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September 20 – For the first time, officials are casting doubt on the popular myth that Mexican “cartels” are responsible for illegal marijuana grows on public lands in California. A story published today in the Sacramento Bee Mexican marijuana growers boldly operate in California says:

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration special agent Gordon Taylor said authorities “have
not seen any direct link” to notorious cartels in Mexico, including the Sinaloa, Tijuana, Ju√°rez and Gulf cartels, and other violent networks known as La Familia and Los Zetas.”That…

September 11 – SWAT-style raids on 14 medical marijuana outlets in the San Diego area on September 9 resulted in 31 arrests, including a man in a wheelchair who was wrestled into a police car. The action was the result of a four-month investigation by the San Diego district attorney’s office, which claims the collectives were operating for profit in violation of the Attorney General’s guidelines.

The raids came the day after the San Diego Board of Supervisors voted to convene a task force on medical marijuana, and weeks after the county finally began issuing medical marijuana I.D.…

August 23 – A recent University of Texas study that claims the active ingredients in marijuana spread and prolong pain is an isolated, theoretical lab study involving rodent cells and endocannabinoids. It is more compelling to consult the long list of human clinical studies examining actual use of marijuana for chronic pain.

It’s noteworthy that there have been four published, FDA-approved human studies of marijuana and chronic pain sponsored by California’s Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research. They are Dr. Abram’s study on cannabis and HIV neuropathy; Dr.…

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

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