Quick Hits (News)Court Allows Medicinal use of MarijuanaBy: Dean E. Murphy (NY Times) San Francisco - The federal appeals court here has refused to reconsider its ruling that allows Californians to grow and use marijuana to treat their illnesses. Click here for the full story. Medical Pot Law Gains AcceptanceBy: Bob Egelko (SF Chronicle) Californians are higher than ever on medical marijuana. Proposition 215, the state's pioneering initiative that made it legal for doctors to recommend pot to patients, has gained significant support across all segments of California's population since voters approved it in 1996, according to a Field poll released today. Click here for the full story. Pot Luck -- A Victory for FederalismBy: Jacob Sullum (Norml) Roscoe Filburn and Diane Monson both got into trouble with the federal government because of plants they grew. The future size and shape of that government hinges on whether those plants were any of its business -- and, if so, why. Click here for the full story. Same Farms ... New OwnersBy: Don Thompson (AP) Mexican cartels have taken over much of California's marijuana farming, boosting both the potency of the drug and the propensity for violence from armed guards protecting the crop, the nation's drug czar has said. Click here for the full story. |
Growin' Our Own (Feature stories)A Compassionate Society ... My AssBy: Elmore Stone Throughout the various states and nationally as well we tend to make the bold claim that we, meaning the U.S., are a compassionate and caring people. We are here to help those who are less fortunate. Almost all politicians say that. So do all organized religions. Click here for the full story. Drug Sweep Elicits ReactionBy: Bette Keva (CNC) Asked about the drug sweep and lock-down at Marblehead High on Dec. 2, American Civil Liberties Union lawyer John Reinstein said he is troubled by an apparent "disappearance" between the roles of school officials and law enforcement. Click here for the full story. URGENT ... Red Alert ... Red Alert ...By: Rodger Beasley Part II of II. Click here for part I. No living intelligent individuals are represented in this writing. Other than the obviously guilty. 0013 hundred hours ............. communique posted from the front lines by General Lee Doofy We crossed the tracks in silence. The closer we got to McDope's the less yard we saw. We entered an area where peeling paint and concrete became the norm. I turned the corner onto McDope's street. A slate gray, Ford Ranger pickup was parked in front of what was once a small store. The store was flanked on each side by similar small buildings. The glow of brown and green neon was beckoning the comfort of Schlitz and Rolling Rock from one side. The building on the other side was covered in signs and banners, "Discount Carpet / Carpets Are Us." The middle building was as nondescript as its neighbors were explicit. There were no signs adorning the outside. The inside of the windows were covered with dust embedded, sun faded tapestries. One was purple and maroon with paisleys. The other had broad stripes in red, gold, green and black. Click here for the full story. Comparing Two CasesBy: David Michael, Attorney at Law I have reviewed all 80 pages of the 23 December 2003 decision by the Canadian Supreme Court in R. v. Malmo-Levine and R. v. Caine, dealing with the issue of whether or not criminal penalties for the simple possession of marijuana violates Canadian constitutional principles. I have also considered this foreign decision as it might relate to the recent medical marijuana victory of my clients, Angel Raich and Diane Monson, in the Ninth Circuit in Raich and Monson v. Ashcroft and Tandy, also decided this month on 16 December 2003. Click here for the full story. |
Pipeline (Other stuff)Disparity Clouding Medical Pot LawBy: Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) Police at Lindbergh Field cited a passenger who volunteered to security guards that he was carrying a small bag of pot, even though the man appeared to meet city-approved medical marijuana guidelines. Click here for the full story. Prosecutors Refuse Rehab Deal for Limbaugh, Insist on Guilty PleaBy: Peter Franceschina (South Florida Sun-Sentinel) Palm Beach County prosecutors rejected an overture from Rush Limbaugh's attorneys that would have allowed the conservative commentator to enter drug rehabilitation rather than face criminal charges for prescription drug abuse. Click here for the full story. Pot Measure Stuck at Starting LineBy: Ed Fletcher (Sacramento Bee) January 1st was supposed to be a big day for medical marijuana users. That's the day Californians with AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic pain and other ailments could begin getting state-issued identification cards -- thus freeing them from jail time as they debate their medical need with cops. Click here for the full story. Feds to Overhaul Employee Drug TestsBy: Adam Geller (AP) The federal government is planning to overhaul its employee drug testing program to include scrutiny of workers' hair, saliva and sweat, a shift that could spur more businesses to revise screening for millions of their own workers. Click here for the full story. |
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