tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62110288987504627332024-03-13T18:58:53.146-07:00Florida Medical Marijuana SocietyAdmin Medical Marijuana Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05736637124708019160noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6211028898750462733.post-42437337816922095732009-04-27T04:58:00.000-07:002009-04-27T04:59:05.477-07:00Time Magazine Examines Drug Decrim in Portugal<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 16px; "><p style="font-family: arial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">The report I wrote for, and last month presented at, the Cato Institute on the success of full-scale drug decriminalization in Portugal spawned a fair amount of media discussion — in places such as Scientific American, The Wall St. Journal, The Vancouver Sun and many others — but now, rather amazingly, Time Magazine has published a new article, by Maia Szalavitz, that substantively and impressively examines the report and its implications.</span><br /><span id="more-3080" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; "></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">URL: <a onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/cato.org/event.php?eventid=5887');" href="http://cato.org/event.php?eventid=5887" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; color: rgb(37, 87, 0); ">http://cato.org/event.php?eventid=5887</a></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">Though the headline — “The Portuguese Experiment: Did Legalizing Drugs Work?” — is inaccurate (Portugal decriminalized, not legalized, drugs), the article itself (which Time is promoting with a fair amount of prominence) provides an excellent discussion of the unambiguous success of drug decriminalization and the impact which those findings ought to have on our own drug policy debates:</span></p><p style="font-family: arial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">URL: <a onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html');" href="http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; color: rgb(37, 87, 0); ">http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html</a></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">The paper, published by Cato in April, found that in the five years after personal possession was decriminalized, illegal drug use among teens in Portugal declined and rates of new HIV infections caused by sharing of dirty needles dropped, while the number of people seeking treatment for drug addiction more than doubled.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">“Judging by every metric, decriminalization in Portugal has been a resounding success,” says Glenn Greenwald, an attorney, author and fluent Portuguese speaker, who conducted the research. “It has enabled the Portuguese government to manage and control the drug problem far better than virtually every other Western country does.”</span></p><p style="font-family: arial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">Compared to the European Union and the U.S., Portugal’s drug use numbers are impressive. Following decriminalization, Portugal had the lowest rate of lifetime marijuana use in people over 15 in the E.U.: 10%. The most comparable figure in America is in people over 12: 39.8%. Proportionally, more Americans have used cocaine than Portuguese have used marijuana.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">The Cato paper reports that between 2001 and 2006 in Portugal, rates of lifetime use of any illegal drug among seventh through ninth graders fell from 14.1% to 10.6%; drug use in older teens also declined. Lifetime heroin use among 16-to-18-year-olds fell from 2.5% to 1.8% (although there was a slight increase in marijuana use in that age group). New HIV infections in drug users fell by 17% between 1999 and 2003, and deaths related to heroin and similar drugs were cut by more than half. In addition, the number of people on methadone and buprenorphine treatment for drug addiction rose to 14,877 from 6,040, after decriminalization, and money saved on enforcement allowed for increased funding of drug-free treatment as well.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">Portugal’s case study is of some interest to lawmakers in the U.S., confronted now with the violent overflow of escalating drug gang wars in Mexico. The U.S. has long championed a hard-line drug policy, supporting only international agreements that enforce drug prohibition and imposing on its citizens some of the world’s harshest penalties for drug possession and sales. Yet America has the highest rates of cocaine and marijuana use in the world, and while most of the E.U. (including Holland) has more liberal drug laws than the U.S., it also has less drug use.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">Those are just facts. After citing numerous recent events that indicate that a re-examination of our own drug policies is more possible than ever before (including the move in many states to legalize marijuana and the recent criminal justice reform bill introduced by Sen. Jim Webb), the Time article emphasizes the primary impact that the Portugal report ought to have:</span></p><p style="font-family: arial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">At the Cato Institute in early April, Greenwald contended that a major problem with most American drug policy debate is that it’s based on “speculation and fear mongering,” rather than empirical evidence on the effects of more lenient drug policies. In Portugal, the effect was to neutralize what had become the country’s number one public health problem, he says.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">“The impact in the life of families and our society is much lower than it was before decriminalization,” says Joao Castel-Branco Goulao, Portugal’s “drug czar” and president of the Institute on Drugs and Drug Addiction, adding that police are now able to re-focus on tracking much higher level dealers and larger quantities of drugs. . . .</span></p><p style="font-family: arial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">The Cato report’s author, Greenwald, hews to the first point: that the data shows that decriminalization does not result in increased drug use. Since that is what concerns the public and policymakers most about decriminalization, he says, “that is the central concession that will transform the debate.”</span></p><p style="font-family: arial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">Few political orthodoxies have more of a destructive impact than our approach to drug policy. Harsh criminalization schemes result in the imprisonment of hundreds of thousands of American citizens, breaks up families, burns tens of billions of dollars every year, erodes civil liberties, turns our police forces into para-military units, and spawns massive levels of violence and criminality — all while exacerbating the very harms it seeks to address. If a measured, substantive debate over America’s extremist drug policies can take place in Time Magazine, then it can take place anywhere.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; "><strong style="font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">Source:</strong> Salon (US Web)<br /><strong style="font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">Author: </strong>Glenn Greenwald<br /><strong style="font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">Website: </strong><a onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.salon.com/');" href="http://www.salon.com/" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; color: rgb(37, 87, 0); ">http://www.salon.com/</a><br /><strong style="font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; ">Contact:</strong> <a onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/mailto/readermail@salon.com');" href="mailto:readermail@salon.com" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 1em; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; color: rgb(37, 87, 0); ">readermail@salon.com</a></span></p></span>Teahupoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835169732493881633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6211028898750462733.post-89373309977733557882009-04-24T04:58:00.000-07:002009-04-24T05:46:21.198-07:00Charles Lynch Sentencing Postponed In Medical Marijuana Case<span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(48,48,32);font-size:12;" ><div class="orgurl"><h1 style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Sentencing delayed in medical marijuana case</h1></div><img height="280" alt="Medical marijuana" src="http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-04/46476545.jpg" width="500" /><br /><p style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align="justify"></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">Charles Lynch speaks with supporters outside federal court in Los Angeles on Thursday. The judge heard from several character witnesses, including one of Lynch’s patients and the patient’s father.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;"></span></div><div class="storysubhead" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">A federal judge says he’s inclined to impose less than the required five years on Charles Lynch, who ran a Morro Bay dispensary. Lawyers are given time to file briefs before a June hearing.</span></div><div class="storysubhead" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;"></span></div><div class="storybyline" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">By Scott Glover<br />April 24, 2009</span></div><div class="storybyline" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;"></span></div><div class="storybody" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">The sentencing of a man who has become a key figure in the national debate over medical marijuana was postponed Thursday, with a federal judge saying he was inclined to impose a more lenient sentence than the five years required by federal sentencing guidelines, but questioning whether he had the authority to do so. </span><p style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"></p><p style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">“If I could find a way out, I would,” U.S. District Judge George H. Wu said. He gave lawyers in the case until June 2 to file briefs regarding the impending sentence of Charles Lynch.</span></p></div><div class="storybody" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">Lynch, 47, ran a medical marijuana dispensary in Morro Bay on the Central Coast in 2006 and 2007. Despite having the blessing of the city’s mayor and other public officials, he was charged with violating federal drug laws for distributing marijuana and was convicted by a federal court jury in Los Angeles last year. </span></div><p class="storybody" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align="justify"></p><p class="storybody" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">At the hearing Thursday, Wu heard from several character witnesses, including one of Lynch’s patients and the young man’s father.</span></p><p class="storybody" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">“I stand before you today because I believe a man is being punished for reasons that don’t make much sense,” said Owen Beck, whose parents took him to Lynch’s Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers when he was battling bone cancer at age 17. “I believe a great injustice is being done.”</span></p><div class="storybody" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">Beck’s father, Steven, told Wu that the chemotherapy his son was undergoing was having devastating side effects. </span></div><p class="storybody" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align="justify"></p><p class="storybody" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">“He could not eat. He could not sleep. His personality became dark and angry,” the elder Beck said. He told the judge they decided to try medical marijuana on the advice of their son’s Stanford University oncologist. He said Lynch usually gave them marijuana for free or at deeply discounted rates.</span></p><p class="storybody" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">“I never felt as though Charlie was there for the money,” Beck said.</span></p><p class="storybody" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">Such testimony was not allowed at Lynch’s trial because the Supreme Court has ruled that a claim of medical necessity is not a valid defense.</span></p><p class="storybody" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">Janice Peters, the mayor of Morro Bay, described Lynch as a “polite, compassionate” man who did everything the city asked of him with respect to his business.</span></p><p class="storybody" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">Rob Schultz, the town’s city attorney said he received only one complaint about Lynch the whole time he was in business “and that had to do with the quality of the medical marijuana.”</span></p><p class="storybody" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">The comment drew loud laughter from Lynch’s supporters, who packed the courtroom, many of them wearing green ribbons with the word “compassion” printed on them.</span></p><p class="storybody" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">Cultivating, using and selling doctor-recommended medical marijuana is allowed under some circumstances in California and a dozen other states, but federal law bans the drug altogether.</span></p><p class="storybody" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">Though Lynch was not charged with violating state law, prosecutors contend that he broke the law because he was not truly a “primary caregiver” entitled to dispense marijuana to patients and that he profited from the operation of his business.</span></p><p class="storybody" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">Much of the discussion Thursday dealt with whether Wu was required to sentence Lynch to a mandatory minimum of five years or whether the defendant was entitled to a lesser sentence under a so-called safety valve.</span></p><p class="storybody" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align="justify"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">The next hearing in the case, which the judge said would be the last, is scheduled for June 11.</span></p><p class="storybody" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" align="justify"><a style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(48,48,32); TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="mailto:scott.glover@latimes.com"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">scott.glover@latimes.com</span></a></p></span>Teahupoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835169732493881633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6211028898750462733.post-60074971836693809172009-04-23T07:36:00.000-07:002009-04-23T07:38:14.716-07:00Which State Will Be The Next To Legalize Medicinal Cannabis?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; "><small style="font-size: 0.8em; ">April 22nd, 2009 By: Paul Armentano, <a href="http://norml.org">NORML</a> Deputy Director<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "></span></small></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; "><small style="font-size: 0.8em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">A number of state legislatures are actively vying to join <strong>Alaska</strong>,<strong>California</strong>, <strong>Colorado</strong>, <strong>Hawaii</strong>,<strong>Maine</strong>, <strong>Michigan</strong>, <strong>Montana</strong>,<strong>Nevada</strong>, <strong>New Mexico</strong>, <strong>Oregon</strong>,<strong>Rhode Island</strong>, <strong>Vermont</strong>, and<strong>Washington</strong> to become the <a href="http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3391">fourteenth state</a> to legalize the physician-supervised use of medicinal marijuana.</span></small><div class="entry" style="padding-top: 5px; "><p>Here’s how you can help make these efforts a reality.</p><blockquote style="padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 20px; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(237, 243, 220); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(201, 206, 185); border-right-color: rgb(201, 206, 185); border-bottom-color: rgb(201, 206, 185); border-left-color: rgb(201, 206, 185); background-position: initial initial; "><p><strong>Illinois:</strong> This week the Marijuana Policy Project began running targeted <a href="http://www.galesburg.com/news/news_state/x297232860/Medical-marijuana-advocates-roll-out-TV-campaign">ads</a> in support of <a href="http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=12671296">House Bill 2514</a> and<a href="http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=12671296">Senate Bill 1381</a>, the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Acts.<strong>Both bills have already passed various legislative committees and are expected to receive floor votes imminently.</strong> If you live in Illinois and have not yet contacted your House and Senate members in support of these measures, please do so now by going <a href="http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=12671296">here</a>.</p><p><strong>Minnesota:</strong> A pair of bills (SF 97 and HF 292) seeking to allow for the use and distribution of medicinal cannabis have cleared committee and <a href="http://www.citypages.com/2009-04-01/news/legal-medical-marijuana-in-minnesota-closer-to-becoming-reality/">are expected </a>to be voted on shortly by members of the full House and Senate. One potential hurdle: <a href="http://www.governor.state.mn.us/contacts/index.htm">Governor Tim Pawlenty</a>, who has voiced opposition to the measures. Tell the Governor that “it is unconscionable to deny this effective medicine to sick and dying patients” by going <a href="http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=12483221">here</a>.</p><p><strong>New Hampshire:</strong> Members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee are expected to take action on <a href="http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=13005201">HB 648</a>later this week. The bill will then go before the full Senate. (The House previously <a href="http://nhcompassion.org/content/medical_marijuana_bill_passes_new_hampshire_house_234_138">passed</a> the measure in March.) Last week the state’s largest newspaper <a href="http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Pot+is+medicine%3a+Let+the+ill+use+it&articleId=55abc179-1932-4d4a-ab27-7ffbf0e19af1">endorsed medical marijuana</a>. Make sure that your senator and the Governor do too. Contact information for the New Hampshire state senate and <a href="http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090416/NEWS02/304169954/-1/XML15">Gov. John Lynch</a> is available <a href="http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=13005201">here</a>.</p><p><strong>New Jersey:</strong> In February, members of the state Senate<a href="http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/nj_senate_approves_medical_mar.html">approved</a> the <a href="http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=12767456">New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act</a> by a vote of 22 to 16. Yet months later, leadership in the Assembly <strong>has still not taken any action on this measure</strong>, which has received the support of the<a href="http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/corzine_says_he_will_sign_medi.html">Governor</a> and the <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20090422_Milgram_amenable_to_N_J__medical-marijuana_bill.html">Attorney General</a>. Please contact your member of the Assembly <a href="http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=12767456">here</a>, and urge him or her demand that their colleagues hold hearings on medical marijuana.</p><p><strong>New York:</strong> Lawmakers in the state Senate and Assembly introduced legislation this week to legalize the state-sanctioned use and distribution of medicinal marijuana. <strong>The bills’ sponsors are <a href="http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/129660">confident</a> that they have the necessary votes to pass medical marijuana law reform in both chambers.</strong> Further, according to news reports, Gov. Patterson is also privately <a href="http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/647328.html">supportive</a> of medical marijuana law reform. If you reside in New York, please consider assisting this campaign by going <a href="http://nynorml.org/home.html">here</a> and by contacting your elected officials <a href="http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=13194986">here</a>.</p></blockquote></div></span></div>Teahupoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835169732493881633noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6211028898750462733.post-70959778127779361902009-04-21T11:10:00.000-07:002009-04-21T11:12:27.457-07:00Vermont Hemp Resolution Passes Senate<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; "><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); font-weight: bold; font-family:'Trebuchet MS',Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#003366;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#000000;"><center>Please Thank The Senators Who Cosponsored JRS 26</center><br /><br /></span></span></div><a href="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=tqoqx9cab.0.0.77w8grbab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.votehemp.com%2Fstate%2Fvermont.html" shape="rect"><img align="right" alt="Vermont State Capitol" border="0" height="249.75" hspace="5" src="http://www.votehemp.com/images/constantcontact/vt_house.jpg" vspace="5" width="187.5" /></a><p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); font-weight: bold; font-family:'Trebuchet MS',Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#003366;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Montpelier, VT —</span></span> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); font-weight: bold; font-family:'Trebuchet MS',Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#003366;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">April 21, 2009<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;color:#000000;"><i>[Note: If you do not live in Vermont, you received this email alert because you have no state listed in your profile. Please click the "Update Profile/Email Address" link in the footer below and update your information so our emails will be more relevant to you. Please uncheck the "No State" box and choose your U.S. state, or country if you are not in the U.S.]</i></span></p><p>The Senate has passed Senator Maynard's Joint Resolution on Hemp! It has now gone over to the House and is in the Agriculture Committee. The resolution, JRS 26, can be found on the <a href="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=tqoqx9cab.0.0.77w8grbab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.votehemp.com%2Fstate%2Fvermont.html%23Legislation">Vote Hemp Vermont State page</a>. Once the resolution passes in both the House and the Senate, it will be sent on to the decision makers in Washington, DC.</p><p>If you haven't done so yet, please write a <b>thank you</b> note to the Senators who cosponsored the resolution! Please send a <b>hand-written</b> note to the Senators (their email is really clogged up with the "big" issues this year). This is a great chance to use the Rural Vermont notecards (please <a href="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=tqoqx9cab.0.0.77w8grbab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ruralvermont.org%2Fpublications.html">click here</a> to order some).</p><p>You can see who the cosponsors of the resolution are <a href="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=tqoqx9cab.0.0.77w8grbab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leg.state.vt.us%2Fdatabase%2Fstatus%2Fsponsors.cfm%3FBillID%3D1146%26amp%3BSession%3D2010">here</a> and if you don't know who your Senator is you can find that information <a href="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=tqoqx9cab.0.0.77w8grbab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leg.state.vt.us%2Flegdir%2Ffindmember3.cfm">here</a>. If your senator did not cosponsor the resolution, please send your thank you note to <b>Senator Maynard</b>.</p><p>You can send your card or note to (fill in the blank with the Senator's last name):</p><p>Senator __________<br />Vermont Statehouse<br />115 State Street<br />Montpelier, VT 05633.</p><p>Thanks you for taking the time to write!</p><p></p><hr /><p></p>More information on the hemp issue in general and the history of hemp legislation in the state can be found on the <a href="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=tqoqx9cab.0.0.77w8grbab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ruralvermont.org%2Fhemp.html">Rural Vermont Hemp page</a> and on the <a href="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=tqoqx9cab.0.0.77w8grbab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.votehemp.com%2Fstate%2Fvermont.html">Vote Hemp Vermont State page</a>.<p>Please stay informed on agricultural policy and related legislation in Vermont. Join Rural Vermont's <a href="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=tqoqx9cab.0.0.77w8grbab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ruralvermont.org%2Ffpnnews.html">Farm Policy Network</a> and receive regular email updates.</p><p></p><hr /><p></p><p style="text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); font-weight: bold; font-family:'Trebuchet MS',Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#003366;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">About Vote Hemp</span></span></p><p>Vote Hemp is a national, single-issue, non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for low-THC industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow the crop.</p><div>Web Site: <a color="#006600" href="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=tqoqx9cab.0.0.77w8grbab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.votehemp.com" shape="rect" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); ">http://www.votehemp.com</a></div><p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 51, 102); font-weight: bold; font-family:'Trebuchet MS',Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#003366;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Support Vote Hemp</span></span></p><p>Vote Hemp depends on donations from people like you to support our work. Please consider making a donation to Vote Hemp today.</p><div>Contribute Now: <a color="#006600" href="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=tqoqx9cab.0.0.77w8grbab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.votehemp.com%2Fcontribute.php" shape="rect" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); ">http://www.votehemp.com/contribute.php</a></div><p></p><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" colspan="1" rowspan="1" valign="top" width="50%"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); font-family:'Trebuchet MS',Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#0066CC;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; font-family:Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#00000;">Vote Hemp, Inc.</span></span><div>Tom Murphy</div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">National Outreach Coordinator</span></div><div>email: <a color="#006600" href="mailto:tom@votehemp.com" shape="rect" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); ">tom@votehemp.com</a></div><div>phone: 207-542-4998</div><div><br /></div><div>From <a href="http://www.votehemp.com/">VoteHemp.com</a></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span>Teahupoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835169732493881633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6211028898750462733.post-91708055754605739862009-04-17T08:14:00.000-07:002009-04-17T08:15:21.288-07:00Friday Thoughts on Upcoming 420 Celebrations<div><h2 class="date-header">Friday, April 17, 2009</h2><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template"><a name="7140105219197983992"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/2009/04/just-couple-of-friday-hemp-factoids.html">Just a Couple of Friday Hemp Factoids</a> </h3><div class="post-header-line-1"></div><div class="post-body entry-content"><img height="378" alt="" src="http://api.ning.com/files/pMwxdqisFCunNbHulIenLoBKoYcE5j6-NuSb2zrJAyQjZ9m*ImqzMCklgSbq9otibHTwhl83e7bmEquDHxoA0ucuPpDq-Ng2/BlueMeanie.jpg" width="315" /> <div class="xg_module_body"><div class="postbody" align="justify">The Cannabis Community is all abuzz as we approach April 20th (4/20) and the various and assorted planned activities around that day. Myself...I am leery as I watch the American News media beating a rather ugly sounding anti Marijuana Drum since Barack Obama took office...I see it as a "Custer's Last Stand" on the part of the DEA who does not want to lose what has been a very profitable enforcement run for them...as example, legalization of Medical Marijuana would see enforcement issues and inspection handed over to the FDA, and Industrialized Hemp oversight would probably go to the USDA. The just say no message is being tweaked and amped up, and we have some heavy hitters (Hillary Clinton, Janet Napolitano, Eric Holder) in the Obama administration blaming the Mexican Drug War on American Pot Smokers.<br /><br /><strong>Some Factoids</strong> (Hemptoids)<br /><br />1. At least 2/3's of American Marijuana Consumption (both legal and illegal) is grown right here in America, and we could easily grow 100 percent of our consumption if Cannabis and Hemp were legalized.<br /><br />2. The Drug Cartel's and their war is not really about Marijuana, but instead is about Heroin and Cocaine and the routes needed to get their products into America.<br /><br />On 420, have fun, CELEBRATE OUR DAY, but I would ask each and every one of my fellow Budsters out there in 420 land to remember the goal of Legalization, and consider signing up to do some volunteer work for the cause. We need state and city bloggers ourselves. <a title="http://www.safeaccessnow.org/" href="http://www.safeaccessnow.org/"><span style="COLOR: #c30057">ASA (Americans for Safe Access)</span></a> and <a title="http://www.norml.org/" href="http://www.norml.org/"><span style="COLOR: #c30057">NORML</span></a> probably have lots of volunteer work waiting for a set of hands that wants to pitch in.<br /><br />We cannot realize our dream without every Cannabis Friendly American doing their part for the cause, and while we are on the subject, lets not forget that our friends in Canada are dealing with many of the same issues and harrassments we ourselves face. </div><p class="small" id="tagsList">Tags: <a title="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=" href="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=420"><span style="COLOR: #c30057">420</span></a>, <a title="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=" href="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=cannabis"><span style="COLOR: #c30057">cannabis</span></a>, <a title="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=" href="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=dea"><span style="COLOR: #c30057">dea</span></a>, <a title="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=" href="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=friendly"><span style="COLOR: #c30057">friendly</span></a>, <a title="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=" href="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=hemp"><span style="COLOR: #c30057">hemp</span></a>, <a title="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=" href="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=legalization"><span style="COLOR: #c30057">legalization</span></a>, <a title="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=" href="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=marijuana"><span style="COLOR: #c30057">marijuana</span></a>, <a title="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=" href="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=medical"><span style="COLOR: #c30057">medical</span></a>, <a title="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=" href="http://medicalmarijuanasociety.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=obama"><span style="COLOR: #c30057">obama</span></a>, </p><p class="small">Hemptoids-small, sometimes rarely known facts about Hemp and Cannabis. </p></div><div style="CLEAR: both"></div></div><div class="post-footer"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><span class="post-author vcard">Posted by <span class="fn">Admin Medical Marijuana Society</span> </span><span class="post-timestamp">at <a class="timestamp-link" title="permanent link" href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/2009/04/just-couple-of-friday-hemp-factoids.html" rel="bookmark"><abbr class="published" title="2009-04-17T08:10:00-07:00"><span style="color:#99aadd;">8:10 AM</span></abbr></a> </span></div><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-2"><span class="post-labels">Labels: <a href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/Barack%20Obama%20on%20Medical%20Marijuana" rel="tag"><span style="color:#99aadd;">Barack Obama on Medical Marijuana</span></a>, <a href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/Legalize%20Medical%20Marijuana" rel="tag"><span style="color:#99aadd;">Legalize Medical Marijuana</span></a>, <a href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/Medical%20Marijuana%20Nw%20York%20420%20Celebrations" rel="tag"><span style="color:#99aadd;">Medical Marijuana New York 420 Celebrations</span></a> </span></div></div></div></div>Admin Medical Marijuana Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05736637124708019160noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6211028898750462733.post-81706878894477786252009-04-15T09:49:00.000-07:002009-04-15T09:50:37.964-07:00How to Find the Best Medical Marijuana Doctors<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 13px/19px 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; padding-top: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background-position: initial initial; "><p></p><h3 class="post-title" id="" style="font-size: 1.17em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_fixed="1" style="font-weight: normal; ">From the </span><a href="http://www.medicalmarijuanablog.com/" mce_href="http://www.medicalmarijuanablog.com" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_fixed="1" style="font-weight: normal; ">Medical Marijuana Blog</span></a></h3><div class="post-body" id=""><div><div></div><span>Medical marijuana has been through a long road of controversy</span>, and the field and study still have a long way to go. Currently about a fourth of US states allow patients to take medical marijuana legally for various medical conditions. The scientific evidence keeps piling up in favor of medicinal cannabis, and many patients are seeing vast improvement in their symptoms with this treatment.<br /><br /><span>Studies have shown that medical marijuana can aid in reducing symptoms of terminal illnesses such as AIDS and cancer, by helping pain and nausea from treatment and also increasing appetite.</span> Some doctors and researchers also believe that cannabidol can help anxiety, glaucoma, depression, arthritis, convulsion and inflammation. Each new study that comes out finds new possible ways medicinal cannabis can help those who need it.<br /><br />If you would like to be evaluated by a doctor to see if medical marijuana would help you, ask your current doctor for an evaluation. If you have a condition where this medicine has been used as a treatment, your doctor may give you a recommendation to try medical cannabis.<br /><br />In the <a href="http://govaporize.com/medical-marijuana-laws-by-state/" mce_href="http://govaporize.com/medical-marijuana-laws-by-state/" target="_blank">states that have laws deeming this practice legal</a>, there may also be <a href="http://marijuanamedicine.com/">medical marijuana doctors</a> who have a specialty in seeing patients interested in obtaining treatment. Many argue that these doctors are the best ones to go to, if this treatment is what you seek. When researching doctors, look for those that are medical cannabis specialists though before you go see one, you should already have a diagnosis and medical records from your regular doctor.<br /><br />To find the best <a href="http://marijuanamedicine.com/">medical marijuana doctor</a> in your area, look to a trusted source for recommendations. The WeedMaps.com website has a list of trustworthy <a href="http://legalmarijuanadispensary.com/">cannabis doctors</a> in California. The Marijuana Medicine Evaluation Center also has a list of doctors at their seven Southern California locations.<br /><br />If you do not have a Marijuana Medicine Evaluation Center clinic in your area, specialty wellness clinics may also have medical cannabis specialists at their offices. Look for the words <span>holistic</span>, <span>wellness, or natural care</span> in the office name. These types of clinics often participate in non-traditional treatments for their patients and may be able to help you with a consultation.<br /><br />The patient card is becoming the favored form of identification for medical marijuana patients, as it is much smaller and easier to carry around than the recommendation letter. This more discreet form of ID can be shown at medicinal clinics to obtain medicine and has all the information necessary on it, including your photo and an expiration date.<br /><br />To obtain a patient card from somewhere other than a clinic, you can go through the state. You will need to fill out an application in most cases and pay a fee check with your local county office to see what kind of identification is needed to fill out the application and obtain the medical marijuana card. Usually you will want to contact the local Public Health office in your county.<br /><br />As more scientific studies keep being published, we will most likely see more and more doctors recommending the use of medical cannabis to reduce symptoms of many painful diseases. The controversy of medical marijuana as a treatment will decrease with time, as it often does with new treatments.<br /><br />Using the internet to find a medical marijuana doctor is still the most common way. Directory listings may not give much information, but seeing which doctors trusted cannabis foundations like the Marijuana Medicine Evaluation Center recommend can narrow the list down. Call to make your consultation appointment, and you can be on your way to receiving treatment.<br /><span><br />Please let us know your thoughts on having a specialist medical marijuana doctor, treat your medical conditions.</span></div></div><p></p></div></span>Teahupoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835169732493881633noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6211028898750462733.post-88337522769132153802009-04-14T09:22:00.000-07:002009-04-14T09:23:24.409-07:00Medical Marijuana Laws By State<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; "><div class="title" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, helvetica; font-size: large; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; text-align: center; padding-left: 25px; padding-top: 0px; ">13 Legal Medical Marijuana States</div><div class="subtitle" style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: large; color: rgb(88, 125, 134); font-weight: bold; text-align: center; "><span style="font-size:100%;">Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits</span></div><p class="editortext" style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; "><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; ">I. Thirteen states have enacted laws that legalized medical marijuana:</span></p><table bordercolor="#c0c0c0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0" width="70%" border="0"><tbody><tr><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "></span><div><table bordercolor="#cccfb0" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="0" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 750px; background-position: initial initial; "><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="25%" bgcolor="#cccfb0"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">State</span></span></td><td width="15%" bgcolor="#cccfb0"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; ">Year Passed</span></td><td width="15%" bgcolor="#cccfb0"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Fee</span></span></td><td width="45%" bgcolor="#cccfb0"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Possession Limit</span></span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="25%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>1. <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#Alaska" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Alaska</span></a></div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>1998</div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>$25/$20</div></span></td><td width="45%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>1 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)</div></span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="25%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>2. <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#California" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">California</span></a></div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>1996</div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>$66/$33</div></span></td><td width="45%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>8 oz usable; 18 plants (6 mature, 12 immature)</div></span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="25%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>3. <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#Colorado" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Colorado</span></a></div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>2000</div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>$90</div></span></td><td width="45%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>2 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)</div></span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="25%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>4. <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#Hawaii" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Hawaii</span></a></div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>2000</div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>$25</div></span></td><td width="45%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>3 oz usable; 7 plants (3 mature, 4 immature)</div></span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="25%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>5. <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#Maine" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Maine</span></a></div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>1999</div></span></td><td width="15%"><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#MaineFee" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>*</div></span></a></td><td width="45%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>1.25 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)</div></span></td></tr><tr><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; ">6. <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#Michigan" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Michigan</span></a></span></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; ">2008</span></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; ">$100/$25</span></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; ">2.5 oz usable; 12 plants</span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="25%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>7. <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#Montana" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Montana</span></a></div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>2004</div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>$50</div></span></td><td width="45%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>1 oz usable; 6 plants</div></span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="25%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>8. <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#Nevada" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Nevada</span></a></div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>2000</div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>$150 +</div></span></td><td width="45%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>1 oz usable; 7 plants (3 mature, 4 immature)</div></span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="25%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>9. <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#NewMexico" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">New Mexico</span></a></div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>2007</div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>$0</div></span></td><td width="45%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>6 oz usable; 7 plants (4 mature, 3 immature)</div></span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="25%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>10. <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#Oregon" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Oregon</span></a></div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>1998</div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>$150/$50</div></span></td><td width="45%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>24 oz usable; 24 plants (6 mature, 18 immature)</div></span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="25%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>11. <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#Rhode" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Rhode Island</span></a></div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>2006</div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>$75/$10</div></span></td><td width="45%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>2.5 oz usable; 12 plants</div></span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="25%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>12. <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#Vermont" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Vermont</span></a></div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>2004</div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>$50</div></span></td><td width="45%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>2 oz usable; 9 plants (2 mature, 7 immature)</div></span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="25%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>13. <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#Washington" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Washington</span></a></div></span></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>1998</div></span></td><td width="15%"><div><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#WAFee" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">**</span></a></div></td><td width="45%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>24 oz usable; 15 plants</div></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "></p><table cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="90%" border="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; ">II. Two states have passed laws that, although favorable towards medical marijuana, <br />did not legalize its use:</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table bordercolor="#c0c0c0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0" width="70%" border="0"><tbody><tr><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "></span><div><table bordercolor="#c0c0c0" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="0" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 750px; background-position: initial initial; "><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="25%" bgcolor="#cccfb0"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">State</span></span></td><td width="15%" bgcolor="#cccfb0"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Year Passed</span></span></td><td width="60%" bgcolor="#cccfb0"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Provision</span></span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="25%"><div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">1. <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#Arizona" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Arizona</span></a></span></div></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>1996</div></span></td><td width="60%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>Allows physicians to prescribe marijuana (federal law prohibits physicians from prescribing Schedule I drugs)</div></span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="25%"><div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">2. <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881#Maryland" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Maryland</span></a></span></div></td><td width="15%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>2003</div></span></td><td width="60%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><div>Allows medical use defense in court</div></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "> </p><div align="left"><img height="30" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/space.gif" width="31" border="0" /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; ">I. State Laws That Legalized Medical Marijuana Use</span></div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "></span><table cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5" border="1" style="width: 95%; "><tbody><tr valign="top" bgcolor="#cccfb0"><td width="10%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; "><div><span style="font-weight: bold; ">State</span></div></span></td><td width="65%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; "><div><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Program Details</span></div></span></td><td width="20%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; "><div><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Contact Info</span></div></span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">1. <a name="Alaska" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a>Alaska</span></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewbackgroundresource.asp?resourceID=870" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Ballot Measure 8</span></a> -- Approved Nov. 3, 1998 by 58% of voters<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Mar. 4, 1999</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Removed state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients who possess written documentation from their physician advising that they "might benefit from the medical use of marijuana."</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Approved Conditions: </span>Cachexia, cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy and other disorders characterized by seizures, glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other disorders characterized by muscle spasticity, and nausea. Other conditions are subject to approval by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Possession/Cultivation:</span> Patients (or their primary caregivers) may legally possess no more than one ounce of usable marijuana, and may cultivate no more than six marijuana plants, of which no more than three may be mature. The law establishes a confidential state-run patient registry that issues identification cards to qualifying patients.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Amended: </span><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewbackgroundresource.asp?resourceID=871" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Senate Bill 94</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> June 2, 1999</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Mandates all patients seeking legal protection under this act to enroll in the state patient registry and possess a valid identification card. Patients not enrolled in the registry will no longer be able to argue the "affirmative defense of medical necessity" if they are arrested on marijuana charges.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Update: </span><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/ASTitle17Ch37.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Alaska Statute Title 17 Chapter 37</a><img height="11" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" /> (PDF 36KB)</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Creates a confidential statewide registry of medical marijuana patients and caregivers and establishes identification card.</span></p></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Application information for the Alaska medical marijuana registry is available by mail, phone, email, and online:</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics</span><br />Marijuana Registry<br />P.O. Box 110699<br />Juneau, AK 99811-0699<br />Phone: 907-465-5423</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="mailto:BVSSpecialServices@health.state.ak.us" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">BVSSpecialServices@health.state.ak.us</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dph/bvs/marijuana.htm" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">AK Marijuana Registry Online</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Fee:</span><br />$25 new application/$20 renewal</span></p></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">2.<a name="California" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a>California</span></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewbackgroundresource.asp?resourceID=872" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Ballot Proposition 215</span></a> -- Approved Nov. 5, 1996 by 56% of voters<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Nov. 6, 1996</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients who possess a "written or oral recommendation" from their physician that he or she "would benefit from medical marijuana." Patients diagnosed with any debilitating illness where the medical use of marijuana has been "deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician" are afforded legal protection under this act.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Approved Conditions:</span> AIDS, anorexia, arthritis, cachexia, cancer, chronic pain, glaucoma, migraine, persistent muscle spasms, including spasms associated with multiple sclerosis, seizures, including seizures associated with epilepsy, severe nausea; Other chronic or persistent medical symptoms.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Amended: </span><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/SB420.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Senate Bill 420</a><img height="11" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" /> (PDF 70KB)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Jan. 1, 2004</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Imposes statewide guidelines outlining how much medicinal marijuana patients may grow and possess.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Possession/Cultivation:</span> Qualified patients and their primary caregivers may possess no more than eight ounces of dried marijuana and/or six mature (or 12 immature) marijuana plants. However, S.B. 420 allows patients to possess larger amounts of marijuana when recommended by a physician. The legislation also allows counties and municipalities to approve and/or maintain local ordinances permitting patients to possess larger quantities of medicinal pot than allowed under the new state guidelines.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">S.B. 420 also grants implied legal protection to the state's medicinal marijuana dispensaries, stating, "Qualified patients, persons with valid identification cards, and the designated primary caregivers of qualified patients ... who associate within the state of California in order collectively or cooperatively to cultivate marijuana for medical purposes, shall not solely on the basis of that fact be subject to state criminal sanctions." <br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Attorney General's Guidelines:</span><br />On Aug. 25, 2008, California Attorney General Jerry Brown issued guidelines for law enforcement and medical marijuana patients to clarify the state's laws. Read more about the guidelines <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewadditionalresource.asp?resourceID=1735" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">here</a>.<br /></span></p></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Application information for the California Medical Marijuana Program is available by mail, email, and online:</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">California Department of Public Health</span><br />Office of County Health Services<br />Attention: Medical Marijuana Program Unit<br />MS 5203<br />P.O. Box 997377<br />Sacramento, CA 95899-7377<br /><br /><a href="mailto:mmpinfo@dhs.ca.gov" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">mmpinfo@dhs.ca.gov</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/MMP/Pages/Medical%20Marijuana%20Program.aspx" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">CA Medical Marijuana Program</a></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/Brown_Guidelines_Aug08.pdf" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Guidelines for the Security and Non-diversion of Marijuana Grown for Medical Use <img height="13" alt="" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="13" border="0" /></a> (PDF 55 KB)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Fee:</span><br />$66.00 non Medi-Cal/$33.00 Medi-Cal, plus additional county fees (varies by location)</span></p></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">3. <a name="Colorado" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a>Colorado</span></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewbackgroundresource.asp?resourceID=873" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Ballot Amendment 20</span></a> -- Approved Nov. 7, 2000 by 54% of voters<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> June 1, 2001</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients who possess written documentation from their physician affirming that he or she suffers from a debilitating condition and advising that they "might benefit from the medical use of marijuana." (Patients must possess this documentation prior to an arrest.)</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Approved Conditions:</span> Cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS positive, cachexia; severe pain; severe nausea; seizures, including those that are characteristic of epilepsy; or persistent muscle spasms, including those that are characteristic of multiple sclerosis. Other conditions are subject to approval by the Colorado Board of Health.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Possession/Cultivation:</span> A patient or a primary caregiver who has been issued a Medical Marijuana Registry identification card may possess no more than two ounces of a usable form of marijuana and not more than six marijuana plants, with three or fewer being mature, flowering plants that are producing a usable form of marijuana.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Patients who do not join the registry or possess greater amounts of marijuana than allowed by law may argue the "affirmative defense of medical necessity" if they are arrested on marijuana charges.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Not Amended</span></span></p></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Application information for the Colorado medical marijuana registry is available by mail, phone, email, and online:</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Medical Marijuana Registry</span><br />Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment<br />HSVR-ADM2-A1<br />4300 Cherry Creek Drive South<br />Denver, CO 80246-1530<br />Phone: 303-692-2184</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="mailto:medical.marijuana@state.co.us" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">medical.marijuana@state.co.us</a></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hs/medicalmarijuana/marijuanafactsheet.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">CO Medical Marijuana Registry</a></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Fee:</span><br />$90</span></p></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">4. <a name="Hawaii" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a>Hawaii</span></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewbackgroundresource.asp?resourceID=874" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Senate Bill 862</span></a> -- Signed into law by Gov. Ben Cayetano on June 14, 2000<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Dec. 28, 2000</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients who possess a signed statement from their physician affirming that he or she suffers from a debilitating condition and that the "potential benefits of medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the health risks." The law establishes a mandatory, confidential state-run patient registry that issues identification cards to qualifying patients.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Approved conditions:</span> Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for HIV/AIDS; A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy, or severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease. Other conditions are subject to approval by the Hawaii Department of Health.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Possession/Cultivation:</span> The amount of marijuana that may be possessed jointly between the qualifying patient and the primary caregiver is an "adequate supply," which shall not exceed three mature marijuana plants, four immature marijuana plants, and one ounce of usable marijuana per each mature plant.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Not Amended</span></span></p></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Application information for the Hawaii medical marijuana registry is available by mail, phone, fax, and online:</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Narcotics Enforcement Division</span><br />3375 Koapaka Street, Suite D-100<br />Honolulu, HI 96819<br />Phone: 808-837-8470<br />Fax: 808-837-8474</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://hawaii.gov/psd/law-enforcement/narcotics-enforcement" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">HI Medical Marijuana Application info</a></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Fee:</span><br />$25</span></p></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">5. <a name="Maine" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a>Maine</span></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewbackgroundresource.asp?resourceID=875" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Ballot Question 2</span></a> -- Approved Nov. 2, 1999 by 61% of voters<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Dec. 22, 1999</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients who possess an oral or written "professional opinion" from their physician that he or she "might benefit from the medical use of marijuana." The law does not establish a state-run patient registry.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Approved diagnosis:</span> epilepsy and other disorders characterized by seizures; glaucoma; multiple sclerosis and other disorders characterized by muscle spasticity; and nausea or vomiting as a result of AIDS or cancer chemotherapy.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Possession/Cultivation:</span> Patients (or their primary caregivers) may legally possess no more than one and one-quarter (1.25) ounces of usable marijuana, and may cultivate no more than six marijuana plants, of which no more than three may be mature. Those patients who possess greater amounts of marijuana than allowed by law are afforded a "simple defense" to a charge of marijuana possession.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Amended: </span><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewbackgroundresource.asp?resourceID=876" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Senate Bill 611</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Signed into law on Apr. 2, 2002</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Increases the amount of useable marijuana a person may possess from one and one-quarter (1.25) ounces to two and one-half (2.5) ounces.</span></p></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a name="MaineFee" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a>*No state registration program has been established</span></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align: top; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">6. </span><a name="Michigan" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Michigan</span></span></td><td style="vertical-align: top; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/MichiganProp1.pdf" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Proposal 1</a><img height="11" src="https://www.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" /> (PDF 60KB) "Michigan Medical Marihuana Act"</span> -- Approved by 63% of voters on Nov. 4, 2008</span></span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Approved:</span> Nov. 4, 2008<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Dec. 4, 2008</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Approved Conditions:</span> Approved for treatment of debilitating medical conditions, defined as cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn's disease, agitation of Alzheimer's disease, nail patella, cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe and chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, epilepsy, muscle spasms, and multiple sclerosis.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Possession/Cultivation:</span> Patients may possess up to two and one-half (2.5) ounces of usable marijuana and twelve marijuana plants kept in an enclosed, locked facility. The twelve plants may be kept by the patient only if he or she has not specified a primary caregiver to cultivate the marijuana for him or her.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "> </p></td><td style="vertical-align: top; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; "><a name="*MI" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Application information for the Michigan Medical Marihuana Program is available by mail, phone, email, and online:</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Michigan Medical Marihuana Program<br /></span>Bureau of Health Professions, Department of Community Health<br />611 W. Ottawa St.<br />Lansing, MI 48933<br />Phone: 517-373-6873<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><a href="mailto:bhpinfo@michigan.gov" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">bhpinfo@michigan.gov</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: 10pt; "><br /><a href="http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-27417_51869---,00.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">MI Medical Marihuana Program</a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Fee:</span><br />$100 new or renewal application/$25 Medicaid</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; ">patients</span><br /></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">7. <a name="Montana" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a>Montana</span></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/I148.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Initiative 148</a><img height="11" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" /> (PDF 76KB)</span> -- Approved by 62% of voters on Nov. 2, 2004<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Nov. 2, 2004</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Approved Conditions:</span> Cancer, glaucoma, or positive status for HIV/AIDS, or the treatment of these conditions; a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, including seizures caused by epilepsy, or severe or persistent muscle spasms, including spasms caused by multiple sclerosis or Chrohn's disease; or any other medical condition or treatment for a medical condition adopted by the department by rule.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Possession/Cultivation: </span>A qualifying patient and a qualifying patient's caregiver may each possess six marijuana plants and one ounce of usable marijuana. "Usable marijuana" means the dried leaves and flowers of marijuana and any mixture or preparation of marijuana.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Not Amended</span></span></p></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Application information for the Montana Medical Marijuana Program is available by mail, phone, email, and online:</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Medical Marijuana Program</span><br />Montana Department of Health and Human Services<br />Licensure Bureau<br />2401 Colonial Drive, 2nd Floor<br />P.O. Box 202953<br />Helena, MT 59620-2953<br />Phone: 406-444-2676</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="mailto:medical.marijuana@state.co.us" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">medical.marijuana@state.co.us</a></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/medicalmarijuana/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">MT Medical Marijuana Program</a></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Fee:</span><br />$50</span></p></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">8. <a name="Nevada" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a>Nevada</span></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewbackgroundresource.asp?resourceID=877" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Ballot Question 9</span></a> -- Approved Nov. 7, 2000 by 65% of voters<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Oct. 1, 2001</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients who have “written documentation” from their physician that marijuana may alleviate his or her condition.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Approved Conditions:</span> AIDS; cancer; glaucoma; and any medical condition or treatment to a medical condition that produces cachexia, persistent muscle spasms or seizures, severe nausea or pain. Other conditions are subject to approval by the health division of the state Department of Human Resources.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Possession/Cultivation:</span> Patients (or their primary caregivers) may legally possess no more than one ounce of usable marijuana, three mature plants, and four immature plants.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Registry: </span>The law establishes a confidential state-run patient registry that issues identification cards to qualifying patients. Patients who do not join the registry or possess greater amounts of marijuana than allowed by law may argue the “affirmative defense of medical necessity” if they are arrested on marijuana charges. Legislators added a preamble to the legislation stating, “[T]he state of Nevada as a sovereign state has the duty to carry out the will of the people of this state and regulate the health, medical practices and well-being of those people in a manner that respects their personal decisions concerning the relief of suffering through the medical use of marijuana.” A separate provision requires the Nevada School of Medicine to “aggressively” seek federal permission to establish a state-run medical marijuana distribution program.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Amended: </span><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/NevadaAB453.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Assembly Bill 453</a><img height="11" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" /> (PDF 25KB)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Oct. 1, 2001</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Created a state registry for patients prescribed the drug by a licensed physician and the Department of Motor Vehicles would issue identification cards. No state money will be used for the program, which will be funded entirely by donations.</span></p></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Application information for the Nevada medical marijuana registry is available by mail, phone, and online:</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Nevada Department of Agriculture</span><br />350 Capitol Hill<br />Reno, NV 89502<br />Phone: 775-688-1180, ext 271<br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; "><a href="http://health.nv.gov/MedicalMarijuana.htm" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">NV Medical Marijuana Program</a></span></p><p startcont="this" style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Fee:</span><br />$150, plus $15-42 in additional related costs</span></p></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td valign="top" align="left"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a name="NewMexico" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a>9. New Mexico</span></td><td valign="top" align="left"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/NewMexicoSB523.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Senate Bill 523</span></a><img height="11" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" /> (PDF 71KB)<span style="font-weight: bold; "> "The Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act"<br />Approved:</span> Mar. 13, 2007 by House, 36-31; by Senate, 32-3<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> July 1, 2007</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Removes state-level criminal penalties on the use and possession of marijuana by patients "in a regulated system for alleviating symptoms caused by debilitating medical conditions and their medical treatments." The New Mexico Department of Health designated to administer the program and register patients, caregivers, and providers.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Approved Conditions:</span> Under current state law, the only qualifying conditions for the medical cannabis program are cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, spinal cord damage with intractable spasticity, HIV/AIDS. Also, any patient in hospice care could qualify.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Possession/Cultivation:</span> Patients have the right to possess up to six ounces of usable cannabis, four mature plants and three seedlings. Usable cannabis is defined as dried leaves and flowers; it does not include seeds, stalks or roots. A primary caregiver may provide services to a maximum of four qualified patients under the Medical Cannabis Program.</span></p></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Application information for the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program is available by mail, phone, email, and online:</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">New Mexico Department of Health</span><br />1190 St. Francis Drive<br />P.O. Box 26110<br />Santa Fe, NM 87502-6110<br />Phone: 505-827-2321</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="mailto:melissa.milam@state.nm.us." style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">melissa.milam@state.nm.us.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.health.state.nm.us/marijuana.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">NM Medical Cannabis Program</a><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "> </span></p></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">10. <a name="Oregon" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a>Oregon</span></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewbackgroundresource.asp?resourceID=878" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Ballot Measure 67</span></a> -- Approved by 55% of voters on Nov. 3, 1998<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Dec. 3, 1998</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients who possess a signed recommendation from their physician stating that marijuana "may mitigate" his or her debilitating symptoms.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Approved Conditions:</span> Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for HIV/AIDS, or treatment for these conditions; A medical condition or treatment for a medical condition that produces cachexia, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures, including seizures caused by epilepsy, or persistent muscle spasms, including spasms caused by multiple sclerosis. Other conditions are subject to approval by the Health Division of the Oregon Department of Human Resources.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Possession/Cultivation:</span> A registry identification cardholder or the designated primary caregiver of the cardholder may possess up to six mature marijuana plants and 24 ounces of usable marijuana. A registry identification cardholder and the designated primary caregiver of the cardholder may possess a combined total of up to 18 marijuana seedlings. (per <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/ORS.pdf" target="blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Oregon Revised Statutes ORS 475.300 -- ORS 475.346</a>) <img height="11" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" /> (PDF 52KB)</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Amended: </span><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/sb1085.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Senate Bill 1085</a><img height="11" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" /> (PDF 52KB) <br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Jan. 1, 2006</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">State-qualified patients who possess cannabis in amounts exceeding the new state guidelines will no longer retain the ability to argue an "affirmative defense" of medical necessity at trial. Patients who fail to register with the state, but who possess medical cannabis in amounts compliant with state law, still retain the ability to raise an "affirmative defense" at trial.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">The law also redefines "mature plants" to include only those cannabis plants that are more than 12 inches in height and diameter, and establish a state-registry for those authorized to produce medical cannabis to qualified patients.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Amended: </span><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewbackgroundresource.asp?resourceID=879" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">House Bill 3052</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> July 21, 1999</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Mandates that patients (or their caregivers) may only cultivate marijuana in one location, and requires that patients must be diagnosed by their physicians at least 12 months prior to an arrest in order to present an "affirmative defense." This bill also states that law enforcement officials who seize marijuana from a patient pending trial do not have to keep those plants alive. Last year the Oregon Board of Health approved agitation due to Alzheimer’s disease to the list of debilitating conditions qualifying for legal protection.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">In August 2001, program administrators filed established temporary procedures further defining the relationship between physicians and patients. The new rule defines attending physician as "a physician who has established a physician/patient relationship with the patient; [...] is primarily responsible for the care and treatment of the patients; [...] has reviewed a patient’s medical records at the patient’s request, has conducted a thorough physical examination of the patient, has provided a treatment plan and/or follow-up care, and has documented these activities in a patient file."</span></p></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Application information for the Oregon medical marijuana registry is available by mail, phone, fax, and online:</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Oregon Department of Human Services</span><br />Medical Marijuana Program<br />PO Box 14450<br />Portland, OR 97293-0450<br />Phone: 971-673-1234<br />Fax: 971-673-1278</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/ommp/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">OR Medical Marijuana Program</a></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Fee:</span><br />$150 for new applications/$100 for renewals/$50 for applicants enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan or who receive federal Supplementary Social Security Income</span></p></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">11. <a name="Rhode" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a>Rhode Island</span></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewbackgroundresource.asp?resourceID=880" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Senate Bill 0710</span></a> -- Approved by state House and Senate, vetoed by the Governor. Veto was over-ridden by House and Senate. Timeline:</span><ol><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><li><span style="font-weight: bold; ">June 24, 2005:</span> passed the House 52 to 10</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold; ">June 28, 2005: </span>passed the State Senate 33 to 1</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold; ">June 29, 2005: </span>Gov. Carcieri vetoed the bill</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold; ">June 30, 2005:</span> Senate overrode the veto 28-6</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Jan. 3, 2006:</span> House overrode the veto 59-13 to pass the<a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/RIH6052.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act</a><img height="11" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" /> (PDF 48KB)(Public Laws 05-442 and 05-443)</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold; ">June 21, 2007:</span> Amended by <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/S0791aa.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Senate Bill 791 (SB 791)</a><img height="11" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" />(PDF 30KB)</li></span></ol><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Jan. 3, 2006</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Approved Conditions:</span> Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, or the treatment of these conditions; A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe, debilitating, chronic pain; severe nausea; seizures, including but not limited to, those characteristic of epilepsy; or severe and persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to, those characteristic of multiple sclerosis or Crohn’s disease; or agitation of Alzheimer's Disease; or any other medical condition or its treatment approved by the state Department of Health.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">If you have a medical marijuana registry identification card from any other state, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia you may use it in Rhode Island. It has the same force and effect as a card issued by the Rhode Island Department of Health.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Possession/Cultivation:</span> Limits the amount of marijuana that can be possessed and grown to up to 12 marijuana plants or 2.5 ounces of cultivated marijuana. Primary caregivers may not possess an amount of marijuana in excess of 24 marijuana plants and five ounces of usable marijuana for qualifying patients to whom he or she is connected through the Department's registration process.</span></p></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Application information for the Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Program is available by mail, phone, and online:</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Rhode Island Department of Health</span><br />Office of Health Professions Regulation, Room 104<br />3 Capitol Hill <br />Providence, RI 02908-5097<br />Phone: 401-222-2828<br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://www.health.ri.gov/hsr/mmp/index.php" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">RI Medical Marijuana Program</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Fee:</span><br />$75/$10 for applicants on Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)</span></p></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">12.<a name="Vermont" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a>Vermont</span></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/S76Vermont.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Senate Bill 76</a><img height="11" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" /> (PDF 45KB)</span> -- Approved 22-7; <span style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/H645Vermont.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">House Bill 645</a><img height="11" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" />(PDF 41KB)</span> -- Approved 82-59 <br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">"Act Relating to Marijuana Use by Persons with Severe Illness"</span> (<a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/Sec1_18VSA.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Sec. 1. 18 V.S.A. chapter 86</a><img height="11" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" /> (PDF 41KB)passed by the General Assembly) <span style="font-style: italic; ">Gov. James Douglas (R), allowed the act to pass into law unsigned on May 26, 2004</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> July 1, 2004</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Approved Conditions:</span> Cancer, AIDS, positive status for HIV, multiple sclerosis, or the treatment of these conditions if the disease or the treatment results in severe, persistent, and intractable symptoms; or a disease, medical condition, or its treatment that is chronic, debilitating and produces severe, persistent, and one or more of the following intractable symptoms: cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe pain or nausea or seizures.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Possession/Cultivation:</span> No more than two mature marijuana plants, seven immature plants, and two ounces of usable marijuana may be collectively possessed between the registered patient and the patient’s registered caregiver. A marijuana plant shall be considered mature when male or female flower buds are readily observed on the plant by unaided visual examination. Until this sexual differentiation has taken place, a marijuana plant will be considered immature.</span></p></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Application information for the Vermont Marijuana Registry Program is available by mail, phone, and online:</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Marijuana Registry</span><br />Department of Public Safety<br />103 South Main Street<br />Waterbury, Vermont 05671<br />Phone: 802-241-5115<br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://www.dps.state.vt.us/cjs/marijuana.htm" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">VT Marijuana Registry Program</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Fee:</span><br />$50</span></p></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">13.<a name="Washington" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a>Washington</span></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/Chapter69.51ARCW.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Chapter 69.51A RCW</span></a><img height="11" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" /> (PDF 34KB) <span style="font-weight: bold; ">Ballot Initiative</span> -- Approved by 59% of voters on Nov. 3, 1998<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Nov. 3, 1998</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients who possess "valid documentation" from their physician affirming that he or she suffers from a debilitating condition and that the "potential benefits of the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the health risks."</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Approved Conditions:</span> Cachexia; cancer; HIV or AIDS; epilepsy; glaucoma; intractable pain (defined as pain unrelieved by standard treatment or medications); and multiple sclerosis. Other conditions are subject to approval by the Washington Board of Health.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Possession/Cultivation:</span> Patients (or their primary caregivers) may legally possess or cultivate no more than a 60-day supply of marijuana. The law does not establish a state-run patient registry.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Amended: </span><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/SB6032WA.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Senate Bill 6032</a><img height="11" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" /> (PDF 29KB) <br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> 2007 (rules being defined by Legislature with a July 1, 2008 due date) <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Amended:</span><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/WashingtonFinalRule.pdf" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Final Rule</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><img height="11" src="https://www.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" /> (PDF 123KB) based on <a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/WASignifAnalysis.pdf" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Significant Analysis</a><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><img height="11" src="https://www.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" /> (PDF 370KB)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Nov. 2, 2008</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Approved Conditions:</span> Added Crohn's disease, Hepatitis C with debilitating nausea or intractable pain, diseases, including anorexia, which result in nausea, vomiting, wasting, appetite loss, cramping, seizures, muscle spasms, or spasticity, when those conditions are unrelieved by standard treatments or medications.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Possession/Cultivation:</span>A qualifying patient and designated provider may possess a total of no more than twenty-four ounces of usable marijuana, and no more than fifteen plants. This quantity became the state's official "60-day supply" on Nov. 2, 2008.</span></p></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Information on Washignton's medical marijuana law is available by mail, fax, and online:</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Department of Health</span><br />PO Box 47866<br />Olympia, WA 98504-7866<br />Fax: 360-236-4768</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a name="WAFee" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a>**No state registration program has been established</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="mailto:MedicalMarijuana@doh.wa.gov" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">MedicalMarijuana@doh.wa.gov</a></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/medical-marijuana/default.htm" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">WA Medical Marijuana website</a><br /></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "> </p><div align="left"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><img height="30" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/space.gif" width="30" border="0" /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 12pt; ">II. Other State Medical Marijuana Laws</span></span></div><table cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5" width="95%" border="1"><tbody><tr valign="top" bgcolor="#cccfb0"><td width="10%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; "><div><span style="font-weight: bold; ">State</span></div></span></td><td width="65%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; "><div><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Program Details</span></div></span></td><td width="20%"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; "><div><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Contact Info</span></div></span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">1. <a name="Arizona" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a>Arizona</span></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewbackgroundresource.asp?resourceID=886" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Ballot Proposition 200</span></a> -- Approved by 65% of voters on Nov. 5, 1996<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Dec. 6, 1996 <span style="font-weight: bold; ">[Not Active]</span></span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Measure changed sentencing for drug offenders, requiring those who commit violent crimes to serve full sentences without parole, and diverting non-violent drug offenders into treatment. Prop 200 also permitted doctors to prescribe schedule I controlled substances, including marijuana, to treat a disease or to relieve pain and suffering in seriously ill and terminally ill patients. Under federal law, however, marijuana is considered an illegal drug and physicians are prohibited from writing prescriptions for illegal drugs. The use of the word "prescribe" instead of "recommend" is the reason that Prop 200 is not considered to make medical marijuana legal in Arizona.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Not Amended:</span> House Bill 2518, which was signed by the governor on Apr. 21, 1997, sought to repeal Proposition 200’s medical marijuana provision by requiring the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to first approve marijuana before allowing state physicians to prescribe it. The bill was placed on the Nov. 3, 1998 ballot as a referendum, where voters rejected it by a vote of 57% to 43%.</span></p></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">No state program, no contact info</span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">2.<a name="Maryland" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></a>Maryland</span></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/MD_SB502.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Senate Bill 502</a><img height="11" src="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/files/mj%20images/pdf-logo.gif" width="11" border="0" /> (PDF 72KB)</span>, The "Darrell Putman" Bill -- Resolution #0756-2003 -- Approved in the state senate by a vote of 29-17. Signed into law by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. on May 22, 2003<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Effective:</span> Oct. 1, 2003</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">The law allows defendents being prosecuted for the use or possession of marijuana to introduce evidence of medical necessity and physician approval, to be considered by the court as a mitigating factor. If the court finds that the case involves medical necessity, the maximum penalty that the court may impose is a fine not exceeding $100. The law, however, does not protect users of medical marijuana from arrest or establish a registry program.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">Not Amended</span></span></p></td><td><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">No state program, no contact info<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span>Teahupoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835169732493881633noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6211028898750462733.post-35617594908983279502009-04-14T08:08:00.000-07:002009-04-14T08:09:33.075-07:00Ninth Circuit Court-Free The Truth On Medical Marijuana<h2 class="date-header">Tuesday, April 14, 2009</h2><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template"><a name="2678969338488136622"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title"><a title="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/2009/04/got-bud-today-is-huge-day-for-medical.html" href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/2009/04/got-bud-today-is-huge-day-for-medical.html">Government Must Rely On SOUND SCIENCE In Public Medical Marijuana Statements</a> </h3><div class="post-header-line-1"></div><div class="post-body entry-content"><a title="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b7BNnZEuYkU/SeSj-xURZ9I/AAAAAAAAAFI/CDItCf6M9Ao/s1600-h/White+Widow.jpg" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b7BNnZEuYkU/SeSj-xURZ9I/AAAAAAAAAFI/CDItCf6M9Ao/s1600-h/White+Widow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324560958244349906" title="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b7BNnZEuYkU/SeSj-xURZ9I/AAAAAAAAAFI/CDItCf6M9Ao/s1600-h/White+Widow.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px" alt="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b7BNnZEuYkU/SeSj-xURZ9I/AAAAAAAAAFI/CDItCf6M9Ao/s1600-h/White+Widow.jpg" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_b7BNnZEuYkU/SeSj-xURZ9I/AAAAAAAAAFI/CDItCf6M9Ao/s320/White+Widow.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;">GOT BUD?</span><br /></span><div align="justify">Today is a huge day for the Medical Marijuana community. (ASA) Americans for Safe Access will be in the Ninth Circuit Court arguing an interesting case that could begin unsnarling the nasty bale of entwined lies that is the government's Medcial Marijuana Propaganda Campaign. There is a little known law called the Data Quality Act (DQA) which requires public information to be BASED ON STRONG SOUND SCIENCE.<br /><br />We all know that the government's position that Marijuana has no medical benefits is not supported by sound science. A court ruling in favor of ASA could send shock waves through the War On Drugs community, would require them to rethink their strategies...meanwhile, with some major fund raising drives, the Legalization Community could blitz the airwaves with THE REAL TRUTH<br /><br />Can you imagine forcing your elected officials to offer up letters to their constituents admitting that Marijuana has medicinal value. Here is the way I see it. ASA wins this case in the 9th Circuit Court. The 420 community using case sites write our Elected Officials with a "Dear Member of Commerce...blah, blah, blah, based on Case# xxxx the government must publish true and accurate information, and I notice you have publicly issued statements embracing governmental positions on Medical Marijuana that are not based upon Sound Science.<br /><br />We should all be keeping and eye on this case. Here is the article I found on the issue.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">I find myself wondering...could we force the government to PAY FOR AN AD CAMPAIGN to correct their lies? A PSA or three paid for with government funds that hails the virtues of Medical Marijuana.</div><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><a title="http://stash.norml.org/ninth-circuit-court-hearing-arguments-tomorrow-on-the-accepted-medical-use-of-marijuana-in-the-united-states/" href="http://stash.norml.org/ninth-circuit-court-hearing-arguments-tomorrow-on-the-accepted-medical-use-of-marijuana-in-the-united-states/" rel="bookmark"><span style="color:#aa77aa;">Ninth Circuit Court hearing arguments tomorrow on the accepted medical use of marijuana in the United States</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><small><span style="font-size:78%;">Monday, April 13th, 2009 at 7:20 pm By: Radical Russ</span></small><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></span><br /><div class="entry" id="entry"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img height="1" src="http://stash.norml.org/wp-content/plugins/max-banner-ads-pro/max-banner-ads-lib/include/impression.php?ids=7" width="1" /><br /></span><blockquote><br /><p><a title="http://safeaccessnow.org/" href="http://safeaccessnow.org/"><span style="color:#99aadd;">Americans for Safe Access</span></a><br />For Immediate Release: April 10, 2009<br />Contact: ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford 415-573-7842 or ASA Media Liaison Kris Hermes 510-681-6361</p><br /><p><strong>Federal Position on Medical Marijuana Put Before Ninth Circuit Tuesday<br />Federal hearing is latest battle on whether policy is based on science or politics</strong></p><br /><p>San Francisco, CA — Medical marijuana advocates will get to argue before the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday, April 14th, the right to challenge an outdated position held by the federal government: “marijuana has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.” The national advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) filed a lawsuit in February 2007 demanding that the federal government cease issuing misinformation and correct its statements on medical marijuana. “We welcome the Obama Administration’s recently stated commitment to making policy decisions based on science, not politics,” said Joe Elford, Chief Counsel with ASA. “This case is designed to ensure that the federal government’s policy on medical marijuana is not politically motivated.”</p><br /><p>What: Oral arguments in a case before the Ninth Circuit that challenges the government’s position on medical marijuana</p><br /><p>When: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 9:30am</p><br /><p>Where: Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Courtroom 4 at 95 Seventh Street, San Francisco, CA</p><br /><p>In order to challenge the government’s position, advocates are using a little-known law called the Data Quality Act (DQA). The DQA requires federal agencies such as Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to rely on sound science when disseminating information to the public. One of the main issues in the case is whether citizens have a right to challenge government information believed to be inaccurate or based on faulty, unreliable data.</p><br /><p>“The science to support medical marijuana is overwhelming,” said ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer. “It’s time for the federal government to acknowledge the efficacy of medical marijuana and stop holding science hostage to politics.” On March 9, 2009, President Obama issued a memorandum to the heads of executive departments and agencies stating that, “The public must be able to trust the science and scientific process informing public policy decisions,” and calling for “transparency in the preparation, identification, and use of scientific and technological information in policymaking.”</p></blockquote></div></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div style="CLEAR: both"></div></div><div class="post-footer"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><span class="post-author vcard">Posted by <span class="fn">Admin Medical Marijuana Society</span> </span><span class="post-timestamp">at <a class="timestamp-link" title="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/2009/04/got-bud-today-is-huge-day-for-medical.html" href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/2009/04/got-bud-today-is-huge-day-for-medical.html" rel="bookmark"><abbr class="published" title="2009-04-14T07:50:00-07:00"><span style="color:#aa77aa;">7:50 AM</span></abbr></a> </span><span class="reaction-buttons"></span><span class="star-ratings"></span><span class="post-comment-link"></span><span class="post-backlinks post-comment-link"></span><span class="post-icons"><span class="item-control blog-admin pid-667780183"><a title="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4587550523220232077&postID=2678969338488136622" postid="2678969338488136622"><span style="color:#aa77aa;"></span></a></span></span></div><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-2"><span class="post-labels">Labels: <a title="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/cannabis" href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/cannabis" rel="tag"><span style="color:#99aadd;">cannabis</span></a>, <a title="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/Got Bud" href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/Got%20Bud" rel="tag"><span style="color:#99aadd;">Got Bud</span></a>, <a title="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/medical cannabis laws" href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/medical%20cannabis%20laws" rel="tag"><span style="color:#99aadd;">medical cannabis laws</span></a>, <a title="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/Medical Marijuana" href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/Medical%20Marijuana" rel="tag"><span style="color:#99aadd;">Medical Marijuana</span></a>, <a title="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/Medical Marijuana Strong Science" href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/Medical%20Marijuana%20Strong%20Science" rel="tag"><span style="color:#99aadd;">Medical Marijuana Strong Science</span></a> </span></div></div></div>Admin Medical Marijuana Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05736637124708019160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6211028898750462733.post-33490630961519996802009-04-11T18:47:00.001-07:002009-04-11T18:53:06.811-07:00Lend a Hand To A Medical Marijuana Caregiver<h2 class="date-header">Saturday, April 11, 2009</h2><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template"><a name="5553701869402594747"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/2009/04/please-help-charles-c-lynchapril-29th.html">Please Help Charles C. Lynch...April 29th Deadline</a> </h3><div class="post-header-line-1"></div><div class="post-body entry-content"><div align="justify">Rather than tell the story myself, shall post the article I stumbled across (thanks to Twitter) in the hopes it will get some of us motivated this Easter Weekend to write a personal letter to Judge Wu on behalf of Charles C. Lynch. A lot of people wrote letters, but they were FORM LETTERS, and that is not going to help Charles C Lynch who was the former owner and managing Caregiver for Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Morro</span> Bay. His crime...doing what the local community said he was entitled to do, help sick patients, act as a caregiver, and dispense Medical Marijuana. He faces sentencing on April 29<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span>, and some letters from the heart could greatly HELP HIS CAUSE.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">If you wish to write a letter of support regarding sentencing please use the Letter salutation "<span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Dear Judge Wu</strong></span>" and then send the letter to:<br /><br />Reuven Cohen<br />Federal Public Defender<br />321 East 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">nd</span> Street<br />Los Angeles, CA 90012-4702</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Here are some pointers on what you might want to put in this letter...the real key to helping Charles C. Lynch is appropriate personal experiences, and a letter WRITTEN FROM THE HEART.</div><div align="justify"></div><li><div align="justify"><blockquote><li><div align="justify">Mention the recent change in Federal Policy mentioned by Eric Holder. </div><li><div align="justify">If comfortable, touch on, "The conflict of State vs Federal Law". </div><li><div align="justify">Mention the 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> Amendment of the Constitution, states rights and how lawmakers swear to uphold the constitution. </div><li><div align="justify">Discuss your belief that the harsh mandatory minimums meant for drug king pins were not meant for medical marijuana providers who in effect are Health Care Providers. </div><li><div align="justify">Your own personal experiences as a patient or with a friend, son, daughter, brother, sister or relative of somebody you know that benefits from the medicinal use of marijuana. </div><li><div align="justify">Talk about the thirteen states that have legalized medical marijuana. Michigan just came on board as a Medical Marijuana State.</div></li></blockquote></div><p align="justify"><br />A front line leader in the Medical Marijuana is facing some very serious prison time, and your letter could be the one that touches Judge Wu's heart, gets him to take a serious look at California's laws and their position on Medical Marijuana, and hand down a just ruling, even if that means going against the Federal Sentencing guidelines. Charles took at stand for every Medical Marijuana patient in America by opening up his storefront, and in his hour of need we in the 420 community need to come to his aid.<br /><br /></p><p align="justify"><table class="contentpaneopen"><tbody><tr><td class="contentheading" width="100%">Home </td></tr></tbody></table></p><p align="justify"><table class="contentpaneopen"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><div class="feature" align="justify"><p align="left"><img style="WIDTH: 221px; HEIGHT: 285px" height="331" alt="Charles C. Lynch" hspace="20" src="http://www.friendsofccl.com/images/stories/cccc/charlie780Monterey.gif" width="300" align="left" border="0" /> </p><h3></h3><h3></h3><h3></h3><h3></h3><h3></h3><h3></h3><h3></h3><h3></h3><h3></h3><h3></h3><h3></h3><h3>Welcome to Friends of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">CCL</span></h3><p>Charles C. Lynch is the former owner and managing Caregiver for Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Morro</span> Bay. </p><p>The dispensary opened on April 1 2006 with the blessing of the city and even joined the Chamber of Commerce. In July 2006 the dispensary was granted a Conditional Use Permit from the City of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Morro</span> Bay to include a Medical Cannabis Nursery at the dispensary. </p></div><p class="story" align="justify">The Dispensary operated for almost one year without any major problems or complaints to the owner. On March 29, 2007 the Local Sheriff and DEA agents raided the Dispensary and Home of Charles Lynch. Lynch was not arrested at the time and reopened the dispensary on April 7 2007 with the blessing of the City of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Morro</span> Bay. A week after reopening the dispensary the DEA called the Landlord and threatened him with Forfeiture of his property unless he evicted the Dispensary from the building. On May 16, 2007 the Dispensary closed permanently.</p><p class="story" align="justify">On July 17, 2007 Lynch was arrested at his home and charged with Federal Marijuana Distribution. Lynch pleaded not guilty and went on trial July 22, 2008 in Los Angeles. Lynch was not allowed to discuss state law or mention 'medical marijuana' during the trial. Also large amounts of evidence including Lynch's compliance with State and Local laws could not be considered as factual by the jury. Before opening the dispensary Lynch called the DEA and asked about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">thier</span> policy regarding medical marijuana dispensaries. The DEA told Lynch it was up to the Cities and Counties to decide how to handle the matter. This was Lynch's only defense in Federal Court and is called entrapment by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">estopell</span> when a government agent says something is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">ok</span> when in fact it might not be. <a href="http://www.friendsofccl.com/about.htm" included="null"><span style="color:#99aadd;">Click here for more information</span></a>.</p><p class="story" align="justify">On August 5, 2008 Lynch was convicted in Federal Court for operating the Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers. On January 6, 2009 Lynch appeared before Judge Wu to request a new trial on the grounds that he was not allowed to get his defense before the jury and other new evidence. The request was denied. Charles has been out on a $400,000 bail posted by his loving and trusting family and was under house arrest for over nine months.</p><p class="story" align="justify">During March 2009 United States Policy regarding Medical Marijuana changed in favor of states as long as the dispensary complied with state law. Lynch's dispensary complied with all state and local laws during the time it was open. <a title="New American Policy" href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/02/27/MN2016651R.DTL" target="_blank" included="null"><span style="color:#99aadd;">Click here to read the San Francisco Chronicles report of the new policy</span></a>. On Friday March 13, 2009 <a title="John Stossel ABC News 2020" href="http://www.friendsofccl.com/johnstossel.htm" target="_blank" included="null"><span style="color:#99aadd;">John <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Stossel</span> and ABC News 2020</span></a> aired he story of Lynch on National Television. On Sunday March 15 Al <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Roker</span> did a documentary entitled <a title="Al Roker Marijuana Inc" href="http://www.friendsofccl.com/alroker.htm" target="_blank" included="null"><span style="color:#99aadd;">Marijuana Inc. Al <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Roker</span> reporting</span></a> and focused in on the case of Charles C. Lynch.</p><p class="story" align="justify">Sentencing which was scheduled for March 23, 2009 was postponed because the judge requested information from the Government regarding the New Policy regarding medical marijuana dispensaries. Despite the recent policy changes <a href="http://www.friendsofccl.com/events.htm" included="null"><span style="color:#99aadd;">Charles C. Lynch will be sentenced on April 30, 2009</span></a> at the Federal Court House in Los Angeles. Supporters who wish to write a letter of support regarding sentencing should use the Letter salutation "Dear Judge Wu" and then send the letter to:<br /><br />Reuven Cohen<br />Federal Public Defender<br />321 East 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">nd</span> Street<br />Los Angeles, CA 90012-4702</p></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div style="CLEAR: both"></div></li></div><div class="post-footer"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><span class="post-author vcard">Posted by <span class="fn">Admin Medical Marijuana Society</span> </span><span class="post-timestamp">at <a class="timestamp-link" title="permanent link" href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/2009/04/please-help-charles-c-lynchapril-29th.html" rel="bookmark"><abbr class="published" title="2009-04-11T18:17:00-07:00"><span style="color:#aa77aa;">6:17 PM</span></abbr></a> </span><span class="reaction-buttons"></span><span class="star-ratings"></span><span class="post-comment-link"></span><span class="post-backlinks post-comment-link"></span><span class="post-icons"><span class="item-control blog-admin pid-667780183"><a title="Edit Post" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4587550523220232077&postID=5553701869402594747"><span style="color:#aa77aa;"></span></a></span></span></div><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-2"><span class="post-labels">Labels: <a href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/Central%20Coast%20Compassionate%20Caregivers" rel="tag"><span style="color:#99aadd;">Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers</span></a>, <a href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/Charles%20C%20Lynch" rel="tag"><span style="color:#99aadd;">Charles C Lynch</span></a>, <a href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/decriminalize%20marijuana" rel="tag"><span style="color:#99aadd;">decriminalize marijuana</span></a>, <a href="http://newyorkmedicalmarijuanasociety.blogspot.com/search/label/Judge%20Wu" rel="tag"><span style="color:#99aadd;">Judge Wu</span></a> </span></div></div></div>Admin Medical Marijuana Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05736637124708019160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6211028898750462733.post-47824562526334454822009-04-11T06:14:00.000-07:002009-04-11T11:03:00.944-07:00Florida Medical Marijuana Petition is Certified<div align="justify"><a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=55538348">Political Action Committee pushes for medical marijuana use in Florida</a><br /><object height="360" width="425"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="movie" value="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=55538348,t=1,mt=video,searchID=,primarycolor=,secondarycolor="><embed src="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=55538348,t=1,mt=video,searchID=,primarycolor=,secondarycolor=" width="425" height="360" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed></object><br /><br />The <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.pufmm.org">Political Action Committee</a> (PAC) People United For Medical Marijuana (PUFMM) pushes for legalized medical marijuana use in Florida<br /><br />Florida residents with debilitating illnesses would have the option of treating their pain and symptoms with <a href="http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/medical/">medical marijuana</a> if Florida becomes the next state to allow its use for medicinal purposes.<br /><br />A <a href="http://www.pufmm.org/docs/Medical%20Marijuana%20Petition%20Form.pdf">petition</a> is circulating now for signatures seeking to place a constitutional amendment on the November 2010 ballot posing the issue of allowing the seriously ill to use legalized medical marijuana (lmm) for medical treatment.<br /><br />The Florida Division of Elections last week approved the <a href="http://www.pufmm.org/docs/Medical%20Marijuana%20Petition%20Form.pdf">petition</a> for PUFMM (PAC) proposing the amendment, thus allowing <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.pufmm.org">People United for Medical Marijuana</a> to start collecting voters’ signatures.<br /><br />“<em>Our first threshold is to get close to 68,000 signatures to give to the (Florida) Supreme Court for their approval</em>,” said Kim Russell, founder and chairwoman of the committee. “<em>By Feb. 1, we must have 700,000 signatures</em>.”<br /><br />Russell, a stay-at-home mother who lives in Orlando became involved in the cause because of her father’s diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease. Legalized Medical Marijuana can help stop the further degeneration associated with the illness.<br /><br />She is confident enough registered Florida voters will sign the <a href="http://www.pufmm.org/docs/Medical%20Marijuana%20Petition%20Form.pdf">petition</a> necessary to get the amendment question on the ballot. The group also hopes to raise $5 million to promote the cause.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.pufmm.org/docs/Medical%20Marijuana%20Petition%20Form.pdf">petition</a> language says nobody would be deprived or penalized for the cultivation, purchase, use or possession of medical marijuana in connection with the treatment of diseases or illnesses when its use was recommended by a physician.<br /><br />Supporters tried in 1998 to get a medical marijuana question on the ballot but it didn’t make it. At that time, <a href="http://www.fpca.com/971RES.htm">Florida Police Chiefs Association</a> (FPCA) and other groups said campaigns are couched as a compassionate plea for the sick and dying but are really designed to be a foothold for a bigger objective of full blown legalization of marijuana.<br /><br />The police chief’s association has not addressed the latest petition and will not revisit it now, according to Amy Mercer, a spokeswoman for the association. If it does become a legislative issue, then the group will take it up again.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the association’s <a href="http://www.fpca.com/971RES.htm">1998 position against medical marijuana</a> still stands, she said.<br /><br />Russell says misconceptions about marijuana for medicinal purposes can be blamed on the federal <a href="http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/marijuana.html">government labeling it decades ago as a Schedule 1 drug</a> with no medicinal value. Instead, it was lumped together with other drugs such as LSD and cocaine.<br /><br />“<a href="http://www.medmjscience.org/Media/pdf/marimed.pdf">It’s been proven time and time again to have lots of medicinal uses</a>,” she said.<br /><br />According to the PUFMM PAC, there are 1.7 million seriously ill people in Florida who could benefit from medcial marijuana be provided relief from their pain. Medical Marijuana could help stop the spread of breast cancer, treat arthritis, glaucoma and other conditions. In Parkinson’s patients, it stops tremors and prevents further deterioration.<br /><br />The American Medical Association last December at a House of Delegates meeting in Orlando “<a href="http://www.marijuanalibrary.org/Dr_Mikuriya.html">referred for study</a>” proposed action to support reclassifying of marijuana and urged law enforcement agencies to stop prosecuting doctors and patients in medical marijuana states.<br /><br />The Florida Medical Association in 1997 endorsed medical marijuana when the issue was in California and recanted the position shortly afterward, Russell said. A spokesman for the FMA on Friday could not say what the association’s current position is on medical marijuana.<br /><br />Thirteen states have passed medical marijuana laws; most recently in Michigan last November where a two-thirds majority of voters approved a ballot proposition to allow people with serious or terminal illnesses to use marijuana if certified by a doctor. If the issue gets on the Florida ballot and is passed by voters, Russell said she would like to see the law modeled after Oregon which has experienced a low abuse rate.<br /><br />The Medical Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C., says the American College of Physicians, the American Nurses Association, the American Public Health Association and the Leukemia/Lymphoma Association are among groups that support medical marijuana for medicinal purposes.<br /><br />The PAC’s Web site is <a href="http://www.pufmm.org/">http://www.pufmm.org/</a> and the petition can be downloaded, printed and mailed back to the group. </div>Teahupoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04835169732493881633noreply@blogger.com1