Posts Tagged ‘Medical Marijuana’

What MLK Could Tell Pot Activists

The odd notion of ye olde dispensary sandwiched between the barbershop and the pizzeria took a hit this Election Day, when rural Loveland, Colorado voted to abolish its existing medical marijuana businesses. The ban is symptomatic of regulatory tussles playing out in every medical marijuana state. Yet advocacy groups accepted the result without a whimper. [...]

Arizona: Thousands ready to apply for medical pot card

By KVOA, Staff

TUCSON – After years of debating you’ll soon be able to apply for a medical marijuana card.

In a close race back in November voters approved the sale and use of medical marijuana. Prop 203 was signed into a law by the Governor in December. Under the new law, qualifying patients will be allowed to buy two and a half ounces of marijuana every week, but it does require a doctor’s recommendation.

The state had 120 days to get the program up and running and Thursday is the end of that period and when it will all come together as thousands ready to apply. Some are looking to just purchase the pot legally with a prescription, while others are looking to grow it.

To apply for medical marijuana there is no doubt there will be a lot of interest and attention. The state said it’s expecting numbers into the thousands and because of that, it decided the best way to do the application process was online.

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Maryland: Defense For Medical Marijuana Clears Legislature

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A new defense for Maryland residents who use marijuana for medical reasons has cleared the Maryland General Assembly.

The Senate gave final approval to the bill on a 39-5 vote.

The bill would enable Marylanders to avoid a $100 fine and misdemeanor conviction if they are arrested with marijuana but have a doctor’s permission to use the drug for medicinal purposes.

The measure also calls for a study on how medical marijuana could be distributed in the future in Maryland.

Gov. Martin O’Malley says he’ll sign the bill.

Source: http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2011/04/12/defense-for-medical-marijuana-c…

Marijuana Laws Ruled Unconstitutional, Govt Has 90 Days To Fix Them Or It Will Be Re-Legalized

Today in R v. Mernagh the Ontario Superior Court of Justice found the entire regulatory scheme governing medical marijuana (the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations) to be invalid. As a result sections 4 (prohibiting possession) and 7 (prohibiting production) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act were stricken. The government has been given 90 days to fill the legislative void or it will become legal to possess and produce marijuana.

The basis for the decision was that the government’s controversial decision making allopathic physicians the only gatekeepers to patient access created a scheme that was too restrictive and made it too difficult for Canadians to lawfully acquire the medicine. In the Court’s words “…it is long past time for the government to provide the medical access to marihuana that was directed by the Parker court over ten years ago…” Parker was a 2000 decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal that gave rise to the MMAR scheme.

“Complaints about the doctor-as-gatekeeper role, from patients and physicians, have been a constant feature of this flawed system,” said Kirk Tousaw, the Foundation’s Executive Director and a BC lawyer that successfully argued R v. Beren, in which the BC Supreme Court found certain supply-side aspects of the scheme to violate the Charter. “This decision represents a huge step forward for critically and chronically ill Canadians that want to access this safe and effective medicine without being turned into criminals for doing so.”

Jacob Hunter, the Foundation’s Policy Director and an authorized medical cannabis consumer, also hailed the decision: “I know how hard it has been to find a supportive physician. There are a million medical cannabis consumers in Canada and, in ten years, less than 10,000 have been able to become legal. That just isn’t right.”

The Foundation urges the upcoming new government of Canada to work with patients, producers and distributors of medical cannabis over the next 90 days to craft a legislative model that works. “Who knows,” speculated Tousaw, “the government could always choose not to re-legislate, as did with the abortions laws after the Morgentaler decision, and finally put an end to the harms being caused by marijuana prohibition. ”

The Foundation congratulates Mr. Mernagh and counsel Paul Lewin for their outstanding efforts and salutes all those that assisted in the case.

Source

Vermont considers medical marijuana dispensaries

MONTPELIER — Here’s what Shayne Lynn envisions somewhere in Chittenden County: an office as non-descript as a doctor’s office or a pharmacy from which he would sell marijuana to those with qualifying medical conditions.

There’d be a waiting room. Clients would be seen by appointment only. There’d be security. He might also offer clients yoga, acupuncture and Reiki. He’d probably grow the marijuana somewhere else, at an indoor facility.

Lynn could become one of the first people to run such an operation in Vermont if proposed legislation the Senate is expected to consider this week passes.

Lynn, a 40-year-old professional photographer who lives in Burlington, said he believes in marijuana’s medicinal value for those who suffer from chronic pain and he thinks it’s wrong that such people have nowhere legal to buy the relief.

“People having to go out and buy it on a corner from someone — it’s not right,” Lynn said. “I see this as an opportunity to run a successful, local, nonprofit business which would provide medical respectability to the current and future patients on the registry. It would open a more honest, serious dialogue about the benefits of cannabis.”

Medical marijuana has been legal in Vermont since 2004, for those with qualifying illnesses — including cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis — who sign up for the state’s registry. The 2004 law allows patients to grow their own marijuana, but advocates say many find that a daunting task, leaving them with the prospect of making illegal deals for street dope.

The state’s medical marijuana registry specifies, “The Marijuana Registry is neither a source for marijuana nor can the Registry provide information to patients on how to obtain marijuana.”

The answer, advocates say, is to legalize a small number of medical marijuana dispensaries — nonprofit operations that would grow marijuana and sell it to those on the medical marijuana registry.

“They have a right to have this symptom-relief medication, yet we’ve given them no ability to get it in a legal manner in which the product is safe,” said Sen. Jeanette White, D-Windham, chairwoman of the Senate Government Operations Committee that passed the bill the Senate will consider this week.

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Day One Conference Agenda and Live Stream

NORML Network Free Live Stream of NORML Conference

The NORML Network presents NORML SHOW LIVE and John Doe Radio coverage of the 40th Annual NORML National Conference in Denver, Colorado – Thursday, April 21 through Saturday, April 23, 2011

Brought to you absolutely free by the donations of NORML supporters everywhere – do your part to help spread the growing truth about cannabis by donating today.

You can view our live streaming coverage of NORML Conference plenary panels by visiting our NORML.org page on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, or by visiting our NORML Network stream page at live.norml.org.

NORML Network’s John Doe Radio from Denver will be offering a complementary live stream from the vending and interview area of the conference at johndoeradio.com.

On Thursday you’ll get Russ Belville opening the show at 9am with dazzling graphs and statistics, followed by Keith Stroup talking about NORML at 40 years old.  Later you’ll see a panel on 2011/2012 State Marijuana Initiatives and then Montel Williams hosting a debate with six Denver Mayoral candidates.  Our final two panels will discuss the newest federal policies on medical marijuana and the evolving cannabis commercial industry.  That evening concludes with the HIGH TIMES / NORML Awards and a special three-song acoustic performance by Ziggy Marley!

On Friday we begin with Neill Franklin from LEAP delivering the perspective of law enforcement on the failure of prohibition.  Research experts will be on a panel discussing the non-THC cannabinoids in marijuana.  Two important demographics for reform – women and seniors – will be addressed in the next two panels by the NORML Women’s Alliance and a Seniors panel that includes Dr. Lester Grinspoon.  Allen St. Pierre speaks on the treatment of marijuana by the media and the day winds up with a Blogging and Social Networking panel.  That evening the Supervillians play a special $4.20 performance at the Bluebird Theater.

Our final day, Saturday, begins with breakout sessions on HIGH TIMES cultivation, Colorado’s cannabis commerce laws, medibles cooking, and expert NORML attorneys presentation on How Not to Get Busted.  At noon some of the country’s leading physicians offer perspectives on medical cannabis.  Next is our Keynote Luncheon featuring US Congressman Jared Polis followed by Paul Armentano and other experts presenting on Marijuana and Safety.   We conclude the day session with a special questions-and-answers event with Dr. Lester Grinspoon, the pioneer of medical marijuana in America.  That evening we’ll enjoy the NORML Annual Fundraiser with a performance by Greta Gaines.

Medical Cannabis Rally At Washington State Capitol Tuesday

​12 Noon, April 19, State Capitol in Olympia, WAIn answer to Gov. Christine Gregoire’s stated reluctance to sign SB 5073, the medical cannabis reform bill which has already cleared both houses of the Legislature, the Washington Cannabis Association and other advocates for medical marijuana reform will hold a rally at 12 noon on Tuesday, April 19 at the State Capitol in Olympia, Washington.”It’s time for the Governor to stop listening to the feds and begin listening to the people of this state who overwhelmingly approved medical cannabis by initiative in 1998,” said Philip Dawdy, WCA’s media and policy director.

Continue reading “Medical Cannabis Rally At Washington State Capitol Tuesday” >

420 Day What S The 411 On Medical Marijuana CBS New

(CBS) 420, 4:20 and 4/20 are all pot smoker code for lighting up, and each April 20 (get it?) c.420 Day What S The 411 On Medical Marijuana CBS New

NJ Medical Marijuana Supporters Suspect Legal Review Is A Stall Tactic

Roseanne Scotti, New Jersey State Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, who worked with Scutari to pass the law, said there is "nothing new" about the Eric Holder's position on properly run state medical marijuana programs. “The legislature worked onMore info here