ASA's Medical Marijuana in the News: Week of 3/23

FEDERAL: Raich Medical Marijuana Ruling Draws Criticism CONNECTICUT: Medical Marijuana Bill Supported MINNESOTA: State Medical Marijuana Measure Moves Forward RHODE ISLAND: Medical Marijuana Law Needs Action NEW MEXICO: Lawmakers’ Courage Lauded WASHINGTON: Limits of Medical Marijuana Law Questioned CALIFORNIA: Medical Marijuana ID Card Protections Clarified DISPENSARIES: Support from Officials with Experience __________________________________________ FEDERAL: Raich Medical Marijuana Ruling Drawing More Criticism Some take issue with the legal reasoning underpinning an appellate court’s ruling that Angel Raich, a terminally ill California who has been seeking protection from federal prosecution, cannot claim medical necessity for the purpose of an injunction. But all agree that keeping life-saving medicine from anyone must be wrong. Marijuana as medicine a decision for doctors EDITORIAL, The Republican (MA) Under the supervision of a physician, with adequate controls to prevent its abuse or improper use, marijuana is a proven, effective treatment for some seriously ill patients. The nation's lawmakers should look in their own medicine cabinets where they might find prescription drugs far more toxic and dangerous than marijuana. The Case of Angel Raich by Jon Carroll, Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle I think the federal government, in this case, is no better than a thug. I think that prosecutors who go after medical marijuana cases are criminals, morally if not actually. I think all the people who have participated in giving people ridiculous three-strike prison sentences for marijuana-related crimes are hypocrites and fools. It's an obvious and complete injustice. They all know it. They should all be ashamed of themselves. U.S. Judges Kill the Ninth Amendment by Fred E. Foldvary, Editorial, The Progress Report The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals confirmed on March 14 that the Ninth Amendment to the United States is now null and void, and that the federal government of the United States of America has no moral legitimacy. The judges did not explicitly express those statements in their ruling, but that is the implication. The case involved a woman whose life, according to her doctor, can only be preserved with medical marijuana. The judges ruled that the federal government may nevertheless prosecute her for violating federal laws regarding drugs. __________________________________________ CONNECTICUT: Medical Marijuana Bill Supported Emmy-award winning talkshow host Montel Williams lent support to a bill advancing through the Connecticut legislature. The former marine has been outspoken about how marijuana has helped him fight the symptoms of MS. Montel Williams makes emotional plea for Conn. medical marijuana bill by Susan Haigh, Associated Press Syndicated television talk show host Montel Williams choked back tears Friday as he urged Connecticut lawmakers to pass a bill legalizing marijuana use for medical purposes. Conn. lawmakers resurrect bill to allow medical use of marijuana by Susan Haigh, Associated Press A move to legalize marijuana for people suffering from certain medical problems cleared its first legislative hurdle Wednesday, giving hope to those who've been pushing for the bill for several years. Conn. judiciary panel OKs medical marijuana by Ken Dixon, Connecticut Post Connecticut would become the 13th state to let gravely ill people use marijuana, under legislation overwhelmingly approved Wednesday in the Judiciary Committee after a brief debate. __________________________________________ MINNESOTA: State Medical Marijuana Measure Moves Forward Committee by committee, state lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow Minnesotans to use marijuana on their doctors’ advice. Public opinion polls there show strong support for protecting patients. Minn. medical marijuana bill takes another step forward by Joe Fryer, KARE 11 (Minneapolis) A proposal to allow seriously ill patients to use marijuana with their doctors' permission is working its way through the state legislature. Medical Marijuana: Minnesota Bill Approved By Second House Panel Drug War Chronicle Members of a Minnesota House committee Monday voted to approve a medical marijuana bill despite the objections of law enforcement. The House Public Safety and Civil Law Committee approved the bill, HF655, on an 11-8 vote. It has already passed the House Health and Human Services Committee and is now headed for the House Finance Committee. __________________________________________ RHODE ISLAND: Medical Marijuana Law Needs Action The “sunset clause” Rhode Island lawmakers added to their medical marijuana bill means that the protections it affords will expire without further action by the legislature. By all accounts the program has been successful, with only one problem reported. ASA's Rhode Island Campaign for Safe Access is working to educate the community and legislators. Medical marijuana advocates ask to make law permanent Associated Press Medical marijuana advocates ask legislators to permanently legalize medicinal marijuana in Rhode Island. __________________________________________ NEW MEXICO: Lawmakers’ Courage Lauded The reversal of fortune for patients in New Mexico – with the legislature defeating a medical bill one week and then passing another the next – has opinionmakers commending the officials who found the courage to act. Editorial: Applaud lawmakers for medical pot bill EDITORIAL, Albuquerque Tribune It took years, a lot of wrangling and considerable grief, but finally New Mexico will join 11 other progressive and caring states that allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes. __________________________________________ WASHINGTON: Limits of Medical Marijuana Law Questioned The purpose of medical marijuana laws is clear: to protect patients from prison. The details of how patients are to comply with state medical laws can cause problems however, with some patients excluded on technicalities or issues of timing. Busted Pullman man fighting pot conviction by Courtney Adams, Daily Evergreen Nearly three years after being busted for marijuana possession, a Pullman man is still appealing a court decision that found him guilty of the crime. Loren R. Hanson grew marijuana plants after receiving information from his doctor, intending to use the marijuana to treat his glaucoma, his lawyer said. __________________________________________ CALIFORNIA: Medical Marijuana ID Card Protections Clarified State ID cards may guarantee patients protection from arrest, but according to a state appeals court, they don’t protect against searches. Law enforcement officers can confirm that patients who have state ID cards are within state or county amount guidelines. Pot card can't stop searches, court says by Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle California's medical marijuana law doesn't protect card-carrying patients from being stopped and searched by police who detect the presence of the drug, a state appeals court ruled Thursday. Court: Medical Marijuana Law Doesn't Bar Search by Bay City News, KPIX CBS 5 (San Francisco) California's medical marijuana law doesn't protect a person who claims to be a patient from a reasonable search of his or her car, a state appeals court in San Francisco ruled today. __________________________________________ DISPENSARIES: Support from Officials with Experience The importance of medical marijuana dispensaries to the most seriously ill Californians is obvious to their family and friends. When those family or friends are also local officials, there is no need to explain that dispensaries are a compassionate, community-based solution for providing access. In communities with moratoria in place, ASA is working to educate officials on the benefits of sound regulations for dispensaries. Politics of Caring by Zachary Stahl, Monterey County Herald When City Council-member Jyl Lutes’ then-husband lost his appetite during a battle with bone cancer more than 20 years ago, Stanford doctors gave him an experimental prescription: a vial of tightly-rolled joints. The marijuana cigarettes, she recalls, had a stamp from the Department of Agriculture on them and the directions read, “smoke at the first sign of nausea.” Lutes says the pot helped ease the pain of his last days—he died at the age of 30. Fontana staff: Ban pot dispensaries, for now by Michael Mello, Press-Enterprise (CA) Saying there's a local need, medical-marijuana advocates recently approached Fontana's Department of Community Development with questions about what city codes said concerning the operation of dispensaries. DHS extends medical marijuana moratorium by Bill Byron, Desert Sun Medical marijuana will have to wait at least another year in Desert Hot Springs.