Toke of the Town — Marijuana and Cannibis News

California Team Working To Defeat Marijuana Legalization

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 22, 2010 Legislation, News

They never get tired of flogging this stuff.

In 2008, they defeated an initiative that would have emphasized treatment over jail for non-violent drug offenders. Now, the same political campaign team is organizing anew to fight against the November ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in California for adults over 21.

Two years ago, Sacramento political consultant Wayne Johnson directed a coalition led by law enforcement associations in a successful attempt to defeat Proposition 5. The reactionary campaign against Prop 5 labeled the measure “The Drug Dealers’ Bill of Rights,” reports Peter Hecht at The Sacramento Bee.

Michigan: Deputies, DEA Arrest Medical Marijuana Patients

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 22, 2010 Growing, Medical, News

Photo: WNEM

Deputies haul away marijuana after raiding what patients described as a medical marijuana grow operation

Two medical marijuana patients were arrested last week by Saginaw County, Michigan sheriff’s deputies and federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officers.

According to arrested couple, the marijuana they grew was for medical purposes in accordance with Michigan’s medical marijuana law, but the sheriff’s office said they were not following state guidelines, reports WNEM.

Hundreds of marijuana plants, guns and other possessions were seized in the raids last week.

John Roberts, 48, of Thomas Township, protested the arrest and said the growing and use of marijuana by patients is legal.

Wisconsin Court Tosses Pot Conviction, Scolds And Fines City

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 21, 2010 Legislation, Medical

Photo: Legal Juice

A Wisconsin appeals court threw out a man’s Grand Chute marijuana conviction Tuesday and soundly scolded the city for its bad behavior, even levying a $200 fine against the city’s law firm.

The court made its ruling after deciding that the town’s possession ordinance includes an exception for medical marijuana that is at odds with state law.

In a refreshing turn of events, the Third District Court of Appeals verbally spanked the city for its bad behavior. “We are astonished by the Town’s brazen misrepresentations, which are not supported by record citations,” the Court of Appeals wrote.

The court chided the town’s attorneys, calling them responsible for “grossly misrepresenting the record, omitting record citations, and citing a document not made part of the record.”

Lansing’s First Medical Marijuana Dispensary Opens

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 21, 2010 Dispensaries, Medical

Photo: Rod Sanford/Lansing State Journal

Marijuana dispensary owner Danny Trevino calls Lansing, Mich. police Tuesday after they left a note at the storefront that he uses

Lansing’s first official medical marijuana dispensary has opened, testing the limits of Michigan’s medical marijuana law. The business, still unnamed, opened last week as city officials work toward drafting a city ordinance to regulate cannabis related businesses, reports Scott Davis at Lansing State Journal.

“It gives peace of mind that there is a place where I can go to buy it,” said Darryl Brija, 52, a state-certified medical marijuana patient who has a degenerative back disease. “It’s a good thing for people who can’t grow it themselves.”

Tell TV’s Dr. Drew: It’s NOT OK To Frame People For Drugs

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 21, 2010 Culture, News

Photo: PopCrunch

Dr. Drew thinks framing people for drugs and getting them arrested is a good treatment for addiction.

Television personality and “addiction specliaist” Dr. Drew Pinsky recently prescribed framing people for drugs and getting them arrested as an acceptable treatment for addiction.

Dr. Drew said, “If [Lindsay Lohan] were my daughter, I would just pack her car full with illegal substances, send her on her way, call the police, and make sure she was arrested. I would make sure she was not allowed to get out of jail.” This incredibly irresponsible advice is not only unethical, it’s also illegal and downright dumb.

The Association for Addiction Professionals’ code of ethics says: “I shall refrain from using any methods that could be considered coercive such as threats, negative labeling, and attempts to provoke shame or humiliation.”

Video: ‘Auditors With Guns’ Will Control Colorado’s Medical Pot

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 21, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation

Photo: Colorado Statesman

Colorado State Sen. Chris Romer: “If you all don’t clean up your own house, we’re going to clean it up for you”

Colorado State Sen. Chris Romer (D-Denver), one of the co-sponsors of HB 1284 and SB 109, bills in the Legislature which would effectively eliminate most medical marijuana dispensaries in the state, shocked audience members at a meeting April 15 when he used the phrase “auditors with guns” dozens of times when describing the regulatory regime he envisions.

Romer discussed the bills at a meeting of the Medical Marijuana Business Alliance on April 15 at Loews Hotel in Denver. Members of the Cannabis Therapy Institute (CTI) were in attendance, and on 4/20, the People’s Cannabis News released a video of the event with Romer’s speech (see the video below).

Romer started on a threatening note. “If you all don’t clean up your own house, we’re going to clean it up for you,” he told the medical marijuana advocates. “Certainly if we send in some auditors with guns, we’re gonna clean it up really fast.”

Across Street From 420 Rally, House Toughens Medical Pot Rules

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 21, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Photo: Joe Amon/The Denver Post

Thousands gathered in the park across from the Colorado State Capitol in Denver to support the legalization of marijuana, April 20, 2010.

Colorado state lawmakers at the Capitol on Tuesday toughened regulations for the booming medical marijuana industry as clouds of smoke wafted from a pro-pot really across the street.

The House ultimately passed a bill to create rules for marijuana dispensaries, focusing largely on licensing requirements, tax policy and signage rules, reports John Ingold at The Denver Post.

Marijuana: LEGALIZE IT. Happy 420!

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 20, 2010 Culture

D.C. Medical Marijuana Bill Up For A Vote 4/20

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 20, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Photo: Executive Healthcare

The D.C. Council will vote Tuesday, April 20, on a much-anticipated proposal to allow chronically ill patients to receive a doctor’s recommendation to use marijuana medically, and buy it from a city-licensed dispensary.

Under the bill, which has already passed two committees, patients who suffer from HIV, glaucoma, cancer, or a “chronic and lasting disease” and who get a doctor’s recommendation will be allowed to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, defined as a “30-day supply,” reports Tim Craig at The Washington Post.

University Officials Try To Snuff 4/20 Smokeout

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 20, 2010 Culture, News

Photo: KSBW

Free speech? How about “restricted access” speech?

University of California Santa Cruz officials are restricting campus access for visitors and vehicles, in an attempt to muzzle Tuesday’s 4/20 marijuana smoke-out.

UCSC police have restricted access to the campus in past years, but the “unsanctioned” event continued to grow. There are still no plans to make any arrests or issue citations to anyone for smoking pot on campus, reports KSBW Action News.

The university reportedly realizes there’s no way it can stop thousands of people from taking part in the 4/20 celebration, so they focus on restricting “outsiders” and enforcing strict traffic measures.