Police: Medical marijuana law used as cover by large West Michigan drug ring – The Grand Rapids Press – MLive.com
WOOD-TVPolice: Medical marijuana law used as cover by large West Michigan drug ringThe Grand Rapids Press – MLive.comGRAND RAPIDS, MI – A multi-county drug-trafficking organization used Michigan's medical marijuana law as a ruse to grow and sell marijuana across the state, an investigator said Thursday, Oct. 17. Authorities targeted the Medical Marijuana Team, or MMT …'Doctor on the payroll,' $3200 per pound marijuana involved in drug charges…
California Favors Marijuana Legalization According To New PPI Poll
A recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California was released on 9/25 showing that 52{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} of Californians now favor marijuana legalization. This represents a big jump from a March 2012 PPI poll that showed only 45{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} favored legalizing marijuana. Back in 2010 California tried to pass Proposition 19 and polls showed higher support prior…
DOJ Marijuana Policy – What Does It Mean For Marijuana Prohibition?
What does the recent DOJ marijuana policy memo mean for the budding marijuana industry and marijuana prohibition? Colorado and Washington have been waiting for a policy statement on their recreational marijuana laws for quite some time. Now it is here, no federal interference. It was recently followed up by a congressional hearing addressing the subject and …
California Innitiative To Legalize Marijuana In 2014
California marijuana activists will attempt to gather enough signatures to get an initiative to legalize marijuana on the 2014 ballot. The initiative, called the California Cannabis Hemp Initiative 2014 was cleared for signatures on Friday by California’s Secretary of State, Debra Bowen. “The initiative would decriminalize the possession, use, cultivation and sale of marijuana and hemp, the plant from which marijuana is made. It would instruct the Legislature to pass laws licensing and taxing commercial sales of marijuana and setting a standard for determining when a…
Americans For Safe Access Marijuana Reclassification Appeal Denied
The Supreme Court has rejected Americans For Safe Access appeal to reclassify marijuana after a lower circuit court had rejected the organizations appeal to reclassify marijuana from its current Schedule 1 classification. Schedule 1 drugs include heroin and LSD and are considered to have no medical value. There is a huge amount of evidence presented showing that medical marijuana does have medical uses but the DC Circuit Court of Appeals refused to accept it. This is …
Legalizing Marijuana In Texas Has Widespread Support
They say everything is big in Texas and that includes support for legalizing marijuana. A recent poll showed that 58{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} of Texans favor legalizing marijuana and regulating it just like alcohol.You can see the Public Policy Polling reults here. 58{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} of those polled favored legalizing medical marijuana with only 31{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} opposed and 11{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} undecided. This shows overwhelming support for medical marijuana in Texas. 61{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} of those polled favor marijuana decriminalization with 30{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} opposed and 9{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} unsure. Again a vast majority of Texans favor making marijuana possession a civil offense …
Medical Marijuana Records Deal with Feds Reached in Mendocino County
A deal has been reached between Mendocino County and federal prosecutors over the release of records from Mendocino County’s medical marijuana program. According to an article in the Ukiah Daily Journal the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors reached an agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office to comply, in part, with subpoenaed records. Mendocino County Will Comply – Sort of In part means that yes, records will be provided but no, no individual identifying information will be released thus ending a standoff that began last October when a grand jury approved the subpoena.
Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Ruling by California Supreme Court
Medical marijuana dispensaries may be on the California endangered list according to this Los Angeles Times article “The California Supreme Court gave local governments the power Monday to zone medical marijuana dispensaries out of existence, a decision that upholds bans in about 200 cities but does little to solve Los Angeles’ years-long struggle to regulate hundreds of storefront …
Medical Marijuana Legislation For Patient Treatment Supported by Illinois Doctors
Medical Marijuana Legislation making its way through several states. These states are becoming more lenient in allowing seriously ill patients to obtain medical marijuana. One example of a state in the process of making a legal decision to allow medical marijuana for patients with illnesses is Illinois. WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reported that Illinois “physicians have signed on as members of the “Marijuana Policy Project.”” Further, CBS noted: “Dr. Burak Emin Gezen, of Chicago, was among the doctors …
New Attempt to Regulate California Medical Marijuana Industry
A bill to further reform / regulate the California medical marijuana industry, AB 473 introduced by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco has been approved by the Assembly Public Safety Commission and now moves on to hearings in the Assembly Appropriations Committee before being voted on by the full Assembly. AB 473 which can be read here, would put the medical marijuana industry under a division of the…
Marijuana Crackdown to Continue Despite White House Directive
Marijuana Crackdown, despite White House directives to the contrary will continue largely unchanged in California. This means that despite a historic new memo from the White House announcing that it will not stand in the way of marijuana legalization in Colorado or Washington State, it will be (anti) business as usual here in California. Why? Because in spite of a guidance regarding marijuana enforcement memo sent by Deputy…
Study Shows Cannabinoids Could Be Effective Anti-Cancer Agents
A new study published online by the International Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment shows that certain cannabinoids derived from the marijuana plant can be used effectively as anti-cancer treatments. “This study is a critical step in unpicking the mysteries of cannabis as a source of medicine,” Dr. Wai Lui, the study’s lead researcher explained. “The cannabinoids examined have minimal, if any, hallucinogenic side effects, and their properties as anti-cancer agents are promising.” Dr. Lui goes on to clarify that the cannabinoids that were studied “are able to interfere …
National Association of Specialty Pharmacists Investigating How To Manage Medical Marijuana
The National Association of Specialty Pharmacists (NASP) is in the process of creating a task force in order to investigate how they and other healthcare professionals can help assist the management of marijuana for their patients who use the plant for medicinal dedications. “Essentially, patients receive treatment from dispensaries, outside of their pharmaceutical [regimen] management, and we believe that a drug with such a broad scope should be managed effectively through the specialty pharmacist to ensure patient education and proper dispensing,” Gary Cohen, CEO of the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy explained. The NASP intends to …
Washington: Seattle City Council Approves Marijuana Zoning Measure
Seattle’s City Council has officially voted on the limits as to where recreational marijuana-related businesses can setup shop. Last Monday, the council members sanctioned a zoning measure for marijuana processing facilities, cultivation operations and retail outlets. The measure in question also restricts indoor marijuana farming grow spaces to 20,000 square …
Study: Cannabinoids May Be Beneficial Treament For Parkinson’s Disease
According to a study that was published online by the National Institute of Health, certain marijuana-derived compounds (mainly THC) could be effective treatments for Parkinson’s disease due to the fact that they are neuroprotective. The study’s researchers, from the Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, examined cell-culture…
Arkansas: Attorney General Authorizes Medical Marijuana Initiative
Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel has sanctioned the language of a proposed medical marijuana initiative for next year’s ballot that would legalize the plant for medicinal dedications. Last Thursday, McDaniel qualified said proposal which was submitted by the pro-marijuana legalization organization Arkansans for Compassionate Care. McDaniel’s blessing clears the way for the group to begin gathering the 62,507 signatures that are required in order for the proposed initiated act to be placed…
Oklahoma: Majority Of Voters Endorse Marijuana Law Reform
Oklahoma, City, OK: A majority of likely Oklahoma voters back legalizing the use of medical marijuana and also support de-penalizing pot possession penalties for recreational users, according to survey data released by SoonerPoll.com and commissioned by the Oklahoma state affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). Seventy-one percent of respondents said that they support amending state law to allow for physician-authorized…
NORML Advances to Round 2 of Super Bowl Ad Contest
Thanks to NORML members and supporters who pushed NORML’s proposed Super Bowl ad in an ongoing Intuit ad contest to the number one position. This morning, Intuit informed us that we have advanced to Round 2 of the contest. Entries who are deemed finalists from this round will be informed on October 29th. We can put marijuana legalization before the masses at this year’s Super Bowl…
NORML Match Grant: Extended Two Days To Lament Marijuana Prohibition’s Founding
Dear NORML members and supporters, Over the last month $26,650 has been raised by NORML members and supporters in a $100,000 donor match put forward by new NORML board members Rick Steves and Justin Hartfield. Thank you to the hundreds of donors who’ve contributed thus far—and employing football season jargon, I’m employing a national director ‘audible‘ to extend the match grant two…
Everything is Bigger in Texas Including Support for Marijuana Legalization
They say things are bigger in Texas and, according to new survey data just released by Public Policy Polling, that includes support for marijuana law reform. PPP’s polling found that 58{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} of Texans support regulating marijuana like alcohol and only 38{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} were opposed. This change in policy was supported by 59{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} of women, 70{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} of Democrats, 57{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} of Independents, a majority of all racial demographics, and a majority of all age demographics. The survey also reported that 58{2b4a1a3f3bbc9c5a43771f34362679a3afcf9df24c0d9f4fe2fa80a69d802033} of Texans supported…