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S.F. Advocates Protest Obama Medical Marijuana Policy

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on October 25, 2011 Dispensaries, Legislation, News

All photos: Jack Rikess

Medical Marijuana Activists In San Francisco Challenge the Obama Administration Crackdown; Toke of the Town Was There

By Jack Rikess

Toke of the Town

Northern California Correspondent

Last time we thought it was some sick joke when Obama came to fundraise in San Francisco on April 20, the pot smoker’s holiday, after having changed his stance and began his reversal on medical marijuana in California.

Today, no one was laughing.

Feds: California Marijuana Dispensaries Must Shut Down

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on October 6, 2011 Dispensaries, News

LSQ

In a major escalation of the U.S. federal government’s war on medical marijuana dispensaries, federal prosecutors have warned California collectives they have 45 days to shut down or face criminal charges and confiscation of their property — even if they are operating legally under the state’s medical marijuana law, approved by voters in 1996.

California’s four U.S. Attorneys sent letters on Wednesday and Thursday to at least 16 dispensaries or their landlords notifying them they are violating federal drug laws, reports Lisa Leff at the Associated Press. Medical marijuana is legal in California, but federal law prohibits pot for any purpose.

The U.S. Attorneys are scheduled to announce their coordinated crackdown on dispensaries at a Friday news conference. Their offices have so far refused to confirm the closure letters.

Medical Marijuana Job Fair Weekend: West Coast Cannabis Expo

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on October 5, 2011 Culture, Products

West Coast Cannabis Expo

Inspired by President Barack Obama with his American Job Act, the West Coast Cannabis Expo’s organizers say it will be the very first to feature a Job Fair with career opportunities in the $1.7 billion legal medical marijuana industry.

The event launches this Friday, October 7, and continues through Sunday, October 9 at the Cow Palace – South Hall, located at 2600 Geneva Avenue in Daly City, just south of San Francisco.

The Job Fair idea came from the dynamic Cheryl Shuman, executive director of celebrity, media and public relations for KUSH Magazine and director of special projects for the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA).

“Working with KUSH Magazine, I see hundreds of job opportunities,” Shuman said. “West Coast Cannabis Expo organizers are taking a more serious look by focusing on getting Americans back to work.”

Seattle Hempfest 2011 In Photos: Friday and Saturday

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on August 21, 2011 Culture, Products

All photos by Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ unless otherwise noted

Hempfest 2011, the biggest ever (as in, for the first time ever, three days, man) is still happening at Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle until 10 p.m. Sunday night. The first two days saw plenty of memorable moments.

For me, speaking for the first time from the Share Parker Memorial Main Stage on Friday was a sure enough rush. Looking out, seeing and hearing that many cheering, happy people was definitely one of the high points of my weekend — and one that I was able to replicate again on Saturday from the Seeley Memorial Stage, where I spoke just before 4:20 and got back up onstage with a big crowd of folks at the magic moment.

Here are some of the best photos from this weekend to remember.

This Weekend: Hempfest Marks 20 Years With Biggest One Yet

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on August 18, 2011 Culture, News

Graphic: Seattle Hempfest

There has to be a Number One in every category. When it comes to pot rallies, Seattle Hempfest is the biggest and arguably the best on the planet.

The monster marijuana rally — or “protestival,” as organizer Vivian McPeak puts it — is marking 20 years of existence with this year’s event, held at Myrtle Edwards Park on the beautiful Seattle waterfront — and for the first time ever, Hempfest is slated for three days.

The party begins at high noon on Friday, August 19 and continues until 8 p.m., then things start up again at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, lasting until 8 each night.

Cannabis Industry, Congressman Promote $1.7 Billion Business

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 30, 2011 Legislation, News

Graphic: NCIA

The National Cannabis Industry Association, the first national trade organization advancing the interests of marijuana-related businesses, on Wednesday discussed the federal legislative needs of the industry at an event at the National Press Club.

Leaders of the industry joined Congressman Jared Polis (D-Colorado), as well as the manager of See Change Strategy, an independent firm that last week released the first-ever financial analysis of the legal medical marijuana industry in the United States.

The See Change report, based on interviews with more than 300 people in the industry, estimated the total legal medical cannabis market at $1.7 billion in 2011.

Cannabis Industry To Meet With Congressman, Discuss Legislation

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 28, 2011 Legislation, News

Photo: Jeff Fryer/flickr

Rep. Jared Polis (C-Colorado) will meet on Wednesday with members of the National Cannabis Trade Association to discuss the federal legislative needs of marijuana-related businesses.

The National Cannabis Industry Association, the first national trade organization dedicated to advancing the interests of marijuana-related businesses, will discuss the federal legislative needs of the industry at the National Press Club this Wednesday, March 30.

Prominent leaders in the industry will join Congressman Jared Polis (D-Colorado), as well as the manager of See Change Strategy, an independent firm that, on March 23, released the first-ever financial analysis of the legal medical cannabis industry in the United States.

This report, based on interviews with more than 300 people in the industry, projected the total legal medical cannabis market at $1.7 billion in 2011.

IRS Tells Medical Marijuana Dispensary It Owes Millions In Taxes

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 10, 2011 Dispensaries, News

Photo: Jeff Vendsel/Marin Independent Journal

Lynette Shaw, founder and director of the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana, which is being audited by the IRS.

The Internal Revenue Service has notified the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Fairfax, California that it owes millions of dollars in unpaid back taxes, according to the dispensary’s founder and director, Lynette Shaw.

Shaw said the IRS audited the Alliance’s tax returns for 2008 and 2009 — and disallowed all of the dispensary’s business deductions, reports Richard Halstead at the Marin Independent Journal.

Although dispensaries throughout California are reportedly being audited by the IRS, the Alliance is the first to be directly told it can’t deduct business expenses, according to Shaw.

“Every dispensary in the nation, past present and future is dead if this is upheld,” Shaw said.

DC Businesses Try For A Piece Of The Medical Marijuana Action

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 8, 2011 Dispensaries, Growing, Medical

Graphic: VaporMe.com

Every new industry is driven by risk-taking pioneers, and it’s no different with medical marijuana in the District of Columbia. Entrepreneurs trying for a piece of the cannabis action in D.C. are crafting business plans, arranging financing, and readying for fierce competition to get licenses to operate five dispensaries and 10 cultivation centers.

Whether motivated by prospective profits or a belief in the medicinal value of marijuana, “everyone is cagey about their plans, because no one is certain who is in the hunt,” reports Paul Schwartzman at the The Washington Post.

“People are hiding in the shadows,” said Alan Amsterdam, co-owner of a hemp store and part of a team hoping to open a marijuana dispensary and cultivation center. “Then they’ll strike like a cobra.”

San Jose To Pot Clubs: You’re Illegal; We’re Taxing You Anyway

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 28, 2011 Dispensaries, News

Photo: Jeff Chiu/AP

San Jose’s medical marijuana dispensaries are required to pay a new tax starting tomorrow — even though haven’t been declared legal yet.

Even though San Jose, California considers all of its 100 or so medical marijuana dispensaries to be unlawful, city officials are still welcoming the pot providers to City Hall on Monday to talk about a new program which greatly interests the cash-strapped city: a marijuana tax.

Starting Tuesday, March 1, San Jose will slap a seven percent tax on marijuana dispensaries under a measure city voters overwhelmingly approved in November, reports John Woolfolk at the Silicon Valley Mercury News.

Most dispensary owners always assumed taxation would also mean legal acceptance, but now it appears the beleaguered providers will be catching it from both sides: they’re still subject to police raids at the same time they are responsible for paying taxes.

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