Santa Cruz considers ban on more medical marijuana dispensaries
The Santa Cruz Planning Commission will have a hearing tonight, 19 Nov 09 at 7:00 PM on proposals to ban additional dispensaries, allow the sales of clones as well as on-site cultivation, and increase the set-back from residential property from 50 to 600 feet.
To date, the city has no licensed production houses. Current regulations require that in order to obtain a permit for a medical marijuana production house one must have a medical marijuana dispensary permit and that the production house must be at a location separate from the dispensary.
Medical Marijuana Inc Continues Development and Completes 1st Stage of the National Rollout of Its Educational Seminars
Medical Marijuana Inc (PINKSHEETS: MJNA) announced today they have completed the taping of the Educational Seminar series as the 1st step toward the Seminar program being offered across America in those states where permitted by law. These Seminars will continue to be held in Ukiah, Ca. through the rest of the year.
Soaking up the atmosphere at America’s first coffeeshop
At first glance it could be any other coffee shop in America. Chocolate croissants are stacked behind the counter and patrons lounge on sofas. There are, however, a few crucial differences.
A shelf is lined with large glass jars, containing what appear to be plant samples. The customers do not have coffee pots in front of them, but "vapourisers" with digital readouts indicating when the plant samples have been heated to precisely 375F, at which point a thin mist rises from them into large transparent plastic bags. The patrons "sip" on the bags using the kind of valves that you might see on a diver’s oxygen tank.
The Phoenix: Legalize medical marijuana, a good read
Since the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, cannabis, also known as marijuana, has been federally classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning that it has no legally accepted medical use and has the same classification as, for example, heroin. Over the last couple of decades, however, that classification has started to be challenged, especially at the state level.
Currently, 13 states have passed some form of legislation allowing the use of medical marijuana. California was the first, passing the Compassionate Use Act in 1996 that legalized medical marijuana and ostensibly set regulations for the production and distribution of the drug.
Los Angeles City Council puts off marijuana vote until next week at the earliest
The Los Angeles City Council this afternoon postponed a vote on a medical marijuana ordinance until next week at the earliest.
Councilman Ed Reyes, who is overseeing efforts to craft a law, introduced a motion that would make a series of major changes to the proposal, and asked that the council take more time to review them.
He also noted that other council members had proposed numerous amendments. "This is only the tip of the iceberg," he said.
William Carter, chief deputy city attorney, agreed that it would be helpful for his office to have time to review the proposed changes to the ordinance that two committees sent to the full council on Monday.
Deputies seize 317 kilos of marijuana from three United States soldiers
Three Army soldiers were among those arrested during Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's most recent crime sweep.
Deputies arrested the three soldiers on drug, money laundering and conspiracy charges.
The soldiers, Dwayne Campbell, Llewellyn Stamoulis and Romaine May were discovered to have 680 pounds of marijuana and $10,000 in cash during a traffic stop in north Phoenix.
The economics of marijuana legalization and taxation
There's been a great deal of talk over the last year or so of legalization and taxation of marijuana. In fact certain states have decriminalized possession of the narcotic - including the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts. There's even a Cannabis Cafe that opened up in Portland, testing a new federal policy not to prosecute medical users (Oregon state law allows for medical marijuana usage) despite use and possession of marijuana still being illegal on the federal level. Health and moral arguments aside, there is a very compelling economic argument to be made to legalize marijuana and thus make it subject to taxation.
Growing Medical Marijuana Industry Sparks Debate in California
California is one of 14 states that allow people to use marijuana for medical reasons, and a thriving cannabis industry has developed in the West Coast state. Federal officials say the use and sale of marijuana is illegal, but the Obama administration recently said it will not prosecute marijuana dispensaries that follow state laws.
Marijuana clinics are spreading in California, which has some people calling for a crackdown, and others demanding that marijuana be legalized.
In Oakland, California, the state's largest marijuana dispensary, called the Harborside Health Center, serves 600 patients a day. It provides marijuana for a wide range of ailments, from cancer to difficulty sleeping. "When a patient comes to us for the first time, we first, of course, verify that they're a legal medical cannabis patient. And then we ask them to sign an agreement. And in that agreement, they elect to become a member of our collective and they authorize all of the other members of the collective to grow cannabis on their behalf," said Steve DeAngelo, the center's founder and chief executive officer.
The growing pot economy in Michigan — new business booming!
The tailspin may be over, but no one's suggesting that bedrock industries of the Michigan economy like cars and real estate are headed for boom times again.
The Michigan marijuana economy, on the other hand, appears to be going gangbusters.
Once largely underground, activity linked to the cultivation and use of pot is now in full public view thanks to voter approval in 2008 of marijuana use for medicinal purposes.
Equipment manufacturers, retailers, doctors, lawyers and publishers are suddenly advertising, hanging up shingles, opening storefronts and building growing equipment all over the state.
