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U.S. Attorneys Threaten Medical Marijuana States

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 27, 2011 Dispensaries, Medical, News

It only took two years for the U.S. federal government to get from “we won’t interfere in state medical marijuana laws” to threatening raids and even arrests of state employees if dispensaries are legalized.

The administration is using a new tactic in its war against medical marijuana patients and providers. In at least four states in the past two months, U.S. Attorneys have been given the dirty work of threatening states if progressive medical marijuana legislation is passed.

Things got started in February when the U.S. Attorney for Northern California threatened to prosecute operators of a proposed commercial medical marijuana farm in Oakland, even though the farm was licensed by that city and legal under state law.

U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag “strongly warned” Oakland that big industrial marijuana farms are illegal under federal law, and that the Department of Justice was considering “civil and criminal legal remedies” if the city went ahead with its plans to permit them. The plans were put on hold.

Montana Legislature Passes Medical Marijuana Overhaul

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 27, 2011 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: KTVQ

Montana’s state House and Senate have passed a bill aimed at radically slashing the number of authorized medical marijuana users and eliminating large cannabis businesses in the state.

The measure cleared both chambers of the Legislature on Wednesday, and now heads to Governor Brian Schweitzer for his signature, veto or amendment recommendations. Schweitzer has already vetoed an outright repeal of the state’s medical marijuana law, saying it went against the will of the voters, who approved the law in 2004.

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Introduce Medical Marijuana Bill

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 25, 2011 Legislation, Medical

Photo: Lara Brenckle/The Patriot-News

Supporters of the movement to legalize medical marijuana in Pennsylvania rallied on the steps of the state Capitol in Harrisburg in July 2009.

On Thursday, four state senators in Pennsylvania introduced Senate Bill 1003, which would legalize the medicinal use of cannabis in the Keystone State.

According to an unofficial PDF of the bill viewed by Randy LoBasso at PhillyNow (the official bill has not been made public), it would provide for “the medical use of marijuana; and repealing provisions of the law that prohibit and penalize marijuana use.”

The bill’s language contends there are several reasons why this needs to happen now: first of all, modern medical research “has discovered a beneficial use for marijuana in treating or alleviating the pain” or symptoms caused by certain medical conditions. Secondly, 99 percent of all marijuana arrests are made under state, not federal law. And thirdly, 15 other states have already enacted such policies “for the health and welfare benefits of their citizens.”

Venice Pot Doctors Shut Down After State Medical Board Raid

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 21, 2011 Medical, News

Photo: Los Angeles Times

An investigator carries out two large bags of marijuana from the Medical Kush Beach Club, Wednesday, April 20, 2011

One of the storefront pot doctors on the boardwalk in Venice was shut down Wednesday when the California state medical board and police raided three locations linked to Medical Kush Doctor.

Investigators carried out boxes and at least two large plastic bags that “appeared to contain marijuana” out of the building next to Muscle Beach that houses a doctor’s office, a smoke shop and a dispensary called the Medical Kush Beach Club, reports John Hoeffel at the Los Angeles Times.

Medical Cannabis Patient With Cancer Facing Jail In New Zealand

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 19, 2011 Global, Medical

Photo: Free Peter Davy

Peter Davy: “My partner has advanced multiple sclerosis and I am her 24-hour caregiver. She is dying and will die without me.”

Peter Davy, a medical cannabis patient in New Zealand who suffers from cancer, deserves compassion and should not be sent to prison as a judge has threatened, according to activist group Greencross Auckland.

Davy, 51, who lives in Canterbury, New Zealand, has vowed to go on hunger strike if sentenced to prison.

“I want to make it clear that I will be going on a hunger strike the moment I am given a prison sentence and I absolutely do not want to be force fed under any circumstances,” Davy said. “I will also be refusing all cancer medication. I am 100 percent committed to continuing with a hunger strike until I am dead.”

“Here is a man capable of managing his own pain using medicinal cannabis while at the same time caring for a partner with multiple sclerosis,” said Greencross Auckland spokesman Stephen McIntyre.

“My partner has advanced multiple sclerosis and I am her 24-hour caregiver,” Davy said. “She is dying and will die without me.”

Medical Cannabis Rally At Washington State Capitol Tuesday

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 18, 2011 Legislation, Medical

Photo: city-data.com

12 Noon, April 19, State Capitol in Olympia, WA

In answer to Gov. Christine Gregoire’s stated reluctance to sign SB 5073, the medical cannabis reform bill which has already cleared both houses of the Legislature, the Washington Cannabis Association and other advocates for medical marijuana reform will hold a rally at 12 noon on Tuesday, April 19 at the State Capitol in Olympia, Washington.

“It’s time for the Governor to stop listening to the feds and begin listening to the people of this state who overwhelmingly approved medical cannabis by initiative in 1998,” said Philip Dawdy, WCA’s media and policy director.

Montana Lawmakers Deciding Medical Marijuana Overhaul Fate

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 18, 2011 Legislation, Medical

Photo: NBC Montana

Montana legislators have just a few days to reach compromise on a bill to “overhaul” the state’s booming medical marijuana industry. If they can’t do that, they face the prospect of the industry continuing to grow. What? An actual bright spot in the Treasure State’s dismal economy? Hurry up, guys, snuff that bitch out!

Legislators started on Monday working out the differences between the Senate and House versions of the overhaul measure, Senate Bill 423, reports KPAX.com.

Governor Brian Schweitzer last week vetoed the Republican plan to repeal to voter-approved medical marijuana law.

Arizona Gets 110 Medical Marijuana Applications On First Day

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 15, 2011 Medical, News

Graphic: THC Finder

The Arizona Department of Health received 110 electronic applications — almost 60 percent of them for chronic pain — and authorized at least 44 people to use medical marijuana on Wednesday, the first day the program was active.

Their cards were mailed on Thursday, reports Mary K. Reinhart at AZCentral, allowing them to buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana every two weeks, and grow up to 12 plants.

Those who live closer than 25 miles to the nearest dispensary eventually won’t be allowed to grow their own, but until the dispensaries are up and running, all patients are allowed to grow.

About a third of the applications were rejected for various reasons, including problems with physician forms certifying the patient has a specific debilitating medical condition and could benefit from using marijuana.

Feds Throw Weight Around On Washington’s Med Marijuana Bill

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 14, 2011 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: Cannabis Defense Coalition

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire is chicken to sign legislation legalizing medical marijuana dispensaries without asking for the federal government’s permission first.

Gov. Gregoire Practically Invited The Feds To Stick Their Noses In

The feds are throwing their weight around again when it comes to Washington state’s medical marijuana law. A proposal to rewrite the state’s medicinal cannabis rules attracted federal attention after Governor Christine Gregoire asked for “clear guidance” about the U.S. Department of Justice’s position on state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, which would be legalized under the new rules.

Gov. Gregoire, who sent the letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on Wednesday, claims she “became concerned” about a “potential federal crackdown” after speaking with the U.S. attorneys for Eastern and Western Washington, Michael Ormsby and Jenny Durkan, reports Jonathan Martin at the Seattle Times.

It’s Taking Effect! Arizona’s Medical Marijuana Law Kicks In

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 14, 2011 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: THC Finder

As of Thursday, April 14, the Arizona medical marijuana law is now in effect. The state is taking applications for registry cards from seriously ill patients who have a doctor’s recommendation to use cannabis for medicinal purposes.

Some are estimating that around 20,000 Arizonans will qualify for medical marijuana, reports Joleah Nowicki at Phoenix Political Buzz Examiner, but such estimates almost always turn out to be way too low.

The application system will be entirely online, according to the Department of Health Services, and anyone trying to apply in person or by phone will be turned away, reports Amanda Lee Myers at The Associated Press.

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