By Joey Peters
After more than three hours of debate over dropping post traumatic stress disorder from the Medical Cannabis Program, theMedical Cannabis Advisory Board unanimously recommended to keep PTSD as a qualifier.
Albuquerque psychiatrist William Ulwelling made headlines last month when his plans to petition against PSTD as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana went public. It led to plenty of press coverage—more than Ulwelling says he’s ever experienced in his life—and resistance from medical marijuana advocates across the state.
Complete article:
http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/blog-3988-medical-cannabis-adv.html
Month: November 2012
Marijuana initiative passes in Detroit’s Proposal M vote
BY: MICHAEL VELARDO
Detroiter’s resoundingly passed Proposal M Tuesday, 11-6-2012, allowing possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana on private property for adults aged 21 and over.
Complete article here:
http://www.examiner.com/article/marijuana-initiative-passes-detroit-s-2012-election
Flint, Michigan says yes to pot
Joel Feick
Soon it will be OK for Flint adults to have a small amount of marijuana. With most of the votes in, about 60 percent of voters have said “yes” to pot.
Specfically, they’re expected to approve a measure to decriminalize possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. The vote will make it legal for anyone 19 years of age or older to have less than an ounce– on private property. Still to be determined: when it would go into effect. Grand Rapids and Detroit appear to be headed to supporting similar measures. Voters in Colorado and Washington also approved initiatives to decriminalize the recreational use of marijuana.
Complete article:
http://www.minbcnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=822386#.UJqxMG_A-Ps
Grand Rapids, Michigan voters decriminalize marijuana
Pot possession is nowa civil infraction with fines
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) – Getting caught with some marijuana in Grand Rapids is now a civil infraction similar to a parking ticket after voters OK’d the city-wide Proposal 2.
With 74% of votes in, Proposal 2 showed 60% of Grand Rapids residents voted “yes” on the proposal, while 40% voted “no.”
Modeled after Ann Arbor’s decades-old law, Proposal 2 makes a first-time marijuana possession offense a $25 fine, $50 for a second offense and $100 for the third (and any subsequent) offenses.
Complete article:
http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/GR-voters-decriminalize-marijuana
Modeled after Ann Arbor’s decades-old law, Proposal 2 makes a first-time marijuana possession offense a $25 fine, $50 for a second offense and $100 for the third (and any subsequent) offenses.
Complete article:
http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/GR-voters-decriminalize-marijuana
Colorado, Washington Become First States to Legalize Recreational Marijuana
In a groundbreaking move, Colorado and Washington voters have passed referendums legalizing marijuana for recreational use. The drug is still banned under federal law.
Colorado’s Proposition 64 to the state’s constitution makes it legal for anyone over the age of 21 to possess marijuana and for businesses to sell it.
Complete article:
http://gma.yahoo.com/colorado–washington-become-first-states-to-legalize-recreational-marijuana.html
Women in Prison – Oklahoma
Patricia Spottedcrow sold $31 in marijuana to an informant and received 12 years in prison.
She was one of women profiled in the series that investigated why Oklahoma is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the number of women in prison.
The state incarcerates 134 women per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 69 per 100,000, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. While the number of women entering Oklahoma’s prisons each year has remained somewhat stable in recent years – 1,284 in 2009 – the number of women in the system has grown to a high for the decade as tougher sentencing laws have passed.
The cost to taxpayers is high, up to $43 per inmate per day at one facility. Meanwhile, experts say the children of female prisoners are at risk to continue the cycle.
In 2011, the Tulsa World partnered with Oklahoma Watch — an independent, non-profit investigative reporting team — to explore the issue of female incarceration.
Complete article:
http://www.tulsaworld.com/webextra/continuingcoverage/default.aspx/Women_In_Prison/15
Canadian hemp growing like a weed, experts ponder how to help industry blossom
John Cotter, 
Canadian Hemp Trading Alliance says Saskatchewan is by far the leading province in hemp production.
Photo Credit: Anndrea Hermann , Supplied
EDMONTON – Canada’s small hemp industry is growing like a weed, but still faces some hurdles because of its illegal and potent cousin, marijuana.
This week, farmers, scientists, health food experts, retailers and fashion designers are meeting in Edmonton to celebrate hemp and discuss how to help products derived from the plant to blossom on world markets.
Kim Shukla, executive director of the Canadian Hemp Trading Alliance, says production in this country is forecast to almost double by 2015.
“That will translate to about $100 million to the Canadian economy,” she said from her farm near Steinbach, Man. “Saskatchewan is by far the leading province, followed by Manitoba and Alberta.”
This week, farmers, scientists, health food experts, retailers and fashion designers are meeting in Edmonton to celebrate hemp and discuss how to help products derived from the plant to blossom on world markets.
Kim Shukla, executive director of the Canadian Hemp Trading Alliance, says production in this country is forecast to almost double by 2015.
“That will translate to about $100 million to the Canadian economy,” she said from her farm near Steinbach, Man. “Saskatchewan is by far the leading province, followed by Manitoba and Alberta.”
Complete article:
Medical marijuana bill awaits action in Illinois House
By John Froehling
Here’s an issue that will not appear on the ballot Tuesday as a referendum question but involves legislation that passed the Illinois Senate and stalled in the House: medical marijuana. Consider:
–An Illinois man in hospice care seven years ago now looks forward to walking his daughter down the aisle for her wedding. Diagnosed with six months or less to live for hospice care, he tried smoking marijuana. It relieved nausea and vomiting, as well as stimulated his appetite. He began to eat more and was able keep the food down. He regained his strength and stopped taking medications with awful side effects.
–A businessman moved to Canton from another state that had legalized marijuana for medical purposes. His wife uses cannabis for relief from Crohn’s disease, and he uses it for cramps and anxiety. They thought Illinois would pass a law soon legalizing marijuana for medical purposes like 17 other states have done. They are still waiting.
–A reverend who formerly directed Protestants for a Common Good, a faith-based advocacy group for the legalization of medical marijuana in Illinois, notes a restrictive bill passed by the Illinois Senate over two years ago awaits House action. If nothing is done, House Bill 30 sunsets after three years. The faith-based group supports HB 30 as “a matter of compassion and mercy,” he says.
Complete article:
http://www.geneseorepublic.com/article/20121105/NEWS/121109652
How You Can Help Bring Medical Marijuana To Arkansas In The Next 3 Days
By Hunter Holliman, Americans for Safe Access
Just 2 days until election night and there are still ways you can help make safe access a reality in Arkansas! Below is a list of 5 things you can do (not including voting of course) …
1. Be Visible: Polling outreach
- On Monday Nov 5th, take your signs and flyers and display them with pride 150 feet from your local court house, either from 8:30-10:30 am or 12:30-1:30 and/or 4:30 to 6:30 pm
- On Tuesday Nov 6th, bring out your signs and banners to hold them 150 feet from your local polling location
2. Public outreach: College Campus or Public places (shopping centers etc)
- Download flyers here, grab a friend and take them to your local college campus or public space and hand them out on Monday.
3. Be Heard: Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. Click here to send a letter to local paper!
4. Phone outreach: Help us reach likely voters by signing up to phone bank starting Saturday.
- It’s uper easy to sign up! Click here and get started right away!
5. Tell all your friends to vote: Email, call, post on Facebook on Monday and Tuesday. Don’t forget to vote!
Yellow Cab will give you a free ride to and from polls by calling 501-222-2222 on election day
Thanks for helping Get Out the Voye on Issue 5, and please email me if you’re interested in signs, banners, or phone banking … hunter@safeaccessnow.org
http://www.theweedblog.com/how-you-can-help-bring-medical-marijuana-to-arkansas-in-the-next-3-days/
Montana voters to decide fate of medical marijuana restrictions
HELENA – Since Lori Burnam’s medical marijuana supply dried up, her weight has dropped from 74 to 69 pounds and her glaucoma has worsened to the point where she has undergone emergency treatment to relieve the pressure on her eyes.
The marijuana had kept the glaucoma in check for the 66-year-old Hamilton resident with lung cancer. It helped her appetite and stopped her nausea. But her supply has been rationed for much of this year because of the uncertainty brought by a restrictive medical marijuana law and the back-and-forth court rulings dealing with it.
The fate of that law is now in the hands of voters, who will be asked Tuesday to ratify or repeal the new restrictions. Their decision may determine how Burnam lives out her last days, she said.
“They’ll write me out morphine and Oxycontin (prescriptions), but I don’t want to be a zombie,” Burnam said. “There will be a point of time where I will be like that, but now I want to enjoy the time I have left.”
Complete article:
http://www.ravallirepublic.com/news/state-and-regional/article_947aae61-eff7-5571-b29d-2906fcf941c7.html