-Government Law- 
Where operator of medical marijuana dispensary never applied for an operating permit as required by local ordinance, Government Code section providing a 90-day statute of limitations for actions “to determine the reasonableness, legality, or validity of any condition attached to a variance, conditional use permit, or any other permit” did not apply. Ninety-day period in which to challenge a local zoning ordinance on its face under Sec. 65009(c)(1)(B) runs from date the ordinance is enacted, not from date that locality first attempts to enforce it against plaintiff. Plaintiff’s assertion that it was challenging ordinance “as applied” did not render 90-day statute inapplicable where the harm alleged by plaintiff–that it was ordered to stop operating–resulted solely from the enactment of the ordinance and not from any “final administrative action” or permit condition. 
     County of Sonoma v. Superior Court (Marvin’s Gardens Cooperative, Inc.) – filed December 15, 2010, First District, Div. Five 
     Cite as A128734 
     Full text http://www.metnews.com/sos.cgi?1210%2FA128734

By Damien Hoffman

Yes, Arnold may actually pump you up with tourism dollars … from marijuana.
It’s no secret the California economy is in deep shit. But thanks to California’s creative entrepreneurial spirit, the largest state in the US union is also one of the top 10 economies in the world.
Those entrepreneurs are waking up to one of the greatest market opportunities within what’s already becoming one of the hottest new economic sectors in the US: marijuana tourism. The AP reports:

“The Dutch government moved a step closer to barring tourists from Holland’s signature marijuana bars with a ruling by the European Court of Justice on Thursday.”

One economy’s loss is another’s gain.
Let’s take a deeper look at how much of a multiplier effect marijuana tourism will have on other businesses:

Read complete article here:

http://wallstcheatsheet.com/breaking-news/economy/get-pumped-california-marijuana-tourism-is-about-to-explode.html

By Pete Guither
With Thanksgiving over, the Christmas shopping season is in full swing (of course it started some time ago much to my annoyance, with Christmas displays going up in stores in September!).
I thought I’d give you my own suggestion for Christmas presents: buy hemp. It’s a really good idea for a number of reasons.
Now it is true that hemp products can be a little more expensive than other products, but here’s a few reasons why it’s worth it:

• Hemp products are quality products (the food products are more nutritious, clothing products are more durable, body products are more healthy, etc.)
• Hemp products are good for the environment
• When you give hemp products, you have the chance to educate others on the value of industrial hemp while giving them something they’ll really like.
• Every time you buy hemp products you’re sticking it to the DEA, which has unsuccessfully attempted to block many of them.
• You are contributing to the development of a potentially huge industry that could help to shape the country’s views on the cannabis plant.

To find a physical store near you that sells hemp products, you can try the Industrial Hemp Products Retail Stores Directory.
Of course, you can always just Google hemp products, or hemp foods, or hemp clothing and get tons of options. If you want to make sure they’re a responsible company, you can check to see if they’re one of the Hemp Industry Association member sites.

Read complete article here:

 http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stories/2004/11/27/holidayShoppingGuideBuyHem.html

by Fernando Henrique Cardoso

Photo: Guatemalan Elite Anti-drugs Forces, Press Office of the President of Guatemala
SAO PAULO – The war on drugs is a lost war, and 2011 is the time to move away from a punitive approach in order to pursue a new set of policies based on public health, human rights, and common sense. These were the core findings of the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy that I convened, together with former presidents Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico and César Gaviria of Colombia.

Read complete article here:

http://www.guatemala-times.com/opinion/syndicated/1904-ending-the-never-ending-war-on-drugs.html

When Rick Simpson told the world he was curing cancer by using an oil made from the cannabis plant you would have thought it worthy of a little news coverage, or even a Nobel prize? 
 Instead he was dragged kicking and screaming through the Canadian court system, labelled as some sort of ‘snake oil’ peddler, and cast off to the USA, and later exiled in Europe for fear of a lengthy incarceration in his home land. 
Rick Simpsons crime was trying to help people suffering with various cancers. He was especially keen to step in with patients who’s treatment regimes were seen not to be working very well. 
When he mentioned his successes to his doctors receptionist he was told in no uncertain terms the doctor will not be discussing cannabis oil anytime soon. 
No matter if it works or not? 
 The alternative course of treatment for patients suffering advanced skin cancer (or Melanoma), is a new drug called tasisulam made by ‘impotence/erection’ specialists Eli Lilly, (no not Viagra , but the other one). 
Lilly was testing whether the drug, tasisulam, was any better than an older drug, paclitaxel, in treating people with an advanced form of skin cancer, or melanoma. 
In the meantime 12 patients have died, which a spokeswomen for Eli Lilly called ‘potentially treatment related’. 

Read complete article here:

http://pr.cannazine.co.uk/201012141399/green/eco-news/eli-lilly-drugs-trial-causes-deaths-cannabis-doesnt.html

For more info http://www.phoenixtears.ca
Learn about Rick Simpson, the man who rediscovered the cure for cancer and shared it with as many people as he could http://www.youtube.com/paulagloria#p/…
Recently while traveling from Canada Rick had his house raided again for the third time, and while Rick always admitted with pride that he had grown medicinal hemp and cured people with it… the police fabricated this “raid” and found no marijuana and actually stole other things from the property, and all without producing a warrant. The police force that broke into Rick’s home and destroyed the inside stole the very security cameras that proves what they were doing.
http://www.youtube.com/user/chrychek#…
Rick had no marijuana on his property, yet he has been charged with the best the police and prosecutor could come up with. Rick tore himself away from his heavy healing work to pick up the the Cannabis Cup Award in Amsterdam http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SqSko… and due to this horrible turn of events many people will probably die without their medicine. rabbitholecentral tv is trying to throw as much light on this story as possible as the plight of these patients today maybe be yours tomorrow and of all the most valuable things to acquire in life knowledge is the greatest. Learn about hemp oil.
Finally in its entirety the should-be-award-winning documentary by Christian Laurette. If you haven’t seen it before here it is on Paula Gloria’s old director’s account so you can see and share it on youtube more easily.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0psJhQHk_GI

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA–(Marketwire – Dec. 13, 2010)
The Government of Canada is injecting more than $728,000 to help the hemp industry increase production capacity and make new inroads into the U.S. market. The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, made the announcement today on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.
“Canadian farmers and processors are finding tremendous success with hemp thanks to its many nutritional benefits and wide range of uses in pasta, salad dressings and frozen desserts,” said Minister Toews. “This Government is proud to invest in this growing industry so that farmers can continue to expand their markets and develop more products.”
The Government of Canada investment will support three groups:

• A $410,000 repayable contribution through the AgriProcessing Initiative for Fresh Hemp Foods to purchase and install new dehulling, oil pressing, and packaging equipment in its new 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility.
• A $300,000 repayable contribution through the AgriProcessing Initiative for Hemp Oil Canada to purchase and install new air classification milling and cold press oil expeller technology.
• A $18,625 investment through the AgriMarketing program for the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance to enhance its website, hold a strategic planning meeting of its board of directors and take the first steps toward achieving Generally Regarded as Safe status in the U.S.

In 2009, exports of hemp seed and hemp products were valued at more than $8 million, with most exports going to the U.S.

Read complete article here:

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Government-Canada-Investment-Help-Hemp-Farmers-Processors-Reach-Full-Potential-1368122.htm

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~

Photo: Citizen Arcane

​Four men from Queens, New York are suing the NYPD because they say an angry cop arrested them after another group of men laughed at the cop when he was unable to catch a fleeing marijuana suspect on foot.
The arrests were made after cops approached a group gathered at Rufus King Park in Jamaica, Queens, on the afternoon of August 19, reports John Del Signore at The Gothamist. Police saw someone throw a bag in a garbage can, so they began frisking everyone to check for drugs, and one suspect allegedly told them he’d “smoked all the marijuana.”
Then the guy ran off, with one cop chasing him on foot.
When the cop returned after the guy outran him, he was out of breath, and some spectators at a nearby handball game laughed at the winded officer.
One of the cops allegedly then said, “If you think that’s funny, watch what I do to them,” and arrested the four men.

Photo: DelMundo/New York Daily News

Ishmial Deas (left), Abdul Kabba, and Hasan Allen (right) were arrested and released by police after being held for a total of 31 hours. They have filed a lawsuit.

​The bag that had been thrown in the trash contained 31 glassine envelopes of marijuana, and the four men were charged with its possession.
The men said they were locked up for more than 30 hours by cops seeking revenge on a crowd of men who laughed at the officer after he couldn’t catch the suspect, reports John Marzulli at the New York Daily News.

Read complete article here:

http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2010/12/four_men_arrested_for_laughing_at_cops_failed_pot.php#more

By SARAH WATSON
Staff Writer pressofAtlanticCity.com 

Diane Riportella did not take pain medication Friday, hoping she could make it through the day. By evening, however, the pain from not being able to move was unbearable, the anxiety and fear inconsolable.
Rather than have her husband Paul give her a few drops of cherry-flavored liquid morphine, the Egg Harbor Township resident instead asked that he light her pipe with medical grade marijuana. Almost instantly, she said, the pain dissipated, her anxiety gone and she felt the will to live come back.
Today, if everything occurs as expected, Diane Riportella will hear that the state Senate passed a resolution that could be the last hurdle in legalizing medical marijuana in New Jersey. Unfortunately, Diane, who is in the final stages of Lou Gehrig’s Disease, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also called ALS, won’t be in Trenton to watch the vote in person.

Read entire article here:

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/politics/article_162ccf28-064c-11e0-9b01-001cc4c002e0.html

By Daniel Tencer
 
Legalization ‘looking inevitable,’ spokesman says. 
If there’s one group of people who get their way in Washington, it’s lobbyists. 
Now, advocates of marijuana legalization may have a reason to cheer that political reality: They’re getting their own marijuana lobby group. 
And just Big Pharma and Big Oil lobby for greater leeway for their businesses, so too will Big Marijuana push for their industry to be given the freedom to succeed. 

Read complete article here:

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/12/big-pharma-big-oil-big-marijuana/