical marijuana stripped of DEA bias and its groupthink ideologically driven research?

The time is NOW to listen, and let the science supporting medical marijuana speak for itself!

In a loud, clear voice the science concludes overwhelmingly: YES! Marijuana is medicine! And Schedule I is an outdated scientifically false claim!

After 10 years of stonewalling by the DEA, medical marijuana patients will finally get their day in federal court to prove that the Drug Enforcement Administration’s marijuana claims are false!

Both LA County DA Candidates Set Sights On Pot Dispensaries

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 21, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

Mae Ryan/KPCC; votealanjackson.com

Chief Deputy DA Jackie Lacey, left, and Deputy DA Alan Jackson

Tweedle-dumb and Tweedle-dumber? So much for actual choices at the ballot box.

Los Angeles County district attorney candidates, Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson and Chief Deputy District Attorney Jackie Lacey, on Thursday night held what may be their last debate before the November general election — and while they disagreed on many issues, both candidates vowed to continue to prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries, even if voters overturn the city of Los Angeles’ dispensary ban, reports The Los Angeles Times.

Cops, Judges Support CO’s Marijuana Regulation Ballot Measure

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 20, 2012 Legislation, News

LEAP

National Black and Latino Police Groups Announce Endorsements for Amendment 64

A group of police officers, judges and prosecutors who support Amendment 64, the Colorado ballot measure to regulate marijuana like alcohol, held a press conference on Thursday to release a letter of endorsement signed by law enforcers from across the state and to announce the endorsement of the national police organizations Blacks in Law Enforcement of America and the National Latino Officers Association.

The campaign has also secured the personal endorsement of Colorado’s public defender, Doug Wilson.

“Law enforcement officers are on the front lines of the war on marijuana and have seen first-hand that prohibition does more harm than good,” says Art Way, Colorado Senior Drug Policy Manager for the Drug Policy Alliance.

Browsing: Legislation