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R.I. Looks At 18 Medical Marijuana Dispensary Applications

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 7, 2011 Dispensaries, News

Photo: Kathy Borchers/The Providence Journal

A large crowd turned out Monday morning for public hearings on the 18 applications for licenses to operate medical marijuana compassion centers in Rhode Island.

A large crowd turned out for the Rhode Island Department of Health’s hearing Monday morning to gauge what the public has to say about the 18 applications for licenses to operate medical marijuana dispensaries, or compassion centers as they are known in the state.

The hearing kicked off with three elected officials expressing strong opposition to the compassion centers. Cranston Mayor Allan W. Fung, Rep. Peter Palumbo (D-Cranston), and Rep. Doreen Costa (R-North Kingstown) all expressed “grave concerns” about the proposed dispensaries, reports The Providence Journal.

Fung, who serves as public safety director for Cranston, said that Congress still characterizes marijuana as “a dangerous drug,” and he doesn’t want a compassion center in his city.

Man Arrested After Calling 911 For Marijuana Growing Advice

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 4, 2011 Growing, News

Photo: Danbury News-Times

Robert Michelson, 21, thought it would be a good idea to call 911 to get legal advice on growing marijuana

Well, at least he got an answer to his question. A Connecticut man who called 911 looking for legal advice on growing marijuana is now facing multiple drug charges.

Robert Michelson, 21, allegedly called Farmington Police Thursday night to ask “how much trouble he could get in” for growing one marijuana plant, police said, reports the Danbury News-Times.

The dispatcher advised Michelson that he could be arrested. Michelson then thanked the dispatcher and hung up.

Police then traced the call to an address on Waterville Road. Narcotics officers from Farmington went to the house and reportedly discovered that Michelson was — surprise, surprise! — growing marijuana.

Feds Warn Oakland: Industrial Marijuana Farms Are Illegal

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 3, 2011 Growing, News

Photo: Adrian Rushton/Colchester Gazette

There was some more ominous saber-rattling from federal drug warriors Wednesday as a U.S. Attorney strongly warned Oakland that big industrial marijuana farms are illegal, and that the Department of Justice is considering “civil and criminal legal remedies” if the city goes ahead with its plans to permit them.

In a letter [PDF] obtained by The Bay Citizen, U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag warned that the DOJ is “concerned” about Oakland’s “licensing scheme that permits large-scale industrial marijuana cultivation and manufacturing as it authorizes conduct contrary to federal law and threatens the federal government’s efforts to regulate the possession, manufacturing, and trafficking of controlled substances.”

The central point of Haag’s letter was clear: Marijuana is illegal under federal law.

Microsoft Claims Drug Cartels Selling Fake Copies Of Its Software

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 3, 2011 News, Products

Photo: Fugitive.com

This stash of cash totaling $205 million was stolen, I mean seized, from Mexican drug cartel members by Mexican Federal Police and the American DEA during a joint raid on a suspected cartel boss’s home

Gotta watch those darn south of the border “drug cartels.” Not only have they fought back against Mexico’s War On Drugs, resulting in thousands of deaths, but now they’ve gotten into Bill Gates’s pockets, too.

Drug cartels are making fake copies of Office 2007 and selling ’em on the streets of Mexico, at least if you believe David Finn, Microsoft’s associate general counsel for anti-piracy, reports Curtis Cartier at Seattle Weekly.

Finn showed off a copy of counterfeit Office software “brazenly” stamped with the rectangular “FMM” logo of La Familia drug cartel, reports Heather Smith at Bloomberg.

Cannabis Advocates To GOP: Why Not Cut The DEA Budget?

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 3, 2011 Legislation, News

With Republicans in the House claiming they want to cut down on spending for the next fiscal year, marijuana advocates are suggesting they should start with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s budget.

Trimming the federal largesse that keeps the DEA fat and happy makes sense. Billions of dollars are thrown away annually on a quixotic and foolish War On Marijuana that is not supported by the public, that never achieves its goals, and that sees as its victims not only families but civil liberties and respect for law enforcement, as well.

Steve Fox of the Marijuana Policy Project told TPM that the idea makes a lot of sense, reports Ryan J. Reilly.

DEA Hits Michigan Again: Two Caregivers Raided, Charged

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 2, 2011 Growing, News

Photo: Addiction Inbox

Two Michigan men face federal marijuana charges in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids, but the lawyer for one of the defendants said the men were in compliance with the state’s Medical Marihuana Act.

The number of plants seized was within state law because of the number of caregivers who were growing at the location, according to the lawyer, Bob Baldori, reports Andy Balaskovitz at Lansing City Pulse.

Randall Darling, 24, and Joseph Johnson, also in his 20s, each face counts of growing more than 100 marijuana plants, according to court documents.

The federal cultivation charges come with a five-year minimum prison sentence. Warrants were issued for Darling and Johnson on January 20. Both await pretrial hearings.

Both defendants were within the state’s medical marijuana law, according to Baldori, who represents Johnson. While the DEA confiscated more than 200 plants from a grow operation in Mason, Baldori said Johnson and Darling are both patients and caregivers with the maximum allowed five patients.

Med Marijuana Advocates: Records Disclosure Will Hurt Patients

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 2, 2011 Medical, News

Photo: Fox 2

First, the state of Michigan said “Trust us, the medical marijuana patient records will be confidential!” But now the Attorney General says he’ll turn ’em over the the Feds with a court order.

The federal government’s request for patient records from Michigan’s medical marijuana registry will discourage legal use of cannabis, according to Jamie Lowell, founder of the Michigan Association of Compassion Clubs.

Lowell knows of a teacher who could use marijuana medicinally, but she is scared of being identified, reports John Agar at The Grand Rapids Press.

“When you get the application, you are under the impression all of the information will remain confidential,” Lowell said Tuesday, outside of U.S. District Court. “People aren’t going to have that peace of mind, and they’ll think twice.”

Marijuana Decrim In Arizona? Pot Could Become $100 Fine

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 2, 2011 Legislation, News

Graphic: Reality Catcher

Arizonans could be paying only a $100 fine for possession of two ounces or less of marijuana if Rep. John Fillmore’s bill passes and is signed by the governor

The penalty for possession of two ounces or less of marijuana could soon carry a fine of only $100 in Arizona.

Pot isn’t a gateway drug, as critics claim, and all the time and money spent on marijuana prohibition would be better spent elsewhere, according to State Rep. John Fillmore (R-Apache Junction). Under his decriminalization bill, minor pot possession would become a petty offense, reports Ray Stern at Phoenix New Times.

Fillmore said he’s currently looking into how much money the state would save if his bill, HB 2228, passes.

Dad Tells Cops 14-Year-Old Stole Weed From Son, 16

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 1, 2011 News

Photo: Gambling 911

Ahhh, gotta love life in suburbia, 2011. An Arizona man was arrested after he told police a 14-year-old neighbor took $400 worth of marijuana from his 16-year-old son and refused to pay for it.

Police in Surprise, Arizona (yes, that’s really the name of the place) found Sean Corwin, 35, beating on the front door of a residence, reports Taylor Hill at The Arizona Republic. He told the cops that an occupant of the home had taken marijuana from his son, according to Sgt. Mark Ortega.

Police said they suspected Corwin had used his son to sell marijuana to the 14-year-old at a nearby park. Cops believe the 14-year-old boy grabbed the cannabis and ran home without paying, leading Corwin to drive to the home to demand payment.

Malaysia: 3 Sentenced To Hang For Selling Pot At McDonald’s

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 1, 2011 Global, News

Graphic: Cracked

If you get caught selling marijuana in Malaysia they’ll give you more hemp — a hemp rope around your neck.

If you are going to sell cannabis, please do it somewhere besides Malaysia. Three people, including one couple, were sentenced on Thursday to death by hanging by the high court at Temerloh, Malaysia for trafficking 4.5 kilograms (just under 10 pounds) of marijuana last year.

“Death by hanging is the only sentence provided for offenses under Section 39B (1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1952,” said Judicial Commissioner Datuk Akhtar Tahir, reports Bernama, the official Malaysian national news agency.

Tahir said the prosecution had proven a prima facie case against Ahmad Mukamal Abdul Wahab, 37; Suhana Kamarudin, 28; and her husband Shawal Hashim, 37.

Ahmad Mukamal and Shawal reportedly shook their heads when the sentence was announced.

“I am not guilty,” Suhana shouted from the dock. “I have a child and had promised to return,” the young mother said.

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