Medical Marijuana Gets a Push From a Surprising Source in Congress

By: 
Rep Morgan Griffith

Rep. Griffith’s bill would move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II, which is the same as Oxycodone and Hydrocodone

A conservative southern Republican congressman has begun a pushing to change federal law prohibiting the use of medical marijuana. On Tuesday Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Virginia) introducedHR 4498 the ‘Legitimate Use of Medicinal Marijuana Act’ (LUMMA).
As a Republican from a state without a functioning medical marijuana program Griffith is an unusual advocate on this issue.  What motivated Griffith to begin push for federal change, though, was personal experience. Years ago Griffith knew someone suffering from cancer who was helped significantly by medical marijuana — but only because the hospital was  willing to turn a blind eye to this treatment. When Griffith heard about a constituent in a nearly identical situation he decided need to step up.
The bill would move marijuana from Schedule I, where it is defined as having no accepted medical value, to Schedule II, which is the same as Oxycodone and Hydrocodone. It would also allow medical marijuana to be used and produced at a state level for authorized patients with a prescription.
 
Full Article:
http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/2014/04/30/medical-marijuana-gets-a-push-from-a-surprising-source-in-congress/

High rollers: Las Vegas is poised to become the Disneyland of weed

By Lessley Anderson
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(Bautistas, via Creative Commons)
 
They won’t have neon signs, drive-thru windows, or 24-hour wedding chapels attached to them. But Las Vegas marijuana dispensaries will be massively profitable tourist attractions that could deepen the entire nation’s relationship with weed. At least that’s the hope of the 109 applicants who entered the heated competition for Vegas’ first medical marijuana dispensary and grow-room licenses in time for Tuesday’s deadline.
Nevada voters legalized medical marijuana way back in 2000, but the state only recently enacted regulations to allow people to open pot businesses legally. Unincorporated Clark County — not to be confused with Clark County, which contains the city of Las Vegas proper — includes the flashy 4.2-mile gambling corridor known as the Las Vegas Strip. It’s home to mega-casinos like the Bellagio and Caesars Palace and became the first jurisdiction to draft its licensing requirements. Those requirements look a lot like the ones that control its lucrative gambling industry: they favor high rollers and are geared towards reaping massive profits.
 
Full Article:
http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/30/5653538/dizzyland-the-future-of-legal-weed-in-las-vegas

Hawaii – Rev. Christie, Wife, Sentenced in Marijuana Distribution Case

BY TRACY RYAN
Roger and Share Christie

Roger and Share Christie

 The Reverend Roger Christie of the Hilo based THC ministry was sentenced Monday, April 28, 2014, in U.S. District Court in Honolulu.  Judge Leslie Kobayashi following, the Federal minimum sentencing guidelines, sentenced him to sixty months on count one of his indictment relating to the distribution of marijuana and one year each for two separate tax related crimes.  As per the defendant’s plea agreement several other charges were dismissed.
Entering the court in handcuffs and shackle the defendant sat quietly while the attorney’s argued about his role in the case.  He was allowed to speak briefly on his own behalf and did so with dignity that impressed everyone as he read his prepared remarks.
As part of the federal sentencing rules Rev. Christie must serve a minimum of forty eight months before becoming eligible for supervised release into the community.  The court allowed for this early release to take place and counted the almost four years in jail served to date against his sentence.  The two other convictions carrying the one year sentences were allowed to be served as part of the four years as well.  With these decisions Rev. Christie should be out of jail within a few weeks.
 
Full Article:
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/rev-christie-wife-sentenced-in-marijuana-distribution-case/123

Oklahoma coalition hopes to put marijuana on November ballot

By Wendell Edwards
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State lawmakers said no to legalizing marijuana in Oklahoma, but a coalition is hoping to bring the issue to the voter. And they’re hoping the voter says yes.
State Sen. Connie Johnson (D-Oklahoma City) championed several pro-marijuana bills that lawmakers rejected. She believes the time is now to let the people of Oklahoma decide.
“It brings us to the point where I think it’s time to take it outside of these four walls and take it the people,” Johnson said.

Full Article:

http://www.koco.com/news/coalition-hopes-to-put-marijuana-on-november-ballot/25722898

Cranfords debuts its high THC, machine-rolled cannabis cigarettes

By , The Cannabist Staff
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All-marijuana cigarettes are now a reality. (Cranfords Cannabis Cigarettes)
 

The cigarette is an American icon, like it or not. And while Big Tobacco and anti-cigarette activists alike can (and will) take advantage of its iconic visage, they’re not the only ones utilizing its familiarity.

A Colorado company debuted its all-marijuana cigarettes a few months ago, and now the Rifle, Colo.-based makers of Cranfords Cannabis Cigarettes are hoping their sharply marketed and smartly designed product takes off in Colorado — and soon other markets.

“A lot of people who smoke (tobacco) cigarettes have tried our products, and they like that it’s the same feeling — the way it fits between your fingers and how you smoke it and flick it,” said Cranfords chief operating officer Chris Connors. “But there’s no tobacco in there. It’s all marijuana, about 100 milligrams in each cigarette, so they’ll definitely make you feel differently than a regular cigarette.”

Full Article:

http://www.thecannabist.co/2014/04/28/cannabis-cigarettes-marijuana-cranfords/10651/

 

Colorado Symphony, cannabis industry partner for concert series

 
 
By Ray Mark RinaldiDenver Post Fine Arts Critic
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The Colorado Symphony Orchestra rehearses on April 24 at the Boettcher Concert Hall at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Classical music and cannabis will come together with a “bring your own cannabis” concert series this summer at the Space Gallery in the Santa Fe arts district. (Jamie Cotten, Special to The Denver Post)
 

The cultural revolution that is making marijuana part of everyday Colorado life conquers another established front Tuesday as the Colorado Symphony Orchestraannounces a series of performances sponsored by the cannabis industry.

The concerts, organized by pro-pot promoter Edible Events, will start May 23 with three bring-your-own marijuana events at the Space Gallery in Denver’s Santa Fe arts district and culminate with a large, outdoor performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Sept. 13. They are being billed as fundraisers for the CSO, which will curate a themed program of classical music for each show.

While acknowledging that the arrangement is unusual, even ground-breaking, CSO executive director Jerry Kern said the concerts will help the orchestra reach beyond its conservative, fine arts demographic while raising money for an organization that has struggled financially in recent years.

Full Article:

http://www.thecannabist.co/2014/04/29/colo-symphony-cannabis-industry-collide-concert-series-marijuana-classical-music/10685/

Cannabis for kids: Israel pioneers pediatric pot


Aviel Eshed, prior to his cancer diagnosis.

Source: Eshed family
Aviel Eshed, prior to his cancer diagnosis.
Sheba Medical Center is unique in that it’s a government-run hospital, where patients consume THC and Cannabidiol (CBD) oil as well as cannabis pills on-site.
Tikun Olam has about 4,000 patients, or about 30 percent of Israel’s medical marijuana recipients. The company has 60 employees including nurses, doctors, researchers and agronomists.
Most patients pay Tikun Olam $100 per month for medical cannabis, who also pay a one-time fee of $40 for a tutorial on how to properly use the cannabis. Those prices are determined by the Israeli Ministry of Health, which issues licenses for qualified patients to receive the marijuana. The $100 is a service fee, not dependent on how many grams of marijuana a patient receives.
For children with cancer, the cannabis is free. Though Tikun Olam has seen success in treating Arab and Jewish patients with marijuana in Israel, it has yet to find a partner to help it do the same in the Palestinian Authority.
The company is now appealing to Doctors without Borders and Physicians for Human Rights (PHR). Tikun Olam has high hopes for Zvi Bentwich, former chairman and current board member of PHR.
 
Full Article:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101607540

Sparks, Nevada moves forward on medical marijuana

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Sparks City Council on Monday moved forward on medical marijuana by approving an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance, the city announced.
The amendment allows for the regulation of medical marijuana cultivation facilities, independent testing laboratories and facilities for the production of edible marijuana-infused products, the city said in a news release.
“These uses are permitted only in the industrial zoning district,” the city said in a statement.
 
Full Article:
http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2014/04/28/sparks-oks-moves-forward-medical-marijuana/8435839/

Big fan of the Internet?

The Federal Communications Commission announced this week that it will propose new rules that would allow companies to pay Internet service providers (ISP) for special, faster lanes to deliver their content to customers. That means that large corporations like Disney or Netflix could pay to have their content delivered more smoothly, while small start-ups or anyone without the funds to pay would be stuck with slow or low-quality service.

The rule change would be devastating for net neutrality, the principle that ISPs must treat all content on the Internet equally and that users should have equal access to see any legal content. In an environment where large corporations can pay for faster service, it would become exceedingly difficult for start-ups and every day internet users to compete. 

Earlier this year, a federal appeals court struck down rules the FCC implemented in 2010 to protect net neutrality on the grounds that the agency classifies broadband providers as information service providers and not telecommunications service providers, which can be regulated more strictly. As John Nichols points out, it is well within the FCC’s power to reclassify internet access as a telecommunications service and to reassert its authority to protect net neutrality.

Don’t stand by while the internet is transformed into a pay-to-play service. Contact FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and tell him that we need a free and open internet.

Sign Petition Here:

http://activism.thenation.com/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=13853&tag=email853&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=activists&utm_campaign=Activism+-+Net+Neutrality