Los Angeles Marijuana Dispensaries

May 4, 2015

Snoop Dogg to Open Medical Marijuana Delivery Service in Los Angeles

While medical marijuana and medical cannabis products have greatly eased the pain and suffering of many medical marijuana patients in Los Angeles and across Southern California, one of the major problems is those in need of medicine are often too sick to go to their medical cannabis dispensary to pick up their medication.

One way the legislature has helped to address this serious issue is by allowing medical marijuana patients to have a designated caregiver who is allowed to pick up their medical cannabis for them. While this offers help for those who can afford a caregiver, or who are fortunate to have someone willing to help them for free, such as a family member, there is a large percentage of medial marijuana patients who find it very difficult to get their medicinal products due to their physical limitations.

A somewhat new trend in the medical cannabis industry aimed at addressing this problem involves the creation and operation of medial marijuana home delivery services. According to a recent report from LA Weekly, the rapper Snoop Dogg intends to bring his medical cannabis delivery service to Los Angeles to serve patients in need.
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May 2, 2015

LA Man Arrested for Alleged Medical Marijuana Dispensary Murder

By Cannabis Law Group

One of the most common arguments opponents of medical marijuana legalization and marijuana legalization in general make is that legalizing marijuana and cannabis products will lead to an increase in crime. Despite significant credible evidence to the contrary, the old argument that marijuana leads to crime is still a powerful tool in the arsenal of those against rights of medical marijuana patients. For this reason, any crime in any way related to a medical cannabis dispensary makes big news.

According to a recent story The Sun, prosecutors in San Bernardino have charged an LA man in connection with the alleged shooting of a security guard at a dispensary last February. Authorities say 21-year-old defendant shot and killed a 25-year-old security guard during a robbery. Authorities also allege this particular medical marijuana dispensary was being illegally operated at the time of the alleged murder.

Witnesses say two gunmen entered the dispensary at a local strip mall and forced their way to the rear of the business where medical cannabis products were stored. While officials are not sure exactly what transpired, they believe victim shot back at alleged offenders and may have wounded one of them, based upon the amount of suspect’s blood found at the crime scene.
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April 30, 2015

A Look at Traditional Painkillers and Medical Marijuana as a Painkiller

By Cannabis Law Group

Medical marijuana has been scientifically proven to have a lot of benefits to patients for a variety of medical conditions, ranging from psychological conditions to advanced stages of cancer. Interestingly, it is perfectly legal to get a prescription for powerful narcotics, and walk into any pharmacy and walk out with a bottle of OxyContin or Vicodin, but, in most places in the United States, it is illegal to possess even a small quantity of marijuana.

Fortunately, for medical cannabis patients in California, this is not the case, and, fortunately for those in other states, the nation is gradually becoming more accepting to medical cannabis.

In a recent article from News Review, one editor takes a look at medical cannabis for pain control. He uses his personal experience as a 31-year-old trying to play basketball. He has pain from his swelling feet, shin splints, and knee pain. He has access to narcotic painkillers prescribed to treat his knee pain but instead decides to use medical cannabis to treat his pain.
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April 20, 2015

NJ Medical Marijuana Program Director Resigns

By Cannabis Law Group

According to a recent article from NJ.com, the director of New Jersey’s medical marijuana program has resigned his position. This occurred approximately three-and-a-half years after he was hired with much official and popular support. His resignation was handled much more quietly and was confirmed in a health department release.

The now former program director was a 26-year veteran of the state police and is said to be relocating with his family following his resignation. The medical marijuana program’s second in charge has been placed in the position of acting director until a suitable replacement can be found.

During his tenure with the state’s medical marijuana program, his agency faced opposition and constant attack from various groups. On some occasions, it was patients who were upset with the program. In other instances, it was dispensary owners who felt they could not function with the state’s burdensome laws and regulations. He even faced a lawsuit from a physician and patient on grounds the state was initially dragging out implementation of medical marijuana laws since they were created in 2010.
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March 6, 2015

Investment in Marijuana Industry Must Be Approached With Caution

By Cannabis Law Group

Calvin Broadus, Jr. (better known as Snoop Dogg, a.k.a. Snoop Lion), recently announced he is culling together a fund to invest in a number of marijuana industry start-up ventures. The long-time rapper and purported marijuana connoisseur is reportedly planning to invest $25 million in the rapidly-expanding industry of legal marijuana.

He is one of the any celebrities who have explored similar opportunities. Others include Ashton Kutcher, Jared Leto and Nas. Recently, the family of Bob Marley announced its intentions to use the iconic musician’s name in furtherance of a corporation called Marley Natural. The goal of the new company will be to cultivate a line of fine cannabis, products, blends and accessories.

However, Snoop’s investment is expected to a bit different in that it will not focus on the aspects of cultivation or production of the drug, but rather with the accompanying technology these firms will need as their operations branch out.
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February 20, 2015

California’s Oldest Marijuana Dispensary Gets Favorable Ruling in Federal Court

By Cannabis Law Group

U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag has been tenacious in her attempts to shut down the Berkeley Patients Group, touted as the state’s oldest medical marijuana dispensary.

But recently, Judge Jon S. Tigar of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit issued an order backing the continued operation of the dispensary while litigation is pending. The shop first opened 15 years ago, and the news that it will be allowed to remain open for the time being is welcomed by the hundreds of patients it serves.

The dispensary’s marketing director called it “A small victory in the larger fight to secure safe access to medical cannabis…”
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February 13, 2015

New U.S. Attorney General: Marijuana Policy Shift Opined

By Cannabis Law Group

Despite mountains of scientific evidence to the contrary, marijuana continues to be classified by the federal government as a Schedule I narcotic, labeling it as having a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use or treatment.

We know, for example, that alcohol is far more dangerous than marijuana on a host of different levels – from the biological effects to the traffic safety impact. And yet, law enforcement officials and prosecutors continue to turn a blind eye to the facts.

Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is no hero of the marijuana legalization movement, as it was at his direction countless dispensary raids and criminal prosecutions of marijuana growers and collective operators took place. However, he did in the end direct federal prosecutors to ease their stance in so far as state-sanctioned operations were concerned.
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February 9, 2015

New Medical Marijuana Research Focuses on PTSD Treatments

By Cannabis Law Group

The benefits of marijuana in treating depression, anxiety, and other symptoms of PTSD are being studied nationwide. Medical researchers have long suspected a link between the possible benefits of marijuana treatments for PTSD, but have not had the financial support or government approval to succeed in any long-term or extensive study. Now Colorado has offered nearly $8 million in grant funding for medical marijuana research. Researchers are hoping to determine whether marijuana could be a potential solution for veterans and other victims of post-traumatic stress disorder.

A researcher from Perelman School of Medicine is coordinating several studies to investigate how marijuana can mitigate the symptoms of PTSD. The studies have been made possible, in-part, because of a $7.6 million grant from the state of Colorado. Nationwide, legislators, public health officials, and marijuana activists have come to know that there isn’t significant research on marijuana to help inform regulatory or policy initiatives. Many governments want to implement research, and yet, they are hindered by federal laws that still classify marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, with no medicinal value.
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February 3, 2015

Obama Vows to Let States Pave Road to Legalization

By Cannabis Law Group

One of the primary and ongoing conflicts in marijuana law is the stark opposition of state laws and the federal position. While some states continue to outlaw pot for medicinal or recreational use, an increasing number of states are following California’s lead in medical use marijuana, or Colorado’s lead in recreational use marijuana. While Obama predicts that more states will begin to legalize marijuana, he also has vowed to let states pave the way towards legalization. This drives the consternation of many marijuana advocates who believe it is “high time” for Obama or Congress to act.

In a recent interview, Obama responded to a question about the growing conflict between state and federal laws. Obama responded by explaining how states have the opportunity to experiment with the legalization project, yet, the position of the administration has been to take a step back. Even though federal laws continue to classify marijuana as a Schedule I illegal substance, the administration is not going to spend any time, money or other resources intervening in states’ decision to legalize or pursue medical use marijuana.
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February 1, 2015

Should Marijuana Be Lumped in the Same Category as Heroin?

By Cannabis Law Group

Critics of current federal drug laws point to the categorization of marijuana as a Schedule 1 narcotic, lumped in the same category as cocaine and heroin. Now that a District Judge in Sacramento, California has agreed to hear a case on this classification, scientists, activists, and politicians are paying close attention to the analysis in this case. Agreeing to hear arguments on whether the classification is legal is groundbreaking in federal marijuana law and her decision could impact courts throughout the West.

While the ruling is expected later this year, others have been weighing in on the scientific differences between marijuana and other Schedule I drugs.

Regardless of the decision made in this case, the hearing is raising important questions and discussions on the actual impact and dangers of marijuana compared to other drugs. The legal review will give this issue a scientific and analytical review, rather than circumstantial or purely anecdotal evidence. For many, it is unconstitutional to lump all of the drugs together, as there have already been medicinal attributes associated with marijuana, and the dangers of heroin compared to marijuana seem obvious.
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