Legislation

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Rhode Island ACLU Considering Medical Marijuana Lawsuit

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 30, 2011 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

The Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union says it is considering legal action over Gov. Lincoln Chafee’s decision not to license three medical marijuana dispensaries, as provided for in the state’s medicinal cannabis law.

State ACLU Executive Director Steve Brown said on Friday that he’s trying to put a lawsuit together on behalf of patients to force the governor to comply with the “compassion center” statute, which provides for state-licensed dispensaries, reports The Associated Press.

Brown said he’s been in touch with the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC) about possible legal action.

Governor Chafee on Thursday said he wouldn’t implement the state’s compassion center law because it could cause Rhode Island to become a target of federal law enforcement.

Reactionary Idaho Groups Fighting Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 29, 2011 Legislation, Medical

Kathy Plonka/Spokesman-Review

Anita Kronvall of the Kootenai County Substance Abuse Council doesn’t smoke cannabis, and she doesn’t want anybody else to use it, either — even medical marijuana patients.

Expecting both a November 2012 ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana in Idaho, and state legislation to do the same, reactionary elements in Coeur d’Alene are mobilizing to “educate” the public about what they claim are the “dangers” of cannabis legalization.

“Our whole goal is we want our people educated so we can put pressure on the legislators not to pass it,” said Anita Kronvall, director of the Kootenai County Substance Abuse Council, reports Alison Boggs of the Spokane Spokesman-Review. The council is supporting the Kootenai Alliance for Children and Families in hosting two mid-October anti-marijuana events.

The keynote speaker will be anti-pot wing nut Monte Stiles, a real asshole’s asshole who retired early from his job as assistant U.S. Attorney for Idaho — so that, you guessed it, he could spend full time battling the “Marijuana Menace.” Stiles, a Brigham Young University graduate who just can’t let go of the Drug War, may be living proof that marijuana really does make you crazy — if you oppose it.

New Group Aims To ‘Keep Nebraska Off Weed’ (KNOW)

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 29, 2011 Legislation, News

Freaking News

You can breathe a sigh of relief, Nebraska. There’s a group volunteering to protect you from cannabis. Now, who’s going to protect you from them?

PRIDE Omaha officials announced on Wednesday a new campaign to combat efforts to legalize marijuana in Nebraska, reports Jay Withrow at the Omaha World-Herald.

The local anti-drug organization, which has been pissing off potheads since 1978, is unveiling KNOW, Keep Nebraska Off Weed.

The campaign is officially opposing at least two efforts to legalize marijuana in Nebraska, according to Susie Dugan, PRIDE Omaha’s executive director. The legalization efforts are collecting signatures to get a proposed constitutional amendment on the November 2012 general election ballot.

Federal Govt.: It’s Illegal To Sell Guns To Marijuana Users

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 28, 2011 Legislation, News

CBS News

Bye-bye, Second Amendment? The U.S. Department of Justice is notifying federally licensed firearms dealers that they aren’t allowed to sell guns or ammo to anyone who smokes pot — even medical marijuana patients.

The memo from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, dated September 21, says the federal government considers marijuana a Schedule I controlled substance, even in states that have legalized cannabis for medicinal uses, reports The Associated Press.

Federal law prohibits anyone who is an “unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Medical Marijuana Called Unlikely In Wyoming

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 28, 2011 Legislation

Rose Law Group

Wyoming is sandwiched between two states — Montana and Colorado — which have already legalized medical marijuana. Doesn’t that mean it’s just a matter of time before The Equality State equalizes things with its neighbors?

Well, no, at least not if you listen to state Senator Chris Rothfuss, who said he hasn’t heard of fellow lawmakers even discussing a Wyoming medical marijuana law, reports Bob Vines at the Northern Wyoming Daily News.

Not only that, but Rothfuss, a Democrat from Laramie, said now may not be the time for the state to start looking at that possibility.

“We have a lot of things that we want to focus on that we consider to be high-priority issues,” Rothfuss said. “There’s a general sense that when we have such short terms (in session), nobody wants to get into these types of issues.”

NYPD Finally Comes Aboard With Pot Decrim, 34 Years Later

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 27, 2011 Legislation, News

New York Daily Photo

The New York City Worldwide Marijuana March, an annual event held on the first Saturday of May, has been held for 40 years. New York finally got a little more pot-friendly this week — if police officers will follow the orders of their Commissioner.

Policy Shift by NYPD Could End Tens of Thousands of Arrests in NYC, Save Tens of Millions of Dollars and Reduce the Funneling of Young Men of Color Into the Criminal Justice System

Elected Officials and Advocates Affirm Support for Legislation in Albany that Standardizes Penalties for Marijuana Possession Offenses to Permanently Curb These Arrests Statewide

Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito and Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, joined by advocates from the Institute for Juvenile Justice Reform and Alternatives, VOCAL NY, and the Drug Policy Alliance, gathered in front of One Police Plaza today to celebrate an internal order issued by NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly to all precinct commanding officers to stop arresting New Yorkers for small quantities of marijuana if the marijuana is not in plain view.

New Zealand Leader Backs Marijuana Decrim, Ignites Debate

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 27, 2011 Global, Legislation

Sarah Ivey/NZ Herald

Marijuana opponent David Parker wasted no time in putting up a sign across his billboards: “Vote Banks – Get Both Dopes!”

Party leader Dr. Don Brash of New Zealand’s ACT political party on Sunday suggested that marijuana should be decriminalized, igniting a lively political debate which has split his own party and sent shockwaves through the Kiwi political scene.

The cannabis debate was still smoldering in New Zealand’s Parliament on Tuesday after Dr. Brash’s suggestion that marijuana, a Class C drug in the island nation, should no longer be illegal, because it’s tying up police resources, reports 3 News.

Marijuana Advocates Call On R.I. Governor To OK Dispensaries

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 27, 2011 Dispensaries, Legislation

RIPAC

Medical marijuana advocates are calling on Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee to open cannabis dispensaries allowed under state law. The governor blocked opening of the shops due to the threat of federal prosecution after receiving one of the threatening letters recently sent by U.S. Attorneys in medical marijuana states.

A Statehouse protest is planned for Tuesday by the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC) to urge Governor Chafee to allow three dispensaries to open, reports The Associated Press.

The state selected three shops to dispense cannabis under Rhode Island’s medical marijuana law. Chafee last spring suspended the plans to open the shops after federal prosecutors warned that dispensary personnel could face prosecution for violating federal marijuana laws.

Cannabis Advocates Concerned About DUI In Legalization Bill

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 23, 2011 Legislation, News

FightSpeedingTicketNow.com

A group of prominent marijuana activists in Washington state on Thursday signed a letter expressing concern about proposed THC blood limits that would codify driving under the influence (DUI) levels in the state.

“We applaud your willingness to stand up for the repeal of marijuana prohibition,” reads the letter, addressed to the sponsors of marijuana legalization initiative New Approach Washington. “However, we are very concerned about New Approach Washington’s proposal regarding Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis or DUIC.”

The initiative, I-502, would establish a THC blood limit of five nanograms per milliliter (5 ng/ml) in drivers 21 and over. That level is reduced to 0.00 for drivers under age 21.

Marijuana Question Zooms To The Top Of White House Poll

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 23, 2011 Legislation, News

A proposal to legalize and regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol zoomed to the top of the White House’s official online petition site on Thursday, the same day it was launched. The idea is the first on the site to get enough signatures to pass the threshold needed to get an official response from the Administration.

The White House has promised to evaluate and issue a formal response to any idea on the “We The People” site that gets more than 5,000 signatures within 30 days, reports Brandon Sasso at The Hill. The marijuana legalization idea more than 17,000 signatures as of Friday morning, about 24 hours after it was posted.

The proposal asks, “Isn’t it time to legalize and regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol? If not, please explain why you feel that the continued criminalization of cannabis will achieve the results in the future that it has never achieved in the past?”

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