Aurora Sentinel, Mar. 16, 2010 - While many urban residents were far from surprised to see controversy erupt as medical-marijuana outlets began growing like weeds across the metro area, more than a few have been startled by criminals that now seem to be targeting the cannabis growers supplying this burgeoning industry. Within the last few days, armed robbers burst into the homes of pot growers, ransacking the places for the pot and other items. One robbery occurred here in Colorado, another in Washington, where that state, too, is going through legalized-medical-marijuana trials and tribulations. The notion of these growers becoming likely targets of robbers and thieves makes it clear this is becoming an even more complicated issue than it already was. Part of a state regulation package in the works at the Colorado Legislature involves the state regulating and keeping track of those who are growing pot for the medical-marijuana industry. Part of that, however, would involve a list or database, which would be nothing more than a shopping list for those criminal types wanting to score some free dope, and for the currently over-active Drug Enforcement Agency, which doesn't like Colorado's prescription-pot plans one bit. Federal drug officials last month raided the home of one Highland's Ranch pot grower who was prompted to brag about his crop and profits on a local TV news broadcast. The raid came after and despite earlier assurances by the Obama administration that they were directing the DEA to pretty much look the other way while states like Colorad! o sorted out medical-marijuana issues.Home, Office Of Marijuana Advocate Raided On Big Isle

Honolulu Advertiser, Mar. 13, 2010 - HILO, Hawai'i - Marijuana advocate Roger Christie said his home and offices have been raided by federal agents and Big Island police. The founder and director of The Hawaii Cannabis Ministry said records, cash and marijuana he uses as a sacrament were seized Wednesday. Christie said he knows of about half a dozen similar raids on the Big Island. He told The Advertiser yesterday that he does not know what prompted the raid, which he said involved Internal Revenue Service officials.Bill Would Let More Professionals OK Use of Medical Pot

Seattle Times, Mar. 12, 2010 - The bill allowing patients to get medical-marijuana authorizations from a wider range of health-care professionals came a step closer to becoming law as it passed in the Legislature Thursday. Senate Bill 5798 extends the ability to authorize medical pot to a variety of other licensed health professionals in addition to MDs and osteopaths - including naturopaths, advanced registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants. After some fine-tuning, the bill passed with an amendment requiring the recommendations be written on tamper-proof paper. Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, the bill's primary sponsor, said it will go into effect around July 1, roughly 90 days after Gov. Chris Gregoire signs it.House OKs Marijuana Bill

The Eagle-Tribune, Mar. 11, 2010 - But Not Enough Votes to Override Veto A bill to decriminalize possession of a quarter-ounce or less of marijuana won convincing support yesterday in the House with a 214-137 vote. But the tally is about 17 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto promised by Gov. John Lynch. Rep. Frank Sapareto, R-Derry, who voted for the legislation, said the state's marijuana possession law is harsh enough. The penalty is a $2,000 fine and a year in jail. Furthermore, Sapareto said a conviction can close doors for young people, putting federal loans for college or military enlistment at risk. "It's ridiculous," he said.A Penalty Too Stiff

Dallas Morning News, Mar. 11, 2010 - Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Unreasonable Drug Sentences It's usually not anyone's place in Dallas to tell Tyler jurors what to do or not to do in dealing with felons in their community. Smith County's law-enforcement officials are not accountable to outsiders on how they prosecute cases. But here's the big "but": In sending defendants off to state prison, every county pushes the incarceration cost onto the rest of us. It costs roughly $50 a day to house offenders in Texas prisons. And so it got our attention big time when a jury in Tyler sentenced a man to 35 years recently for possessing 4.6 ounces of marijuana, a sentence that tests our tolerance for prosecution of drug laws.

One day after MPP called for a nationwide boycott of Wal-Mart stores in order to protest the company’s contemptible and baseless firing of Michigan medical marijuana patient Joe Casias, the world’s largest public corporation is already changing its position — albeit not to the extent we all desire. A Wal-Mart spokesperson has told Fox News that [...]

Published: Mar 17, 2010 01:50 PM CDT MPP Calls For National Boycott of Wal-Mart

This morning, the Marijuana Policy Project called upon shoppers across the country to join in a boycott of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., in order to protest the unjust and potentially unlawful firing of Joe Casias, a 29-year-old medical marijuana patient and sinus cancer survivor who suffers from an inoperable brain tumor. After dutifully working at a Wal-Mart [...]

Published: Mar 16, 2010 07:11 AM CDT Does the Drug Czar know the difference between marijuana and alcohol?

Gil Kerlikowske, the man tasked with “protecting” our nation from the “dangers” of marijuana, appears to be supremely uneducated about the substance. In a recent speech [pdf] to – hold on to your chair for the surprise – the California Police Chiefs Association, Kerlikowske defended the continuation of marijuana prohibition forever into the future by [...]

Published: Mar 15, 2010 02:34 PM CDT Wal-Mart Fires Cancer Patient for Legally Using Medical Marijuana

Joseph Casias, 29, has sinus cancer and an inoperable brain tumor. Despite his condition, he has dutifully gone to work every day for the last five years at a Wal-Mart in Battle Creek, Michigan, where in 2008 he was named Associate of the Year. Casias is also a legal medical marijuana patient under Michigan state law. He [...]

Published: Mar 12, 2010 11:38 AM CST Top California official ‘favors’ taxing and regulating marijuana as revenue generator

For decades, advocates of marijuana policy reform have argued that a regulated and taxed marijuana market would generate revenue for government on the local, state and federal levels. There have even been studies projecting tax revenues from marijuana sales at $6.2 billion and even $31 billion annually. Occasionally – although far too rarely – we have [...]

Published: Mar 11, 2010 03:38 PM CST Another World-Class Athlete Gets Punished for Using Marijuana

Twenty-four-year-old American Ivory Williams—one of the fastest 100-meter sprinters in the world—will not be allowed to compete on the U.S. Team for this year’s World Indoor Championships. His offense? He tested positive for marijuana. Now Williams, who just last month ran the fastest 60 meters in the world, will be ineligible to compete for the next [...]

Published: Mar 11, 2010 01:58 PM CST Former Bush Appointee, Prohibitionist Author Now Supports Marijuana Policy Reform

Talk about seeing the error of his ways. John J. Dilulio, Jr., the man who once co-authored a book with two former drug czars that described America’s drug war as “the most successful attack on a serious social problem in the last quarter-century,” has now reversed course, writing in the journal Democracy that it is “insane” [...]

Published: Mar 10, 2010 01:38 PM CST