United States

New VA policy bolsters legal challenge on medical marijuana

Posted on July 28th, 2010 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , .

cannabisMedical marijuana patient advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) filed a legal brief July 28 in a Ninth Circuit case aiming to correct statements by the federal government that "marijuana has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States." The ASA legal filing points to a policy directive issued last week by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), recognizing medical marijuana and distinguishing it from other illegal controlled substances. In its brief, ASA contends that the VHA directive bolsters advocates' arguments that cannabis does indeed have medical value.

Coordinated protests against DEA medical raids

Posted on July 23rd, 2010 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , , , .

United StatesCoordinated protests were held July 21 by medical marijuana patient advocates in both Saginaw, Mich., and San Diego, Calif., against the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) over several raids it conducted earlier this month. The raids came despite a Justice Department policy issued last October discouraging such actions.

Oakland approves "industrial" marijuana farm measure

Posted on July 22nd, 2010 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , , , .

CaliforniaOakland's City Council July 20 approved regulations permitting what the San Francisco Chronicle called "industrial-scale" cannabis farms—over the protests of small growers who fear they will be squeezed out of the industry they helped build. To address such concerns, the council pledged to create regulations for small and medium-size grow operations later this year.

US Patent Office nixes cannabis trademarks

Posted on July 21st, 2010 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , , , .

cannabisIn a setback for the corporatization of cannabis, the US Patent Office has shelved consideration of  trademarks for medical marijuana products, according to a July 19 report in the Wall Street Journal:

New York passes law banning "stop and frisk" database

Posted on July 19th, 2010 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , , .

New York CityNew York Gov. David Paterson on July 16 signed a bill prohibiting the retention of personal information on individuals detained by New York City police during a "stop and frisk" but ultimately not charged with a crime. The law was approved by the New York Assembly last month and will end the practice of police obtaining and keeping an electronic record of all individuals who are temporarily detained based on a police officer's reasonable suspicion.

California growers fear corporate cannabis

Posted on July 18th, 2010 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , , , .

CaliforniaCalifornia's medicinal cannabis growers see a downside to the normalization of their profession: the "Wal-Marting" of weed. The Oakland City Council this week will consider licensing four cannabis production facilities to service the medical market. Winning applicants would have to pay $211,000 in annual permit fees, carry $2 million worth of liability insurance and pay up to 8% of gross sales in taxes. This has raised fears that such measures could drive "mom and pop" growers out of business.

Hawaii: no bail for Cannabis Ministry founder

Posted on July 17th, 2010 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , , .

HawaiiRoger Christie, founder of the Hawaii Cannabis Ministry, was denied bail July 16 by US District Judge Alan Kay in Honolulu. Kay noted  allegations that Christie, 61, continued operating what prosecutors are calling his marijuana distribution ring from jail.

ACLU sues Wal-Mart on behalf of cancer patient

Posted on July 17th, 2010 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , , .

USAThe American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Michigan, in partnership with the law firm of Daniel W. Grow, PLLC, has filed a lawsuit  against Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the manager of its Battle Creek store for wrongfully firing an employee for using medicinal marijuana in accordance with state law to treat the painful symptoms of an inoperable brain tumor and cancer.

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