Medical

Prospective N.J. Pot Dispensary Owners Have High Hopes

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 31, 2010 Dispensaries, Medical

Graphic: Phawker

In January, New Jersey became the 14th state to allow the use and sale of medical marijuana. The law goes into effect July 1, but it may be several months beyond that before the state has regulations in place and the “alternative treatment centers” — marijuana dispensaries — where patients will be able to legally get cannabis.

For now, dozens of hopeful entrepreneurs are quietly setting up nonprofit groups that will apply to run the first dispensaries in the most populous state outside California to legalize medical marijuana, reports Geoff Mulvihill of The Associated Press.

Anne M. Davis, a lawyer who consults with several people interested in opening dispensaries, said she’s hearing from current drug dealers who want to go legal, caregivers who already get marijuana for the sick, and career changers, including commercial real estate agents who are suffering in the slow economy.

“They think, ‘Hey, I’m going to open this great business and I’m going to make a fortune,” Davis said. “But that’s not what it’s going to be. It’s going to be very strictly regulated in New Jersey.”

Canada Will Confiscate Medical Marijuana At Border

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 31, 2010 Global, Medical

Photo: CP24.com

Don’t take your medical marijuana across the border with you on that Canadian vacation.

While having a medical marijuana card won’t affect the ability of residents of Washington and Montana to visit neighboring Canada, all cannabis found at the border crossing will be confiscated, according to Canadian authorities.

Lisa White, speaking for the Canada Border Control Services Agency, said that despite rumors to the contrary, Americans who are enrolled in their states’ medical marijuana programs are not refused entry into our northern neighbor for that reason, reports Tim Trainor at the Montana Standard.

Illinois Could Legalize Medical Marijuana Friday

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 28, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Photo: Illinois Valley News

The Illinois Legislature is scheduled to vote on a bill Friday that would legalize medical marijuana in the state.

Pointing to medical research showing marijuana effectively treats pain, nausea and other symptoms of debilitating medical conditions, the bill would allow patients to legally possess marijuana if their physicians diagnose them with a qualifying condition and recommend medical marijuana to treat it, reports Chris Kirk of The Daily Northwestern.

A vast majority of Illinois residents say they support medical marijuana, with the most recent poll showing 68 percent support in the state.

The act includes a variety of qualifying conditions, including cancer, AIDS, hepatitis C and conditions causing pain or nausea that are unresponsive to other treatments.

Federal law still bans the possession of marijuana for any purpose. But the act would provide a great deal of protection for medical marijuana patients because states are now required to arrest or prosecute people for violating federal laws.

Police Raid Michigan Marijuana Smokers Club

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 27, 2010 Dispensaries, Medical

Photo: Church For Compassionate Care

Rev. Wayne Dagit: “I’m not serving pot, I’m serving the Lord”

The Tri-County Metro Narcotics Squad raided a marijuana smokers club outside Williamston, Michigan on Wednesday, but law enforcement officials are playing shut-mouth about exactly what happened there.

“They treated us like criminals, forced us to the ground, even though I have to walk with a cane,” said patient Terry Clark, 48, who said he suffers from arthritis, seizures and chronic pain.

Clark and the one other customer in the club at the time eventually were asked to show their state-issued medical marijuana cards, which they did, according to Clark. They were then allowed to leave.

The raid occurred at the Green Leaf Smokers Club, a private club opened in February, confirmed Lt. Tim Gill of the Narcotics Squad. Gill referred further questions to the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office, reports Matthew Miller of Lansing State Journal.

Cops Claim Vitamins Are Methamphetamine; Raid Pot Dispensary

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 27, 2010 Dispensaries, Medical

Photo: Google Images

A bag of white powder that police seized last week in a California marijuana dispensary raid, claiming it was methamphetamine, was actually a nutritional supplement from GNC, according to the operator of the pot shop.

Three pounds of a brown substance that police claimed was hashish actually consisted of marijuana leaf trimmings processed to make cannabis butter, added Ian Stubbs, one of the co-directors of OCMS Healing Leaves, a cooperative in Fountain Valley, California.

“They made it sound worse than it was,” Stubbs said.

Stubbs said the operation, open since January, doesn’t have any way to reopen after police seized its marijuana and cash and froze its bank accounts, reports Jon Cassidy of The Orange County Register.

L.A. Judge Denies Order To Halt Closure Of Four Pot Dispensaries

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 27, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Photo: Brand X Daily

Four Los Angeles pot dispensaries lost their bid Wednesday for a temporary court order to stop the city from shutting them down when its medical marijuana ordinance takes effect on June 7. The judge’s decision could discourage other pot shops from seeking similar orders, reports John Hoeffel at The Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles officials were bracing themselves for scores of such orders, putting a crimp in their plans to close hundreds of pot shops, if the dispensaries had won in court Wednesday.

New Jersey’s Medical Marijuana Law May Be Delayed

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 27, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Photo: ImageShack

The administration of Governor Chris Christie is trying to delay the July implementation of New Jersey’s new law legalizing the use of marijuana for severely ill patients.

The measure, already called the most restrictive in the nation, was passed by the New Jersey Legislature in January and scheduled to take effect six months later, reports Mary Jo Patterson of the NJ Spotlight. Regulations were to be in place by October, when six state-licensed dispensaries would start selling cannabis to qualified patients.

But on May 21, senior staff in the Governor’s office suggested that seriously ill patients just be, well, “patient,” according to the bill’s chief sponsor, Sen. Nicolas Scutari, and wait for six more months before they can legally use the medicine that helps them the most.

Maine: New Medical Marijuana Cards Aim To Protect Patients

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 27, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Photo: WABI

Maine’s new dispensary law augments the medical marijuana law already in place for more than a decade, finally giving patients a legal way to obtain cannabis. But patients and caregivers who want legal access to medical marijuana will have to register for an ID card.

Earlier this month, the Department of Health and Human Services announced it is accepting applications from nonprofit corporations to become dispensaries under Maine’s Medical Use of Marijuana Act, responding to a dispensary law passed by voters.

In July, eight dispensaries will be selected by DHHS, reports Adrienne Bennett of WABI-TV.

Patient Denied Medical Marijuana In Jail; Wants Answers

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 26, 2010 Medical, News

Photo: KFOX

A New Mexico man arrested Sunday for driving with a suspended license said he was stripped of the marijuana he possessed, despite the fact that he is legally enrolled in the state’s medical cannabis program due to his epilepsy.

Gregory Fernandez, 34, said he often has seizures, especially when stressed and not having his medical marijuana, and now he wants answers, reports Phil Anaya at KFOX News.

“I’m wanting for the state to recognize it more, more like California, you know as in they help people out because they don’t just make it where you can smoke it; they also have it in brownies and liquid form and with the pills they can give it in the detention center, I feel,” Fernandez said.

Montana Could Overturn Medical Marijuana Law Next Year

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 26, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: Miami Beach 411

Never mind that an overwhelming 63 percent of residents voted to legalize medical marijuana in 2004. A prominent Montana Republican lawmaker wants to overturn the voter-passed law that legalized medicinal cannabis.

Senator Jim Shockley (R-Victor) on Monday requested a bill to be drafted for the 2011 Legislature to repeal the medical marijuana law, reports Jennifer McKee at the Helena Independent Record. Shockley claimed he believes marijuana has medical benefits and should remain legal, only in a “much more controlled way.”

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