Michigan
Medical Marijuana in Michigan: Half glass empty or glass half full?
By Jamie Goswick It’s been a whirlwind of a month in Michigan. First, the state passed a set of bills (HB4209, HB4210 and HB4827) implementing a new licensing system for the state’s medical marijuana program, which was then quickly passed by the house and then signed by Governor Rick Snyder. The same week the bills […]
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Record Amount of States to Vote on Marijuana Reform
Back in June we covered which states were going to be voting on marijuana law reform in November 2016. We also listed each state and the initiatives that they were hoping to be voting on this November. Recently, I read a blog at Sensi Magazine with updates for the record amount of states that will be voting on marijuana […]
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The Marijuana Industry Thrives in Lansing, Michigan
Our industry’s green-minded elite have come together in Lansing, Michigan for the first ever Extreme Cannquest & Expo. Ganjapreneurs from across North America will be flocking to this event for the opportunity to gain tens of thousands of dollars in investment funding on The Marijuana Show, the show that has ABC, CBS, CNN, Forbes, Fortune, and […]
Michigan: HB 5161 Seeks to Protect Medical Marijuana Patients From Wrongful Termination
As 2015 medical marijuana legislation continues to make serious inroads throughout the country during 2015, a Michigan State representative has cultivated a long-overdue bill; aimed at protecting workers from being wrongfully terminated for utilizing the medicinal herb. Introduced on December 15, 2015: HB 5161 would provide protection to Michigan’s medical marijuana patients from employer retribution. […]
Marijuana Industry News December 6, 2013
New Family Networks Develop in Colorado…
Families from all over the United States are migrating to Colorado in order to treat their children with marijuana. While controversial to some, many families feel they are without any other options. The New York Times has recently published an article that examined some of the “marijuana refugees”. The article describes a new network being created by these families. The network is made up of people from varying political and ethnic backgrounds as seeking relief for an ailing child is a universal instinct. Families are sharing recipes for marijuana edibles, baby sitting for each other and doing other activities together. This development embodies much of the compassion that has fueled the medical marijuana movement.
For the entire New York Tines article click here
Proposed Law Would Permit Dispensaries and Edibles in Michigan…
Earlier this week, Michigan’s House Committee debated a new medical marijuana bill. Activists and patients believe Michigan courts and authorities have placed too many restrictions on the voter approved medical marijuana laws. Many are also concerned that safe access has been compromised. Not every resident is adept at growing marijuana and there are certain dangers including pesticides and mold that can be an issue for novice growers. Rep. Mike Callton, (R-Nashville) sponsored House Bill 4271 and believes individual communities should dictate what they want. “Local control will allow cities, townships and villages to regulate the level they feel most comfortable with,” Callton said in testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. “And for those communities who feel it is inappropriate, it allows them to opt out all together.”
For more on this article click here
Need for Marijuana Lab Testing Highlighted This Week….
This week many news outlets were reporting on a University of New Haven study that showed marijuana can sometimes be contaminated with mold, mildew and insect parts. Heather Miller Coyle, a forensic botanist and associate professor at UNH worked on the study and would like to see universal testing. “If there’s no certification … it’s like saying we don’t check our meat for mad cow disease,” Coyle said. “That’s our goal as a private university, to develop the tools to address or mediate this issue.” We at marijuana.net have been advocating for lab testing for several years. Medicine is not effective and even dangerous without the proper safety regulations. Labs such as The Werc Shop have excellent track records in testing and can ensure safety.
Congress in Michigan Push for Marijuana Pharmacy Sales
Pharmacies provide the ease of one-stop shopping. Cosmetics, sanitary items as well as toys could be bought in the local pharmacy. Soon there might be a brand new industry placing their items in the shops of pharmacies in Michigan.
Condition congress have suggested permitting medicinal marijuana sales in pharmacies. Last week an invoice was authorized by the Michigan condition senate that can lead to this outcome. Currently medicinal marijuana patients in Michigan can boost their own medical cannabis. The intention, a minimum of for the time being, would be to keep permitting patients in your own home to develop their very own medication whilst helping individuals who aren’t adept eco-friendly thumbs. You will find concerns with the way a new leisure directed industry appears to possess removed the medical enter in Washington condition.
Condition Senator Roger Kahn, who also is surely a cardiologist said around the proposal by saying “Marijuana, whether it’s to become medicinal marijuana, ought to be held to the caliber of medical safety, dosage of a routine. Our medicinal marijuana law does neither of individuals. Yet it uses the term ‘medical’ mainly or conspicuously in the claims.” If the machine may be setup, patients would receive cards following a detailed criminal record check particularly searching for past narcotic selling charges. Senator Kahn can also be trying to change marijuana from the scheduled I substance to some scheduled II. Federal government bodies might not be prepared to make that move.
You will find many issues to sort out before we have seen marijuana in pharmacies. Critics question when the finish result will invariably revert to financial profit, and get rid of the patient who develops in your own home. If earnings are not the driving pressure, pharmacy sales could finish up as being a convenience for patients.
Marijuana Industry News November 8, 2013
It had been an eventful week for marijuana law as voters passed several initiatives. Below we’ve recapped a few of the election highlights:
Michigan
Citizens in the Michigan metropolitan areas of Ferndale, Jackson, and Lansing chosen to decriminalize marijuana. In the 3 metropolitan areas, citizens 21 and older will be allowed to own as much as one ounce of marijuana on private property without penalty. The metropolitan areas of Flint and Detroit also have passed similar laws and regulations. Michigan voters approved medicinal marijuana in November of 2008.
Colorado
Citizens in Colorado made the decision to do something on the concept that marijuana might help purchase needed services. Voters passed a stride which will permit a 25% tax on marijuana. The 25% really is jeopardized if your 15% excise tax along with a 10% florida sales tax. The money produced is anticipated to pay for the expense connected with running the marijuana industry too for creating new schools in Colorado. Governor Hickenlooper said around the voter passed law by saying “We are grateful voters approved funding which will permit a powerful regulating atmosphere, much like liquor is controlled.” “We is going to do all things in our energy to make certain kids don’t smoke pot which we do not have people driving who’re high. This ballot measure gives Colorado the opportunity to regulate marijuana correctly.” However, much like Washington, you will find concerns the condition will phase the medical program which may pressure patients in have to pay more for his or her medication. Some experts have the taxes will end up being excessive.
Miami
As the law is not transformed in Miami, it’s obvious the minds of citizens have, like the relaxation of the nation. To gauge curiosity about medicinal marijuana, Miami voters were requested when they support medicinal marijuana. Apparently they are doing as 64% of voters approved to simply 36% disapproving. The idea am popular, it received 1,000 more yes votes compared to mayor did. The group People U . s . for Medicinal Marijuana, were pleased. They intend on attempting to introduce an amendment to Florida’s metabolic rate that will permit medicinal marijuana. Benjamin Pollars from the organization stated “This would be a really low turnout election in Miami Beach it’s a comparatively old electorate, but still it got near to 65 % from the election.” Medical treatment is a vital problem for Florida’s older population and it is no wonder
Marijuan Industry News May 3, 2013
Way forward for La Marijuana Industry Might be Made the decision by Voters inside a Couple of Days…
La has observed quite the cleaning soap opera if this involves marijuana law. City Council authorities have experienced a range of ineffective ideas through the years inside a desperate make an effort to provide some semblance of regulation. However safe access for patients is frequently an after thought when these politically motivated ideas are created. There are three ballots that’ll be chosen on by La citizens on May 21st. You will see three measures relating to medicinal marijuana regulation that La Voters will select from. Ordinance E has lost support and it is basically glitch, as congress and U . s . Food and Commercial Employees union leaped ship after initially supporting the measure. Although abandoned, Ordinance E can’t be removed the ballot. Proposition D may also be around the ballot and can require a tax increase on medicinal marijuana transactions. However, the measures would also neglect to correctly address safety, lab testing, marijuana worker background inspections, and barring minors from entering shops. This really is the key reason why Marijuana.internet is promoting Ordiance F. If passed, Ordiance F provides probably the most comprehensive method of modern medicinal marijuana law. Taxes would be employed to supplement costs connected with education, police, and also the fire department. It might also require detailed financial records and transparency from dispensary operators. The goup Angelenos for Safe Access is attempting to boost awareness and be sure that patient’s safety factors are the main priority of Los Angeles’ efforts to manage medicinal marijuana.
 
For additional on Angelenos for Safe Access and Ordinance F click the link
 
Federal Suit Accuses Police of Distorting Marijuana Accusations to produce Busts…
New York’s questionable “Stop and Frisk” tactic has brought to a lot of unnecessary busts and it has snapped up many head lines. Many New You are able to citizens have desired to visit a change in the manner police make use of a loophole to bypass the state’s decriminalized marijuana possession laws and regulations. Having under 25 grams of marijuana in New You are able to is really a civil infraction, unless of course the marijuana is within plain view, which could then be a misdemeanor charge. When officials utilize “Stop and Frisk” they frequently arrest individuals The NYPD has defended the practice which appears to focus on mainly non whites. From the 50 plus,000 1000 busts for marijuana this year, 84% were Hispanic or Black. The space is much more pronounced within the Bronx and five citizens within the northern borough have filed a federal civil privileges suit from the NYPD. The suit accuses Police of distorting what the law states to conduct searches of Black and Hispanic people without cause. What The Law States Department of recent You are able to City has yet to said around the situation and states haven’t yet been offered using the suit.
 
For additional about this story click the link
 
 
Ohio Lawmaker Introduces Marijuana Legalisation Bills…
 
As the conversation regarding marijuana reform has increased within the Northeast, and try to appears to become thriving out west, it is vital that we don’t neglect what’s going on in the center of the nation. Michigan is a Area trailblazer for a long time if this involves progressive marijuana law. Ohio has become also joining the conversation as Condition Democratic Repetition. Robert Hagan features two bills that will drastically reform Ohio’s marijuana law. House Bill 153 would permit using medicinal marijuana for individuals with chronic conditions. This could make Ohio the twentieth condition to legalize medicinal marijuana with Maryland becoming the 19th now. House Joint Resolution 6 would put a choice of a tax and regulation system of leisure marijuana towards the Ohio voters. Repetition. Hagan has in comparison Resolution 6 towards the lately passed legalisation enter in Colorado. Hagan lately stated “With invested allocated to the fight against drugs with little progress to exhibit for this, the time is right for additional sensible drug policy within this country…This problem warrants a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ election through the people.”
Marijuana Industry News April 26, 2013
California Condition Set up Committee Passes Medicinal Marijuana Regulation Bill…
 
The legislative mess that signifies California’s medicinal marijuana law continues to be well recorded. Since Proposition 215 was passed in 1996, when medicinal marijuana was initially legalized in California,government bodies, patients and collectives have observed a lot of confusion regarding what is allowable underneath the law. The possible lack of proper regulation has permitted illegitimate collectives to thrive while well intentioned institutions have frequently found trouble. Condition Assemblyman, Tom Ammiano introduced AB 473, an invoice to possess California’s Department of Alcohol Beverage Control oversee a lot of this program. He walked from an identical bill this past year when congress tried to give a provision to permit cities to prohibit shops. Now, condition set up committee passed AB473 the 2009 week. It’s unclear whether it can survive the whole political process and be law.
 
For additional about this article click the link
 
Michigan Congress Introduce Decriminalization Bill…
 
Michigan has already established probably the most progressive marijuana laws and regulations around the books. Attorney General Bill Schuette had attempted to battle against medical and native decriminalization laws and regulations despite citizens outwardly supporting reform measures. It seems his efforts may fail short as state-wide decriminalization bill with bi partisan support continues to be introduced. Democratic Condition Repetition. Shaun Irwin features an invoice that considerably reduce the seriousness of low-level marijuana possession charges. For individuals caught with under one ounce, the penalty will be a civil infraction along with a fine. Presently, individuals with no valid marijuana prescription caught with similar amount could address annually of incarceration along with a misdemeanor charge. Repetition. Irwin lately stated “Even though we are investing no less than $325 million annually on arresting, trying and incarcerating marijuana customers within this condition, we all know marijuana has not been more available. We all know that police force is not effective at keeping marijuana from the hands of anybody within this condition.” The balance has got the support of some Republican congress within the condition government too, including Repetition. Mike Shirkey. Mr. Shirkey spoke concerning the bill lately and stated “This is actually the proper time to possess this debate in Michigan. “We are using lots of money, energy and assets in Michigan and nationwide to complete something we have unsuccessful at.”
 
For additional within this story click the link
 
NY Condition Set up Committee Passes bill to Legalize Medicinal Marijuana…
 
Despite the fact that most of New You are able to citizens have supported medicinal marijuana for quite some time, there continues to be little movement around the problem. Recently, however, NY political figures appear to become conditioning their stance. Governor Andrew Cuomo has began to guide electric power charge toward reform and it has notoriously adopted stop and frisk. Now a committee in the condition set up has transpired a medicinal marijuana bill. The election was almost unanimous and went by a margin of 21-4. New You are able to congress have battled to obtain previous medicinal marijuana bills off the floor. However, Gabriel Sayegh, director of recent York’s Drug Policy Alliance feels things may change soon. He told news shops “I believe it is becoming progressively obvious that regarding medicinal marijuana, New You are able to is actually behind the occasions.” He continued to state “We still heavily criminalize it, yet we’re encircled by states which are permitting medicinal marijuana.” There’s been lots of movement recently within the northeast also it appears only dependent on time before NY joins the growing listing of states enabling using medicinal marijuana
 
Marijuana Industry News March 8, 2013
Ex-DEA Officials Pressure White House to Go After New Recreational Marijuana States…
As we have previously reported at Marijuana.net, federal authorities have remained relatively quiet on the issue of legal marijuana ever since the voters of Colorado and Washington state decided to legalize recreational use. The issue is gaining national acceptance as a recent Reason/Rupe poll suggested that 72% of Americans do not think marijuana users should be arrested. The poll also found that 68% of respondents do not feel growers should be arrested. Fifty three percent of those included in the national poll said they felt marijuana should be regulated in a similar fashion to alcohol. Even with swelling public support, former DEA officials are trying to convince the federal government to overpower Colorado and Washington. The retired DEA members feel that if the feds do not act now, they may lose the issue forever. Peter Bensinger, a former DEA administrator recently told the Associated Press that “My fear is that the Justice Department will do what they are doing now: Do nothing and say nothing. If they don’t act now, these laws will be fully implemented in a matter of months.” In a country where consensus is becoming a rare phenomenon, these soaring levels of support may already have signaled the point of no return. As we start to feel the impact of sequestration and lack of compromise, DEA officials may find it a tough sell to continue using tax dollars to go after marijuana users and growers. Additionally, federal law is actually preventing billions in potential tax revenue that is desperately needed.
For more on this story click here
New Jersey Lawmakers Seeking to Keep Medical Marijuana Patients on Organ Transplant List…
Many lawmakers around the United States have long snickered at medical marijuana. The easy and quick analysis is that it MUST be front a for those looking to circumvent the law. However, for many this is the most serious issue they have ever encountered in their life. As millions worldwide have improved their quality of life with medical marijuana use, naïve talking point politicians have been slow to research the issue. One major problem for elderly medical marijuana patients is that they typically taken off organ recipient lists. This places them in a difficult situation. How does one value the long term (needed organ transplant) over the short term (immediate daily pain relieved by cannabis)? New Jersey is attempting to fix this before it becomes a major issue in the Garden State. Earlier this week, New Jersey’s Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee passed S-1220. The panel stated that S-1220 “would provide that a registered, qualifying patient’s authorized use of medical marijuana would be considered equivalent to using other prescribed medication rather than an illicit substance and therefore would not disqualify the person from needed medical care, such as an organ transplant.” It took New Jersey several years to cut through their bureaucratic red tape and institute a medical marijuana program passed under previous Governor, Jim Corzine. However, it is reassuring to see that they are taking a compassionate approach with this issue. In a press release by the bill’s co-sponsors, lawmakers said that removing patients from the organ recipient list because of medical marijuana use is a practice that is “unconscionable as the patients have followed their doctors’ orders and have taken a legal medication to reduce the pain and suffering associated with their illness. Transplant centers should not be able to discriminate against people for using this prescription pain killer.”
For more on this story click here
Michigan Judge Rules that Medical Marijuana Patients Cannot be Denied Unemployment Benefits…
The story above highlighted a victory for patients in New Jersey. We also have good news to report for those patients in Michigan. Last August, a Michigan court ruled that the Michigan Marijuana Act of 2008 “does not offer any employment protection to card holders” and “does not regulate private employment.” In September the decision was upheld when former Walmart employee, Joseph Casias, was let go for marijuana use even as he was suffering from an inoperable brain tumor. He was also denied benefits after being let go. This week, Ingham County Circuit Judge William Collette ruled that medical marijuana patients can receive unemployment benefits after termination of employment. Medical marijuana has had a wild ride in Michigan over the course of the past several years since it was legalized in 2008. Even as Michigan lawmakers and state Attorney General, Bill Schuette, try to fight against medical marijuana, residents have made it clear they support a patient’s right to use medical cannabis. Michigan has some of the most progressive medical marijuana laws and is one of the only states that allows for minors to receive legal marijuana for certain qualifying conditions.