Medical

Survey: Many Veterans, Others Use Cannabis For PTSD

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 16, 2010 Medical, News

Many veterans and others are using cannabis medically to treat the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), according to preliminary results of a new survey.

Cannabis Science Inc., which describes itself as “an emerging pharmaceutical cannabis company,” is reviewing the interim results of its survey of more than 1,400 people.

“It is clear that many veterans are already using herbal cannabis to self-medicate to relieve the symptoms of PTSD,” said Dr. Robert Melamede, president and CEO of Cannabis Science.

“Consequently, there is a clear need for standardized, FDA approved, oral cannabis products which can, and should be, provided to veterans and others who can benefit from its use,” Melamede said.

Iowa Poll: 64% Back Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 16, 2010 Legislation, Medical, News

Photo: Des Moines Register

Almost two-thirds of Iowans believe medical marijuana patients shouldn’t be arrested.

A new Iowa poll shows that almost two-thirds of Iowans — 64 percent — think patients should be allowed to use marijuana as medicine if their doctors approve.

However, fewer than a third of Iowans want to legalize cannabis for recreational purposes, the same poll shows, reports the Des Moines Register.

Fourteen states in the U.S. have already legalized the medical use of marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation.

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy plans to decide Wednesday whether to recommend that the Iowa Legislature follow suit.

Medical marijuana supporters say that cannabis can relieve pain and nausea for many patients suffering from debilitating diseases, including cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis.

Denver Pot Grower Awaits Word On Federal Charges

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 15, 2010 Growing, Medical, News

9 News

Bartkowicz in the midst of giving the ill-advised interview which destroyed everything for which he had worked so hard

A Colorado man accused of running an illegal marijuana grow operation in his basement will likely appear later this week in federal court after a raid took place at his Highlands Ranch home.

The case of Chris Bartkowicz has ignited a battle between medical marijuana advocates and the U.S. Justice Department, reports Valerie Castro of CBS 4 Denver.

Jeffrey Sweetin, special agent in charge of the Denver office of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, oversaw the Friday raid of Bartkowicz’s home and subsequent arrest of the licensed medical marijuana provider after Bartkowicz bragged on television about his profitable grow op.

Medical Marijuana Advocates Rally In Birmingham, Alabama

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

Photo: Penny Ingram Vaughan

Members of Alabamians for Compassionate Care rally for medical marijuana in Birmingham, Saturday, February 13

About two dozen members of Alabamians for Compassionate Care, a medical marijuana advocacy group, staged a march and rally in Birmingham Saturday afternoon.

The group is urging people to support a bill before the Alabama Legislature which would legalize the medical use of cannabis by seriously ill patients with the recommendation of their doctor, reports Roy L. Williams of The Birmingham News.

“Patients in Alabama should not be locked in prison for trying to ease their pain and suffering,” said Loretta Nall, executive director of Alabamians for Compassionate Care.

Learn From This: DEA Raids Medical Pot Grower After Boastful TV Interview

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 12, 2010 Growing, Medical, News

Photo: 9 News

Chris Bartkowicz in his $500,000 basement grow operation, just hours before his loose lips sunk the ship

Federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents have raided a Highlands Ranch, Colorado home just hours after a television news story teaser aired in which the homeowner boasted of $400,000 profits he hoped to garner this year from his medical marijuana grow operation.

This rapid unfolding of events serves to highlight a couple of should-be-obvious lessons that some in Colorado’s burgeoning medical marijuana scene have evidently yet to learn, among them, perhaps, “Never brag about six-figure pot profits in front of TV cameras, even if you’re sure you are legal.”

Highway Patrol Targets Medical Marijuana Delivery Service — Then Lies About It

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

KTLA

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is obviously targeting a legal medical marijuana delivery service in Orange County — and then lying about it.

California’s medical marijuana law clearly specifies caregivers may possess up to eight ounces per qualified patient. But these Highway Patrol officers pretend to believe that caregivers may possess only eight ounces total.

DEA Goons Raid Another Pot Potency Testing Laboratory; Seize Stems

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

Photo: Westword

Michael Lee’s lab, Genovations, was raided Thursday by the DEA — for trying to become legal.

Federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents Thursday raided another medical marijuana potency testing laboratory, Genovations, based in Colorado Springs.

Like the recent DEA raid of Full Spectrum Laboratories in Denver, the lab was hit after applying for an analytical laboratory license, reports Joel Warner at Westword.

Federal rules are that any lab possessing marijuana, even for the purposes of scientific potency testing, is in violation of the law unless they have an analytical license.

Trouble is, when you apply for that license, armed DEA goons are sent over, they of course “smell or see marijuana,” and the raid is on.

Pot Dispensary Owner Defies Judge, Posts Bail

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 11, 2010 Dispensaries, Medical, News

Graphic: Doc Herbalist

The owner of a Fresno medical marijuana dispensary posted $5,000 bail and got out of jail Wednesday after he promised to show back up in Fresno County Superior Court for his arraignment on charges of violating a court order to stop selling pot.

Rick Morse, owner of the Medmar dispensary, was held in jail without bail following his Tuesday arrest on misdemeanor charges of selling marijuana after two judges ordered him not to do it, reports Pablo Lopez at The Fresno Bee.

Judge Donald Franson Jr. on Wednesday granted Morse’s request for bail so he could hire a lawyer for his February 18 arraignment.

Morse, 48, was defiant when he appeared in shackles at his first court appearance. He laughed when Judge Franson read him his rights and outlined the criminal charges against him.

Thank You, Officer: Sheriff Gives Man His 4 Pounds Of Pot Back

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 11, 2010 Dispensaries, Medical, News

Photo: Bryant Anderson/The Daily Triplicate

Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Morris last year displayed some of the four pounds of marijuana seized during a traffic stop. On Friday, the pot was returned to its owner.

Daniel Sosa went to Crescent City, California last Friday to pick up four pounds of marijuana.

He had a 2 p.m. appointment to pick up the stuff — at the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office.

“It seemed weird,” Sosa said. “I was worried they were going to arrest me again.”

If the pot looked familiar to Sosa, it was because it was the same weed that had been confiscated from him a year ago, during a routine traffic stop, reports Kurt Madar of The Daily Triplicate.

City Pays Man $32,500 For His Marijuana Plants

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 10, 2010 Growing, Medical, News

Photo: Jenn Miller

The City of Seal Beach, California has paid a medical marijuana patient $32,500 to settle a lawsuit resulting from what he called the unlawful confiscation of 50 marijuana plants.

Bruce Benedict, 45, sued the Seal Beach Police Department for $1 million in August 2008, alleging violations of civil and safety codes, false imprisonment, battery and trespass, reports Jaimee Lynn Fletcher at The Orange County Register.

“I’m happy that I won,” Benedict said. “I’m happy that they got slapped in the face.”

“It’s not about the money,” he said. “These [cops]are bad for society.”

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