http://www.thclist.com/forum/ Sat, 19 May 2012 00:14:51 +0000 MyBB http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8173 Fri, 18 May 2012 19:26:00 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8173 http://bluearkansasblog.com/?p=9170


May 16, 2012

You know, to listen to the Religious Right in this country, you would think that the gospels are talking about some other guy than the man that fed the poor, hung out with society’s outcasts, slammed the rich for their greed on a regular basis, and taught that someone who practiced a different religion (the story of the Good Samaritan) could be as good, if not a better person, than the people who practiced “the right religion.” This apparently now extends to the whole healing the sick and ministering to the afflicted stuff as well. I say this, because a group of religious right organizations has come out with a ridiculously false attack on the medical marijuana initiative that will, hopefully, be on the ballot in November.- http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/arc...boxes#more

Four Arkansas grass roots organizations have joined together in a Ballot Question Committee, the Coalition to Preserve Arkansas Values (“CPAV”), to oppose two proposed constitutional amendments to grant to out-of-state companies unregulated monopolies on casino gambling and to oppose a proposed initiated act to legalize so-called medical-marijuana. Those groups are the Arkansas Family Coalition, Families First Action Committee, Family Council Action Committee, and the Arkansas Committee for Ethics Policy, a companion organization to the Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council.

***

Arkansans will be equally unwilling to take the first step toward the full legalization of marijuana for recreational use, which is a major impetus for “medical-marijuana” laws, according to some of the national leaders of the movement. CPAV contends that “if there are components of marijuana (THC, for example) that render medical benefits for patients suffering from certain maladies, there are more efficacious, safer, and saner ways to deliver the THC rather than the smoking of marijuana cigarettes. Components of opium have proved to have medical benefit, but the FDA has not approved the smoking of opium or heroin. Instead, medical science extracted the beneficial components and developed medicines such as morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone. The same has been done and is continuing to be done with marijuana.”

Members of CPAV point out a number of other things. Smoking marijuana cigarettes, especially long-term use as is common to treat things such as chronic pain, poses serious respiratory and other health risks. Marijuana contains carcinogens and tar similar to tobacco cigarettes. Marijuana can be addictive and serve as a gateway drug. One need only look to states like California and Colorado to see how easily medical-marijuana laws lead to the virtual legalization of marijuana for recreational use and totally frustrate law enforcement relative to marijuana laws.

Okay, let’s take this apart piece by piece.

First, the gateway drug line is ridiculous, cliche, and totally debunked.- http://healthland.time.com/2010/10/29/ma...l-not-die/

The problem here is that correlation isn’t cause. Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang members are probably more 104 times more likely to have ridden a bicycle as a kid than those who don’t become Hell’s Angels, but that doesn’t mean that riding a two-wheeler is a “gateway” to joining a motorcycle gang. It simply means that most people ride bikes and the kind of people who don’t are highly unlikely to ever ride a motorcycle.

It’s an idea that’s been totally abandoned by scientists, as the above link from a Time health article demonstrates, while actually citing their sources. Gee, imagine that. Two whole generations have now grown up being told this scary gateway crap, and it hasn’t done one thing to curtail marijuana usage or drug addiction in this country. There is no less effective way of getting kids to not use drugs than lying to them, because once they found out you lied they’re not going to listen to you anymore. You’d think the folks who are rightly concerned about keeping kids from doing drugs would have learned that by now and tried actually being honest and not trying to scare them. Then again, perhaps I’m thinking too reasonably.

Next, the group falsely claims that marijuana’s health effects are being misrepresented and compares them to that of cigarettes. This is interesting because a 20 year study was released back in January of this year that found that marijuana does not have the same kind of health impacts as tobacco. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/10...97854.html So again, total misrepresentation on this coalitions part…Say, isn’t there something the Bible about how it’s wrong to lie or something like that? Or do these folks think that’s a commandment you can ignore?

Now as far as the total legalization of marijuana goes, no, this law doesn’t do that. Like everything else these groups contend, they don’t have a shred of evidence to support that statement. What this effort is about is making sure that people who are sick and are in pain can get something that gives them a little peace and lessens their suffering. It’s a moral statement that it isn’t right for the state to handcuff and charge people who are sick with cancer or other horrible illnesses as criminals. It won’t change federal policy, but it will send the signal that in Arkansas we have compassion for the sick. What Would Jesus Do? Probably use his healing powers to make the illness go away. But for those of us who can’t work miracles, this kind of compassion will have to suffice, and legalizing medical marijuana is the compassionate thing to do. These organizations know this, and so to accomplish their ideological goals they have to lie to provide a justification. Gee, for so called Christian organizations, that all seems rather un-Christian doesn’t it?]]> http://bluearkansasblog.com/?p=9170


May 16, 2012

You know, to listen to the Religious Right in this country, you would think that the gospels are talking about some other guy than the man that fed the poor, hung out with society’s outcasts, slammed the rich for their greed on a regular basis, and taught that someone who practiced a different religion (the story of the Good Samaritan) could be as good, if not a better person, than the people who practiced “the right religion.” This apparently now extends to the whole healing the sick and ministering to the afflicted stuff as well. I say this, because a group of religious right organizations has come out with a ridiculously false attack on the medical marijuana initiative that will, hopefully, be on the ballot in November.- http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/arc...boxes#more

Four Arkansas grass roots organizations have joined together in a Ballot Question Committee, the Coalition to Preserve Arkansas Values (“CPAV”), to oppose two proposed constitutional amendments to grant to out-of-state companies unregulated monopolies on casino gambling and to oppose a proposed initiated act to legalize so-called medical-marijuana. Those groups are the Arkansas Family Coalition, Families First Action Committee, Family Council Action Committee, and the Arkansas Committee for Ethics Policy, a companion organization to the Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council.

***

Arkansans will be equally unwilling to take the first step toward the full legalization of marijuana for recreational use, which is a major impetus for “medical-marijuana” laws, according to some of the national leaders of the movement. CPAV contends that “if there are components of marijuana (THC, for example) that render medical benefits for patients suffering from certain maladies, there are more efficacious, safer, and saner ways to deliver the THC rather than the smoking of marijuana cigarettes. Components of opium have proved to have medical benefit, but the FDA has not approved the smoking of opium or heroin. Instead, medical science extracted the beneficial components and developed medicines such as morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone. The same has been done and is continuing to be done with marijuana.”

Members of CPAV point out a number of other things. Smoking marijuana cigarettes, especially long-term use as is common to treat things such as chronic pain, poses serious respiratory and other health risks. Marijuana contains carcinogens and tar similar to tobacco cigarettes. Marijuana can be addictive and serve as a gateway drug. One need only look to states like California and Colorado to see how easily medical-marijuana laws lead to the virtual legalization of marijuana for recreational use and totally frustrate law enforcement relative to marijuana laws.

Okay, let’s take this apart piece by piece.

First, the gateway drug line is ridiculous, cliche, and totally debunked.- http://healthland.time.com/2010/10/29/ma...l-not-die/

The problem here is that correlation isn’t cause. Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang members are probably more 104 times more likely to have ridden a bicycle as a kid than those who don’t become Hell’s Angels, but that doesn’t mean that riding a two-wheeler is a “gateway” to joining a motorcycle gang. It simply means that most people ride bikes and the kind of people who don’t are highly unlikely to ever ride a motorcycle.

It’s an idea that’s been totally abandoned by scientists, as the above link from a Time health article demonstrates, while actually citing their sources. Gee, imagine that. Two whole generations have now grown up being told this scary gateway crap, and it hasn’t done one thing to curtail marijuana usage or drug addiction in this country. There is no less effective way of getting kids to not use drugs than lying to them, because once they found out you lied they’re not going to listen to you anymore. You’d think the folks who are rightly concerned about keeping kids from doing drugs would have learned that by now and tried actually being honest and not trying to scare them. Then again, perhaps I’m thinking too reasonably.

Next, the group falsely claims that marijuana’s health effects are being misrepresented and compares them to that of cigarettes. This is interesting because a 20 year study was released back in January of this year that found that marijuana does not have the same kind of health impacts as tobacco. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/10...97854.html So again, total misrepresentation on this coalitions part…Say, isn’t there something the Bible about how it’s wrong to lie or something like that? Or do these folks think that’s a commandment you can ignore?

Now as far as the total legalization of marijuana goes, no, this law doesn’t do that. Like everything else these groups contend, they don’t have a shred of evidence to support that statement. What this effort is about is making sure that people who are sick and are in pain can get something that gives them a little peace and lessens their suffering. It’s a moral statement that it isn’t right for the state to handcuff and charge people who are sick with cancer or other horrible illnesses as criminals. It won’t change federal policy, but it will send the signal that in Arkansas we have compassion for the sick. What Would Jesus Do? Probably use his healing powers to make the illness go away. But for those of us who can’t work miracles, this kind of compassion will have to suffice, and legalizing medical marijuana is the compassionate thing to do. These organizations know this, and so to accomplish their ideological goals they have to lie to provide a justification. Gee, for so called Christian organizations, that all seems rather un-Christian doesn’t it?]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8172 Fri, 18 May 2012 19:09:04 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8172 http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-new...pocketbook

By Milan Simonich
05/16/2012

SANTA FE - Public officials in New Mexico who commit a felony will now have more to lose.

Those convicted in public corruption cases could be required to repay their salaries and forfeit their accumulated state pension benefits. A new state law, which took effect Wednesday, gives judges the authority to increase the basic sentence by adding those penalties.

Legislators approved the bill without any dissenting votes and Gov. Susana Martinez signed it in February.

The corruption crackdown is one of 19 state laws that went into effect Wednesday.

Another of the new laws creates a fund to cover the costs of New Mexico's medical marijuana program.

Companies licensed to provide cannabis for medical treatment pay the state fees of $10,000 to $30,000 a year. Rather than that money going into the state's general account, it will be maintained by the Department of Health to pay for administration of the medical marijuana program.

"It means the few New Mexico taxpayers who objected to their money going toward the medical marijuana program no longer have to worry," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque.

New Mexico has about 4,300 patients registered to use medical marijuana.]]> http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-new...pocketbook

By Milan Simonich
05/16/2012

SANTA FE - Public officials in New Mexico who commit a felony will now have more to lose.

Those convicted in public corruption cases could be required to repay their salaries and forfeit their accumulated state pension benefits. A new state law, which took effect Wednesday, gives judges the authority to increase the basic sentence by adding those penalties.

Legislators approved the bill without any dissenting votes and Gov. Susana Martinez signed it in February.

The corruption crackdown is one of 19 state laws that went into effect Wednesday.

Another of the new laws creates a fund to cover the costs of New Mexico's medical marijuana program.

Companies licensed to provide cannabis for medical treatment pay the state fees of $10,000 to $30,000 a year. Rather than that money going into the state's general account, it will be maintained by the Department of Health to pay for administration of the medical marijuana program.

"It means the few New Mexico taxpayers who objected to their money going toward the medical marijuana program no longer have to worry," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque.

New Mexico has about 4,300 patients registered to use medical marijuana.]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8171 Fri, 18 May 2012 18:33:42 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8171 http://www.katu.com/news/local/Tip-from-...25945.html

By Valerie Hurst
May 17, 2012

Watch Video-

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Clark County Sheriff’s Deputies and drug task force members investigating a home invasion robbery at a Vancouver home said they found a massive marijuana growing operation and a tidy hemp-centered retail operation in the garage.

The Clark County Sheriff's Office and the Clark-Vancouver Regional Drug Task Force said they executed a search warrant at 10509 N.E. 124th Ave in Clark County just before 10 p.m. Wednesday. The home is in a semi-rural area near the northern border of Vancouver.

Investigators said the home, situated on a large plot of land across from a residential development, held about 600 pot plants and grow equipment, all with a market value of about $900,000. Deputies pulled extensive growing equipment and "inventory" from the house.

Sgt. Fred Neiman with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office said the home came to the attention of investigators Wednesday following a home-invasion incident that was not reported by the residents, perhaps for obvious reasons.

The incident took place at the residence in the afternoon and two people needing medical care went to the hospital for help. The hospital then contacted law enforcement, Neiman said.

KATU News talked to one man who said he was a victim of the home invasion robbery and worked at the store in the home, which he said sold lotions. He said two men in helmets and black gloves threatened them Wednesday with a gun and asked "where's the product?"

He initially said he did not know anything about hundreds of plants in the home but later said there were "some plants" in the house.

The small store set up in the garage was complete with stocked shelves and a glass display case. Lotions, lip balms, teas and oils made with "hemp” were among the goods on display, but investigators said they were selling pot as well.

Neighbor Amanda Quick said she saw unusual activity at the home.

"Late at night, I'd hear car doors slamming and then maybe somebody leaving," she said.

In a press release, deputies initially described the home as a “medical marijuana dispensary” but those are currently against the law in Washington. Medical marijuana growers are allowed to have a "community garden" of up to 45 plants but the operation in the home was far beyond that number.

Medical pot providers in Washington are not allowed to sell their marijuana. In the U.S., 16 states, including Oregon, and the District of Columbia have medical marijuana programs.

So far, no arrests have been announced and no descriptions for the robbery suspects have been released.]]> http://www.katu.com/news/local/Tip-from-...25945.html

By Valerie Hurst
May 17, 2012

Watch Video-

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Clark County Sheriff’s Deputies and drug task force members investigating a home invasion robbery at a Vancouver home said they found a massive marijuana growing operation and a tidy hemp-centered retail operation in the garage.

The Clark County Sheriff's Office and the Clark-Vancouver Regional Drug Task Force said they executed a search warrant at 10509 N.E. 124th Ave in Clark County just before 10 p.m. Wednesday. The home is in a semi-rural area near the northern border of Vancouver.

Investigators said the home, situated on a large plot of land across from a residential development, held about 600 pot plants and grow equipment, all with a market value of about $900,000. Deputies pulled extensive growing equipment and "inventory" from the house.

Sgt. Fred Neiman with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office said the home came to the attention of investigators Wednesday following a home-invasion incident that was not reported by the residents, perhaps for obvious reasons.

The incident took place at the residence in the afternoon and two people needing medical care went to the hospital for help. The hospital then contacted law enforcement, Neiman said.

KATU News talked to one man who said he was a victim of the home invasion robbery and worked at the store in the home, which he said sold lotions. He said two men in helmets and black gloves threatened them Wednesday with a gun and asked "where's the product?"

He initially said he did not know anything about hundreds of plants in the home but later said there were "some plants" in the house.

The small store set up in the garage was complete with stocked shelves and a glass display case. Lotions, lip balms, teas and oils made with "hemp” were among the goods on display, but investigators said they were selling pot as well.

Neighbor Amanda Quick said she saw unusual activity at the home.

"Late at night, I'd hear car doors slamming and then maybe somebody leaving," she said.

In a press release, deputies initially described the home as a “medical marijuana dispensary” but those are currently against the law in Washington. Medical marijuana growers are allowed to have a "community garden" of up to 45 plants but the operation in the home was far beyond that number.

Medical pot providers in Washington are not allowed to sell their marijuana. In the U.S., 16 states, including Oregon, and the District of Columbia have medical marijuana programs.

So far, no arrests have been announced and no descriptions for the robbery suspects have been released.]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8170 Fri, 18 May 2012 18:25:11 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8170 http://www.safeaccesssd.org/2012/05/more...cated.html

By: Eugene Davidovich,
San Diego Americans for Safe Access
Thursday, May 17, 2012

San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis presses on with trial of medical marijuana patient in full compliance with state law even after feds refuse to prosecute and court records show DEA’s involvement in theft of attorney-client records. Press conference scheduled for Friday morning.

SAN DIEGO – Twelve jurors and two alternates were selected on Wednesday in Department 27 of San Diego Superior Court, officially starting the criminal trial of District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis v. Dexter Padilla a navy veteran, medical marijuana patient and president of Therapeutic Healing, a San Diego based non profit medical marijuana coop.

According to court records, it all started on June 17, 2010 when DEA agent Beau Bilek led a raid on the offices of the Redwood Law Group after his requests for a search warrant were denied by the Mendocino County Superior Court. Attorney and President of the firm raided that day was Mark Wuerfel, the business attorney representing Therapeutic Healing of which Padilla is President.

The trial brief submitted by defense attorney Michael J. McCabe this week states that on June 17, 2010 Agent Bilek “looted privileged attorney-client files”, as well as data from the law firm’s computers including information about the different medical marijuana patients and coops the firm represented.

After the raid, the Mendocino County Court actually intervened and ordered the DEA to return the stolen property as well as instructed the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office to help retrieve the records from the DEA. Still, the agency refused and only returned two of the original four stolen boxes.

Privileged information obtained from the unlawful raid on the attorney’s office, including the fact that Mr. Wuerfel represented a collective named Therapeutic Healing in San Diego, was distributed to various DEA offices throughout the state. In San Diego, cross sworn DEA Agent Paxton picked up the case and began shopping it around for prosecution.

On January 27, 2011, six months after Bilek stole the records, Padilla was arrested by Paxton.

The investigation leading up to Padilla’s arrest yielded zero evidence of criminal activity and proved quite the opposite. It showed Therapeutic Healing was operating in strict and unambiguous compliance with all state laws.

Padilla hired Mr. Wuerful as the coop’s general counsel, paid all the required taxes, and hired a tax attorney and CPA to ensure the coop’s financial records were all properly kept and in compliance with the law.

After Paxton failed to convince the US Attorney’s office to prosecute Padilla in federal court he appealed to Dumanis’ office which has a long standing record of chipping away at the State’s medical marijuana program through prosecutions of legitimate patients. Dumanis’ office happily picked up the case.

When Padilla was originally notified of the charges against him, his attorney’s immediately scheduled a time and sat down with the DA and opened up all the coop’s records for examination. They showed all the taxes paid, the board meeting notes, sales receipts, business records, etc.

According to the defense, every single request made by the prosecution for information, documents and evidence about Therapeutic Healing and Padilla was voluntarily provided by the defense.

The law requires that prosecutors prior to filing charges evaluate whether a defendant should be charged with the crimes at all. In the case of Padilla, the DA refused to consider all the evidence of compliance and along with the DEA failed to provide any explanation for the continuing prosecution of Padilla, even after overwhelming evidence was provided by the defense establishing immunity from prosecution.

The DEA’s behavior in this case as well as the refusal of the San Diego DA’s office to review all the evidence proves that this prosecution is nothing more than a thinly veiled agenda of the DEA to promote its federal goals of undermining the State law and sanctioned medical marijuana programs.

As a result of this bias driven effort to eradicate medical marijuana from California and continued effort to chip away at patient’s rights, it is now necessary for the court and a jury to do what should have been done previously by the prosecution in finding that Padilla is not guilty of committing the alleged criminal acts being asserted by them.

The trial is being held in Department 27 of San Diego Superior Court.

The attorneys have called a press conference for Friday, May 18, 2012 at 8:15am in front of the Hall of Justice – 330 W Broadway, San Diego CA]]> http://www.safeaccesssd.org/2012/05/more...cated.html

By: Eugene Davidovich,
San Diego Americans for Safe Access
Thursday, May 17, 2012

San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis presses on with trial of medical marijuana patient in full compliance with state law even after feds refuse to prosecute and court records show DEA’s involvement in theft of attorney-client records. Press conference scheduled for Friday morning.

SAN DIEGO – Twelve jurors and two alternates were selected on Wednesday in Department 27 of San Diego Superior Court, officially starting the criminal trial of District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis v. Dexter Padilla a navy veteran, medical marijuana patient and president of Therapeutic Healing, a San Diego based non profit medical marijuana coop.

According to court records, it all started on June 17, 2010 when DEA agent Beau Bilek led a raid on the offices of the Redwood Law Group after his requests for a search warrant were denied by the Mendocino County Superior Court. Attorney and President of the firm raided that day was Mark Wuerfel, the business attorney representing Therapeutic Healing of which Padilla is President.

The trial brief submitted by defense attorney Michael J. McCabe this week states that on June 17, 2010 Agent Bilek “looted privileged attorney-client files”, as well as data from the law firm’s computers including information about the different medical marijuana patients and coops the firm represented.

After the raid, the Mendocino County Court actually intervened and ordered the DEA to return the stolen property as well as instructed the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office to help retrieve the records from the DEA. Still, the agency refused and only returned two of the original four stolen boxes.

Privileged information obtained from the unlawful raid on the attorney’s office, including the fact that Mr. Wuerfel represented a collective named Therapeutic Healing in San Diego, was distributed to various DEA offices throughout the state. In San Diego, cross sworn DEA Agent Paxton picked up the case and began shopping it around for prosecution.

On January 27, 2011, six months after Bilek stole the records, Padilla was arrested by Paxton.

The investigation leading up to Padilla’s arrest yielded zero evidence of criminal activity and proved quite the opposite. It showed Therapeutic Healing was operating in strict and unambiguous compliance with all state laws.

Padilla hired Mr. Wuerful as the coop’s general counsel, paid all the required taxes, and hired a tax attorney and CPA to ensure the coop’s financial records were all properly kept and in compliance with the law.

After Paxton failed to convince the US Attorney’s office to prosecute Padilla in federal court he appealed to Dumanis’ office which has a long standing record of chipping away at the State’s medical marijuana program through prosecutions of legitimate patients. Dumanis’ office happily picked up the case.

When Padilla was originally notified of the charges against him, his attorney’s immediately scheduled a time and sat down with the DA and opened up all the coop’s records for examination. They showed all the taxes paid, the board meeting notes, sales receipts, business records, etc.

According to the defense, every single request made by the prosecution for information, documents and evidence about Therapeutic Healing and Padilla was voluntarily provided by the defense.

The law requires that prosecutors prior to filing charges evaluate whether a defendant should be charged with the crimes at all. In the case of Padilla, the DA refused to consider all the evidence of compliance and along with the DEA failed to provide any explanation for the continuing prosecution of Padilla, even after overwhelming evidence was provided by the defense establishing immunity from prosecution.

The DEA’s behavior in this case as well as the refusal of the San Diego DA’s office to review all the evidence proves that this prosecution is nothing more than a thinly veiled agenda of the DEA to promote its federal goals of undermining the State law and sanctioned medical marijuana programs.

As a result of this bias driven effort to eradicate medical marijuana from California and continued effort to chip away at patient’s rights, it is now necessary for the court and a jury to do what should have been done previously by the prosecution in finding that Padilla is not guilty of committing the alleged criminal acts being asserted by them.

The trial is being held in Department 27 of San Diego Superior Court.

The attorneys have called a press conference for Friday, May 18, 2012 at 8:15am in front of the Hall of Justice – 330 W Broadway, San Diego CA]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8169 Fri, 18 May 2012 17:45:38 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8169 http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/99...r-Charged/

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
May 18, 2012

OAKLAND, Calif. — The man behind a national chain of stores that provide supplies to medical marijuana growers is facing charges that he stole thousands of dollars from Oakland grant programs.

Alameda County prosecutors charged 27-year-old Dhar Mann on Thursday with four counts of grand theft, two counts of attempted grand theft and six counts of forgery.

His attorney, John Runfola, says the charges are overblown.

He is accused of defrauding city redevelopment programs that covered some of the cost of renovating certain commercial buildings.

Investigators say Mann submitted fraudulent paperwork that inflated the amount of money he paid contractors for the renovations, earning him higher grant awards from the city. Mann is accused of actually paying the contractors much less.

His attorney, John Runfola, says the charges are overblown.

Mann is the founder of weGrow, a chain of hydroponic supplies stores catering to medical marijuana growers.]]> http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/99...r-Charged/

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
May 18, 2012

OAKLAND, Calif. — The man behind a national chain of stores that provide supplies to medical marijuana growers is facing charges that he stole thousands of dollars from Oakland grant programs.

Alameda County prosecutors charged 27-year-old Dhar Mann on Thursday with four counts of grand theft, two counts of attempted grand theft and six counts of forgery.

His attorney, John Runfola, says the charges are overblown.

He is accused of defrauding city redevelopment programs that covered some of the cost of renovating certain commercial buildings.

Investigators say Mann submitted fraudulent paperwork that inflated the amount of money he paid contractors for the renovations, earning him higher grant awards from the city. Mann is accused of actually paying the contractors much less.

His attorney, John Runfola, says the charges are overblown.

Mann is the founder of weGrow, a chain of hydroponic supplies stores catering to medical marijuana growers.]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8168 Fri, 18 May 2012 17:39:59 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8168 http://content.usatoday.com/communities/...7aIY-ISyws

By Melanie Eversley
May 18, 2012

A New York State Supreme Court judge out of Brooklyn is generating buzz because of his public appeal to legalize medical marijuana, as outlined in an opinion piece that he wrote for The New York Times.

The plea from Judge Gustin Reichbach to the New York State Legislature, which is debating a medical marijuana bill, has prompted follow-up pieces in the New York Daily News, The American Bar Association Journal and Reuters, among other news organizations.

Support among New York State officials is mixed, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has said the problems with medical marijuana outweigh the benefits, according to MetroFocus, a site produced by New York City-area public television stations.

Reichbach writes that three and one half years ago, on his 62nd birthday, doctors told him he had Stage 3 pancreatic cancer and that he had four to six months to live. His grueling treatment has included "chemotherapy, radiation hell and brutal surgery," he writes. The cancer disappeared but returned, prompting doctors to prescribe a more aggressive course of chemotherapy.

Reichbach writes about the constant nausea and pain, about forcing down food, and about the side effects of the many drugs to treat the disease and ease the symptoms of chemotherapy, including loss of appetite, constipation, insomnia and raised glucose levels.

"Inhaled marijuana is the only medicine that gives me some relief from nausea, stimulates my appetite, and makes it easier to fall asleep," Reichbach writes. "Rather than watch the agony of my suffering, friends have chosen, at some personal risk, to provide the substance. I find a few puffs of marijuana before dinner gives me ammunition in the battle to eat. A few more puffs at bedtime permits desperately needed sleep."

Reichbach notes 16 states have legalized medical marijuana and that Connecticut and New York are weighing bills.

"I implore the governor and the Legislature of New York ... to join the forward and humane thinking of 16 other states and pass the medical marijuana bill this year," Reichbach writes. "Medical science has not yet found a cure, but it is barbaric to deny us (cancer patients) access to one substance that has proven to ameliorate our suffering."]]> http://content.usatoday.com/communities/...7aIY-ISyws

By Melanie Eversley
May 18, 2012

A New York State Supreme Court judge out of Brooklyn is generating buzz because of his public appeal to legalize medical marijuana, as outlined in an opinion piece that he wrote for The New York Times.

The plea from Judge Gustin Reichbach to the New York State Legislature, which is debating a medical marijuana bill, has prompted follow-up pieces in the New York Daily News, The American Bar Association Journal and Reuters, among other news organizations.

Support among New York State officials is mixed, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has said the problems with medical marijuana outweigh the benefits, according to MetroFocus, a site produced by New York City-area public television stations.

Reichbach writes that three and one half years ago, on his 62nd birthday, doctors told him he had Stage 3 pancreatic cancer and that he had four to six months to live. His grueling treatment has included "chemotherapy, radiation hell and brutal surgery," he writes. The cancer disappeared but returned, prompting doctors to prescribe a more aggressive course of chemotherapy.

Reichbach writes about the constant nausea and pain, about forcing down food, and about the side effects of the many drugs to treat the disease and ease the symptoms of chemotherapy, including loss of appetite, constipation, insomnia and raised glucose levels.

"Inhaled marijuana is the only medicine that gives me some relief from nausea, stimulates my appetite, and makes it easier to fall asleep," Reichbach writes. "Rather than watch the agony of my suffering, friends have chosen, at some personal risk, to provide the substance. I find a few puffs of marijuana before dinner gives me ammunition in the battle to eat. A few more puffs at bedtime permits desperately needed sleep."

Reichbach notes 16 states have legalized medical marijuana and that Connecticut and New York are weighing bills.

"I implore the governor and the Legislature of New York ... to join the forward and humane thinking of 16 other states and pass the medical marijuana bill this year," Reichbach writes. "Medical science has not yet found a cure, but it is barbaric to deny us (cancer patients) access to one substance that has proven to ameliorate our suffering."]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8161 Wed, 16 May 2012 21:09:33 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8161


Initial impressions when looking at the box is that I just picked up a new smart phone.



Everything tucked away neatly in a two level case. I was concerned about not picking up extra carts but I took a chance that the included 5 Ohm carts would work out.



Picture of content of box laid out. Everything needed was included and the guide to what batteries to use with what cartridges was a cool surprise. I saw the the 5 Ohm cart was right in the sweet spot.



Loaded up my 5 Ohm carts while I was waiting for the batteries to charge. 1g of Super Lemon Haze in one and .7g of a local variety called, "Taffy". No issues filling it with a MAP torch and the supplied funnel. Holding it in my hand went a long ways in making sure I didn't overheat the cart.

Waiting......waiting....red light is taunting me....can't take it.

Broke out the single head with a 2.4 Ohm cart and some Wi-Fi OG (procured from a local Farmer's Market) and tried out the system....button works great even with my gigantic paws. Same results that I get from the Omicron. Hits were good sized and I think I'm getting to the end of my first cart with that one.

THE LIGHT IS GREEN!

Furiously adjusting the battery heights and threading carts to see how much of a difference it would make....

....Five Clouds of Vapor Later....

Wow....

....30 minutes later...

Impressed by the sheer volume of vapor this unit produces with the 5 Ohm cart. Smooth hits with a slow draw and I ended up overshooting my desired medication level by a mile. It is a steep learning curve but worth the effort.

Thumbs up for a great product!

-Zing]]>


Initial impressions when looking at the box is that I just picked up a new smart phone.



Everything tucked away neatly in a two level case. I was concerned about not picking up extra carts but I took a chance that the included 5 Ohm carts would work out.



Picture of content of box laid out. Everything needed was included and the guide to what batteries to use with what cartridges was a cool surprise. I saw the the 5 Ohm cart was right in the sweet spot.



Loaded up my 5 Ohm carts while I was waiting for the batteries to charge. 1g of Super Lemon Haze in one and .7g of a local variety called, "Taffy". No issues filling it with a MAP torch and the supplied funnel. Holding it in my hand went a long ways in making sure I didn't overheat the cart.

Waiting......waiting....red light is taunting me....can't take it.

Broke out the single head with a 2.4 Ohm cart and some Wi-Fi OG (procured from a local Farmer's Market) and tried out the system....button works great even with my gigantic paws. Same results that I get from the Omicron. Hits were good sized and I think I'm getting to the end of my first cart with that one.

THE LIGHT IS GREEN!

Furiously adjusting the battery heights and threading carts to see how much of a difference it would make....

....Five Clouds of Vapor Later....

Wow....

....30 minutes later...

Impressed by the sheer volume of vapor this unit produces with the 5 Ohm cart. Smooth hits with a slow draw and I ended up overshooting my desired medication level by a mile. It is a steep learning curve but worth the effort.

Thumbs up for a great product!

-Zing]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8160 Wed, 16 May 2012 20:41:47 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8160 http://www.maplevalleyreporter.com/news/151734925.html

By TJ MARTINELL
Covington Reporter Reporter
May 16, 2012 · Updated 10:00 AM


While the dispute over the exact business nature of Green Society Group continues, the city of Maple Valley is considering whether to prohibit collective gardens.

At the City Council’s May 7 meeting several city officials addressed the council advising it to prohibit collective gardens in order to protect Maple Valley legally before the year-long moratorium expires.

Community Development Director Ty Peterson recommended that the sooner such an ordinance is passed the better.

“It was meant to function as a system that would be regulated through the Department of Agriculture,” he said. “All of that got vetoed. So nothing has changed. That’s the difficult part here.”

Peterson also said the dilemma isn’t over the morality of medical marijuana, but, the state’s contradiction with federal law.

“This is a land use discussion,” he said. “It’s not a medical discussion. It’s just this new category called collective gardens that we unfortunately don’t think there’s a particularly beneficial and useful way to regulate, because it conflicts with federal law. I don’t personally want to be put in the position of potentially issuing approvals or permits that are unlawful under federal law. That’s the difficulty we’re at.”

In the May 7 meeting agenda packet, Peterson and Johnston wrote “Although several other states have adopted so-called ‘medical marijuana’ laws, attorneys representing the U.S. Department of Justice have made it very clear that the federal government considers marijuana to be an illegal drug, and that federal prosecution for violating the federal Controlled Substances Act is a possibility.”

The push for a ban has been hastened by the opening of Green Society Group in April 20 at Frontier Square. Although its owner, Chris Schoonover, has stated that his business is a management company, and not a collective garden, the possibility of more like-minded businesses popping up has left city official, such as City Manager David Johnston, unsettled.

“We find ourself in a fairly ambiguous situation,” Johnston said. “Risk insurer expects us to follow all laws. If it’s illegal, we find it hard to believe we could allow it. There’s an expectation of our risk carrier, that we follow federal law. It’s still a real issue here.”

Christy Todd, the city’s attorney, explained during the May 7 meeting that only collective gardens are allowed under state law, as the dispensaries were line item vetoed by Gov. Chris Gregoire.

According to the state law, cities are allowed to zone for collective gardens, but are not legally required to do so.

In a telephone interview Johnston stated further that the city really does not have a choice but to comply with federal law or risk potential liabilities.

“My main concern is we’re operating legally at all levels of government, federal, state and local,” he said. “As long as there is this concept called preemption…I can’t put my staff and the city in legal jeopardy for violating federal law. We’re not focusing in the compassion or validity of medical marijuana. It’s the same rationale that Gov. Gregoire used in her line item veto. We have the same concerns.”

Federal preemption refers to the Supremacy Clause in the Constitution, which invalidates any state law which contradicts a federal law.

“We’re all in a state of confusion, but we know we have to do something,” said Johnston in a prior interview. “I think we hope that the ambiguity between state and federal law will be satisfied soon. We need that help. Because this is where the activities are happening. It’s on our main street. We’d like to have concrete legal direction where there is little if any ambiguity.”

According to the meeting agenda packet, the city ban would not affect an individual’s ability to cultivate cannabis for individual medical use, nor would it regulate through its zoning code individual cultivation of medical marijuana.

The move to prohibit collective gardens received vocal support from most of the council.

“I’m in support of a ban,” Mayor Bill Allison said. “If that (collective gardens) is permitted, we can come back to that and we do this again.”

Council member Erin Weaver agreed, stating that until the conflict between the state and federal law is resolved the city should protect itself.

“We’re putting not only the city at risk, we’re putting our own citizens at risk if we’re going to push it off and wait any longer,” she said. “I don’t think this is going to get resolved in Maple Valley. It’s going to get resolved at a federal level.”

Deputy Mayor Victoria Laise-Jonas stated that “from risk management perspective it (allowing collective gardens) puts us and city employees at risk.”

Council members Layne Barnes and Linda Johnson stated they wished to extend the moratorium temporarily in order for the city staff to have more time to write the code.

“It shouldn’t take that much time,” Johnson said. “I want the planning commission focused.”

Johnston, however, advised against it.

“Unfortunately the reality is if you continue to delay this action there may be opportunity for other like businesses to set up shop in our city and again we’ll have to use whatever mechanisms we have in our arsenal that have to be addressed before we get to the question ‘Does this business violate our moratorium?’ I’m just letting you know one of the reasons we are advocating that you seriously consider a ban is we’re having an interesting process with the first one (Green Society Group). It’s not going to go away if others want to come in.”

Ultimately, the council voted to allow city staff to write the code.

According to the May 7 meeting packet, “No Washington case (court) has ruled yet on whether law preempts Washington’s Medical Cannabis law.”




Contact Covington Reporter Reporter TJ Martinell at tmartinell@maplevalleyreporter.com.]]> http://www.maplevalleyreporter.com/news/151734925.html

By TJ MARTINELL
Covington Reporter Reporter
May 16, 2012 · Updated 10:00 AM


While the dispute over the exact business nature of Green Society Group continues, the city of Maple Valley is considering whether to prohibit collective gardens.

At the City Council’s May 7 meeting several city officials addressed the council advising it to prohibit collective gardens in order to protect Maple Valley legally before the year-long moratorium expires.

Community Development Director Ty Peterson recommended that the sooner such an ordinance is passed the better.

“It was meant to function as a system that would be regulated through the Department of Agriculture,” he said. “All of that got vetoed. So nothing has changed. That’s the difficult part here.”

Peterson also said the dilemma isn’t over the morality of medical marijuana, but, the state’s contradiction with federal law.

“This is a land use discussion,” he said. “It’s not a medical discussion. It’s just this new category called collective gardens that we unfortunately don’t think there’s a particularly beneficial and useful way to regulate, because it conflicts with federal law. I don’t personally want to be put in the position of potentially issuing approvals or permits that are unlawful under federal law. That’s the difficulty we’re at.”

In the May 7 meeting agenda packet, Peterson and Johnston wrote “Although several other states have adopted so-called ‘medical marijuana’ laws, attorneys representing the U.S. Department of Justice have made it very clear that the federal government considers marijuana to be an illegal drug, and that federal prosecution for violating the federal Controlled Substances Act is a possibility.”

The push for a ban has been hastened by the opening of Green Society Group in April 20 at Frontier Square. Although its owner, Chris Schoonover, has stated that his business is a management company, and not a collective garden, the possibility of more like-minded businesses popping up has left city official, such as City Manager David Johnston, unsettled.

“We find ourself in a fairly ambiguous situation,” Johnston said. “Risk insurer expects us to follow all laws. If it’s illegal, we find it hard to believe we could allow it. There’s an expectation of our risk carrier, that we follow federal law. It’s still a real issue here.”

Christy Todd, the city’s attorney, explained during the May 7 meeting that only collective gardens are allowed under state law, as the dispensaries were line item vetoed by Gov. Chris Gregoire.

According to the state law, cities are allowed to zone for collective gardens, but are not legally required to do so.

In a telephone interview Johnston stated further that the city really does not have a choice but to comply with federal law or risk potential liabilities.

“My main concern is we’re operating legally at all levels of government, federal, state and local,” he said. “As long as there is this concept called preemption…I can’t put my staff and the city in legal jeopardy for violating federal law. We’re not focusing in the compassion or validity of medical marijuana. It’s the same rationale that Gov. Gregoire used in her line item veto. We have the same concerns.”

Federal preemption refers to the Supremacy Clause in the Constitution, which invalidates any state law which contradicts a federal law.

“We’re all in a state of confusion, but we know we have to do something,” said Johnston in a prior interview. “I think we hope that the ambiguity between state and federal law will be satisfied soon. We need that help. Because this is where the activities are happening. It’s on our main street. We’d like to have concrete legal direction where there is little if any ambiguity.”

According to the meeting agenda packet, the city ban would not affect an individual’s ability to cultivate cannabis for individual medical use, nor would it regulate through its zoning code individual cultivation of medical marijuana.

The move to prohibit collective gardens received vocal support from most of the council.

“I’m in support of a ban,” Mayor Bill Allison said. “If that (collective gardens) is permitted, we can come back to that and we do this again.”

Council member Erin Weaver agreed, stating that until the conflict between the state and federal law is resolved the city should protect itself.

“We’re putting not only the city at risk, we’re putting our own citizens at risk if we’re going to push it off and wait any longer,” she said. “I don’t think this is going to get resolved in Maple Valley. It’s going to get resolved at a federal level.”

Deputy Mayor Victoria Laise-Jonas stated that “from risk management perspective it (allowing collective gardens) puts us and city employees at risk.”

Council members Layne Barnes and Linda Johnson stated they wished to extend the moratorium temporarily in order for the city staff to have more time to write the code.

“It shouldn’t take that much time,” Johnson said. “I want the planning commission focused.”

Johnston, however, advised against it.

“Unfortunately the reality is if you continue to delay this action there may be opportunity for other like businesses to set up shop in our city and again we’ll have to use whatever mechanisms we have in our arsenal that have to be addressed before we get to the question ‘Does this business violate our moratorium?’ I’m just letting you know one of the reasons we are advocating that you seriously consider a ban is we’re having an interesting process with the first one (Green Society Group). It’s not going to go away if others want to come in.”

Ultimately, the council voted to allow city staff to write the code.

According to the May 7 meeting packet, “No Washington case (court) has ruled yet on whether law preempts Washington’s Medical Cannabis law.”




Contact Covington Reporter Reporter TJ Martinell at tmartinell@maplevalleyreporter.com.]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8159 Wed, 16 May 2012 20:33:38 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8159 http://seattle.cbslocal.com/2012/05/15/r...n-walmart/

CLARKSTON, Wash. (CBS Seattle) — A rattlesnake bit a medical marijuana grower while he was in the garden section of Walmart.

Mica Craig was bitten by the rattler Friday at a Clarkston Walmart while he was looking through the store’s mulch, multiple outlets reported.

“I reached down to grab the stick to move it out of the way, and the snake stretched out, turned around and got its fangs in my right hand,” Craig told Reuters. “I slung it off and I did a tap dance on it until it was dead.”

He was initially released by St. Joseph’s Hospital but returned after his hand swelled up.

“They got all the poison out of me but they don’t know how bad the muscle damage will be,” Craig told the Lewiston Tribune. The paper reports that Craig was treated with six bags of anti-venom.

The Walmart store has apologized for the incident.

“At this point, it appears to be an isolated incident,” Walmart spokeswoman Kayla Whaling told Reuters. “We are working with a pest management team, which is conducting a sweep of the property to ensure there is no additional rattlesnake activity.”

Craig has a license to grow the medical marijuana.]]> http://seattle.cbslocal.com/2012/05/15/r...n-walmart/

CLARKSTON, Wash. (CBS Seattle) — A rattlesnake bit a medical marijuana grower while he was in the garden section of Walmart.

Mica Craig was bitten by the rattler Friday at a Clarkston Walmart while he was looking through the store’s mulch, multiple outlets reported.

“I reached down to grab the stick to move it out of the way, and the snake stretched out, turned around and got its fangs in my right hand,” Craig told Reuters. “I slung it off and I did a tap dance on it until it was dead.”

He was initially released by St. Joseph’s Hospital but returned after his hand swelled up.

“They got all the poison out of me but they don’t know how bad the muscle damage will be,” Craig told the Lewiston Tribune. The paper reports that Craig was treated with six bags of anti-venom.

The Walmart store has apologized for the incident.

“At this point, it appears to be an isolated incident,” Walmart spokeswoman Kayla Whaling told Reuters. “We are working with a pest management team, which is conducting a sweep of the property to ensure there is no additional rattlesnake activity.”

Craig has a license to grow the medical marijuana.]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8153 Wed, 16 May 2012 08:33:14 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8153 http://news.yahoo.com/supporter-oregon-m...14493.html

PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - In a primary election race for Oregon's top law enforcement post, the candidate who pledged to protect medical marijuana patients scored a decisive victory Tuesday night over a rival who led a cannabis crackdown last year.

Retired judge Ellen Rosenblum, strongly backed by proponents of liberalized marijuana laws, captured 63 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary for state attorney general, trailed by former U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton with 36 percent, according to early returns.

Because no Republicans sought their party's nomination for attorney general, the Democratic primary victor, Rosenblum, becomes the presumptive winner in November's general election, making her the first woman to claim that office.

With Rosenblum and Holton taking similar stances on issues such as consumer protection, civil rights and the environment, their diametrically opposed views on medical marijuana emerged as a key point of contention in the race, so much so that the campaign was seen largely as a referendum on drug policy generally.

"As attorney general, I will make marijuana enforcement a low priority, and protect the rights of medical marijuana patients," Rosenblum said on her website before the election.

By contrast, Holton called Oregon's medical marijuana law, which has left distribution and cultivation of pot largely unregulated, a "trainwreck" that was putting pot "in the hands of kids" and others who are using it for purposes other than pain management.

In a brief victory statement issued shortly after election officials began to tally the ballots, Rosenblum said she was "honored to have been selected by the voters of Oregon as their choice for the Democratic nominee (for) Attorney General of Oregon."

She made no mention of marijuana or any other specific issues. Nor did Holton, who in his concession statement thanked, among others, the coalition of organized labor groups that backed his candidacy.

But medical marijuana advocates seized on Rosenblum's win as a sign that voters were at odds with the federal government's recent crackdown on storefront cannabis shops in states that have legalized personal use, possession and cultivation of pot for healthcare reasons.

As Oregon's chief federal prosecutor last year, Holton was in the vanguard of that crackdown, sending letters to owners, operators and landlords of storefront pot outlets warning they faced prosecution and civil enforcement actions for involvement in the sale of cannabis.

While medical marijuana is legal in Oregon, the sale for profit of cannabis to any of the state's 55,000 registered cannabis patients is considered illegal, although growers can be reimbursed for supplies and utilities.

Even so, some medical marijuana "cafes" have sprung up in the state, drawing the ire of groups opposed to drug use.

The primary contest unfolded as two groups in Oregon are racing to collect enough signatures for two separate ballot initiatives seeking to legalize marijuana for recreational use in the state.

If their efforts are successful, Oregon voters will join those in Colorado and Washington state who will decide on the matter in November. A total of 16 states, plus the District of Columbia, allow medical marijuana, though cannabis remains classified as an illegal narcotic under federal law.

Some experts predicted a Rosenblum triumph could resonate well outside of Oregon's largely Democratic-registered electorate.

"A victory for Rosenblum could have symbolic power which would reach beyond the state into the national debate," said University of Oregon political science professor Joe Lowndes.]]> http://news.yahoo.com/supporter-oregon-m...14493.html

PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - In a primary election race for Oregon's top law enforcement post, the candidate who pledged to protect medical marijuana patients scored a decisive victory Tuesday night over a rival who led a cannabis crackdown last year.

Retired judge Ellen Rosenblum, strongly backed by proponents of liberalized marijuana laws, captured 63 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary for state attorney general, trailed by former U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton with 36 percent, according to early returns.

Because no Republicans sought their party's nomination for attorney general, the Democratic primary victor, Rosenblum, becomes the presumptive winner in November's general election, making her the first woman to claim that office.

With Rosenblum and Holton taking similar stances on issues such as consumer protection, civil rights and the environment, their diametrically opposed views on medical marijuana emerged as a key point of contention in the race, so much so that the campaign was seen largely as a referendum on drug policy generally.

"As attorney general, I will make marijuana enforcement a low priority, and protect the rights of medical marijuana patients," Rosenblum said on her website before the election.

By contrast, Holton called Oregon's medical marijuana law, which has left distribution and cultivation of pot largely unregulated, a "trainwreck" that was putting pot "in the hands of kids" and others who are using it for purposes other than pain management.

In a brief victory statement issued shortly after election officials began to tally the ballots, Rosenblum said she was "honored to have been selected by the voters of Oregon as their choice for the Democratic nominee (for) Attorney General of Oregon."

She made no mention of marijuana or any other specific issues. Nor did Holton, who in his concession statement thanked, among others, the coalition of organized labor groups that backed his candidacy.

But medical marijuana advocates seized on Rosenblum's win as a sign that voters were at odds with the federal government's recent crackdown on storefront cannabis shops in states that have legalized personal use, possession and cultivation of pot for healthcare reasons.

As Oregon's chief federal prosecutor last year, Holton was in the vanguard of that crackdown, sending letters to owners, operators and landlords of storefront pot outlets warning they faced prosecution and civil enforcement actions for involvement in the sale of cannabis.

While medical marijuana is legal in Oregon, the sale for profit of cannabis to any of the state's 55,000 registered cannabis patients is considered illegal, although growers can be reimbursed for supplies and utilities.

Even so, some medical marijuana "cafes" have sprung up in the state, drawing the ire of groups opposed to drug use.

The primary contest unfolded as two groups in Oregon are racing to collect enough signatures for two separate ballot initiatives seeking to legalize marijuana for recreational use in the state.

If their efforts are successful, Oregon voters will join those in Colorado and Washington state who will decide on the matter in November. A total of 16 states, plus the District of Columbia, allow medical marijuana, though cannabis remains classified as an illegal narcotic under federal law.

Some experts predicted a Rosenblum triumph could resonate well outside of Oregon's largely Democratic-registered electorate.

"A victory for Rosenblum could have symbolic power which would reach beyond the state into the national debate," said University of Oregon political science professor Joe Lowndes.]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8146 Tue, 15 May 2012 21:40:53 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8146 First off, Let me say I've dealt with many dispensaries/delivery services.. there's alot out there that just isnt up to par with some. Whether it is limited to poor quality meds. To flat out horrible customer service.Herbin Alternative is definitely good people to do business with. And recommend to anyone that doesnt want to pay $12/gram for a bunch of garbage. Im just going to list a few things I thought made me want to come back to these guys again. and plan on it. (I'm almost out..ha)

• Quality
• Convenient
• Great Prices
• Wide selection
• Cookies, Concentrates, Brownies, ect.
• Phones Open 10am-8pm
  

Here's there link!! Check em out.
http://http://herbinalter...om

---

I just had to give these guys some credit.]]> First off, Let me say I've dealt with many dispensaries/delivery services.. there's alot out there that just isnt up to par with some. Whether it is limited to poor quality meds. To flat out horrible customer service.Herbin Alternative is definitely good people to do business with. And recommend to anyone that doesnt want to pay $12/gram for a bunch of garbage. Im just going to list a few things I thought made me want to come back to these guys again. and plan on it. (I'm almost out..ha)

• Quality
• Convenient
• Great Prices
• Wide selection
• Cookies, Concentrates, Brownies, ect.
• Phones Open 10am-8pm
  

Here's there link!! Check em out.
http://http://herbinalter...om

---

I just had to give these guys some credit.]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8144 Tue, 15 May 2012 17:02:55 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8144



KENT—
After heated, emotional testimony at a public hearing Monday night, a Kent City Council committee voted 2-1 to send to the full council a proposal to ban medical marijuana dispensaries and collective gardens in Kent.

The vote was taken by the council’s Economic and Community Development Committee.

Medical marijuana patient Don Doty told the committee before the vote that he broke his back in six places and lives his life in a wheelchair in constant pain.

"I used to take morphine, Oxycontin and Oxycodone, the strongest one you could get, nine times a day and it left me stupid. The doctor said, ‘You're done, we can't allow that no more.’ The best thing for me, she said, was to start smoking medical marijuana. I'm able to function every day like an average, normal person,” Doty said.

Doty and more than 100 other medical marijuana patients packed the Kent City Council chambers Monday to voice their opposition to the proposal.

Currently, there are only two medical marijuana dispensaries and collective gardens in the city, but soon the City Council will vote on whether to ban them all together.

"These professional medical clinics are trying wrap their brains around and change who they are to comply with the state regulations and that feels like kind of shady and like a sham to me,” said Councilwoman Deborah Ranniger.

Although medical marijuana is legal in the state of Washington, it is still illegal at the federal level. It's a murkiness that patients say jeopardizes their access to medication and good health.

With the measure now headed for the full council, committee members promised to educate themselves on the issue, and advocates for medical marijuana patients promised legal action if a ban goes into effect.

"Work with us, don't force us to sue you. Don’t make me go file for an injunction. Show some compassion. What you're trying to do is wrong,” Seattle attorney Douglas Hiat said.

The city of Kent is under its second consecutive six-month moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries and gardens. The latest moratorium will expire June 11.

The full council will take up the matter June 5.]]>



KENT—
After heated, emotional testimony at a public hearing Monday night, a Kent City Council committee voted 2-1 to send to the full council a proposal to ban medical marijuana dispensaries and collective gardens in Kent.

The vote was taken by the council’s Economic and Community Development Committee.

Medical marijuana patient Don Doty told the committee before the vote that he broke his back in six places and lives his life in a wheelchair in constant pain.

"I used to take morphine, Oxycontin and Oxycodone, the strongest one you could get, nine times a day and it left me stupid. The doctor said, ‘You're done, we can't allow that no more.’ The best thing for me, she said, was to start smoking medical marijuana. I'm able to function every day like an average, normal person,” Doty said.

Doty and more than 100 other medical marijuana patients packed the Kent City Council chambers Monday to voice their opposition to the proposal.

Currently, there are only two medical marijuana dispensaries and collective gardens in the city, but soon the City Council will vote on whether to ban them all together.

"These professional medical clinics are trying wrap their brains around and change who they are to comply with the state regulations and that feels like kind of shady and like a sham to me,” said Councilwoman Deborah Ranniger.

Although medical marijuana is legal in the state of Washington, it is still illegal at the federal level. It's a murkiness that patients say jeopardizes their access to medication and good health.

With the measure now headed for the full council, committee members promised to educate themselves on the issue, and advocates for medical marijuana patients promised legal action if a ban goes into effect.

"Work with us, don't force us to sue you. Don’t make me go file for an injunction. Show some compassion. What you're trying to do is wrong,” Seattle attorney Douglas Hiat said.

The city of Kent is under its second consecutive six-month moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries and gardens. The latest moratorium will expire June 11.

The full council will take up the matter June 5.]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8143 Tue, 15 May 2012 15:37:22 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8143 http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/05/15...to-be.html

By Michelle Dupler, Tri-City Herald
05/15/12

A workshop discussion Monday night indicated the Pasco City Council likely will outlaw medical marijuana gardens in the city at its next meeting to avoid violating federal anti-drug laws.

Pasco, Kennewick, Richland and West Richland have been holding their breath for almost a year in hopes the Legislature would act during the 2012 session to clarify a law passed the year before that would let cities write rules for how collective medical marijuana gardens could operate within their borders.

Attorneys for all three cities said the law needed clarification because Gov. Chris Gregoire had vetoed parts of it -- and because federal law continues to make growing or possessing marijuana illegal.

That put cities in the middle of a conflict between state and federal laws that city attorneys said was a no-win situation for municipal governments.

All four cities approved year-long moratoriums on allowing medical cannabis gardens while they waited out the Legislature, but the 2012 session came and went with no changes to the law.

The 2011 law is an extension of an initiative voters approved in 1998 allowing certain patients with terminal illnesses and chronic pain access to medical marijuana.

It allows patients to grow up to 45 pot plants in a shared garden, with a limit of 15 per patient but also allowed cities to impose moratoriums while they figure out issues like zoning, taxation and business licensing.

Because the Legislature took no action on medical marijuana this year, Rick White, Pasco's community and economic development director, brought the council a proposed ordinance and resolution Monday that states simply that the city won't allow anything in its zoning code that violates state or federal law.

Pasco City Attorney Lee Kerr told the Herald that Pasco effectively bans medical marijuana gardens in the city but doesn't stop authorized patients from raising a medical marijuana defense in court if they're busted for possession -- as was allowed by the 1998 initiative.

But they still can be prosecuted in federal court, Kerr added.

Councilman Tom Larsen asked why federal law trumps state law in this case.

"The Constitution of the United States of America indicates all powers not given to the federal government remains with the states," Larsen said. "How does the federal government get that power when the states don't?"

Kerr explained that Congress has police powers to make certain conduct illegal, and criminalizing marijuana fits under that power.

"Under that clause, they have enacted myriad criminal statutes," Kerr said.

The council is expected to vote on the ordinance Monday.]]> http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/05/15...to-be.html

By Michelle Dupler, Tri-City Herald
05/15/12

A workshop discussion Monday night indicated the Pasco City Council likely will outlaw medical marijuana gardens in the city at its next meeting to avoid violating federal anti-drug laws.

Pasco, Kennewick, Richland and West Richland have been holding their breath for almost a year in hopes the Legislature would act during the 2012 session to clarify a law passed the year before that would let cities write rules for how collective medical marijuana gardens could operate within their borders.

Attorneys for all three cities said the law needed clarification because Gov. Chris Gregoire had vetoed parts of it -- and because federal law continues to make growing or possessing marijuana illegal.

That put cities in the middle of a conflict between state and federal laws that city attorneys said was a no-win situation for municipal governments.

All four cities approved year-long moratoriums on allowing medical cannabis gardens while they waited out the Legislature, but the 2012 session came and went with no changes to the law.

The 2011 law is an extension of an initiative voters approved in 1998 allowing certain patients with terminal illnesses and chronic pain access to medical marijuana.

It allows patients to grow up to 45 pot plants in a shared garden, with a limit of 15 per patient but also allowed cities to impose moratoriums while they figure out issues like zoning, taxation and business licensing.

Because the Legislature took no action on medical marijuana this year, Rick White, Pasco's community and economic development director, brought the council a proposed ordinance and resolution Monday that states simply that the city won't allow anything in its zoning code that violates state or federal law.

Pasco City Attorney Lee Kerr told the Herald that Pasco effectively bans medical marijuana gardens in the city but doesn't stop authorized patients from raising a medical marijuana defense in court if they're busted for possession -- as was allowed by the 1998 initiative.

But they still can be prosecuted in federal court, Kerr added.

Councilman Tom Larsen asked why federal law trumps state law in this case.

"The Constitution of the United States of America indicates all powers not given to the federal government remains with the states," Larsen said. "How does the federal government get that power when the states don't?"

Kerr explained that Congress has police powers to make certain conduct illegal, and criminalizing marijuana fits under that power.

"Under that clause, they have enacted myriad criminal statutes," Kerr said.

The council is expected to vote on the ordinance Monday.]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8142 Tue, 15 May 2012 14:36:53 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8142
Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/05/15...rylink=cpy


Confusion rules when onfusion is the rule.]]>
Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/05/15...rylink=cpy


Confusion rules when onfusion is the rule.]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8138 Mon, 14 May 2012 21:59:44 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8138
Smoke was reported coming from the My Canh Restaurant, a Vietnamese restaurant located at 6007 Martin Luther King Way South, just before 8:00 a.m.

Seattle Police were called to join the investigation when firefighters found the hundreds of marijuana plants in the restaurant basement.

Firefighters extinguished the fire after electricians turned off power to the building.

According to officers, re-wiring may have funneled extra power to the area where the plants were growing. Seattle Police said they will investigate whether the business was stealing power.

SPD tweeted a picture of the scene: "Hundreds of pot plants found in basement of restaurant in 6000 blk of MLK following electrical fire. #secretingredient"

A property owner spoke to KING 5 News and said he did not know about the grow. He said he has not been able to contact the business owner.

KING 5's Natasha Ryan and Lindsay Chamberlain compiled this report.
Source:http://www.king5.com/news/local/Marijuana-grow-discovered-in-burning-Beacon-Hill-restaurant--151413205.html]]>
Smoke was reported coming from the My Canh Restaurant, a Vietnamese restaurant located at 6007 Martin Luther King Way South, just before 8:00 a.m.

Seattle Police were called to join the investigation when firefighters found the hundreds of marijuana plants in the restaurant basement.

Firefighters extinguished the fire after electricians turned off power to the building.

According to officers, re-wiring may have funneled extra power to the area where the plants were growing. Seattle Police said they will investigate whether the business was stealing power.

SPD tweeted a picture of the scene: "Hundreds of pot plants found in basement of restaurant in 6000 blk of MLK following electrical fire. #secretingredient"

A property owner spoke to KING 5 News and said he did not know about the grow. He said he has not been able to contact the business owner.

KING 5's Natasha Ryan and Lindsay Chamberlain compiled this report.
Source:http://www.king5.com/news/local/Marijuana-grow-discovered-in-burning-Beacon-Hill-restaurant--151413205.html]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8133 Sun, 13 May 2012 21:30:49 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8133    

   

   
No On I-502 paraphernalia was everywhere. Even on this guy with "BOTH" thumbs up !! Hey, isn't he John Berman, director of 4Evergreen Group, a medical cannabis servicing company that provides patient authorizations and has locations in Tacoma and Seattle, and supports legalization whom says we advocates against I-502 are a bunch of nut cases ?

Nice to see he joined the crowed with BOTH thumbs up... ]]>    

   

   
No On I-502 paraphernalia was everywhere. Even on this guy with "BOTH" thumbs up !! Hey, isn't he John Berman, director of 4Evergreen Group, a medical cannabis servicing company that provides patient authorizations and has locations in Tacoma and Seattle, and supports legalization whom says we advocates against I-502 are a bunch of nut cases ?

Nice to see he joined the crowed with BOTH thumbs up... ]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8132 Sun, 13 May 2012 17:06:37 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8132 http://www.annarbor.com/news/opinion/wha...t-rapists/

By Charmie Gholson Guest Column
Thu, May 10, 2012

Three years ago, I told 5,000 people at Hash Bash, “If you get raided, call me,” which is proof I need a handler or something. Someone to follow me around and say, “No, Charmie, don’t say that.”

They call me all right. Hundreds of people, but mostly mothers who are trying to feed or put their children to bed when the guys with guns and masks come in the door, shoot their dog, hold guns to their heads, demand the combination to the safe and steal their sex toys, which I'll get to in a minute.


   
The author, Charmie Gholson, speaks at the annual Hash Bash on the U-M Diag in April.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

This isn't happening because the families are a threat to society, or because the sex toys are dangerous, but because someone inside the house might have marijuana.

Prior to Nixon declaring the drug war, raids like this were unheard of. The original purpose of SWAT was to respond to domestic violence attacks, snipers, or hostage situations. The Military Cooperation with Law Enforcement Officials Act made equipment and facilities available to civilian police in the anti-drug effort, and the Pentagon began equipping local police with M-16s and armored personnel carriers such as the “Colonel” tank owned by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department.

State and local police departments increasingly accepted the military as a model for their behavior and outlook. The problem is that the mindset of a soldier is simply not appropriate for a civilian police officer. Police officers confront not an “enemy” but individuals who are protected by the Bill of Rights.

As the daughter of a law enforcer, I know first hand how these tactics tear at the social contract between citizens and law enforcement, causing community distrust and fear of those who have sworn to protect us. I dream of the day when right relations are restored between communities and law enforcement.

If the purpose of these raids is to improve the safety of Michigan citizens, they have failed.


According to 2010 Michigan State Police crime statistics, police made 1,653 arrests out of 10,228 reported incidents of rape, state wide. That’s a 16.16% arrest rate for rape. Voluntary manslaughter rates for arrests are at 35.6%. Yet, somehow, police in Michigan have an 80% arrest rate for controlled substance violations.

If you’re a rapist or murderer, Michigan is a great place to live. However if you’re a marijuana user, you are at greater risk of being victimized by law enforcement than by the real criminals.

Over the last 9 months we’ve seen a statewide escalation of police raids on medical marijuana patients and caregivers—the people we were trying to protect with the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. But instead of protecting our sick and dying citizens, many have been tossed back into the fire, subjected to paramilitary tactics of the local drug task force.

I am the founder of Michigan Moms United to End the War on Drugs, an organization that focuses on educating the community, media and legislators about how the failed drug war decreases public safety. We intend to put an end to these raids on peaceful families, as well as reform Michigans asset forfeiture laws.

Now, about those sex toys. Drug task forces often take them during a raid and line them up to be photographed with the other evidence. It’s hard to comprehend, until you remember that this is a real war. The war on drugs is our countries longest running, silent civil war and this wars victims aren’t memorialized with statues or fountains. They’re hunted, vilified and locked in cages.

But without an enemy, you cannot make war. Michigan Moms United would like to introduce you to some of those enemies; the ones being persecuted for marijuana that is. I can’t introduce you to your raping and murdering enemies, because not even the police know where they are.

My Mother's Day wish is that law enforcers make their communities safer by arresting rapists and murderers, instead of terrorizing families.

Ann Arbor resident Charmie Gholson is the media director for Committee for a Safe Michigan (http://www.repealtoday.org), mother of three sons, oldest of three daughters and a war protestor. You can email her at okisay@yahoo.com.]]> http://www.annarbor.com/news/opinion/wha...t-rapists/

By Charmie Gholson Guest Column
Thu, May 10, 2012

Three years ago, I told 5,000 people at Hash Bash, “If you get raided, call me,” which is proof I need a handler or something. Someone to follow me around and say, “No, Charmie, don’t say that.”

They call me all right. Hundreds of people, but mostly mothers who are trying to feed or put their children to bed when the guys with guns and masks come in the door, shoot their dog, hold guns to their heads, demand the combination to the safe and steal their sex toys, which I'll get to in a minute.


   
The author, Charmie Gholson, speaks at the annual Hash Bash on the U-M Diag in April.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

This isn't happening because the families are a threat to society, or because the sex toys are dangerous, but because someone inside the house might have marijuana.

Prior to Nixon declaring the drug war, raids like this were unheard of. The original purpose of SWAT was to respond to domestic violence attacks, snipers, or hostage situations. The Military Cooperation with Law Enforcement Officials Act made equipment and facilities available to civilian police in the anti-drug effort, and the Pentagon began equipping local police with M-16s and armored personnel carriers such as the “Colonel” tank owned by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department.

State and local police departments increasingly accepted the military as a model for their behavior and outlook. The problem is that the mindset of a soldier is simply not appropriate for a civilian police officer. Police officers confront not an “enemy” but individuals who are protected by the Bill of Rights.

As the daughter of a law enforcer, I know first hand how these tactics tear at the social contract between citizens and law enforcement, causing community distrust and fear of those who have sworn to protect us. I dream of the day when right relations are restored between communities and law enforcement.

If the purpose of these raids is to improve the safety of Michigan citizens, they have failed.


According to 2010 Michigan State Police crime statistics, police made 1,653 arrests out of 10,228 reported incidents of rape, state wide. That’s a 16.16% arrest rate for rape. Voluntary manslaughter rates for arrests are at 35.6%. Yet, somehow, police in Michigan have an 80% arrest rate for controlled substance violations.

If you’re a rapist or murderer, Michigan is a great place to live. However if you’re a marijuana user, you are at greater risk of being victimized by law enforcement than by the real criminals.

Over the last 9 months we’ve seen a statewide escalation of police raids on medical marijuana patients and caregivers—the people we were trying to protect with the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. But instead of protecting our sick and dying citizens, many have been tossed back into the fire, subjected to paramilitary tactics of the local drug task force.

I am the founder of Michigan Moms United to End the War on Drugs, an organization that focuses on educating the community, media and legislators about how the failed drug war decreases public safety. We intend to put an end to these raids on peaceful families, as well as reform Michigans asset forfeiture laws.

Now, about those sex toys. Drug task forces often take them during a raid and line them up to be photographed with the other evidence. It’s hard to comprehend, until you remember that this is a real war. The war on drugs is our countries longest running, silent civil war and this wars victims aren’t memorialized with statues or fountains. They’re hunted, vilified and locked in cages.

But without an enemy, you cannot make war. Michigan Moms United would like to introduce you to some of those enemies; the ones being persecuted for marijuana that is. I can’t introduce you to your raping and murdering enemies, because not even the police know where they are.

My Mother's Day wish is that law enforcers make their communities safer by arresting rapists and murderers, instead of terrorizing families.

Ann Arbor resident Charmie Gholson is the media director for Committee for a Safe Michigan (http://www.repealtoday.org), mother of three sons, oldest of three daughters and a war protestor. You can email her at okisay@yahoo.com.]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8130 Sun, 13 May 2012 16:07:09 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8130    
    ]]>    
    ]]> http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8128 Sun, 13 May 2012 00:48:00 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8128 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8127 Sun, 13 May 2012 00:19:39 +0000 http://www.thclist.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=8127 http://www.kushmagazine.com/news/2866-mi...tate-issue

by Zach Rosenberg
05/10/2012

Yesterday, a Denver, Colorado CBS affiliate got some face-time with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The interviewer asked questions important to local voters: gay marriage, college tuition for illegal immigrants, and medical marijuana.

Romney, of course, was none too pleased. With his now trademark tone and incredulous guffaw, he asked the interviewer if there were any "issues of significance" she'd like to ask about.

Marijuana proponents aren't at all surprised by this; Romney has been against legalization and had dodged a couple of questions on the campaign trail. But it turns out that Romney did say something "of significance" in the interview.

You can watch the CBS Denver interview here.[ http://denver.cbslocal.com/video/?autoSt...Id=7197443 ] And here's Romney's response to the interviewer after she riles him up with issues central to Colorado's voters (interviewer's marijuana question starts just past 2 minutes into the video):

Aren't there issues of significance that you’d like to talk about? The economy, the growth of jobs, the need to put people back to work, the challenges of Iran? We’ve got enormous issues that we face. But you want - go ahead, you want to talk about medical marijuana?

[reporter stutters]

I think medical marijuana should not be legal in this country. I believe it's a gateway drug to other drug violations. The use of illegal drugs in this country is leading to terrible consequences in places like Mexico, and actually in our own country. I oppose legalization of marijuana. I oppose legalization of other kinds of drugs...

(Strangely, Romney says that marijuana is not an "issue of significance" but then says that its use "is leading to terrible consequences" both here and Mexico.)

Again, this is totally expected from Romney. He's anti-medical marijuana, no surprises there. But the most interesting part of the interview happened as Mitt Romney was taking his microphone off. The interviewer commented that she got around to asking about the economy. "Finally," Romney laughed as he shook some hands and began to walk off camera. "I'm not running on marriage and marijuana - those are state issues, right? Aren't they, really?"

Does this mean that Mitt Romney would take a federal-hands-off approach to medical marijuana? Would Romney discontinue raids on the medical marijuana industry? Well, probably not. We know of another guy who said that medical marijuana is a state issue and that he'd let those states work it out themselves. Coincidentally, he became President of the United States, and more raids have been carried out under his administration in four years than the last Republican president did in eight.]]> http://www.kushmagazine.com/news/2866-mi...tate-issue

by Zach Rosenberg
05/10/2012

Yesterday, a Denver, Colorado CBS affiliate got some face-time with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The interviewer asked questions important to local voters: gay marriage, college tuition for illegal immigrants, and medical marijuana.

Romney, of course, was none too pleased. With his now trademark tone and incredulous guffaw, he asked the interviewer if there were any "issues of significance" she'd like to ask about.

Marijuana proponents aren't at all surprised by this; Romney has been against legalization and had dodged a couple of questions on the campaign trail. But it turns out that Romney did say something "of significance" in the interview.

You can watch the CBS Denver interview here.[ http://denver.cbslocal.com/video/?autoSt...Id=7197443 ] And here's Romney's response to the interviewer after she riles him up with issues central to Colorado's voters (interviewer's marijuana question starts just past 2 minutes into the video):

Aren't there issues of significance that you’d like to talk about? The economy, the growth of jobs, the need to put people back to work, the challenges of Iran? We’ve got enormous issues that we face. But you want - go ahead, you want to talk about medical marijuana?

[reporter stutters]

I think medical marijuana should not be legal in this country. I believe it's a gateway drug to other drug violations. The use of illegal drugs in this country is leading to terrible consequences in places like Mexico, and actually in our own country. I oppose legalization of marijuana. I oppose legalization of other kinds of drugs...

(Strangely, Romney says that marijuana is not an "issue of significance" but then says that its use "is leading to terrible consequences" both here and Mexico.)

Again, this is totally expected from Romney. He's anti-medical marijuana, no surprises there. But the most interesting part of the interview happened as Mitt Romney was taking his microphone off. The interviewer commented that she got around to asking about the economy. "Finally," Romney laughed as he shook some hands and began to walk off camera. "I'm not running on marriage and marijuana - those are state issues, right? Aren't they, really?"

Does this mean that Mitt Romney would take a federal-hands-off approach to medical marijuana? Would Romney discontinue raids on the medical marijuana industry? Well, probably not. We know of another guy who said that medical marijuana is a state issue and that he'd let those states work it out themselves. Coincidentally, he became President of the United States, and more raids have been carried out under his administration in four years than the last Republican president did in eight.]]>