Medical

Americans for Safe Access seek to appeal cannabis rescheduling decision with US Supreme Court

By Jack Daniel on July 16, 2013 Legislation, Medical, News

For over four decades now, advocates for the responsible use of marijuana have been fighting an uphill battle against the Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. government in an attempt to get weed moved off of the Schedule I list of drugs. The goal for groups like Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is to get pot moved down to at least Schedule II, where it can be studied and prescribed more effectively.
Founded in 2002, ASA has been helping to lead the way in cannabis law reform, lending their influence and expertise to local City Council decisions, all the way up to Supreme Court cases. It is there, with the U.S. Supreme Court, that Americans for Safe Access currently finds themselves fighting for the rightful rescheduling of marijuana.

NJ Gov Chris Christie parties with Bon Jovi while sick children suffer

By Jack Daniel on July 9, 2013 Follow that story, Legislation, Medical

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie isn’t sympathetic to severely sick children.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie spent most of the day Monday with his wife Pat, and his good buddy, and fellow Jersey boy, Jon Bon Jovi at Borough Hall in Sayreville, N.J. They gathered in front of a hand-chosen crowd to celebrate a very generous one million dollar donation made by the rock-star to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, which is chaired by the Governor’s wife. So that explains why two out of the three were there, at least.
Meanwhile, it has been five days since we last reported on recently approved changes to the state’s medical marijuana laws that would help extremely sick kids get access to cannabis if needed. The Democrats who lead the state legislature pushed the bill to the Governor’s desk on June 25th, or two weeks ago, where it sits waiting for the Governor’s signature. But c’mon, its Bon frickin JOVI!

Michigan lawmakers plan to legalize, revive medical marijuana dispensaries

By William Breathes on July 8, 2013 Dispensaries, Follow that story, Legislation, Medical, News

After the Michigan Supreme Court earlier this year ruled that dispensaries have no legal grounds to operate in the state shutting down all but a handful of dispensaries, thousands of patients were left without a reliable and safe means of accessing medicine.
State lawmakers see that as a problem, and are currently in talks over a bill that would legalize and regulate the dispensaries reports Jake Neher with Michigan Public Radio.

Oregon medical marijuana dispensary regulation bill approved by legislature, now awaiting gov. signature

By William Breathes on July 8, 2013 Dispensaries, Follow that story, Legislation, Medical, News

Oregon medical marijuana dispensaries – roughly 150 or so – are one step closer to have a set of state guidelines after lawmakers last week approved a bill creating a medical marijuana dispensary program by a 32 to 27 vote.
House Bill 3460 is now awaiting the signature of Gov. John Kitzhaber to become law. If passed, the bill would not create any new taxes and the industry would pay for the regulations through licensing fees.

Oakland, Berkeley fighting feds for medical marijuana

By William Breathes on July 5, 2013 Medical, News

City governments in Oakland and Berkeley are putting their lawyers to work defending medical marijuana dispensaries in those towns.
Earlier this week, the city of Oakland won a court order preventing the federal government from seizing a building occupied by Harborside Health Center, one of the nations largest dispensaries. Meanwhile, their neighbor to the north, Berkeley, has filed a claim against the feds saying seizing and shutting down marijuana businesses in that town will adversely affect the town’s tax coffers.

NJ Gov. Christie reluctant to sign bill easing MMJ access for sick minors

By William Breathes on July 3, 2013 Follow that story, Medical

A video still of Vivian Wilson from NBC New York.

Though children in his state languish in pain while a medicine remains just beyond their reach, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is holding back on signing the one bill that could help them out.
As we told you last week, current New Jersey medical marijuana laws require children under 18 to gain approval from three different doctors – including a psychiatrist – before they could access the medicine. Adults only have to have approval from on physician. The problem? Finding a child psychiatrists to sign off on it.

Maine approves medical marijuana for PTSD

By William Breathes on June 27, 2013 Legislation, Medical, News

Post-traumatic stress disorder isn’t just a media buzzword. It’s mental and often physical suffering that affects millions of people to varying degrees, often making life unlivable. In recent years, cannabis has been shown – albeit anecdotal – to help improve PTSD symptoms yet many states with medical marijuana laws still don’t allow it as a qualifying condition.

First two Vermont dispensaries open for business (VIDEO)

By William Breathes on June 26, 2013 Dispensaries, Medical, News

Medical marijuana patients in Vermont now have two additional choices when deciding how to procure their medicine. Champlain Valley Dispensary in Burlington and Vermont Patients Alliance in Montpelier are both open for business as the first two dispensaries in the state.

Oregon medical marijuana dispensary regulation bill advances to Senate

By William Breathes on June 25, 2013 Dispensaries, Follow that story, Legislation, Medical, News

A Colorado medical marijuana dispensary.

The state of Oregon is one step closer to having a single, statewide set of medical marijuana dispensary rules today. The state House yesterday gave approval to House Bill 3460, which sponsors say will legitimize the roughly 150 cannabis collectives already existing in the state.
The bill passed on a 31 to 27 margin, with several legislators arguing that the bill doesn’t do enough to ensure cannabis is going to medical patients in need and not hippies who want weed.

New Jersey legislature approves easing medical marijuana rules for children, gov. signature remaining hurdle (VIDEO)

By William Breathes on June 25, 2013 Legislation, Medical, News

A video still of Vivian Wilson from NBC New York.

Update 6/25/2013: The New Jersey General Assembly approved changes to the state medical marijuana laws that will help severely sick children access beneficial medical cannabis.
The bill now heads to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has been reluctant in the past to implement state medical marijuana laws and has been a vocal critic of making medical cannabis available to children.

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