Marijuana Dispensaries on the Vegas Strip? It's Becoming More Likely

Las Vegas' State Senator, Tick Segerblom is proposing Nevada OK cannabis dispensaries for patients with a recommendation and a card, the Las Vegas Sun reports.

Unlike California's dispensary model, which is mired in questions of profit vs. non-profit status, Segerblom spelled out how he saw Nevada embracing access for patients. The Gaming Control Board, which now strictly oversees the state's casinos, will be given jurisdiction over the dispensaries.

Segerblom added, "We’re going to have places you can go with a card where you can legally purchase marijuana. It’ll be a for-profit. It won’t be a co-op. It won’t be run by the government… It’ll be taxed and the revenue will be used to do something good. Those are the details we haven’t gotten to yet." 

Nevada's current medical marijuana law has many legal ambiguities and the state's supreme court is expected to take up the issue. Establishing a dispensary system is a step toward clarifying the law.

"Let’s go back and do what we should have done 10 years ago. It’s something that it’s time has come. Colorado has it. Arizona has it. California has it. Oregon has it. Washington State has it. We’re surrounded by it," Segerblom said.

California Takes a Look at Zero Tolerance Drugged Driving Law, Reveals Potentially Confusing Implementation

California State Senator Lou Correa is proposing a "zero tolerance" law for drugged driving. Correa describes the bill as an expansion of existing drunk driving laws, reports KPBS.

The proposed bill would outlaw any levels of Schedules I through IV when anyone gets behind the wheel. This would include illegal drugs to over the counter drugs like non-drowsy cold and allergy medicine. (You can see where this is going, don't you?)

The proposed bill also makes no distinctions regarding medical marijuana. The debate surrounding Washington state's legalization put the spotlight on how long THC remains detectable in the body — which current research pegs at a month.

Think you'd be safe with a bona fide prescription for traditional pills and not a recommendation for cannabis? Think again. The law would make criminals out of anyone with any medication or drugs in their system, regardless of recommendation or prescription.

Opponents of the bill are calling for an impairment test instead of a "zero tolerance" law.

Think there's too many pot shops in Los Angeles? Consider the Alternative — One Dispensary for an Entire State

Though many might bemoan the number of dispensaries in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, an article by The Daily Beast highlights what life is like on the other side of the spectrum.

New Jersey has one medical marijuana dispensary to serve over 1,000 patients for the entire state. But that's not to say Greenleaf Compassion Center takes care of all the patients in the state — there's many others that are suffering that the dispensary can't accept because it doesn't have the inventory.

Marta Portuguez, who suffers from 11 ailments, including fibromyalgia and gastroparesis, told the website, "I keep waiting for them to call. I have my card. I’m ready to go. I passed...This is my body. I should be able to obtain any medicine that I deem OK for me. This is not the government’s right to decide!"

Many have claimed that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has intentionally skewed the medical marijuana regulations to intentionally ensure that it's nearly impossible for any new dispensaries to open. Christie has also appointed an ex-law enforcement officer known to be hostile to the idea of dispensaries to oversee the program.

Dr. Jeffrey Pollack, one of 199 doctors in New Jersey who can recommend cannabis to patients, added, "They’ve done everything to make the system fail in the long run."

Washington Likely to Seek a Firm for Pot Consultant Job — Feel Free to Scratch Your Head Now

Over 100 people applied for the pot consultant positions offered by state of Washington. These experts will establish regulations regarding growing, processing and selling marijuana in a legal marketplace, with knowledge of the current underground prices for pot.

But despite being overwhelmed by former medical marijuana and black market cannabis dealers gone straight who would know about the realities of pot, there's a very good chance that none of them may meet the state's requirements for a consultant.

If you have an MBA and have a consulting firm, like Deloitte and Touche, Ernst and Young and KPMG, you probably will qualify for this job...because if there's one thing huge business consultant firms can do, it's offering advice about legalized pot. And firing people.

Valerie Bauman, a staff writer with the Puget Sound Business Journal who's been following Washington's search for consultants, wrote (emphasis ours), "During my coverage of I-502, I’ve received a number of emails from readers who wanted to apply for the job of marijuana consultant. Unfortunately, no such job for an individual exists. The state is looking for a team or a firm – or a combination of companies – to submit a proposal for the consultant work."

Federal Judge Rules Against Oakland and World's Largest Medical Pot Dispensary; Not All Legal Avenues Exhausted

A federal judge rejected Oakland's attempt to defend the Harborside Health Center, considered to be the world's largest medical marijuana dispensary, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Cedric Chao, an attorney representing Oakland, challenged the federal government's crackdown on medical marijuana dispensaries, legal in California through a voter initiative. U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria-Elena James found no legal grounds for the city's action.

If the dispensary closes, Chao argued, its 108,000 patients will be forced to illegal avenues to secure their legal medical marijuana, which would lead to a public health and safety crisis.

However, not all of Oakland's options are exhausted. Oakland also challenged the federal government using the Administrative Procedure Act. Federal regulations follow the letter of the Administrative Procedure Act's law.

James ruled that Oakland did not fulfill the legal procedures to file a suit under the act.

States Attempt to Sort Out Driving While High Laws — But Are Finding Out Marijuana is Not the Same as Booze

Mother Jones takes a hard look at an issue that's coming to light as medical pot use is on the rise and many states consider legalization: driving while high.

Medical marijuana advocates in Washington derided I-502 before it passed because of its low THC threshold for impaired driving (5 nanograms per milliliter of blood) and that research has shown that THC persists in the body up to a month after ingestion in sizable amounts. Nevada and Ohio have taken a harder line at 2 nanograms, and others have enacted zero-tolerance laws.

While these laws are rooted in drunk driving policies, marijuana researchers have discovered driving while high is not the same as driving drunk.

Jan Ramaekers, a marijuana researcher, said, "The reality is that alcohol and cannabis are two very different drugs that affect people in very different ways."

High drivers tend to slow down and leave room around them while driving, which is the opposite of boozed-up drivers who speed and are overly aggressive. This does not mean high drivers are safer drivers — they're still two to six times more likely to be in accidents.

Democratic Administration Continues to Arrest Increasingly Unionized Marijuana Workforce

The New Republic examines the connection between labor and the medical marijuana and burgeoning legalized pot business. Despite the usually strong bond between the Democratic party and unions, the Obama administration's Department of Justice has continued to incarcerate dispensary workers and seize the assets of the owners.

This is despite the fact that those that work behind the counter in the medical cannabis industry are increasingly unionized by the United Food and Commercial Workers and that he proprietors of those businesses fully support their employees' right to organize. Medical marijuana is one of the few bright spots for unions, which have faced decreased membership.

The hippies usually associated with the access movement are inclined to allow unionization, while the newer, business-minded owners see labor as a way to legitimize their business.

The organization efforts of the UFCW also helped move legalization from a fringe issue, which historically had little attention and a negligible chance of passing, to a mainstream political cause that passed in Washington and Colorado as well as getting 45-plus percent of the vote in California.

Potential State-Sanctioned Pot Consiglieres Meet with Washington's Liquor Control Board

Though the call for consultants knowledgeable in all aspects of cannabis cultivation, processing, distribution and pricing seemed outrageous, about 75 people met with Washington state officials to learn more about the contract, the Puget Sound Business Journal reports.

Though pot use is legal for those over 21 in Washington, the state now has to deal with the actual administration of the law. To assist the Liquor Control Board with establishing rules and regulations for pot, Washington put out the call for consultants.

Those that showed up expressed concerns that bidding for the consultant position would be violating the state's conflict of interest laws. Those who would want to consult would also want a stake in the market — which would ultimately take many qualified candidates out of the running.

Others were worried about incriminating themselves, especially in light of the federal government leaving the door open to arrests of those involved in Washington's marijuana industry (despite being legalized).

However, many others felt they were already known to state and federal law enforcement because of their long history in growing, processing and distributing pot.

The U.S. Won't Study Pot…But the Israelis Will

Imagine a place where a government's response to studying medical marijuana is something other than a seven year old putting their fingers in their ears and saying, "I CAN'T HEAR YOU! LALALALALALA!" at the top of their lungs.

Amazingly, such a place exists. In fact, it's a place where most anti-drug crusaders consider holy. It's called Israel. Those "Just Say No" types would probably not be interested to know that THC was discovered there and that rabbis seem to have no problems with marijuana use.

Zach Klein, a specialist in medical marijuana policy (Wouldn't it be nice if we had one of those at the federal level?) with researchers from Tel Aviv University studied medical pot at 19 nursing homes, according to the National Pain Report.

Though it was a small-scale study with just 19 participants, 17 of the seniors regained lost weight. Complaints of pain, stiffness, tremors and insomnia went away once the patients began treatment with cannabis. It also helped those who were holocaust survivors and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Most of those taking part in the study were also able to reduce the number of pills they were taking each day.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s the future. This is God’s doing, and it’s marvelous in our eyes," Klein said. But it's not like we'd be able to find any of this out in the U.S., given the state of federal "drug enforcement."

Potential LA Mayors Face Off in Debate, Former Tech Honcho Pleitez Wants the Market to Decide How Many Dispensaries Should be Open

The issue of medical marijuana dispensaries took center stage, to no one's surprise, at the latest Los Angeles mayoral debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

Councilman Eric Garcetti and City Controller Wendy Greuel both called on the federal government to reclassify marijuana as a medicine and also call for greater regulation as to where dispensaries can open and can remain open.

However, Garcetti said about 100 dispensaries were "about right," while Greuel didn't give an exact number.

Former tech executive Emanuel Pleitez seemed open to a laissez-faire attitude toward the dispensaries. He feels the marketplace should decide how many dispensaries the city should support and that "politicians shouldn't be in the business of setting numbers."

The sole Republican of the forum, Kevin James, called the City Council out for not being able to do anything about putting any sort of order on the dispensaries in Los Angeles.

"More pot clinics than Starbucks? Unbelievable," the Los Angeles Times reports James as saying. "Only this City Council could put a moratorium on 180 or so pot clinics — and it skyrockets to over 1,000."

Wanted: Marijuana Consultants — Apply to the State of Washington

Do you know the difference between kush and sativa? Or how to cook with pot (and I don't mean pot of the stainless steel variety)? Any idea of how to grow and process weed? If so, the state of Washington may have a job for you.

State officials are looking for those with expertise in cannabis to assist its state Liquor Control Board to help get its sanctioned marijuana industry up and running. Washington is in search for consultants to help form a committee that will help iron out the details for regulations to govern its voter-approved legalization law, the Puget Sound Business Journal reports.

According to the article, the state is specifically looking for individuals with product and industry knowledge, product standards and testing, usage and consumption validation (to "keep pricing at black-market levels") and product regulation.

Medical Marijuana Group Teams Up with Herbal Products Association to Expand Lobbying Efforts

The American Herbal Products Association, founded 32 years ago to represent botanical medicine companies, is now allied with Americans for Safe Access and will provide recommendations to states interested in regulating medical marijuana.

More importantly, the AHPA, which has spent more than $2 million for lobbying since 1998, will open new doors for the ASA's efforts to reach out to those in power. The partnership will also help medical marijuana advocates to advance the cause of cannabis as a medicine — despite, most recently, a court decision that refuses to reclassify the drug.


Michael McGuffin, American Herbal Products Association president, stated to The Huffington Post: "The AHPA Cannabis Committee includes in its charter a responsibility to develop policy recommendations that support safe use of products derived from cannabis species. This initial work should be well received by state regulators, who share our commitment to ensuring safe access to medical marijuana for their citizens."

Washington: State is Ready for Federal Challenge to Legal Pot Law

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder met with Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee to discuss its recent legalization of pot. Though Holder had no comment for reporters, Crosscut reports Inslee dominated the meeting and made sure the federal government understood that Washington was going forward with implementing its legalization law.

"I don't believe we should put the brakes on this," Inslee told the press after the meeting. "We should continue in a rational way to make these rules, and that's the direction we're going to pursue."

Though the two discussed issues such as implementation, taxation, regulating pot under the law and how Washington will keep the pot from neighboring states, Attorney General Bob Ferguson has lawyers looking over the law and coming up with defenses in case the federal government sues the state.

Will Pot Treat Combat Vets with PTSD? The Government Doesn't Know and Doesn't Care

The courts may have decided that marijuana has no medical use, but how would they know unless they study it? Federal red tape is keeping an Arizona researcher from looking into benefits pot might have for vets with PTSD.

Dr. Sue Sisley received the OK to research the effectiveness of using marijuana to treat combat vets from the FDA in 2011, but the National Institute on Drug Abuse refuses to authorize the study. The NIDA is the only federal agency that grows marijuana for legitimate research.

"It's in the pipeline waiting in limbo until we can persuade NIDA to sell us the study drug and the DEA to give us a permit so we're allowed to store the drug on campus," Sisley told Phoenix's CBS5.

But Dr. Richard Strand with the Arizona Wellness Chamber of Commerce is much more frank in his assessment of the situation: "NIDA will not fund any research whose goal is to find benefits of medical marijuana."

Sun, Sand and…Maui Wowie?

A Hawaii lawmaker hopes to make The Aloha State the third to allow legalized pot possession.

Like measures voted into law in Colorado and Washington, the proposed legalization law would allow individuals over 21 to possess up to an ounce of cannabis and allow limited cultivation for personal use.

"We wanted to give it a hearing and see what the public says. We know that there will be strong public safety concerns brought up at the hearing," state Rep. Scott Saiki told KITV news.

Not surprisingly, the local law enforcement does not support the bill, stating, "The Honolulu Police Department is opposed to the legalization, decriminalization and medicinal use of marijuana."

Pot legalization in Hawaii is expected to generate about $20 million a year in fees and taxes. However, given that while most states have allowed some form of gambling, Hawaii remains one of the few that doesn't even have a lottery — so don't hold your breath for any legal Puna gold just yet.

Angelinos Will Have Third Medical Marijuana Option to Vote On

Los Angeles voters will have three medical marijuana initiatives to vote on for the May ballot, the L.A. Daily News reports. The latest, floated by the City Council, would prohibit dispensaries from operating 1,000 feet from schools and tax $60 for every $1,000 in sales, as well as limit hours operation and require background checks on dispensary employees.

The option is being presented as a compromise between the other two initiatives that will be voted on. One initiative would allow dispensaries 1,000 feet from schools, churches and impose the same tax structure as the City Council's proposal; the other would only allow about 100 dispensaries that have been open since Sept. 14, 2007 to remain open.

Regardless of which initiative is voted in, given the constant flip-flopping of the Los Angeles City Council's position on medical marijuana, it's a safe bet that medical pot is far from being resolved.

Washington Apartment Moves to Ban All Pot, Wants Tenants to Narc on Each Other

A Seattle apartment landlord wants to make all pot — smokable and non-smokable, medical and recreational — cause for eviction. But that's not all, it also wants its tenants to narc on each other.

Iraq war vet Alex Aversano, who uses a liquid form of pot for pain and PTSD, found a note on his door informing him of the request. The note also asked him to sign an amendment to his lease and when Aversano complained, the management company admitted they cannot make anyone sign an amendment in the middle of their lease.

Though medical marijuana and and recreational marijuana are legal under Washington law, the largest association of landlords in the state is of the opinion that it can be banned under federal law.

Medical marijuana advocate and criminal attorney Doug Hiatt told the Yakima Herald that a prohibition by landlords would be difficult, if not impossible, to enforce.

"What would they do," Hiatt said, "search everybody’s chocolate chip cookies? It’s 'Reefer Madness' all over."

Legalization in Colorado, Oregon Causing Latin American Countries to Re-Think Their Drug Policies

Policymakers and politicians in Central and South America are openly revolting against decades of American-sponsored anti-drug laws that places their police, soldiers and civilians in harm's way when legalization is taking firm root in the United States.

Mexican congressman Fernando Belaunzarán told Time.com, "Everyone is asking, What sense does it make to keep up such an intense confrontation, which has cost Mexico so much, by trying to keep this substance from going to a country where it’s already regulated and permitted?”

Pot legalization is being seriously considered in countries south of the United States as a way to deny drug cartels revenue from cannabis and to end the violence that's caused by enforcement, particularly in Mexico.

Belaunzarán added, "It’s time the world discuss a new paradigm to confront drugs. In Latin America it’s already happening. And the U.S. is applying it de facto because states are already regulating marijuana."

Pro-Legalization Forces Makes Resolution for Oregon, California

Reuters reports that pro-pot legalization advocates plan to return to two states where they've been refused — Oregon and California.

The states were among the first to allow the medical use of marijuana, but recently rejected its recreational use. Bolstered by their successful initiatives in Washington and Colorado, pro-legalization groups plan on taking the fight back to California and Oregon.

Dale Gieringer, director of the California branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said, "We know that the younger generation is more supportive and the opposition really comes from the older generation. And as time goes on there's more of the younger generation and less of the older generation. The second factor is we have these results in Colorado and Washington under our belt, so that sort of fertilizes the ground."

The strides medical and legalization groups made to advance marijuana is remarkable. Medical marijuana's moved from a fringe political issue to an issue that's rallying conservatives and progressives alike. In the same way, talking about legalization a few years ago would never have been taken seriously, but the turnout to support legalized weed in Washington and Colorado shows the public is ready for a real change in national drug policy.

Reflections on a Collective: Shari Albert's Medical Marijuana Education

While most joke about writers and actors waiting tables and working at call centers until their big break, Shari Albert writes about her experiences working in a Los Angeles medical marijuana collective.

Though she originally took the job as a means of survival between gigs after appearing in the Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winning film "The Brother’s McMullen," she found herself liking the job's human contact and the availability of pot.

She writes: "In LA, you can go entire days without talking to another human, but this job forced me to get out of the house, interact with people whose lives were very different than mine, and learn, in the process, to let go of a lot of judgment I didn’t even knew I carried with me.

"On the flip side, I was smoking WAY too much weed. I realized this when hanging out with a friend, hitting the bong about three times more than he did, and not even getting high. At five feet tall, my tolerance felt like a football player's. He was concerned, as was I."

The schizophrenic nature of Los Angeles' medical pot laws are also touched on, such as pot, or "medicine," technically not being "sold."

Albert has since gone on to star in "Ugly Betty," "King of Queens," and "Law & Order." She's now working on a web series about a medical marijuana collective...of course.