On first glance, Pullman, Wash.'s medical marijuana regulations seem reasonable. The location of where medical marijuana is being grown needs to be be registered with the city, in addition to anyone using the plants.
However, further down the ordinance it's revealed that the registration is contingent on a written letter from the DEA stating that the operation is in compliance with federal law.
The DEA, of course, has no plans to authorize medical marijuana growers in Pullman, or anywhere for that matter.
Why the impossible requirement? A classic case of bureaucratic CYA. Federal officials have threatened to prosecute anyone — including state officials — who sanction medical marijuana.
"Once the federal government and state governments resolve their conflict, now the city has a system in place for licensing and registration," City Attorney Laura McAloon told the Standard-Examiner. "And it still protects the city from any federal issues."
Experienced legal counsel to cannabis businesses, entrepreneurs, and patients.
Seattle, Washington (206) 728-0200
Friday, March 2, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Federal Judge to Medical Marijuana Collectives: Screw You and the Promise Obama Rode in On
A federal judge in Sacramento threw out a lawsuit contesting the recent medical marijuana crackdown by U.S. Attorneys the SFGate reports.
Advocates claim that President Obama's promise to leave dispensaries and growers alone in a Justice Department memo if they complied with the medical pot laws of their respective states was broken.
However, Judge Garland Burrell said the memo "does not contain a promise not to enforce." He also called the it a "statement of priorities," that federal laws regarding drug production and distribution were still valid and that appeals courts and the Supreme Court do not recognize a constitutional right to marijuana for the terminally ill.
Though other judges ruled in a similar manner, they have not dismissed the lawsuits in their courts. Another lawsuit filed by Americans for Safe Access argues that the federal government is violating the state of California's constitutional authority to mandate its own health policies.
Advocates claim that President Obama's promise to leave dispensaries and growers alone in a Justice Department memo if they complied with the medical pot laws of their respective states was broken.
However, Judge Garland Burrell said the memo "does not contain a promise not to enforce." He also called the it a "statement of priorities," that federal laws regarding drug production and distribution were still valid and that appeals courts and the Supreme Court do not recognize a constitutional right to marijuana for the terminally ill.
Though other judges ruled in a similar manner, they have not dismissed the lawsuits in their courts. Another lawsuit filed by Americans for Safe Access argues that the federal government is violating the state of California's constitutional authority to mandate its own health policies.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
California Assemblyman Ammiano Proposes State Bill to Regulate Medical Pot
California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (a Democrat representing San Francisco) introduced a law that would regulate medical marijuana dispensaries statewide.
The bill, A.B. 2312, would allow "collectives, cooperatives, and other business entities to cultivate, acquire, process, possess, transport, test, sell, and distribute marijuana for medical purposes." The bill would also punish doctors who write bad patient recommendations with a misdemeanor offense, set up a government body to oversee the enforcement of the law and limit one collective per city of 50,000, The Huffington Post reports.
Unfortunately, the bill stands little chance of passing. Gov. Jerry Brown has not signed any pro-pot legalization into law and it's generally accepted that he won't.
Ammiano is a long time advocate of medical marijuana and access for patients. He's called for U.S. Attorneys to end their campaign to close dispensaries and met with them to personally question the closures.
The bill, A.B. 2312, would allow "collectives, cooperatives, and other business entities to cultivate, acquire, process, possess, transport, test, sell, and distribute marijuana for medical purposes." The bill would also punish doctors who write bad patient recommendations with a misdemeanor offense, set up a government body to oversee the enforcement of the law and limit one collective per city of 50,000, The Huffington Post reports.
Unfortunately, the bill stands little chance of passing. Gov. Jerry Brown has not signed any pro-pot legalization into law and it's generally accepted that he won't.
Ammiano is a long time advocate of medical marijuana and access for patients. He's called for U.S. Attorneys to end their campaign to close dispensaries and met with them to personally question the closures.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Marijuana Shop Owner Outraged Over Possible Porn Neighbor
The owner of Studio City, Calif. medical marijuana dispensary Perennial Holistic Wellness Center, Inc., contacted Patch.com with a concern about his neighborhood.
Perennial Holistic Wellness Center, Inc. is about to have an adult book store as a new neighbor. The owner is concerned that the adult book store will bring an increase in crimes, sex crimes in particular.
He cited an earlier sexual assault in the area and an act of vandalism he claims to have seen as proof that a porn shop in the area is a bad idea.
You know, like how people who don't like pot say that pot shops lead to more crime and drug dealing.
"Tonight's incident and the first sexual assult [sic] in Studio City in many years, last year near the Shell on Ventura Place is more proof positive that an adult book store is not the right thing for this community," he wrote.
What's interesting is that the so-called "secondary effects" that anti-porn groups cite are in dispute. They're not unlike the arguments anti-legalization groups make about dispensaries, which were dispelled by a RAND Corp. study (much to the dismay of the City of L.A.).
Perennial Holistic Wellness Center, Inc. is about to have an adult book store as a new neighbor. The owner is concerned that the adult book store will bring an increase in crimes, sex crimes in particular.
He cited an earlier sexual assault in the area and an act of vandalism he claims to have seen as proof that a porn shop in the area is a bad idea.
You know, like how people who don't like pot say that pot shops lead to more crime and drug dealing.
"Tonight's incident and the first sexual assult [sic] in Studio City in many years, last year near the Shell on Ventura Place is more proof positive that an adult book store is not the right thing for this community," he wrote.
What's interesting is that the so-called "secondary effects" that anti-porn groups cite are in dispute. They're not unlike the arguments anti-legalization groups make about dispensaries, which were dispelled by a RAND Corp. study (much to the dismay of the City of L.A.).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)