SB 1449 – Decriminalize Marijuana – Update

Great news this month in the quest for decriminalization of marijuana in California!

On June 3rd, 2010, the SB 1449 bill passed the California Senate on a vote of 21-13.

On June 23rd, 2010, the SB 1449 bill passed the California Assembly Public Safety Committee on a vote of 4-1!

Next, the bill will go before the full California Assembly for a vote. The date for this vote is not yet released. It was first brought to the assembly on June 3rd, and then sent to the Public Safety committee on June 10, which the approval coming through on June 23rd.

What does this mean?

S.B. 1449 was a bill introduced by Senator Mark Leno and it would decriminalize marijuana by making it a civil infraction only. This means no criminal record for the possession of under an ounce by anyone caught in possession of marijuana. Those charged with the infraction would not need to appear in court and would not get a criminal record – just a simple $100 fine.

While this does not fully decriminalize marijuana, it is a big step towards shutting down cops’ persecution of consenting adults who wish to partake in marijuana use. It would also help save the courts a lot of money by not having to prosecute low-level marijuana offenders in court or house them in any kind of jail. It will save a substantial amount of money and should help make the further push towards full decriminalization, legalization, regulation, and taxation.

Don’t forget about November’s ballot initiative, the Cannabis Act of 2010! If you are not already registered, get registered today so that you can help us make the big step towards legalization!

Register to VOTE

Hundreds of Dispensaries Will Close in Los Angeles, California

As if the economic crises isn’t bad enough, the Los Angeles City Council decided to damage it some more. In LA, there are approximately 186 registered medical marijuana dispensaries. But the City Council decided to put their foot down (after four and a half years of debate) and limit the number to 70.

As of now, the city is allowing any registered dispensary from before 2007 to remain open, while closing the ones which opened in the past three years. As the number drops, no new dispensaries will be opened until the limit of 70 has been reached. A curfew has been placed on the dispensaries, forcing them to close at 8PM everyday.

The most shocking number is that since 2007, approximately 800 to 1,000 dispensaries have been opened. All of these will be closed. That means an estimate of 2,000 (at least) employees will lose their jobs (that number is only at two employees per dispensary, which is highly underrated).

With these restrictions in mind (and the idea that each facility has to grow their own supply), how in the world will medical marijuana registered users be able to legally obtain their medication? At least by having dispensaries open, the marijuana is taxed, so that the state receives funding from this legal operation. Having businesses open, running, gives the state and government money – so why must they close so many businesses? This will only hurt the economy (job loss, tax loss, business loss) and the people of the United States.

Logically, the placement of the dispensaries has been limited. They are no longer allowed within 1,000 feet of a “sensitive” area, such as a school, library, park, religious institution, youth center, rehab centers, child care facility, and other dispensaries. This is sensible.

For the ordinance to come into effect, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa must approve it first.

The First Annual Western Slope Cannabis Crown in Colorado

Attention, medical marijuana growers and smokers!

If you didn’t know already, in April there will be Colorado’s First Annual Western Slope Cannabis Crown. It will be held in Aspen from April 17-18 at the Gant. The event was organized by Glenwood Springs resident Bobby Scurlock and the owners of High Country Caregivers, and include many events. 1,500 tickets were planned to be sold, most of which are already gone. The tickets for the two-day event costs $25.

This even is not about potheads, but to enlighten the public about the benefits of medical marijuana (as a patient, plus the economic benefits for the country), as well as for vendors to showcase their strains of marijuana

The conference is open to the public, but only Colorado registered medical marijuana patients are allowed to purchase marijuana from the vendors, and these transactions must take place outside of the convention hall.

Merchandise will be sold, such as vaporizers, grow room kits, and more. There will be charity events for the Haiti crisis.

There will also be information booths, live bands, and public speakers to inform the audience why medical marijuana is in fact a safe and effective drug for medical patients, and how the economy is benefited by medical marijuana (and how it would help if marijuana was legalized entirely).

But the best part of the convention has to be the Cannabis Crown.

Like the Cannabis Cup held yearly in Europe, the competition will determine which grower has the most potent strain of marijuana. By most potent, we mean high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC – that thing that makes marijuana effective) and how they affect the needs of the patient (how well they cure back pain, asthma, etc.).

The competition is going to be judged by Full Spectrum Laboratories, and there will also be spots for “People’s Choice Awards” that will be voted by the medical marijuana patients. The people’s choice awards will narrow down the competition, but the actual crown will be given based off a diagnostic test of the plant.

It is estimated that at least 400 different strains of marijuana will be at the event, as well as several edibles (brownies, candies, etc) on site. 40 strains have currently been entered into the Cannabis Crown competition.

The turn out is expected to be huge, so don’t miss out on this medical marijuana event!

For further information on booking and tickets, you can e-mail to cannabiscrown@yahoo.com or call High Country Caregivers at (970) 945-2492

Medical Marijuana City Council Spot Light – Jan 2010

Here is a chance to spot light a few clinics who recently visited a couple of city council boards and took a moment to explain what it is they do, how, and most importantly why. It is important to know who it is that is going to bat for the cause and what city council members pay the most attention to our voice, really that goes for all those who hold a political office of any kind.

The first video was filmed January 10, 2010 at the Los Angeles City Council Meeting speaker is Kristen Yoder speaking about the possibility of the new ordinances regarding the cultivation of medical marijuana.

This is a great example of a clinic that goes above and beyond to provide their patients with any and all information as well as the best possible meds and service. If you get a chance to cruise down to Venice be sure to stop by and show some appreciation, not only for operating an amazing clinic but for their work towards continued use of medical marijuana.

Here is another video that really needs to be shared… showing a lot of compassion for the collective she owns Kim Quagle  speaks on the medical marijuana ordinance and her personal experiences at the LB City Council meeting.

From the same city council meeting we also have found a video of Richard Eastman, a man who is well known in the medical marijuana movement and who is accredited with opening the first legal medical marijuana clinic in Los Angeles. This guy can really get the whole room listening and is at the very least partially responsible for medical marijuana having become as freely available as it is today, as Richard would tell you there is a lot more to do, but we have made some great strides in the past 15 or so years. Richard Eastman is not ony a operator, he is a patient of medical marijuana suffering from the HIV virus and explains briefly why he knows that medical marijuana is helping to change lives in a positive way.

Support the Taxation, Regularization, and Legalization of Marijuana in California!

On Tuesday, the California State Assembly voted 4-3 in favor of the AB 390 bill to legalize the sale, purchase, and possession of marijuana for recreational use. The bill was given thumbs up by the California Public Safety Committee and will now be passed to the Health and Safety Committee for their review. Under the new legislation, marijuana use for recreation will be treated in the same manner as alcohol. Purchase, possession, and use would be restricted to those over the age of twenty one and driving under the influence of the psychoactive plant will be illegal – those in violation will face harsh punishment.

There are viable arguments for both sides of the debate as to whether marijuana should be legal. Those who are against it often claim that if marijuana was legalized, underage use will increase as well as the use of harder drugs if marijuana is a gateway drug. Those who are in favor of the bill claim that it will fix, or at least help fix, California’s budget problem through taxation and through the money that would be saved on incarceration of marijuana use by consenting adults. Additionally, this bill will keep harmless and non-violent potheads from clogging up the already crowded judicial system.

The bill requires a $50 excise tax paid for by the marijuana growers as well as applicable sales tax paid for by the consumer. Currently, marijuana is estimated to be a $14 billion per year industry in the state – more than double the combination of all other agriculture in California. Marijuana taxation could potentially put a huge dent in the California deficit and quite possible keep the state from filing for bankruptcy.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, but this is a measure that should have been accounted for long before the current fiscal fiasco. Prohibition of marijuana was drafted as a way to control the public and protect the paper industry, and not as a measure to do what is best for the people of the country. Studies conclude that there are minimal health risks for those who smoke pot and there is no connection between crime and marijuana use. The bottom line is that the state of California is on the right track and we can only hope that the rest of the country will follow suit.

Unfortunately, until this bill passes, or the November ballot’s bill The Tax, Regulate, and Control Cannabis Act of 2010, marijuana remains illegal for those in California who have not gotten a doctor’s permission under Proposition 215. Employers and others can can still drug test their employees in California, as well as in other states throughout the country. Learn how to protect yourself by reading up on How to Pass a Drug Test.

Next Page »