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Experts: Medical Marijuana Patient Registry Working In Oregon

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 1, 2011 Legislation, Medical

Washington state has no medical marijuana patient registry, but the Legislature is considering following Oregon’s lead as part of a sweeping overhaul bill pending in Olympia.

Patients in Washington are anxious about the proposed registry, seeing it as an invasion of privacy and a tempting tool for police, who strongly favor it, reports Jonathan Martin at The Seattle Times. Reflecting those fears, the current proposal in Washington calls for a voluntary registry.

But Oregon’s 11-year experience with a mandatory registry has resulted in patient advocates, police, attorneys and health-care professionals describing it as the least controversial part of the Beaver State’s medical marijuana law.

Cannabis Legalization Initiative Filed In Washington Jan. 26

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on January 25, 2011 Legislation, News

Graphic: Sensible Washington

Voters in at least one state may get the chance to legalize marijuana this year. Washington State’s 2011 initiative to legalize cannabis for adults will be filed Wednesday, January 26, Sensible Washington state coordinator Don Skakie told Toke of the Town Tuesday afternoon.

The initiative, which would remove marijuana penalties for adults, will be filed in the Secretary of State’s office in the Legislative Building, Olympia, Washington, at about 2 p.m.

“Anyone wanting to be part of this historic event is welcome to participate,” Skakie said. “Please be mainstream in your dress and appearance.”

Washington Legislature To Debate Expanded Medical Cannabis Law

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on January 12, 2011 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Graphic: THC Finder

A coalition of lawmakers in the Washington House and Senate has introduced legislation seeking to expand the state’s 12-year-old medical marijuana law and create greater legal protections for authorized patients, providers, and caregivers.

Senate Bill 5073 and House Bill 1100 seek to provide state licensing to medical marijuana producers and dispensaries in order to assure that qualified patients “will have access to an adequate, safe, consistent, and secure source of medical quality cannabis.”

The proposed laws do not in any way alter or amend patients’ existing rights to possess up to 24 ounces of marijuana for medical purposes, and cultivate up to 15 cannabis plants.

First Marijuana Farmer’s Market Held In Washington

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 20, 2010 Dispensaries, News

Photo: Lui Kit Wong/Tacoma News-Tribune

A medical marijuana patient exchanges a plant for a donation at what was billed as Washington’s first cannabis farmer’s market at the Conquering Lion in Tacoma on Sunday

Farmer’s markets usually don’t require bouncers. But this wasn’t your usual farmer’s market.

A smiling guy in a skull and crossbones sweatshirt guarded the door Sunday to a rented room where the sweet smell of marijuana was heavy in the air, with the pulsing rhythms of reggae providing a soundtrack, reports Stacia Glenn of the Tacoma News-Tribune.

Only authorized medical marijuana patients were allowed inside the event, billed as Washington state’s first cannabis farmer’s market.

Louisiana Makes What May Be First ‘Synthetic Marijuana’ Arrest

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on August 16, 2010 Uncategorized

Photo: Dan Gill/The New York Times

Julie Meyers, 20, smokes “synthetic marijuana” at Petra Cafe and Hookah Bar in St. Louis days before Missouri’s ban was signed into law.

It was bound to happen, sooner or later, and this is the first time Toke of the Town has heard of it: Laralee Herron, 20, entered the annals of hemp history (though probably not how she wanted) when she was arrested Sunday night in West Monroe, Louisiana, for possession of “synthetic marijuana.”

A search revealed “synthetic marijuana” in Herron’s purse, according to an affidavit. She was charged with “possession of synthetic marijuana” and bond was set at $750.

Eager officers didn’t waste any time getting started on enforcing their shiny new law. Young Herron got busted on the very day that Louisiana’s ban on “synthetic marijuana” went into effect — August 15.

Back on June 29, Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law House Bill 173, making it a crime to possess, sell or manufacture the synthetic drug, and the law took effect Sunday.

‘I Love Jack Herer’ Tour Kicking Off In The Pacific Northwest

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 28, 2010 Culture, News

Graphic: From The Heart Entertainment, LLC

The “I Love Jack Herer” Tour, kicking off April 30 in Seattle, will honor the memory of the much-loved hemp activist and author who died April 15.

“We will gather in his memory, remember his vision and celebrate his legacy with the I Love Jack Herer Tour,” said Janice M. Johnson of From The Heart Entertainment, LLC.

Originally conceived as a way to raise money to help Jack and his family with the huge bills from his medical care, the Tour is now moving forward to raise money for Jack’s family to help with the remaining expenses.

After the Seattle kickoff on April 30, the Tour continues to Olympia, Wash., on May 1, Portland on May 8, and Eugene, Ore., on May 9.

Admission to the show is $10. Non-perishable (canned) food will also be collected at the doors for donation to local food banks. Bringing two or more cans of food will get you $2 off the admission price.

Upcoming Marijuana March Reaches Goal Of 300 Cities

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 26, 2010 News

Graphic: Cures Not Wars

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) is hailing the passage of another milestone for the Global Marijuana March, with Georgetown, Guyana and Ryebrook, N.Y., as the 299th and 300th cities holding a march, rally, forum or benefit on the weekends of Saturday, May 1 and May 8.

NORML and numerous other groups called for more cities this year to participate, so that organizers could meet and surpass their stated goal of more than 200 cities.

“Worldwide action is necessary for any outright legalization, since cannabis is largely prohibited globally by a United Nations treaty known as the Single Convention, enacted in 1962 through the efforts of top anti-cannabis zealot Harry Anslinger, the original instigator of U.S. cannabis prohibition in 1937,” said Allen St. Pierre, executive director of NORML.

Washington: Marijuana Legalization Gaining Momentum

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 23, 2010 Legislation, News

Photo: Emerald Herb

“It’s an idea whose time has come,” said Douglas Hiatt, co-author of Initiative 1068, which would legalize marijuana in Washington State.

And now it’s time for voters to take matters into their own hands, according to Hiatt. “This year, one in six legislators sponsored marijuana reform legislation,” the activist attorney said Tuesday at a press conference on the steps of the Capitol Building in Olympia.

“And again this year, major reform did not get out of committee,” Hiatt said. “So we formed Sensible Washington and wrote an initiative that removes the criminal and civil penalties for adults.”

Every poll taken shows that if I-1068 gets on the ballot, it will win. Washington voters support sensible marijuana laws.

Tuesday’s press conference detailed a wide and diverse array of endorsements, from former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper to Republican legislator Toby Nixon.

City Councilman Says Informant Wanted Weed For ‘Sexual Needs’

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 9, 2010 News

Photo: The Olympian

Olympia City Councilman Joe Hyer pleads not guilty to three marijuana felonies, Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Olympia, Washington City Councilman Joe Hyer pleaded not guilty to three marijuana felonies Tuesday, with his attorney suggesting that “a trusted political mentor” entrapped and cajoled Hyer into selling him marijuana twice due to “depression” and “sexual needs.”

“Judge Pomeroy, I plead not guilty to all charges,” Hyer said during his arraignment.

Hyer is charged with two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, each a Class C felony, reports Jeremy Pawloski at The Olympian.

Hyer, 37, was arrested at his home last month by members of the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force after a “confidential informant” wearing a wire bought pot from the councilman twice during “controlled buys” in February, according to court papers.

Cannabis Group Seeks ID Of Informant Who Ratted Out Councilman

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 25, 2010 News

Graphic: Cannabis Defense Coalition

Activists in the Olympia, WA area are encouraged to print these posters and distribute them around town.

A Seattle-based marijuana advocacy group is trying to learn the identity of the “confidential informant” responsible for the recent arrest of Olympia City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Joe Hyer on pot charges.

Hyer was arrested February 18 by agents from the forfeiture-funded and citizen-feared Thurston County Narcotics Task Force for allegedly selling marijuana.

An acquaintance of Hyer had contacted the task force and reported that he was able to get cannabis from the councilman, and that he was ready and willing to wear a wire and go “undercover” in an expensive, month-long, taxpayer-funded marijuana investigation cum political vendetta.

Democrat Hyer’s high-profile arrest has already resulted in a chorus of calls for his resignation from ambitious local Republicans who see an opportunity to make political capital from the councilman’s misfortune.

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