Kharla Vezzetti

August 22 – In a troubling development, the state assembly is balking at passing the prison population reduction bill passed by the state senate. The major objection appears to be precisely the provision of most interest to marijuana and drug reformers, namely one which would empower a state sentencing commission to review existing felony penalties for various offenses including drugs, and potentially reduce them to wobblers or misdemeanors.

Most disturbing is the fact that resistance to the sentencing reduction plan is coming from two “moderate” Democrats who are leading candidates for attorney general: Alberto Torrico of Fremont (phone 916-319-2020; FAX 319:2120) and Ted Lieu of Torrance (phone 916-319-2053; FAX 319:2153).…

June 20, 2009 – California NORML testified at the EPA hearings leading to the decision to categorize marijuana smoke, along with aspirin, potato chips and french fries as a potential carcinogen.

The Cal EPA did NOT claim that THC itself is carcinogenic. They were looking at the smoke from the burned leaf, which contains hundreds of other chemicals produced by combusted hydrocarbons, just like tobacco. There’s a long list of known carcinogens in MJ smoke – benzene, acetaldehyde, benzo(a)pyrene, etc. Whether the cancer risk from these chemicals is appreciable is another question, as the largest and best-controlled studies have failed to detect one.…

Aug. 24th, 2009 – UPPER LAKE, CA: In what are believed to be the first DEA medical
marijuana arrests since President Obama took office, the federal government arrested five Lake County defendants on marijuana charges on Tuesday, August 18th. The arrestees include Tom Carter, a well known local contractor; Scott Feil, former manager of the UMCC medical cannabis dispensary in Los Angeles who has been fighting a federal forfeiture case for several years; Scott’s wife, Diana; and Brett Bassignani and Steven Swanson.…

August 12 – According to press and eyewitness reports, the DEA and other federal and local agencies raided two Los Angeles cannabis collectives today, as well as the residences of collective officials.

Officials say more than 20 people from various agencies served a state search warrant at around 11 a.m. at the Organica Collective in Marina del Rey. According to AP, Los Angeles police, the FBI and DEA were still searching the distribution center three hours later. DEA spokesman Jose Martinez said agents also served the warrant at the Overland Gardens Collective in West Los Angeles.…

SEE AUG. 22 UPDATE

August 10 – As California considers how to reduce prison spending, it has overlooked releasing non-violent marijuana prisoners in favor of car thieves.

Later this month, the legislature will be debating a plan by Gov. Schwarzenegger to reduce $1.2 billion in prison spending as part of the state’s budget deal. Last week, a federal court ordered the state to eliminate 44,000 inmates over the next two years to reduce overcrowding.

However, a draft of the Administration’s plan by the Department of Corrections budget office makes no mention of marijuana or other non-violent drug prisoners.…

After Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske pronounced “Marijuana is dangerous and has no medicinal benefit,” in Fresno last week, California NORML cordially invites Kerlikowske to come and interview a few real, live medical marijuana patients, physicians, researchers and providers next time he visits California.

If the government can’t get medical marijuana straight, how can we expect them to a run a national health care program?

See attached letter.

D. Gieringer, Cal NORML

UPDATE: August 7, 2009:

In an interview on Seattle’s KOMO-TV former Seattle Police Chief Kerlikowske “found himself under fire” for his statement.…

July 23 – The Governor’s proposed prison cuts would reduce penalties for car theft, writing bad checks, and receiving stolen property, but not for the victimless crimes of cultivating or selling marijuana. It’s time to tell the Gov. that his priorities aren’t in order.
– D. Gieringer

Read more.…

July 13 – A story by Joseph Abrams of FOXNews.com begins, “California’s tax board says the state could reap about $1.4 billion by taxing their biggest cash crop — marijuana — but their estimate appears to be based on hazy ‘studies’ conducted by marijuana advocates.”

CalNORML director Dale Gieringer writes: “While Fox news is right that studies on marijuana consumption are hazy, it is confused about how Cal NORML got its estimates on marijuana consumption in CA. In fact, our estimates are lower than those of the ONDCP.”…

July 22 – Last night’s landslide victory for Oakland’s cannabis business tax, Measure F, by 79.9% mirrors the historic 79.6% victory of San Francisco’s path-breaking medical marijuana initiative, Prop. P, in 1991. Like Prop. P, Measure F seems destined to serve as a model for cannabis reform elsewhere in the state and country.

Measure F would impose a 1.8% tax on the city’s medical cannabis businesses, raising an estimated $300,000 for the city.

Kudos to attorney James Anthony for having proposed and authored this measure; to councilmember Rebecca Kaplan for having shepherded it through City Council; and to medical cannabis collective directors Steve DeAngelo, Richard Lee, and Keith Stephenson for their enlightened support of this landmark measure.…

July 23 – Prop 215 advocates should take a close look at the LA City Council’s resolution calling for clarification of state medical marijuana laws.
The resolution outlines several measures that the council would like to see implemented, among them state licensing and standards for dispensaries, a requirement that they organize as “mutual benefit corporations,” and closer oversight of MMJ doctors by the State Medical Board.
– DG

July 18 – At yesterday’s LA city council meeting, councilmember Janice Hahn introduced a motion to study the feasibility of taxing medical marijuana collectives in Los Angeles.…

Board of Equalization, Cal NORML Agree On Benefits of Ammiano Bill AB 390

July 15 – Assemblyman Tom Ammiano’s marijuana legalization bill would net California $1.38 billion in tax revenues per year, according to a newly released analysis by the State Board of Equalization. The BOE’s estimate parallels a similar analysis by California NORML, which estimated tax revenues at $1.01-$1.26 billion: Not included are savings in law enforcement costs for investigating, arresting, prosecuting, and imprisoning marijuana offenders, which are estimated to total some hundreds of millions per year.…

July 15 – A new nationwide CBS News poll reports 41% support for marijuana legalization. This is a 10% jump since the last CBS poll just four months ago! The West shows highest support: 46% for, 48% against (support would likely be higher within California). The under 35 age group is supportive; a majority of over 35-year-olds oppose.

The CBS poll figures are lower than the recent California Field poll results, but in the same ballpark. The results confirm that a pro-legalization majority is in the process of forming in the West, while a national majority is likely to emerge in coming years.…

The California Marijuana Report with former Westwood One news reporter, KGO radio producer, screen actor and Libertarian activist Eric Brenner. The CMR is a new weekly segment on the NORML DAILY AUDIO STASH. This podcast will focus on California marijuana news and music. We go beyond the headlines and interview elected officials and marijuana law experts as well as profile California residents currently incarcerated or being prosecuted for marijuana offenses. This weekly demand for liberty will not end until every single Californian imprisoned for marijuana sees daylight again.…

UPDATE December 8, 2017 – The VA has issued VHA Policy Directive 2017-1315 stating, “Veterans must not be denied VHA services solely because they are participating in State-approved marijuana programs.” The directive, signed by Executive in Charge Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D., replaces VHA Directive 2011-004 which had the same language. The new directive is scheduled for recertification on or before the last working day of December 2022.

Like the old directive, the current one does not allow VA doctors to recommend medical cannabis, or for VA pharmacies to supply it.…

Jun 22 – The CAMP (Campaign Against Marijuana Planting) marijuana eradication helicopter program is starting operation today, according to reporter Glenda Anderson of the Sonoma Press-Democrat. This is two weeks earlier than the traditional start of CAMP. Authorities say that more gardens are being planted early, perhaps due to the introduction of new varieties.
– D. Gieringer, Cal NORML

CAMP data…

Cal NORML thanks Rep. Barney Frank for re-introducing his bill to let states legally regulate medical marijuana. The bill, HR 2835, known as the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, would exempt California and other states with medical marijuana laws from federal
laws prohibiting the prescription, recommendation, possession, production, or distribution of medical marijuana. It would also reschedule marijuana to Schedule 2.

Many thanks to California representatives Sam Farr, Lynn Woolsey, Dana Rohrabacher, Mike Thompson, George Miller, and Pete Stark for co-sponsoring HR 2835.…

29 Medical Marijuana Hardship Hearings Set for Monday, June 29th

The Los Angeles Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee will be holding a special meeting next Monday June 29, 2009 to hear 29 medical marijuana hardship exemption applications. Read more.
When: Monday June 29, 2009
Time: 8:30 AM
Location: Los Angeles City Hall
200 N Spring Street, Room 1060
Los Angeles, Ca

On June 22, Los Angeles’s mayor signed off on the revised Interim Control Ordinance (ICO) regulating medical marijuana collectives in Los Angeles.…

On June 8, State Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) introduced a SJR 14, which calls for a comprehensive federal policy to ensure safe and legal access to medical marijuana for patients who benefit from its therapeutic use. “When passed, this resolution will clearly state the Legislature’s opposition to federal interference with California’s medical marijuana law and support for expanded federal reform and medical research,” said Leno. Read more. A similar resolution, SJR 20 (Migden) passed the State Senate in 2008.

The U.S.…

SAN FRANCISCO – May 18th. US District Judge Marilyn Patel sentenced Eddy Lepp to ten years mandatory minimum for having grown over 1,000 marijuana plants for a medical marijuana garden in Lake County.

Patel called the sentence “excessive,” but said she had no choice under federal law. In addition, she sentenced Lepp to five years of supervised release with drug testing. She invited Lepp to file for a rehearing in case the law should change.

Lepp called it “very, very sad” that the government showed no compassion, saying”I’ve broken no laws of the state in which I reside.”…