Marijuana Lawyer

February 11, 2015

Child Lobbying for Medical Marijuana Suffers Seizure in General Assembly

Nationwide, parents, medical experts, researchers, and activists have pushed for reform to help children with epilepsy gain access to medical marijuana. In an attention grabbing twist before the General Assembly, a child who was present to lobby in favor of medical marijuana testing had a seizure. According to local reports, the young girl whose family was spearheading charge to loosen medical marijuana restrictions in Virginia had a seizure at the General Assembly. Witnesses said that it was a powerful testament to the need for medical marijuana use in the state.

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The mother of the epileptic girl testified that she believes her daughter should be permitted to use medical marijuana. Based on prior experience, cannabis oil has previously alleviated and helped to curb her daughter’s seizures. Like many states where marijuana has not yet been legalized for medical use, parents and patients are becoming impatient with legislators who are resistant to changing state laws.
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December 12, 2014

Three Tons of Marijuana Seized on Hwy 1 and California Coast

By Cannabis Law Group

State and federal law enforcement officials are always on the lookout for illegal drug activity. This includes illegal possession, distribution, and trafficking of marijuana. In the state of California, where medical marijuana has been legalized, illegal grow operations, the black market, and thousands of recreational users make the state ripe for drug crime investigations and arrests. According to local reports, seven people were arrested in November after authorities confiscated up to 6,000 pounds of marijuana.

The investigation and drug bust occurred on Thanksgiving Day on California’s Central Coast near San Luis Obispo. At approximately 3:30 in the morning, an officer pulled over a van driving along Highway 1 and found between 60 and 90 large bales of marijuana. Officers estimated that the marijuana being transported in the van weighed somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 pounds. Immediately after discovering the drugs during the search, the driver was arrested and taken into custody.
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November 19, 2014

Chilean Moms Break Laws to Help Epileptic Children

By Cannabis Law Group

Marijuana has been known to cure help manage the symptoms in epileptic children. Now hundreds of parents in Chile have been knowingly breaking the law and growing marijuana as a last resort to help their epileptic children. According to reports, marijuana has helped alleviate pain and reduce epileptic seizures. Where traditional medications have not been of use and cost up to 8 times as much as growing marijuana, parents have been driven to grow pot illegally. One mother reported to the Associated Press that she was so distraught over the condition of her child, that she was seconds away from driving herself and her daughter off of a cliff. Her medication had stopped working to alleviate the excruciating pain associated with the condition.

For many parents, watching a child in pain is enough of a motivation to take any action–even if illegally. Under Chilean law, the use of marijuana is legal, but it is illegal to grow or produce marijuana plants. The small group of parents in Chile have started a collective known as “Mama Cultiva” to promote the use of medical marijuana to treat epilepsy in children. The group of mothers know that they are at risk of criminal prosecution and jail time, but believe that fighting for their children’s access to medical marijuana is more important. In addition to growing their own marijuana for medical use, the group aims to educate others in the cultivating the plants. The purpose of the grow operation is to extract cannabis oil, a component that has been proved scientifically to help alleviate symptoms associated with epilepsy.
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October 7, 2014

Road Safety Experts Concerned About Impact of Legalization

By Cannabis Law Group

While users, industry leaders, and medical experts tout the benefits of marijuana use, many safety advocates have voiced concern about the potential risks of legalization. From teen brain damage to the dangers of edibles, safety advocates have continued to warn of the potential risks of recreational use. Road safety experts are now getting involved in the debate, concerned about the impact of legalization. According to a USA Today report, public safety advocates are concerned that highway rules for pot DUI are not sufficiently established, which could increase the rate of fatal accidents.

As states have paved the way for medical use and recreational legalization, federal laws have remained stagnant. Currently, medical marijuana is legal in 23 states and both Washington and Colorado have legalized recreational use. There are also 16 states (and Washington D.C.), that have decriminalized the use or possession of marijuana. According to some safety experts, all of this slackening of marijuana laws makes it more likely that drivers will be smoking before getting behind the wheel. Our Orange County marijuana law attorneys are dedicated to staying abreast of legal trends and in protecting the rights of our clients. In addition to keeping our business and individual clients informed, we are also aware of the development of marijuana laws nationwide.
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September 24, 2014

Pot Brownies Send San Francisco Students to Hospital

By Cannabis Law Group

Parents, school officials, health care advocates, as well as legislators have pointed to the dangers of edible products when ingested by children and teens. While regulatory changes and some precautions can be taken to keep edibles safe and out of the hands of underage users, there are still health risks in California and nationwide.

According to a recent report, five students from a high school in the San Francisco Bay Area fell seriously ill and were taken to an area hospital after consuming pot brownies brought to school by another student. Two of the students had to be hospitalized after falling unconscious from consuming the brownies.

Police reports indicated that a 17-year-old senior brought and sold the pot brownies on the schoo premises for $3 each or $5 for two. While the students knew that they were “pot brownies” they likely did not know the dosages or that the brownies were a health risk. Our Orange County medical marijuana attorneys are abreast of the legal and safety issues impacting residents of California. In addition to representing marijuana users, dispensary owners, and advocates, we are also concerned with local issues and cases that may impact marijuana law.
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August 20, 2014

Jackie Chan’s Son Could Face Execution for Marijuana Possession

By Cannabis Law Group

While some state and federal marijuana policies in the United States may seem harsh, they are not as stringent as other policies around the world. According to recent reports, the 32-year-old son of famous action hero Jackie Chan has been arrested in China and could face three years in prison or even execution if convicted. The young singer and actor confessed to using marijuana on a video that was posted on line and has been held in a Beijing jail since his arrest. The case is a reminder of varying marijuana laws, depending on state, federal, and international jurisdiction. It is also a reminder to marijuana users that penalties can vary widely, depending on where they are arrested and charged.

China Central Television (CCTV) reported that Jaycee Chan was arrested in Beijing and tested positive for marijuana. The reports also alleged that Chan was caught with over 100 grams of marijuana in his home. The Chinese actor has been in the entertainment industry for over a decade and his arrest may be one of the most high profile drug busts in China. Our Orange County marijuana defense attorneys understand the severe penalties faced by our clients. Our priority is to provide strategic and aggressive defense to minimize charges and penalties. We are also abreast of changing marijuana laws in California and are dedicated to preventing individual or corporate liabilities involving marijuana consumption or distribution.
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July 28, 2014

Sweeping Raid Targets Marijuana Grown on Tribal Land

By Cannabis Law Group

The relationship between marijuana crops and tribal land has always been contentious and legally complicated. In a recent case, California authorities initiated a raid to seize all marijuana grown on an Indian reservation in Northern California. According to reports, tribal authorities are joining with local law enforcement to stop illegal growing operations. The operation involved combined efforts from local, state, and federal agencies, resulting in the seizure of thousands of plants. The raid took place in Humboldt County, a mountainous region well-known for its growing capacity.

Growing marijuana on tribal land raises a number of legal questions and concerns. Officials worry that the illegal crops will threaten wildlife and the environment. In addition, the crops could potentially be contributing to the regional drought which has caused springs and creeks to dry up. Our Orange County marijuana law attorneys are dedicated to protecting the rights of growers, marijuana shop owners, as well as legal users. We are abreast of developments in the legal marijuana business and changes in California marijuana laws.

July 5, 2014

Momentum for Medical Marijuana Business in Florida

By Cannabis Law Group

Florida is close to a November vote that would approve a measure legalizing marijuana for medical use. If the law passes, lawmakers, law enforcement officials, patients, and medical professionals can prepare for a significant shift in policy that will change the way the state views and regulates marijuana use. In addition to giving patients additional treatment and pain relief options, Florida business owners will have additional opportunities to profit from the medical marijuana industry. Many entrepreneurs are already poised for the shift. According to an NPR report, many cannabis industry leaders are already preparing to establish businesses in the state.

Currently, conferences are held every week in Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, dedicated to the pursuit of business opportunities in medical marijuana, even though it is still an illegal product in Florida. Our California medical marijuana attorneys understand the complexity of marijuana law for businesses as well as individual users. We are dedicated to help business owners set up shop, with a clear understanding of their rights and obligations to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. With the quick evolution of medical marijuana laws nationwide, it is important to consult with an experienced legal advocate who can help you protect your rights and avoid civil or criminal liability.
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June 30, 2014

New York Senate Approves “Compassionate Care Act”

By Cannabis Law Group

The New York State Assembly passed the “Compassionate Care Act” and now the medical marijuana law is simply awaiting the signature of Governor Andrew Cuomo. Under the new law, doctors will be allowed to prescribe marijuana in a non-smokable form to patients with recognized diseases and conditions. The “Compassionate Care Act” recognizes a number of pre-identified conditions but is also flexible to accommodate other patients who could benefit from the use of medical marijuana.

The governor has continued to support the bill and is fully expected to sign it into law; however the measure could still take up to 18 months to be fully implemented. Our Orange County medical marijuana attorneys are dedicated to protecting the rights of patients in California and nationwide. In addition to advocating for individuals, vendors, and entities in Los Angeles and Southern California, our team is also abreast of legal developments in other states that support the use of medical marijuana. We are dedicated to raising awareness about the benefits of medical marijuana and in helping individuals protect their rights in a complex and changing political and legal climate.
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June 8, 2014

The Marijuana Tax Equity Act: Could Marijuana Go Corporate?

By Cannabis Law Group

The marijuana business has historically been in the hands of farmers, small-production growers. Even the larger marijuana cultivators and distributors would not be on-par with big corporate agricultural organizations. However, as marijuana growing becomes legal in Colorado and Washington, and potentially nationwide, there are increasing opportunities for the business to go corporate, especially if the federal government moves towards legalization. A New York Times report explained how Canada adopted a federally regulated system for growth and sales, giving prescription holders the right to buy from large-scale corporate producers. The shift could signal a trend towards big-business, if the U.S. moves in the direction of legalization.

What does this mean for growing trends in the United States? While federal legalization or Congressional action could help to clarify existing laws and regulations, it could also harm more loosely organized, small-producing growing companies. Our Orange County medical marijuana attorneys are experienced in representing cultivators, growers, dispensaries, and users throughout California. We are abreast of legal developments and trends that could impact our clients. While federal legislation could be an improvement for legalization, broad action could also shift growing and sales opportunities in to the corporate realm.
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