cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Have New Life
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Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Have New Life
Posted by CN Staff on May 10, 2011 at 16:50:04 PT
By Jonathan Martin
Source: Seattle Times
Seattle, WA -- A Legislative hearing is scheduled for Wednesday on a new proposal to allow nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries, reviving an idea that seemed just weeks ago to be dead.The new bill, SB 5955, narrows the scope of the landmark medical marijuana reform vetoed by Gov. Chris Gregoire on April 29. The new bill would create the state's first a medical marijuana patient registry and decriminalize nonprofit "patient collectives" and allow them to grow up to 99 plants.
It solves Gregoire's chief but hotly disputed concern that state employees could be federally prosecuted for regulating dispensaries. But to appease the Governor, this version requires a city or county to pass a local ordinance before a dispensary can open in that jurisdiction. That means a handful of pot-friendly jurisdictions like Seattle -- where the mayor, city attorney and some council members favor outright legalization -- could become dispensary magnets while much of Eastern Washington could be dry. "It's not clear we're going to support this," because of that provision, said Philip Dawdy, spokesman for the Washington Cannabis Association, a medical marijuana trade group.Allowing nonprofit dispensaries also would ease concerns from Seattle and other cities about the potential proliferation of new, 45-plant "collective gardens." Those gardens, which were signed by the Governor in her partial veto last month, would be the only legal way for patients to band together to grow. But Seattle officials fear that without a dispensary system, collective gardens would sprout in sleepy neighborhoods across the city. The patient registry embraced by law enforcement because it would provide a quick, centralized method to verify medical marijuana status but is despised among some patient groups for its potential to violate privacy. Washington is the only one of the 15 medical marijuana states without a patient registry, although federal prosecutors have sought access to Michigan's registry.By decriminalizing dispensaries, the new version potentially gives the state a stronger argument should federal prosecutors object, as they did with the last version. But Attorney General Rob McKenna's staff, when asked by Democratic legislators for advice, punted on the issue. The ACLU is pressing U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to clarify the Obama Administration's stance because of a series of recent threat letters sent in medical marijuana states.The new version, unlike its predecessor, exempts medical marijuana sales from state sales tax.The hearing on the bill is scheduled for noon Wednesday before the Senate Ways and Means committee. Source: Seattle Times (WA)Author: Jonathan MartinPublished: May 10, 2011Copyright: 2011 The Seattle Times CompanyContact: opinion seatimes.comWebsite: http://www.seattletimes.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/0ugRGJCeCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by paul armentano on May 11, 2011 at 14:59:11 PT
DE: Med mj bill sent to Governor
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20110511/NEWS/110511044/State-Senate-OKs-medical-marijuana-bill-sending-Gov-Markell?odyssey=nav%7CheadState Senate OKs medical marijuana bill, sending it to Gov. Markell
2:13 PM, May. 11, 2011 | 1 CommentsWritten by
CHAD LIVENGOOD
The News Journal
FILED UNDER
Local
DOVER – The Delaware Senate sent Gov. Jack Markell legislation late this afternoon that would make Delaware the 16th state to legalize marijuana use for medical purposes.The Senate voted 17-4, also approving amendments the House added to the bill last week requiring medical marijuana be distributed in tamper-proof containers and prohibiting smoking the drug in vehicles and buses.Markell is expected to sign the bill soon in order to initiate a one-year licensing and regulatory-writing process at the Department of Health and Social Services, a spokesman said.Under Senate Bill 17, physicians could recommend marijuana for patients suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease and post-traumatic stress disorder.People with other chronic disease or debilitating medical conditions could qualify if other medicines or surgical procedures have failed to relieve their pain or caused seizures, severe or persistent muscle spasms and intractable nausea. Physicians and patients would have to have a “bona fide physician-patient relationship” and other medical treatments would have to be exhausted before marijuana is recommended, according to the legislation.The state would issue medical marijuana identification cards to patients 18 years and older or their assigned caregivers, who would have to be 21 years old and have no prior felony offenses.Qualified patients could obtain up to 6 ounces of marijuana each month from one of three not-for-profit dispensaries in each county that would be licensed and inspected by the Department of Health and Social Services.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 11, 2011 at 12:51:57 PT
Bob Marley Appreciation Week On Jimmy Fallon
Here is Ziggy Marley singing Get Up Stand Up.http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/video/ziggy-marley-get-up-stand-up-5-9-11/1326239
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Comment #3 posted by paul armentano on May 11, 2011 at 12:29:38 PT
New Hampshire Tables Medical Marijuana Bill
New Hampshire Tables Medical Marijuana Bill5/11/2011 UPDATE - The New Hampshire Senate has postponed legislative action on the medical marijuana bill, HB 442. The move today means that the bill may not get a floor vote in the Senate, even though the House passed the measure 221-94 in March.The sticking point seems to be the years-long fight between Governor John Lynch and the NH Legislature over this issue. Lynch vetoed a medical marijuana bill in 2009 and promised to do the same this year if the bill passed again.Activists who were in attendance at the New Hampshire legislative session today were disappointed that the Senate didn’t stand up to Lynch. An attempt to overturn the medical marijuana veto in 2009 fell heartbreakingly short by just two votes. Patient advocates on the ground felt that the Legislature should hold firm in the face of Lynch’s threat and try again to force the bill through.Kirk McNeill at NH Compassion pulled no punches in his reaction to the Senate’s vote, “Today the NH Senate participated in an act of legislative cowardice by tabling HB442.”But postponing the legislation did not quite kill it. A spokesperson at NH Senator Ray White’s office told Freedomisgreen.com that technically HB 442 could be brought for a floor vote again before the legislative session ends in June. However, the prospects for the bill actually making it to the Senate this year remain unclear.NH Compassion’s McNeill said, “Patients deserve to have their treatment options be a decision between them and their doctors, a decision based on science. Laws against the medicinal use of cannabis are quiet simply, interference in the doctor patient relationship backed up by men with guns.”
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Comment #2 posted by Paul armentano on May 11, 2011 at 09:55:08 PT
Lynch would veto NH's medical marijuana bill
http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2011/05/10/lynch_would_veto_nhs_medical_marijuana_bill/Lynch would veto NH's medical marijuana bill
May 10, 2011CONCORD, N.H.—Gov. John Lynch says he has the same concerns with a House bill to legalize marijuana for medical use that he had two years ago when he vetoed a similar bill.Lynch spokesman Colin Manning said Tuesday the governor is concerned with how the drug would be acquired and distributed and that legalizing marijuana for people with debilitating or terminal illnesses would conflict with federal law.The Senate is to vote Wednesday on a medical marijuana bill that passed the House 221-96 without debate in March. The bill would allow possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana if the drug is for medical purposes. It establishes alternative treatment centers to obtain or cultivate the marijuana to dispense to the sick.Manning said if the bill reaches Lynch's desk, he will veto it.Manning released letters from Attorney General Michael Delaney and U.S. Attorney John Kacavas raising concerns with the bill.Delaney said he opposes it because it would establish a state-sanctioned operation to cultivate and distribute marijuana. He also objected that the bill did not bar treatment centers from getting the drug from illegal sources.Kacavas reiterated that his office will not focus its limited resources on seriously ill people who use marijuana, but it will vigorously enforce laws prohibiting manufacture and distribution of marijuana by individuals and organizations, even if the activities are permitted under state law.Kacavas said his office would consider civil and criminal legal action against people who establish marijuana growing facilities and dispensaries."Others, including property owners, landlords, and financiers who knowingly assist those entities and individuals should be aware that their conduct also violates federal law," he wrote.
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Comment #1 posted by schmeff on May 11, 2011 at 08:31:34 PT
Please Sign-up for Our Secure Patient Registry!
"The patient registry (is) embraced by law enforcement because it would provide a quick, centralized method to...."...harass, intimidate, extort, abuse, humiliate, degrade, injure, kill, torture or incarcerate otherwise peaceful adults who resist the idea that fascists in politics and law enforcement can dictate what thoughts, foods and substances we can consume.You bet, Mr/Ms mean-spirited, closed-minded, insecure, petty bullyboy. I'll sign your list...you bet I will!
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