Medical

Naturopaths Included In Washington’s Medical Marijuana Law

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

A bill to expand Washington State’s medical marijuana law cleared the Legislature Thursday, and is headed to the governor’s desk.

Gov. Christine Gregoire is expected to sign SB 5798, which allows naturopathic doctors, nurse practitioners, and advanced physicians’ assistants to recommend the medical use of cannabis to their patients.

The new law will increase patient access to health care professionals willing to authorize medical cannabis.

Because of the conflict between state and federal pot laws, many doctors fear retribution from the federal government and are reluctant to sign medical cannabis paperwork. To comply with the law, many qualifying patients are forced to travel to the city and pay $200 to see a doctor willing to sign a medical marijuana authorization form.

WalMart Fires Associate Of Year, Cancer Patient For Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 12, 2010 Medical, News

Graphic: Reality Catcher

Despite medical marijuana being legal in Michigan, WalMart has fired a cancer patient and former employee of the year who tested positive for the drug, which was recommended by his doctor.

“I was terminated because I failed a drug screening,” ex-WalMart employee Joseph Casias told WZZM-13.

In 2008, Casias was Associate of the Year at the WalMart store in Battle Creek, Mich., despite suffering from sinus cancer and an inoperable brain tumor.

Colorado: Medical Pot Records Seized In Grow Op Search

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 11, 2010 Growing, Medical, News

Photo: Bayou Perspective

A Colorado search warrant executed Tuesday authorized the seizure of records for more than 300 medical marijuana card holders, including doctors’ recommendations and personal contact information.

The warrant was issued after officers from the Grand Junction Police Department were called out Tuesday to investigate a suspicious odor emanating from a building near the offices of the U.S. Census Bureau, reports Paul Shockley at The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.

The warrant, signed by District Judge Thomas Deister, allowed for Western Colorado Drug Task Force officers to confiscate records “in order to verify who the current primary caregiver is” for the approximately 308 patient files found inside a large marijuana grow.

Marijuana Patients To Legislators: Please Give Safe Access A Vote

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 11, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Graphic: Cannabis Culture

A group of medical marijuana patients Thursday held a press conference in Boston to ask lawmakers to support legalizing medical marijuana in Massachusetts.

The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Health is currently considering a bill that would make Massachusetts the 15th state in the U.S. to give seriously ill patients safe and legal access to medical cannabis.

Patients called for the bill to receive a committee vote before a deadline on March 18, after which passage out of committee becomes much more difficult.

“Watching my 29-year-old son struggle with the side effects of brutal chemotherapy treatments was heart wrenching,” said Lorraine Kerz of Greenfield, Mass., who said her son benefited from medical marijuana.

Mother & Son: The New Face Of Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 10, 2010 Growing, Medical

Colorado Medical Pot Evaluation Co. Faces Scrutiny For Selling Patient Info

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 10, 2010 Dispensaries, Medical

Photo: Monroe County, FL Sheriff’s Department

CannaMed, which bills itself as Colorado’s largest medical marijuana evaluation company, is facing scrutiny for selling patient information to dispensaries and grow facilities so that those operations can show they are caring for enough patients to account for the cannabis they have on hand.

While CannaMed’s owner insists that he’s not doing anything wrong, his company could be greatly impacted by legislation now making its way through the State Capitol, reports Joel Warner at Denver Westworld.

Drug Tests Instituted To Target Marijuana-Using Iditarod Champ

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 10, 2010 Culture, Medical

Photo: AP

Lance Mackey celebrating victory with his lead sled dog, Larry, in 2008

All the mushers participating in the famed Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race will be tested for alcohol and illegal drugs on the trail for the first time ever this year — a change defending three-time champion and medical marijuana user Lance Mackey believes is directed at him.

“I know for a fact,” said the three-time winner, reports The Associated Press.

Mackey said he would abstain for purposes of this year’s race. “I’m going to pee in their little cup, and laugh in their face,” Mackey said.

Marijuana Patients Will Ask Mass. Legislators To Support Safe Access

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 10, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: ABC News

A group of medical marijuana patients and advocates will hold a press conference Thursday to ask Massachusetts lawmakers to support medical marijuana.

The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Health is currently considering a bill that would make Massachusetts the 15th state in the nation to give seriously ill patients safe and legal access to medical marijuana.

Last September, Suffolk University released poll results showing that 81 percent of Massachusetts residents support allowing “seriously ill patients to use, grow, and purchase marijuana for medical purposes if they have the approval of their physicians.”

U.N. Meddles With U.S. State Pot Laws; Group Cries Foul

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 9, 2010 Global, Legislation, Medical

Graphic: ficiency.com

Hear the latest from those prohibitionist drug warriors at the United Nations? They don’t like medical marijuana, and they’re offering free (and unsolicited) input to the 14 states in the U.S. that have legalized the medicinal use of cannabis.

The U.N.’s International Narcotics Control Board’s (INCB) attempts to meddle in marijuana reform in the United States were denounced by the Marijuana Policy Project on Thursday.

The INCB, which is currently meeting in Vienna, Austria, said in a recent report that they were “deeply concerned” that the 14 U.S. states that have medical marijuana laws are sending the “wrong message to other countries.”

And here you were thinking that American states got to decide for themselves what “messages” to send! Silly you, they’re supposed to get the permission of the United Nations, first!

“The last thing the INCB should be doing is meddling in our states’ affairs,” said Aaron Houston, MPP director of government relations.

Colorado Lawmakers Ask US Attorney General To Stop Pot Raids

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 8, 2010 Legislation, Medical, News

Photo: DEA

Colorado’s legislators, currently in the midst of trying to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries, are asking U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to stop raids of medicinal cannabis operations.

A group emailed the request to Holder on Monday, following up on a letter sent last week, according to the Associated Press.

According to the lawmakers, the raids are discouraging dispensary operators and medical marijuana patients and growers from working with the Colorado Legislature on proposed regulations.

The letter was sent by Sens. Chris Romer and Nancy Spence, and Reps. Tom Massey and Beth McCann.

A suburban Denver man has been charged with marijuana possession in federal court after DEA agents raided his home and found 224 pot plants.

The raid took place only hours after segments aired of a television interview with Chris Bartkowicz, in which he boasts of his $500,000 basement grow operation, his $637,000 home and his expected $400,000 profits this year.

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