Legislation

Oregon Cannabis Tax Act Makes Early Turn-In Of Signatures

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 12, 2012 Legislation, News

OCTA 2012

The Oregon Cannabis Tax Act 2012 initiative petition on Friday turned in 27,401 signatures from the month of April, exceeding the minimum number of signatures for a statutory ballot measure by more than 2,000 signatures.

According to an official at the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division [PDF], OCTA 2012 is the third initiative to meet the early turn-in requirement by exceeding the minimum number of signatures required for qualification for ballot status.

“We are continuing our petition drive,” said initiative sponsor Paul Stanford of OCTA 2012. “We estimate that, on Monday, May 14th, another 10,000 signatures to be turned in to our office by petitioners that are gathered this week, and at least 10,000 more in each subsequent week.”

Colorado Marijuana Legalization Effort Airs First TV Ad

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 11, 2012 Culture, Legislation, News

Colorado’s marijuana legalization campaign is courting mothers in its first television ad, airing Friday in Denver.

The initiative’s first ad of the year features a young woman emailing her mother about marijuana, reports The Associated Press.

The young women argues that cannabis is safer than alcohol, the central theme of the current push to legalize marijuana for recreational use. The woman in the ad also mentions that pot doesn’t give her hangovers.

I-502 Legalization Initiative Sponsor Calls Cannabis ‘Injurious’

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 10, 2012 Legislation, News

Images

Could this have been what I-502 proponent Roger Roffman was thinking about when he said “It is injurious to young people and their families. There are people who are victims of marijuana”?

By Philip Dawdy

Cannabis Activist

A debate on the merits of I-502 was held on May 8th at a theatre in Monroe in Snohomish County. About 100 people attended and they were treated to one of the initiatives main sponsors, Roger Roffman who is a social work professor at the University of Washington, calling cannabis “injurious.” So why is he a sponsor of an initiative that would make it legal for adults 21 and older to buy, possess and consume one ounce of cannabis?

Roffman explained that he thinks we can do better as a society in addressing the “harms” of cannabis by bringing it into a public health model of control and working to educate and discourage people from using it. Yes, one of the main proponents of the initiative said this.

House Democrats Support Ending Federal Interference in Medical Marijuana States

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 9, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

Illinois DUI

Nearly Three Quarters of Democrats Break with Administration Policy, Vote to Prevent Federal Agencies from Targeting Individuals in Compliance with State Medical Marijuana Laws

Democrats in the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to approve an amendment to the FY 2013 Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations bill late Wednesday that would effectively end the ability of federal agencies to enforce federal marijuana laws against individuals who are in compliance with state medical marijuana laws.

Rhode Island Senate To Vote On Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 9, 2012 Dispensaries, Legislation

GoLocalProv

The Rhode Island Senate is set to decide on a compromise designed to allow medical marijuana dispensaries to open in the state.

A vote on the legislation has been scheduled for Wednesday, reports The Associated Press. The House is considering a similar bill.

Lawmakers authorized the safe access points so patients in the state’s medicinal cannabis program could have a state-regulated place to get their medication.

But Gov. Lincoln Chafee blocked the three authorized dispensaries from opening last year after the state’s U.S. Attorney threatened they could face criminal prosecution for violating federal drug laws. Marijuana is illegal for any purpose under the federal Uniform Controlled Substances Act as a Schedule I drug.

House To Vote On Blocking Funding For Crackdown On Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 9, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

The Weed Blog

Bipartisan Amendment Would Block Funding for Obama’s Attack on Medical Marijuana Patients Protected Under State Law

Conflict Coming to a Head as More States Pass and Implement Medical Marijuana Laws While Obama Administration Escalates Assault on Patients and Providers

Drug Policy Alliance: Obama Will Continue to Suffer Politically for Ignoring Public Opinion on Medical Marijuana

The U.S. House is expected to vote soon – possibly on Wednesday – on a bipartisan amendment to the Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill that would prohibit the Department of Justice from undermining state medical marijuana laws. The amendment, co-sponsored by Rep. Rohrabacher (R-CA), Rep. Hinchey (D-NY), Rep. McClintock (R-CA) and Rep. Farr (D-CA), is a rebuke of President Obama’s aggressive assault on medical marijuana patients and providers.

Medical Marijuana Becomes Major Issue in Oregon AG Race

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 9, 2012 Legislation, Medical

The Oregonian

Oregon attorney general candidates Dwight Holton (left) and Ellen Rosenblum. Holton is unfriendly to medical marijuana, while Rosenblum supports it

Candidate Rosenblum Supports Will of Oregon Voters and Safe Access for Patients, While Candidate Holton is Hostile and Threatens Popular Law

Drug Policy Action — Group That Played Key Role in Passing 1998 Ballot Initiative — Throws Weight Behind Former Judge Rosenblum

Medical marijuana has become a major issue in the Democratic primary for Attorney General in Oregon — and the candidates have staked out starkly different positions on the issue, with former judge Ellen Rosenblum supportive of patients’ right to safe and legal access to medical marijuana, and former Interim U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton sharply critical of the program.

Tell Me Again Why We Need A New Cannabis DUI Law

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 8, 2012 Legislation, News

CarInsurance.org

Highway fatalities have fallen steadily every year since states began passing medical marijuana laws. They are now at their lowest point since 1949.

If marijuana really caused car accidents — you know, the way alcohol does — America’s highways would be awash in blood because of the herb’s growing popularity.

But even as marijuana use — and society’s acceptance of it — grows every year, highway fatalities are diminishing.

Michigan Bill Would Allow Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 7, 2012 Dispensaries, Legislation, News

mlive.com

Michigan Rep. Mike Callton (R-Nashville) introduced a bill to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries

A proposal introduced in the Michigan House last week would legalize medical marijuana dispensaries, an issue not clarified in the law enacted following voter approval of a 2008 ballot initiative to allow use of cannabis for medical purposes.

The bill, HB 5580, the Medical Marihuana Provisioning Center Regulation Act, was introduced by state Rep. Mike Callton (R-Nashville), reports Christopher Behnan at the Daily Press & Argus. It will legalize cannabis dispensaries but allow local governments to prohibit them in their communities outright, or regulate their number and location.

Connecticut Medical Marijuana Bill Headed To Governor’s Desk

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 5, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

Cannabis Law Group

State Set To Become 17th To Allow Medicinal Cannabis

A bill legalizing marijuana for medical purposes passed the Connecticut Senate early Saturday morning. The state will join 16 others and the District of Columbia in allowing the medicinal use of cannabis after Democratic Governor Dannel P. Malloy, who said he supports the measure, signs the bill.

The bill, which had already cleared the House, passed around 3 a.m. on Saturday by a 21-13 vote after nearly 10 hours of debate.

The bill will set up a complex, regulated system of marijuana cultivation, dispensing, and licensing, and it outlines specific medical conditions that can legally be treated with cannabis.

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