Here's one of the strangest pairings of late in Congress: Reps. Ron Paul and Barney Frank are teaming up today on legislation to legalize marijuana. The legislation by Paul, a libertarian-thinking Texas Republican running for president, and Frank, a liberal Massachusetts Democrat, is being touted by the advocacy group Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). The bill to be introduced by Frank and Paul would allow states to "legalize, regulate, tax and control marijuana without federal interference." California voters last year rejected Proposition 19, which would have allowed marijuana to be sold for recreational use. Voters in Colorado and Washington state could vote on the issue this year. [continues 123 words]
The Increase From $100 to $200 Could Take Effect July 1 Oregon lawmakers are considering whether to tap the medical marijuana program to fund other health programs. This past week the joint Ways and Means Committee approved doubling the $100 annual fee for medical marijuana cardholders, and imposing a new $200 fee on growers who are not already patients. The estimated $7 million raised would go to other programs within the cash-strapped Oregon Health Authority, including clean water, emergency medical care and school health centers. [continues 483 words]
Our Neighbor's Twisted Logic When It Comes to Kids And Marijuana. The top federal prosecutor in Oregon and 33 of the state's district attorneys announced last week that they are going to put an end to prescription pot sales. The authorities say that although Oregon currently has nearly 40,000 people enrolled in its voter-approved medical-marijuana program, law enforcement must take action because the system violates federal law and is "putting marijuana in the hands of more and more healthy kids." But is that really true? [continues 674 words]
Flagstaff attorney Lee Phillips has spent the last week talking to other lawyers from across the state on how to best respond to the state's legal challenge to the voter-approved Arizona Medical Marijuana Act. The consensus? Another legal action from either the American Civil Liberties Union or from the Marijuana Policy Project, the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the country, seeking to dismiss the suit. Gov. Jan Brewer and Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne have said they filed the lawsuit to clarify whether the conflict between state law and the federal ban on marijuana puts state employees involved in implementing the new policy at risk of federal prosecution. [continues 344 words]
Police Say Legislation a Time-Saver State legislation that would tweak the medical marijuana law has police encouraged and users ticked. Senate Bill 377 would require the names of all registered users and caregivers be given to state police, who in turn would provide the list to local law enforcement agencies. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Darwin Booher, R-Evart, has been referred to the Judiciary Committee. For police, it would be a break from wasting resources by investigating tips about people who turn out to be in the clear. [continues 225 words]
Arizona will ask a federal court today to clarify whether its voter-approved medical-marijuana law conflicts with federal drug statutes, launching what probably will be a lengthy legal battle that could cripple the state's fledging industry and spark more legal action. Gov. Jan Brewer also will put a temporary halt to the state's permit process for marijuana dispensaries, set to begin Wednesday, with an executive order issued by Tuesday, her office said. She does not plan to stop issuance of medical-marijuana user-ID cards. [continues 1044 words]
Divisions Within Industry Come into the Open Rifts between two different groups pushing for the legalization of marijuana in Colorado continued to grow last week after one coalition went ahead with a so-called "conservative" attempt to legalize marijuana in 2012. Legalize 2012, one of activist groups plotting a legalization ballot initiative, on Friday blasted another coalition for filing eight different versions of a legalization initiative that they say "appeals to law enforcement." Laura Kriho, a driving force behind Legalize 2012, was particularly upset with members of the coalition that includes the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER), and Sensible Colorado for filing their initiative with the Secretary of State without giving them much time to review the initiative's language. [continues 554 words]
The U.S. Attorney Has Concerns About Plans to Amend Maine's Medical Marijuana Law and Says Prosecutions Are Possible. Maine's U.S. attorney has told state lawmakers that Maine's medical marijuana law contradicts federal law, and that the U.S. Department of Justice reserves the right to prosecute Mainers who cultivate and distribute the drug, even if they have state approval. U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty sent a letter, dated Monday, in response to a request from the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, which recently endorsed changes to the Maine Medical Marijuana Act. [continues 660 words]
Maine's U.S. attorney has told state lawmakers that Maine's medical marijuana law contradicts federal law, and that the U.S. Department of Justice reserves the right to prosecute Mainers who cultivate and distribute the drug, even if they have state approval. U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty sent a letter, dated Monday, in response to a request from the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, which recently endorsed changes to the Maine Medical Marijuana Act. Committee members met briefly with Maine Attorney General William Schneider on Wednesday afternoon to discuss legal issues. They are expected to move forward with the amendments. [continues 635 words]
In a lopsided 17-4 vote, the Delaware State Senate gave a final OK to a House-revised version of the medical marijuana bill and sent it to Gov. Jack Markell. "I'm grateful that my fellow senators have acted in the interest of our fellow citizens who are suffering terribly from some horrific diseases," said Senate Majority Whip Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington East. "I am grateful to Gov. Markell for his support of this legislation." Markell praised Henry for her leadership on the issue. [continues 294 words]
Supporters Tout Strict Rules DOVER -- Delawareans with cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other debilitating diseases could be legally using marijuana a year from now to alleviate the effects of their ailments. The Senate on Wednesday sent Gov. Jack Markell legislation that would decriminalize marijuana possession, use and distribution for limited medical purposes. The Senate's final vote came after an extensive lobbying effort that began in January with a visit to Legislative Hall by celebrity talk show host Montel Williams, who uses marijuana to ease the debilitating effects of MS. [continues 1161 words]
At 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, supporters of legalized marijuana in Maine will crowd into a hearing room in Augusta to support a Portland legislator's bill to decriminalize pot. Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland, sponsor of LD 1453, "An Act To Legalize and Tax Marijuana," said she was thrilled to learn yesterday about the hearing that has been scheduled before the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. The hearing will be in Room 436 at the State House. "It looks like I have a May 10 public hearing," Russell exclaimed. [continues 497 words]
It's not cancer or Alzheimer's or glaucoma that had droves of Michiganders going to doctors over the past two years to get certified to use medical marijuana. The vast majority of about 64,000 people authorized to use marijuana as medicine have unspecified ailments that cause severe and chronic pain, muscle spasms and nausea, state data obtained by the Free Press show. And just 55 doctors certified about 45,000 patients -- 71% of all the authorized medical pot users. [continues 880 words]
ANNAPOLIS -- Frederick County Sen. David Brinkley may succeed this year in his nine-year quest to reduce criminal penalties for medical marijuana use. Brinkley, a Republican, is one of the lead sponsors of a bill that would allow medical marijuana users to be found not guilty on criminal possession charges and would establish a study at a research university regarding the use of medical marijuana in general. The House of Delegates gave the bill a preliminary OK on Saturday. If the House acts -- as scheduled -- to pass it on Monday, then Brinkley said he thought the bill would become law. [continues 595 words]
Michigan Medical Marijuana Law Creates Legal Haze ST. JOSEPH - The young man standing at the window appears nervous, as though he's not sure he should be at Your Three M Center, a recently opened clinic that helps people get Michigan medical marijuana registry cards. Speaking to office coordinator Sean Erhard, the man describes living with chronic pain caused by bone damage from an old sports injury. He wonders if marijuana could offer relief. Erhard listens attentively, then lays out the procedure for getting a card, telling the man to bring in paperwork from his doctor that shows a diagnosis and what's been done to treat the injury. [continues 2326 words]
The state and nation's excessive debt has progressively increased in recent years. Could legalizing marijuana be a solution? Marijuana is the third-most-common recreational drug in America, after alcohol and tobacco, and the usage is steadily increasing, despite decades of anti-drug advertising campaigns. According to a National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2009 there were 2.4 million persons aged 12 or older who had used marijuana for the first time within the previous 12 months. We levy sky-high taxes on alcohol and tobacco, so why are all these potheads getting their buzz on tax-free? [continues 128 words]
As legislatures nationwide debate whether to legalize medical marijuana, colleges and universities in states where laws have been adopted say their campuses will remain drug-free. The reason: Marijuana use and possession violates federal law, and colleges don't want to risk losing federal funding. This year, 13 state legislatures are considering proposals to legalize medical marijuana, and four more are looking at bills, says Morgan Fox of the Marijuana Policy Project, a group that advocates loosening marijuana laws. Proposals to tighten or ease laws are pending in at least 10 of the 15 states, plus the District of Columbia, where medical marijuana is legal. [continues 327 words]
It is time for the state Legislature to produce a medical marijuana law. No more excuses, please. The chaos created by the Legislature's inaction is unacceptable, wasteful and unfair. Courts, prosecutors, police, local government and, yes, users find themselves scrambling to accommodate the 2008 voter initiative that unequivocally authorized the use of marijuana to treat medical conditions. Both South Lyon and Lyon Township officials have placed a moratorium on related businesses, waiting for attorneys and state legislators to weigh in on the issue. Perhaps City Attorney Parvin Lee, speaking at the most recent South Lyon City Council meeting, summed up the position taken by many municipalities around the state: [continues 471 words]
Judge Rules Private Employers Can Fire Medical Marijuana Patients Well the first shoe has dropped on a high-profile medical marijuana case and it made a big, ugly clunk to the ears of activists. U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker ruled in favor of Wal-Mart and threw out the reinstatement suit brought by Joseph Casias. Casias, a brain cancer patient who lives in Battle Creek, was fired by Wal-Mart after he tested positive for marijuana use. Casias is a registered medical marijuana patient who contends that he never went to work high. Wal-Mart's policy does not condone the use of marijuana for any reason. The judge concurred. [continues 1150 words]
Michigan voters support the state's medical marijuana law by nearly the same margin by which it was adopted in the 2008 election, according to a new poll released today by the Marijuana Policy Project. The poll, paid for by a medical marijuana patient advocate and conducted by Marketing Resource Group of Lansing, found that 61% of voters said they would vote yes again or would be likely to vote yes. Support for 2008's Proposal 1, legalizing the possession and use of marijuana for medical reasons, was 62.6%. [continues 104 words]
