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Medical Marijuana

ACLU ready to challenge local marijuana ordinances

Officials in the Michigan cities of Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills prohibited the dispensing of medical marijuana by creating laws that state it is "unlawful for any person or business to engage in any activity, conduct, use or venture in the city that is contrary to federal, state, or local laws or ordinances." Medical marijuana is still considered a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law, thus it would now be illegal to use in those cities even though 63 percent of voters statewide voted the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA) into law. The ACLU sent letters to both cities challenging the ordinances, which the ACLU claims violate the rights of medical marijuana users.

Medical Marijuana To Treat Tourette’s?

A patient approached the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in March armed with research that suggests Tourette’s patients may find relief with medical marijuana. Now, pending approval this fall, people with Tourette’s Syndrome may be able under state law to use medical marijuana to help quell symptoms of the disorder.
VA seal
VA seal

Veterans Administration Allows Medical Marijuana Use (FEATURE)

Veterans in states where medical marijuana is legal may use it without getting thrown out of Veterans Administration pain treatment programs, the VA has announced in a clarification of its policies. The move responds to years of patient VA patients' efforts. Those advocates point out that VA physicians still are bound by an agency gag rule preventing them from recommending the substance until federal law changes.
US Capitol
US Capitol

Medical Marijuana Now Legal in DC

More than a decade after District voters approved it, medical marijuana is now legal in the nation's capital. But operating dispensaries are still months away.

Medical Marijuana Stakeholders Meeting

The Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey (CMMNJ) is proud to announce that a medical marijuana stakeholders meeting will be held in conjunction with the national patient advocacy organization, Americans for Safe Access (ASA).  Medical marijuana patients, their families, advocates, potential alternative treatment center owners, and health care professionals should attend the meeting.

Steph Sherer, Executive Director of ASA, will be the featured presenter at the stakeholders meeting.  Steph is an international leader and expert in medical cannabis advocacy who aids in drafting legislation and advises governments around the globe. She has been a guest lecturer at University of California, Berkeley and George Washington University, DC.

CMMNJ has worked with ASA as a resource throughout the medical marijuana legislative effort in New Jersey.  Now that the Garden State has passed a compassionate use law it is vital for local advocates to learn from seasoned experts how to proceed forward. New Jersey’s medical cannabis patients and volunteers can also be an important part of the national discussion about safe access.

ASA has ambitious national, regional and local Goals and Objectives for providing medical marijuana to patients. The stakeholders meeting will look at the following topics:


1. Creating the political playing field necessary to pass federal, state, and local legislation.
2. Implementing medical cannabis laws with methods that meet the needs of patients.
3. Passing meaningful legislation that creates safe and legal access in additional states.

Also presenting on the status and details of New Jersey’s medical marijuana law will be CMMNJ’s Ken Wolski RN and Chris Goldstein.  Jahan Marcu, a cannabinoid researcher from Temple University School of Medicine will discuss his work on cannabinoids eliminating cancer tumors.

The cost to attend the all-day conference is $20. There is limited seating. To secure a place at this important meeting, send a check made out to "CMMNJ" to 219 Woodside Ave, Trenton, NJ 08618. Or, pay through PayPal at www.cmmnj.org make sure to put “Stakeholders Meeting” in the note.

A benefit dinner with CMMNJ’s volunteers, Board members and ASA’s Steph Sherer will also take place on Friday night, 8/20/10 at 7:00 PM for $100.00. A separate payment is required for dinner reservations.

Media passes are available. A brief press conference will be held.

Medical Marijuana Groups Oppose Michele Leonhart for DEA

Medical marijuana advocacy groups have called on President Barack Obama to withdraw his nomination of Michele Leonhart to be DEA administrator. The coalition feels that Leonhart, who is currently the DEA’s acting-administrator, has not demonstrated that she is capable of leading the agency in a thoughtful manner at a time when 14 states have enacted medical marijuana laws, and science is increasingly confirming the therapeutic benefits of the substance. Under Leonhart’s leadership, the DEA has staged medical marijuana raids in complete disregard of Attorney General Eric Holder’s directive to the Justice Department to respect state medical marijuana laws.
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