California
Cannabis as Totem and Connector: An Interview with Allison Ray Benavides
Allison Ray Benavides is a forty-year old mother of two little boys and lives with her husband Rob in San Diego County. Robbie is their oldest son, now aged six, and Oscar their youngest at three years old. Rob is a renowned tattoo artist, and Allison wears his art all over her body. Tall and graceful, she […]
Hybrid News: High Desert Town Goes From Prisons to Pot, Marijuana Found Innocent of Causing Anxiety or Depression
Helping to send real estate prices into the stratosphere in California’s high desert, the tiny town of Adelanto is hoping to enhance their prison-based economy with one supported by the cultivation of medical marijuana. And proving what most knew instinctively, new research published on Wednesday by JAMA established no cause-and-effect between the adult use of […]
California: Excise Tax On Medical Marijuana Sales Proposed
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A state senator from Northern California has introduced a bill that would impose a 15 percent tax on retail sales of medical marijuana. Sen. Mike McGuire estimated that the excise tax he proposed Wednesday would bring the state over $100 million annually. The Healdsburg Democrat’s SB987 directs 30 percent of the […]
“Cherry Limeaid” Smokes The Competition at 2015 Emerald Cup
Heads up High Times Cannabis Cup, it’s time to roll over and accept the fact that your THC rich event may no longer be the gold standard for marijuana aficionados within the industry – particularly for those skilled cultivators in northern California who prefer their flower to be grown outdoors … and fed with organic […]
California High Court Ruling: DEA Breaking The Law By Raiding Legal Dispensaries
Better late than never: Signaling a significant victory for patients and dispensaries participating in state sanctioned medical marijuana programs, a federal Judge ruled on Monday the DEA must back-off raiding and shutting down medical marijuana collectives legally operating under California’s Prop 215, first passed in 1996.
Charles Breyer, U.S. District Judge (Photo Courtesy of SFGate Blog)
Starting the week off on a high note, Charles Breyer, a U.S. District Judge from Northern California, admonished the DEA with a ruling critical of the agency for its systematical harassment of the medical marijuana community. Citing last year’s Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, Judge Breyer noted it prevents the use of any government funds from being utilized for such actions.
Representing the first ruling of its kind by a federal judge, this decision safeguards all state marijuana laws. Preventing the DOJ (Department of Justice) from spending any of our tax dollars to bust legal dispensaries or MMJ patients in any of the 23 states that have voter approved medical marijuana programs.
According to Time.com:
” Judge Charles Breyer of the U.S. district court in northern California disagreed with the DEA memo, writing in his decision that the department’s interpretation of the law “defies language and logic” and is “at odds with fundamental notions of the rule of law.” Instead, the court sided with the dispensaries, saying the department could not interfere with medical marijuana providers operating legally under state regulations.”
MAMM vs USDOJ – Charles R. Breyer ruling to lift injunction
Lynette Shaw, owner of Fairfax’s Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana (Photo Courtesy of MarinIJ)
The recent ruling involves the case of Lynette Shaw, owner of Fairfax’s Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana. Shaw was originally forced to close her shop four years ago after the Department of Justice decided to make an example of her –– issuing a federal cease and desist order against her dispensary.
While the feds claim they were dazed and confused over the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, not sure whether it was meant to stop the DOJ from spending taxpayer cash to crush marijuana related businesses and prosecute patients in medical marijuana states – or simply cut off any federal funding that would discourage states from legalizing medical marijuana.
Attempting to justify their position earlier this year, the Justice Department told The LA Times the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment only stops the feds from “Impeding the ability of states to carry out their medical marijuana laws,” leaving individuals within the medical marijuana community open to prosecution.
Thanks to Judge Breyer’s recent moral epiphany – – and clarifying that congressional law “forbids the Department of Justice from enforcing this injunction against MAMM to the extent that MAMM operates in compliance with state California law” – – the Justice Department may find themselves strapped for cash during their next attempt at circumventing state law and ignoring an individuals civil liberties.
(Main Photo Courtesy of the Huffington Post)
Ringing in 2012
Everyone knows 2012 can represent intense as well as harmful frat boy like hanging out. It also signifies a new beginning and new hope. Usually at this time around of the year we at marijuana.internet are wishing individuals who require relief will find it which the legal landscape gets to be more friendly to patients. Patients continue to be battling, and there’s a lot of legal work left to become done, however, 2013 observed historic change. Colorado and Washington organized their plans for leisure marijuana programs. Other states (Illinois and Nh) passed laws and regulations enabling medicinal marijuana while Nj broadened it’s medicinal marijuana program. The quantity of states which have passed medical cannabis laws and regulations can be twenty (+Washington D.C.). An area of interest this season was the look that Washington condition may abandon it’s medicinal marijuana program, potentially costing patients lots of money in taxes to gain access to relief.
We’re hopeful that 2014 is a landmark year for marijuana reform. California, amongst others, could also join their email list of legal medical states in 2014 and also the Marijuana Policy Project is hopeful about their “28 by 2014” initiative. As this information is being written, farmers and shops are preparing for legal leisure marijuana sales that’ll be legal in only hrs once we welcome in 2012. Voters both in Colorado and Washington legalized leisure marijuana in November of 2012 but establishing the regulating framework has taken considerable time, debate, and energy.
Marijuana Industry News October 25, 2013
Marijuana Breathalyzer May Come to California with Legalization…
One of the largest obstacles in governing the legal recreational marijuana industries is being able to assess a driver’s impairment. Tests for alcohol and drunk driving have become reliable and acceptable. Setting a blood alcohol limit of .1 or .08 is straight forward. Determining acceptable marijuana levels has not been as easy. California authorities and law makers are looking into having a similar test put into place. However deciding on where to set the legal levels may prove difficult. When asked about hard limits set in Washington state, Gabriel Reeves, the executive Chef at the Elemental Wellness Center in San Jose recently told NBC don’t feel that that sort of a limit has been established as scientifically accurate or something that would able to be standardized across the medical cannabis industry for each patient. Because each patient, each patient’s needs, vary with the amount of milligrams of THC that they need to alleviate their symptoms.”
For more on this story click here
Support for Legalizing Marijuana Rising Quickly to all Time High…
American’s support for legalizing marijuana has been rising steadily over the past few years. Washington and Colorado provided evidence if this, but until recently, most polls showed just over 50% of Americans were in support with higher numbers backing decriminalization and medical use. A recent Gallop poll indicates that even the idea if legalizing for marijuana for recreational use is gaining support. In the poll 58% supported legalization, an all time high. The news came at a time when federal authorities have signaled a softer stance on marijuana. Marijuana enjoys a much higher approval rating than congress and may even offer a better chance at helping the economy.
For more on this story click here
D.C. Mayor Seeks to Decriminalize Marijuana…
It has taken federal authorities years to even signal the possibility of bringing common sense to marijuana policy. However, right under their noses, in Washington D.C., the city has moved forward with major marijuana reforms. Medical marijuana has already been legalized, giving patients the chance at a better quality if life. Now there is a bill sitting with the D.C. Council that, if passed, would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana. D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray has now signaled his support for the bill making passage more likely. Possession of less than one ounce would no longer accompany a six month jail sentence and $1,000 fine, rather, the penalty would be a civil citation ticket for $100 and no jail time. Like many other municipalities, D.C. has financial and correction center overcrowding issues to deal with.
Marijuana Industry News September 27, 2013
Poll: Majority of California Residents Support Legal Marijuana…
While many think that support for marijuana legalization in California is a foregone conclusion, that has not always been the case. Residents have supported medical marijuana for years. At times, residents against recreational legalization have seemed to outnumber those for it. That trend is starting to change and recent polls show a majority of residents do support legal marijuana. With what happened last year in Colorado and Washington, and the DOJ’s recent admission that they will not prosecute those in accordance with state law, it may not be a surprise if the trend continues all over. A recent poll conducted by Public Policy Institute of California, indicated that 52% of California residents would like to see marijuana legalized. Democrats favored legalization by a margin of 64-33 while Republicans favored keeping marijuana illegal by a margin of 53-45%. The poll also found significantly more support for federal authorities to respect state laws, 68% of likely voters said the federal government should not interfere with state marijuana laws. California has encountered considerable financial and budgetary problems, perhaps making the idea of green lighting new tax revenues popular.
For more on this story click here
NORML Makes Attempt at Getting Marijuana Ad to Air During Superbowl…
The NFL may not be able hide under its archaic marijuana policy for much longer. Calls to reduce mandatory suspensions for marijuana violations
are coming from all over. There is no mandatory suspension for Dui related arrests. Marijuana Policy Project recently put up a billboard outside of the Denver Broncos stadium that questioned the NFL’s pro alcohol and anti-marijuana policies. The billboard received a great deal of press. Now there may be a chance NORML takes the issue to even newer heights. Intuit is running a contest where the organization that receives the most votes will have a Superbowl ad paid for. NORML’s ad is currently the leader in votes. It will be interesting to see if Intuit will award NORML or refuse to help the ad air. Fox, the television host of the Superbowl may also elect not air the commercial. Unfortunately for Intuit, they may find that you cannot send an open offer to the people if you are not prepared to discuss what is truly on their minds.
For more on this story click here
High Profile Mexicans Urge Decriminalization In Newspaper Ad…
Former Mexican president Vicente Fox has been beating the marijuana legalization drum for years. The country is experiencing devastating cartel violence and the idea of legalizing marijuana to reduce cartel power is popular. Earlier this week, a newspaper advertisement was printed with many highly successful Mexican residents including a Nobel prize scientist, businessmen, actors, and lawmakers coming together to call for marijuana decriminalization. The ad had a caption that read :
“Mexico has paid a high cost for applying the punitive policy of prohibition. We know well that neither decriminalization nor any other individual measure represents a panacea to end the violence, corruption and lawlessness in Mexico. But effective decriminalization of marijuana consumption by raising the dose permitted for personal use is a step in the right direction.”
Marijuana Industry News This summer 26,2013
California Democratic Party Formally Requires Alternation in Federal Marijuana Law…
The American medicinal marijuana movement began in California when citizens passed Proposition 215, an invoice that found be due in large parts towards the efforts of Dennis Peron. However, legislators have sent mixed messages and also have unsuccessful to institute a good and sensible group of laws and regulations to supervise the medicinal marijuana program. Without any strong condition rules, there’s considerable legal confusion as shops are allowed in a few cities and never others. The legal mess has caused federal government bodies to salivate as they have regularly carried out raids on shops. The California Democratic Party has become trying to change that. In the party’s executive board meeting days ago, the party passed two resolutions and also have adopted the positions to their official platform. Here are the resolutions passed:
“The first resolution known as on Leader Obama to (1) respect the voters of Colorado and Washington and also to not allow any federal interference within the enactment of the marijuana legalisation initiatives, (2) finish the government raids on patients and companies in medicinal marijuana states and (3) appoint a commission to consider the reform in our nation’s marijuana laws and regulations.
“The second resolution calls on our condition legislature to enact state-wide recommendations for medicinal marijuana distribution that respects the privileges of local cities to manage and license but probably provide marijuana ‘to all patients in most regions of California, rural in addition to urban.’
For more about this story click the link
Answer Page:Marijuana May be Best Strategy to Migraines…
The fight to find the best migraine reliever choose to go on for many years. Which brand is better? Tylenol?Advil,? Or possibly sour diesel? Dating back to 1892, Dr. Mister William Osler stated in “The Concepts and exercise of Medicine” that “Cannabis indica is most likely probably the most acceptable fix for migraines.” The answerpage.com, an academic website operated by earliest American medical society still around, The Massachusetts Medical Society, has made the decision to get where Dr. Osler left off. The answerpage really has courses on medicinal marijuana created for health care professionals. While complex, additionally they offer Q&A periods for individuals who might not be too experienced because the health care professionals in medicinal marijuana. Answerpage does well in distributing the term one of the health care industry. NYU resident physician, Sunil K. Aggarwal, MD, PhD, appreciated the efforts of answerpage and lately stated “Most medical schools are lagging in teaching the scientific details concerning the medicinal utilization of cannabis. It’s great that doctors are now able to get excellent and rapid CME training on medicinal marijuana at TheAnswerPage.”
For additional about this story click the link
U.S. Congressman Looks to supply Bank Use of Marijuana Shops…
Competitors of marijuana reform have frequently mentioned their concern for a boost in crime. However, current marijuana laws and regulations prevent financial transparency as shops are avoided from opening accounts. When banks do let dispensary operators open accounts, they’re then threatened by the us government to shut the accounts. This leads to considerable cash available, and places a target for crooks squarely being worn by shops. It’s wideley known that dispensary employees cannot possess guns while at the office. Crooks are extremely conscious of this and frequently possess the chance to focus on a business with cash available and never method of protecting themselves. U.S. Repetition. Erectile dysfunction Perlmutter (D-CO) needs to rectify this case. “This isn’t about whether you agree or disagree or support using marijuana,” stated Leslie Oliver, Perlmutter’s communications director. “It’s about making certain public safety which companies which are legal can perform the other legal companies can perform.Inches
Marijuana Updates in the American Capital
For marijuana activists, Washington D.C. doesn’t exactly represent a beacon of hope. Decades of immaturity and shut mindedness from congress has frustrated individuals who’ve grown weary in the money and lives wasted around the Fight against Drugs. Most chosen authorities have made the decision to remain quiet around the blatant fallacy that’s marijuana law.
Consequently, you will find typically couple of updates being released of D.C. relating to marijuana. However, in what may represent the fed’s lack of ability to prevent the inevitable, medicinal marijuana shops are going to open within our nation’s capital soon. Three medicinal marijuana shops are required to spread out their doorways this summer time. The irony from the Town of Washington D.C. opening marijuana collectives even while the pending authorities is constantly on the recycle old speaking points wasn’t lost on Vanessa West, the manager at Metropolitan Wellness Center. She lately stated “The proven fact that the District of Columbia can pass it legally, and also the District of Columbia is incorporated in the land of the us government is really a contradiction also it talks that federal law must kind of jump in using what more states say.”
This news for Washington D.C. large hairpieces isn’t improving. Possibly the greatest profile associated with Federal law in D.C. is U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder. He’s ongoing to guide the Justice Department’s fruitless quest for winning world war 2 against a plant. It was already a difficult week for that AG as numerous question the entire impact from the fallout in the recent phone record scandal. Mr. Holder required a rest from Washington D.C. Among the debate and was at Berkeley California. Unfortunately the U.S. Attorney General appears to become getting trouble making buddies wherever he goes. He was at attendance to greet law graduates in the College of Berkeley. Obviously, many California citizens will not easily your investment soft words Mr. Holder and Leader Obama utilized on the campaign trail and in early stages within the first term. Individuals words were tricked by 100s of shops being specific with no real conversation regarding how you can proceed with marijuana regulation. Throughout the graduations ceremony, an plane circled transporting a banner that read “Holder: Finish Rx Cannabis War #Peace4Patients.” It was also coupled with protestors holding signs that read “Fight Crime, Not Cannabis” as his limo contacted.
Clearly Washington D.C. shops highlight that activists take presctiption the offensive. The Justice Department, however might be around the defensive as Eric Holder’s time as Attorney General continues to be full of debate. Our nation’s capital is how the actual legal changes occur with shops opening right under their nose, the fight is clearly winding lower. Just like a General or perhaps a King who don’t realize world war 2 has ended, even while it’s apparent to any or all other experts, our government is highlighting on embarrassment.