News

Appeals Court Accepts Challenge of DEA’s Marijuana Research Denial

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 10, 2012 Growing, Medical, News

University of Massachusetts-Amherst Professor Lyle Craker has been trying for almost 11 years to get federal permission to grow marijuana for medical research

On Friday, May 11, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston will hear oral arguments in a federal lawsuit against the Drug Enforcement Administration for denying University of Massachusetts-Amherst Professor Lyle Craker a license to grow marijuana for privately funded medical research.

The arguments culminate nearly 11 years of legal and administrative proceedings trying to end the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) monopoly on the marijuana supply for research.

The lawsuit is in response to an August 15, 2011 final order issued by the DEA rejecting its own DEA Administrative Law Judge’s 2007 recommendation that it would be “in the public interest” to grant Prof. Craker the research license. A laboratory at the University of Mississippi, funded by NIDA, is currently the one and only facility in the United States allowed to grow marijuana for research.

House Democrats Support Ending Federal Interference in Medical Marijuana States

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 9, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

Illinois DUI

Nearly Three Quarters of Democrats Break with Administration Policy, Vote to Prevent Federal Agencies from Targeting Individuals in Compliance with State Medical Marijuana Laws

Democrats in the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to approve an amendment to the FY 2013 Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations bill late Wednesday that would effectively end the ability of federal agencies to enforce federal marijuana laws against individuals who are in compliance with state medical marijuana laws.

Drug Program Shelved After Cop Gives Weed To Occupy Protesters

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 9, 2012 News

CityPages

It appears at least one police officer did give marijuana to Peavy Plaza Occupy protesters.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety has suspended its drug recognition training program and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has started a criminal investigation after a police officer allegedly provided marijuana to protesters.

Occupy Minnesota protesters said last week that police officers gave them marijuana and watched them get high, reports Mike Durkin of KMSP. The protesters first made the allegations public in a YouTube video, saying officers from Hutchinson, Minnesota came to downtown Minneapolis and asked them to take part in the drug training program.

House To Vote On Blocking Funding For Crackdown On Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 9, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

The Weed Blog

Bipartisan Amendment Would Block Funding for Obama’s Attack on Medical Marijuana Patients Protected Under State Law

Conflict Coming to a Head as More States Pass and Implement Medical Marijuana Laws While Obama Administration Escalates Assault on Patients and Providers

Drug Policy Alliance: Obama Will Continue to Suffer Politically for Ignoring Public Opinion on Medical Marijuana

The U.S. House is expected to vote soon – possibly on Wednesday – on a bipartisan amendment to the Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill that would prohibit the Department of Justice from undermining state medical marijuana laws. The amendment, co-sponsored by Rep. Rohrabacher (R-CA), Rep. Hinchey (D-NY), Rep. McClintock (R-CA) and Rep. Farr (D-CA), is a rebuke of President Obama’s aggressive assault on medical marijuana patients and providers.

Consumer Guide Expands From Cars & Phones To Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 8, 2012 Dispensaries, News, Products

Steve Elliott ~alapoet~

Seattle medical marijuana access point Gourmet Green

FindTheBest — an internet startup known for its consumer-oriented, data-driven comparisons — has applied the same accessible, ordered format which has worked so well for products like cars and smartphones to a comprehensive medical marijuana dispensaries listing.

“Not only does this comparison allow you to locate a dispensary by location, but it also contains tools that enable you to rank, filter, and sort results based on personal preferences,” FindTheBest student intern Richard Taylor told Toke of the Town Tuesday afternoon.

Looking specifically for cannabis clubs with clones? Do you prefer indica or sativa? “Simply refine your search by menu item to view the dispensaries that fulfill your needs,” Taylor told us.

Patients can further narrow results by specifying whether they prefer a physical store location or a delivery service — or if they want a medical marijuana dispensary that accepts credit cards.

Tell Me Again Why We Need A New Cannabis DUI Law

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 8, 2012 Legislation, News

CarInsurance.org

Highway fatalities have fallen steadily every year since states began passing medical marijuana laws. They are now at their lowest point since 1949.

If marijuana really caused car accidents — you know, the way alcohol does — America’s highways would be awash in blood because of the herb’s growing popularity.

But even as marijuana use — and society’s acceptance of it — grows every year, highway fatalities are diminishing.

Rejected D.C. Marijuana Applicants Taking It To Court

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 7, 2012 Dispensaries, Medical, News

examiner.com

Unsuccessful applicants for the District of Columbia’s medical marijuana program are asking the courts to force reconsideration of their submissions, saying they were rejected by a review panel despite meeting or exceeding the criteria.

Three firms filed a total of five civil complaints to contest the way officials scored and rejected their applications to open a cultivation center to grow cannabis or a dispensary center to sell it to qualified patients, according to the D.C. Office of the Attorney General, reports Tom Howell Jr. of The Washington Times.

The officials who scored and rejected the applications were led by D.C. Department of Health personnel. A spokesman from the Attorney General’s D.C. office said each of the petitions “raise the same allegations, namely that the scoring of their applications was inappropriate.”

Lawyer Loses Insurance For Representing Med Marijuana Clients

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 7, 2012 Medical, News

Legal Herald

In what seems to be the first event of its kind nationwide, a Denver attorney has lost her liability insurance because part of her practice involves representing medical marijuana clients.

Ann Toney’s insurance company last month told her it will not renew her malpractice coverage, reports John Ingold at The Denver Post. Toney’s practice “does not meet current underwriting guidelines because of the following risk factors: Area of practice involving medical marijuana,” the Hanover Insurance Group explained in its notice.

Michigan Bill Would Allow Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 7, 2012 Dispensaries, Legislation, News

mlive.com

Michigan Rep. Mike Callton (R-Nashville) introduced a bill to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries

A proposal introduced in the Michigan House last week would legalize medical marijuana dispensaries, an issue not clarified in the law enacted following voter approval of a 2008 ballot initiative to allow use of cannabis for medical purposes.

The bill, HB 5580, the Medical Marihuana Provisioning Center Regulation Act, was introduced by state Rep. Mike Callton (R-Nashville), reports Christopher Behnan at the Daily Press & Argus. It will legalize cannabis dispensaries but allow local governments to prohibit them in their communities outright, or regulate their number and location.

Connecticut Medical Marijuana Bill Headed To Governor’s Desk

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 5, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

Cannabis Law Group

State Set To Become 17th To Allow Medicinal Cannabis

A bill legalizing marijuana for medical purposes passed the Connecticut Senate early Saturday morning. The state will join 16 others and the District of Columbia in allowing the medicinal use of cannabis after Democratic Governor Dannel P. Malloy, who said he supports the measure, signs the bill.

The bill, which had already cleared the House, passed around 3 a.m. on Saturday by a 21-13 vote after nearly 10 hours of debate.

The bill will set up a complex, regulated system of marijuana cultivation, dispensing, and licensing, and it outlines specific medical conditions that can legally be treated with cannabis.

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