| Alan B. Mac Farlane 2005-06-27, 8:54 am |
|
IN THE NEWS: Week of 6/24
ASA’s Summary of Medical Marijuana Articles
> FEDERAL: Emboldened DEA Launches New Round of Arrests
> RHODE ISLAND: New Law Passes Both Houses; Goes to Gov.
> HAWAII: AG Clarifies State Law; New Dispensary to Open
> OREGON: State Program Resumes
> CALIFORNIA: Interpretation of Ruling Vexing Cities
> SOUTH DAKOTA: State Initiative in the Works
> RESEARCH: Scientists Identifying Why Cannabis Eases Pain
> CANADA: Prescription Cannabis Spray On Shelves
> NATIONAL: Raich Ruling Debate Continues
_______________________________________________
FEDERAL: Emboldened DEA Launches New Round of Arrests
With a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in their pockets, federal agents launched
large-scale arrests of medical marijuana arrests last week, bringing in
dispensary operators, an activist, an attorney and a doctor. Authorities
allege that those arrested in San Francisco were part of a bigger drug and
money laundering ring, though the “other” drugs seized were a few dozen
doses of ecstasy taken from one defendant’s home and the money laundering
cited in the indictment consisted of using dispensary proceeds to pay
dispensary rent. The arrests of a Nevada activist and a California doctor
and her attorney husband may have been coincidental, but as the editorial
from the Orange County Register notes, the timing is curious.
DISPENSARIES RAIDED, 19 ARRESTS
Feds Bust California Medical Marijuana Providers
by Judy Campbell, National Public Radio
In Northern California, federal drug agents have launched a crackdown on
medical marijuana providers -- the result of a recent U.S. Supreme Court
ruling that grants power to federal authorities to prosecute those using
marijuana legally under state law. Judy Campbell of member station KQED
reports.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2332
Federal Agents Crack Down on Medical Marijuana Providers
by Eric Bailey and John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times
Law enforcement officials today declared that their raid of a $5-million
international drug ring that used medical marijuana dispensaries as a front
would not undermine the city's stand as a haven for medicinal users.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2334
Arrests Follow Searches in Medical Marijuana Raids
by Dean E. Murphy, New York Times
Federal agents executed search warrants at three medical marijuana
dispensaries on Wednesday as part of a broad investigation into marijuana
trafficking in San Francisco, setting off fears among medical marijuana
advocates that a federal crackdown on the drug's use by sick people was
beginning.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2339
Officials Say Drug Raids Found Clubs Were a Front
by Dean E. Murphy, New York Times
Federal authorities said Thursday that they had cracked the biggest case
ever involving the use of medical marijuana dispensaries in California as a
cover for international drug dealing and money laundering, which they said
extended to Canada and countries in Asia.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2337
Feds Target Pot Dispensaries in California
by Don Thompson, Associated Press
Federal drug agents launched a crackdown on medical marijuana providers in
California Wednesday, raiding more than 20 dispensaries and charging two
people.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2338
Crackdown targets marijuana dispensaries in Northern California
by Garance Burke, Associated Press
Federal drug agents described Wednesday's raids on San Francisco pot clubs
as one of the largest drug trafficking crackdowns in the area since 1996,
and said the string of arrests was the first step in uncovering a major
international drug operation.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2336
Feds raid three SF pot clubs
by Jaxon Van Derbeken, SF Chronicle
Federal agents raided three San Francisco medical marijuana dispensaries
today as part of a broader investigation into money laundering and Asian
organized crime, authorities said.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2327
19 named in medicinal pot indictment
by Stacy Finz, San Francisco Chronicle
The U.S. government unsealed an indictment Thursday accusing 19 Bay Area
people of drug trafficking and of using three San Francisco medical
marijuana dispensaries as fronts for organized crime.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2333
DOCTOR, ATTORNEY ARRESTED
El Dorado couple seized in pot case
by Denny Walsh, Sacramento Bee
An El Dorado County physician and her attorney husband have been indicted by
a federal grand jury in Sacramento on charges of conspiring to distribute
and manufacture marijuana and manufacturing at least 100 marijuana plants.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2347
Federal Agents Arrest Medical Marijuana Doctor
KXTV - News 10 (Sacramento)
A week and a half after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the federal government
can block doctors from prescribing marijuana for medical use, drug agents
arrested a doctor from Cool.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2346
ACTIVIST ARRESTED
Nevada medical marijuana activist arrested on drug charge
by Ken Ritter, Associated Press
A medical marijuana activist was in custody Thursday after his second arrest
in 17 months on felony drug charges. A lawyer for Pierre Werner, 33, said
the arrest on state charges was a law enforcement effort to pressure Werner
after the Supreme Court's decision this month that state medical marijuana
laws don't protect users from federal prosecution.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2360
COMMENT ON THE RAIDS
Curious timing of Bay area marijuana raids
EDITORIAL, Orange County Register
If Wednesday's raids were a precursor to broader raids on patients and
caregivers, they will create many more problems than they solve. For
starters, San Francisco would like to adopt regulations that supervise
cannabis dispensaries and keep the drugs out of the black market. City
officials worry, however, that records required to show a dispensary was on
the up-and-up under California law could become evidence in a federal case.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2335
When Medical Marijuana Is Misused
EDITORIAL, New York Times
Those who believe, as we do, that marijuana should be legally available for
medical treatments have to be concerned about reports of abuses in
California's pioneering medical marijuana program. If the abuses cannot be
curbed, a political backlash could undermine the ability of thousands of
patients to get marijuana to treat the nausea of chemotherapy, the loss of
appetite that accompanies AIDS and other medical problems.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2340
_______________________________________________
RHODE ISLAND: New Law Passes Both Houses; Goes to Gov.
The margin of victory for Rhode Island’s new medical marijuana legislation
was huge in both houses of the state legislature. The governor has expressed
his opposition to the bill, but the level of support is veto-proof, and
lawmakers are urging him to get onboard..
House Passes Medical Marijuana Bill
by Associated Press, NBC 10 (Providence)
House lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a bill Wednesday that would allow
patients with certain serious diseases to smoke and grow marijuana. The
measure passed 52-10 after debate on the House floor.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2343
R.I. House passes medical marijuana bill
by Jim Baron, Pawtucket Times
With legislation to allow seriously ill people to use marijuana as medicine
having passed both chambers of the General Assembly by veto-proof margins,
Rep. Thomas Slater is calling on Gov. Donald Carcieri to withdraw his threat
to veto the bill.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2349
_______________________________________________
HAWAII: AG Clarifies State Law; New Dispensary to Open
As in California, Hawaii’s attorney general issued a statement stressing
that the Raich ruling has no effect on state law, despite the widely
reported comments of the U.S. Attorney there. Patients there will soon have
better access to cannabis, thanks to a new dispensary planned for Oahu.
Medical Use of Marijuana Will Continue in Hawaii
by Mark Bennett, Hawaii Attorney General, Hawaii Reporter
The United States Supreme Court recently ruled that the federal government
may criminally prosecute individuals for the possession, distribution, or
use of marijuana, even if a state has legalized such possession,
distribution, or use for medical purposes. Gonzales v Raich, 125 S.Ct. 2195
(2005). This ruling does not overturn Hawaii’s law regarding medical use of
marijuana. The State of Hawaii will continue its medical marijuana program.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2344
Medical marijuana clinic to open on Oahu
Associated Press
A mainland marijuana advocacy group plans to open a Honolulu clinic designed
to help people become certified for Hawaii's medical marijuana program.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2342
Medical marijuana clinic set for O'ahu
by Timothy Hurley , Honolulu Advertiser
In a move that could add patients to the state's medical marijuana program,
a Portland, Ore.-based marijuana advocacy group is planning to open a clinic
in Honolulu designed to help people become certified for the program.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2341
_______________________________________________
OREGON: State Program Resumes
Clarification from the state attorney general about the limited reach of the
Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for Oregon to resume its medical
marijuana program.
Oregon's top lawyer OKs medical marijuana use
by Teresa Carson, Reuters
Oregon's attorney general gave the state the go-ahead on Friday to resume
issuing cards that allow sick patients to smoke marijuana despite a U.S.
Supreme Court ruling the federal government could prosecute medical use of
the drug.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2355
Oregon resumes medical marijuana cards
Associated Press
Oregon resumed issuing medical marijuana cards today, after a review by
Attorney General Hardy Myers.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2356
______________________________________________
CALIFORNIA: Interpretation of Ruling Vexing Cities
While California Attorney General Bill Lockyer was quick to point out that
the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Raich did not have any effect on state law
or the obligations it imposes on local governments to protect safe access
for patients, some local officials have nonetheless been citing federal law
as an excuse to not fulfill their sworn duty to the people of California.
Others, like those in Ukiah, have been attempting to move forward.
Amador Supervisors nullify medical pot ordinance
by Terry Grillo, Amador Ledger-Dispatch
“Sometimes we get our priorities mixed up,” said Richard Vinson (Third
District) at the Amador Board of Supervisor’s meeting Tuesday. “We permit
alcohol and tobacco sales … but medical cannabis that can relieve pain and
suffering has to be outlawed.”
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2354
Mission Viejo extends ban on medical-marijuana outlets
by Maria Hsin, Orange County Register
The City Council agreed unanimously Monday night to extend the city's
moratorium on medical-marijuana dispensaries to May 2006.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2353
Roseville repeals medical marijuana ordinance
by Jason Probst, Auburn Journal (CA)
By a 5-0 vote, the Roseville City Council on Wednesday repealed an ordinance
that allowed but governed the placement of medical marijuana dispensaries.
The action hopes to eliminate the curious dilemma Capitol Compassionate Care
brought when it opened the city's first medical marijuana business in
January 2004.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2358
A case for medical marijuana
by Tony Anthony, Ukiah Daily Journal
On the surface it may seem ironic that Sergeant Rusty Noe of the Mendocino
County Sheriff's Department is busy on one end of town teaching techniques
for spotting illegal pot gardens from government supplied helicopters while
at the other end of town members of local law enforcement are participating
in an open forum about the distribution of medical cannabis in Mendocino
County.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2331
_______________________________________________
SOUTH DAKOTA: State Initiative in the Works
Voter initiative is likely to add South Dakota to the growing list of states
with medical marijuana laws. Patients and activists there have begun the
process for qualifying a ballot initiative for next fall.
South Dakotan completes cross-state tour for medical marijuana
by Dirk Lammers, Aberdeen News (SD)
A Hermosa, South Dakota man has completed a cross-state bicycle tour aimed
at gathering signatures to put a medical marijuana measure on the 2006
ballot.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2352
_______________________________________________
RESEARCH: Scientists Identifying Why Cannabis Eases Pain
As the CBS News timeline of 4000 years of medical use indicates, the
beneficial properties of cannabis have long been known. But scientists are
now beginning to identify the brain chemistry involved in pain control and
other biological processes, and finding that natural cannabinoids play a
critical role.
Brain's Marijuana-like Chemicals Postpone Pain
by HealthDay News, Yahoo News
Experts have long known that the brain has the ability to suspend the pain
response in times of injury and great stress, even after traumatic incidents
such as gunshot wounds. Now, a new study in rats suggests marijuana-like
neurochemicals called endocannabinoids may be key to this process.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2361
The History Of Marijuana As Medicine
KCBS - TV (San Francisco)
Timeline on the medicinal use of cannabis, from 2737 BC to the present.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2351
_______________________________________________
CANADA: Prescription Cannabis Spray On Shelves
The long-awaited and much heralded cannabis-spray Sativex is now available
in Canadian pharmacies. While there has been some debate over the spray’s
similarities and differences to the cannabis a patient might grow in their
backyard, the drug is confirmation of the plant’s medical efficacy.
Spray alternative to pot on the market in Canada
by Wendy Koch, USA Today
Canadians now have access to a legal spray alternative to medical marijuana.
Beginning this week, multiple sclerosis patients with constant tingling pain
can get a doctor's prescription for a new drug, Sativex, derived from the
marijuana plant.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2357
_______________________________________________
NATIONAL: Raich Ruling Debate Continues
The impact and implications of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on medical
marijuana will be discussed and debated for some time, from the underlying
questions of economics to the need for better national policy.
Half-Baked Economics
by Idan Ivri, LA City Beat
This spring, a few months before the Supreme Court ruled in Raich v.
Gonzalez that the Federal government has authority over state marijuana
laws, a high school economics lecture broke out in the courtroom. Justice
John Paul Stevens wanted to know whether the medical marijuana marketplace
would affect the price of pot on the black market.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2350
The Nation Needs a Medical Marijuana Law
EDITORIAL, Arizona Daily Star
Despite a ruling by the Supreme Court, Congress can pass a law to allow the
sick and dying access to medicinal marijuana. The Supreme Court's decision
does not have to be the last word on the use of medical marijuana by sick
and dying patients. Congress can and should take up the cause for marijuana
as a remedy for patients who cannot find relief elsewhere.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2348
___________________________________________________________
FOR MORE MEDICAL MARIJUANA NEWS
Previous News Summaries from Americans for Safe Access are archived. The
complete text of all these articles and more is available by clicking the
links on the article name or the news source, as well as at the ASA website,
safeacccessnow.org. You can also see the latest news for the week by
selecting "News Articles" under the Press Room menu.
|