Video 1 KTLA Channel 5 News Story June 18, 2010: Lake Forest Medical Marijuana Dispensary Appealing Injunction Order Video 2 KTTV Channel 11 News Story June 4, 2010: Los Angeles Medical Marijuana Dispensary Challenges LA's Ordinance Video 3 Cannabis Law Group's Attorney Damian Nassiri Sues the City of Los Angeles To Block It's Ban on Medical Marijuana as Featured on PBS's So Cal Insider - Part 1

Articles Posted in California Marijuana

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According to a recent news article from the New York Times, questions have arisen regarding the level of expertise of a medical marijuana “panel of experts” in charge of vetting dispensary applicants.  The commission was established New York decided to legalize medical marijuana in 2014.  Like other states, the process has moved slowly and is facing several seemingly self-inflicted obstacles standing in the way of patients getting their much-needed medical cannabis.

questionmarkThe panel is supposed to be composed of experts in a variety of related fields. However, their identities remain shrouded in secrecy.  This alleged lack of transparency has only served to fuel criticism of the actions of the medical marijuana panel.  Continue reading

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Those in favor of legalizing marijuana – or at least in protecting the state-level freedoms they have now – are fearing federal sanctions from an unfriendly new administration.congress

Even though politicians on both sides of the aisle favor both medical marijuana access and even recreational marijuana, there is concern that the new U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will crack down on businesses and individuals abiding state-level marijuana laws. There are currently 28 states that have legalized the drug for medical use, and eight, including California, that allow it to be used for recreation.

For this reason, three new bills have been introduced that protect the rights of pot growers, distributors and users. In addition, advocates are coming out in full force to encourage lawmakers to support pro-marijuana measures.  Continue reading

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Most people know that 420 holds special meaning among stoners. What few seem to know, however, is just how April 20th became so revered among the reefer-loving throngs. smoke

Different strands of the story have cropped up in recent years. Some will tell you it’s tea time in Holland. Others think it has something to do with the number of active chemicals in the drug. Others cite a tune by Bob Dylan. Maybe it’s the California criminal code to punish marijuana possession? (It’s not.) Some think it’s totally arbitrary.

According to CNN, the most credible theory begins with a secret code among a group of high school friends at San Rafael High School in Marin County, California. They called themselves, “the Waldos.” Almost every school day at 4:20 p.m., they would meet up and smoke out.  Continue reading

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Colorado was among the first states to legalize marijuana for recreational use.  While it is legal to purchase marijuana, it is not legal to smoke in public.  This means that are not the famous hash coffee shops as there are in Amsterdam.  There are many different efforts to get around that public marijuana smoking prohibition.  Some worry that a new church might be one of these efforts.

churchAccording to a recent news article from the Cannabist, a new church, known as the International Church of Cannabis, allows people to smoke cannabis in a public setting.  The church is in an historic church building that was purchased and renovated so that it could be used as a church for the newly founded religious movement known as “Elevationists.” The church was approved as a not-for-profit organization and its opening was on April 20, 2017. Continue reading

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There is no question that the cannabis industry is making a lot of money from a lot of different people and companies.  In fact, the medical cannabis and recreational marijuana business has already become a billion-dollar industry.

marijuanaHowever, there are many aspects of the marijuana business, and much the money is being made from things other than the growing and sale of marijuana itself.  One of the increasingly more profitable ventures is the development and sale of what is being called marijuana equipment.  While there are still a lot of regulations and legal pitfalls that can get these companies into hot water, the business is doing very well, according to a recent news article from USA Today. Continue reading

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When medical marijuana was first legalized in California more than two decades ago, the state was not heavily involved in the regulation process.  While anyone in the state could use medical marijuana if they had a valid doctor’s recommendation for the use of medical cannabis, it was up the counties and incorporated municipalities to decide if there could be dispensaries in their respective jurisdictions and if there could be grow operations.

question markNot surprisingly, some areas were very liberal with respect to medical marijuana production and sales and others were less liberal.  Some areas did not permit any growing or sales within the city or county limits. A few years ago, the state started to become concerned that they were getting left out of the process, and this was creating a regulatory void.  While it was up to individual municipalities to grow or dispense, there were many other state laws regarding agriculture and water usage.  Since much of California is in the desert, and water supply is often far less than demand, this can create a major issue. Continue reading

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Florida lawmakers are preparing to implement Amendment 2, which is the state’s medical marijuana legalization law. For now, there are only seven companies licensed to cultivate and distribute marijuana in the state. They have been busy too – raising funds and spending millions of dollars to grow their new operations and shield what they have at stake in what promises to be a highly profitable industry.marijuana buds

They are pushing to expand access to the drug. How so? By hiring an estimated 60 lobbyists to represent their interests to state lawmakers in charge of writing the detailed provisions of the broader marijuana law, approved by state voters in November at the same time California voters approved recreational marijuana.

Patients and doctors too are pressing state officials to expand access, as well as improve the affordability of the drug and increase the diversity of available strains.  Continue reading

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Recreational marijuana seemed like an all-but-certain prospect just a few months ago. Certainly in California, the results of the November election helped to solidify the where its future would lie in The Golden State. But that same day came the unexpected election of Donald J. Trump, which in turn has meant uncertainty for the future of legal marijuana.questionmark

We do know the American public overwhelmingly supports legalizing recreational marijuana, and many lawmakers are eyeing it as a way to rake in millions of dollars in taxes that can be used for the greater good. As of today, we have a total of eight states – including California – that have legalized cannabis for recreational use. There was hope when Trump took office that, at the very least, Obama’s “hands-off” policy would continue, given Trump’s stated support for state’s rights. But then, he appointed Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) to the post of U.S. Attorney General. Sessions has long been a vocal critic of recreational marijuana. On top of that, some in the Trump administration have warned that legal recreational marijuana could be the target of federal enforcement action, as the drug still remains outlawed under federal statutes.

All of this has left us with a great deal of uncertainty moving forward. It’s really not clear to marijuana businesses or even our marijuana lawyers what move the federal government and legislators may take next. While Republicans tend to be less favorable toward recreational marijuana on the whole, the issue is not split solely down party lines and a lot of Republicans support it.  Continue reading

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There is a worldwide trend toward liberalization and increasing consumption of marijuana. One of the only real harmful side effects of the drug (not withstanding use by motorists) is the potential for transient symptoms of psychosis, particularly among novice users. crazy run

You may recall the 2015 “American Sniper” trial wherein prosecutors successfully countered a claim by the defendant who fatally shot the sniper and then alleged he suffered from schizophrenia. Prosecutors opined he was simply high. Also in 2015, there was the case of a 49-year-old Denver man accused of killing his wife after eating marijuana-infused candy he had just purchased legally at a marijuana dispensary. Defense attorneys have argued defendant was so high, he did not intend to kill his wife. Then there was a death of a college student who jumped to his death after reportedly eating a potent marijuana cookie.

In each case, questions have arisen regarding the potency of these drugs. In the wake of this, researchers with King College’s London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience are urging regulators to fund scientific studies that will more accurately show how we can make marijuana safer. Continue reading

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For the first time in global history, gym members can get lit while lifting. workout

It’s happening at a new gym in San Francisco, founded by a former professional football star who has been a staunch advocate for marijuana use. Ricky Williams, a former running back who scored the Heisman Trophy in college and played in the National Football League for the Saints, Ravens and Dolphins, teamed up with snowboard company executive Jim McAlpine. The company, Power Plant Fitness, allows members to smoke marijuana before or after working out, and also has edibles and topical gels for those who want to avoid actual smoke. It will officially open in May.

Many users say marijuana helps them to focus during or relax after workout sessions. The goal, according to the company’s website, is to promote “optimal states of wellness and peak performance.” As Alpine told Outside magazine last year, cannabis brings you in the “eye of the tiger mode.”  Continue reading

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