• FEDERAL: Medical Marijuana Patient Must Return to Prison
• WISCONSIN: State Measure Introduced Again
• NEW YORK: Medical Marijuana Bill Moving Forward
• FEDERAL: Targeting of Patients Continues, Condemned
• WASHINGTON: Advocates Want Local Interference Stopped
• CALIFORNIA: Plant Count An Issue in Arrest
• DISPENSARIES: Locals Debate Access as Nation Watches
• CANADA: Patient’s Case Challenges Registration Requirement

FEDERAL: Judge Says Patient Must Return to Prison

A California medical marijuana patient is being sent back to jail to finish a 10-year sentence. Shortly after voters legalized medical use in the state, Bryan Epis began cultivating marijuana for himself and a handful of other qualified patients. Federal prosecutors claimed he was a drug dealer hoping to get rich; defense attorneys say they lied and misrepresented evidence at trial. Epis was released from prison after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found in favor of medical marijuana patients in the Raich case, but now a judge says he has to go back and serve his original term.

Same term for medical pot grower
by Denny Walsh, Sacramento Bee (CA)
For the second time in five years, Bryan James Epis, the first person associated with a California cannabis buyers' club to be tried in a federal court for growing marijuana, was sentenced Friday in Sacramento to 10 years in prison.

WISCONSIN: State Measure Introduced Again

For the fifth year in a row, the Wisconsin state legislature is taking up the question of whether medical marijuana patients should be prosecuted for following their doctors’ advice. Polling shows that more than 75% of Wisconsin voters think access to medical marijuana should be legal. Lawmakers will again have the chance to bring public policy into line with public opinion.

Medical cannabis supporters unite
by Cara Harshman, Badger Herald (WI)
Is your medicine legal? Jacki Rickert’s isn’t. The Wisconsin mother joined two state legislators and other medical marijuana supporters Tuesday for a press conference to announce the introduction of new medical marijuana legislation.

Their medicine's not legal yet
by Jackie Johnson, Wisconsin Radio Network
Two state lawmakers introduce comprehensive medical marijuana legislation, called the "Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act."

In Politics: For the Health of It
by Doug Hissom, On Milwaukee Magazine
Some state legislators are trying the get Wisconsin out of the mainstream when it comes to pot laws. The latest effort is being billed as "the most comprehensive medical marijuana legislation to date," according to bill sponsors, state Reps. Frank Boyle (D-Superior) and Mark Pocan (D-Madison).

Just a bill: Medical marijuana
by Stacy Forster, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
People with debilitating medical conditions would have access to marijuana under a bill introduced by Democratic Reps. Mark Pocan of Madison and Frank Boyle of Superior.

Boyle reintroduces medical marijuana bill
KUWS radio (WI)
Using marijuana for medical relief will be proposed again in the Wisconsin legislature again this session. Mike Simonson reports from Superior.

NEW YORK: Medical Marijuana Bill Moving Forward

The state Assembly has already passed a bill to remove criminal penalties for medical marijuana patients in New York. Now the state Senate is considering a different version of the bill, one that could render the law unworkable. The tactic has drawn the condemnation of at least one editorial board.

NY State Sen. Morahan backs medical pot stance
by Matt King, Times-Herald Record (NY)
Days after medical marijuana advocates took out an ad targeting state Sen. Thomas Morahan, he reaffirmed his support for a bill allowing doctors to prescribe the drug for seriously ill patients.

Baloney on medical marijuana
EDITORIAL, Times Herald-Record (NY)
There's a trick politicians use when they want to appear to be in favor of some issue that has strong public support. They craft legislation that suggests support but include a provision they know the other political party won't go for.

FEDERAL: Targeting of Patients Continues, Condemned

When the US Supreme Court ruled in 2005 that federal agents may arrest and prosecute medical marijuana patients if they choose, justice department officials said the government was not interested in going after sick people. Yet the two years since then have seen a sharp escalation of raids, with federal agents staging multiple, coordinated raids aimed at intimidating communities. The DEA is also seizing the homes of patients, even in state cases, while threatening to take any buildings been rented to dispensaries.

Our View - Pot raids make no constitutional sense
EDITORIAL, Daily 49er (Cal State Long Beach)
California has become the abused child of an oppressive regime. Rather than conducting raids in all states with legislation similar to California's Proposition 215 (enacted to allow using cannabis as an alternative form of treatment for a host of chronic ailments), the federal Drug Enforcement Administration has decided to flex their muscles here, on our turf.

Americans compromise on pot
by Michael Booth, Denver Post
Take one swift glance at a U.S. map coded to reflect the widely varying marijuana laws in each state, and drug policy seems to range from irrational to incoherent. But dig into the details of public opinion, user behavior and police enforcement, and a more lucid picture of American attitudes comes into focus: People have learned to live with pot, up to a fine point.

DEA Raids in Nevada County
by Nevada County Sheriff's Office, Yuba Net
Yesterday, September 13, 2007, the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) executed search warrants for the illegal cultivation and sale of marijuana. The first search warrant was served on a man with a valid Prop 215 medical marijuana recommendation, yet Prop 215 is not recognized under federal law.

Ridge woman to lose home over pot cultivation charge
Chico Enterprise Record
Patricia Hatton, 53, will be sentenced in Butte County Superior Court Nov. 7 on a felony charge of illegal cultivation of marijuana, and faces up to three years in prison. It's already been determined, however, that she will also lose her home.

WASHINGTON: Advocates Want Local Interference Stopped

State officials recognize that ambiguity in Washington’s medical marijuana law is creating conflicting views on what is legally permissible for patients. At issue is the quantity that constitutes the 60-day supply of medication provided for in the law. Since there are considerable differences in the dosages required by particular patients or conditions – some federal patients receive more than six pounds a year – setting state guidelines has proven tricky.

Pro-marijuana group wants Yakima investigated
KNDO - TV (WA)
A medical marijuana advocacy group is asking Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna to investigate Yakima County to see if it is following Washington's medical marijuana law.

Pot advocates criticize two county officials
by Mark Morey, Yakima Herald (WA)
Medical marijuana advocates are charging that Yakima County has disregarded the state's law regarding limited use of the drug by approved patients.

CALIFORNIA: Plant Count An Issue in Arrest

Similar to the question Washington officials face about what quantity of marijuana is legal to possess, some California counties are trying to interpret state guidelines. Unfortunately, some local officials have taken the state legislature’s minimum permissible amounts as limits, despite a state law that courts have said allows patients to grow and possess whatever they need. A particular problem with setting limits based on number of plants is that different varieties and cultivation techniques produce considerably different quantities of usable medicine.

Too many marijuana plants
by Rob Young, Marysville Appeal-Democrat (CA)
An East Marysville man had a medical marijuana card, but he and his wife had far more of the drug than allowed when their home was raided Tuesday, police said.

DISPENSARIES: Locals Debate Access as Nation Watches

With venerable news show 60 Minutes taking a look at California’s medical marijuana dispensaries, the nation will get another look at some of the issues surrounding these community-based solutions to the problem of safe access. Despite the interference of federal agencies, the California experience is a case study in federalism, providing a laboratory of experiment on how to meet both the needs of patients and the concerns of the larger community. ASA’s report on the experience of local officials shows that a regulated approach to dispensaries works; see it at www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/DispensaryReport.

The Debate On California's Pot Shops
by Morley Safer, 60 Minutes - CBS News
The idea was a noble one: pass a law to make marijuana legal for cancer and AIDS sufferers whose pain and nausea the drug is known to relieve. But the law the Rev. Scott Imler thought would one day put the drug in pharmacies has instead created "pot dealers in storefronts" who sell to anyone with doctors' notes that are fairly easy to obtain.

Norco bans pot dispensaries
by Andrea Bennett, Daily Bulletin (CA)
The City Council voted to ban medical marijuana dispensaries in all city zones on Wednesday night.

CANADA: Patient’s Case Challenges Registration Requirement

Like most state medical marijuana programs in the U.S., Health Canada requires patients to register to receive federal marijuana and be considered legal. But not all patients who are helped by medical marijuana can or will register with such programs. A case being considered in Canada may address the issue there.

Nova Scotia medical marijuana case now in hands of jury
by Tom McCoag, Halifax Chronicle Herald (Canada)
The fate of a Maccan-area man who says he has the cure for cancer is now in the hands of a Nova Scotia Supreme Court jury.

MORE ABOUT AMERICANS FOR SAFE ACCESS

Find out more about ASA at AmericansForSafeAccess.org. More medical marijuana news summaries can be seen at AmericansForSafeAccess.org/News.