Medical

Medical Marijuana Expected To Qualify For Arizona Ballot

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 14, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Protesters at the Phoenix Global Marijuana March 2008

The Arizona Medical Marijuana Policy Project Wednesday submitted more than 250,000 signatures to the Arizona Secretary of State’s office in order to place medical marijuana on the November ballot in Arizona.

The initiative requires 153,365 signatures to qualify for the ballot. Once the initiative qualifies, Arizona voters will be asked on November 2 to vote yes on the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, which would allow terminally and seriously ill patients who find relief from marijuana to use it with their doctor’s approval.

Idaho Legislator Plans To Introduce Medical Marijuana Bill

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 14, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Photo: Idaho Moms 4 Marijuana

Idaho Rep. Tom Trail (R-Moscow) is proposing a measure that would make Idaho the 15th station in the nation to legalize the medical use of marijuana for patients with chronic illnesses.

The bill would allow patients with illnesses like cancer, AIDS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, muscular dystrophy, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis to have access to legal marijuana grown and distributed through state-monitored dispensaries, reports KLEW.

According to Trail, the legislation would be “the most restrictive medical marijuana law in the nation” because it would permit doctors to recommend it only for a list of serious chronic illnesses.

The law, in what unfortunately may become a trend after New Jersey’s Legislature passed a similar measure, would also forbid patients from growing their own marijuana. Patients would be limited to two ounces of dispensary-purchased pot per month.

Tennessee: Medical Marijuana Bill Deferred For A Week

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 14, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Photo: BodhiSativa Photography

Tennessee legislation legalizing the medicinal use of marijuana by qualified patients was considered by the House Health and Human Resources Committee on Tuesday, reports Hank Hayes of the Kingsport Times-News.

However, the projected cost of the bill — and not “moral” or legal considerations — could bring it down during these times of tight budgets.

After testimony was heard, the committee deferred the bill for a week at the request of its sponsor, Rep. Jeanne Richardson (D-Memphis).

According to Richardson, the bill, HB 2562, is about compassion.

“It is really up to everyone to know this is no longer a fringe issue,” Richardson said. “Cheech and Chong smoking a bong… That is not the issue here. We will eventually pass this bill.”

N.C. Supporters Rally For Legalizing Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 14, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: Reality Catcher

Supporters gathered outside the Guilford County, North Carolina Courthouse Tuesday evening to rally for a bill before the Legislature to legalize medical marijuana.

The purpose was to educate people on House Bill 1380, which would allow doctors to recommend medical marijuana for seriously ill patients, reports MyFox8.com.

Harold Watts said he wants to tell people how cannabis helps those who are suffering with chronic illness or pain.

Police Return Man’s Medical Marijuana — With No Court Order!

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 13, 2010 Medical, News

Photo: Home Security Guru

Going against its own policy, a police department in California has returned several containers of marijuana to a 21-year-old man who said he was falsely accused of possession, transportation and sales.

The man, who lives in Mountain Ranch, California, asked that his full name not be used, opting to be referred to only as “Frank,” reports Joel Metzger of the Calaveras Enterprise. He was pulled over by Officer Jim McKeon of the Angels Camp Police Department on Nov. 22 in a parking lot for expired registration on his vehicle, according to the police report.

Officer Chris Johnson arrived on the scene, said he smelled the odor of raw marijuana, and claimed he saw some marijuana in plain sight in the car, according to Angels Camp Police Chief Dale Mendenhall.

Illinois One Vote Away From Getting Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 12, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Photo: Chicago Reader

Medical marijuana is one vote away from becoming law in Illinois.

The bill’s main sponsor, Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), said Saturday that he is working behind the scenes to line up the needed votes, and is just waiting for the right moment to call it for a vote in the Illinois House, reports Bob Roberts at Chicago’s WBBM.

If the measure passes and is signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn, Illinois will become the 15th state to allow medicinal use of cannabis, which has been illegal in Illinois since the 1930s.

Maryland Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Bill

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 10, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Graphic: Medical Marijuana Blog

The Maryland Senate on Saturday voted 35-12 to pass SB 627, a bill that would allow qualified patients to use medical marijuana with their doctor’s recommendation, and receive safe access to their medicine through state-licensed dispensaries.

The bill now moves to the state House. The General Assembly’s session ends Monday night.

“I’m very proud of my Senate colleagues today for voting to provide some of our most vulnerable residents with the compassion and care that they deserve,” said Sen. David Brinkley (R-Frederick), the bill’s sponsor and a two-time cancer survivor.

Nova Scotia To Fund Marijuana For Welfare Clients

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 9, 2010 Global, Medical

Photo: CHRONIC nº 3

Medical marijuana advocates are praising a landmark Nova Scotia court ruling, hoping it will lead to taxpayer-funded cannabis for low-income patients across Canada.

Last week the Nova Scotia Supreme Court ordered the provincial government to pay for the medical marijuana used by Sally Campbell, a chronically ill woman on welfare, reports Richard Foot of The Montreal Gazette.

Some provinces already pay for the marijuana prescribed to patients under workers’ compensation claims. Since 2008, Canada’s federal government has also paid for the marijuana used by a few military veterans receiving disability benefits.

This, however, is the first time a province has covered the cost of doctor-prescribed marijuana for people on governmental assistance, according to a Canada-wide survey by Nova Scotia government officials.

“This is a new and developing area of law,” said Kirk Tousaw, a Vancouver Island lawyer representing people seeking federal medical marijuana licenses. “I’m not aware of any precedent in this area.”

According to Tousaw, the Nova Scotia ruling may not immediately affect the law in other provinces. But “it does represent a court saying that this particular drug deserves to be financially covered in certain circumstances,” Tousaw said. “I think it’s a very positive development.”

“It would be fantastic if this case opened the door in other provinces, if it helped needy patients get affordable access to marijuana,” said Chad Clelland, director of community relations for medicalmarijuana.ca, a national coalition of doctors, patients, and growers that has spent years finding affordable pot for low-income Canadians.

Acquitted Patient Seeks Return Of Marijuana From D.A.

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 9, 2010 Medical, News

Photo: Eugene Davidovich

Eugene Davidovich: “I don’t know why I can’t get my property back”

The former defendant in a San Diego medical marijuana trial says the office of District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis is wrongfully holding his belongings, despite his acquittal by a jury.

Eugene Davidovich, who became a spokesman for local medical marijuana patients when his home was raided and four charges brought against him, said the D.A.’s refusal to return his property is likely political, reports Hoa Quach at San Diego News Network.

“I dont’ know why I can’t get my property back,” Davidovich said. “I don’t understand but it seems to be politically-driven.”

Davidovich was one of 37 people charged with criminal offenses during Operation Endless Summer in 2008. He was unanimously found not guilty by a jury on March 25.

Despite his acquittal and repeated attempts to reclaim his property, Davidovich said his belongings haven’t been returned.

Attorney Michael McCabe contacted deputy district attorney Theresa Pham at least five times to obtain Davidovich’s belongings, to no avail. Finally, on Wednesday, McCabe sent a letter to Pham with the formal request.

“Since Mr. Davidovich was acquitted of all charges by the jury’s verdict on March 25, 2010, your office has no legitimate reason to continue to maintain possession of these items,” McCabe wrote in the letter. “Thus, under the express power conferred upon the Court by Penal Code 1536, these items must be returned to Mr. Davidovich.”

‘New’ No-High Pot Strain? Dude, They Should Try Midwestern Ditch Weed

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 8, 2010 Dispensaries, Medical

Photo: Jodi Hernandez/NBC Bay Area

It’s cool, it’s useful, it’s CBD-rich… but folks, it ain’t “new,” and it grows for free all over the Midwestern U.S.

The supposed “news” from California is that a “new strain of marijuana” has been discovered, one which “strips away the buzz” from pot. Anybody who thinks there’s anything “new” about this development has never tried getting high on Midwestern ditch weed (feral hemp), or any strain of cannabis bred for fiber content.

The good news is, the medicinal properties of cannabidiol (CBD) are finally getting recognition. CBD helps to provide many of the medicinal effects of marijuana, and is a separate cannabinoid from THC, which also provides medical benefits but is chiefly known for being a major component of the pot “high.”

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