ASA's Medical Marijuana in the News: Week of March 30, 2007

ASA IN THE NEWS: Implementation a Thorny Issue RHODE ISLAND: Legislators Look to Extend Law CONNECTICUT: State Protections Urged ILLINOIS: Public Waiting on Lawmakers WASHINGTON: Changes to Law May Not Improve Matters NEW HAMPSHIRE: Close Vote Goes Against Public Opinion CALIFORNIA: Another Federal Raid on a Dispensary CALIFORNIA: Dispensaries Remain a Hot Issue CALIFORNIA: ID Card Fees Debated FEDERAL: Medical Marijuana Foe Now Ally _________________________________________ ASA IN THE NEWS: Implementation a Thorny Issue The efforts of ASA staff and members are having an impact on safe access in California and around the country. Alan Bock, a longtime editor of the Orange County Register, gives ASA credit for much of the headway made with California implementation. ASA spokespersons are helping educate the media, lawmakers and the public. Still waiting to inhale by Alan Bock, Columnist, Orange County Register (CA) California voters in 1996 passed Proposition 215, which exempted bona fide patients with a recommendation from a licensed physician from certain aspects of state prohibition against the possession, use or transportation of marijuana, or cannabis. More than 10 years later, however, implementation of the law is spotty and still controversial.... The organization that has perhaps done the most to push compliance with California's medical marijuana law is Americans for Safe Access, headquartered in Oakland. Medical pot's hazy future by K. Kaufmann, Desert Sun A series of federal and county actions have targeted medical marijuana dispensaries in California. Today, reverberations are being felt throughout the state as counties and cities wrestle with their obligations under state laws that allow medical marijuana and possible liability under federal laws that ban it. "I think the Legislature needs to get involved," said Kris Hermes, legal campaign director for Americans for Safe Access. _________________________________________ RHODE ISLAND: Legislators Look to Extend Law When state lawmakers passed the medical marijuana law in Rhode Island they added a "sunset provision" that causes the law to expire this year. With near-universal agreement that the law has worked well, patients are looking forward to seeing the protections become permanent. R.I. lawmakers urged to permanently legalize medical marijuana by Associated Press, Boston Herald Medical marijuana patients urged legislators on Wednesday to permanently legalize the drug for medicinal uses in Rhode Island, saying it is one of the few things that provide relief for crippling pain often caused by chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis and AIDS. Senate committee to consider expanding medical marijuana law by Associated Press, WPRI Fox News (RI) A Senate committee is set to consider a proposal today that would permanently legalize medical marijuana in Rhode Island. _________________________________________ CONNECTICUT: State Protections Urged Public support for safe access to medical marijuana in Connecticut is being voiced by celebrities and opinion makers. Among those speaking out is Emmy-award winning talkshow host Montel Williams, who has been telling lawmakers how marijuana has helped him fight the symptoms of MS. Montel urges legalizing medical marijuana United Press International Talk show host Montel Williams told Connecticut lawmakers he uses marijuana every day to stave off the pain associated with his multiple sclerosis. OPINION State Should Legalize Medical Marijuana EDITORIAL, UConn Daily Campus Connecticut should join the 11 (sic) other states that have signed into law bills that would legalize the possession and use of medical marijuana. There has been much heated debate over whether or not Connecticut should join the ranks of Rhode Island and Vermont in allowing marijuana for medicinal purposes. _________________________________________ ILLINOIS: Public Waiting on Lawmakers Year after year, Illinois state legislators take up the question of whether their constituents should be considered criminals if they follow a doctor's advice to use medical cannabis. Public opinion there, as everywhere else in the country, is overwhelmingly in favor of shielding the sick and suffering from criminal liability. Medical marijuana debate pains homemaker by Kendrick Marshall, Lake County News-Sun Lisa Van Camp has spent the majority of her adult life in excruciating pain Research indicates possible benefits of marijuana, possible penalty by Eric Mills, Daily Vidette (IL) With certain research indicating possible benefits of marijuana, many believe Illinois should be one of the next states to legalize it for medicinal purposes. _________________________________________ WASHINGTON: Changes to Law May Not Improve Matters In Washington, as elsewhere, the broad agreement about allowing medical access does not always extend to the details of how to provide it. State lawmakers there are considering a bill intended to help clarify Washington's medical marijuana law, but key provisions patients and doctors have advocated have been altered or abandoned. Rally amplifies voices on medical marijuana by Kurt Ackerson , The Olympian (WA) Supporters of medical marijuana gathered at the Washington state Capitol on Monday before a House Health Care and Wellness Committee hearing for a bill dealing with the topic. _________________________________________ NEW HAMPSHIRE: Close Vote Goes Against Public Opinion A 2003 Zogby poll showed 84% of Granite Staters support safe access to medical marijuana, yet lawmakers there are still just shy of the majority they need to enact statewide protections. N.H. House rejects medical marijuana Associated Press The House voted narrowly Wednesday to reject legalizing marijuana use for medicinal purposes. _________________________________________ CALIFORNIA: Another Federal Raid on a Dispensary The federal interference in California's community-based efforts to tend to the health and welfare of its citizens continued this week with a raid on another medical marijuana dispensary. ASA spokesman Kris Hermes pointed out that the local sheriff is obliged to enforce state law, not federal. Allegations of Misconduct After Federal Drug Raid at Morro Bay Marijuana Dispensary by Amy Andrews, KSBY - NBC TV 6 Allegations of mistreatment surface after a federal drug raid at the Morro Bay medical marijuana dispensary. Morro Bay pot raid triggered by alleged violations of state and federal laws by Leslie Parrilla, San Luis Obispo Tribune (CA) Sheriff's Department officials said they were investigating both state and federal violations when they raided a medical marijuana dispensary in Morro Bay this week. Kris Hermes, the legal campaign director of Americans For Safe Access, a national medical marijuana advocacy organization, said, "If officials were concerned about state violations, they should have used state-issued search warrants instead of federal warrants." U.S. drug agents raid Morro Bay pot dispensary by Leslie Parrilla, San Luis Obispo Tribune (CA) The owner of a medical marijuana dispensary in Morro Bay said he is unsure whether he'll reopen after federal and local authorities raided his business and his Arroyo Grande home Thursday. Kris Hermes, the legal campaign director for Americans For Safe Access, a national medical marijuana advocacy organization, said there has been an increase in such raids by federal agents. Morro Bay Medical Marijuana Dispensary Bust by Amy Andrews, Kelly Bush, Andrew Masuda, KSBY TV 6 Federal agents raid the only medical marijuana dispensary between Buellton and Oakland and Action News has the exclusive video. Feds raid Morro Bay pot clinic by Associated Press , Orange County Register (CA) Federal and local authorities raided a Morro Bay medical marijuana clinic Thursday and arrested an employee. _________________________________________ CALIFORNIA: Dispensaries Remain a Hot Issue Medical marijuana dispensaries are becoming increasingly popular in California because they are a compassionate, community-based solution for providing safe access for patients. Local officials who have established regulations for dispensary operations report great success. In communities considering moratoria or bans, ASA is working to educate officials on the benefits of sound regulations. ASA's report on the issue is at http://safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=3676. Grand Terrace to vote on medical marijuana ban by Julie Farren, Press Enterprise The Grand Terrace City Council tonight will consider prohibiting medical marijuana dispensaries in the city. _________________________________________ CALIFORNIA: ID Card Fees Debated The voluntary state ID card system relies on the actions of county officials to implement it. Many local officials have joined with patients in protesting the fee increases the state has tried to impose, while others are considering how to handle the cost of a program that ultimately saves law enforcement resources. Alameda County supes lower medical pot card fee by Chris Metinko, Contra Costa Times The Alameda County Board of Supervisors this afternoon unanimously approved a fee decrease for medical marijuana identification cards in the county. Medical pot fee could nearly double by Rob Rogers, Marin Independent Journal The fee for Marin County medical marijuana identification cards could nearly double next month. _________________________________________ FEDERAL: Medical Marijuana Foe Now Ally In a move that shows medicine can transcend political definitions of conservative and liberal, a Congressman who overturned the District of Columbia's medical marijuana initiative will now be lobbying to undo his handiwork and establish federal exemptions for medical use. Former Georgia Rep. Barr lobbies for marijuana group by Associated Press, Fox News As a Republican, former Georgia congressman Bob Barr spent years fighting efforts to soften the nation's drug laws, including blocking a 1998 referendum in which nearly 70 percent of Washington, D-C, voters approved medical marijuana use. Now, as a Libertarian and a lobbyist, he's changing sides. Barr shifts in support of medical marijuana by Gerry Smith, Cox News Service Bob Barr, a former Georgia Republican congressman and anti-drug crusader is in the unusual position of lobbying to overturn a law he sponsored.