The proposal would also allow patients to grow their own medicine and share it with others through collectives. But Koretz’s apparent attempt at compromise was met with anger from Councilman Jose Huizar, who wants all dispensaries banned.

“Two weeks ago, in closed session, we had a very level-headed discussion and a good decision on the direction our city attorney should take,” Huizar said.

“Now, they jumped hoops and waved out this new proposal that is an aggressive attempt to undo the direction we were going in.”

The issue now goes back to the city’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee for more study, delaying a decision from the council for now.

While many patients do grow their own, there are clearly some who can’t for whatever reason. Those patients need someone to be able to purchase their medicine just like every other adult human being. An outright ban on dispensaries would be discrimination in its ugliest form, against those who can’t defend themselves.

- Joe Klare

L.A. City Councilman Paul Koretz Proposes “Gentle Ban” On City Dispensaries is a post from: The 420 Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a just-released poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, three quarters of American voters (74%) want the Obama administration to respect individual state medical marijuana laws. The nationwide poll of 1000 registered likely voters was conducted May 7 to 11, 2012, and commissioned by the Marijuana Policy Project. The poll informed voters that medical marijuana is legal with a doctor’s recommendation in 16 states as well as the District of Columbia, and in some of those states it is legal for licensed and tightly regulated individuals to grow and sell marijuana to qualifying patients. Respondents were then asked if President Obama should respect the medical marijuana laws in these states, or continue to use federal resources to arrest and prosecute individuals who are acting in compliance with state medical marijuana laws.

“These results are consistent with the clear and growing body of evidence that documents substantial voter support for the legalization of medical marijuana,” said Larry Harris, a principal with Mason-Dixon Polling & Research.

Support for keeping the federal government out of state medical marijuana issues was universal across all demographics. With respect to political affiliation, 75% of Democrats, 67% of Republicans, and, notably 79% of Independents said that President Obama should respect state medical marijuana laws. Even among the least supportive group (those identified as over 65 years of age), 64% were in favor of respecting state law.

“The results of this survey demonstrate that there is virtually no support in the country for the Obama administration’s crackdown on state medical marijuana laws,” said Steve Fox, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project. “Across all demographic and ideological groups, the American people strongly believe the president should respect state medical marijuana laws, as he promised he would when he campaigned to be president. It is clearly time for President Obama to stand up to the members of his administration who are carrying out the morally wrong and politically unpopular policy of denying patients safe access to this beneficial medicine.”

The full poll and demographic breakdown can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/Kx0zu4

If even 67% of Republicans support medical marijuana, what exactly is holding up progress? While strides have obviously been made, things would be moving much faster for patients if the federal government wasn’t cracking down.

Politicians must be made to feel these poll numbers, through phone calls and emails and votes. Be sure your representatives and Senators know how you feel.

- Joe Klare

New Poll Says 74% Of Americans Fully Support Medical Marijuana Laws is a post from: The 420 Times

Sacramento, CA – Californians to Regulate Medical Marijuana, a Political Action Committee formed in the fall of 2011 to push for passage of a statewide production and distribution system, is holding a “Unity Conference” this weekend, followed by a press conference and lobby day on Monday. Advocates will gather at the Sacramento Central Labor Council on Saturday and Sunday to build their skills and strategize on passing statewide regulations. Hundreds of advocates will then gather on Monday at the Capitol to lobby every State Assembly and Senate office.

What: Unity Conference hosted by Californians to Regulate Medical Marijuana
When: Saturday, May 19th & Sunday, May 20th from 10am-5:30pm
Where: Central Labor Council, 2840 El Centro Road, Suite 111, Sacramento

What: Press conference to announce lobby day and push for passage of AB 2312
When: Monday, May 21st at 12 Noon
Where: State Capitol, 10th & L Streets, SacramentoThe Unity Conference is being organized by Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, California NORML, the Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform, and the Emerald Growers Association. Experts and leaders in the medical marijuana community will engage participants in better understanding the political and legal landscape in California and help them to influence policy. Video addresses have been prepared by Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach), Sam Farr (D-Carmel), and State Assembly member Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco).

The main theme of the conference is to develop skills and grassroots leadership to ensure passage of AB 2312, a statewide regulatory system for the production and distribution of medical marijuana. In fact, conference participants will be trained as advocates for an unprecedented effort to lobby state legislators on medical marijuana. However, conference participants will also learn how to lobby at the local level and better understand the confusing legal landscape in California. ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford will discuss recent landmark state court rulings as well as pending federal lawsuits against the Obama Administration.

“Californians are eager to fully implement the state’s medical marijuana law, and push back against federal interference,” said ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer. “We’re simply giving them the tools to more effectively lobby their local, state and federal governments in order to achieve that aim.” Unity Conference sponsors include the Drug Policy Alliance and several medical marijuana providers, including Abatin, Harborside Health Center, and SPARC.

Further information:
Brochure on Unity Conference: http://AmericansForSafeAccess.org/downloads/CRMM_2012_Unity_Conference.pdf

Activism takes many forms, and much of it is progressing – especially technologically – at an incredible pace. Conferences, expos, lectures and all other forms of gathering and sharing information are critical to the advancement of the cause of marijuana law reform.

Knowledge is power, as the saying goes, and we need to spread it far and wide.

- Joe Klare

Californians To Regulate Medical Marijuana Unity Conference This Weekend is a post from: The 420 Times

Former Oregon Court of Appeals judge Ellen Rosenblum victory Tuesday came with the help of marijuana activists who flexed their political muscles in a state with 55,000 registered pot users. She defeated former interim U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton, who has criticized Oregon’s medical marijuana law and had overseen raids on medical marijuana grows.

Rosenblum’s pro-pot groups attacked Holton and steered large campaign contributions to Rosenblum, who promised to make marijuana enforcement a low priority in office.

Rosenblum fended off Holton’s criticism that she was taking money from medical marijuana supporters while promising to downplay the laws that regulate them.

Medical Marijuana Supporter Wins Oregon AG Primary is a post from: The 420 Times

Thinking he was brushing a stick off a bag of mulch, Mica was very much surprised when a rattlesnake came to life and bit him on the hand. Mica stomped the snake and was taken to the hospital by a fellow-shopper. He is said to still be in great pain and may lose feeling in two of his fingers.

Walmart has apologized to Mica, who said he needed the mulch for his legal medical marijuana grow.

Quite an odd story, certainly not something you hear about very often. Walmart said they were looking into the incident and the store in question was searching for further “rattlesnake activity.”

Next time you’re at your local Walmart or any other retailer, don’t grab at any random “sticks” until you’re sure they’re not a snake.

- Joe Klare

Medical Marijuana Grower Bitten By Rattlesnake In Walmart is a post from: The 420 Times

His campaign will also help keep up awareness about how medical marijuana patients are being treated in this country. All-in-all, the more exposure Governor Johnson gets, the more drug policy reform will get.

- Joe Klare

Gary Johnson Campaign Releases New Ad is a post from: The 420 Times

In the video below The Young Turks talk about some of the recent atrocities that are typical of life in Mexico nowadays, including the discovery of 49 headless bodies. Imagine this in the United States. We are on the same path.

- Joe Klare 

Has There Ever Been A More Visible Failure Than The Mexican Drug War? is a post from: The 420 Times

The state Senate fell a single vote short Tuesday on a bill setting a blood standard for THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. The vote means the proposal is likely dead for the year.

Passage of the bill would have made Colorado the third state with a blood-level limit for marijuana, much as the nation has a blood-alcohol limit of .08.

Currently, drugged-driving convictions depend on officer observations.

Marijuana activists and some lawmakers from both parties argued that the blood standard is an unfair measure of driver impairment.

Marijuana DUI Standard Dies A 3rd Time In CO is a post from: The 420 Times

Marijuana activists are fighting the proposal that passed the House Tuesday because they say blood THC tests are an unfair gauge of impairment.

Sponsors of the bill say more drivers are using marijuana and the state needs a marijuana analogy to the accepted blood-alcohol limit.

The pot activists have prevailed twice, but the measure is back before lawmakers in a special legislative session expected to end Wednesday. Marijuana activists hope to sink the third attempt when the bill hits a debate in the Senate.

Fourteen other states have some kind of drugged driving standard.

___

Online:

House Bill S-1005: http://goo.gl/uLohi

Colorado House Passes Bill On Marijuana DUIs is a post from: The 420 Times

“It is incomprehensible that the DEA would think that it’s a good use of its resources to arrest and prosecute an American who is using medical marijuana in accordance with state law to relieve their pain and suffering from AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis or glaucoma. I’m pleased to see so many of my colleagues vote in support of this amendment to protect states’ rights, but obviously it was not enough,” he continued. “The fight goes on.”

And the fight must go on. Momentum is on our side as more and more people come to support medical marijuana every day. There is still much work to do, but victory is inevitable for patients across the country.

And luckily we have politicians like Maurice Hinchey who are in it for the long haul. Because without elected officials willing to stand up for patients, circumstances would be bleak indeed.

- Joe Klare

Representative Hinchey Vows To Battle On Against Medical Marijuana Raids is a post from: The 420 Times

AB 2312 is a bill by Assemblymember Tom Amminao (D-SF) that will create a statewide board to develop standards for medical cannabis, limit local taxation (without imposing a state tax), and make it harder for cities and counties to ban patients’ associations. We need this legislation address ambivalence about medical cannabis and move forward with implementing Proposition 215 everywhere.  Learn more about the bill and take action today!

Another important bill that needs your support right now is Senator Mark Leno’s (D-SF) SB 1182. This bill will add patients’ cooperatives, collectives, and other associations to the list of those protected by California’s medical cannabis law. This simple clarification will help to stop unnecessary harassment, arrests, and prosecutions of law-abiding patients and caregivers. Read more about SB 1182 and what you can do to help today!

If you care about these issues and live in CA, the time is now to make your voice heard. Medical marijuana is at a critical juncture right now in California and state reps need to know how their constituents feel.

- Joe Klare

MMJ Advocates Urge Supporters To Back Two Bills In California is a post from: The 420 Times

This video has some simple tips for yielding more per plant. Share it on all your social networks because there can never be too much information out there on growing.

- Joe Klare

How To Get Bigger Yields From Cannabis Plants is a post from: The 420 Times

For instance, being present while someone else smokes weed can get you 3 months in jail. A marijuana pipe – without marijuana – can get you up to a year.

Selling pipes, bongs, grinders, and kief boxes in Idaho is a felony worthy of nine years in prison and a $30,000 fine.

Yet a man recently convicted in Idaho of beating his baby to death got 3.5 years. Three and a half years! If he would have just smoked weed around his baby instead of killing it he could have gotten 5 years. That’s right, he could have been sentenced to more time for smoking marijuana around his baby than he did for killing it.

And God forbid if he would have been selling bongs.

In other words, Idaho is not a place for cannabis users to visit, much less live in. If you need to drive through the state for some reason, drive around it.

- Joe Klare

Idaho’s Crazy Marijuana Laws is a post from: The 420 Times

The state appeals court has affirmed the drug conviction of Lewis Keller of Emmet County. Police found 15 marijuana plants outdoors on his property. There was some fencing material nearby but it was not made into a proper fence.

Under Michigan’s medical marijuana law, card holders can grow 12 plants, but the marijuana must be in a secure place. Keller says he knew he was over the limit but didn’t know the plants had to be secured.

First of all, if you are attempting to be a legal grower of marijuana, it’s probably a good idea to know the guidelines and follow them. Beyond that, fencing your marijuana should be common sense. If someone’s animal eats it you’re likely to get sued. If a child grabs some and shows their parents you’re likely to get sued and maybe even physically beaten by the parents.

At the very least someone is going to steal your marijuana. It’s like leaving a pile of money in your back yard in plain sight. I guess that’s why there are a lot of dumb people in prison.

- Joe Klare

Medical Marijuana Patient Appeal Denied In Michigan is a post from: The 420 Times

The United State Of Weed is a weekly series where we recap all of the cannabis-related political developments happening in The United States at the state level. If you know of any new political developments in your state in regards to marijuana law reform – whether it be medicinal or otherwise – let us know at joe@the420times.com.

From The 420 Times:

MT: Two Montana Sisters Facing Marijuana Charges

CO: Campaign To Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol In CO Releases First TV Ad

CO: Medical Marijuana Lobby In CO Seeks Ban On Outdoor Advertising

The Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment to Stop MMJ Attacks on States:

U.S. House Votes “No” On Defunding Federal MMJ Attacks

The UFCW Supports Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment To Stop MMJ Attacks

Advocates Urge Supporters To Tell Congress To Stop Paying For MMJ Attacks

From Around The Web:

NY: NYC Call To Action

CO: Guest Commentary: Mothers and marijuana in Colorado

OR: Why The Oregon Attorney General Race Has National Implications For Marijuana Laws

If your state didn’t make this week’s “United State Of Weed,” it’s most probably because there is no recent political cannabis news coming from that state. If there is a story I missed, let me know at joe@the420times.com.

- Joe Klare

The United State Of Weed 5/13/12 is a post from: The 420 Times