medical marijuana

LAS VEGAS - September 8 - The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted raids earlier today on at least five medical marijuana dispensaries in Las Vegas, Nevada, and reportedly seized patient and financial records, but made no arrests. According to the Associated Press, Natalie Collins, spokeswoman for the local U.S. Attorney's office said that the federal search warrants and "supporting affidavits stemming from what she called 'an ongoing law enforcement operation' were sealed by federal court order." The dispensaries raided today by federal agents and local police included: Happiness Consultant, Salvation Haven, Nature's Way, Organic Releaf, & Holistic Solutions.

Phoenix officials are discussing how to deal with a November ballot measure that would legalize marijuana for medical purposes.

Phoenix has taken no position on the matter, but City Councilwoman Peggy Neely and Debra Stark of the City Manager's Office are studying how the measure could be implemented if it passes.

The city would work closely with the Arizona Department of Health Services. The health department would be in charge of making rules for the dispensing and use of medical marijuana.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A state-licensed grower of medical marijuana has answered to marijuana charges.

Matthew Salvato is accused of growing and keeping more marijuana than his license allows.

A district judge in Ferndale said Thursday that he would allow state-approved medical marijuana defendants to keep using the drug while out on bond -- a sharp contrast to a Waterford judge's statement Tuesday that deemed marijuana use by defendants in a parallel case to be a bond violation.

The contrast in treatment for those arrested in metro Detroit's first major medical marijuana raids showed the breadth of interpretations for the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, Wayne State University law school professor Bob Sedler said.

A medical marijuana advocacy group sent letters Wednesday to about 140 California cities and counties that have banned pot dispensaries, including several in the Bay Area, and urged them to change their stance or face lawsuits.

The letter from Americans for Safe Access says a recent court ruling clears the way for cities to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries without fear of going against federal law. It goes on to say cities that have such banned pot clubs should now set up rules that allow them.

"Otherwise, we will explore our legal options," the letter says.

SANFORD — It looks like there will not be a medical marijuana dispensary in Sanford, at least not in the foreseeable future.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services (DLRS) has selected Safe Harbor Maine, Inc. to operate a dispensary in Maine's Health District 1 of York County. Safe Harbor Maine proposes to establish a marijuana dispensary in Biddeford.

The DLRS announced Tuesday afternoon the selection of two nonprofit corporations, one in District 1 and one in District 7 (Washington and Hancock counties) to dispense marijuana under Maine's Medical Use of Marijuana Act.

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Earlier this week, a television commercial advertising medicinal marijuana was aired in California – the first ever broadcast in the U.S. The ad was shown over Fox affiliate KTXL in Sacramento, and has swirled up a nice little cloud of controversy from community members who worry about the commercial's effect on children. The ad itself features a series of testimonials from customers, all A-typical of our drug culture stereotypes: A pretty young woman claims she was diagnosed with a bone disease, while a middle-aged woman says she was hit by a drunk driver.

You thought your medical marijuana (MMJ) card made it legal for you to smoke or ingest THC? Not really -- you can still get fired in Colorado if you fail a drug test.

Colorado passed an amendment to the state Constitution, making MMJ legal. But employers are saying that their drug policies trump Colorado law.

Would an employer be able to claim that you can get fired for having blood pressure medication in your system, or a blood thinner? Not likely.

Waterford Township -- A judge refused Tuesday to modify the bonds of 10 people arrested last week, a move that would have allowed them to use medical marijuana while they wait for their cases to proceed through the legal system.

The defendants, who appeared in 51st District Court, face felony charges that carry up to four years in prison. Most of the defendants claim they use marijuana to alleviate serious illnesses and pain, but Judge Richard Kuhn Jr. was unmoved.

CENTRAL CITY, Colo. — Don Boring owns a grocery store, a liquor store and now, a medical marijuana dispensary. The main difference among them is that he has to produce his own pot inventory.

Colorado set a Sept. 1 deadline for dispensaries to show they grow at least 70 percent of the pot they sell — the first requirement of its kind in the 14 states, along with Washingon, D.C., that have medical marijuana laws. Lawmakers added the requirement to Colorado's new law in hopes of keeping small-time caregivers from growing pot in their basements to sell to dispensaries.