Medical Marijuana

Rolling Stone, 01 Mar 2012 - But over the past year, the Obama administration has quietly unleashed a multi-agency crackdown on medical cannabis that goes far beyond anything undertaken by George W. Bush. The feds are busting growers who operate in full compliance with state laws, vowing to seize the property of anyone who dares to even rent to legal pot dispensaries, and threatening to imprison state employees responsible for regulating medical marijuana. With more than 100 raids on pot dispensaries during his first three years, Obama is now on pace to exceed Bush's record for medical-marijuana busts. "There's no question that Obama's the worst president on medical marijuana," says Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project. "He's gone from first to worst." The federal crackdown imperils the medical care of the estimated 730,000 patients nationwide -- many of them seriously ill or dying -- who rely on state-sanctioned marijuana recommended by their doctors.

The Columbian, 20 Feb 2012 - County Commissioners Correctly Decide to Protect Employees From Prosecution Athough many local residents might suspect there's a legalizing-pot debate under way among Clark County leaders, that's really not the case. A more accurate description is that of a legal dilemma. County commissioners are caught in a tug of war between a new state law that allows collective medical marijuana gardens, and federal law that prohibits growing, distributing and possessing the substance.Last year, the commissioners made the right call when they imposed a moratorium on implementing the state law, and now they say they will extend that moratorium beyond its July expiration date. That, too, appears to be a correct decision, even more so in light of a recent letter to county commissioners from the U.S. Department of Justice. As Stephanie Rice reported in Friday's Columbian, commissioners had asked the feds if county employees would be immune from prosecution if they perform tasks related to zoning and permitting of state-sanctioned collective medical! marijuana gardens. That seems to be a question of profound importance, especially of county employees who don't want to face federal criminal charges for doing their jobs.

Daily Nebraskan, 20 Feb 2012 - Marijuana Policy Project Refutes Claims of Study, Says It Doesn't Account for All Factors Smoking marijuana just a few hours before driving nearly doubles a person's risk of getting into a car accident, a recent study found.

St. Joseph News-Press, 20 Feb 2012 - Sixteen states, as well as the District of Columbia, have legalized the use of medical marijuana. A statewide group is looking to take it a step further, however, and legalize all marijuana use in Missouri. A group of about 65 volunteers have been hitting the streets in St. Joseph, looking for supporters of Show-Me Cannabis, an association that seeks to legalize and regulate marijuana use in the state. Missouri's Secretary of State requires 150,000 signatures on a statewide petition by May 6 in order for a legalization measure to appear on November's ballot.

Helena Independent Record, 19 Feb 2012 - The number of medical marijuana cardholders in Montana continues to plummet, while the number of legal marijuana providers is a fraction of its peak, as the industry faces an uncertain future here. The 2011 Legislature passed of a much more restrictive law, Senate Bill 423, which has reduced these numbers. Then there were several dozen federal raids of medical marijuana growing operations, along with the arrests and convictions of some owners.

Rapid City Journal, 19 Feb 2012 - The media have no clue how to cover the death of Whitney Houston. That's because she was slowly dying for years and many in the press simply averted their eyes. It was ultra-disturbing that a beautiful woman blessed with an extraordinary singing voice chose a self-destructive path in full view of the world. I mean, here is a person who signed a $100 million recording contract, actually sold 170 million albums and commanded high six figures to deliver a 90-minute concert. Houston was a genuine international star, and yet she often was seen in public disheveled and confused, her substance addiction apparent. The media simply did not know what to say.

The Daily Times, 19 Feb 2012 - The media have no bleepin' clue how to cover the death of Whitney Houston. That's because she was slowly dying for years and many in the press simply averted their eyes. It was ultra-disturbing that a beautiful woman blessed with an extraordinary singing voice chose a self-destructive path in full view of the world. I mean, here is a person who signed a $100 million recording contract, actually sold 170 million albums and commanded high six figures to deliver a 90-minute concert. Houston was a genuine international star, and yet she often was seen in public disheveled and confused, her substance addiction apparent. The media did not know what to say.

Missoulian, 19 Feb 2012 - HELENA-The number of medical marijuana cardholders in Montana continues to plummet, while the number of legal marijuana providers is a fraction of its peak, as the industry faces an uncertain future here. The 2011 Legislature passed of a much more restrictive law, Senate Bill 423, which has reduced these numbers. Then there were several dozen federal raids of medical marijuana growing operations, along with the arrests and convictions of some owners.

Commercial Appeal, 19 Feb 2012 - It didn't surprise former U.S. Customs investigator Jamie Haase that a drug trafficker testified in federal court about cocaine sent from Mexico into the U.S. via FedEx. Haase said the FedEx Express world hub in Memphis, which handles about 1.5 million packages on a typical night, just doesn't have enough people, drug dogs and detection gear to catch everything.

The Billings Gazette, 19 Feb 2012 - MEDICAL MARIJUANA NUMBERS DROP AS UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDS INDUSTRY HELENA -- The number of medical marijuana cardholders in Montana continues to plummet while the number of legal marijuana providers is a fraction of its peak, as the industry faces an uncertain future here.

Livonia Observer, 18 Feb 2012 - State Rep. John Walsh said Wednesday the House Judiciary Committee will begin a series of hearings Thursday, Feb. 23, on a four-bill package to clarify the 2008 law addressing medical marijuana. "The intent of the voters was not to allow the back-door legalization of marijuana when this issue was on the ballot, and our intent is to close loopholes in the law," said Walsh, R-Livonia, chair of the committee.

Missoulian, 18 Feb 2012 - When federal agents raided medical marijuana businesses around Montana last year, the consequences for those indicted as a result seemed dire. They faced mandatory minimum sentences of at least five years in prison on some charges, with maximum penalties of 40 years and fines ranging as high as $5 million.

South Whidbey Record, 18 Feb 2012 - LANGLEY - The plans for a medical marijuana "access point" in the Village by the Sea got a warm but wary welcome from city officials at a special council workshop this week. Lucas Jushinski, a 35-year-old Freeland resident, Iraq War veteran and combat medic, has applied for a business license with hopes to set up Island Alternative Medicine behind the All Washed-Up Laundromat on Second Street.

The Californian, 17 Feb 2012 - A judge approved a restraining order Friday the city of Murrieta had requested to shutter a medical marijuana collective. But he also acknowledged the order was ambiguous, and the owners of the collective said they have no intention of shutting it down. Riverside Superior Court Judge John Vineyard approved the city's request for the order against Greenhouse Cannabis Club, a medical marijuana collective that opened in January.

San Francisco Examiner, 17 Feb 2012 - It's not easy to open a medical cannabis dispensary in San Francisco, but it's very easy for patients to purchase their medicine from the comfort of home - even if the service is illegal. Delivery services operating in seeming violation of city law advertise in print and on the Web, and operate in full knowledge of city officials, who say their hands are tied.

Verde Independent, 17 Feb 2012 - PHOENIX -- Ignoring a possible lawsuit, the state House voted Thursday to ban marijuana on college and university campuses, even for those who have a state-issued card entitling them to use it for medical reasons. A 2010 voter-approved initiative allows those who have a doctor's recommendation to possess and use up to 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana every two weeks.

The Daily Tribune, 17 Feb 2012 - Imprisoned last year following a drug raid at his Royal Oak house, Hash Bash organizer and medical marijuana proponent Adam Brook has a growing base of supporters trying to make his time behind bars more comfortable. Brook, 43, is four months into a two-year sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of possessing a firearm while committing a felony.

Issaquah Reporter, 17 Feb 2012 - The Sammamish City Council took a gutsy - but needed - stand this week on medical marijuana by voting to authorize Mayor Tom O'Dell to sign a letter in favor of reclassification of the substance. The council's move supports an effort by the Suburban Cities Association. The issue of marijuana, medical or not, brings up strong emotions in people. To some it's evil and its use never should be allowed. Others want it legalized and taxed and controlled as cigarettes or liquor are now. A third view cites marijuana's benefits in helping those with debilitating or terminal illness.

North Kitsap Herald, 17 Feb 2012 - POULSBO - Poulsbo City Council members say they are stuck between a rock and a hard place. The council discussed the current moratorium on allowing collective gardens for growing medical cannabis Wednesday night. The moratorium was set in September to buy the council time to interpret the law and decide if collective gardens fit into the city's zoning code.

The Mail Tribune, 17 Feb 2012 - Legal marijuana operation was found to be in violation because a hired worker didn't have a grow card Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement investigators cited two men on felony marijuana charges after it was found a medical marijuana garden operator illegally hired a man to tend to his crop.