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L.A. City Council Votes To Ban Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 24, 2012 Dispensaries, Legislation, News

Advocates Outraged; Vow To Reverse New Law With A Referendum

The Los Angeles City Council, after having flirted with the idea for some time, on Tuesday voted to ban the medical marijuana dispensaries in the city, claiming “neighborhood concerns” were a factor in the decision, along with recent court rulings questioning the right of cities to regulate the cannabis collectives.

The majority view of the council has evolved, reports Dennis Romero of LA Weekly, to the outlook that the city’s dispensary scene was not foreseen by state legislators when they allowed collectives as part of SB 420, which in 2003 clarified and expanded Proposition 215, approved by state voters back in 1996.

Marijuana Activists Protest Obama’s Visit To Oakland

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 24, 2012 Culture, News

All photos by Jack Rikess

By Jack Rikess

Toke of the Town

Northern California Correspondent

Steve DeAngelo, executive director of Harborside Health Center

Oakland, California: Starting at noon a few hundred cannabis supporters and activists gathered on the steps of Oakland’s City Hall to show support for Harborside Health Center and to protest President Obama’s early evening fundraiser at the picturesque Fox Theater.

On July 11, Harborside Health Center in Oakland and San Jose was served an official Complaint for Forfeiture of Property. The complaint is signed by U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag, Assistant U.S. Attorney Arvan Perteet, and DEA Agent David White, filed on July 6 in the District Court, San Francisco Division and received by the court on Sunday, July 9. The complaint seeks forfeiture of real estate and improvements on the grounds that cannabis is being distributed on the premises, in violation of federal law.

Steve DeAngelo, executive director of Harborside, Libertarian vice-presidential candidate Judge Jim Gray, and others spoke under the hot East Bay sun to the cheers and applause of the cannabis crowd that assembled in the commons of City Hall.

Medical Marijuana Patients Rallying Today In Oakland

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 23, 2012 Dispensaries, News

ASA

ASA welcomes Obama to Oakland: The night before his fundraiser on Monday, July 23, 2012, Americans for Safe Access members put together a projection action and projected this message onto the Obama’a campaign headquarters in downtown Oakland

At Obama Fundraiser in Oakland, Patients Demand End to Federal Attacks

President Obama’s visit to Oakland follows aggressive DOJ actions aimed at shutting down city-permitted dispensaries

Hundreds of medical marijuana patients and advocates are staging a rally on Monday in downtown Oakland at a fundraiser for President Obama’s re-election campaign. The president’s visit to Oakland follows a recent forfeiture action aimed at shutting down Harborside Health Center, a city-permitted dispensary that has operated since 2006 without incident.

Earlier this year, the Obama Justice Department raided and shut down another of Oakland’s permitted dispensaries, Blue Sky, leaving the city with a dwindling number of facilities to serve Oakland’s patient population. Protesters will demand an end to federal interference and call for the firing of Melinda Haag, the U.S. Attorney for northern California.

What: Rally and press conference to protest federal attacks on the medical marijuana community and on Oakland’s dispensaries in particular

When: Monday, July 23rd Press Conference at 1:45 pm (Rally Noon-5pm)

Where: Press conference at Oaksterdam University, 1600 Broadway, Oakland (Rally at City Hall Plaza)

Advocates Unveil Plans For Legal Medical Marijuana Defense

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 23, 2012 Dispensaries, Legislation, News

Jamie Scott Lytle/North County Times

Mother Earth’s Alternative Healing Cooperative Inc. co-founders Bob Riedel and Brenda Perez in 2009

Sole legal medical marijuana dispensary to challenge U.S. Attorney for straight legal test of California state law, to announce plans for ongoing defense of legitimate medical marijuana operations

Advocates, patients, and concerned citizens in support of the only state- and county-approved legal medical marijuana dispensary in California’s four-county southern border region on Monday announced plans to unveil strategy to defend one of the model medical marijuana dispensaries in the nation at a press conference on the steps of San Diego’s federal court building.

Representatives of Mother Earth’s Alternative Healing Cooperative said they would announce the plans and a specific challenge to U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy at the press conference on the steps of the U.S. federal court house in San Diego on Monday, July 23 at 11 a.m.

Marijuana Legalization Push Gets $1.25 Million; Big Lead In Polls

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 23, 2012 Legislation, News

Burien Daily

Real Legalization Or ‘Decrim On Steroids,’ I-502 Appears Headed For Victory

Washington state’s Initiative 502, which would legalize and tax marijuana and sell the herb through state-licensed stores, got a big funding boost over the weekend, receiving $1.25 million in new donations. The funds allowed I-502’s backers to buy a $1 million TV advertising blitz in August, according to campaign manager Alison Holcomb.

Meanwhile, a new statewide poll, paid for by Seattle TV station KING 5, found that a healthy 55 percent of Washington voters support I-502 ,with just 32 percent opposed.

The first marijuana legalization initiative to ever make the state ballot in Washington, I-502 raised the $1.25 million from just four deep-pocketed donors, including matching $450,000 contributions from Progressive Insurance founder Peter Lewis — well-known for his financial support for drug policy reform — and from the New York-based Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), reports Jonathan Martin at The Seattle Times.

Marijuana Linked To Better Brain Function In Bipolar Patients

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 20, 2012 Medical, News

Kush

Results from a new study show indicate that bipolar patients with a history of marijuana use have better neurocognitive function than those who have never used cannabis.

The team, from The Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, New York, found that patients with bipolar I (BD I) disorder who used marijuana performed better on tests of attention, processing speed, and working memory than other BD 1 patients, reports Mark Cowen at News Medical.

“These data could be interpreted to suggest that cannabis use may have a beneficial effect on cognitive functioning in patients with severe psychiatric disorders,” said lead researcher Raphael Braga.

Medical Marijuana Patients To Rally At Obama Fundraiser

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 20, 2012 Dispensaries, News

Rise & Pine

Patients Will Protest In Oakland Monday, Demand End To Federal Attacks

President Obama’s visit to Oakland follows aggressive DOJ actions aimed at shutting down city-permitted dispensaries

Hundreds of medical marijuana patients and advocates will stage a rally Monday in downtown Oakland at a fundraiser for President Obama’s re-election campaign. The president’s visit to Oakland follows a recent forfeiture action aimed at shutting down Harborside Health Center, a city-permitted dispensary that has operated since 2006 without incident.

Earlier this year, the Obama Justice Department raided and shut down another of Oakland’s permitted dispensaries, Blue Sky, leaving the city with a dwindling number of facilities to serve Oakland’s patient population. On Monday, protesters will demand an end to federal interference and call for the firing of Melinda Haag, the U.S. Attorney for Northern California.

Toke Is Switching Comment Systems; Don’t Freak Out, Man

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 19, 2012 News

Spin Sucks

If all goes according to plan, Toke of the Town, along with all its Village Voice Media sister sites, will be rolling out the new Livefyre commenting system throughout the day tomorrow (Friday).

This is a big switch, so there might be a bit of weirdness while all the databases update. This isn’t proof of some sinister conspiracy, and it doesn’t mean that the Cops Are Watching You®.

It just might take a little while for all the older comments to be imported into the new system and appear.

Here are a few relevant points about the new Livefyre commenting system and the allied My Voice Nation, a global profile system.

World Leaders: We Cannot End AIDS Until We End War On Drugs

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 19, 2012 News

Virgin

2012 World AIDS Conference: Criminalization of Drug Use is Fueling the Global HIV/ AIDS Pandemic

Landmark Report Calls for Decriminalization and Expansion of Proven, Cost-Effective Solutions to Reduce HIV/AIDS

The International AIDS Conference, the world’s largest gathering of HIV/AIDS experts and activists, will be held in the United States for the first time in 22 years on July 22-27, in Washington D.C. Distinguished world leaders and public health advocates are mobilizing with a clear message: Criminalization of drug use is fueling the global HIV/ AIDS pandemic.

Drug Czar: No Marijuana For Veterans With PTSD

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 18, 2012 Medical, News

AllGov

A petition which aimed to persuade the Obama Administration to allow military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder to use medical marijuana was rejected by the White House.

Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), wrote last month that marijuana is not a “benign drug,” and does not meet standards for safe or effective medicine, reports Patricia Kime at USA Today. (Apparently, “real” medicines are supposed to kill people in droves — you know, like all the poisons Big Pharma is peddling. Pot doesn’t do that.)

It’s particularly ironic, in a crazy-making sort of way, for the Drug Czar to answer any questions about legalizing marijuana for any purpose, since he is bound by law to oppose marijuana legalization. But if Kerli was feeling any of the irony, he didn’t let on; he was a good robot, mouthing meaningless platitudes on a dead stage.

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