Medical Marijuana Updates

Medical marijuana is making news all around the country, from city halls to federal court houses, not to mention dispensaries and patients' homes. Let's get to it:

Alabama

House Bill 25, the Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act, is back. Sponsored by Rep. Patricia Todd and backed by Alabama Compassionate Care, the bill would allow qualifying patients or their caregivers to possess up to 2 ½ ounces of usable marijuana and six mature and six immature plants. It would also provide for compassion centers where patients could obtain their medicine. Patients would be registered with the state. The bill has had its first reading and awaits action in the House Health Committee.

California

Last Tuesday, the Orland City Council voted to ban dispensaries, collectives, and collaboratives.The ban prohibits medical marijuana distribution facilities from the city, whether they are fixed or mobile and says no permits or licenses will be issued for that purpose. The ordinance also prohibits patient grows within 300 feet of any hospital, church, school, park or playground, or any other area where large numbers of minors congregate, and imposes other limitations on patient grows.

Last Thursday, the California Second District Court of Appeal issued a decision affirming the legality of storefront dispensaries and rejecting the contention that every member of a collective must participate in cultivation. In the case,People v. Colvin, the state had argued that all members of a collective must do just that, but the court demurred, saying that "imposing the Attorney General’s requirement would, it seems to us, contravene the intent of [state law] by limiting patients’ access to medical marijuana and leading to inconsistent applications of the law."

Also last Thursday, a ballot initiative was launched to overturn a Costa Mesa ordinance banning collectives and cooperatives. The move is spearheaded by former collective operator Robert Martinez, whose Newport Mesa Patients Association, was one of 27 facilities that were shut down by federal officials at the behest of the City Council and city attorney last month.

Also last Thursday, a Vallejo dispensary operator pleaded not guilty to felony state drug charges. Matt Shotwell, owner of the Greenwell Cooperative, was arrested last Tuesday after a joint state-federal raid and faces multiple counts of trafficking, cultivating, possessing and maintaining a place for unlawfully providing marijuana. Vallejo police said last Wednesday they had asked the DEA for help in cracking down on the city's 24 dispensaries. At the same time, the city is getting ready to implement a voter-approved tax on all dispensaries next month.

Last Friday, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) filed a bill that would create a statewide medical marijuana regulation system. The bill, Assembly Bill 2312, got a first reading Monday. It could get a committee hearing March 27.

This week, three more bills pertaining to medical marijuana have been introduced:

Assembly Bill 2465, introduced by Assemblywoman Nora Campos (D-San Jose), would require all medical marijuana patients to obtain a state ID card and also register the address where they are growing it.California NORML called the bill "blatantly unconstitutional" because it abridges the fundamental right of patients not to be arrested upon the "written or oral" recommendation of their physicians.

Assembly Bill 2365, introduced by Assemblyman Brian Nestande (R-Palm Desert), would require that family courts consider parent's documented use of prescribed controlled substances, including medical marijuana and narcotic maintenance medications, in child custody proceedings.  At present, the family code does not explicitly address these issues, although they are frequently brought up in family court proceedings.

Assembly Bill 2600, introduced by Assemblyman Chris Norby (R-Fullerton), would prohibit the DMV from revoking a person's driving privileges for simple possession of one ounce or less of marijuana.  At present, an automatic revocation of license is required for conviction of any drug offense where a motor vehicle is involved.

On Tuesday, the federal prosecutor for the Central Valley vowed a new crackdownon large medical marijuana grows. Benjamin Wagner, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California, said his office is not interested in prosecuting sick people using medical marijuana. But he warned that the "unregulated free for all" that has allowed marijuana growers and merchants to make fortunes must come to an end, and he said in the coming months a new focus will be made on pot farms in the valley.

Also on Tuesday, a federal judge in Sacramento dismissed a dispensary's request for a permanent injunction blocking the federal government from enforcing the Controlled Substances Act. The suit had been brought by the El Camino Wellness Center and patient Ryan Landers.

Also on Tuesday, the Madera County Board of Supervisors gave first approval to an ordinance that would ban outdoor gardens and limit indoor gardens to 100 square feet. The patient would also have to own and reside at the property. There are other restrictions as well. A final vote is set for March 13.

Colorado

On Monday, federal agents were dispatched to ensure that 23 dispensaries too close to schools had closed. US Attorney John Walsh had given the dispensaries 45 days to close or move because they were within 1,000 feet of schools. The 1,000-foot rule is a federal sentencing enhancement, not a requirement of the state medical marijuana law. Local industry representatives said all the affected dispensaries had complied.

Also on Monday, a Colorado Springs TV station aired footage of a SWAT raidon the home of two medical marijuana patients, who charged police used excessive force. At least 13 SWAT officers raided the home, breaking down the door, and throwing a flash bang grenade. The two patients were not arrested because the marijuana they were growing was in compliance with state law. Police were not apologetic, but local activists denounced the raid as heavy-handed.

Idaho

A Boise-based group is collecting signatures to get a medical marijuana initiative on the November ballot.Compassionate Idaho needs 47,500 signatures by April 30 to qualify. The initiative has the same language as House Bill 370, but activists aren't counting on the legislature to act.

Michigan

On Monday, an Oakland County circuit court upheld a Bloomfield Township ordinance requiring medical marijuana patients to register with the township. Richard Roe had sued, claiming the ordinance is invalid under the state's medical marijuana law, but the court sided with the township. It ruled that the suit wasn't valid because Roe had not actually been penalized by the law. The ruling is the latest in a series of court decisions challenging local medical marijuana laws. Last December, a circuit court judge threw out a lawsuit filed by two persons challenging the medical marijuana laws of Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills using almost identical language.

New Jersey

On Sunday, state officials told the Wall Street Journal they didn't think medical marijuana would be available there until the end of the year at the earliest. State Department of Health and Senior Services officialssaid it had taken longer than expected to launch the program because opposition to dispensaries in towns and villages was more vigorous than anticipated, and setting up a highly regulated system with safeguards against theft and fraud has proved challenging. State Department of Health and Senior Services officials.

New York

The New York City Bar Association's committees on Drugs and the Law and Health Law issued a report approving of pending medical marijuana legislation in Albany and offering some suggested modifications, including that the state explore letting patients grow their own. The bills before the legislature, Assembly Bill 2774 and its Senate companion bill, don't do that.

Rhode Island

On Wednesday, the Rhode Island Patient Advisory Coalition reported that the state House and Senate have reached agreement on a bill that would make compassion centers a reality. Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I) had blocked the program after receiving threats from federal prosecutors, but Senate Bill 2555 is designed to ease his concerns.

Washington

On Tuesday, state prosecutors filed multiple charges against the owners of a medical marijuana dispensary in Laceythat had been raided in November. Dennis Coughlin, 68, and Jami Bisi, 50, the proprietors of Cannabis Outreach Services face 11 counts of unlawful delivery of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school bus stop; 12 counts of unlawful use of a building for drug purposes; and two counts of unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to deliver within 1,000 feet of a school bus stop, according to their charging documents. They are the seventh and eight persons charged in a series of Thurston County raids on five collectives. The raids came after undercover police carrying medical marijuana recommendations made purchases at those locations. Washington's medical marijuana law does not explicitly allow dispensaries.

History of Medical cannabis

History of Medical Cannabis

Cannabis was a part of the American pharmacopoeia until 1942 and is currently available by prescription in the Netherlands, Canada, Spain, and Italy in its whole plant form.

In 1937, the U.S. passed the first federal law against cannabis, despite the objections of the American Medical Association (AMA). Dr. William C. Woodward, testifying on behalf of the AMA, told Congress that, "The American Medical Association knows of no evidence that marijuana is a dangerous drug" and warned that a prohibition "loses sight of the fact that future investigation may show that there are substantial medical uses for Cannabis."

Ironically, the U.S. federal government currently grows and provides cannabis for a small number of patients. In 1976 the federal government created the Investigational New Drug (IND) compassionate access research program to allow patients to receive up to nine pounds of cannabis from the government each year. Today, five surviving patients still receive medical cannabis from the federal government, paid for by federal tax dollars.

In 1988, the DEA's Chief Administrative Law Judge, Francis L. Young, ruled after extensive hearings that, "Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known... It would be unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious for the DEA to continue to stand between those sufferers and the benefits of this substance..." Yet the DEA refused to implement this ruling based on a procedural technicality and resists rescheduling to this day.

In 1989, the FDA was flooded with new applications from people with HIV/AIDS. In June 1991, the Public Health Service announced that the program would be suspended because it undermined federal prohibition. Despite this successful medical program and centuries of documented safe use, cannabis is still classified in America as a Schedule I substance “indicating a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical value. Healthcare advocates have tried to resolve this contradiction through legal and administrative channels to no avail.

In 1996, patients and advocates turned to the state level for access, passing voter initiatives in California and Arizona that allowed for legal use of cannabis with a doctor's recommendation. These victories were followed by the passage of similar initiatives in Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Washington D.C. The legislatures of Hawaii, Maryland, New Mexico Rhode Island, and Vermont have also acted on behalf of their citizens, and every legislative session sees more bills introduced at the state level across the country.

In 1997, The Office of National Drug Control Policy commissioned the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to conduct a comprehensive study of the medical efficacy of cannabis therapeutics. The IOM concluded that cannabis is a safe and effective medicine, patients should have access, and the government should expand avenues for research and drug development. The federal government has completely ignored its findings and refused to act on its recommendations.

Despite the federal barriers to research, hundreds of peer-reviewed studies have been published worldwide since the IOM report. While there is still much to learn, the medical potential is indisputable for a variety of symptoms and conditions.

In 1997, the federal government began a campaign to arrest and prosecute medical cannabis patients and their providers. These raids resulted in two Supreme Court Cases, OCBC and Gonzales v. Raich. In each of these cases the Justices found that the federal law and state law can exist in conflict and that the federal government could continue their campaign against medical cannabis patients if they so choose. However, the Justices questioned "the wisdom' of going after patients and their providers and called on Congress to change the current laws to allow for medical use.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Gonzales v. Raich, on June 6, 2005, the federal government has intensified its war against patients across the state of California. These raids have resulted in more than two-dozen patients and providers being needlessly prosecuted by the federal government.

Unfortunately, these defendants will not be permitted to mention during trial that their use of cannabis was for legitimate purposes and in accordance with state law. These raids alone are estimated to have cost taxpayers over $10,000,000.

Patients who could and do benefit from cannabis therapeutics face a variety of challenges at both the federal and state levels. Patients have been made to needlessly suffer because they have been denied access or, worse, because they have been imprisoned for using a medicine their doctors recommended.

Medical cannabis patients and current Executive Director Steph Sherer founded Americans for Safe Access (ASA) in 2002 in response to federal raids on patients in California. Ever since then, ASA has been instrumental in shaping the political and legal landscape of medical cannabis. Our successful lobbying, media, and legal campaigns led to positive court precedents, new sentencing standards, more compassionate legislative and administrative polices and procedures, as well as new legislation.

ASA protects the rights of cannabis patients. We are working to change federal policy to meet the immediate needs of patients as well as create long-term strategies for safe access and programs that encourage research.

Group gains support to make medical marijuana legal - KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports, classifieds-

Group gains support to make medical marijuana legal - KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports, classifieds-

Here's another state wanting to legalize it for medical reasons. Let's go Arkansas

Americans for Safe Access: Take Action!

Come join the fight to legalize our precious marijuana plant from the clutches of evil.

ASA : Take Action!

The late, great, Jack Herer (R.I.P) receives lifetime achievement award

2012 High Times Medical Cannabis Cup Los Angeles CA

This is the video with exclusive insider video brought to you by the weed maps team, Thanks Gil and Sarah Jane

Nation's First Medical Marijuana Cultication Center opens in Phoenix, AZ

PHOENIX -- Nearly 1,200 caregivers in Arizona are legally allowed to grow medical marijuana, but finding places to grow it can be challenging. A medical marijuana advocacy organization believes it has a solution.

“I had the cortisone shots,” Daniel Martin said. “I've even had other narcotics.”

This is how Martin used to treat his chronic pain, but now he finds relief with medical marijuana. He's one of nearly 20,000 Arizonans who are legally allowed to have the drug. 

“The medical marijuana isn't as debilitating when I take it,” Martin said.

But Martin wanted to help other patients. So he also became a registered caregiver, which means he can grow medical marijuana.

“First of all, I couldn't grow it at home and I wasn't that familiar with growing it,” Martin said.

Martin turned to Compassion First Caregiver Circle for help. A new cultivation center where Valley registered caregivers can grow marijuana in their own private spaces.
 
“We have 50 caregivers who are cultivating on behalf of up to five patients each,” Kendric Speagle said.

Speagle is the chief development officer at Compassion First Caregiver Circle. He said the center provides everything from tent space to cultivation experts and even a place for caregivers and patients to interact.

“The safe space is where patients and caregivers meet to talk about issues associated with medical marijuana and it's also where they meet to exchange medical marijuana,” Speagle said.

The facility has 24-hour security and is surrounded by cameras. This was something Dr. Keith South, who is also a medical marijuana patient, really liked when it came to setting up shop.

“It's all about taking care of people that are in chronic conditions,” South said. “There has never been anything to show that there is anything harmful about using cannabis.”

When asked if he was worried about having any run-ins with the law, South said, “I guess there is always that possibility, but to me, we're the forerunners out creating a new path that needs to be done.”

And for those who say caregivers may be in it for the money, “You got all this cost associated with setting this up and any donations that are taken here go back to Compassion First to pay for the equipment and anything above that actually goes to charity,” Martin said. ‘So there's no profit to be made here.”

The cultivation center, which is being called the nation’s first, also provides on-site training for caregivers and certification services for patients.

Their grand opening is Saturday, Feb. 18. For all the details, log on towww.caregivercircleaz.com.

Organic OG

Organic OG was a new Indica Strain I decided to try out at the dispensary.
Smells all natty, not skunky or chemically smelling.
Taste is a lil harsh, but all smoke burns my throat and lungs so I always hack a lung out lol.

Grown organically in soil this OG batch contains dense, heavily crystallized buds. Beautiful shades of dark green and red, it offers a smooth and flavorful smoke. Excellent indica body effects.

The bud was decent and fat, didnt care too much for this strain, maybe due to the organic flavor. Prefer a purp strain over this for sure, love those fruity buds.

Obama and the government

OK don't you think it's about time that you actually listen to the public and their thoughts instead of  your idealistic ideas that never work out????

Medical Cannabis and its Medical Help

Marijuana Negative Health claims go up in smoke

Unlike tobacco, smoking marijuana - even when done regularly - does not damage the performance of people's lungs, according to a recent study published by The Journal of the American Medical Association. 


The two-decade research, which followed 5,000 people who smoked an equivalent of one joint per day over the course of seven years, found out that despite their regular marijuana use, subjects were still able to push out a normal amount of air in one second after taking a deep breath.


This means that only minimal if any pulmonary obstruction has developed, contrary to findings involving tobacco. 


"Recent evidence indicates that smoking marijuana, for lung cancer, is not as bad as smoking tobacco is," said Lyle Craker, a plant sciences professor at the University of Massachusetts who has studied medical marijuana for several years now. "Marijuana is relatively less dangerous than some other drugs." One possible explanation from the authors of the study states that because marijuana users "train" themselves to hold in the smoke, they were able to maintain proper breathing cycles. 


Still, smoking marijuana can result in heavy coughing and is linked to mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse ( NIDA ). 


The NIDA also states that cannabis impairs users' senses by reducing attention span and motivation, which makes them prone to accidents, public health advocates say. 


"All drugs contain alkaloids, and alkaloids are bad for you," Craker said. "Getting hooked on anything is bad for you." Marijuana, which is now the most widely-used illegal drug in the country, has gained popularity among youth in recent years, according to the National Institutes of Health's Monitoring the Future study. 


The study shows that one out of 15 high school students smoke the drug daily. "National surveys say that kids have a much easier time getting marijuana than they are getting alcohol because alcohol stores ask for an I.D., while underground drug dealers don't have a card policy," said Will Snyder, a UMass student and a member of the Cannabis Reform Coalition ( CRC ) on campus. 


Snyder said that the government's anti-drug campaigns, such as AboveTheInfluence.org, fail to regulate marijuana use among teenagers because they " find a way to get [marijuana] anyway." 


He said that marijuana should instead be legalized with a minimum age restriction as with alcohol. 


In addition, he said that marijuana is less fatal than other vices popular with youth, such as tobacco and alcohol, which kill 443,000 and 80,000 Americans each year, respectively, according to the Centers for Disease Control. 


UMass student Rob Jacobs expressed concern over marijuana legalization if it was not sufficiently taxed and regulated. 


"To just make it a legal substance doesn't enact the necessary control of it," Jacobs said. 


The CRC has also been pushing for the legalization of growing marijuana for medical research. 


In 2007, it backed Craker as he pitched the idea of growing medical marijuana in the University for research purposes to the Drug Enforcement Administration. However, the DEA rejected his proposal. 


At the moment, only the University of Mississippi is authorized to grow marijuana to be handed down to and studied by the Food and Drug Administration. 


While he insisted that recreational usage of marijuana is still disruptive, Craker said that making marijuana a total taboo is not fair. 


Many have already speculated that marijuana could help to cure glaucoma and post-traumatic stress disorder, and may even help women to conceive better, he said. Currently, marijuana has no legal medical use according to federal regulations. 


"Because it's not been tested in a scientific study, all we have is lay evidence," Craker said. "That's why we want to be able to grow this here at the University to provide material to medical doctors so it can run on clinical trials." 


Craker and Snyder both agree that the ban on experimental marijuana growth hinders probable medical breakthroughs involving marijuana. "If you say that there's no science behind [the medical use of marijuana], why can't someone like Professor Craker study it?" Snyder said. "We live in an age of science, and these things should be tested," Craker said. 


According to Craker, marijuana has been prohibited primarily because hemp was overtaking wood as a better fiber for paper production during the early 1900s. Because businessmen, such as publisher William Randolph Hearst, relied on their timber lands and did not want any competition, they insisted that "marijuana is the worst thing in the world." 


This point of view, he said, was passed on from generation to generation, and at present, organizations such as the National Institute of Drug Abuse and the DEA employ people to promote a drug-free society. 


Consequently, legalizing marijuana would hurt certain people's jobs, he said. "I don't want to accuse anyone, but things get into trends, and they're not willing to look at alternatives," Craker said. "I think it's those with an interest in keeping it restricted [who] demonize marijuana." 


On the other hand, Snyder is optimistic that with findings that clarify people's knowledge about its health effects, marijuana would gradually become more accepted by society. 


"Our generation's attitudes towards cannabis have become much more positive," he said.