Vaporizer Blog
Victoria not to ban Marijuana Edibles
May 09, 2016
Public Health Officials earlier argued that marijuana in the shape of candies and baked goods may appeal to children, increasing the risk of childhood marijuana addiction. But, the Council said it was not their job to determine or deal with such concerns.
Victoria is known for rampant marijuana use. At least 35 shops are operating in Victoria, including 32 storefront marijuana retailers. The number was just four 20 months ago. The new regulations will prohibit marijuana retailers from operating anywhere in the city unless permitted.
Under the new rule, every retailer will have to go through a rezoning process. They need to produce a presentation before the Community Association Land Use Committee and then apply for a business license. The bylaw changes should be ready by June. A key provision withing the new regulation would prohibit marijuana retailers from operating 200 meters from each other/from a school/licensed childcare facility. The limit hours will be 7 A.M. to 8 P.M.
Vermont House delays Marijuana Legalization Bill
May 03, 2016
In a big jolt to pro-marijuana activists, the Vermont House has delayed until Tuesday a vote on compromise legislation calling for expanded decriminalization. The bill was approved by the Senate, allowing possession of up to an ounce of marijuana in the state. the bill was on House agenda for debate Monday, but the lawmakers decided to defer it till Tuesday.The proposal sought to replace criminal penalties with fines akin to a traffic ticket for possession of up to 2 ounces and cultivation of up to two plants. However, it looks quiet uncertain that the House would give its approval to the bill.
The bill would not legalize retail sales of marijuana, as approved by the Senate. Rather, a compromise formula has been reached to allow growing of up to two marijuana plants at home. In addition, possession of marijuana has been increased to 2 ounces from 1.
The House has, however passed a separate measure, expanding the medical marijuana bill to cover patients with glaucoma and chronic pain. It also expands the law to cover patients with glaucoma, an eye disorder.
While the above measure was approved on 133-13 votes, it's very unlikely that marijuana legalization bill would get the majority in the 150-member Vermont House. The Vermont lawmakers might be willing to discuss the issue further, but could stop short of legalization.
Woody Harrelson denied license to open marijuana dispensary in Hawaii
May 02, 2016
Hollywood star and a vocal proponent of recreational marijuana usage, Woody Harrelson has been denied a license recently to open a first ever medical marijuana dispensary in Hawaii.
The 54-year-old Oscar-nominated actor applied for the license on behalf of his company—‘Simply Organic Living LLC’ in Honolulu County in February.
Harrelson, best known for his roles in the film “Hunger Games”, was among 66 Hawaii residents who applied to open medical-marijuana dispensaries.
The Hawaii Department of Health released the list of approved applicants last week. Among the successful applicants, three are from Honolulu, two from the Big Island, two more from Maui while one is from Kauai.
Applicants in Hawaii were required to have USD 1 million plus USD 100,000 for each of their planned dispensary locations. Also, one must be resident of Hawaii for more than five years.
The approved applicants are allowed to have two production centers and two retail dispensaries, for a total of 16 dispensaries statewide. And, the facilities can be open for business as early as July 15.
Hawaii was the first US state to legalize medical marijuana 16 years ago.
Maine to vote on Marijuana Legalization in November Ballot
April 29, 2016
In a significant development, Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap announced on Wednesday that the ‘Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol’ had garnered enough signatures to place the initiative on the ballot this November.
The Campaign originally submitted 99,229 signatures on Feb. 1, but only 51,543 of the signatures were deemed to be valid. A review was ordered after a judge set aside Dunlap's decision to reject thousands of signatures because the notary's signature didn't match the signature on file in Augusta.
While it’s unlikely that lawmakers in Maine will pass the proposed legislation legalizing marijuana for recreational use, the voters of the state will decide on the issue in November.
“This November, Maine voters will have the opportunity to adopt a more sensible marijuana policy. We are thrilled to finally start transitioning into the more substantive phase of this campaign." said David Boyer, Campaign Manager for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. Marijuana legalization will take the industry out of the hands of drug dealers, he believes.
The initiative would allow people 21 years or older to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for recreational use. It would also allow state-regulated businesses to sell the substance and would impose a 10 percent tax on recreational marijuana sales.
If the ballot initiative passes, Maine would join states like Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Washington, D.C to legalize marijuana for recreational use.
However, medical marijuana has been legal in Maine since 1999. As many as 24 states in the U.S. A. and District of Columbia currently allow medical marijuana use.
Oakland Museum to open first-ever Marijuana Exhibition in U.S.
April 17, 2016
In a first-of-its-kind incident in the USA, the Oakland Museum in northern California is all set open a unique exhibition dedicated to marijuana, titled "Altered State: Marijuana in California", from April 16, 2016. The marijuana exhibition ends on September 25, 2016.
The first ever museum exhibition devoted to marijuana in the country will showcase the history of weed from scary predictions of Reefer Madness to the stoner comedy of Cheech and Chong, and the point when America began discussing the issue of medical marijuana in a more serious way.
The months-long exhibition on marijuana will also display every imaginable aspect of the complex issue — from medical claims and the “War on Drugs” of the ‘80s, to recreational use, conflicting laws, economics, environmental concerns, sacred uses of the plant and, even stoner movies like “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”
The associate curator of the museum Sarah Seiter believes that the exhibit will not take a position on legalization, or whether recreational use is good or bad. Instead, the show will examine the science, economics, politics, history, and spirituality surrounding the marijuana, she points out.
The museum show on marijuana certainly draws national attention as part of the institution’s ongoing effort to serve as a forum for debate on different aspects of marijuana use.
Currently, the use, sale, possession, cultivation, and transportation of marijuana is illegal under federal law in the USA. However, more than twenty states have marijuana laws, while four states and Washington D.C. have legalized marijuana for recreational use.
California voters may face a ballot initiative this year to legalize recreational use of marijuana.
DEA conducts massive marijuana raids across Colorado Front Range
April 17, 2016
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) on Thursday raided numerous warehouses and homes across the Front Range as part of a multi-state investigation into the illegal distribution of marijuana outside Colorado. More than forty people were arrested in this regard, while lots of marijuana plants were pulled at many locations and piles of pot plants were seized.
The massive raids are the culmination of a year-and-a-half long investigation by the North Metro Drug Task Force, the DEA, U.S. Postal Inspectors and the Colorado Attorney General’s office. Officers searched about 30 properties during the raids, which spanned from the Denver area south to Colorado Springs.
According a DEA spokesman, the raids are tied to one illegal operation and many were executed in the Denver metro area. The suspects allegedly came from Texas to grow marijuana in Colorado and they bought houses to grow the plants, and then ship them out of state to sell the drugs for a big financial gain.
In 2015, local, state and federal authorities uprooted roughly 4.1 million cultivated marijuana plants in all 50 states, down slightly from the haul of 4.3 million plants in 2014.
Following the massive raids, Colorado U.S. Attorney John Walsh says that one of his priorities is to ensure the state doesn’t become like northern California, which he believes, is known for producing pot sold across the nation.
Notably, Colorado has legalized the use of medical and recreational marijuana. It also allows people at the age of 21 and older to grow up to six marijuana plants, while the capital city has a cap of 12 plants.
Senate Panel approves Medical Marijuana for Military Veterans
April 17, 2016
In a major step forward, a key U.S. Senate panel on Thursday voted to provide the military veterans a hassle-free access to medical marijuana as a potential medical treatment in states, where it is legal.
By a bipartisan vote of 20 - 10, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed an amendment that would allow Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to discuss and recommend medical marijuana for various health issues, under the same rules as civilian physicians in medical marijuana states. The bill would also prevent federal funds from being used to drop the hammer on VA doctors who operate medical marijuana with their patients
The measure, sponsored by Senators Steve Daines, R-Montana, and Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, is attached to the Fiscal Year 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill, which now needs to be passed by the Senate.
It is the second time that senators have tried to enhance the accessibility of medical marijuana for military veterans who are treated at VA medical facilities and want to use marijuana for various medical issues.
Last November, the Senate approved the 2016 version of the spending bill, with the medical marijuana amendment attached, but the provision was not included in the final omnibus appropriations package signed into law by President Obama in December.
“Veterans should not be denied access to a medicine that can help alleviate their condition, and doctors must be able to discuss and recommend all treatments,” Michael Collins, deputy director for the Drug Policy Alliance’s Office of National Affairs, said in a statement. “They have served this country, and shouldn’t be discriminated against.”
Many claim medical marijuana is useful for issues like chronic pain, PTSD, anxiety, depression and more. As many as twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana, although it is illegal at the federal level in the U.S.
Grenade-shaped Marijuana Grinder creates chaos at Bellingham Airport
April 14, 2016
A chaotic scene occurred at Bellingham International Airport in Washington, when security officers spotted a grenade in a man's luggage while passing through screening equipment at about 8.30 am local time on Saturday.
Transportation Security Administration personnel at the airport identified the man who owned the luggage, who said all that was inside were clothes. Yet, the officers searched the luggage to find a camouflage object that looked like a grenade, said airport spokeswoman Lorie Danker.
The Bellingham Police Department’s Bomb Squad was called to investigate further on the suspected object. However, the bomb squad confirmed that grenade-shaped object was a device used to break up marijuana.
Following the standard procedure, the screening and boarding areas were evacuated by the airport security personnel for few hours and around four departing flights were delayed.
However, the owner of the luggage was released and allowed to board his flight, though it was unclear whether the person faced any charges or not.
In such situations, the security officers can't just rely on a passenger's claim about what an object they possess, Danker said. TSA personnel aren't typically on the lookout for illegal items like drugs or paraphernalia, but rather objects that pose a threat to travelers, she added.
Medical marijuana, which is legalized in more than twenty states in the US, is still illegal at the federal level.
Victoria becomes 1st Australian State to legalize Medical Marijuana
April 14, 2016
In a historic development, Victoria has become the first state in Australia to legalize medical marijuana, allowing people to have the drug safely and securely in exceptional circumstances.
The Victoria government passed the Access to Medicinal Cannabis Bill 2015 in parliament on April 12, which enables to grow, manufacture, supply and access safe and high quality medical marijuana products in the state as early as 2017.
Children suffering severe epilepsy will be among the first to be treated using a range of non-smoking marijuana products including oils, sprays and vaporizers.
“Children with severe epilepsy will now be able to legally access this life-saving treatment from as early as 2017”, Victoria's Health Minister Jill Hennessy said, after the Access to Medicinal Cannabis Bill passed Parliament. “It is absolutely heart-breaking to see families having to choose between breaking the law and watching their children suffer – and now, thanks to our ground-breaking legislation, they won’t have to”, she added.
The state government has now decided to establish separate office for medical marijuana in order to oversee manufacturing and all clinical aspects of the marijuana framework.
The office will work with doctors, clinicians and general practitioners to help them understand their role in prescribing medicinal marijuana. It will also educate the patients and families about various aspects of medicinal marijuana use.
The government has also planned to form an independent medical advisory committee to provide advice regarding different prospects of medicinal marijuana.
Medical marijuana is being legalized in some states of the USA, Spain and Israel to treat more than a dozen of health problems, including cancer, epilepsy, chronic pain, AIDs and sickle cell anemia.
Arizona Marijuana Legalization Campaign gets 200,000 Signatures
April 14, 2016
The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Arizona on Tuesday announced that it has collected more than 200,000 signatures for a November ballot initiative that would end marijuana prohibition in the state. The campaign needs to collect 150,642 valid signatures of registered Arizona voters in order to qualify for the ballot.
The campaign also aims to collect at least 225,000 signatures to account for invalid signatures, which will be verified by the Secretary of State's Office.
In a statement campaign Chairman J.P. Holyoak said, “Voters want to have their say on whether Arizona should end marijuana prohibition. It’s appearing more and more likely that they are going to have that opportunity. We’re finding that most Arizonans agree marijuana should be regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol.”
The proposed initiative would allow adults 21 and older to possess limited amounts of marijuana, and grow up to six plants in their homes without obtaining licenses, as long as the plants are in a secure area. It would also establish a 15 percent tax on retail marijuana sales, from which a majority of the revenue would go to schools and public education programs in Arizona.
The champions of marijuana believe marijuana is less harmful than alcohol. However, the opponents of marijuana legalization observe that the costs of going forward with such initiative will be untold expenses in treatment, rehabilitation, criminal violations, accidents and true education deficits, which will harm the society at large.
Colorado may soon allow Medical Marijuana use in Schools
April 14, 2016
The lawmakers of Colorado on Monday advanced a marijuana legislation bill that would allow students to use medical marijuana at school. The law will empower the school nurses and parents to give medical marijuana treatments in the form of oil or patches to the students suffering from certain health problems.
The bill passed 10-3 and now awaits a vote by the full House. According to the bill, the use of medical marijuana must be in non-smoking form and is to be administered by a school nurse, caregiver or a parent, under the recommendation of doctors. Those school nurses are also required to report to authorities any child who is exposed to an illegal drug, including marijuana-derived treatments.
The supporters of the marijuana bill argue that schools need to make accommodations for children who need medical marijuana, while the opponents say a loose policy could threaten federal education funding, for which they don't want to go against federal law.
However, the proponents of medical marijuana observe that schools are being too conservative about the prospect of endangering federal funding.
The champion of medical use also point out that under the current rule, a child suffering a life‐threatening seizure at school must be taken off campus in order to receive life‐saving medical intervention if the triaging medication is medicinal marijuana. They also observe that such practice not only endangers the child’s life, it increases the chance they will end up in emergency room and face other complications with their conditions.
Medical marijuana for children currently follows strict requirements, including recommendations by two doctors and approval from the state health department.
In last November, New Jersey became the first state to enact a law requiring all school districts to have rules that allow children with certain health difficulties to have edible medical marijuana at school campus.
Calaveras County Board of Supervisors fails to pass Marijuana Ordinance
April 14, 2016
The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday failed to pass the emergency ordinance for medical marijuana cultivation, that would have set zoning standards until a permanent regulation is drafted and adopted in six months to a year.
Apart from growing of medical marijuana in the county, the ordinance would have limited marijuana production to farms that were already in operation before February 16. It also would have banned commercial cultivation in single family residential areas.
The Board of Supervisors spent hours hearing comments on the emergency ordinance to regulate medical marijuana.
Supervisors Chris Wright and Debbie Ponte appealed their colleagues to support the emergency ordinance, arguing that board has an obligation to slow the rush of land buyers fleeing other jurisdictions where bans are in place.
On the other hand, Supervisors Cliff Edson pointed out that the ordinance would help control the significant increase in people coming in to grow marijuana, since it has recently been banned in many nearby counties.
Executive Director of the Calaveras Cannabis Alliance, Caz Tomaszewski observed that around seventy-five percent of marijuana growers in the county would now become Butte Fire Victims.
However, the ordinance that needed 80 percent of the board to vote in favor, failed on a 2-3 vote. Supervisors Cliff Edson, Steve Kearney and Michael Oliveira opposed the ordinance.
As per the verdict, cultivation of marijuana in Calaveras may remain potentially unregulated for an additional half year.
Pennsylvania House set to legalize Medical Marijuana
April 14, 2016
In an aim to legalize medical marijuana across the state, the lawmakers of Pennsylvania are set to cast final vote on marijuana bill ‘SB 3’on Wednesday. The Democratic governor Tom Wolf supports the bill.
A Senate committee has recently amended and approved the bill. Senator Mike Folmer, the key sponsor of the bill, observed the amendments at ‘technical’ adjustments would allow smoother implementation of medical marijuana program for all the stakeholders including patients, doctors, licensing growers, processors and dispensers of marijuana.
According to the basic components of the bill, SB 3, medical marijuana could be used to treat more than a dozen of health problems, including cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, intractable seizures, autism, chronic pain, AIDs, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, sickle cell anemia and some other neurological and gastrointestinal conditions.
As per the legislation, doctors who prescribe marijuana as a treatment will have to register as practitioners, and patients who want to use it will be given ID cards that would be renewed annually. Similarly, dispensaries as well as those who grow and process medical marijuana will have to be licensed by the state.
Medical marijuana could be dispensed in various forms such as pills, oils, liquids, creams etc. However, smoking as well as distribution of medical marijuana in dry leaf or plant form is prohibited.
The bill also says that the state will impose a 5% tax on the gross receipts of growers and processors of medical marijuana. Money collected from taxes will be spent for addiction control, law enforcement, research on marijuana use and welfare of the patients with financial hardships.
If the measure becomes law, Pennsylvania would join 23 states and numerous cities that have legalized the use of medicinal marijuana.
As President, I would respect Marijuana Legalization in Colorado: Ted Cruz
April 11, 2016
In order to woo the Colorado delegates for final time, the Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz on Saturday revealed that, if elected as the president of the U.S.A., he would not interfere with Colorado's legalization of marijuana.
Cruz, during a stop in Colorado, said that the legalization of recreational marijuana is a matter that “we should leave to the states.”
45 year old Texas senator also said he would vote against legalizing marijuana in his home state, but declared that he would respect the decision that people of Colorado have made under the federal structure of the U.S. Constitution.
"When it comes to drug legalization, personally, I would vote against marijuana legalization. If the state of Texas had a referendum on it, I would vote no. But, I think it is the prerogative of the states to make that determination. I think the people of Colorado have the right to make the decision that they've made under the Constitution, and as President, I would respect that right," revealed Cruz.
Meanwhile, Cruz didn’t take his stand on the question of expanding banking services for the marijuana industry, saying he hasn't studied the issue and needed to learn more before taking a position.
In the past, Cruz was very critical regarding President Barack Obama’s lack of action against state marijuana legalization. However, he seems to have evolved on this issue, and at least seems to respect states’ rights when it comes to marijuana policy.
The position of Texas senator on marijuana legalization is important, because as the primaries go along and if he keeps gaining ground on Donald Trump, he could be the GOP nominee. It will be interesting to see if his position stays the same or if he revolves on the issue again if he becomes the front runner for the White House.
Clarkston Mayor seeks to decriminalize Marijuana
April 11, 2016
The mayor of the city of Clarkston, Ted Terry has taken initiative to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. He said the City Council’s public safety committee will soon review whether to make possession of less than one ounce of marijuana a ticket-only offense, putting it on the same level as a run-of-the-mill traffic violation.
Terry, also a vice chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia, has appealed the elected officials to use evidence-based policies to make the people safer and fight drug abuse, saying the bottom line is the ‘war on drugs’ has failed and that the judicial system should be about serving justice.
In 2015, as many as seventy people in Clarkston were sent to o jail for possessing marijuana. Terry points out that people are being picked up on low level non-violent marijuana offenses and having to go to jail and spend thousands of dollars with probation fees and fines.
“It makes sense we should create a system that wasn’t punitive. We are talking about a policy to direct our police officer to treat the possession of less than one ounce of marijuana as a traffic ticket. ” Terry said.
The Mayor also expects the full council to bring the ordinance for marijuana legalization as early as May. However, he opines selling drugs, possession while committing other crimes and possession of other illicit drugs will not be tolerated.
Meanwhile, the Councilman Dean Moore has announced plans to introduce legislation to make possession of less than one ounce of marijuana a traffic offense with a fine of five dollars. Clarkston’s plan would lay out a fee schedule that could charge as little as $5 in Municipal Court for the first offense.
In US, at least 18 states and numerous cities including New York and Philadelphia have passed ordinances to make possessing small amounts of marijuana a noncriminal offense.
