Medical marijuana update

In New Hampshire a medical marijuana bill has passed and is waiting for a signature from Gov. Lynch. The pressure not to sign apparently still comes from law enforcement, as this editorial in favor of the governor signing points out. I try to give people credit for actually believing what they say and not i9ntentionally lying, but this Portsmouth police chief is peddling pure claptrap. I hope he follows the evidence in a criminal case better than he did here. Too bad the editorialist was apparently not familiar with the report from the National Institute of Medicine, which said there was simply no scientific evidence for the "gateway theory" of people starting with marijuana and going on to "harder" drugs because of biochemistry or composition of drugs -- but that the theory that using marijuana sometimes leads to harder drugs because it is illegal and using it brings one in contact with a criminal subculture in which other drugs are available and pushed has some validity.

In Montrose CO, a patient living in Section 8 subsidized housing was tossed out for using marijuana, and he plans to sue. I suspect this suit will not be successful because Section 8 is a federal program and federal law is still complete prohibition, despite logic and common sense. Need to get my book written more quickly.

In Michigan, which passed a medical marijuana law last November, the program is experiencing some growing pains. More than 2,500 patient ID cards have been issued. but there's no safe, reliable source for legal medicinal-quality marijuana. In addition, some cops claim to be confused (oh how confused they can be when they're foot-dragging) about whether a patient with a doctor's recommendation byt no state ID card is in violation of the law. Obviously some cops would rather bust patients still than implement the new law. With good will such kinks can be worked out, but if California is any example, some people with the power to arrest are not overly endowed with good will.

Meanwhile in California, proprietors of dispensaries in Oakland are offering to increase the amount of taxes they pay during the state's fiscal crisis. It will hardly close the $25-billion-plus state budget gap, but it might help. Of course in South Lake Tahoe city attorneys are threatening to close three dispensaries that have opened in the past year. Do these officials have a death wish? Every level of government is facing budget problems, and these guys want to close down a source of revenue? And they believe they're the ones with right on their side. We still have a lot of work to do.

Medical marijuana progress

The state senate in Minnesota has given preliminary approval to a medical marijuana bill. It's not a sure thing yet, but an important step.

Meanwhile, in Michigan, the state's medical marijuana law, approved by voters last November, officially went into effect, with the Dept. of Community Health issuing about 150 patient ID cards. The department has received about 700 applications and is processing them deliberately.Here's the Website of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association. Apparently implementation is not without kinks, but state authorities seem to be trying to comply with the law rather than resisting or dragging their feet.

Drug law reform in the air

The pace of drug law reform is beginning to be almost breathtaking. New York legislators, after years of effort and a number of false starts, have voted to repeal the worst aspects of the notorious "Rockefeller" drug laws passed in the 1970s, which featured some of the harshest mandatory minimum sentences for mere possession of small amounts of drugs. Alternative sentencing, to treatment instead of prison, will be increased. Some details remain to be worked out, but this is big news.

Meanwhile, in Minnesota a medical marijuana bill cleared the House Public Safety Committee and appears to be on its way toward legislative approval. Former Seattle police chief Norm Stamper has been doing yeoman work supporting it. In Maine, which has had a medical marijuana law on the books, there's a move to create state-licensed stores.

In Maryand a state legislator is pushing a bill to require the creation of a state task force to study medical marijuana. In New Hampshire, where legislatoirs have tried and failed to pass a medical marijuana bill several times recently, another effort is underway and supporters think it has a better chance this time. In New Jersey a medical marijuana bill has bassed the state senate but faces an uncertain fate in the assembly, though Gov. Jon Corzine says he would sign it. Michigan's medical marijuana law officially goes into effect April 4.

And so it goes.

Impressive medical marijuana video from Michigan

Here's a link to a video produced for the Proposal 1 campaign, to permit medical use of marijuana in Michigan, from a medical doctor whose wife contracted cancer. This conveys information in a way that is simply not possible in a 30-second spot. Please take a few minutes to look at it.

TV ads for medical marijuana in Michigan

As Bruce Mirken of MPP mentioned when he sent me this link, there's little attention being paid by the national media, but if the medical marijuana initiative in Michigan passes (despite the unethical and probably illegal participation of taxpayer-salaried "drug czar" John Walters in the No campaign), then 1 in 4 Americans will live in a state where medical marijuana is legal.

Medical marijuana progress

Prop. 5, mentioned in the previous post, is expected to pass. There's also encouraging news from other states on the medical marijuana front. In Michigan, Proposal 1, which would allow patients to use marijuana under the advice of a licensed doctor is favored by a solid majority of 59-37, according to a recent statewide poll. Michigan Technology News, for entrepreneurs, has a favorable interview with one of the proponents.

Meanwhile, in Idaho a Republican legislator, Tom Trail, is working on a medical marijuana proposal he plans to introduce in the legislature in January. I spent a fair amount of time in northern Idaho when I was working on my book, "Ambush at Ruby Ridge," and it is very conservative country. For a Republican to make this proposal is encouraging, although it might be a tough sell with Idaho voters.