Search Results cannabis

Cops Claim Vitamins Are Methamphetamine; Raid Pot Dispensary

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 27, 2010 Dispensaries, Medical

A bag of white powder that police seized last week in a California marijuana dispensary raid, claiming it was methamphetamine, was actually a nutritional supplement from GNC, according to the operator of the pot shop.

Three pounds of a brown substance that police claimed was hashish actually consisted of marijuana leaf trimmings processed to make cannabis butter, added Ian Stubbs, one of the co-directors of OCMS Healing Leaves, a cooperative in Fountain Valley, California.

“They made it sound worse than it was,” Stubbs said.

Stubbs said the operation, open since January, doesn’t have any way to reopen after police seized its marijuana and cash and froze its bank accounts, reports Jon Cassidy of The Orange County Register.

New Jersey’s Medical Marijuana Law May Be Delayed

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 27, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Photo: ImageShack

The administration of Governor Chris Christie is trying to delay the July implementation of New Jersey’s new law legalizing the use of marijuana for severely ill patients.

The measure, already called the most restrictive in the nation, was passed by the New Jersey Legislature in January and scheduled to take effect six months later, reports Mary Jo Patterson of the NJ Spotlight. Regulations were to be in place by October, when six state-licensed dispensaries would start selling cannabis to qualified patients.

But on May 21, senior staff in the Governor’s office suggested that seriously ill patients just be, well, “patient,” according to the bill’s chief sponsor, Sen. Nicolas Scutari, and wait for six more months before they can legally use the medicine that helps them the most.

Maine: New Medical Marijuana Cards Aim To Protect Patients

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 27, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Photo: WABI

Maine’s new dispensary law augments the medical marijuana law already in place for more than a decade, finally giving patients a legal way to obtain cannabis. But patients and caregivers who want legal access to medical marijuana will have to register for an ID card.

Earlier this month, the Department of Health and Human Services announced it is accepting applications from nonprofit corporations to become dispensaries under Maine’s Medical Use of Marijuana Act, responding to a dispensary law passed by voters.

In July, eight dispensaries will be selected by DHHS, reports Adrienne Bennett of WABI-TV.

Patient Denied Medical Marijuana In Jail; Wants Answers

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 26, 2010 Medical, News

Photo: KFOX

A New Mexico man arrested Sunday for driving with a suspended license said he was stripped of the marijuana he possessed, despite the fact that he is legally enrolled in the state’s medical cannabis program due to his epilepsy.

Gregory Fernandez, 34, said he often has seizures, especially when stressed and not having his medical marijuana, and now he wants answers, reports Phil Anaya at KFOX News.

“I’m wanting for the state to recognize it more, more like California, you know as in they help people out because they don’t just make it where you can smoke it; they also have it in brownies and liquid form and with the pills they can give it in the detention center, I feel,” Fernandez said.

Montana Could Overturn Medical Marijuana Law Next Year

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 26, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: Miami Beach 411

Never mind that an overwhelming 63 percent of residents voted to legalize medical marijuana in 2004. A prominent Montana Republican lawmaker wants to overturn the voter-passed law that legalized medicinal cannabis.

Senator Jim Shockley (R-Victor) on Monday requested a bill to be drafted for the 2011 Legislature to repeal the medical marijuana law, reports Jennifer McKee at the Helena Independent Record. Shockley claimed he believes marijuana has medical benefits and should remain legal, only in a “much more controlled way.”

Sheriff Pays Woman $20,000 To Replace Her Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 26, 2010 Medical, News

Photo: PennLive.com

In yet another embarrassing loss for law enforcement in California, who have tried for years to ignore the fact that medicinal cannabis is legal in the state — and has been for 14 years now — San Luis Obispo County cut a $20,000 check on Monday to a patient whose medical marijuana was wrongfully destroyed.

The county paid 46-year-old Kimberly Marshall the equivalent of $3,333 per pound, the replacement value for six pounds of a specially grown outdoor strain of pot, reports Karen Velie at Cal Coast News.

New Zealand: Gardening Customers Don’t Have To Show I.D.

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 25, 2010 Global, Growing

Photo: Bay of Plenty Times

Last month, police raided Switched On Gardener branches throughout New Zealand. Those must be some really dangerous gardens!

Last month, police raided Switched On Gardener branches throughout New Zealand, along with other gardening supply stores, after what they claimed was a two-year undercover investigation code named Operation Lime, reports Jared Savage at NZ Herald.

Under the new bail conditions, customers at the gardening supply stores will no longer have to hand over identification.

Directors at staff at the 16 stores were charged. The shops were allowed to continue operating as long as they followed strict bail conditions requested by police.

The Orwellian court order initially required every customer in the gardening shops to hand over their identification and give their phone number, address and date of birth. You know… Gotta watch those dangerous gardeners!

Prince Of Pot Pleads Guilty; Five Year Sentence Looms

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 25, 2010 Global, News

Photo: The Tyee

Vancouver’s flamboyant Prince of Pot, Marc Emery, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Monday to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.

The plea bargain which Emery accepted means the 52-year-old Canadian must serve five years in a U.S. prison for selling marijuana seeds to American customers through his Vancouver-based businesses, Marc Emery Direct and Cannabis Culture.

Emery will remain in custody at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac, Washington until his formal sentencing on August 27, reports Andrea Woo at The Vancouver Sun.

The deal is an attempt to make the best of a bad situation, according to Emery’s wife, Jodie.

“It’s unfortunate that a five-year sentence is what we want for Marc, but the alternative was at least 30 years and up to life if it went to trial,” she told The Vancouver Sun on Monday.

“But while he’s gone, he’ll be there to demonstrate the insanity of this War On Drugs,” Jodie said.

Congress Tries To Stop Denial Of Banking To Marijuana Providers

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 24, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Graphic: North Coast Journal

In yet another example of America’s weird double standard when it comes to medical marijuana — which is now legal in 14 states — legitimate medical cannabis providers have been denied banking services or even had their existing accounts terminated, just for being involved in the medical marijuana business.

Fifteen members of Congress sent a letter Friday to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner urging him to issue “written guidance for financial institutions,” which would commit the Department to not targeting institutions whose account holders are in compliance with state medical marijuana laws.

The patient advocate group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) said it has received “dozens of reports” over the past couple of years from medical marijuana providers in California, Colorado and other states who have either been denied financial services or even had their existing bank accounts terminated with little or no justification.

Maine Will Have Eight Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 24, 2010 Dispensaries, Medical

Photo: Opposing Views

Medical marijuana patients in Maine soon won’t have to go very far for their doctor-recommended and legally protected medicine. The state will announce the locations of eight regional dispensaries in July, reports Charles McMahon at SeaCoastOnline.com.

Earlier this month, the state started accepting applications from nonprofit corporations to become dispensaries under Maine’s Medical Use of Marijuana Act. The Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services (DLRS) in the Department of Health and Human Services will be in charge of the selection process.

The state will only allow eight dispensaries, one in each of Maine’s eight public Health Districts, according to a DHHS release. John Martins, DHHS director of employee and public communications, said the state has determined it will regionalize the dispensaries.

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