Global Ganja Report

In three separate incidents in 24 hours July 6, Border Patrol agents in the Tucson sector seized more than 3,000 pounds of cannabis, claiming an estimated value of $1.5 million. In the first bust, a canine unit alerted to a vehicle during an inspection at the Hwy. 80 checkpoint, turning up 88 small bundles of cannabis concealed in the vehicle's compartments. The driver, a US citizen, is facing federal charges.

Arizona voters approved Proposition 203, authorizing the possession of up to two-and-a-half ounces of medical marijuana, according to results released by the Arizona Secretary of State Nov. 13. The measure, voted on during the midterm elections earlier this month, was too close to call on election night and remained so until all votes were counted this weekend, resulting in a final tally of 50.13-49.87%.

Proposition 19 mastermind Richard Lee spoke to supporters in Oakland after the initiative lost by some 540,000 votes, 46-53%, the night of Nov. 2. "The fact that millions of Californians voted to legalize marijuana is a tremendous victory," Lee said, noting that the measure won 3.3 million votes. "We have broken the glass ceiling. Prop. 19 has changed the terms of the debate. And that was a major strategic goal."

The country's leading advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) issued voter guides Oct. 26, highlighting several important races in the upcoming elections, including ballot initiatives establishing two new statewide medical marijuana laws in Arizona and South Dakota, and an expansion of Oregon's law to include licensed cannabis dispensaries. At the local level, voters in California and Colorado will be deciding on dozens of local medical marijuana initiatives, including banning distribution and imposing new taxes on patients. The race for California attorney general, however, may represent the greatest threat to patients this November. ASA strongly opposes AG candidate Steve Cooley, Los Angeles District Attorney and a longtime adversary of the state's medical marijuana laws.

Conservatives opposed to Arizona's medical cannabis initiative, Proposition 203, are raising the specter of "cannabis caravans" rolling through the state doling our doctor's recommendations and herb in one-stop shopping. But proponents say the measure is too restrictive for that.