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Tuesday, June 23, 2009
source:jsonline.com
Posted: Jun. 22, 2009
Sheboygan police responding to a fight between two brothers - one wielding an ax - led to a larger problem
for the pair and a girlfriend when officers discovered what they say is a marijuana grow lab and several weapons in the brothers'
apartment on Sunday.
The brothers, ages 38 and 41, and the woman, 36, were all arrested. Police are seeking charges with the Sheboygan
County district attorney's office of manufacturing marijuana and keeping a drug house. The 41-year-old is also facing a charge
of disorderly conduct while armed.
Police first responded to the apartment in the 1600 block of St. Clair Ave. about 6 p.m. Sunday when the girlfriend
ran to the N. 23rd St. police station to report that the 41-year-old brother was chasing her boyfriend, 38, with an ax.
The woman told police that the brothers got into a fight and the one with the ax had already struck his brother
several times with it but that the ax had a sheath over the blade.
Officers responded and called out for the 38-year-old man, who had a small cut on his leg with dried blood
on it. Police did not know if the cut was from an ax. He denied there was anyone else in the house, but officers could see
another person moving inside.
The second brother later appeared, and officers checked for anyone else who might be injured.
When they entered the home, police said, they found marijuana plants and several loaded guns.
After obtaining a search warrant, officers recovered approximately 20 marijuana plants, several large bags
of marijuana, a rifle, two shotguns, a pistol and four axes, according to Sheboygan police.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
source: mercurynews.com
Joints and baggies sold at California's medical marijuana dispensaries will soon carry a new warning label. Next to tags
like "Purple Haze" and "White Widow" will be the advisory: Contents may cause cancer when smoked.
On Friday, California added marijuana smoke to its official list of known carcinogens, joining the ranks of arsenic, asbestos
and DDT. Pot brownies, lollipops and other non-inhalables are not affected by the new ruling.
Scientists found the pungent smoke shares many of the same harmful properties as tobacco smoke, warranting its inclusion
on the Proposition 65 warning list. The law requires the state to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive
toxicity, and businesses and government agencies must post warnings when they use such chemicals or sell products containing
them.
"Marijuana smoke is a mixture of different chemicals, and a number of those were already on the Prop. 65 list," said Allan
Hirsch, chief deputy director of the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, which made the designation.
From a health perspective, pot advocates say the ruling was unsurprising, given the state's track record on documenting
the harmful effects of all kinds of smoke inhalation. However, some are worried by its political implications as advocates
attempt to legalize recreational use of marijuana.
"I definitely have concerns about law enforcement and politicians who aren't in favor of medical marijuana or law reform,
who would use this designation to further restrict access," said Allen St. Pierre, executive director of NORML, the National
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law, based in Washington, D.C. "This will be a vexing series of conversations and
negotiations."
Though marijuana smoke was added to the list Friday, the labeling requirements won't go into effect until June 19, 2010.
Only medical marijuana dispensaries with 10 employees or more are required to post a warning either in their shop or on the
products themselves. Violations of the law carry a fine up to $2,500 per violation per day.
The panel of scientists at the state Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment reviewed an extensive body of research
finding links between marijuana smoke and cancer, particularly head and neck cancers.
"There's not one single piece of evidence that was a slam dunk," said Dr. George Alexeeff, deputy director for scientific
affairs at the OEHHA. "But the pieces together form a very compelling argument."
The panel did not consider studies showing medical benefits of marijuana, like reducing nausea and restoring appetite after
chemotherapy or slowing the progression of glaucoma.
"Singling out marijuana is gratuitous," said Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, who introduced a bill to legalize
recreational marijuana. "Many, many symptoms of disease can be alleviated through smoking marijuana."
St. Pierre says the ruling may factor into the larger philosophical debate about the role public health officials may play
in adult choices. He hopes the national conversation will turn to minimizing the harmful consequences of smoking pot, rather
than aiming for a utopian drug-free society.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Medical marijuana bill introduced
Author: Joe Kennely
Yesterday, Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to eliminate all federal
penalties for marijuana possession. This came only one week after he also introduced a bill to protect medical marijuana patients.
The Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009 would eliminate the threat of federal arrest and prison
for the possession of up to 3.5 ounces of marijuana and the not-for-profit transfer of an ounce of marijuana; nationwide!
What's more, last week Congressman Frank introduced the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, which would allow states
to protect medical marijuana patients from arrest and jail without federal interference, as well as allow pharmacies to dispense
marijuana to patients with a doctor's recommendation. You can take action on this bill here.
Michigan medical marijuana bust's charges dismissed
Source: www.freep.com
After testimony from a Southfield clinic doctor who recommends medical marijuana, a judge in the 43rd District
Court in Madison Heights has dismissed felony manufacturing charges against a Madison Heights couple, who were growing plants
they thought were legal under the state’s medical marijuana law.
At issue was whether Robert Redden, 59, and Torey Clark, 47, could use a letter from their doctor as authorization
to grow a legal number of plants in the absence of the state-sponsored ID program.
The couple and their attorneys Matthew Abel and Bob Mullen argued that the letter, which the couple received
March 3, was sufficient, whereas Madison Heights police and the Oakland County prosecutor’s office said it was not.
Judge Robert J. Turner reluctantly dismissed the charges, calling the voter initiated legislation “the
worst piece of legislation I’ve ever seen.”
In March, police seized 21 plants from the couple. Redden and Clark were among the almost 2,000 people who
applied to use and grow medical marijuana in Michigan. They were also among the roughly half who fell into a legal black hole
where they had letters from doctors recommending the use of marijuana, but not the state-issued cards that make it legal.
The law went into effect in 2008 after the ballot calling for it passed in the November elections. However,
some people who have cards now face legal questions because the state took months to launch its ID program after the law went
into effect. Redden and Clark did not have an ID card because of the delay.
"There hasn't been quite the degree of confusion as in the Michigan program, " said Dan Bernath, a spokesman
for the Washington-based Marijuana Policy Project, about the other states the group has guided in starting medical marijuana
programs.
Medical marijuana advocates maintained a doctor's letter is sufficient to prevent prosecution for small amounts
of marijuana, but state health officials disagreed saying that the applicants had to wait until the program was established.
The mandated state identification card program went into effect in April.
Rhode Island is now the 3rd state to allow medical marijuana shops
Source: chron.com
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island become the third state in the nation Tuesday and the first on the East
Coast to permit marijuana sales to chronically ill patients, a decision made over the objections of Gov. Don Carcieri.
State lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to override a veto last week from the Republican governor, who warned
the system could put people at risk of federal prosecution, would encourage illegal drug use and send conflicting messages
to children about substance abuse.
House lawmakers voted unanimously to override Carcieri's veto, while the Senate voted 35-3 to make the bill
law.
"This gives a safe haven for those who have to go into the seedy areas to try and get marijuana," said Rep.
Thomas Slater, D-Providence, who suffers from cancer and plans to smoke the drug for pain relief. "I think that this center
will definitely help those who most need it."
Slater received a standing ovation on the House floor.
Patients can buy marijuana at stores in California, while New Mexico in March granted a license to a medical
marijuana grower. Karen O'Keefe, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, said the 13 states
that have legalized medical marijuana are making a shift toward state-licensed production and distribution.
Such legislation is being considered in Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina
and Pennsylvania, while a ballot initiative is being circulated in Arizona. In November, Maine voters will decide whether
to permit marijuana dispensaries in their state.
"Combining regulated distribution with provisions for patients to grow a limited quantity for themselves is
the best way to ensure safe access for patients, with solid safeguards to prevent abuse," O'Keefe said in a written statement.
In 2006, Rhode Island began allowing chronically ill patients registered with the state Department of Health
to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana in usable form and 12 plants. But the state never created a legal way to buy marijuana,
and patients here have reported being robbed or beaten when trying to buy it from street dealers.
Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, but U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has said the Obama administration
will not target dispensers that follow state law.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Today is the first day online for Cannabis Times
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