The Redding City Council deadlocked Monday evening on what was to be a routine vote on the medical marijuana regulations it approved last week. Councilwoman Missy McArthur changed her vote, siding with Patrick Jones against the new regulations, though for different reasons. "I voted yes on Tuesday but now I feel it's act in haste and regret in leisure," McArthur said, adding there are too many unresolved questions about the new regulations. Jones voted against the city regulations because federal law forbids marijuana possession, and he did not want to put Redding officials in conflict with that law. [continues 945 words]
Now that the Senate's second-ranking Democrat has introduced a bill to end the unjustified and counterproductive 100-1 sentencing disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine, there's a pretty good chance that this 23-year mistake finally will be ended. Majority Whip Richard Durbin introduced his bill last week. Since a similar bill has already passed the House Judiciary Committee, and the Obama administration's Justice Department supports the change, it should pass. It can't come too soon. [continues 355 words]
WASHINGTON -- In an act of merciful sanity, the Obama administration has made good on its promise to stop interfering with states that allow the medical use of marijuana. Clink-clink, hear-hear, salud, cheers, et cetera, et cetera. The announcement from Attorney General Eric Holder surely comes as a relief to the many who rely on cannabis to ease suffering from various ailments. This new, relaxed approach doesn't let drug traffickers off the hook. It merely means that 14 states that now provide for some medical marijuana uses no longer need fear federal raids on dispensaries and users operating under state law. [continues 559 words]
In an act of merciful sanity, the Obama administration has made good on its promise to stop interfering with states that allow the medical use of marijuana. Clink-clink, hear-hear, salud, cheers, et cetera, et cetera. The announcement from Attorney General Eric Holder surely comes as a relief to the many who rely on cannabis to ease suffering from various ailments. This new, relaxed approach doesn't let drug traffickers off the hook. It merely means that 14 states that now provide for some medical marijuana uses no longer need fear federal raids on dispensaries and users operating under state law. [continues 668 words]
Californian, Mexican Search and Destroy ORLEANS, CALIF. -- What does a tough Mexican army major barking orders in the outlaw hills of the Sierra Madre have in common with the laconic sheriff detective from the north woods of California who puts a marijuana sticker on his truck as a joke? They are both professional weed-whackers committed to the cause -- the hard, dirty, difficult destruction of marijuana out in the fields, plant by plant. Mexico has the largest marijuana eradication operation in the world, followed by the United States. It is a downright Sisyphean task. [continues 935 words]
Judge Set to Possibly Rule Nov. 2 It all came down to the names at a court ruling held to decide whether Dana Point can force five medical marijuana dispensaries to hand over their business records as part of a city investigation to figure out if the city will change zoning laws to officially allow the facilities. An Orange County Superior Court Judge said today she was not going to rule on the issue until after the city and the dispensaries ironed out the name game, which balances medical privacy protections and the city's attempt to figure out if the dispensaries are operating legally before changing any laws. [continues 746 words]
After almost a year in office, the Obama administration has made a decision. The Justice Department on Monday issued a memo to federal prosecutors in 13 medical marijuana states telling them to stop enforcing federal marijuana laws against medical marijuana patients. This should result in an end to the mean-spirited and bizarre federal attacks on people treating conditions such as glaucoma and chronic pain with a natural drug that's far less harmful than an array of hard drugs the pharmaceutical giants push like candy. [continues 156 words]
In an act of merciful sanity, the Obama administration has made good on its promise to stop interfering with states that allow the medical use of marijuana. Clink-clink, hear-hear, salud, cheers, et cetera, et cetera. The announcement from Attorney General Eric Holder surely comes as a relief to the many who rely on cannabis to ease suffering from various ailments. This new, relaxed approach doesn't let drug traffickers off the hook. It merely means that 14 states that now provide for some medical marijuana uses no longer need fear federal raids on dispensaries and users operating under state law. [continues 648 words]