Marijuana 420 News from Marijuana420.net

A poll released today by the Cornell University Survey Research Institute found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of New Yorkers are in favor of legalizing marijuana for medical use. The poll results are similar to a Quinnipiac poll in February that measured support at 71%.

Despite broad public support, medical marijuana legislation failed to pass either chamber of the New York legislature this year. For a dozen years, proponents have pushed medical marijuana bills, and twice the Assembly has approved them, only to see them die in the Senate.

Richmond city leaders will not wait until November after all to decide how to regulate marijuana dispensaries.

City attorneys are drafting an ordinance that would determine the number and locations of permitted pot clubs, among other provisions. It is scheduled to reach the City Council on Tuesday night.

That is earlier than planned. Officials initially wanted to hold off until after the November election to see if California voters will approve an initiative to legalize recreational marijuana use for people 21 and older. But the council has now decided not to wait, in part because Richmond is dealing with uses other than for recreation.

Governor Christie and the legislature recently delayed the state’s medical marijuana law into 2011. Now it seems that the extra time was needed for New Jersey to orchestrate the first state and corporate takeover of a local medical cannabis industry.

Governor Christie’s amendment concept seems simple on the surface: Grow all the marijuana at one location and then distribute it at hospitals. But the proposal is fraught with a mountain of additional concerns that the current language of the law avoids.

Province metro affairs columnist Jon Ferry

Province metro affairs columnist Jon Ferry
Photograph by: File photo, The Province

If you're at all interested in the ongoing debate over pot legalization, look south right now to cash-starved California.

It's smoking hot there, with arguments being marshalled for and against Proposition 19, which would allow people 21 and over to possess and cultivate marijuana for personal use -- and let local governments regulate and tax commercial production of it.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Len Goodman can't grow enough marijuana to keep up with demand.

He is one of just 11 growers approved by New Mexico to produce pot for all of the state's 2,000 registered medical marijuana patients, and his customers routinely wipe out his supply. Once a strain of marijuana is harvested, dried and cured, he sends an announcement that patients can place orders, and the pot is usually gone in 24 hours.

New Mexico has been so cautious in licensing and regulating growers under its 3-year-old medical marijuana law that the small number of providers can't grow enough, creating a shortage that has forced some patients to the street to buy illegal drugs.

In a dramatic shift in public opinion, the latest poll on California's Proposition 19, which would legalize personal growth and possession of Marijuana, shows the initiative taking a slim lead with 50% of likely voters in support, 40% in opposition and 11% undecided.

This is the first poll to show a clear lead for the ballot issue and continues a remarkable trend where in the course of 3 months the poll ratings for the proposition have reversed from an early 89% opposition to this latest result showing broadening support.

ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) - A Cornell University poll finds a majority of New Yorkers favor legalizing medical marijuana.

The Empire State Poll from Cornell's Survey Research Institute interviewed 800 New Yorkers between Feb. 1 and March 29. It asked if they favor or oppose medical marijuana and natural gas drilling in New York.

Legislation to legalize medical marijuana has been introduced for more than a dozen years in New York. It didn't make it to the floor for a vote this year.

MARINA DEL REY, CA, Jul 15, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Marijuana, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: PCIO) announces the pending application for a true cannabis derived remedy. Marijuana, Inc. intends to file a patent application as the owner of a cannabis-based capsule to be taken orally. This formulation for pain management, one of the integral properties of cannabis, may help those suffering pain from a myriad of diseases. Formulator and inventor Reverend Dr. Douglas Van Dyke stated, "This Shamanistic blend of herbs has shown great promise for pain management treatment among a closed group of patients. The probability of efficacy among a large control group is quite feasible and we welcome the opportunity to prove the formulation." Marijuana Incorporated (http://www.marijuana-incorporated.com) has several other planned patent applications waiting to be filed including a topical lotion.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Oakland has taken a major step toward becoming first U.S. city to issue permits to legally grow marijuana. Oakland's Public Safety Committee voted 3-1 Wednesday to approve a plan to allow and tax large indoor marijuana grow operations.

Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan co-authored the proposal.

Kaplan said the permit process would raise money while cutting down on crime and the potential for fires from illegal indoor grow operations.

"The permits for these facilities will have fire safety inspections, electrical inspections, requirements to have security guards," said Kaplan. "So it's definitely a revenue benefit. But it's also a public safety benefit."

July 15 (Bloomberg) -- A Dutch city’s ban on sales of marijuana and hashish to foreign customers in so-called coffee shops is a lawful and necessary measure to cut crime from drug- tourism, an adviser to the European Union’s highest court said.

The city of Maastricht’s ban on shops selling cannabis- derived products to non-residents is necessary to maintain public order, Yves Bot, an advocate general at the European Court of Justice, said in a non-binding opinion today.