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WA Governor Says She Likes New Medical Marijuana Bill

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 6, 2011 Legislation, Medical

Photo: Overoll

Washington Governor Christine Gregoire: “I’ve indicated to the senator I’m a go, but you’ve got to get the other ‘four corners’ to say they’re a go as well”

Washington Governor Christine Gregoire on Thursday gave a thumbs-up to the new medical marijuana proposal being developed in the state Senate. The new measure is the offspring of the legislation the governor gutted last week.

Medical marijuana has been legal in Washington since voters approved it in 1998, but patients still don’t have arrest protection or safe access, which SB 5073 would have fixed.

According to Gregoire, Sen. Jeanne Kohlp-Welles’s latest bill is “absolutely mindful” of the reason for the governor’s “partial veto” of 5073 (which removed almost all useful portions of the original bill): her supposed concern that state employees might be prosecuted for administering a medical marijuana program, reports Jordan Schrader at the Tacoma News Tribune. (Cannabis advocates have pointed out that state employees have never been prosecuted by the federal government for carrying out a state medical marijuana program in the 15 states which have legalized medicinal cannabis.)

Medical Marijuana Fails Again In Illinois House

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 6, 2011 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Photo: David Reis

The floor of the Illinois House of Representatives. The House failed to pass a medical marijuana law on Thursday.

For the second time in 2011, the Illinois House on Thursday defeated a bill which would have legalized medical marijuana for seriously ill patients in the state.

The measure failed with 61 “no” votes, 53 “yes” votes and four “present.” House Bill 30 needed 60 “yes” votes to pass, reports Andy Brownfield at The State Journal-Register.

The bill “is not about drugs, it is not about marijuana, it’s about health care,” said sponsor Rep. Lou Lang (D-Chicago). It will “help people who can’t get out of bed because they’re too doped up on morphine or oxycontin,” he said.

All Healing, No High: Dispensary Offers High-CBD Pot Strains

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 6, 2011 Dispensaries, Medical

Photo: Elemental Wellness

The high-CBD Harlequin strain, above, tested at 3.83 percent THC and 5.59 percent CBD.

Elemental Wellness, a San Jose medical marijuana collective, has a solution for patients who need the healing power of cannabis but don’t want the psychoactive effects: strains with high cannabidiol (CBD) content.

Medical marijuana is known as an effective treatment for many ailments, but it’s also known as a psychoactive agent. For people who could benefit from the medicinal properties, but need to stay alert and focused, San Jose, California dispensary Elemental Wellness has good news: high CBD strains that deliver the benefits without the buzz.

The most powerful medicinal compound in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), shown to be helpful for a range of diseases including glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, and side effects of chemotherapy and AIDS treatment such as nausea and loss of appetite.

New Zealand Group Says Yes To Trials Of Medical Cannabis

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 3, 2011 Global, Medical

Graphic: Greencross Auckland

Pro-cannabis group Auckland Greencross has endorsed the New Zealand Law Commission’s recommendations that clinical trials of cannabis are undertaken and that bona fide users of medicinal marijuana become exempt from prosecution.

Stephen McIntyre, spokesman for the medical cannabis patients’ support group, on Tuesday said both proposals would find favor with the general public, as two out of three New Zealanders support allowing cannabis for medical use.

“Sixty five percent of submissions to this report — a figure consistent with online polling — favored the establishment of a scheme allowing people suffering from chronic, debilitating or terminal conditions to legally access and use herbal cannabis,” McIntyre said.

“Most medical users of cannabis, alongside the serious condition they’re forced to cope with on a daily basis, have the added stress of finding reliable access to quality medicine from a trustworthy source, compounded by fear of being caught by the police,” McIntyre said.

Federal Agents Arrest Two Cannabis Advocates In Seattle

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 3, 2011 Medical, News

Photo: Cannabis Defense Coalition

Activist Phil Mocek of the Cannabis Defense Coalition was assaulted and detained by private security guards and turned over to federal Homeland Security agents, who charged him with obstructing justice.

Rent-A-Cops Tackle Two Activists And Turn Them Over To The Feds

The United States federal government on Monday arrested two Seattle activists who were attempting to serve a cease and desist order on the Department of Justice in the wake of federal raids on medical cannabis dispensaries last week.

Medical cannabis activists had staged a protest at the federal building in downtown Seattle Monday afternoon. Private security guards indicated that it was a crime to take photographs near the federal building. Phil Mocek, a board member with the Cannabis Defense Coalition, asked for clarification of the policy, and was arrested by federal building security guards, who contacted Homeland Security agents for backup.

U.S. Attorney: AZ Medical Pot Law No Shield From Prosecution

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 2, 2011 Dispensaries, Medical, News

Photo: AZ Capitol Times

U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke: “Even clear and unambiguous compliance with (Arizona Medical Marijuana Act) does not render possession or distribution lawful”

Arizona’s top federal prosecutor joined the growing chorus of U.S. Attorneys across the country on Monday, saying that the state’s medical marijuana law doesn’t protect patients, growers or sellers from federal prosecution.

U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke, in a threatening letter to Arizona’s health director, claimed his law office “will abide” by a 2009 Department of Justice memo that discourages federal prosecution of medical marijuana patients and providers who are following state law. But he said anyone who possesses or distributes marijuana is still violating federal law, reports Mary K. Reinhart at The Arizona Republic.

Burke’s letter follows the recent pattern of federal prosecutors sending threatening letters to state officials, including governors, attorneys general and others in medical marijuana states. The threats have been underlined by recent federal raids of medical marijuana dispensaries in Washington, Montana and California.

DEA Will Now Go After Medical Marijuana, Says R.I. Governor

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 2, 2011 Medical, News

Photo: pbn.com

Gov. Lincoln Chafee, Rhode Island: “Friday’s letter makes it clear DOJ will now pursue certain commercial cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana, even if such cultivation and distribution is permitted by state law”

After Federal Threats, Gov. Lincoln Chafee Puts Hold On State’s Dispensary Licensing Program

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee has responded to a threatening letter that U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha delivered last week, and according to the governor, it’s not good news for medical marijuana patients.

“The Department of Justice previously indicated that it would not focus its limited resources on doctors and their sick patients who prescribe and use marijuana if such use was permitted by state law,” Gov. Chafee correctly pointed out. “This position was interpreted by some states as giving them latitude to authorize medical marijuana cultivation and distribution programs.

“Friday’s letter makes it clear DOJ will now pursue certain commercial cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana, even if such cultivation and distribution is permitted by state law,” Chafee said (emphasis added).

Lawmen Join Rally Protesting Prison For Marijuana Patients

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 2, 2011 Medical, News

Graphic: LPP

An organization made up of retired and disabled members of the law enforcement community — which provides support to medical marijuana patients and caregivers — is joining with other medical marijuana advocacy organizations in front of the federal courthouse in Sacramento, California at noon on Monday to protest the imprisonment of Dr. Mollie Fry and Dale Schafer.

“Doc Fry and Dale Schafer are dedicated patient advocates that don’t belong in prison,” said Nate Bradley, executive director of Lawmen Protecting Patients.

“The federal government needs to stop wasting what little resources they have on prosecuting and imprisoning the medical marijuana community,” Bradley said. “The federal government should focus on putting actual criminals in in prison, like rapists and child molesters.”

Illinois Moves Closer To Legalizing Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 29, 2011 Legislation, Medical, News

Graphic: THC Finder

Once again, Illinois is moving tantalizingly close to legalizing medical marijuana.

The state House is moving closer to making medicinal cannabis available for patients to ease the side effects of debilitating medical conditions, reports Todd Wilson at the Chicago Tribune.

A stricter set of rules and a surprise political alliance are helping to build the momentum for the medical marijuana effort in Illinois, long thwarted despite coming within a four votes of passing the Legislature in January.

Medical Marijuana Advocates Threaten To Sue San Diego

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 28, 2011 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Photo: Pacific San Diego

Medical marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) on Thursday threatened to file suit against the City of San Diego if it doesn’t amend a recent ordinance that patient advocates are calling a de facto ban on local cannabis distribution facilities.

ASA argued in a letter sent to City Attorney Jan Goldsmith that the ordinance violates due process rights of medical marijuana collectives and cooperatives by forcing them to shut down in 30 days, leaving virtually no options for relocation.

Unless the city can “ease the restrictions on medical marijuana collectives, so that qualified patients can obtain the medicine they need,” the letter, authored by ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford, said that the organization and its patient base would be “compelled” to seek such remedies in court.

The letter suggested that the San Diego City Council amend its ordinance to allow “medical marijuana collectives to operate in most commercial and all industrial zones” and increase “the period to obtain a conditional use permit to one year.”

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