www.marijuana.org

The infamous RAND study on legalization in California

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:29:55 -0800

Altered State? Assessing How Marijuana Legalization in California Could Influence Marijuana Consumption and Public Budgets

Within this context, this RAND occasional paper is intended to inform the debate about marijuana legalization in California. Although marijuana legalization could have many consequences, this paper focuses largely on two outcomes that are central to the debate in California: the effect on consumption and public budgets.

To learn more about the possible outcomes of marijuana legalization, we constructed a model based on a series of estimates. As we discuss in more detail in Chapter hree, projections of legalization’s efects on consumption and public budgets hinge on estimates of current consumption, current and future prices, how responsive use is to price changes (what economists refer to as the price elasticity of demand), taxes levied and possibly evaded, and the aggregation of many nonprice efects (such as the potential reduction in stigma). These components, or parameters, of the model are then combined to produce a base-case model estimate.

John Entwistle notes: It is an interesting piece. Some of their ideas are a bit off base from my point of view, such as the $50 dollar an ounce tax. That would be like taxing cigarettes at the rate of $25 dollars a box. But it is a good overall study and worth knowing about.

Source: http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/occasional_papers/2010/RAND_OP315.pdf

Interesting article about marijuana testing -- THC, Pesticides, etc.

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:06:17 -0800

Excerpt from The San Francisco Chronicle:

His lab, called The Werc Shop, tests medical cannabis for levels of the psychoactive ingredient known as THC and a few dozen other compounds, as well as for contaminants like molds, bacteria and pesticides that marijuana advocates don’t much like to talk about. The strains that pass muster are labeled Certified Cannabaceuticals, a trademarked term.

The commercial lab is one of dozens opening in the past two years, as a rush to build an industry around medical marijuana has produced a desire - by some - to know what exactly is in the medicine.

One reason pot is illegal -- money, very very big money. -- Wachovia Bank is the tip of the iceburg

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:10:09 -0800

The authorities uncovered billions of dollars in wire transfers, traveller’s cheques and cash shipments through Mexican exchanges into Wachovia accounts. Wachovia was put under immediate investigation for failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering programme. Of special significance was that the period concerned began in 2004, which coincided with the first escalation of violence along the US-Mexico border that ignited the current drugs war.

Criminal proceedings were brought against Wachovia, though not against any individual, but the case never came to court. In March 2010, Wachovia settled the biggest action brought under the US bank secrecy act, through the US district court in Miami. Now that the year’s “deferred prosecution” has expired, the bank is in effect in the clear. It paid federal authorities $110m in forfeiture, for allowing transactions later proved to be connected to drug smuggling, and incurred a $50m fine for failing to monitor cash used to ship 22 tons of cocaine.

More shocking, and more important, the bank was sanctioned for failing to apply the proper anti-laundering strictures to the transfer of $378.4bn – a sum equivalent to one-third of Mexico’s gross national product – into dollar accounts from so-called casas de cambio (CDCs) in Mexico, currency exchange houses with which the bank did business.

Hi Dennis, I'd like to know when you wrote Prop 215, what was your intention, or what did you envision, when you wrote that one of the purposes of the proposed law was "to encourage the federal and state governments to implement a plan to provide for the safe and affordable distribution of marijuana to all patients in medical need of marijuana" ? Karen Pike

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:36:36 -0800

We were thinking of rescheduling at the state and federal level. In the meantime the state could erase the laws against selling and growing large quantities. By letting the herb flow, not constricting the supply, the price would naturally go down. The price is and has been too high for most people for a long time. This is mostly due to the state busting people for growing and selling weed. The cops are acting as a price support system for the black market. Pot should be cheaper than cigarettes. But at the time for a first step we just decriminalized possession & cultivation with no limits.

Dennis & John

Regulate & Control of SF Dispensaries Helps the DEA & Federal Prosecutors to Shut Them Down! Good Reason to Vote No on the ASA Med Pot Control Initiative!

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:41:59 -0800

Excerpt from the San Francisco Examiner (Feb 10, 2012):

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration has asked The City’s Department of Public Health to turn over records for 12 of San Francisco’s remaining 21 medical cannabis dispensaries, according to emails obtained by The San Francisco Examiner.

On Jan. 18 and again Jan. 27, Special Agent David White of the DEA’s financial investigative team sent emails to the health department asking for business licenses, health permits, ownership information and yearly inspection forms for the 12 dispensaries.

Last year, White requested information on five other San Francisco dispensaries, issuing a subpoena to obtain private information not normally released via a records request. The landlords of those dispensaries then received letters from U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag, who warned of property forfeiture and 40-year prison terms unless the dispensaries shut down.

John Entwistle notes: This story from the San Francisco Examiner is especially important because ASA is about to start collecting signatures for a medical marijuana Regulate, Tax & Control initiative which has at its core a requirement that every person involved in any commercial activity involving cannabis register themselves regularly with the State of California. If this passes the DEA will just develop a “Bust App” for their i-phones that will automatically fill out and send the subpoena for the state records and subsequent complaint. In all seriousness this is a good example of why the state really cannot follow through with these elaborate control fantasies without rescheduling cannabis first. We note also that 85% of our State Delegation to Congress and both our Senators are currently unwilling to help in the federal rescheduling effort.

Source: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2012/02/dea-digging-san-franciscos-medical-marijuana-dispensaries

Dennis Peron Speaks at the Los Angeles High Times Cannabis Cup

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:18:31 -0800

We spent two days as guests at the event. Great times, Good herb! Dennis gave a short rap noting the large number of sick people enjoying the event and closing by telling everyone to “get better!” He reminded those present that the struggle continues and we need to get California to sign on to the the states rescheduling petition and our congress persons to sign on to Barney Franks congressional rescheduling bill. He also urged folks to stick to the initiative we have (Prop 215) and to make it work instead of voting for these dumb new efforts to control and regulate and tax us to death. Thanks to the folks from High Times for the free passes, Jemm Magazine for the hangout space and Kim Quiggle for flying us out there. We also launched a new marijuana song called “Richard Eastman” sung to the tune of Hare Krishna. It was an underground hit.

Medical Marijuana Reduces Suicides -- New Study.

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:48:49 -0800

High on Life? Medical Marijuana Laws and Suicide
by D. Mark Anderson, Daniel I. Rees, Joseph J. Sabia
(January 2012)

Abstract:
Using state-level data for the period 1990 through 2007, we estimate the effect of legalizing medical marijuana on suicide rates. Our results suggest that the passage of a medical marijuana law is associated with an almost 5 percent reduction in the total suicide rate, an 11 percent reduction in the suicide rate of 20- through 29-year-old males, and a 9 percent reduction in the suicide rate of 30- through 39-year-old males…

Read this important study yourself: http://ftp.iza.org/dp6280.pdf

Handicapping Medical Marijuana States -- an interesting breakdown by NORML

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:50:21 -0800

When you hear us and other outlets refer to “sixteen medical marijuana states and DC,” you should be careful to remember that really means there’s pseudo-legalized California, five semi-functional medical marijuana states (Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Montana*, and Michigan), four quasi-functional medical marijuana states (Hawaii, Rhode Island, New Mexico, Arizona), four dysfunctional medical marijuana states (Alaska, Maine, Nevada, and Vermont), and three medical marijuana states in name only (New Jersey, Delaware, and DC) that haven’t actually protected any users.

What I mean by that: In California, anyone who wants to use marijuana for a medical purpose can do so. In the “semi-functional” states, most of the serious medical users can qualify and have some level of access to medicine. In the “quasi-functional” states, fewer people are able to qualify and access. In the “dysfunctional” states, less than 1,000 users qualify.

John Entwistle notes: They are basically bashing Vermont for having too strict a criteria. They may be right. I found their whole analysis to be unusually lucid for those guys and basically good reading. I also attach another article for those curious about what is going on in Vermont. Hard to believe this is the home of Bernie Sanders and Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream.

Sources:

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/drug-law/proposed-vermont-dispensary-regs-would-cap-patient-registry-1000

http://www.wcax.com/story/16627479/medical-marijuana-dispensary-guidelines-released

Medical Marijuana in Israel -- Interesting article

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:26:37 -0800

Tikun Olam, Israel’s Hidden Marijuana Farm

We may associate growing marijuana with furtive operations and police raids, but in Israel there are at least seven facilities authorized to grow the herb for medicine. See our recent post on Israel’s newly-relaxed regulations on medical marijuana. And while illegal traders make big profits, Israel’s biggest authorized cannabis suppliers simply gift it to licensed patients who can’t afford to pay. Tikun Olam is the name of the farm, and its name, which translates as “repairing the world,” reflects its idealistic origins.

John Entwistle notes: This is a good story that demonstrates a different approach in a different country. This is a worldwide struggle. Read the article. And by the way the photo is real, I took it on our Lake County Cannabis Farm back in 2000.

Source: http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/01/tikun-olam-israel-marijuana-far/

medcanpoet: Medical Cannabis - Tender Herbal Care Poster -...

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:11:56 -0800

medcanpoet:

Medical Cannabis - Tender Herbal Care Poster - Paraplegia and Quadraplegia (Medcanpoet) on Flickr.

So I’m on this bullet train blasting along at 150 mph and...

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:30:00 -0800

So I’m on this bullet train blasting along at 150 mph and I see these greenhouses… Just thinkin’ You know… dreams are the foundation of reality. Photo by John Entwistle travelling in China.

perpetuallyvexed: Cannabis Sativa by polonium9 on Flickr.

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:56:12 -0800

perpetuallyvexed:

Cannabis Sativa by polonium9 on Flickr.

Ask not what cannabis can do for you… ask what you can do...

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:48:13 -0800

Ask not what cannabis can do for you… ask what you can do for cannabis.

Let’s see… I can write my congressperson and ask them to support HR 1983, The Barney Frank States Rights & Medical Marijuana Rescheduling Bill. Or I can push the Governor to add my state to the list of states that are petitioning the DEA to reschedule… Or I could add my voice to the local effort to halt all state funding for marijuana law enforcement in my state, county or town or city.

Two Packs of Cigarettes is One Ounce of Tobacco -- Now Think About Pot...

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:59:56 -0800

Two Packs of Cigarettes is One Ounce of Tobacco — Now Think About Pot…

With so many initiatives going on the ballot in various states (Washington, Colorado) that “legalize” up to an ounce of marijuana at exorbitant prices and with all kinds of dumb restrictions it makes sense to ask the question. How much cannabis is an ounce anyway? So I broke up a couple of cigarettes and weighed them on my trusty scale and it turns out that an ounce is basically 2 packs. This kind of puts it all in perspective doesn’t it.

What if I told you that tobacco is legal but you can only possess up to two packs or it becomes a felony? Right. I can hear your response from here. So why do we accept that kind of hogwash when we’re talking about marijuana? Cigarettes in California cost about $7 dollars a pack so we are paying just under $15 dollars an ounce. This still generates huge profits and taxes because tobacco costs about $3 dollars a pound and even less overseas where most of it is grown. So why can’t we apply this economic structure to cannabis? That’s what I’m talkin’ about!!!

We Oppose the “Medical Marijuana Regulation, Control & Taxation” Initiative Soon To Be On the California 2012 Ballot.

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:16:20 -0800

We have read the proposed initiative and feel it is far too vague on all the details. What specific regulations are they proposing? Who can operate and who cannot operate under their program? If their proposed control board chooses to shut you down what are your options for appealing that decision? With such a nebulous law how do we end up with fair and impartial rulemaking? For example we note that a powerful state union (UFCW Local 5) is cosponsoring the initiative and if it passes is ensured a seat on the Medical Marijuana Control Board with absolute power over every entity engaged in any level whatsoever of marijuana commerce in California. Does this mean that they can force every one of those entities to join their union and pay them dues? Remember, this initiative doesn’t propose specific rules, it only creates and empowers a rulemaking body and that group makes up any rules they want after the election. This is worse than a blank check, this is blind trust!

We have a lot of criticisms of this initiative. Is it a good idea to have such a powerful board with 21 members of whom ten are selected by the Lieutenant Governor (Gavin Newsom these days)? The details of the board are disturbing. It is too tied in to the state political machines and too prone to unlimited growth and unchecked power. This is a bad model for cannabis. It creates more cannabis related crimes than we already have at a time when we need to reduce the number of cannabis related reasons to prosecute and punish people. Attempting to control cannabis has just caused problems in California historically. And we don’t need this new law to collect taxes. As much as we at this blog and many others oppose any taxation of cannabis it is a fact that the state right now is collecting tens of millions of dollars per year in pot taxes without this new law. Additionally local communities are collecting millions of dollars a year in cannabis taxes without this law.

Lastly, this initiative creates a mandatory state registry of everyone involved in medical marijuana commerce in California. That is stupid. The federal government will use that information against those it chooses to prosecute for selling pot. Federal law absolutely prohibits marijuana. In other words, under this initiative no one could be paid to grow cannabis for any other person unless they first filed a full confession with the State of California that they are violating federal law and updated that confession every year with all the details of the extent to which they are breaking federal law including how much money they are making by so doing.

These are just a few points to think about when considering this new “Medical Marijuana Regulation, Control & Taxation Act.” There are many more but we will address those in future posts. Frankly we don’t see what problem this initiative purports to solve and we definitely don’t like what it does do. We strongly urge you to take the time to read this 15 page initiative yourself and take it seriously because the chances are very good that the proponents do have the money to buy their way onto the ballot. If you don’t want to live under this law, you better get active today!

Read the initiative at the California Attorney General’s website:

http://ag.ca.gov/cms_attachments/initiatives/pdfs/i1043_11-0098a1s_%7Bmedical_marijuana%7D.pdf

Montana Fed Crackdown – U.S. District Court Judge: Federal Law Trumps State's Medical Pot Law

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:12:25 -0800

Friday’s (Jan 20, 2012) ruling by U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy is a new blow to the reeling medical marijuana industry that has seen tougher state restrictions and a federal crackdown over the last year.

Molloy says those providing medical marijuana can be prosecuted under the federal Controlled Substances Act even if they are following state law. Judge Molloy cited the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which says that if there is any conflict between state and federal statutes, federal law prevails.

John Entwistle notes: This illustrates the problem of excessive local regulations and requirements such as taxes on marijuana sales when the federal authorities are cracking down on people who sell pot. Everything you file with the state to comply with local laws will be used against you in federal court. This applies to all states, not just Montana. In California we have a cabal of power mad “regulate & control” advocates who claim that more state level restrictions will protect us from the federal crackdown. This is completely false. A state level registry of people who are breaking a federal law is about as dumb as e-mailing a holdup note to your local bank telling them you’ll be right over to pick up the cash. Maybe even a little dumber because you are giving them your name and address at the same time as you detail the extent of your crime. As we keep saying, the only way out is Barney Frank’s Bill, HR 1983 – Reschedule and Protect State Medical Marijuana Programs.

Sources: http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/30279722/detail.html

& http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/judge-montanas-medical-marijuana-law-doesnt-shield-providers-from-federal-prosecution/2012/01/23/gIQAqBvgLQ_story.html

Richard Nixon tells all. Marijuana, homosexuality, Liberals,...

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:06:54 -0800

Richard Nixon tells all. Marijuana, homosexuality, Liberals, Jews… Nixon talking with Ehrlichman. The real tape from the oval office. Just remember this is the thinking behind the entire war on drugs which is really a war on pot. Take ownership guys!

Medical marijuana in Israel — Check out Kibbutz Na’an in...

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:42:40 -0800

Medical marijuana in Israel — Check out Kibbutz Na’an in Israel — the video is in Hebrew with English subs.(Toggle the cc thing on the bottom of the screen for the subtitles, I had to try twice but they are good.) They are CURRENTLY conducting a clinical trial at a geriatrics (old folks) home, fully licensed and supported by the Israeli Ministry of Health. So far the program has been a huge success with each of the 14 patients having dropped 4-5 medications from their daily regimen. Medical cannabis is also notably improving the quality of their lives. — This is another reason we have to reschedule cannabis and get it off the single convention treaty.

Free Dana Beal!!! YIPPIE!!!

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:32:53 -0800

From The New York Times — Jan 20, 2012:

A jail stint and a heart attack have done nothing to temper the spirit of Dana Beal, who still has his bushy, General Custer-style mustache, his thick head of gray hair, and the activist streak that has defined his nearly half-century of marijuana activism and radical politics.

On Friday, he sat at a table at the Yippie Museum Café on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village and tried to sort out a few more things before going back to “the jail where I died” last fall in Wisconsin.

Mr. Beal, 65, a member of the Youth International Party, better known as the Yippies, was arrested last January outside Madison with a minivan full of potand was sentenced in September to more than two years in state prison. But while in a county jail awaiting transfer, he suffered a heart attack on Sept. 27.

John Entwistle notes: Dana is the grandfather of the entire United States marijuana movement. He raised and spent fortunes to keep the dream alive in the darkest days of the early 1980’s. He is a good friend to myself, Dennis Peron and countless other activists all over the world. Free Dana Beal! Read the whole article below, it has a lot of good history.

Source and Photo Credit: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/20/a-yippie-on-familiar-turf-both-in-new-york-and-in-jail/

Dennis, Jeffrey Reed here. I just stumbled onto your webpage and wanted to say High to you John and who ever else still around. Do you ever hear from Geo? I really miss working with you and John. It was a wonderful experience and I am happy that you gave me the opportunity to help out with Prop215. I am currently in Tucson, AZ at a small Episcoppal church down here. We are still fighting our Governor over our recently passed legislation. I will write you and let you know how it is going. Jeffre

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:32:38 -0800

Jeff, Thanks for checking in. Good to hear your doing well. We think of you often, you were a major part of what we all did to legalize medical marijuana in California. Things have gone so far, it is really amazing. Geo is great and her daughter is now a medical doctor. How ‘bout that!?! John (me) dropped in to San Francisco State University and copped a degree in Chinese. We are working on a book about the whole story and yes, you are in it. That book is almost done and we will announce it soon. Come visit us sometime in San Francisco. Dennis is running a bed and breakfast operation that is a very good thing. The website is just starting, we will be adding much to it as time goes by. Put in a good word with god for us. Spread the word about Barney Frank’s Bill, HR 1983. You were there at the beginning and now it has caught up with you in AZ. The end is still unwritten…

John and Dennis in Dennis’s House in San Francisco

p.s. if you give us your email we can write you back privately.