Green Sun Collective

Be Informed: Police Profit From Marijuana Arrests In U.S.!

2011-12-17T09:03:00.000-08:00

HIGHTIMES.COM Despite Dutch police actions at expo, annual HIGH TIMES Cannabis Cup will continue

2011-11-24T22:38:00.000-08:00

HIGHTIMES.COM Despite Dutch police actions at expo, annual HIGH TIMES Cannabis Cup will continue

Judge OKs Las Vegas medical pot case, says laws aren’t too vague

2011-11-07T08:08:00.000-08:00

In a decision destined for appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court, a state court judge on Tuesday rejected a challenge of the state's medical marijuana laws and ruled that the owners of a storefront pot dispensary in Las Vegas can face trial on felony conspiracy and marijuana sale and possession charges.

In a brief, 80-word decision posted electronically, Clark County District Court Judge Doug Smith allowed an indictment to stand against six people arrested in a police raid of a dispensary called Jolly Green Meds, and also hinted at the difficulty he had reaching a decision following oral arguments Sept. 16.

The state's medical marijuana laws aren't too vague to allow charges to stand against six people arrested in a police raid of the Jolly Green Meds dispensary last November, Smith said. But he also noted that state law fails to provide a way for patients with a doctor's prescription to legally obtain marijuana.

Attorney Michael Cristalli, representing Jolly Green Meds owner Daniel Kinshella, and attorney Robert Draskovich, representing co-defendant Kimberly Simons, immediately promised an appeal to the state high court.

"How can someone be placed on notice that they're committing a crime if the Constitution of the state authorizes what they're doing?" Cristalli asked.

He referred to a state constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2000 letting medical cardholders grow and possess small amounts of marijuana. Other state and federal laws make it illegal to buy or sell marijuana.

Smith's ruling came the same month another Clark County District Court judge reached a different conclusion in a separate but similar medical marijuana criminal case.

Judge Donald Mosley threw out charges Sept. 12 against Sin City Co-Op owners Nathan Hamilton and Leonard Schwingdorf, and declared that he couldn't make sense of Nevada's medical marijuana laws. Prosecutors obtained new indictments in that case two days later.

"One judge grants it. One judge denies it. Same facts," said Draskovich, who is also handling the Sin City Co-Op case. "It's a classic split. We're taking it to the Supreme Court."

Smith had told lawyers in the Jolly Green Meds case that he wanted to focus on the intent of the people running the store, and whether evidence leading to indictments handed up in May was "fair and proper." Smith declared that he wouldn't be guided by Mosley's ruling.

Cristalli said he expects the seven members of the state's only appellate court will see not only shortcomings in state law but contradictions in Smith's ruling - first upholding the law, then acknowledging the need for legislative action.

Charges in the multi-count indictments against Daniel Kinshella, Sean Kinshella and Christine Kinshella, Kimberly Simons, Jesse Moffett and Ryan Bondhus include felony conspiracy, sale of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. The three Kinshellas also face felony trafficking in a controlled substance charges.

Prosecutor Tina Sedlock told Smith that state law is clear that selling marijuana is prohibited. She characterized Jolly Green Meds as "a drug trafficking organization."

LB Weighs Ban on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

2011-11-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

State voters legalized medical marijuana, feds still outlaw, and locals must reconcile the legal quagmire. Now that Long Beach can't regulate dispensaries it has to decide: can it live with that?

By Kelsey Duckett

Medical marijuana's future in Long Beach is on the agenda for tonight's City Council meeting. An update was expected from City Attorney Robert Shannon on the two ordinances the City Council asked him to draft as it grapples with the widespread complications left by a recent court decision.

After being told by the state Court of Appeal that it cannot regulate marijuana collectives, the Long Beach City Attorney has advised the Council it has two choices — ban marijuana dispensaries or reconcile itself to not being able to dictate location and other concerns.

Under federal law, it is considered illegal to regulate marijuana dispensaries, but if no action is taken, these dispensaries could potentially open next to schools, churches or anywhere else within city limits.

While Belmont Shore currently has a dispensary that the City Council allowed to remain across the street from the Bayshore Library, at least one city council member said it is an issue of great concern.

On Oct. 11, the Long Beach City Council directed Shannon to draft two ordinances -- the first repeals the year-old medical marijuana permit law, and calls for refunding the nearly $700,000 in fees thus far collected.

The second ordinance would ban storefront dispensaries.

This process could take up to four weeks, Assistant City Attorney Mike Mais said.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled in early October that Long Beach's medical marijuana regulations violate U.S. laws forbidding distribution and sale of the drug. Marijuana is legal for medical use in the state of California.

Long Beach intends to obey the court ruling and ban dispensaries so as not to lose control on the selling of marijuana within city limits.

The City Council has announced it will appeal the court’s decision to the California Supreme Court, which will cost the city nothing, to seek clarification on what powers the city actually has on controlling the selling of medical marijuana.

Under the current ordinance, qualified dispensaries are required to participate in a lottery for a limited number of permits. They are also required to pay a nonrefundable application fee of $14,742, in addition to the city-imposed annual permit fee, starting at $10,000.

“The appeal itself doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with refunding the money,” Mais said. “If they were to repeal the ordinance, and take it one step further and impose a ban on dispensaries, then the issue of a refund would come up.”

But Mais said until the City Council approves a new ordinance, no refunds will be made.

“We do have provisions in our municipal code about issuing refunds, so we would either follow that process," said Mais, or the council could give the city manager direction on how to handle the refunds.

Any refunds would not come out of the city budget, however.

Legalize Marijuana Sales Say B.C. Experts

2011-11-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

A coalition of prominent B.C. police officers, health professionals, legal experts and academics is calling for the legalization and regulated sale of marijuana.

The group Stop the Violence, which includes former B.C. Supreme Court justice Ross Lander and B.C.'s former chief coroner Vince Cain, has launched a high-profile political campaign to "end the cannabis cash cow of organized crime."

Panel member Dr, Evan Wood, of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, says marijuana prohibition is fuelling gang warfare, and school children now have easier access to pot than either alcohol or cigarettes, because of the reach of organized crime.

"Instead of having a regulated market, we've turned things over to this extremely violent unregulated market controlled by organized crime," said Wood.

"Cannabis is more available to young people than alcohol and tobacco, and what we've seen in a government-funded surveillance system is that the price of cannabis continues to go down and the potency of cannabis continues to go up."

Wood said the group is calling for the regulated sale of marijuana similar to cigarettes, so that it can be controlled, taxed and its use eventually reduced.

Former justice Lander said that 34 years on the bench taught him prohibition isn't working.

"The whole exercise is futile. [Marijuana's] being used prominently everywhere, not just in British Columbia but throughout North America, and it's impossible to extinguish," said Lander.

"There's no apparent deterrent to me. It wasn't a deterrent to even those people who were tried and other people who might enter the same trade in dealing with these drugs."

Stop the Violence said that in 2009 there were 43 gang-related deaths in B.C., and 276 drive-by shootings that put the public at risk.

Victoria police officer David Bratzer says his experiences as a front-line officer showed him marijuana prohibition just isn't working.

"I've investigated situations where people have been stabbed in drug deals gone bad over something as small as a simple [$10] bag of marijuana, so its very much based on my personal experiences that I think a public health approach to this issue would be more effective than a criminal justice approach.

The group also released the results of an Angus Reid poll it commissioned that suggested only 13 per cent of British Columbians support keeping the current marijuana laws unchanged.

The poll was conducted with a sample of 800 British Columbians and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 per cent.

Kamala Harris Defends Medical Marijuana: California Attorney General Asks Federal Government To Ease Enforcement

2011-11-03T08:56:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO -- Federal prosecutors should be careful not to overreach in their crackdown on California's pot dispensaries, even though there are ambiguities in the state's medical marijuana laws, the state attorney general said Thursday.

The law passed 15 years ago by California voters has ambiguities that must be resolved either by the state Legislature or the courts, state Attorney General Kamala Harris said in a statement.

However, Harris said she was worried that "an overly broad federal enforcement campaign will make it more difficult for legitimate patients to access physician-recommended medicine in California."

She urged federal authorities to make sure their enforcement efforts are focused on significant traffickers of illegal drugs.

Harris, a Democrat in her first year as the state's chief law enforcement officer, made her statement in response to inquiries from the media about the crackdown announced two weeks ago by the four federal prosecutors in California.

They have ordered dozens of medical marijuana clubs to close, saying the operations are too close to places where children gather or are being used as fronts for drug dealers.

Harris acknowledged that she shares the concerns of federal prosecutors about the proliferation of gangs and criminal enterprises that seek to exploit the medical marijuana law.

The four U.S. attorneys said they were sending letters to landlords who rent retail and warehouse spaces to pot collectives and growers saying they could be prosecuted and have their properties confiscated by the government for aiding illegal enterprises.

Officials in Sacramento and several other cities have since stopped issuing business permits to dispensaries.

State law allows marijuana possession by residents with written doctors' recommendations.

Murder Suspect's Alibi: 'I Was At The Crib Chilling, Smoking Some Weed'

2011-11-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

Gary "Little Man" Smith declared his innocence by apparently announcing his guilt to another crime.

The 25-year-old suspected in a deadly shooting in Clairton, Pa., told the press he wasn't at the scene of the crime because he was at home smoking marijuana.

"I don't know what happened," Gary "Little Man" Smith told WTAE reporter Ari Hait outside Allegheny County Jail. "I was at the crib chilling, smoking some weed."

Smith and his alleged accomplice, Eugene McMiller, 19, had been on the run since the death of Justin Charles, 27, on Oct. 14, according to authorities.

They were arrested in a home in Clairton on Oct. 19 and face charges of criminal homicide, robbery, recklessly endangerment and conspiracy, KDKA reports.

But Smith insists he has been charged with a crime he "didn't commit."

"Hope they find out who did that (expletive)," he reportedly told WTAE. "Because that (expletive) ain't cool. They got me all jammed up in this (expletive). I ain't do that (expletive), man."

Medical Marijuana Crackdown Should Stop, House Reps Say

2011-11-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

By Lucia Graves

WASHINGTON -- Members of Congress are calling on the Obama administration to end the federal crackdown on marijuana dispensaries in California, citing Attorney General Eric Holder's past promise to maintain a hands-off approach toward pot clinics operating in compliance with state law.

Although most of the nine signatories on a Friday letter to the White House were California Democrats -- including Reps. Barbara Lee, Pete Stark, Lynn Woolsey and Sam Farr -- the group also contained a California Republican, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, who is an outspoken medical marijuana advocate, and a Tennessee Democrat, Rep. Steve Cohen.

"We write to express our concern with the recent activity by the Department of Justice against legitimate medical cannabis dispensaries in California that are operating legally under state law," the lawmakers said.

Federal prosecutors targeted medical marijuana dispensary owners in California on Oct. 7, vowing to shutter state-licensed businesses and threatening landlords with property seizures for violating federal drug laws. Now these House members are pushing back.

"It is our strong position that local and state governments must be allowed to develop, implement and enforce their own public health laws with regard to medical cannabis," the letter stated.

The letter comes just days after hundreds of marijuana activists gathered in downtown San Francisco, where President Barack Obama was attending a fundraising luncheon, to protest the federal crackdown on California's pot clinics.

But the scope of Friday's letter stretched beyond California. The threatening notices sent to landlords by California's four U.S. attorneys follow many months of federal interference in other states that permit medical cannabis, with aggressive federal raids in at least seven, the representatives noted.

They called on the White House to reclassify marijuana as a legitimate controlled substance for medicinal purposes and to adopt the States' Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, legislation introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) that would prohibit federal interference in state-run medical marijuana clinics.

"By pursuing the same harsh policies that have been in place for years, we fear that the federal government will push legitimate patients back into the uncertainly and danger of the illicit market," the letter continued.

The White House did not immediately respond to a query about the letter sent by HuffPost after business hours; another to the Justice Department also went unreturned over the weekend.

Read the full letter from members of Congress here.

Late on Friday, the White House did release a response to several online petitions for marijuana legalization submitted by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and other groups as part of the White House's "We The People" project, an effort to allow ordinary Americans to gain the attention of policymakers through an online portal at the White House website.

"Like many, we are interested in the potential marijuana may have in providing relief to individuals diagnosed with certain serious illnesses," the White House wrote in its official response. "That is why we ardently support ongoing research into determining what components of the marijuana plant can be used as medicine. To date, however, neither the FDA nor the Institute of Medicine have found smoked marijuana to meet the modern standard for safe or effective medicine for any condition."

Decriminalizing Marijuana Could Help Cash-Strapped Chicago, Alderman Says

2011-11-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

When Mayor Rahm Emanuel took over, he immediately made it quite clear that he would do whatever it takes to get Chicago's fiscal house in order. As the state and the county struggle with the same issues, one topic has come up again andagain: marijuana decriminalization.

So, on Wednesday, one alderman took action. Ald. Danny Solis (25th) introduced an ordinance to the City Council that would make possession of small amounts of marijuana a ticketable offense -- leaving offenders to pay a $200 fine versus a misdemeanor charge, the Associated Press reports.

"In these trying times of the economy, we could really use the revenue generated by fines versus arrests," Solis told the AP. "And each (arrest) means police officers are spending an inordinate amount of time outside the neighborhoods, inside the district offices doing paperwork."

And Solis is not alone. Ald. Joe Moreno (1st) wrote a blog for the Huffington Post last week about his support for the Solis ordinance, and shared some thoughts on America's "War on Drugs":

The fact that governments all over the country are broke can be a good thing, if lawmakers are brave enough to stop appealing to the lowest common denominator and start telling the truth. This ordinance begins this in Chicago.
The War on Drugs started a year before I was born. It needs to die ASAP, because it has become a de facto war on poor people, minorities and reason.

Solis estimates that the change would bring the city $7 million per year and also save police and court workers "money and thousands of hours of time."

Earlier this month, the Chicago Reader reported that Cook County spent at least $78 million each year arresting, prosecuting, and jailing people for possession of marijuana. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has made it clear that she wants those costs to go down, and wants police to stop making arrests for low-level drug possession offenses county-wide. Cook County commissioner John Fritchey also supports decriminalization.

"The simple truth is that the decades-long policies that we have had toward possession of small amounts of marijuana have failed to do anything other than fill our jails with nonviolent offenders, strain our budgets, and according to some studies, even cause an increase in more serious crime," Fritchey said at a press conference on the matter last week,according to the Reader.

Aldermen including Howard Brookins, Richard Mell, Ariel Reboyras, Walter Burnett, Joe Moreno, Bob Fioretti and Deborah Graham have signed on as co-sponsors of the ordinance, NBC Chicago reports.

Mayor Emanuel had previously been silent on the issue, but weighed in on Wednesday. He said police officers have made similar suggestions to him, but he would want to make sure decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana would not create further problems.

“This issue has two parts to it — not one," Emanuel said, according to the Sun-Times. "The first part, which is what’s motivating people, is the issue of the cost in the system: arresting, overtime, court, jail. Then, there’s also the criminal justice side. I have to evaluate and will evaluate."

Huffingtonpost.com

Livestream: ‘Occupy Chicago’ waits for police raid | The Raw Story

2011-10-22T20:58:00.000-07:00

Livestream: ‘Occupy Chicago’ waits for police raid | The Raw Story

OBAMA: From First to Worst on Medical Marijuana.

2011-10-22T06:30:00.000-07:00

During his run for the presidency, Barack Obama instilled hope in medical marijuana supporters by pledging to respect state laws on the matter. And for the first two years of his term, he was generally faithful to his promise. Yet suddenly, and with no logical explanation, over the past eight months he has become arguably the worst president in U.S. history regarding medical marijuana.

1. In 1970, Nixon signed into law the Controlled Substances Act, which placed marijuana in Schedule I — the most restrictive of the five schedules, which declared that marijuana has no medical value whatsoever. Since then, all seven presidents have been content to keep marijuana in Schedule I, even going so far as to have (1) DEA bureaucrats overrule the DEA’s own administrative law judge on the matter, and (2) Health & Human Services reject scientific petitions for rescheduling.

California Medical Marijuana Crackdown Is Having An Immediate Effect

2011-10-22T06:22:00.000-07:00

By GREG RISLING

LAKE FOREST, Calif. -- A letter from federal prosecutors accomplished what nearly $600,000 in legal fees couldn't do in this Orange County suburb: it shut down medical marijuana shops.

Two weeks after California's four U.S. attorneys announced they were cracking down on dozens of operations across the state growing and selling medical pot illegally, all eight collectives that occupied the second floor of a Lake Forest mini-mall have closed.

Across the Central District of California, which stretches from Santa Barbara to San Bernardino counties, many of the 38 clinics have closed because landlords, threatened with criminal charges or seizure of their assets, were given just 14 days to evict their clients, a period that expires Friday. Other districts in California gave pot dispensaries more time to comply.

Some smaller California communities like Lake Forest have struggled in recent years to regulate the clinics, while others have banned pot shops altogether. Cities such as Los Angeles and San Jose have sought to rein in a large number of collectives that have cropped up. The fight has cost local municipalities millions of dollars in legal fees as it has shifted between city halls and courtrooms.

Frustrated and fed-up with pot collectives flouting their laws, cities asked the federal government for help.

The recent action has drawn a backlash from medical marijuana advocates who argue the collectives are protected by California law, which allows the drug to be cultivated and supplied to ill people on a nonprofit basis. Federal officials counter the clinics are lucrative ventures that operate under the guise they are helping the sick. Pot remains illegal under federal law.

To buttress their claim that shops were fronts for illegal drug dealing, federal authorities offered a list of examples, including longtime farmers raising a marijuana crop to a Los Angeles clinic that was shipping up to 700 pounds of pot out of state each month.

Most of those who received letters from prosecutors were smaller dispensaries. The Lake Forest group stood out because eight clinics were lined up in a building across the street from a kindergarten and preschool.

The little strip mall also houses a small market, a massage parlor and at least two dental offices.

Dentist Pankaj Narkhede said he was losing a few new patients every week after they found his office beneath the row of dispensaries upstairs.

The parking lot is usually full, fights have broken out and Narkhede said he's seen teens smoking in front of a head shop that opened after the clinics arrived. Moving isn't an option, Narkhede says, because it's too costly so he has to watch the steady flow of foot traffic, hoping something will change.

"If you are looking to improve this area, having what is upstairs is not going to help," he said. "It's the wrong place for the wrong thing."

In Lake Forest, a town of roughly 75,000 people, dispensaries began to crop up two years ago, about the same time when federal officials indicated they would not take aggressive action against those who complied with laws in 16 states where medical marijuana is legal. Pot clinics are not permitted in Lake Forest per the municipal code, which prohibits businesses that violate state or federal law.

In May, city attorney Scott Smith sent a letter to U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte asking for assistance because many of the dozen or so dispensaries weren't complying with zoning enforcement actions that sought to close them down and had cost the city nearly $600,000 in legal fees.

"In these cases we've just gotten nothing but contempt," from the dispensaries, Smith said. "They've been on notice for a long time. They've been pretty blatant in their disregard for compliance."

A forfeiture complaint filed by federal prosecutors against the owner of the building that has the eight dispensaries as tenants said that two of the collective operators had been arrested on drug-related charges; one was convicted.

Attorney Vincent Howard, who represents two of the Lake Forest pot collectives, said his two clients have closed their doors in the wake of the federal government's action. He said cities like Lake Forest need to have better regulations in order not to have problems with proliferation.

"Their position is they don't want them there," Howard said of Lake Forest officials. "I don't think they can ban a business that the state of California says is legal."

But an about-face by the U.S. Department of Justice put dispensaries on watch with a policy memo issued this summer noting they could face prosecution for violating federal drug and money-laundering laws.

"What we are seeing is a wholesale violation of both federal and state law by some people involved in the industry," said Thom Mrozek, a spokesman with the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles. "There are huge amounts of money going into this industry. It's our position that this goes way beyond simply paying rent and cultivating marijuana."

Six people were indicted this month on federal charges accusing them of trafficking as much as 700 pounds of pot every month from a now-defunct collective in North Hollywood that allegedly netted nearly $15 million in profits. A clinic that now occupies the same storefront was raided two weeks ago where federal agents said they found two 16-year-old boys smoking pot inside the shop.

In Dana Point, a coastal hamlet in south Orange County, city attorney Patrick Munoz said dispensaries there were "giant money-making machines," bringing in as much as $12,000 every day.

Through a series of legal actions, Dana Point was able to shutter seven clinics and a judge has awarded $7 million in civil penalties against some of the outlets, citing noncompliance with state law that says dispensaries can't sell marijuana for a profit.

"There was no effort to make sure only ill people were getting access to medical marijuana," Munoz said. "The law was being treated as a big joke by these guys."

In Murrieta, a city in southwestern Riverside County, Police Chief Mike Baray also asked for Birotte's help after a collective opened in July despite a local ordinance prohibiting such businesses. Police said the collective was burglarized the first week it opened and some customers have been robbed. The collective, which received a letter from federal prosecutors, has since closed.

Attorney David Welch, who represents three of the Lake Forest dispensaries that have closed since the letter went out, said every collective in the city received a warning letter that makes it unclear who they are really targeting.

"It doesn't seem there is any narrowing of who is a large operation and who is profiting," Welch said. "I think the main purpose of this tactic is to convince or scare landlords not to rent to medical marijuana collectives."

WEED: NOT EVEN ONCE. A SARCASTIC AND INTELLIGENT TAKE ON MARIJUANA

2011-10-20T10:50:00.000-07:00

Sarcasm and journalism are great when together, more so when it’s about marijuana. At least in my eyes. A clever ‘ole chap writing for the Indiana Daily Student (IDS) has put together a rather interesting opinion article in the form of drug comparison. Nick Jacobs’ article “Weed: not even once” has the ability to captivate the attention of smokers and nonsmokers alike. This casual analysis helps to disillusion readers with a witty comparison of the social and physical effects of alcohol, cigarettes, crack, heroin and methamphetamine to those of marijuana.

Many women who succumbed to its addictive properties became ganja whores. This led to the “ganja babies,” children who were born addicted to marijuana. Ganja whores were unknowingly feeding their babies marijuana with their breast milk.
Ah, that’s wrong, too. I think that was crack. Seriously, I can get this right.

Using fun facts about the above mentioned narcotics Jacobs is able point out the lesser threatening effects of marijuana. His points are proven furthermore because he is able to back his statements in a condensed and logical manner, which he calls “…the short and simple”.

Personally, my favorite part is where he points out that 2 out of 5 drugs listed are not only detrimental but legal. Reminding us that alcohol and cigarettes are still drugs. I don’t know if Mr. Jacobs smokes, but this article is definitely smoker friendly. From the sarcasm to”… the short and simple”, I hope you enjoy and share this column as much as I did. That’s enough I suppose…the work speaks for itself! Hit the jump.

HailMaryJane.com

…keep it sticky!…icky.

SPLIFF Magazine | February 2011

2011-02-01T15:18:00.001-08:00

Now available online here: SPLIFF Magazine | February 2011

SPLIFF Magazine | December 2010

2010-12-03T05:26:00.001-08:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More marijuana

Bill Bans Collective Operations Within 600 Feet of Schools

2010-10-02T19:49:00.001-07:00

Cal NORML Release - Bill Bans Collective Operations Within 600 Feet of Schools

Sacramento, Sep 30th = Gov. Schwarzenegger signed bill AB 2650
(Buchanan), which prohibits medical marijuana collectives from
operating within 600 feet of a school as of Jan 1, 2011. It covers
all activities by dispensaries or other providers that have a
storefront location or mobile outlet and are required to have a
business license. The bill grandfathers dispensaries that are
currently allowed to operate there under existing local regulations.
Text of the bill is at:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_2601-2650/ab_2650_bill_20100930_chaptered.html
--
Dale Gieringer - dale@canorml.org
California NORML, 2261 Market St. #278A, San Francisco CA 94114
-(415) 563- 5858 - www.canorml.org

SPLIFF Magazine | October 2010

2010-10-01T08:45:00.000-07:00

Available online now @
www.SpliffMagazine.com

More Americans Using Illicit Drugs

2010-09-20T06:34:00.000-07:00

Study Shows Marijuana, Ecstasy Use Have Increased in the U.S.

Driven by increases in marijuana smoking, illicit drug use rose in 2009 to 8.7% of the population aged 12 years and older, up slightly from 8% in 2008, according to a new report.
The report also shows that the non-medical use of prescription drugs rose from 2.5% of the population in 2008 to 2.8% in 2009.
According to the report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the estimated number of people who admitted they had used the street drug ecstasy in the past month rose from 555,000 in 2008 to 760,000 in 2009.
Methamphetamine use rose from 314,000 to 502,000 during the same period, according to the SAMHSA report.

Wake-Up Call

Some of the findings are disturbing and should serve as a wake-up call to the nation, says Pamela S. Hyde, JD, administrator of SAMHSA, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services.
“Our strategies of the past appear to have stalled out with generation ‘next’,” she says in a news release. “Parents and caregivers, teachers, coaches, faith and community leaders must find credible new ways to communicate with our youth about the dangers of substance abuse.”

The report says overall illicit drug use in the past month among young adults aged 18-25 years increased from 19.6% in 2008 to 21.2% in 2009.

The findings “are disappointing, but not surprising, because eroding attitudes and perceptions of harm about drug use over the past two years have served as warning signs for exactly what we see today,” says Gil Kerlikowske, director of National Drug Control Policy.
“Fortunately, this administration’s National Drug Control Strategy, with its focus on prevention, treatment, smart law enforcement and support for those in recovery, highlights the right tools to reduce drug use and its consequences,” he says in the news release.

Steps Needed to Curb Illicit Drug Use

Efforts to curb illicit drug use “must be reinforced and supported by the messages kids get from their parents,” he says. “Past month marijuana use was much less prevalent among youths who perceived strong parental disapproval for trying marijuana or hashish once or twice than among those who did not -- 4.8% versus 31.3% respectively.”
Among the study’s other key findings:

Though the rate of overall illicit drug use among young people in 2009 remained below 2002 levels, use by youths aged 12-17 years rose to 10% in 2009, up from 9.3% in 2008. Those percentages compare to use by 11.6% of young people in 2002.
The rate of marijuana use among youths aged 12-17 years increased to 7.3% in 2009 after it had leveled off to 6.7% starting in 2006.
In 2009, some 10.5 million people aged 12 years and older said they had driven while under the influence of illicit drugs in the past year. The rate was highest among young adults aged 18-25 years, at 12.8%.
The level of youths perceiving great risk of harm associated with smoking marijuana once or twice a week dropped from 54.7% in 2007 to 49.3% in 2009, marking the first time since 2002 that less than half of young people perceived great harm from marijuana use.
23.5 million Americans aged 12 years and older need specialized treatment for a substance abuse problem, but only 2.6 million are receiving help.
1.3 million people, or 0.5% of the population aged 12 years and older, used hallucinogens in the month prior to being surveyed, including 760,000, or 0.3%, who had used ecstasy. The number of ecstasy users increased between 2008 and 2009.
Non-medical use of prescription-type drugs rose from 2.9% in 2008 to 3.1% in 2009 among young people aged 12-17 years.
Illicit drug use increased from 2.7% in 2002 to 6.2% in 2009 among people aged 50 to 59. Researchers say this increase reflects the aging of baby boomers.
Unemployed people are more likely to use illicit drugs. Among unemployed adults age 18 and over, 17% were current illicit drug users in 2009, compared to 8% of those employed full-time and 11.5% of those employed part-time. Nearly 23.7% of people aged 12 years and older, or about 60 million people, said they had gone on drinking binges in the past year. Binge drinking is defined as having five or more drinks on the same occasion, on at least one day in the month prior to the survey.

The report authors say all of the findings weren't bad. For example, cigarette use among people aged 12 years and older has reached a historic low of 23.3%, and the use of cocaine among those aged 12 years and older has declined 30% from 2006 levels.

The Fantasy Dolls: Fantasy Dolls Spotlight: Maliah Michel

2010-09-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

The Fantasy Dolls: Fantasy Dolls Spotlight: Maliah Michel: " Click Here..."

L.A. City Attorney Again Enforcing Pot Shop Ordinance

2010-09-18T16:29:00.001-07:00

http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/marijuana/la-city-attorney-pot-shops/

The Los Angeles City Attorney sent out 46 letters to property owners
Thursday, warning them that they are suspected of operating illegal medical
marijuana dispensaries and must cease-and-desist or face criminal sanctions,
a City Attorney spokesman told the Weekly Friday.

The City Attorney's office, which is in litigation over the pot shop
ordinance that took effect in June, had previously told the Weekly that it
was giving the out-of-compliance pot shops a reprieve until the litigation
was settled. And so the infamous KFC pot shop boldly re-opened.
Perhaps responding to the awkward political atmospherics -- are we enforcing the ordinance or not? -- City Attorney Carmen Trutanich seems to have
reversed fields and is going after shops deemed out-of-compliance.

The City Attorney is still holding off on shutting down about 130 shops in
litigation. The ordinance, it was believed at the time, would shut down all
but those 130 or so of the 580 thought to be in existence in June. The 130,
it was believed, would be eligible for final approval because they set up
shop before a 2007 moratorium on new shops.

But of the 130, just 41 met all the conditions of the ordinance to move on
to final approval, according to the City Clerk. Conditions included having
the same owner and management since opening; having stayed in the same
location unless forced to move by the credible threat of DEA action; and
passing a criminal background check.

The City Attorney is waiting to shut down those out-of-compliance shops
until receiving a ruling from Judge Anthony J. Mohr that the ordinance is
constitutional. The judge will hear oral arguments Tuesday. Even if the
ordinance is ruled legal, the fight won't be over. Mohr gave the shops 45
days to make a case that they are in compliance with the ordinance and were
wrongly denied approval by the City Clerk (
http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/marijuana/judge-city-pot-shop-court/).

(A separate set of shops, closed in June, is also suing over the
constitutionality of the ordinance. Mohr's ruling on the constitutionality
of the ordinance will apply to those cases, as well.)

http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/marijuana/la-city-attorney-pot-shops/

LA Regional Planning Commission Hearing on Dispensary Ban - Sep 22nd

2010-09-16T16:48:00.000-07:00

California NORML urges all LA county supporters to tell the
Regional Planning Commission NOT to ban medical cannabis collectives.
The medical cannabis industry in LA has been generating 1,000s of
legal jobs and tens of millions in property rental revenues and
taxes. Other counties and cities, including San Francisco,
Sacramento, Oakland, West Hollywood, Berkeley, etc., have
successfully regulated medical cannabis dispensaries. LA should do
the same.
- D. Gieringer, Cal NORML
The Los Angeles Regional Planning Commission (RPC) will hold a public
hearing to discuss banning medical cannabis collectives in the
unincorporated areas of LA County on Wednesday, September 22. Americans for
Safe Access (ASA) is calling on supports to contact the members of the RPC
in advance of Wednesday's hearing to oppose the ban.

This is important for patients all over California, because other cities and
counties may follow suit if LA opts for a ban! Please do this today. Time is
short!

The RPC will make a recommendation to the LA County Board of Supervisors
about whether or not to ban patients' collectives at this hearing, so we
need to let them know citizens do not support the ban before the hearing.
Take a moment today to write a short message to the Commissioners telling
them that:

* Patients in LA County need safe and legal access to medicine
* Sensible regulations are proven to reduce crime and complaints
around collectives
* LA County regulations can be strengthened to increase safety, but a
ban will push medical cannabis back into the dangerous and unregulated
illicit market
* Banning collectives will prevent legal associations from opening,
but do nothing to stop illegal facilities

Remember to be brief and courteous in your message to
Commissioners. We are trying to win them over, not alienate them!

Email all five Commissioners at zoningldcc@planning.lacounty.gov or send a
letter to:
Regional Planning Commission
320 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, California, 90012

Can you also make plans to attend the RPC hearing and speak briefly to
Commissioners during the Public Comments period?

What: LA County RPC Public Hearing on Medical Cannabis
When: 9:00 AM * Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Where: Room 150, Hall of Records, 320 West Temple St., Los Angeles
90012

Come early to find paid parking and complete a public speaker's card. Thank
you for helping make a difference!

The Fantasy Dolls: Pic Of The Day - Zimajah

2010-09-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

The Fantasy Dolls: Pic Of The Day - Zimajah

The Fantasy Dolls: Pic Of The Day: Kianna Lyne

2010-09-13T09:32:00.000-07:00

The Fantasy Dolls: Pic Of The Day: Kianna Lyne

The Fantasy Dolls: Fantasy Doll Spotlight - Halie

2010-09-12T05:51:00.000-07:00

The Fantasy Dolls: Fantasy Doll Spotlight - Halie: ""

The Fantasy Dolls: Pic Of The Day - Erica R.

2010-09-10T08:04:00.000-07:00

The Fantasy Dolls: Pic Of The Day - Erica R.

Federal Agents Raid At Least Five Las Vegas Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

2010-09-09T13:47:00.001-07:00

Las Vegas, NV -- The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted raids earlier today on at least five medical marijuana dispensaries in Las Vegas, Nevada, and reportedly seized patient and financial records, but made no arrests. According to the Associated Press, Natalie Collins, spokeswoman for the local U.S. Attorney's office said that the federal search warrants and "supporting affidavits stemming from what she called 'an ongoing law enforcement operation' were sealed by federal court order." The dispensaries raided today by federal agents and local police included: Happiness Consultant, Salvation Haven, Nature's Way, Organic Releaf, & Holistic Solutions.
The federal raids come nearly a year after an October 2009 Justice Department directive issued to U.S. Attorneys in medical marijuana states, deprioritizing enforcement against medical marijuana patients and providers. The Las Vegas raids occurred less than two months after another spate of federal raids in July against state-compliant patients in California and Michigan. "The federal government should never be called on to enforce local or state medical marijuana laws," said Caren Woodson, Director of Government Affairs with Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the country's largest medical marijuana advocacy group. "The federal DEA must abide by the Justice Department policy and stay out of the enforcement of local and state medical marijuana laws."

In July, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman stated publicly on local television that allowing dispensaries was "a very legitimate goal," and that, "If doctors say that it does a patient some good and gives relief to somebody that has a dire need for it, I'm all for it." Nevada failed to consider the issue of distribution at the time of adopting its medical marijuana law in 2000. Although the state allows "Designated Primary Caregivers" to supply medical marijuana to patients, the qualifications are stringent and require "significant responsibility for managing the well-being of a person diagnosed with a chronic or debilitating medical condition."

Nevada's effort to address the need of sick patients to access local distribution of medical marijuana mirrors the efforts in other states like California, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon and Washington. Both Maine and Rhode Island have amended their laws to include state-licensed distribution similar to the medical marijuana laws of New Mexico. The trend to ensure safe access to medical marijuana by establishing licensed distribution facilities has even extended to states currently deliberating new medical marijuana laws, such as Iowa, Kansas, Maryland and Wisconsin.

"A failure to regulate the much-needed distribution of medical marijuana by states such as Nevada should not be seen as a green light by the feds to conduct raids," continued Woodson. ASA has and will continue to work with both federal officials in the Obama Administration as well as local and state officials in Nevada to address the safe distribution of medical marijuana as a public health issue.

The DEA is currently being directed by Bush-appointee Michele Leonhart, who served as deputy under DEA Administrator Karen Tandy; both were responsible for more than 200 federal raids in California and other medical marijuana states during the Bush Administration. Against objections from medical marijuana advocates, President Obama nominated Leonhart to head the DEA under his Justice Department, but her Senate confirmation has yet to be scheduled.

Further Information:
Justice Department memorandum from October 2009 regarding medical marijuana: http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/archives/192

SPLIFF Magazine - September 2010

2010-09-07T17:49:00.000-07:00

Available online now @
www.SpliffMagazine.com

SPLIFF Magazine - August 2010

2010-08-31T04:08:00.000-07:00

Available online now @
www.SpliffMagazine.com

Only 41 medical marijuana dispensaries eligible to stay in business, Los Angeles officials say

2010-08-31T03:55:00.001-07:00

Los Angeles city officials announced Wednesday that only 41 medical marijuana dispensaries are eligible to stay in business under the city’s restrictive ordinance, a number so low that the city will suspend the winnowing process and ask a judge to rule that it is legal.

“It was a surprise,” said Jane Usher, a special assistant city attorney who worked closely with the City Council to draft the complex law and is defending it in court.
Rather than move ahead with a selection process that would clearly trigger a spate of lawsuits by disqualified dispensaries, the city attorney’s office decided to sue them first and ask a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge to determine that the city’s process was appropriate.
“We’re trying to be proactive,” Usher said.

Yamileth Bolanos, who runs PureLife Alternative Wellness Center, found out that the city had determined her dispensary was not eligible to continue to operate. “I’m not going to take this lying down,” she said. “This is ridiculous. They have screwed up one thing after another. Not once have they thought about the patients of Los Angeles.”

Los Angeles is already tangling with about 85 dispensaries that have filed almost 30 lawsuits challenging the procedure the City Council adopted Jan. 26 to limit the number of dispensaries. Most of the dispensaries that have sued are among more than 400 ordered to shut down.

The city experienced a dizzying increase in the number of dispensaries when it failed to enforce a pot-shop moratorium put in place in 2007. Under that ban, only 186 dispensaries were approved to operate, but hundreds opened, a trend that accelerated after the Obama administration indicated last spring that it would not raid dispensaries complying with state law.

Judge Anthony J. Mohr is presiding over all the lawsuits and has set a Sept. 21 hearing on constitutional issues. It is unclear how quickly Mohr might act on the lawsuit, which the city attorney’s office intends to file Thursday.
“The judge has considered things very expeditiously to date,” Usher said. “He seems to have a very keen awareness of the harm it causes to the community to leave this unaddressed.”

When the City Council passed the ordinance, it acted on an estimate that about 130 dispensaries might qualify to stay open. Under the ordinance, however, if the number dropped below 70, additional dispensaries would be chosen in a lottery. The total number of dispensaries in the city would then be capped at 70.

City officials said 169 dispensaries applied to be allowed to remain in operation, but 128 failed to meet the stringent criteria. The city clerk's office mailed letters Wednesday to each dispensary notifying it of its status and also posted the list on the office's website. [Corrected at 8:50 p.m.: A previous version of this post said 170 dispensaries applied to remain in operation.]

The ordinance, which became effective June 7, allowed only those dispensaries that had registered by Nov. 13, 2007, to operate during the moratorium. But they also had to show that the ownership and management had not changed, that the management had no major criminal record and that the dispensary was at its original location, or had moved just once after being evicted by landlords who received warning letters from the Drug Enforcement Administration.

“We took a very strict interpretation of the ordinance, and if it didn’t match the ordinance exactly, then we declared them ineligible,” said Holly Wolcott, executive officer for the city clerk.

The city will not seek to shut down the disqualified dispensaries before a court ruling. “As of Tuesday,” Usher said, “the entities that filed notices of intent to register and who fully comply with state law will not be prosecuted under the city’s ordinance.”
-- John Hoeffel

Patient Advocates Condemn Federal DEA Raids in San Diego Today

2010-07-09T16:09:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

Americans for Safe AccessFor Immediate Release: July 9, 2010
Contact: ASA Media Liaison Kris Hermes 510-681-6361 or San Diego Chapter Activist Eugene Davidovich 619-446-9786

Patient Advocates Condemn Federal DEA Raids in San Diego TodayAggressive raids belie new federal policy & undermine local efforts to regulate

San Diego, CA -- Federal agents raided at least four San Diego-area medical marijuana dispensaries today in the early morning hours. Sources say that Green Kross, Unified Collective, SDOC and Kush Lounge were all served federal search warrants and were subjected to aggressive SWAT-style raids which resulted in the arrest of as many as 8 people and the seizure of money, medical marijuana and patient records. These raids come as the City of San Diego is deliberating an ordinance to regulate the local distribution of medical marijuana.

"The patient community is outraged by these actions and demands answers," said Eugene Davidovich of the local San Diego chapter of Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the country's leading medical marijuana advocacy group. "Why is the federal government attempting to undermine our local efforts to regulate?" A recent San Diego Gran Jury encouraged local governments to follow through on implementing state law by regulating medical marijuana distribution facilities that provide needed medicine to patients throughout the county. Both the City and County of San Diego are on the verge of approving regulatory ordinances.

Several federal raids have occurred in San Diego over the past few years, typically with the cooperation of local law enforcement and District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. The latest raids happened in September 2009 under the multi-agency effort called "Operation Endless Summer." Despite the confidence of Dumanis in prosecuting state cases against local dispensary operators, one of them being Davidovich, they have only resulted in jury acquittals. "Despite a failure to win convictions in state court, Dumanis continues to aggressively enforce and prosecute groundless medical marijuana cases," continued Davidovich.

In October 2009, one month after raids were conducted on more than a dozen medical marijuana dispensaries in San Diego, the Justice Department issued a new policy aimed at deemphasizing federal enforcement in medical marijuana states. Nonetheless, the Justice Department has continued to take action in California and other medical marijuana states, with San Diego dispensaries being the latest targets. In addition, the first federal trial of a medical marijuana provider under the Obama Administration is due to take place in the next few weeks. San Diego dispensary operator James Stacy was raided in the same September 2009 raid, but is being federally prosecuted. He is currently trying to mount an entrapment and medical use defense, something routinely denied federal medical marijuana defendants due to court rules that favor the prosecution.

"These raids underscore the importance of developing a comprehensive federal policy on medical marijuana, which will also allow states to care for the health and welfare of their people without unnecessary federal interference," said ASA Government Affairs Director Caren Woodson. "It is not the purview of the federal government to enforce local or state laws."

Further Information:
October 2009 Justice Department policy directive on medical marijuana: http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/archives/192

# # #

With over 50,000 active members in all 50 states, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. ASA works to overcome political and legal barriers by creating policies that improve access to medical cannabis for patients and researchers through legislation, education, litigation, grassroots actions, advocacy and services for patients and the caregivers.
--  Kris Hermes Media Specialist Americans for Safe Access http://www.safeaccessnow.org/ 1322 Webster Street, Suite 402 Oakland, CA 94612 Phone: 510-251-1856 x307 Fax: 510-251-2036 Email: kris@SafeAccessNow.org  Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.

Renewable energy grants, rebates and incentives

2010-07-08T00:49:00.000-07:00

First published June 2008, updated June 2010)

Ever dreamed of having solar panels on your roof or a wind turbine in the back yard? It's certainly been a goal of mine; one I have partially achieved.

While prices on solar installations and other forms of green power options have dropped substantially in recent years, renewable energy technology is still out of the reach for most of us - or is it?
When I priced a small system for the little place I had in the outback in 2003, it was around $USD 3,000 - that was just enough to run my notebook 12 hours a day, basic lighting and a few peripheral items. To power our house was in the region of $USD 30,000 - $40,000.
Prices steadily decreased and I was able to get together a mobile solar rig for my outback adventures for around the $USD $1,400 mark (around $1,600 AUD at current exchange rates), but one for the house was still out of reach without some sort of substantial assistance.
It's been encouraging to see many governments becoming increasingly aware that as part of the battle against rising greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, they need to plough some very serious cash into renewable energy - including rebates, grants and other financial incentives to householders, businesses and community groups.

Renewable energy options such as wind and solar power
might now be in your reach thanks to government rebates!
(Image courtesy of Energy Matters)

While the rebates still won't make the initial purchase of green power hardware attainable for some, it will open the renewable energy door for others and hopefully with increased demand; technology and production efficiencies; we'll see pricing drop further across the board on items such as solar panels and wind turbines.
Feed in tariffs
I thought I would make special mention of feed in tariffs as they are becoming increasingly popular around the world and many people are confused about how they work.
While not a rebate, feed in tariffs do offer a powerful ongoing incentive for installing solar power. Feed in tariffs pay a premium rate for some or all of the electricity generated by grid connected solar power systems. The rate paid is usually far higher than the market rate for electricity and is guaranteed for X years. This allows potential solar power system purchasers to calculate how long it will take to recoup their investment.
For example, in one Australian state the average market rate for "normal" electricity is around AUD 16c per kilowatt hour. Solar power system owners in that state are paid 60c per kilowatt hour for all the electricity their systems generate! On top of other rebates available in Australia, this means the payback period for a system is just 4 or 5 years in that region - and then after that, it's truly free power. Given the lifespan of a solar power system, the owners will "make" thousands of dollars on the system over its serviceable life through electricity savings; plus the system will also add value to their home. Of course, there's also the warm and fuzzy feeling of helping in the battle to slash greenhouse gas emissions as well!
But not all feed in tariffs are created equal. For example, the two most popular models are net and gross feed in tariffs. A gross feed in tariff scheme pays the premium rate on all electricity generated, whereas a net feed in tariff only pays the higher rate on electricity generated surplus to the consumption of the premises on which the system is installed. From a financial viewpoint, in most cases the gross feed in tariff is the better model; particularly in the case of where large amounts of electricity are consumed during daylight hours.
There are other factors involved in determining how good a deal a feed in tariff is, so it's important to research these sorts of incentives carefully.
And just on that point..
Finding current information on renewable energy rebates and incentives such as feed in tariffs can be a bit of a hassle, so I thought it might be useful to attempt to list some of the various rebate resources available online. I'd really welcome feedback so I can expand on the list (particularly additional countries) and to help me keep it up to date!
USA rebates and incentives

President Obama has made renewable energy a priority and all sorts of rebates and incentives are available at both a federal and state level.
The Database of State Incentives For Renewables and Efficiency is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives and rebates that promote renewable energy. It was amazing to see how much financial assistance is available in the USA.
Green Made Simple is a free online service that allows you to find local residential energy efficiency rebates by just entering your zip code.
Canada
Office of Energy Efficiency Grants and Incentives
Australia
Solar credits program
- offers up to $7,500 in rebates on grid connect systems for home, business and community groups. Renewable Remote Power Generation Programme
- supporting renewable energy in (some) remote areas
Solar Hot Water Rebates
- helping Australian households install greenhouse friendly hot water technologies
Feed in tariffs
- State by state summary of programs that pay owners of solar power system owners a premium for the electricity they produce.
UK
The Low Carbon Buildings Programme provides grants for renewable energy technologies to householders, schools, the public, non-profits and private businesses. Currently, householders can apply for grants of up to £2,500 per property towards the cost of installing a certified product by a certified installer. A feed in tariff program has also recently launched in the UK.
If you know of other rebate schemes for renewable energy related equipment in these or other countries, please add a comment below, even if it's just a link. I'll look into it and add it to this article! Thanks in advance!
By the way, if self-generated renewable energy is just totally out of your reach for now, consider green tags as a way of providing cleaner power for your home or check with your utility about green power options. There's also some links to articles on saving electricity below. Reducing electricity consumption is an important part of lessening your energy related environmental impact - and you'll save cash too!

SPLIFF Magazine - July 2010

2010-07-06T17:12:00.000-07:00

Available online now @
www.SpliffMagazine.com

Green Sun Collective

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The Fantasy Dolls: Fantasy Doll Spotlight - Halie

The Fantasy Dolls: Pic Of The Day - Erica R.

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SPLIFF Magazine - September 2010

SPLIFF Magazine - August 2010

Only 41 medical marijuana dispensaries eligible to stay in business, Los Angeles officials say

Patient Advocates Condemn Federal DEA Raids in San Diego Today

Renewable energy grants, rebates and incentives

SPLIFF Magazine - July 2010