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High Demand: MI Buys New Printer For Medical Marijuana Cards

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

The state of Michigan will soon have a snazzy new printer to keep up with demand for Medical Marihuana Program patient ID cards. More than 40,000 Michigan patients are still waiting for their state-issued cards.

Demand for medical marijuana ID cards is so high in Michigan, the state has had to order a new, six-figure printer that will allow it to produce 4,000 cannabis cards a day.

The state is far behind in printing cards for patients authorized to use cannabis under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. So far behind, in fact, that 40,000 patients still don’t have cards, and have instead been given tamper-proof letters to prove they’re qualified to use the herb for medical purposes, according to Rae Ramsdell, who oversees the program, reports the Associated Press.

More than 131,000 Michiganders have been approved for medical marijuana since state voters approved its legalization in 2008. Thousands more serve as caregivers, who are allowed to grow cannabis for up to five patients each.

MI Marijuana Activists Will Gather Sunday To Plan Testimony

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 2, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

DUI Maze Blog

Medical marijuana patients, caregivers, and organizations will all gather under one roof Sunday as Ann Arbor’s Clarion Hotel serves as Independence Hall while activists and interested parties will coordinate testimony to ensure all the implications of medicinal cannabis are properly explained to the Legislature.

The Michigan House of Representatives has a package of four bills under consideration that would alter the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMA) or associated laws. Those bills are currently being reviewed in the House Judiciary Committee, under the authority of Chairman John Walsh (R-Livonia).

Chairman Walsh has determined that the package will be considered in a series of hearings, which will include testimony from selected groups and organizations to be followed by statements from the public.

Marijuana Dispensaries Coming To R.I.: Gov., Legislature Agree

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 1, 2012 Dispensaries, Medical, News

Releaf

Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee has reached a compromise with the Legislature under which medical marijuana dispensaries will be allowed to open in the state

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee and the Legislature on Thursday agreed to allow medical marijuana dispensaries to open in the state after negotiating a compromise. Chafee had blocked the dispensaries from opening, fearing they would violate federal law and result in DEA raids in the state.

Three dispensaries already picked by the state to distribute medicinal cannabis could open soon after the General Assembly endorses the compromise, reports the Associated Press.

According to lawmakers, state health officials will be directed to limit the amount of marijuana dispensaries may possess to answer concerns that larger shops would run afoul of the federal Controlled Substances Act, which outlaws any amount of marijuana for any purpose.

Chafee, even while slamming the Obama Administration’s crackdown on medical marijuana, put on hold the licensing of the three dispensaries last year after the state’s U.S. Attorney warned that operators of the shops could face federal charges. Chafee had joined Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire in asking the federal government to reclassify marijuana from its current status as a Schedule I substance, meaning the feds regard pot as having no medical value and a high potential for abuse.

N.J. Governor: No Clemency For MS Patient Who Grew Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 1, 2012 Growing, Medical, News

Robert Sciarrino/The Star-Ledger

John Ray Wilson was sentenced to five years in prison for growing marijuana to treat his multiple sclerosis. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday night said Wilson belongs in prison and even called his MS diagnosis — which is backed by medical records — into question

Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey on Wednesday night showed where his heart really is. Christie said he will not grant clemency for John Ray Wilson, a Somerset County man serving a barbaric five-year prison sentence for growing marijuana in his back yard to treat his multiple sclerosis. The governor even went so far as to call Wilson’s MS diagnosis — backed up by medical records — into question.

The Republican governor was unmoved by the fact the Wilson suffers from multiple sclerosis and said he was growing the herb to control the debilitating symptoms of his disease, reports Susan K. Livio at NJ.com. Ironically, since Wilson’s arrest, the New Jersey Legislature legalized medical marijuana in the Garden State with a law which was signed by Gov. Christie’s predecessor on his last day in office.

Colorado Senate Considers Medical Marijuana Vendor Training

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 1, 2012 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

examiner.com

Medical marijuana dispensaries looking for more professional respect would like to see a “responsible medical marijuana vendor” designation currently being considered in the Colorado Senate.

The designation would give dispensary owners the option of training employees similarly to that already available for the liquor business, reports the Associated Press.

Employees would be trained in handling cannabis and identifying medical marijuana patient IDs. Dispensaries which give “responsible vendor” training to all their employees could get a break if they face state sanctions for a regulatory misstep later.

43% Of Marijuana Patients Say Organic Cannabis Is Essential

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 29, 2012 Dispensaries, Medical, News

No Longer Sad

This fine cola of Panama Red was grown organically in a greenhouse in Washington state.

Don’t be afraid to ask for organic marijuana — you have plenty of company. According to a new research study, twice as many medicinal cannabis patients said organic marijuana — not discount pricing — is their most critical consideration when selecting a dispensary.

Medical marijuana patients in Colorado, California and Washington state were surveyed by the editors of MMJ Business Daily, and 43 percent said they considered the availability of organic cannabis to be “critical” when they decide where to shop for meds. Only 21 percent of marijuana patients said discount weed was critical.

Organic Medicine Goes ‘High’ Tech With Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 29, 2012 Medical, Products

BG Medical Technologies, Inc.

An online physician will analyze diagnostic sent through the Internet and send daily updates. Software developed by BG Medical will find the most convenient ordering options and track history of all recommendations.

BG Medical Technologies, Inc., the parent company of Bud Genius, says it plans to engage both the $11 billion tele-healthcare market and the projected $14 billion medical marijuana market with Internet and smartphone applications to support natural medicine and wellness care.

Healthcare costs in the United States are some of the highest in the world, leaving many Americans uninsured, under-insured, or living in communities with access to affordable care. This problem worsens as American healthcare costs continue to rise each year.

Medical Marijuana In Idaho Legislature; Voter Initiative Underway

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 28, 2012 Legislation, Medical

The Weed Blog

A group in Idaho wants to legalize medical marijuana there, and is collecting signatures to get the initiative on the November general election ballot. Meanwhile, a medicinal cannabis bill is already before the Legislature.

House Bill 370, the Idaho Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, is sponsored by Rep. Tom Trail (R-Moscow), reports Todd Kunz at Local News 8. It would establish a system for patients to legally get and use cannabis.

Should HB 70 die in the Legislature, the Boise-based group Compassionate Idaho is already collecting signatures to get a medical marijuana initiative on the November ballot. They need 47,500 signatures to qualify; they say they’re shooting for 50,000.

“The state of Idaho has a lot of sick people and patients that have seriously ill and terminally ill conditions and we need to protect those patients from being arrested and from forfeiture,” said Lindsey Rinehart, head volunteer coordinator.

Cypress Hill Leading Protest Of Feds’ Attack On Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 27, 2012 Culture, Medical, News

Cypress Hill SmokeOut

Thursday, March 1 at 4:20 pm in Downtown Los Angeles

Cypress Hill SmokeOut has teamed with Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and Medicine & Music Project for a peaceful protest in response to recent federal activities against medical marijuana as well as the local Los Angeles ban on medical marijuana.

The event will start with protesters meeting at the west steps of City Hall at 4:20 pm and will then proceed to the Edward R. Royal Federal Building where speakers will include Cypress Hill’s B-Real, Americans for Safe Access’ California Director Don Duncan and more.

The goal of the rally is to draw attention to local threats towards patient access and federal interference in efforts to regulate medical marijuana. The scope of the federal crackdown is shocking, as federal officials and agencies have threatened providers, growers and property owners.

Corporation Aims To Co-Opt Medical Marijuana, Make Billions

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 27, 2012 Medical, Products

Health Freedom Alliance

Crushed Beneath the Medicine Wheel

By Kassy Fatooh

In a scheme they think capable of making billions, a US corporation not only plans to market a delivery system for medicinal cannabis, but also hopes to cut out small time farmers and private growers by introducing prohibitive protocols through state health departments.

In the course of following the medical story of myalgic encephalomyelitis, I’ve learned things I wish I didn’t know about the big business of medicine, about government agencies charged with public health, and about Big Pharma’s vendetta against alternative healing practices.

Our pain is their payday. Today’s story is one of cold avarice.

The corporation is called MMDS: Medical Marijuana Delivery Systems LLC, marketing its medical cannabis delivery system through its “Medicine Wheel” subsidiary. They hold this patent for the Tetracan transdermal patch: like Nicoderm, but it delivers cannabinoids instead of nicotine.

They advertise it as providing all the benefits of medical marijuana, without the “health-destroying smoke.”

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