By Steve Elliott
Hemp News

A statewide registry of medical marijuana dispensaries would be created under a bill taken up Monday by the Oregon House.

House Bill 3460, sponsored by Rep. Peter Buckley (D-Ashland), would require that dispensary owners pass criminal background checks, document the amount of cannabis coming into their businesses, and verify that the marijuana is from state-registered growers, reports Noelle Crombie at The Oregonian.

The bill would also require that marijuana sold by state-registered dispensaries would be tested for impurities.

The businesses would be allowed to set their own prices for medicinal cannabis, much as they do today. Unlike Colorado's complex system, the proposal would not generate revenue for Oregon besides the fees to cover the cost of administering the program.

Dispensaries would not be subject to routine inspection by the state under the bill.

Medical marijuana has been legal since Oregon voters approved it in 1998, but the dispensaries which distribute cannabis to patients have evolved in a legal gray area.

The state has a network of marijuana resource centers, collectives, cooperatives, clubs and cafes, but state officials don't know how much marijuana or cash moves through these businesses. Estimates of the number of dispensaries in the state run from 150 to 200.

By Steve Elliott
Hemp News

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, in a series of three rulings issued on Friday, reined in police who have been using the smell of marijuana as a pretext to search automobiles.

Two years ago, the justices handed down the Cruz decision, which made it clear that car searches can't be conducted on the basis of finding marijuana, but police have continued the practice, according to TheNewspaper.com.

The ruling stems from Massachusetts v. Pacheco, a case in which Antonio L. Pacheco was sitting in a gray sedan parked in a handicapped spot with four friends. A state trooper walked up, noticing the fogged windows of the vehicle, and knocked on the window. He smelled marijuana as soon as the window was rolled down.

The trooper then searched the car, finding a small baggie with less than an ounce of marijuana on the floor mat behind the passenger seat. Nothing else untoward was found in the car interior, so the trooper opened the trunk and started rifling through its contents.

At that point, he found a backpack containing a semiautomatic handgun. Pacheco admitted he had the gun for self-protection, but he had no "firearm identification card" as is required in Massachusetts.

Powerful Group Urges New Approaches to Failed Drug War, Move from Criminal Justice Toward Public Health Approach

By Steve Elliott
Hemp News

A coalition of over 175 artists, actors, athletes, elected officials and advocates, brought together by hip-hop pioneer Russell Simmons and Dr. Boyce Watkins, on Tuesday presented an open letter to President Obama, urging him to double down on his efforts to change the United States’ criminal justice policy from that of a punitive, suppression-based model to one that favors evidence-based prevention and rehabilitation.

According to Department of Justice data, the U.S. leads the world in the incarceration of its own citizens, both on a per capita basis and in terms of total prison population. More than 500,000 of the 2.3 million people behind bars in the U.S. are incarcerated for nothing more than a nonviolent drug offense.

“It is critical that we change both the way we think about drug laws in this country and how we generate positive solutions that leave a lasting impact on rebuilding our communities,” Russell Simmons said. “We need to break the school to prison pipeline, support and educate our younger generations and provide them with a path that doesn’t leave them disenfranchised with limited options.”

By Steve Elliott
Hemp News

Measure 80, which would have legalized and taxed marijuana in Oregon, was defeated at the ballot box last November. But New Approach Oregon, a coalition of cannabis advocates, has now approached the Legislature and, in effect, asked for help in achieving the same goal.

The group has momentum and public opinion on its side, according to The Oregonian Editorial Board. While the advocates hope for a ballot initiative in 2014, their current vehicle is House Bill 3371, which got a hearing last week before the House Judiciary Committee.

It was sent from there to the House Revenue Committee, "where it'll have the substantial policy debate," according to Judiciary Chair Jeff Barker (D-Aloha). There's little hope that HB 3371 will pass, though, according to Barker, reports Yuxing Zheng of The Oregonian.

Since HB 3371 would tax marijuana as well as legalizing it, a three-fifths majority would be required in each chamber -- but securing even a simple majority would be challenging, since most lawmakers are skittish about pot legalization.

By Steve Elliott
Hemp News

The City of Riverside, California has for years attempted to close the Inland Empire Patients Health and Wellness Center, a medical marijuana collective at the heart of a state Supreme Court case in San Francisco that could determine the future of medicinal cannabis in the state -- specifically if cities have the authority to ban dispensaries.

Riverside officials claim the city is trying to close the center because it prohibits such facilities in its zoning ordinance, reports Wes Woods at the Daily Bulletin.

Oral arguments in the state Supreme Court case were given on February 5; the court's decision -- due within 90 days of the hearing -- will have a big impact on similar cases in California.

After voters passed Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, patients were given the right to cultivate and possess marijuana for personal medicinal use. Prop 215 was the first medical marijuana law in the United States. But federal law bans marijuana for any purpose, classifying it as a Schedule I controlled substance with no accepted medical uses.

Riverside officials claim that Prop 215 doesn't prohibit them from banning dispensaries through zoning, but Lanny Swerdlow -- who founded the Inland Empire Patients Health and Wellness Center -- said that cities have no such right.

By Steve Elliott
Hemp News

The Maryland Senate has overwhelmingly passed a bill to eventually allow seriously ill patients safe access to medical marijuana. The bill, HB 1101, would allow academic medical research centers to apply for licenses to distribute medicinal cannabis to qualified patients.

The Senate on Monday voted 42-4 to approve the bill, which has already been passed by the Maryland House of Delegates, sending the legislation to the desk of Governor Martin O'Malley, reports The Associated Press.

Unlike 18 other states that have adopted medical marijuana laws that allow patients to obtain medicinal cannabis by growing it themselves or by purchasing it from state-licensed businesses, Maryland's law requires that patients obtain their medicine only from a limited number of research hospitals approved to conduct medical marijuana research.

Development of adult-use marijuana rules and regulations on the docket for discussion at trade association event

By Steve Elliott
Hemp News

The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) will host an Educational Series Event on April 9 in Seattle. Geared to assist medical marijuana entrepreneurs and investors create responsible and successful businesses, Educational Series Events feature a panel of experts and networking period for cannabusiness professionals.

The 90-minute program will feature experts on Washington marijuana policy and development of rules and regulations under I-502. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer period and networking reception.

What: NCIA Educational Series Event, "State & Federal Policy Update"

Where: McCormick and Schmick's - Harborside at Lake Union, 1200 Westlake Ave North, Seattle

When: Tuesday, April 9, 2013 7-10 p.m.

Who: Hilary Bricken, Harris & Moure, PLLC, Seattle, WA
Steven Davenport, BOTEC Analysis Corporation
Rick Garza, Washington State Liquor Control Board
State Representative Roger Goodman

By Steve Elliott
Hemp News

About 25 protesters showed up in Portland, Maine, on Saturday to decry working conditions at Wellness Connection of Maine, the state's largest medical marijuana dispensary group.

The protesters said Wellness Connection is ignoring their complaints about working conditions and their attempts to unionize, reports Beth Quimby at the Portland Press Herald. Saturday's protest in Portland followed a similar event Friday in Hallowell.

The protest, which lasted about an hour, included handing out leaflets to passers-by. It followed months of controversy centered around the dispensary chain.

Wellness Connection, a nonprofit the operates dispensaries in Portland, Brewer, Thomaston and Hallowell, serves about 2,400 patients and has about 40 employees.

In February, the workers had staged a brief walkout. The Maine Department of Health and Human Resources conducted an investigation last month, finding 20 violations of state law and policy, including Wellness Connection's use of pesticides on its cannabis plants.

The state reached a consensus agreement with Wellness Connection after the organization signed on to submit weekly status reports and allow frequent inspections.

By Steve Elliott
Hemp News

When I was growing up in rural Alabama in the 1960s, my Mom was fond of saying, "Can't never could, but 'try' caught a rabbit." What Mom was trying to convey is that you miss every shot you don't take, and that there's no substitute for effort towards reaching a long-sought goal.

Evidently my Mom wasn't the only one in the Heart of Dixie who taught her kids to be determined, because my friends Ron Crumpton and Chris Butts of the Alabama Medical Marijuana Coalition (AMMJC) never say "can't," and these men never tire -- they just keep trying.

The latest effort to reform the marijuana laws there has been introduced by Rep. Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham) in the Alabama House in the form of House Bill 550, The Alabama Marijuana and Hemp Reform Act of 2013.

House Bill 550 would allow adults 21 or older to use or possess up to one ounce of marijuana, and to grow up to 12 mature cannabis plants in an enclosed, locked space. Adults would be allowed to share -- but not sell -- marijuana with other adults.

The Alabama Department of Revenue would regulate the cultivation, processing, packaging, testing, transportation, display, and sale of marijuana and related accessories. Marijuana sales would be prohibited except by licensed, regulated cannabis stores.

By Steve Elliott
Hemp News

Rhode Island's very first medical marijuana dispensary is just days away from opening.

On Thursday, the state Health Department granted a registration certificate to the dispensary, which opens the way for the Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center to become the first to legally sell marijuana to patients in the state's medicinal cannabis program.

The center will open for business on April 19 at 1 Corliss Street in Providence, according to Chris Reilly, a spokesman for the Slater Center.

Under Rhode Island law, three dispensaries are permitted to sell marijuana to state patients.

Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center in Portsmouth is scheduled to open in the coming weeks. A third dispensary, Summit Medical Compassion Center in Warwick, has yet to apply for a registration certificate.

Interestingly, the Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center is across the street from the town's main federal post office.

(Photo: Steve Szydlowski/Providence Journal)

By Steve Elliott
Hemp News

Medical marijuana dispensaries could be created throughout Nevada if a bill in the state Senate passes. Under the bill, medicinal cannabis outlets would be nonprofit, and regulated by the state.

Nevada voters approved the use of medical marijuana roughly 13 years ago, but there is still no good way for patients to actually get cannabis, other than growing their own, reports Joe Harrington at KOLO.

Patients who are registered with the state are allowed to grow three mature and four immature marijuana plants, and are allowed to possess up to one ounce of cannabis. But many patients' health makes it difficult or impossible to grow their own, and are concerned about thieves. For them, dispensaries would be a good solution for safe access.

"A lot of cities are experiencing benefits from the taxation," pointed out Reno City Council member Jenny Brekhus, who recently voted with other council members to oppose the medical marijuana dispensary bill being considered by the Legislature. However, she said Reno should "prepare for the possibility" of dispensaries.

"My strongest desire is the City not have its head in the sand if the the Legislature green-lighyts these we need to get our zoning ordinances and our business license regulations in place," Brekhus said.

By Steve Elliott
Hemp News

With just a day left in the session, the Maryland General Assembly is poised for a landmark decision on giving seriously ill patients safe access to medical marijuana.

"If everything runs true to form, the Senate will say yes to allowing medical centers to dispense marijuana," predicts Pat Warren of CBS Baltimore.

"If it helps people with cancer, I'm all for it," said Senate President Mike Miller. "My mother died of cancer, a very lingering death. And if my mother wants to smoke marijuana in her old age to help with her cancer, I'm all for it."

This session's medical marijuana bill, HB 1101, sponsored by Delegate Dan Morhaim, would allow academic medical centers to apply for licenses to dispense marijuana to qualified patients.

"It's not to open it up for any and everybody; it's a pain reliever," Miller said. "I've got a fractured nerve in my tooth right now and I wouldn't mind a toke myself."

By Steve Elliott
Hemp News

New York could be next in line to legalize medical marijuana. A state senator has introduced a bill that would allow the very ill to use cannabis as a medical treatment, but the bill reportedly has an uphill battle.

Diane Savino, a Democrat from Staten Island, is sponsoring the bill, reports John Borsa at WKBW.

"In other countries, the UK and Canada, they've done extensive research on medical marijuana, and have been able to show that there is a direct effect in a positive way on patients," Savino said.

According to the state senator, her bill takes what has worked in other states and leaves out elements that have not been as successful.

Under her proposal, seriously ill patients would need to get their doctor's authorization, and could then buy marijuana through a system of state-regulated dispensaries. The cannabis would be tracked "from plant to patient," Savino said.

But that's where that "uphill battle" we mentioned comes in. Governor Andrew Cuomo has in the past said he "doesn't support" medical marijuana. And of course, some nervous Nellies are fretting about "making marijuana more widely available."

By Steve Elliott
Hemp News

Medical marijuana patients in Oregon will have a lot more to worry about than just their health, if some lawmakers have their way. They'll also have to worry about getting their medical marijuana cards renewed every 60 days.

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday held a public hearing on SB 281, a bill that would allow people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to the list of qualifying conditions for medicinal cannabis. But at the hearing, a number of amendments were proposed, including one by Sen. Jeff Kruse (R-Roseburg), that would require medical marijuana patients to renew their registry identification card every two months.

Currently, patients are required to renew their MMJ cards once a year.

Under the amendment, patients would be forced to provide the Oregon Health Authority "updated documentation" from their physician that medical cannabis could help them reduce their symptoms.

The supposed intent behind the onerous requirement of renewing every 60 days was to "make sure that cardholders see their doctor regularly just as they would if they were renewing any other prescription," legislative staff claimed.

It would be difficult for patients to schedule an appointment and continually renew their cards every 60 days, according to Iraq war veteran Jared Townsend, who told lawmakers he was opposed to the amendment to SB 281.

"I think it's just a ploy to clog the system," Townsend said.

By Steve Elliott
Hemp News

A marijuana decriminalization bill is making its way through the Vermont House, and Attorney General Bill Sorrell wants it changed -- he wants it to also allow Vermonters to grow their own.

Sorrell said that if the state doesn't allow people to grow one or two plants, it will force them to buy marijuana illegally, reports Kirk Carapezza at Vermont Public Radio.

"I see the concern about a commercial grow operation trying to say it's all for personal consumption," Sorrell said. "But I don't think you want to foster somebody having to buy marijuana behind a bar in downtown Burlington or Montpelier or wherever."

The bill in the House would decriminalize up to two ounces of marijuana; Sorrell supports decriminalizing 1.25 ounces (about 35 grams).

Meanwhile, Public Safety Commissioner Kevin Flynn claims he's worried that allowing people to grow even small amounts of cannabis would make marijuana "more accessible."

"It's clearly just reclassifying the offense from a crime to a civil infraction," Flynn said. "I think it might be kind of naive to think that people are only going to grow one ounce and then immediately destroy the rest." (Hey, Commissioner Flynn, have you considered that might not end civilization, even if it happens?)