Global Ganja Report

Running battles between police and gunmen of the Shower Posse gang turned part of Jamaica's capital Kingston into a warzone on May 24, with reports of explosions and civilian casualties. Two police were killed the previous day as police moved in to arrest accused kingpin Christopher "Dudus" Coke for extradition to the US. The confirmed death toll has now reached three, as a soldier was killed breaking through street barricades in the Tivoli Gardens neighborhood.

Fifteen Members of Congress sent a letter May 21 to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner urging him to issue "written guidance for financial institutions," that would commit the Department to not targeting institutions whose account holders are in compliance with state medical marijuana laws.

A state of emergency was declared in Jamaica’s capital, Kingston, and the neighboring St Andrew parish May 23, as pitched street battles broke out between police and supporters of drug kingpin Christopher "Dudus" Coke over the government's decision to extradite him to the US. A police station was set ablaze, and areas of the capital are described as a war zone. Two police officers have been killed and six others wounded in the street clashes.

Local law enforcement, following a year-long investigation dubbed "Operation Chicago Haze," arrested a dozen people alleged to be members of one of the region's largest marijuana dealing rings on May 21. The suspects were charged with crimes including cannabis trafficking, delivery of cannabis, and money laundering.

One day after robbers struck the South Bay Cannamed Patient Association in San Jose, Calif., on May 20, holding employees and customers at gunpoint, the local Medical Cannabis Collectives Coalition called on the City Council to act swiftly in drafting a medical marijuana ordinance. Stephen De Angelo, executive director of Harborside Health Center in San Jose and a spokesman for the coalition, said that in a legally regulated environment, collectives would be required to take basic security measures.

The city of Eugene, Ore., held a Cannabis Cup at a medical clinic May 22, where card holders got to test various strains of cannabis to determine which one best helped their conditions. "We had 25 different patients try 18 different strands of cannabis and give us there perspective on how it helps with their debilitating diseases and symptoms," said organizer Jim Greig.

Canada's "Prince of Pot" Marc Emery was extradited to the US on the morning of May 20. He had been imprisoned in Canada for the last 10 days after Canadian Justice Minister Rob Nicholson signed extradition papers. He is now a prisoner in a federal detention facility, where he awaits a court hearing in Seattle.

A North San Diego County medical marijuana provider, James Stacy, whose Vista dispensary was raided on Sept. 9 by a multi-agency narcotics task force, will be the first such case to go to trial since the Justice Department issued its new enforcement policy in October. Stacy's trial date is to be scheduled this week at a hearing where Stacy said he will argue that under the new policy he's entitled to admit evidence of compliance with state law—something routinely denied federal defendants.