The Los Angeles City Council is considering a measure that would allow about 140 medical marijuana dispensaries that were forced to close to reopen. The Los Angeles City Council passed a city ordinance in June to curb the growing number of dispensaries allowed to operate in the city. Almost 450 dispensaries were sent cease and desist letters and forced to close their doors.
The plan was to leave in place the 180 dispensaries that had registered with the city before a 2007 moratorium was passed.
In the November Election, marijuana reform came up short on at least three of the big four measures on voter’s ballots. The one that all eyes were transfixed on was California’s Proposition 19, sponsored by Richard Lee. As voting results trickled in, there was never a moment when prop 19 was ahead in the reporting. Some of the numbers were terrible, as low as 34% at one point. But by the end of the evening, long after the medial outlets had called the proposition “rejected” by the voters, the numbers crawled up slowly settling on 46.2% yes votes with 93% of the precincts reporting. That is nearly one out of two voters that think we should end cannabis prohibition and that adults should be allowed to consume, grow and even sell cannabis on an industry level.
UPDATE: 9:30pm – It looks like Measure 74, the dispensary bill in the State Of Oregon has failed. With only 42% of the vote for a yes and 58% for a no. Arizona’s medical marijuana initiative is still too close to call, with 51% no’s and 49%yes. Prop 19 is trailing badly, with only 44% [Read on . . .]
In the Friday edition of the Los Angeles Times, sheriff Lee Baca is sending a reminder for parents that Halloween candy may be laced with marijuana. The warning comes days before the election where California voters will get to take an historic vote for end of the prohibition of marijuana.
The LA County Sheriff’s Department is urging parents to look for candy containing marijuana this Halloween. According to the warning; “Investigators have confiscated candies and snacks containing pot from marijuana dispensaries, and they are concerned such items could wind up in children’s trick-or-treat bags. But maybe they are telling people to help them look, because it seems that even though California has had medical marijuana since 1996, there are no reports in previous years of candy or snacks containing pot being distributed to Halloween trick-or-treaters.
As the eyes of the nation are fixed on the Californian vote to legalize marijuana, our world leaders are also taking notice of the outcome of this historic election. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has said that if Proposition 19 passes it could force his country to rethink its drug policies. President Santos this summer endorsed a call for debate on drug legalization.
Santos asked this week at a Latin American presidential summit in Columbia, “If we don’t act in a consistent way on this issue, if all we are doing is to send our fellow citizens to jail while in other latitudes the market is being legalized, then we have to ask ourselves: Isn’t it time to review the global strategy against drugs?”
George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist has given $1 million dollars to help pass Prop 19 in the last few days before the election.
Soros is the founder and chairman of Open Society Foundations, a pro-democracy organization. He also wrote that legalization could reduce violent crime related to illegal drug markets and reduce the racial inequities of African-Americans bearing the brunt of drug arrests even though they are no more likely to use marijuana than other Americans. Soros said the money spent on anti-marijuana law enforcement would be better spent on educating teenagers to stay away from marijuana and other drugs.
Los Angeles County Sheriff, Lee Baca, held a news conference on Friday to let the voters of Los Angeles know that he and his deputies will continue to enforce the current marijuana laws even if Proposition 19 passes and Californian voters make marijuana legal for all adults. He also adds that he doesn’t think that it will pass.
He used a letter sent to nine former chiefs of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration by Attorney General, Eric Holder last week to strengthen his claims. Attorney General Holder’s letter went public the day after it was sent. In it he vowed to vigorously enforce drug laws when it came to recreational use of marijuana, regardless of the outcome of proposition 19.
Video: A Judge Lays Out the Facts
“A judge lays out the facts regarding the failure of drug prohibition and explains why legalization will effectively win the war on drug cartels, and will also be the ultimate weapon against terrorists who get their funding from drug sales as well.” – Anongrey
A Documentary on Cannabis Culture in California
Amanda Van West documents the current culture of cannabis in California. (Video Post)
Video – “The Flower” makes sense……
Video hits the nail-on-the-head, why are we afraid of legalization?
Video – Allen St. Pierre of NORML Shoots Down Heritage Foundation’s Darling
Allen St. Pierre makes a compelling case and trounced the Heritage Foundation’s Director of U.S. Senate Relations, Brian Darling in this spirited debate. Mr. St. Pierre’s last comment makes one of the best arguments against prohibitionists I’ve heard on TV. Posted in four parts;
Video – Olympic Torch passes by Cannabis Culture’s Headquarters
The Olympic Torch, which just happens to look like a joint this year, passes by the headquarters of Cannabis Culture.
Video – National Geographic Looks at Oaksterdam University and Medical Marijuana
A video from the National Geographic series “Taboo” that showcases Richard Lee of Oaksterdam University. The video offers some great footage, but beware the ominous music and a passing mention of the MANY times debunked “marijuana is a gateway drug” theory. (the most recent debunking)
Video – Montel Williams about Letting Americans Grow Cannabis
Montal Williams has been a long-time advocate of legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational purposes. Here is a recent video of Montel talking about legalizing cannabis.
Video – Willie Nelson tries to save the Family Farm with Hemp – Vintage Video
Willie Nelson in a video from 1991.
Video – New Hampshire Police Officer Asked Not to Represent LEAP
Officer Brad Jarvis takes his fight to the blogosphere! Here is a breakdown of the story in video format from the New Hampshire Free Press……..
Public Service Announcement of the Day
The artist, Nice Peter, put together this great video for the 2008 Ad contest held by NORML. It didn’t win, it got second place but this is the one I voted for! In the spirit of Saturday Morning School House Rock Videos, Nice Peter has created a classic. Visit his website for more of his [Read on . . .]
Jim Hightower and his take on Marijuana
A great video in the series “Profiles in Marijuana” from the folks at Marijuana Policy Project.
Cheryl Shuman testifies in front of the LA City Council
Cheryl Shuman is the Executive Director of Beverly Hills NORML. A death sentence because of a plant? This is the reality of what prohibition is doing to outstanding citizens like Cheryl.
New Jersey Supreme Court Will Not Hear MS Patient’s Marijuana Case
Polish Lawmaker Threatens to Smoke Marijuana in Parliament
Arizona Governor Will Allow Dispensaries Now that Lawsuit Was Dismissed
Washington Dispensary Bill Addresses I-502 Concerns
California Supreme Court to Hear Important Dispensary Cases
Cannabis Spray Being Tested To Ease Cannabis Withdrawal
As Legalization Question Headed for the Ballot, Poll Shows Voters Split
Colorado Revenue Department asks for Marijuana Rescheduling
Study Shows Middle Aged Men’s Cognition Not Harmed by Marijuana Use
NORML Daily Stash Feed
Oregon Case Reinforces Definition of Usable Marijuana
Fast and Furious Program Sparks Lawsuit and Testimony from Attorney General
Butane Hash Oil Extraction Tube Causes Devestating Delay Fighting Fire
Drought In Mexico Leads to Drop in Marijuana Production
Two Different Medical Marijuana Proposals In Ohio
Several Medical Marijuana Bills to Consider in Hawaii
Montana Judge Says Federal Law Rules Supreme in State Medical Marijuana Industry
NM Woman Will Be Compensated for Her Destroyed Plants
January 25th – A Medical Marijuana Day of ActionNew Jersey Supreme Court Will Not Hear MS Patient’s Marijuana CasePolish Lawmaker Threatens to Smoke Marijuana in ParliamentArizona Governor Will Allow Dispensaries Now that Lawsuit Was DismissedWashington Dispensary Bill Addresses I-502 ConcernsCalifornia Supreme Court to Hear Important Dispensary CasesCannabis Spray Being Tested To Ease Cannabis WithdrawalAs Legalization Question Headed for the Ballot, Poll Shows Voters SplitColorado Revenue Department asks for Marijuana ReschedulingStudy Shows Middle Aged Men’s Cognition Not Harmed by Marijuana Use
Supreme Court May Hear Dog Sniffing Case
Washington State Puts The Legalization Question to the Voters
Pro Surfers To Be Drug Tested This Year
Man’s Car Destroyed By Police During Futile Search for Marijuana
Mendocino National Forest Clean-Up Crews Looking for Volunteers This Weekend
California Chapter of Addiction Medicine Has Different Opinion on Legalization
Arizona Officials Bust Major Mexican Cartel Ring
Americans for Safe Access Sues the US Attorney General
The White House Issues a Response to the Cannabis Community
Canadian Coalition Calls for Legalization
Colorado Issues the Nation’s first Medical Marijuana Business License
Colombian President Calls for the Global Legalization of Marijuana
Mexican Drug War Being Waged in Urban Areas
Fontana Police Send Their Own Threatening Letters to Dispensaries
Pennsylvania Couple Facing Paraphernalia Charges
The Czech Republic Takes a Shot at Legalizing Medical Marijuana
Medical Marijuana Card Holder Sues the US for 2nd Amendment Violations
Oklahoma Governor Just Says No Way
Small Southern Oregon Town is Tops for Growers
Florida Mayor Fires the Entire Police Department over Marijuana Accusations
Rockies Stadium Death Blamed on Alcohol and Marijuana
Federal Judge: Florida Drug Statue Unconstitutional
Eddy Lepp Loses Appeal, Will Spend 10 Years in Prison
CAMP May Be Losing Funding, Another Record Breaking Year
Oregon Woman Gun Case Appealed to Supreme Court
Washington DC Makes a Move to Implement Medical Marijuana Program
Michigan Clinic Is Accused of Buying Votes
The NAACP Calls Out the Drug War for Its Racial DisparitiesNew Jersey Man Loses Appeal in Marijuana Case
Middle School Child Gets $1 Million Settlement For Sting OperationCanadian Crime Statistics Show An Increase in Marijuana CrimesTwo Men from Washington Ask for Their Cannabis Back
Montana’s Rocky RideArizona Governor Jan Brewer Clarifies Her Position on Medical Marijuana
New Jersey Governor Decides to Allow the Medical Marijuana Program
Australia Moves Toward Harsher Punishments for Marijuana Crimes
Former Neo-Nazi Singing Group Grows up and Embraces Medical Cannabis
Americans for Safe Access File Complaint Against Anti-Marijuana Group
Arizona Opens Cannabis Clubs Despite Dispensary Hold Up
Miss USA Answers A Marijuana Question for the Win
Montana’s Tough New Medical Marijuana Law is Challenged
New York Mayor Defends Discriminatory Marijuana Policies
Canadian Medical Marijuana Growers Facing New Threat
Florida Governor Rick Scott Suspends Worker Drug Testing Program
America’s “War on Drugs” Turns 40
New Jersey Still Struggling to Implement Medical Marijuana Law
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