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Election Momentum and Hurricane Sandy Damage Could Propel Medical Marijuana in NY

new york city

Activists in New York state are demonstrating that timing truly is everything.  New York residents have indicated that they support decriminalization measures. Reforming marijuana law also has the support of popular/powerful Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has informed New York legislators that they will receive no raise in pay until they fix the devastating “Stop and Frisk” laws.

There has already been considerable momentum across the country to drastically reform marijuana laws following huge victories in Michigan, Colorado, and Washington state.  Albany lawmakers stuck in the previous century have mocked such changes, but may finally see the light.  The entire 2012 election was an eye opener to those who have been unable to notice a changing electorate.  The new voting public no longer wants to waste their money on restricting civil rights and wasting money on the failed War on Drugs.  If New York lawmakers wish to avoid filing for unemployment, they too may want to take note of what direction the country is going.

Besides the election momentum, another high profile event may also force New York to consider cost savings measures.  Hurricane Sandy has devastated the New York City, Westchester, and Long Island areas.  Residents are still trying to recover and it will be along time before places like the Rockaways, Staten Island, Long Beach, Fire Island, or Red Hook will be back to normal.  Governor Cuomo has already requested $30 billion from the federal government, but that may not be enough to entirely rebuild the area.  New York Senator, Diane Savino, of Staten Island (one of the hardest hit areas in NYC) is pushing to make New York the 19th state to legalize medical marijuana.  The Senator recently told the NY Daily News that “There is a huge amount of revenue here.”  The Senator was referring to the many jobs and tax dollars that could be generated from medical marijuana in the Empire State.

They say it’s important to strike while the iron is hot.  There is no better example than New York as reforming marijuana laws are crucial to rebuilding the area.  The public wants change, and the finances need change.  New York is known for setting trends and it could impact the entire country if the state legalized medical marijuana.  The call for reform was growing before well before Sandy as New York has long had budget concerns.  No matter what happens New York will have to take extraordinary steps in order to balance their budget, it may be the perfect time for lawmakers to just listen to the people.

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Are California Lawmakers Lost in the Clouds?

lost in the clouds

Although it is often medical marijuana patients and advocates who are accused of hazy judgment, recent legal developments have us wondering how clearly those in power are thinking.  With conflicting decisions and a poor medical marijuana system that was never properly regulated, patient’s safe access has been seriously compromised.

Lawmakers have acted lazy and lethargic when it comes to regulating California’s medical marijuana program.  Instead of basing decisions upon research and information, they never checked on how the program is being run or made changes.  Now that the system is not functioning as they would like, many are trying to dismantle it.  How would Social Security fare if we never monitored or adjusted during its 70 year lifespan?  The difficult task is actually analyzing what works, speaking with law enforcement, legitimate dispensary workers, lawyers, and patients in order to determine the proper course of action.  After 16 years, California is in desperate need of re-reforming its cannabis laws.  Patients are confused as to where they can seek relief.

Despite the guarantees of “Safe Access” outlined in Proposition 215, many municipalities have taken it upon themselves to interpret the legal language as it suits them.  Legal experts have witnessed a series of confusing rulings, with the most recent ruling having been issued approximately a week and a half ago.  The July 2nd ruling by The Second Appellate District Court of Appeals stated that city municipalities do not have the right to outlaw marijuana dispensaries.  The ruling is being applauded by many marijuana advocates and patients.  It appears to have at least delayed some of the pending dispensary bans in places such as Long Beach and San Leandro.  Joe Elford of Americans for Safe Access said “The court of appeal could not have been clearer in expressing that medical marijuana dispensaries are legal under state law, and that municipalities have no right to ban them.”  All eyes will now turn to the California’s Supreme Court as they will be taking up the issue after the new year and will hopefully end the legal guessing game.

The lawsuits and pending court cases could have been avoided had California’s elected officials taken some sort of initiative on this issue.  After Dennis Peron fought for the right for patients to medicate, California became the first state to permit medical marijuana.  Did anyone think that a hands off program for the first legal cannabis state would just govern itself?  It is time for our representation to get their heads out of the clouds and do their job, even if that requires actual work and thinking.

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