Call your California State representatives now and urge their support for the following bills:

SJR 20: A resolution authored by Sen. Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) that calls for an end to the DEA raids in California, the resolution also denounces the federal government’s recent tactic of threatening to seize the property of landlords who rent to medical marijuana facilities. Further, SJR 20 urges Congress and the President to enact federal legislation that would protect medical marijuana patients and providers from arrest and prosecution.

SB 1098: A bill authored by Sen. Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) that provides tax-amnesty to medical marijuana dispensing collectives for the period prior to October 2005, when the state was not accepting sales tax payments, making it impossible for dispensaries to pay.

AB 2743: A bill authored by Asm. Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) that directs state and local law enforcement agencies to not cooperate with the DEA or other federal law enforcement agencies in their attack on sick and dying medical marijuana patients and their caregivers.

AB 2279: A bill co-authored by Asms. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), Patty Berg (D-Eureka), Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley), and Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego), and sponsored by Americans for Safe Access, prohibiting employers from discriminating against employees and applicants for employment based solely on their use of medical marijuana while away from work.

If you have news and events you’d like mentioned on our Monday Reformer’s Calendar, send your press release by email to stash ‘at’ norml.org.

Tuesday, March 18 - NEW HAMPSHIRE: On Tuesday, March 18, the House of Representatives will vote on House Bill 1623, which seeks to decriminalize marijuana possession. If you have not already done so, please contact your Representative and urge him or her to vote “yes” on HB 1623. Also, if you reside near the New Hampshire State House, you may wish to meet up with other local activists on Tuesday morning to watch the proceedings and show your support for sensible marijuana law reform.

Tuesday, March 18 - CALIFORNIA: Volunteers needed for Drug War Awareness Event at the Santa Clara University School of Law in San Jose, California. From 12pm-1pm, Judge Jim Gray is going to speak on behalf of LEAP. In addition to the speaker event, there will be various reform organizations tabling outside between the law library and one of the main campus buildings. You can help by volunteering to table at the event! If you can help out anytime from 10am-4pm, please contact Lauren Vasquez at lvazquez821 ‘at’ yahoo.com.

Friday, March 21 - MICHIGAN: Michigan’s Oakland County NORML is holding an online fundraiser from March 21st through March 30th for Marc Emery, Michelle Rainey and Greg Williams, otherwise known as the BC 3. A group activists and businesses have come together to match your donation dollar for dollar, currently up to $500. We are working on more matching sponsorships to push that amount even higher. For more information check out our website at: www.oaklandnorml.org

This announcement just in from the Drug Policy Alliance:

I am excited to announce that the Drug Policy Alliance Network (DPA’s lobbying arm) is sponsoring a ballot measure in California that represents the biggest sentencing and prison reform in United States history.

The Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act (NORA) is unprecedented in scope and magnitude. It will transform California’s dysfunctional, $10-billion-a-year prison system, reversing its rampant and costly expansion. NORA will, within just a few years, reduce by tens of thousands the number of people unjustly and unnecessarily incarcerated, while maintaining public safety. At the same time, it will provide a comprehensive model for a public health approach to substance use.

Success in California will transform the drug policy reform landscape nationwide!

At a time when one in 100 adult Americans is in prison, California faces a prison overcrowding crisis that may be the worst in the nation. The system is at 175% of capacity. This is due in large part to excessive incarceration of nonviolent offenders, many of whom are drug law violators. Overcrowding has been exacerbated by the state’s failure to provide meaningful recidivism-reduction programs, including addiction treatment and other rehabilitation services.

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NPR: School Offers Classes on Cooking with Pot
More than a decade ago, California voters were the first in the nation to approve so-called “medical marijuana.” Since then, hundreds of prescription pot storefronts have sprung up across the state. And that’s now given rise to a new, one-of-a kind school in Oakland: Oaksterdam University trains students how to work in the medical marijuana industry.

Oaksterdam is the brainchild of Richard Lee. He’s a medical marijuana activist and pot dispensary owner.

The curriculum includes everything from lectures on the political and legal history of medical marijuana to the basic botany of cannabis, such as why a grower wants to identify and separate male from female plants.

The class is just one part of Lee’s vision to not only promote the medical marijuana industry, but also to revitalize this part of beleaguered downtown Oakland, which he’s dubbed “Oaksterdam.”

So much of fighting against the drug war boils down to economics.  As medical marijuana becomes more mainstream, more businesses will benefit from the taxation and regulation of cannabis.  Here in Oregon and California, we have ballot measures coming up in 2008 and 2010 that would ask the citizens of our states to tax and regulate marijuana similar to hard liquor.  When is the last time you ever heard of a segment of the population that is requesting to be taxed?

Many of our opponents don’t know much about marijuana except the lies the government has told them.  They don’t use and may not know anyone who does.  Therefore, when we approach decriminalization and relegalization, they don’t have a personal stake in the issue.  They are likely to believe the “reefer madness” scare tactics and remain opposed to our efforts.

That’s where the economics comes in.  We must show people how much drug prohibition is costing them personally - in money, taxes, crime, and violence.  Then we must show them that the alternative - taxation and regulation - will not only reap them profit personally, but also benefit society in general.  I have little catchphrases I use in my stump speeches and protests: “Tax the tokers to treat the tweekers!  Tax the reefers to pay our teachers!  Tax the pot so cops don’t get shot!  Tax the weed for the money we need!”

The federal sentencing of medical marijuana defendants Dr. Mollie Fry and her husband, Attorney Dale Schafer will take place on Thursday, March 6th at the US courthouse in Sacramento (5th and I St.). The sentencing is at 10 AM. There will be a press conference afterwards at Noon in front of the Court House. The couple was denied the right to defend their actions that were protected under the Laws of the State of California.

WHO: Sentencing in Federal Court of Dr. Mollie Fry and her husband, Attorney Dale Schafer for cultivation and dispensing medical marijuana under the Laws of California.
WHAT: Press Conference to follow at NOON
WHEN: Sentencing is Thursday, March 6th, 2008 at 10am
WHERE: Federal Court House, 501 I St., Sacramento, CA

“ We never would have grown marijuana had it not been sanctioned by the Laws of the State of California, the Attorney General of California and the District Attorney and Sheriffs’ of El Dorado County. Why aren’t they being charged with conspiracy to violate Federal Law?” Dr. Fry asks a group of patients who are waiting to see her at her clinic.

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Medical marijuana dispensaries banned - San Jose Mercury News

Medical marijuana dispensaries won’t be allowed to open in Contra Costa’s unincorporated areas as county supervisors Tuesday unanimously agreed to ban them.

Too often dispensaries are a gateway for people with questionable medical ailments to obtain marijuana and then sell it on the streets, supervisors said.

“While I am empathetic to patients with serious and terminal illness, the marijuana dispensaries have attracted both criminal and nuisance problems to the communities where they operate,” said Supervisor Mary Piepho of Discovery Bay.

Such facilities have been prohibited since the county approved a temporary moratorium in April 2006. But that moratorium expires April 10, which is why supervisors fast-tracked the permanent ordinance banning land uses that violate state or federal law.

Banning new facilities will inspire a black market for medical marijuana sales, patient advocates told supervisors.”The smart thing to do would be to regulate these (dispensaries) and have a safe environment rather than people having to go through backdoor means,” said Armando Soto with Americans for Safe Access, a medical marijuana advocacy group.

Supervisors said that patients are still free to smoke marijuana in their homes for medical purposes or grow it themselves, as permitted by state law.”The use of (medical) marijuana is allowed by patients who qualify,” said Supervisor Susan Bonilla of Concord. “We’re not changing that provision.”

Sure, the Contra Costa patients can use marijuana… if only they can find some. And if they can’t get it at a legal, regulated dispensary, they are going to get it from an illegal, unregulated drug dealer. Nothing like government providing price supports and guaranteed clientèle to black market operations, huh?

This insanity will continue so long as marijuana remains illegal for healthy people. I still don’t get why the cancer patient and the healthy person sharing a doobie means one of them is a criminal deserving of prison. So long as non-patients have to pay exorbitant black market prices, that black market will continue to set the prices and the public’s perception of the legal dispensaries in California. You just can’t have a black market run alongside a white market without both becoming a little bit gray.

Download the NORML Daily Audio Stash for 2008-02-26

Remember, the government estimates that there are millions of Americans that have smoked marijuana in the past month. Congressmen are known to change their votes when they get a few hundred calls about an issue. If Congress had to hear a million phone calls asking for an end to adult marijuana prohibition, it would be a reality. Call your Congress at 202-225-3121 – they’ll ask your zip code and put you in touch with your elected officials. It still is a government of We the People, but you have to step up and do your part.

Tuesday is Government at Work day on the podcast, and coming up after the news, we take a look at marijuana related bills from around the country. Then we talk with NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano about the recent conference on drugged driving held in Washington DC by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Next we get our groove on with a British jam band called Giles and their song, “Freedom”. Then it’s on to my interview with Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney Norm Kent about his recent article, “Pushing 60 with Pot”, and his thoughts on growing older in the cannabis community.

So sit back and relax with your favorite strain – this is the Daily Audio Stash.

The supporters of prohibition reform have marijuana-related legislation pending in Hawaii, Vermont, Hew Hampshire, California, New Jersey, Missouri, and Maryland. Here are the details:

Hawaii: The House Health Committee passed HB2675 HD1 Relating to Medical Marijuana with the following provisions:

1. Increase the adequate supply from 7 plants to 14 plants (deleting reference to mature and immature plants) and allowing one ounce of usable marijuana per plant.
2. Establishing a task force within the UH College of Tropical Agriculture to study safe growing facilities, seek possible solutions to inter-island transportation of medical marijuana. It also names who should be on the task force.

Vermont: The Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 238. As amended, SB 238 would replace existing criminal sanctions outlawing the possession of up to one ounce of cannabis with civil sanctions punishable by a fine, but no criminal record.

The House Agriculture Committee recently passed legislation, House Bill 267, that seeks to define industrial hemp as an “agricultural product” and establish regulations for its production by state-licensed farmers.

Full Story

Hailey, Idaho, residents to vote on marijuana initiatives again

Residents of the mountain town of Hailey, Idaho, will get to vote again soon on four new initiatives aimed at legalizing or reforming marijuana laws.Four new initiative petitions filed by an Idaho based pro-marijuana group have been certified, and scheduled to go on the May 27th primary election ballot in Hailey.The initiatives are identical to four other measures that were on the November 6th ballot. The initiatives for treating marijuana as the lowest law enforcement priority, the medical use of marijuana, and the legalization of hemp, passed by large majorities. The fourth initiative which would legalize marijuana for all adults was rejected.

Hailey city officials have said they plan to file a lawsuit in Fifth District Court seeking clarification on the three initiatives approved in November. The officials note that all three initiatives have possible conflicts with existing state and federal laws, which take precedence over local codes.

Good to see marijuana reform happening in one of the most conservative states – my homestate of Idaho! I played many gigs there with my band back in the longhaired club musician days. I can testify that there is a large pro-marijuana contingent in Hailey! The town has burst at the seams with growth. It’s just south of the glitzy ski resort town of Sun Valley, and many of the people who work the resorts, bars, and restaurants live in Hailey.

Hailey’s also famous for having been the home of Bruce Willis & Demi Moore, who bought up a lot of property in the small mountain town and renovated its downtown.

Smell of pot smoke no longer grounds for search, arrest

Matt Kruchak , Canwest News ServiceSASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA - The scent of weed wafting from an open car window doesn’t give an officer the right to make an arrest and search a vehicle, according to a recent decision made by the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal.The ruling is centred around the case of a driver who was pulled over by an RCMP officer. His truck had a broken headlight.The officer approached the vehicle and said he could smell burnt marijuana from a metre away. The driver was immediately arrested for possession of marijuana based only on the smell of the burnt narcotic.The officer then searched the vehicle and found eight grams of marijuana and what he thought was a list of contacts, which led to the driver being charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.The case went to trial and the judge found the driver’s charter right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure had been violated. The scent of marijuana created a suspicion it was smoked, but didn’t provide reasonable and probable grounds for an arrest or a search, the judge concluded before excluding the evidence. The driver was declared not guilty.

The lawyer who defended the driver said, “The smell alone can’t constitute the grounds, because the smell of burnt marijuana - as opposed to raw marijuana - gives an inference that the material is gone, it’s dissipated into the atmosphere. So how can you say you’re in possession of something that doesn’t exist?”

Nice to see a court decision in favor of a cannabis consumer, but I can think of a better way to avoid being arrested for the smell of freshly-burnt marijuana coming from your car window… don’t smoke marijuana in your car!

California Supreme Court upholds firing of employees for using medical marijuana

By: ALYSOUN BONDE, The California Aggie Online

The California Supreme Court voted 5-2 on Jan. 24 to allow employers to fire employees who legally use medicinal marijuana.Gary Ross sued RagingWire Telecommunications Inc., his former employer, for wrongful termination and employment discrimination under the Fair Employment and Housing Act after he was fired in September 2001 after testing positive for marijuana. Ross was terminated despite having informed his employer at the time of hire about his status as a legal marijuana user and provided documentation to prove it, according to an appellate court brief.The California Supreme Court upheld the Third Appellate Court’s 2005 decision that “because the possession and use of marijuana is illegal under federal law, a court has no legitimate authority to require an employer to accommodate an employee’s use of marijuana, even if it is for medicinal purposes and thus legal under California law.”Due to injuries sustained during his service in the U.S. Air Force, Ross has suffered from lower back pain and muscle spasms since January.

“All I am asking is to be a productive member of society,” Ross said in a press release. “I was not fired for poor work performance, but for an antiquated policy on medical marijuana.”

Do we really want to be a country where the titans of industry get to make medical decisions for their employees? A nation where people have to choose between non-toxic effective herbal remedies and gainful employment? And those of you who don’t smoke marijuana, remember the Neimoller Poem… first they came for the trade unionists… Who’s to say the next thing they test for are anti-depressant drugs, under the theory that you’re a potential danger because you’re mentally unstable?

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