Marijuan Policy Project March 09

Twitch · Post by **Twitch** » Tue 24th Mar 2009 03:46 pm

We're in a new era.

Last week, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the federal government will now defer to state governments on medical marijuana — a 180-degree reversal of the Bush administration's anti-democratic policies.

The impact was immediate. On the day of Holder's announcement, New Mexico announced that it had issued the first license that any state government has ever issued to a medical marijuana producer in any state. That first nonprofit provider will be able to grow and sell medical marijuana to card-carrying patients without being harassed or raided by local, state, or federal law enforcement officials.

Additionally:

Rhode Island is poised to expand its existing medical marijuana law to allow for three nonprofits to dispense medical marijuana to registered patients.
This November, Maine voters will consider a ballot initiative similar to what Rhode Island envisions. MPP's polling shows the initiative is supported by 66% of likely voters.
The Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota legislatures are debating bills to create new medical marijuana laws that allow for licensed dispensing from day one.
In Arizona, MPP's campaign committee will be placing a similar proposal on the statewide ballot in November 2010. That initiative is supported by 65% of likely voters.( This is where I live. We already approved decriminalization in 1996 by 65% of voters and it went no where )
In California, medical marijuana is dispensed at approximately 400 collectives that are generating approximately $100 million annually in state tax revenues. They operate under a state law that allows their activity but doesn't provide for state licensing. With federal policy improved and clarified, we expect the California Legislature to pass legislation similar to our Arizona proposal.
To fully appreciate the changes we're seeing, compare the Obama administration's policy to the Bush administration's policy. In the fall of 2001, after executing the first of what would be dozens of medical marijuana dispensary raids over eight years, a spokesperson for Bush's Justice Department said, "The recent enforcement is indicative that we have not lost our priorities in other areas since September 11. The attorney general and the administration have been very clear: we will be aggressive."

As the World Trade Center was still literally smoldering and our country was about to launch two foreign wars, the Bush administration was crowing about how it was arresting medical marijuana patients. That policy was not only cruel, but stupid. Good riddance.

Now that the Obama administration has taken the Drug Enforcement Administration out of the business of busting pharmacy-like establishments, MPP will be lobbying the federal government to also do the following:

Congress should remove the federal ban on the District of Columbia enacting a local medical marijuana law. In November 1998, 69% of D.C. voters passed a medical marijuana ballot initiative, but every year since then Congress has attached a rider to its D.C. spending bill that prevents this law from taking effect. Even former Republican Congressman Bob Barr, the author of the federal ban, now supports lifting it — and has lobbied on MPP's behalf to do exactly that.
The DEA should stop preventing the University of Massachusetts from growing medical marijuana for research purposes. A privately grown, regulated supply of marijuana is a prerequisite to getting marijuana approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a prescription medicine.
The Obama administration should reopen the existing federal program that currently provides medical marijuana to only three patients nationwide but that was closed to new enrollment in 1992. This could be a huge boon to patients in states without medical marijuana

Kingdoc · Post by **Kingdoc** » Tue 24th Mar 2009 04:11 pm

Lets hope that sort of thing catches on here.

chilly1952 · Post by **chilly1952** » Tue 24th Mar 2009 04:18 pm

Michigan's medical marijuana program is mandated to be in place by April 9, 2009. Removing the threat from the Feds should allow the program to rum smoothly.

Now I just need to find a medical condition for myself.

geoffk · Post by **geoffk** » Tue 24th Mar 2009 04:26 pm

Colorado has some new measures that will be voted on soon. Not quite sure of the details, as the document is quite wordy. I've also heard they are limiting the amount of people a caregiver can provide for. It is currently 10, I believe.

Twitch · Post by **Twitch** » Tue 24th Mar 2009 05:54 pm

chilly1952 wrote: Now I just need to find a medical condition for myself.

I have Epilepsy and Chronic Daily Headache a form of Migraine so a least two so would have no problem there.
Although I would prefer not to.

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Tue 24th Mar 2009 08:04 pm

Dont you just go to the Quack tell him/her you have a bad back/headache/ballache/whatever pay the money and get his signature on the relevant documentation?

Twitch · Post by **Twitch** » Tue 24th Mar 2009 08:08 pm

Only a few states have medical marijuana laws and some Dr's. are rather free w/recommendations I will admit, but California is the only state with dispensaries.
It really does have medicinal qualities though.

geoffk · Post by **geoffk** » Tue 24th Mar 2009 08:19 pm

Boner wrote:Dont you just go to the Quack tell him/her you have a bad back/headache/ballache/whatever pay the money and get his signature on the relevant documentation?

In Cali. Don't work like that here though. You'll need to bring medical documentss tracking your ailment over time from your doctor.

Twitch · Post by **Twitch** » Tue 24th Mar 2009 08:50 pm

When you do qualify geoffk how does it work form there ?
They don't have dispensaries so I assume you are allowed to grow a certain amount per year ?

geoffk · Post by **geoffk** » Tue 24th Mar 2009 08:55 pm

Twitch wrote:When you do qualify geoffk how does it work form there ?
They don't have dispensaries so I assume you are allowed to grow a certain amount per year ?

There is one dispensary that I know of, it's in Fort Collins. The group that assists in getting you your card gives information on providers to you. For example my buddy who has had 2 spinal surgeries, got his card and then was given names of providers in his area. He called one up, and voila! Door to door delivery. Apparently this first provider was slinging shaked buds and selling the keif from these buds on the side

Not long later he found a fairer provider with all kinds of strains to try.

sh@dy · Post by **sh@dy** » Wed 25th Mar 2009 01:26 pm

I think the usa is becoming a good country

big power brings big responsibility

Twitch · Post by **Twitch** » Wed 25th Mar 2009 01:29 pm

sh@dy wrote:I think the usa is becoming a good country
big power brings big responsibility

It's about time.
I think some times those of us here in the U.S. forget how young we really are.
When I go to Amsterdam and stay in a buliding that was built before my country was a country it's always a reminder of how young we are.

Trichome_Dense · Post by **Trichome_Dense** » Wed 25th Mar 2009 01:55 pm

Well, it's bloomin groundbreakin news... If you can pardon my pun!