... Turning over FREE a new leaf.

www.WestCoastLeaf.com ISSN 1945-221X • Volume 3 No. 4 Winter 2011 California reduces TheThe RiseRise ofof CCBBDD marijuana penalty The medical benefits without the buzz.buzz Possession now an infraction trial, a threat that often led prosecutors to THC’s little sister comes of age. drop charges entirely. Now they can only By Dale Gieringer, Cal NORML ask for a hearing before a judge if they A bill to downgrade the possession of one don’t want to pay the ticket by mail. ounce or less of cannabis from a criminal In his signing statement, the Governor misdemeanor to an infraction was signed said he opposed decriminalizing recre- into law Sept. 30 by California Gov. Arnold ational cannabis and opposed the Prop 19 Schwarzenegger. Another new law sets a legalization effort, but “in this time of dras- 600 foot buffer around dispensaries. tic budget cuts, prosecutors defense attor- The decrim bill, SB 1449 by Sen. Mark neys, law enforcement and the courts can- Leno, takes effect Jan. 1, 2011. Its major Story inside. not afford to expend limited resources” CBD-rich plant photo courtesy of Sam Sabzehzar, medicalmarijuana411.com effect will be to spare minor pot offenders prosecuting petty pot offenses. the necessity of court appearances and The bill received influential support criminal arrest records. from the state’s courts and district attor- Instead, it treats possession like a traffic neys. In addition, supporters sent over Prop 19 initiative comes within 4% ticket, punishable by the same $100 fine 2,500 e-mail messages to the governor to (plus up to $273 in fees) as presently. sign SB1449 via the NORML website. of legalizing adult use in California A major benefit of the bill is to save the Another factor in the decision may Campaign elevated legalization discussion around the world state’s taxpayers millions of dollars in have been the impending state vote on court and prosecution expenses. One dis- Prop 19. By signing SB 1449, Gov. By Chris Conrad million ‘Yes’ votes, Prop 19 outpolled every advantage to offenders is that they will no Schwarzenegger undercut the argument “The fact that millions of Californians Republican running for statewide office. Its longer have the right to demand a jury that the state was wasting law enforcement voted to legalize marijuana is a tremen- 46.4% support was the highest-ever rate of resources by criminalizing users. dous victory,” said Proposition 19’s chief US voter approval for any non-medical th The cost savings of SB 1449 will likely proponent, Richard Lee, Nov. 3, 2010. “We legalization ballot measure. Arizona becomes 15 amount to a few million dollars in court have broken the glass ceiling. Prop 19 has Despite all odds, polls showed Prop 19 expenses, a small fraction of the estimated changed the terms of the debate. And that having a good chance of passage until the medi-marijuana state $200 - $400 million that the state spends on was a major strategic goal.” last weeks of the campaign, when the gov- felony marijuana offenses such as cultiva- With that, the campaign conceded that ernor signed a law dropping possession to By Mike Meno, MPP tion, distribution and sales. California’s legalization initiative had not a citation offense similar to a parking tick- In an election that saw the defeat of three Nonetheless SB 1449 was spuriously won the election. Nonetheless, the effort et, which apparently took the urgency out other statewide marijuana initiatives, vot- Please turn to page 12 made impressive gains. With more than 4.5 of the issue for many voters. ers in Arizona narrowly approved Groups like the National Black Police Proposition 203, a ballot measure making Assn., Nat. Latino Officers Assn., theirs the 15th state in the nation to have an Near-record marijuana arrests in 2009 California Council of Churches IMPACT, effective medical use law. Cal NAACP, SEIU of CA, United Food and The AZ Medical Marijuana Act passed Nobody gets busted for bud? and the prosecution of marijuana offend- Commercial Workers Western States ers, in particular minor possession defen- by just 4,341 votes out of more than 1.67 Better think again, says FBI Council, Latino Voters League, members of million cast. It will allow patients suffering dants, is driving the present drug war,” the US Congress, local Democratic commit- from cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis By Paul Armentano, NORML NORML Director Allen St. Pierre said. tees, state legislators and many individual and other debilitating conditions to use Police prosecuted 858,408 persons for mar- “Those who claim otherwise would be bet- law enforcers, faith leaders, civil rights cannabis with a recommendation from ijuana violations nationally in 2009, accord- ter off advocating for a long-overdue repri- activists, students, law professors and busi- their doctors. It permits the establishment ing to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s oritization of law enforcement resources ness leaders endorsed Prop 19. of not more than 124 licensed cannabis clin- annual Uniform Crime Report, released in and concerns. The initiative had overall support in ics throughout the state. Patients who live September 2010. “It makes no sense to continue to pros- the medical marijuana community. Prop 19 more than 25 miles from one will be This arrest total is the second highest ecute Americans for their use of a sub- co-proponent Jeff Jones opened Oakland’s allowed to grow their own medicine. ever reported by the FBI, and marks a 1.3% stance that poses far fewer health risks first cannabis dispensary even before the Rob Kampia, executive director of the increase over the number of 2008 arrests than alcohol or tobacco. A better and more Please turn to page 16 Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), which (847,864). The FBI reported 872,721 mari- sensible solution would be to legalize and drafted the initiative, heralded the victory juana prosecutions in the US in 2007, the regulate cannabis in a manner similar to as “another blow to our nation’s cruel and highest total on record. alcohol, as was proposed by Prop 19.” New studies document irrational prohibition on marijuana.” MPP According to the report, marijuana Of Americans charged with cannabis played a key role in overseeing the signa- arrests now comprise more than one-half violations, some 88% (758,593 individuals) disparities in arrests ture drive, and steered more than $500,000 (approximately 52%) of all drug arrests were charged with possession only. The Blacks, Latinos hit hardest in contributions toward its passage. reported in the US. A decade ago, marijua- remaining 99,815 were charged with On election day, Prop 203 was trailing na arrests comprised just 44% of all drug “sale/manufacture,” a category that By Stephen Gutwillig, Drug Policy Alliance by some 7,000 votes, but as the state tallied arrests. Some 46% of all drug prosecutions includes virtually all cultivation offenses. Two new studies were released in October more than 200,000 late provisional ballots, nationwide are for cannabis possession. Regionally, the percentage of marijuana that document extensive race-based dis- the gap gradually narrowed until it was “The numbers tell the story; the arrests was highest in the Midwest (62% of parities in misdemeanor marijuana arrests clear the measure would pass — nearly enforcement of criminal marijuana laws drug arrests) and southern regions (56% of across California from 2006-2008. two weeks after the vote. drug arrests) of the US, The first report, Arresting Blacks for This is the third time Arizona voters and lowest in the West, Marijuana in California: Possession arrests in have approved a medical use law but nei- where pot prosecutions 25 cities, 2006-08, was co-released by the ther of the previous two, passed in 1996 comprised only 40% of Drug Policy Alliance and the California and 1998, ever took effect because of prob- total drug arrests. Conference of the NAACP. It found that, lems with the initiatives’ wording. In California in 2009, over two years, police in 25 of the state’s Under the new law, patients are there were 17,008 felony major cities have arrested blacks for low- required to register with the Dept. of and 61,164 misdemeanor level marijuana possession at four, five, six, Health and will be allowed to possess or marijuana arrests, for a seven and even 12 times the rate of whites. purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana, but total of 78,172. In 2008, The second report, Arresting Latinos for public use remains prohibited. Legal there were 17,126 felonies Marijuana in California: Possession arrests in patients from other states will be protected and 61,388 misdemeanors, 33 cities, 2006-08, was co-released by the W. from arrest if they have their patient ID FREE MARC EMERY — Supporters of Canadaʼs ʻPrince of Potʼ for a total of 78,514. This C. Velasquez Institute. Marc Emery gathered in front of the Alabama State House as was the highest number of card, less than 2.5 ounces, and don’t violate part of a worldwide day of support Sept. 18. The rallies called It found that, over two years, major any other restrictions of the law. Out-of- on the US government to release the entrepreneur who founded arrests in a single year cities in California arrested and prosecuted state patients will not be allowed to Cannabis Culture magazine and directed a cannabis seed since cannabis was decrim- Latinos for marijuana possession at double empire under the tagline, “overgrow the government.” He is Please turn to page 5 serving five years in federal prison. Photo by Chris Butts inalized in 1976. Please turn to page 8 Winter 2011 Page 2 West Coast Leaf CAPITOL PROTEST — More than 70 mothers, family members, healthcare profes- sionals and individuals in National and International Reports recovery gathered at the California State Capitol in Sacramento Oct. 13, 2010 to call attention to Americaʼs Plea curtails Stacy federal medical marijuana trial failed drug policies and the havoc they have wreaked on In a surprising turn of events on Oct. 26, 2010, less than a week before trial was set to families. Moms United to begin, a deal was struck in the James Stacy federal medical marijuana case with the sen- End the War on Drugs is a project of A New PATH tence dropped from life in prison to no jail time. His collective, Movement In Action, was (Parents for Addiction raided Sept. 9, 2009, the same day over a dozen other San Diego County dispensaries were Treatment and Healing) and a growing momsʼ movement raided as part of District Attorney (DA) Bonnie Dumanis’ attack, dubbed ‘Operation to stop the violence, mass Green Rx.’ Stacy was serious about taking his case to trial and presenting as much evi- incarceration and overdose dence as possible to the jury. The US Attorney saw the possibility of jury nullification, as deaths that are direct results of drug prohibition. The rally was a culmination of a statewide cam- paign, with rallies in San Diego, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, and the launch of a national one of San Diego Americans for Safe Access board members was a potential juror and the momsʼ movement. Speakers included California NAACP President Alice Huffman, Rev. Canon local chapter planned a jury-nullification campaign and protests. Advocates hope that Mary Moreno Richardson of St. Paulʼs Cathedral, Julia Negron, Gretchen Burns Bergman and Dumanis will think twice now before sending another dispensary that is in full compli- Lorraine Rebennack of A New PATH; Denise Cullen of Broken No More; Suzanne Riordan of Families ACT, and Margaret Dooley-Sammuli of Drug Policy Alliance. Photo courtesy of Emilia Moreno ance with state law to federal court in San Diego. — Eugene Davidovich Oregon patients bridge the gap to get by without dispensaries Local medi-marijuana measures popular in Cali The failure of Measure 74 leaves Oregon patients still dependent on one another for access By Kris Hermes, Americans for Safe Access cannabis taxation even more. Local tax to medicinal cannabis. Since 1998, the only legal ways patients registered in the Oregon Proposition 19 was not California’s only measures were passed in ten cities: Albany, Medical Marijuana Program (OMPP) have access to cannabis is to grow it themselves, cannabis-focused initiative on the Nov. 2 Berkeley, La Puente, Long Beach, Oakland, have someone grow it for them with no compensation, or hope someone will give them ballot. An unprecedented number of med- Rancho Cordova, Richmond, Sacramento, some. Patients must teach each other how to grow medicine, with cuttings and clones ical-marijuana measures appeared on local San Jose, and Stockton. Most passed by given freely, and also how to make and use cannabinated butter, oils and tinctures. ballots across the state. From increased wide margins. The levels of taxes imposed Mothers Against Misuse and Abuse teaches patients about the onset and duration of taxes on dispensaries, to licensing large- by these initiatives ranged from 2.5% in the effects of various forms of cannabis medicine. This enables people to choose the type scale cultivation, to bans on distribution of Berkeley and Stockton to 10% in San Jose that is most effective for them. For patients to know how other medicines they use may be cannabis — voters weighed in on more and La Puente. affected by cannabis, a good resource is Complete Guide to Prescription and Nonprescription than a dozen local measures that will sig- These local taxes will be imposed on Drugs by H. Winter Griffith, MD. — Sandee Burbank mamas.org nificantly affect patients’ lives. top of the state sales tax, further increasing Hawai’i patients grounded on Big Island with their medicine Two proposals which would have the cost of medication. Because cannabis is quasi-prescribed — not readily available Cannabis patients with valid doctors’ certifications are increasingly being arrested at Big banned local distribution of cannabis were over the counter — and because it’s Island airports while transporting their cannabis to Oahu. Patients frequently need to trav- soundly defeated in Santa Barbara and already prohibitively expensive for many el to Honolulu for medical care. Despite state law, patients are having cannabis confiscated Morro Bay. The results from these races patients, Americans for Safe Access (ASA), and finding themselves in court. Two recent cases involve Alan Lee and nurse Donna seem to indicate that a majority of voters the country’s leading medical-use advoca- Goldsworthy, both with current licenses and fighting second-degree misdemeanor understand the need for safe access and are cy group, has strongly and consistently charges of promoting a dangerous drug. Each had less than the amount allowed by law. willing to oppose laws aimed at curtailing such access. Advocates hope these results opposed such taxation. There is a hope that the new governor, Neil Abercrombie, will stop these arrests. “We will discourage other localities from “Patients are overtaxed and underpro- are reasonably confident that when the legislature passes bills favorable to medical attempting to ban distribution by voter ini- tected,” said ASA Executive Director Steph cannabis patients that the governor will not veto them, as has been the case in the past,” tiative in 2012 or later. Sherer. “The budgets of cash-strapped said ASA co-chair Andrea Tischler. “Topping the list will be an order to stop the arrests of localities in California should not be patients when they transport their cannabis for inter-island travel.” — Martin Williams To whatever extent California voters favor local distribution, they support Please turn to page 13 Crop and Collective / BOB BOYD, ATTORNEY AT LAW Co-op Certifications Criminal Defense Grower and Collective Serving Mendocino Compliance consultations & Lake Counties Info@ mccdirectory.org / 707-468-0500 916-443-7141 [email protected] / 707-218-6979 — Lifetime Member, NORML Legal Panel — Chris Van Hook, California Attorney mendocinolaw.com

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Potter recorded a radio ad and lawyer for HOPE Wellness Collective in authored an op-ed piece in The Oregonian Westminter CA, spoke at a press confer- By Anthony Johnson,* Oregon Green Free ence where Mieko explained how Joey supporting safe access for patients. Oregon cannabis activists hoped they barely survived almost a decade of phar- Unfortunately, Oregon was not maceutical drugs that left his body at a would join California and a handful of mere 46 pounds. Joey, now 11 years old, immune to the conservative wave that hit states that have legal dispensaries, but is being treated with medical marijuana the nation in 2010. Democrats did manage and has more than doubled his body Measure 74 lost at the ballot box, with to keep all statewide offices, but the race weight. The collective has been providing 591,386 Yes votes, just over 44%. While it medicine and other crucial services for for governor was extremely close. Repub li - did not win, 74 did move cannabis issues special needs children, but was told to cans managed to split control of the House, shut down immediately. Mieko and other into the mainstream, and political activists and Dems have just a two- seat advantage families of special needs children fear are planning another run in 2012. there will be no safe location for them to in the Senate. Measure 74 likely helped obtain cannabis if the city closes the col- Voter turnout in Oregon was 70.45%, Democrat John Kitzhaber win his election, lective. The city later softened its posi- down more than 15% from the 2008 presi- tion and said it will provide HOPE with as late votes from Multnomah County car- the framework for discussions with the ried him to victory. city about how to move forward. Photo and report by Sam Sabzehzar, The Dems did, however, medicalmarijuana411.com keep control of the Senate with a 257-vote victory by Alan Bates, who squeaked Santa Barbara voters support local dispensaries by on late votes from Voters also approve Prop 19 should simply order it online. Ashland. Residents of By Ethan Kravits* Sensible Santa Barbara The campaign gained its most media Multnomah County and attention when two press conferences were Despite attempts to characterize the issue Ashland are overwhelming- held after ‘Yes on T’ yard signs were as heated and contentious, City of Santa ly in support of cannabis-law allegedly stolen or vandalized. The sign Barbara voters delivered a simple message reform. The fight for safe owners claimed they were being targeted when they overwhelmingly defeated access now moves to the leg- by a “criminal element” associated with Measure T on election day. islature, as Rep. Peter dispensaries and medical use. The events Buckley of Ashland recently announced The message: Citizens support safe dential election. In 2004, Measure 33, were attended by Councilmember Dale plans to introduce a dispensary bill in the access to cannabis. Measure T was a pro- another dispensary measure, earned just Francisco, who fought to put T on the bal- upcoming legislative session. posed zoning ordinance that would have less than 43% of the vote in a year with a lot, and Assemblyman Pedro Nava, the for- Measure 74 supporters will have a prohibited the operation of storefront med- mer Fresno County Deputy District turnout over 85%. Measure 33 carried only ical cannabis dispensaries. If passed, it Multnomah County, whereas 74 was also vocal and influential presence there, work- Attorney who headed its countywide Drug ing to ensure that any dispensary bill will would have replaced the current city ordi- Crime Task Force. narrowly carried in Lane County, so some nance that limits Santa Barbara to three be reprsentative, effective and protective of Measure T opponents, who support progress has been made with voters. non-profit dispensaries. A resounding 61% patients’ rights, such as the right to have a safe access and sensible regulations for Measure 74 received the endorsement of voters rejected the outright prohibition medical garden. cannabis, dismissed the vague allegations of the Democratic Party of Oregon, possi- and opted to keep the existing regulations The campaign team was relatively made at the press conferences, noting that bly the first time a state Democratic party to maintain safe access through a limited pleased with its low-budget, grassroots it is not unusual to see some vandalism of has endorsed a cannabis measure. number of dispensaries. effort, and proud to have joined California yard signs during a campaign. Not only did the Dems endorse the Measure T proponents claimed that Prop 19 in helping move cannabis reform Santa Barbara County also approved measure, they actually provided assistance dispensaries “send the wrong message to into the mainstream. Prop. 19 by 51%, five points above overall to the campaign, donating the use of the kids” and increase availability of marijua- Oregon activists, like many others statewide results. party’s automated-dialing phone banking na among high school students. They con- across the country, hope 2012 will offer a system to call voters. sistently referred to storefront collectives as In a 2006 vote, Santa Barbara citizens better political climate and hope to put The Democratic Party was joined by “marijuana stores” to discredit their med- approved Measure P by over 66%, making another measure on the ballot, bolstered by former state Supreme Court Justice Betty ical purpose. John D. Wrench, M.D., a bal- adult marijuana offenses the lowest police a larger turnout, particularly among Roberts, former federal prosecutor Kris lot signatory for Yes on Measure T, wrote priority. At least in Santa Barbara, cannabis younger voters. Olson, and former Portland mayor and an op-ed claiming that only 40 people in prohibition is on its way out. * Johnson is political director of Progressive Reform of police chief Tom Potter, all of whom sub- Santa Barbara truly needed cannabis for * Kravitz was campaign manager for No on Measure T and Oregon, clinic director for Oregon Green Free, and was a co- cofounder of Sensible Santa Barbara, sponsor of Measure P. mitted voters’ pamphlet arguments in sup- author and co-chief petitioner of Measure 74 medical purposes and those who did

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Dr. Mollie Fry and her husband, Dale Schafer, The couple considered this to be entrap- confront the news cameras regarding their ment by estoppel, but the circuit court federal medical marijuana case. decided that the defense didn’t apply Photo by Vanessa Nelson because Fry and Schafer were never Mandatory federal deceived into believing federal law permit- ted medical cultivation. As the court noted, sentences affirmed Fry issued cannabis recommendations with the following disclaimer: “Cannabis By Vanessa Nelson medicalmarijuanaofamerica.com remains illegal under federal law.” Former medical marijuana doctor Marion The appeal also argued sentencing ‘Mollie’ Fry and husband Dale Schafer lost entrapment, saying that yearly approval a crucial battle in their appeal in from the deputies led Fry and Schafer to November. Rejecting the couple’s argu- grow more cannabis and thereby face a ments about entrapment and medical harsher punishment. Only 34 plants were necessity, the 9th Circuit Court decided to seized during the raid, but prosecutors leave all the lower court’s rulings intact. increased the total by adding in the plants A federal jury found Fry and Schafer the deputies had observed during the two guilty on cultivation and distribution years prior to the raid. This strategy edged charges in 2007. They’ve been free on bail the count close to a hundred plants, a since then, but must surrender to five-year threshold that triggers a mandatory mini- prison terms once their appeals are mum five-year prison sentence. exhausted. In that regard, the new ruling Fry and Schafer wanted a reduced sen- was a brutal loss for the couple. tence, but the circuit court ultimately Amongst other claims, their appeal decided there wasn’t enough evidence of contended that Fry, a breast cancer sur- active inducement for sentencing entrap- vivor, and Schafer, a hemophiliac, were ment. If the deputies had “directed [Fry entitled to a medical necessity defense. and Schafer] to grow more cannabis or California’s medical use protections are offered them something in exchange for usually restricted to state court, but Fry the production of a higher amount of and Schafer argued that their offenses plants,” the circuit court might have ruled occurred during a period in which federal differently. Instead, Fry and Schafer were courts tentatively and temporarily recog- encouraged more passively. nized a medical necessity defense in a They’ve stayed out of prison so far, but precedent case. The circuit court invalidat- time is getting tight for the pair. They may ed that theory in its November ruling, say- have to depend on the slim chance the ing the time frame of their conduct exceed- Supreme Court agrees to hear their case ed this specific time window. and reverses two lower court rulings. November’s ruling similarly rejected Fry, a devout Catholic, doesn’t give up various arguments about entrapment. hope easily. “Miracles happen every day.”

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West Coast Leaf Page 5 Winter 2011 Partly sunny and hopeful in the Evergreen State Five-year federal sentence for Colorado patient By Martin Martinez, Lifevine November, police battered down the door HR3939 reform in Congress of a patient and entered with guns drawn, Washington State has seen a wide spec- By Laura Kriho, Cannabis Therapy Institute but found only one sick patient and two trum of responses to the use of cannabis as Colorado patient Chris Bartkowicz was puny plants. To their credit, a meeting medicine. The Medical Use of Marijuana sentenced to five years in prison in October between the mayor’s office and police offi- Act of 1998 was intended to shield quali- after pleading guilty to federal felony cials was convened immediately, resulting fied patients from drug-law enforcement, cannabis cultivation charges. The 37-year- in new protections for patients being but many cases have done the opposite. old Highlands Ranch resident was arrested unveiled in a flurry of local news reports. Cannabis patients have become easy tar- by the DEA after a local television station gets for drug police. Patients and providers interviewed him about medical marijuana. have had no uniform rules to follow, as dif- The seemingly conservative city of Port Bartkowicz showed proof that his garden ferent communities follow various inter- Angeles announced that it will license a was compliant with state law, but the DEA pretations of the law. cannabis dispensary seized his 200 plants and charged him. The seemingly conservative city of Port Because of prior convictions and the prox- Protest against federal prosecution of Angeles surprised the state by announcing imity of his garden to a school, he was fac- cannabis patients at federal courthouse in While State Senator Mary Lou plans in October to license a cannabis dis- ing a possible 60-year mandatory mini- Denver at a Sept. 21, 2010 hearing for Chris Dickerson has pledged state legislation to Bartkowicz. Photo by colorado420.com pensary on the peninsula. In other parts of mum sentence. tax and regulate non-medical cannabis WA, Spokane and Vancouver have closed David Ogden stating that medical-use sales, long-time medical use proponent Bartkowicz said he was offered a two- all known dispensaries. Those police agen- cases were “unlikely to be an efficient use Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles has drafted a year plea arrangement if he turned some- cies contend that state laws protecting of limited federal resources.” comprehensive approach to resolving the one in, or five years if he refused to snitch. qualified patients do not legalize cannabis many disputes that have plagued cannabis In September, he was denied the opportu- Menendez said the feds have every sales under any circumstances. Providers patients for more than a decade. nity to present a medical defense in federal intention of continuing to prosecute learned that Tacoma is another bastion of court, leaving him few options. Bartkowicz patients and providers, regardless of state The new bill seeks to protect medical intolerance, as every local dispensary was refused to work with the DEA, so he was laws. She stated that the DEA has reached users with tighter rules. No longer would closed by threat of arrest last summer. given a five-year sentence and immediate- “no accord” with Colorado’s Dept. of cannabis growers be subject to arrest and These cases provide a sharp contrast to the ly incarcerated. Revenue Medical Marijuana Enforcement markets in Seattle. While technically ille- seizure by police under the onerous legal At Bartkowicz’s motions hearing in Division regarding federal prosecutions of gal, dispensaries abound in the Emerald burden of the affirmative defense. Another September, it was clear that the feds have patients or providers, despite DoR state- City, with dozens open in many sections of change would protect patients with chil- stacked the deck effectively against state ments to the contrary. the largest city in the Northwest. dren who face legal challenges to their cus- tody rights. Collective gardening is also a rights to regulate cannabis , despite assur- She declared that the Holder statement Even Seattle hits occasional bumps in candidate for legitimization, by allowing ances from the Obama administration of a in March 2009 was just a “loose remark,” the road for patients and providers. In small-group gardens for up to seven changed policy. US District Judge Philip and that the Ogden memo clearly states: patients possessing up to 90 plants. But the Brimmer ruled against the court-appointed “This guidance regarding resource alloca- Arizona medical law most sweeping change would establish a defense attorney, Joseph Saint-Veltri, on tion does not . . . provide a legal defense to dispensary licensing program under the almost every point. a violation of federal law.” Menendez con- Continued from page 1 cluded that, “Every statement in the record purchase from the dispensaries. State Dept. of Health and a licensing sys- The prosecutor in the case, Assistant US tem for large growers, who would supply Attorney M.J. Menendez, said that by the federal government says the govern- Throughout the campaign, opponents licensed dispensaries overseen by the cannabis had been on the controlled sub- ment will continue to prosecute” cannabis sought to undermine the large and grow- Dept. of Agriculture. stances list “since the beginning of time” patients and providers. ing body of research demonstrating and that the feds recognize no exemption In the end, Judge Brimmer ruled that cannabis’ medicinal value, while claiming While some critics fear the onslaught of for cannabis, even if cultivated in compli- Bartkowicz cannot present a medical use the law would be prone to abuse. regulations, others welcome the new era. ance with state law. defense at his trial. “Anyone reading (the Andrew Myers, campaign manager for Many providers hope that the state The defense argued that Bartkowicz’s memos) would quite clearly understand Arizona MPP, the local affiliate, told the agencies will determine fair rules and case was selective prosecution, given that that cultivating marijuana is a violation of Associated Press that the law is “written to establish security for those who have been there are hundreds of people in CO culti- federal law,” Brimmer said. be incredibly restrictive.” negotiating amid the shifting sands of legal interpretation and local tolerance. vating cannabis and advertising openly Colorado federal Representative Jared “We’re talking only about seriously or who have not been raided by the feds. It Polis is a co-sponsor of HR3939, the Truth Some still decry the quantity limits set terminally ill patients,” said Myers. also argued that he was acting in good faith in Trials Act, which would provide an affir- in 2008 by the DoH, yet it is important to “Moving forward it’s our responsibility to and a sincere belief that he was in violation mative defense for the medical use of remember that the Evergreen State enjoys help implement a program that Arizona of neither state nor federal law. Bartkowicz cannabis in federal court. Colorado the greatest allowable limits of any med- can be proud of.” testified that he relied on statements from activists are urging people to contact their ical-use state. Doctors, lawyers, police and MPP estimates that with the passage of US Attorney General Eric Holder that he federal representatives to ask for support patients are now discovering the many this law, about 30% of Americans live in a would not prosecute dispensaries and on a for this bill. 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30 Years in Practice • Defending Your Rights Since 1980 Cal NORML-listed Lawyer • Member of California Attorneys for Criminal Justice

505 N. Arrowhead Ave. Suite #509, San Bernardino, CA (909)-885-8388 “IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE LAW, KNOW YOUR LAWYER” Call for Consultation Appointment Winter 2011 Page 6 West Coast Leaf WELCOME COMPETITION — Silicon Valley access comes under seige Harborside Health Center, Blue Skies Coffeeshop and By Lauren Vazquez, Director Silicon Valley ASA taxation without representation and it has two other cannabis collec- to stop,” demanded Pat Knoop, director of tives who have been asking Medical cannabis patients and providers in Oakland to license new dis- California’s Silicon Valley are experiencing Holistic Health Care Coop in San Jose. pensaries will finally get the a series of attacks from a task force of local Patients are fighting back, and there competition they have been hoping for when the number and state police. In early October, the task seems to be hope about new Santa Clara of licensed cannabis outlets force, known as SCCSET, arrested 22 County District Attorney Jeff Rosen, who goes to eight next year. patients associated with various delivery takes office in January. During his cam- Photo courtesy of Harborside Health Center. services during a sting operation. Now paign, Rosen declared to Silicon Valley known as the Compassionate 22, police ASA that if elected he would “absolutely Oakland votes to double number of dispensaries, claim they failed to provide caregiving respect the rights of qualified medical services and were therefore engaged in cannabis patients and their caregivers.” finalizes cultivation regulatory ordinance unauthorized distribution. State courts, Patients will be looking for a show of good By Mickey Martin has discussed licensing and regulating however, have made it clear that caregiv- faith in the near future. small and medium commercial grows, but ing is not required for patients to collective- Medical marijuana has been so good to has taken no action to do so. ly distribute medicine. Oakland that the City Council decided to double down on the number of dispen- The four dispensary permits are After the first sting, SCCSET raided CAMP eradicates 4.3 million saries in town, from four to eight. In so expected to go to a request-for-proposal three storefront dispensaries in San Jose plants: More than state’s full doing, Oakland became the first city in the process, and hundreds of applicants are and Santa Clara. New Age Healing nation to pass an ordinance regulating said to be on a waiting list to apply. Collective, Angel’s Care Collective and San estimated consumption commercial can nabis cultivation. Jose Patients’ Group were each raided By Dale Gieringer, California NORML Measure V passed in Oakland Nov. 2, Just one week after Prop 19 lost at the meaning the tax rate on medical cannabis about a week apart from one another. California’s CAMP marijuana eradication ballot box, Oakland officials moved for- businesses jumped from $18 per $1000 Angel’s Care was raided again when they program reported 4,320,314 plant seizures ward Nov. 9 with their pioneering efforts to gross (1.8%) to $50 per $1000 gross (5%). refused to close after the first attack. in 2010, slightly less than last year’s all- expand the medical cannabis industry in Patients and providers fear the raids will time record of 4,463,917. Patients and providers are concerned the city. They voted unanimously to that these tax increases will result in more continue in an effort to force all South Bay CAMP estimates the wholesale value of approve an ordinance outlining regula- expensive medicine and fewer complimen- dispensaries to close. In fact, several dis- the destroyed crop at $17.2 billion - enough tions for four commercial cultivation sites, tary services. Some dispensaries have pensaries, including Harborside Health to qualify for agricultural disaster aid for and approved an effort to move forward already begun to limit donations and care Center, did close temporarily in November any other crop. This works out to $4,000 with licensing four new dispensaries. The packages to avoid raising fees. as a precautionary measure. per plant, nearly two pounds of bud per Council hopes that these new businesses Patients have since learned that SCC- plant. At this rate, the amount of marijuana Harborside Health Center held a meet- will add needed revenue to city coffers. SET has been operating under a federal destroyed by CAMP totals more than four ing with cultivators asking them to bear The cultivation ordinance defines grant for methamphetamine enforcement. times the estimated consumption of the half of the burden of the 5% increase by “industrial cannabis cultivation processing But instead of going after dangerous drug entire state of California, roughly one mil- lowering the price of the medicine they and manufacturing facilities” as any grow gangs, the task force used its resources to lion pounds a year. provide to help offset the cost to patients. space over 96 square feet. The permit appli- Others have discussed increasing their target medical cannabis providers. The annual CAMP harvest has soared cation costs $5000, with the four organiza- margins as a result of the tax. Also worrisome for patients, San Jose is tenfold since 2002-2003. The leading coun- tions that are permitted being liable for prepared to levy a tax of up to 10% on med- ties this year were Mendocino (572,680), The city hopes the increased fees and annual regulatory fees of $211,000 each. ical cannabis. While the city has been Tuolumne (411,004), Lake (374,958), Shasta tax revenues will bring in a couple of mil- These large sums have caused concern for working for almost a year to develop an (325,480), Tehama (312,574), Sonoma lion dollars to the general fund. It risks many ‘mom and pop’ growers in the com- ordinance to regulate dispensaries, the city (311,147), Tulare (227,002), San Bernardino causing a backlash among patients and munity, who see the costs as prohibitive attorney’s position is that all the storefront (171,258), Riverside (155,209) and providers who might travel elsewhere for and view the four large-scale facilities as a dispensaries are currently illegal. “This is Humboldt (140,911). more reasonably priced cannabis. major threat to their livelihood. Council West Coast Leaf Page 7 Winter 2011 ʻWorst everʼ raids hit Covelo and reservation Sacramento warms up to its patient community Isolated neighborhoods home est. The town is devastated. We are already By Vanessa Nelson Advocates weren’t entirely pleased very poor and now what little we had has medicalmarijuanaofamerica.com to many subsistence farmers with those details, but the jewel of the com- been taken.” During the years when other cities were promise was that the existing dispensaries By Pebbles Trippet, Locals describe the raid as unprece- deciding whether to write rules for dispen- could apply for special permits at their cur- Mendocino Medical Marijuana Advisory Board dented in scope — relentless fly-overs with saries or just ban them, Sacramento did rent locations, in spite of the fact that most Covelo has become ground zero in the four helicopters hovering low over gardens neither. It had a handful of dispensaries up of them are closer than is otherwise California marijuana wars. or just above tree tops to gather pre-raid until 2008, and it mostly ignored them. allowed for sensitive uses like schools, It is the most impoverished and isolat- information and terrorize people with a Regulation seemed like it was a long time rehab centers and parks. ed community in Mendocino County, with show of force from the air before their in coming. In a separate project, the council won one road into town and no other way out homes were invaded. But in 2009, following Sacramento’s permission from voters to tax medical mar- except dirt roads through the National Many people expressed panic that the dispensary boom, the city council decided ijuana businesses at a maximum rate of 4%. Forest. The nearest towns, Laytonville and helicopters would land in their backyards it was time to formalize some rules. At first, Those city taxes seemed trivial in compari- Willits, are over an hour away. With 27% of and arrest them. Several left their homes to it was headed towards a plan to limit the son to one passed by a neighbor city on the Round Valley residents living below the escape potential arrest. One couple had city to 12 dispensaries, a cap that would same day. Rancho Cordova voters poverty line, an estimated 90% of its 1000 scratches on their arms from hiding in the have shut out the majority of Sacramento’s approved a citywide pot cultivation tax of households grow pot to survive. blackberry bushes overnight. established facilities. $600 per square foot, even for personal Law enforcement conducts raids there Victimization of Native Americans has Yet as 2010 played out, councilmem- medical gardens. This outrageous measure every year, generally at harvest when they gone on for centuries, since Columbus bers reconsidered and unanimously is not likely to survive the legal challenges can do the most harm. It’s easy for sheriff’s invaded America. These cannabis raids are approved an alternate proposal designed that would accompany its implementation. deputies to slide in, with or without a war- the modern version of that age-old inva- to give the city’s 30-some existing dispen- In 2011, the city of Sacramento will rant, ignore a doctor’s note and seize a sion, using unconstitutional marijuana saries a good chance at getting licensed. work on its own cultivation ordinance. The family’s plants, children, cash, bank laws to gain access into people’s homes The regulations even earned the vote of county, meanwhile, might finally finish accounts, all the trimmers in sight, and call and gardens and ruin their lives. Councilmember Robbie Waters, a former work on the dispensary ordinance it start- it a good day for police budgets. People expressed fear for their future sheriff known as the council’s most active ed six years ago. Since then, there have This year’s mass raids and terrorizing (“Maybe we shouldn’t have moved here.”) medical marijuana opponent. been many dispensaries in the county, but of the Indian Reservation and townspeople and fury at law enforcement (“They may as Saying he had finally been able to see most don’t last long before code enforce- lasted three days, Sept 28-30, as separate well just send in the drones.”). past “the cop view” of drug distribution, ment shuts them down. law enforcement teams fanned out into the Waters shocked advocates in a dramatic National Forest with sheriff’s deputies, The multi-agency raids leave responsi- turnaround by warmly thanking them for ANNABIS IELDS federal agents and embedded media side- bility lines blurred. Sheriff Tom Allman C Y years of educating him about the impor- by-side. National Geographic and Rolling said there were no medical grows. AND DOSAGE However, the Mendocino Medical tance of medical marijuana. Stone magazines were media of choice. By Chris Conrad It wasn’t just Waters. Once the council While police wreaked havoc on the Marijuana Advisory Board met many Court-qualified Cannabis Expert was working on a final draft, there was Witness in state and federal court townspeople and reservation, media cannabis patients who were sure they were clearly an increase in enthusiasm and will- New edition for 2010 focused on the noisy drama of cutting compliant with local and state guidelines, ingness to innovate. As a result, the final Updated and revised down thousands of plants from public yet were still arrested and prosecuted. form of the ordinance was an agreeable Order your copy today at forestland, pointing fingers at mass com- They asked, “Do our doctor’s authori- compromise. safeaccessnow.net mercial grows and distracting from the tor- zations mean nothing? Do the sheriff’s nado that flattened the town. promises of protection if we follow the The new dispensary rules prohibited Or mail your name, address and check on-site marijuana smoking, charged each or money order for $12 per copy to: “They come every year but this time it guidelines mean nothing?” facility almost $40,000 in up-front fees for CX, PO Box 1716, was 100 times worse, over 50 arrests, all Due to Covelo’s isolation, little of El Cerrito CA 94530. the permitting process, and excluded our medicine gone,” said one witness to what’s happening there is covered by com- Email [email protected] minors and felons as employees. for bulk discount info the attack. “The Reservation was hit hard- mercial news outlets for people to hear. Winter 2011 Page 8 West Coast Leaf Fresno-area collective carves out its rural niche Medical marijuana vote gives Harris razor-thin HHP opened in Oakdale, where it has felt welcome, margin of victory in CA Attorney General race but operating a cannabis collective in a rural area Cooley election would have Harris hailed from San Francisco, has its own set of chal- where her district attorney’s office has lenges. hurt collectives, local gardens coexisted with and even nurtured the Another group in the By William Dolphin, Americans for Safe Access licensing and regulation of scores of same county was closed Democrat Kamala Harris narrowly defeat- cannabis dispensaries, although patient and forced to move after ed Republican Steve Cooley to become gardens have still been targeted. local zoning officials start- California Attorney General in the closest Cooley drew the ire of patient advo- ed fining and holding the statewide election in decades. Cooley con- cates when he tried to criminalize distribu- landlord accountable. ceded defeat Nov. 24, three weeks after the tion and undermine the efforts of the LA Holistic Healing Prod- vote. The race set two very different district City Council to regulate medical cannabis ucts, located on the way to attorneys against each other, from San dispensaries. ASA created a website, Francisco and Los Angeles respectively. An MCD in small town USA Yosemite on Hwy 41, is NotCooley.com, to educate the public on not in Fresno, but Central Valley govern- Medical use advocates who targeted not just his opposition to California’s med- By Tucker Talks ments tend to band together, and Fresno Los Angeles DA Cooley for defeat claimed ical cannabis program but also his poor The quaint little mountain town of may be setting a precedent. HHP opened victory, not only for preventing him from record on environmental issues, women’s Oakhurst CA has all the beauty and flavor its doors to the public in May 2009, greeted becoming the state’s top law enforcement rights, and marriage equality. of small-town Mayberry USA, of Andy with open arms by the community at large. officer, but also for successfully exercising As LA District Attorney, Cooley orches- Griffith television-show fame. A place for patients to get quality medica- political clout, a patient force that refused trated dozens of raids on local dispen- Oakhurst has it all — including conser- tion without having to travel for hours is of to be marginalized. The future of cannabis saries, prosecuted state-qualified patients vative, out-of-touch political representa- great benefit to members. In an atmosphere dispensaries, licensed gardens, collective and their providers, and has claimed that tion. When it comes to medical marijuana, where patients and their medications are gardens and the various patient guidelines medical cannabis cannot be legally sold. the political landscape is very similar to top priority, members enjoy a caring and that provide safe harbor for patients were Cooley is also a long-time ally of the that around the state, as municipalities try comfortable experience. all on the line in the race. California Narcotics Officers Assn., a group to roll back guidelines by passing local The public and customers also see that Cooley had led in all the pre-election that denies the therapeutic efficacy of ordinances to disallow and deny patients having a collective allows local growers to polls, but medical cannabis activists led by cannabis and has called for the “eradica- safe and limit access to medication. prosper, and patients to partake in the hun- Americans for Safe Access (ASA), part- tion” of dispensaries. A newly imposed ordinance went into dreds of uses and remedies cannabis has to nered with the American Cannabis By contrast, as San Francisco DA, effect in the Fresno area Dec. 1, 2010 to ban offer. The effect on the local economy is Research Institute (ACRI), launched a cam- Harris created a medical marijuana adviso- patients from growing in their back yards. positive and powerful. As an alternative to paign to defeat him that went viral, even as ry group, and called for statewide regula- Fresno has had thefts from personal gar- a back-alley dealing, HHP provides relief Republican operative Karl Rove sank $1 tory standards for dispensaries, something dens and associated violence this season. to those who have long worried and million into ads on Cooley’s behalf. that could improve access for patients in There have been many debates with stressed about getting their medication. “This remarkable result for Kamala many areas of the state where officials have local government as collectives tried to The HHP takes it one day at a time with Harris shows the political strength of been hostile to establishing reasonable open. One group hoping to open last year regard to local authorities, while maintain- patient advocates,” said ASA California local distribution policies. in nearby Coarsegold was shut down ing a calm and peaceful setting. Despite a Director Don Duncan. Cooley initially claimed victory in the before it even opened. The County refused few bumps along the way, including push- “Our efforts to educate the public about count, then retracted it when Harris took to grant it a business license. Although the back from a ‘religious right’ group, HHP Steve Cooley’s record made the difference, the lead. Then she claimed victory, but had matter was brought to a public hearing, sees a positive future under state guide- particularly on his home turf of LA, where to retract that when he briefly retook the officials would not allow it to proceed. lines for providing service to patients. he lost by 14 points.” lead until she came from behind to win. Racial disparity still rampant Continued from page 1 to nearly triple the rate of whites. The reports were prepared by the Marijuana Arrest Research Project and co-released by the Drug Policy Alliance. Their primary author is Queens College sociologist Prof. Harry Levine, a national expert on marijuana laws. Among their findings: • The City of Los Angeles has 10 percent of California’s popula- tion and arrested blacks for marijuana possession at seven times the rate of whites. LA police arrested Latinos for possession at twice the rate of whites. • Latinos are 31% of the population in San Jose, but 54% of those arrested for possession. • In the state capital of Sacramento, blacks are 14% of the popu- lation but account for more than 51% of all the people arrested for A doctor who cared too much. possessing marijuana. A plant that kept her alive. • From 1990 to 2009, the marijuana arrest rate for Latino A husband who stood by her side. teenagers in California more than tripled. A government that sentenced them each to five years in federal prison. The report further warns that keeping marijuana possession an offense while changing the penalty from a misdemeanor to an The story of their trial. infraction, as goes into effect in California in January, 2011, does not Cool Madness change the double standard of enforcement. By Vanessa Nelson * The reports are online at: drugpolicy.org/statebystate/california/marijuana/ www.mmapub.com OMAR FIGUEROA ATTORNEY AT LAW COMPLIMENTARY CASE CONSULTATION. Years of experience defending growers, patients, caregivers and members of collectives / coops in CA & Fed courts. Graduate of Yale University, Stanford Law School and Trial Lawyers College. 707-829-0215 415-489-0420 [email protected] • [email protected] 7770 Healdsburg Av. # A www.omarfigueroa.com Sebastopol, CA 95472 West Coast Leaf Page 9 Winter 2011 Family physician relationship forges a bond of trust that goes beyond medi-marijuana approval Having a trusted family shared norms and informal social control. physician allows honesty Health care providers should be fully trusted by their government in selecting By Frank Lucido, MD* treatments for their patients, particularly Health care providers should be a source of for those who are in pain. Many persons well-informed and honest advice about all obtain beneficial medical effects from the aspects of health-related behavior. use of medical cannabis. How does a person get wise advice on Any form of consensual sexuality sensitive or potentially embarrassing med- between adults can be considered healthy HONORED — Craig Reinarman, PhD, (l) and Harry Levine, PhD (r) professors and reseachers ical matters? if practiced in a safe and responsible man- who have written important sociological studies on cannabis received the Lester Grinspoon People who engage in diverse expres- ner: safe, sane and consensual. Award for Outstanding Achievement at the 2010 National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws conference held in Portland, OR Sept. 9-11. Marsha Rosenbaum, PhD, (c) was sions of sexuality or in recreational drug Physicians should take a particular the recipient of a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award, for her extensive body of work as use often are not identifiable except interest in these sensitive matters as profes- a researcher, writer, and respected drug policy reformer who was California Director of the through self-disclosure. As a result, people Lindesmith Center and the Drug Policy Alliance. Photo by Mikki Norris sionals, and work to stay current with seeking health care sometimes conceal developing knowledge and recent research beliefs, habits and practices about which in these areas. Berkeley voters follow Oakland’s lead, approve they may have concerns until they are sure it is safe to trust the physician. How does a person get wise advice on large medical cannabis gardens for city The decision whether or not to disclose sensitive or potentially embarrassing By Amanda Reiman, Berkeley Patients Group say regarding medical cannabis issues. [As socially sensitive personal history to a health-related matters? Amid all the local ballot measures across current Chairwoman of the Commission, I physician (or health care provider), where California was an initiative on the Berkeley support bringing more voices to the table, it may influence the treatment or recom- He or she should be available for con- city ballot that, among other things, especially cultivators, bakers and others in mendations provided, involves determin- sultation on any topic, and help patients to licensed large-scale cannabis cultivation. the industry striving for legitimacy, ing how that person will react and what find knowledgeable, non-judgmental refer- A few weeks prior, a highly contentious because of the unique knowledge held by use they will make of the information. rals if they lack the information or expert- people in this industry.] Oakland City Council voted to license four A patient may want to know something ise to deal with a specific issue. cultivation sites in the city, a decision that As its last task, the current BMCC, with about the physician’s perspectives before These positions are integral to the was applauded by some as a revenue gen- input from the public, has been developing disclosing sensitive information. physician’s larger goals in health care and recommendations for Berkeley as to how erator for the city, and criticized by others The following are some of the traits that as a citizen: to practice the profession with the new dispensary and cultivation appli- as an elitist move to benefit only those with are important to patients seeking what Dr. conscience and dignity; to work for peace cations should be considered. For cultiva- the enormous capital required to apply for Arnold Trebach* characterized as a “trust- and social justice; to respect the secrets that tion, energy offset is a concern of both the a license. ed family physician.” are confided in them; to cooperate with Council and the citizens. patients in achieving self-determination; Meanwhile, Berkeley City Council had A health care environment should pro- The BMCC recommends that consider- and to hold the health of their patients as just quietly wrapped up a two-year-long vide safe health care, and be as free as pos- ation be given to applications outlining their first consideration in all encounters examination of its cannabis policy, a sible from medical reprisals and personal innovative and green energy plans. For the with them. process that led to the passage of local rejection. cannabis tax Measures T and S, which fourth dispensary, BMCC recommends * Dr. Lucido is a family health care practitioner in Berkeley, Dependence on alcohol, tobacco or added a 2.5% medical marijuana tax. that preference be given to applicants with CA, a medical marijuana recommending physician, and an other drugs is a health risk that is related to expert witness. DrLucido.com. Reference: Trebach, Dr. A. S. Measure T allows for a fourth dispensa- plans to assist low-income patients. While (1984). ‘The trusted physician in a humane drug control sys- many physical, psychological and social tem.’ Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 16(2), 141-160. ry in Berkeley and licensing for six loca- proponents were crafting Measure T, con- cern over the price of medicine was a com- problems; patients in tions in the city’s manufacturing district for recovery should be sup- large-scale cultivation (up to 30,000 square mon theme. Given the increased taxes on More Than Just Medical Marijuana cannabis, the BMCC encourages dispen- ported in any way possible. feet per location). It also defines 200 square While supporting those Primary Care Medicine: Experienced, Trusted feet or 25% of a residence (whichever is saries to develop and/or expand programs aimed at providing low-cost or free medi- who choose to abstain, smaller) for cultivation as incidental to res- those who choose to use Frank H. Lucido MD idential use. Additionally, it reconstitutes cine. With both the cultivation and dispen- sary applications, consideration should be alcohol, tobacco or other Maria Mangini PhD, FNP the Berkeley Medical Cannabis Comsn. P given to the applicants’ ties to the Berkeley drugs should have access rimary Care / Family Medicine (BMCC) to be in line with other city com- Serving the Bay Area since 1979 community, history of public service, and to information about safer missions, with members appointed by the New patients welcome declarations of character. use and to an informed Council, and gives the Council the ultimate social network that teaches Patient-centered care Safe and Appropriate MEDICAL CANNABIS Evaluations • Seminars for Physicians and Patients • Online Locators for Physicians: Aimlegal.org [email protected] www.DrFrankLucido.blogspot.com 2300 Durant Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704 For Appointment: 510-848-0958

ROBERTS & ELLIOTT ATTORNEYS AT LAW Winter 2011 Page 10 West Coast Leaf across the river on their backs.’” Davidson Salmon-safe sinsemilla label: Coming to a dispensary near you? says. “Now salmon activists count their runs in the hundreds — and even less in Medical marijuana growers greenhouse gases for every pound it pro- California counties from Santa Cruz to Del many watersheds. duces. Outdoor growing can have impacts Norte. Coho salmon are listed as threat- address eco-impacts of crop “Logging, dams, road building and on soil health, water and wildlife, like any ened under the Endangered Species Act, other human activities all have their dam- By Kim Nelson,* teahousecollective.org other form of agriculture. and salmon protection has been champi- aging impacts. It’s time to recognize that As the medical-cannabis industry in “Throughout rural California there are oned by Congressman Mike Thompson. cannabis cultivation, especially water Humboldt steps into the light of legaliza- many thousands of cannabis growers, Despite 30 years of efforts, the once bounti- diversion and fertilizer run-off, also tion, some growers are addressing the indoor and outdoor, legal-medical and not. ful fisheries are depleted. impacts salmon and other species. Unless environmental impacts of cultivation, tying Talking to them about their practices pres- “Old timers and even the ‘new settlers’ we talk about it, we can’t fix it.” ecological health to a ‘Humboldt Brand.’ ents a unique challenge,” Davidson says. of the 60s and 70s tell stories of salmon *Nelson is a medical cannabis advocate and community radio “This county has long been synony- “Humboldt can use the changing eco- runs so huge they said ‘you could walk activist in Humboldt County. mous with both the world’s finest marijua- nomics of the medical marketplace to na and a passionate environmental com- reward best practices by establishing a The Zen of providing affordable access to patients mitment,” says Liz Davidson, a communi- powerful environmental brand. Like fair- ty activist in southern Humboldt (SoHum) trade coffee or dolphin-safe tuna, people Navigating the land use maze rently have high-grade outdoor starting at $140 per ounce.” and a principal organizer of the Tea House want high-quality products that they know By Nicholas Smilgys, SPARC Collective. “Linking the two is very natu- Asked about the future of medical are produced responsibly.” The first new dispensary to make it ral, and if we do it successfully, we can cre- cannabis in California after the near pas- The Tea House Collective was formed through San Francisco’s rigorous medical ate a means of addressing the environmen- sage of Prop 19, Pearson said, “I think the to offer high-quality Humboldt cannabis cannabis permitting process opened its tal impacts of cultivation.” movement needs to ally itself with alterna- that is sustainably grown. Its growers, doors recently at 1256 Mission St. The San tive medicine, where it belongs. Medical small producers who are conscious of their Francisco Patient and Resource Center Humboldt county “has long been cannabis is where acupuncture was 35 impact, include expert breeders and envi- (SPARC), received unanimous approval synonymous with both the world’s years ago, when it was just getting recogni- ronmental activists. from the City and was recently featured in finest marijuana and a passionate tion as an important health alternative but “Sustainable cultivation begins with the New York Times as one of the “dispen- environmental commitment” it was still illegal.” energy use,” says Davidson. “It makes no saries of the future.” The SPARC collective recently began a sense to use fossil fuel energy to grow an The collective originally began by serv- Like any industry, cannabis growing partnership with Quan Yin, one of San herb that will grow naturally in the sun. ing chronically ill patients at Maitri, a has an environmental footprint. Indoor Francisco’s premier eastern medicine We also use permaculture techniques, cre- Buddhist end-of-life care facility that was growing uses significant amounts of fossil health providers. SPARC members who ating compost, growing and feeding soil founded by Issan Dorsey, a Zen monk who fuels and generates large amounts of bring their membership cards to Quan Yin naturally rather than buying dirt and fertil- greatly influenced its co-founders. After once a week can receive acupuncture treat- izers in plastic bags. providing cannabis at no cost for 10 years ments for just five dollars. SPARC’s hours, “It also means conserving our most at Maitri, the collective began to think services and calendar are listed online at at West Coast Leaf precious resource — water. Our growers about making high-grade cannabis more sparcsf.org. know that every drop they use, they take affordable for patients generally. Don’t miss a single issue! When asked to share any important les- from the fish. Our farmers use water-wise “One of our mottos at SPARC has been sons learned from going through the per- Subscribe today. growing techniques; our highest level of ‘Taking the profit out of pot,’” said Erich mitting process, Pearson responded, certification, ‘Salmon Safe Sinsemilla,’ is Pearson, one of its founders. Place your ad today! “Make sure you understand land-use and awarded to growers who use only stored “As a not-for-profit, we oversee much water and do not pump from springs, zoning issues. Get some good advice from westcoastleaf.com of the cultivation of the medicine we pro- someone who understands these two creeks, or wells during habitat-critical late vide, so our members can obtain afford- summer months.” areas. It’s important to be prepared for a or 510-215-8326 able, high-quality cannabis when it’s avail- long process.” Salmon protection is a huge issue in able at key times during the year. We cur- West Coast Leaf Page 11 Winter 2011 Tax return is Riverside patient farmers’ market defends itself still at issue in Law firm guiding attacks on over 5,000 members, a “nuisance.” collectives throughout IE area Filing on behalf of the city is Best, Best Naulls case and Krieger (BB&K), a Riverside-based By Lanny Swerdlow, RN mega-law firm with ties to over 30 Inland By Kandice Hawes, The Inland Empire Patients Health and Empire cities. Rather than encourage local OC NORML Wellness Center (HWC), a cannabis collec- governments to meet with patients and Ronnie Naulls was a tive in the city of Riverside, follows the negotiate acceptable ordinances to regulate young, intelligent, family only full-fledged farmers’ market model of and license collectives, BB&K advises them man who took a risk and cannabis distribution in the state of to pass bans, with support from local law opened a cannabis collec- California — perhaps the world. enforcement. Almost every Inland Empire tive in the early days of Although Riverside bills itself as ‘The city has done so; BB&K sells them model storefront locations. The City of Arts and Innovation,’ it has filed a ordinances, legal services and support. city he chose to serve was temporary restraining order seeking to Representing the collective that is chal- Corona in hostile Riverside shut the collective down. lenging BB&K’s attack, attorney J. David County. It wasn’t nuisance Nick filed a brief citing numerous court complaints that put him on At a Nov. 24 hearing, Judge John rulings and arguing that the Court of the radar of the federal Molloy ruled against the collective citing Appeals ‘qualified patients’ decision nulli- government, but rather his the Kruse and Nulls decisions by the 2nd drag shows, 420 bingo and generous dona- fies the claim that collectives can be banned success and payments of thousands of dol- Dist. Court of Appeals, ignoring contradic- tions by compassionate people. because they are illegal under federal law. lars to the State Board of Equalization. tory rulings by the 4th Dist. Court re- Although the threat of prison time is garding federal law and moratoria versus “At issue in this case is the very right to The Healing Nations Collective was a not imminent, many non profit organiza- bans. Molloy granted HWC a two-week have a collective,” said Nick. “Knowing non-profit mutual benefit corporation that tions are still working to help spread the stay on the injunction while an appeal is that the conduct is legal, various munici- donated to cancer organizations and was a word about the Naulls case and help his filed with the 4th District Court of Appeals. palities continue to defy state law using member of the city Chamber of Commerce. family pay off the Federal Government. Riverside’s zoning ordinances do not legal sophistry to argue they can ban out- Naulls hired attorneys and a CPA to make allow any “facility where marijuana is right what state law permits. sure that he was operating legally. To help the Naulls family donations can be made to pay off his fine directly to made available for medical purposes in “Those collectives operating lawfully July 17, 2007 was a beautiful day until the Federal Government and must be accordance with Health and Safety Code and within the confines of the attorney authorities smashed into his home, turned issued in cashiers check or money order to: Section 11362.5 (Proposition 215),” thereby general’s 2008 guidelines should resist his life upside down and broke up his fam- US District Court Clerks, 312 N. Spring St. banning all cannabis collectives. The city is these unlawful ordinances and take appro- ily. The children were taken from him after Room 529, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Case seeking a preliminary and permanent priate action to legally challenge these police found an unlocked freezer in the # EDCR07-00097 injunction, branding the HWC, which has ordinances in court.” garage with medicinal edibles for the HNC. After Anisha, Naulls’ wife, pled guilty to child endangerment the children Springtime showers led to bumper outdoor crop in Mendocino County were returned and Naulls was placed on By Carole Brodsky Seasoned growers planted more,” said plants in the ground. Late October rains house arrest, and ordered to wear an ankle Blake. “Trinity County had hillsides of it,” were followed by more warmth, allowing bracelet until his court date. “I’ve never seen so much cannabis,” mar- veled Tim Blake, one of just over a dozen added his friend. “Ruth Lake was plas- for full ripening and the potential, after the Three years later, still on house arrest, medical-marijuana farmers who obtained a tered. The Siskyous were off the faheezie.” rigors of curing and drying, for quality ‘A- his’ case has been narrowed down to one permit from Mendocino County to grow “The challenge this year was with our Grade’ material. count of ‘filing a false tax return.’ His CPA up to 99 plants per parcel. early harvest strains like the Purple Many farmers don’t expect trimming to claimed expenses for the collective that Dragons. The weather was very hard on be completed until late January. Salaries for allegedly were not deductable. A rainy spring wreaked havoc on starts. “Many plants that show sex in those strains,” Blake noted. He planted trimmers range from about $150 to $250 As part of his agreement Naulls was March and April went into full flowering more than 20 different varieties with his per pound. ordered to pay restitution of $14,557 and and never came out,” notes Marv Levin, permit, including Maui Diesel crosses, Mobile trimming businesses — some was ordered to pay a large sum quickly to president of the Mendocino Farmers Cherry Pie Kush, White Romulan and using equipment designed for processing the court to guarantee he not be sent to the Collective, a grower-based cannabis coop- Master OG. “We had to apply different hops — are making the rounds throughout Federal Bureau of Prisons. erative. Early-bird farmers who planted in techniques to each strain, but smelling all the region. One vendor noted that at his With court restrictions it has been hard late spring watched helplessly as their the varieties has been fantastic.” last assignment, two workers alone for Naulls to provide for his family of six. babies got snowed upon twice in May, with Luckily, the October sun shone for processed 26 pounds of cannabis in six Several local non-profit groups have rains continuing into June. “The plants three weeks — enough good weather to hours, costing the farmer about $1,400 — a adopted his cause and stepped up to help freaked out a bit. They flowered early but it catch up and allow flower maturation in net savings of nearly $4000. his family make this crucial deadline, rais- all came back together,” Blake noted. full sun. Those growing sativa-dominant “The 2010 harvest will be remembered ing $6,581 through spaghetti cookouts, “More new people grew this year. strains gambled on how long to keep the as one of the finest in years,” said Levin. 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(213) 250 - 9200 Fax (213) 250 - 9161 703 Second St. Suite 401, Santa Rosa CA 95404 lentzlawfirm.com Winter 2011 Page 12 West Coast Leaf Students for Sensible Drug Policy held its Marijuana may offset alcohol-induced West Coast Regional Con- ference Oct. 16 cognitive impairment among teens at San Francisco State University By Paul Armentano, NORML neuroprotective properties in mitigating and organized Compounds in cannabis may offset some alcohol-related oxidative stress or excito- support for Prop toxic cell death.” 19 on campuses. of the adverse effects of alcohol on the ado- Photo by lescent brain, according to clinical trial data Commenting on the findings, NORML Mikki Norris published online in October by The Journal Director Allen St. Pierre said, “Alcohol and of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. cannabis appear to have contrasting effects Cal legislature sets 600’ limit on dispensaries Investigators at the University of on the human brain,” he said. “Ethanol is clearly toxic to healthy and developing Continued from page 1 California at San Diego assessed the cogni- Dispensaries addressed tive performance of 130 adolescents rang- cells whereas moderate doses of cannabi- cited by some commentators as a reason to In other legislative action, Schwarzenegger ing in age from 15.7 to 19.1 years (65 with noids appear to be relatively non-toxic and oppose legalization, as in the San Francisco signed AB 2650, which bans can nabis col- histories of heavy marijuana use, and 65 possibly even neuroprotective.” Chronicle: “This new law takes the wind lectives from operating within 600 feet of a non-using controls). Authors reported that out of one of the most important argu- school as of Jan 1. It is the first state law to the use of marijuana appeared to moderate ments for Proposition 19 – the incredible specifically mention the term dispensary. the adverse effects of alcohol on verbal Worm tea enlivens the soil cost of jailing and prosecuting people for The author of the bill, Assembly mem- learning and memory. By Michael Baldwin simple possession.” ber Joan Buchanan (D-San Ramon), origi- Researchers determined, “Regression Since ancient times, mankind has known This is the first cannabis-penalty reduc- nally proposed a 1,000 foot buffer zone models revealed that greater alcohol hang- the benefits of sustainable ecology. In the tion approved by the legislature since the around schools, parks, and churches, but over symptoms predicted worse verbal natural world everything has purpose. Moscone decriminalization act of 1975. the bill was modified at the insistence of learning and memory scores for non-mari- Sponsors of the Moscone Act had original- Earthworms digest organic matter into medical-use advocates, who pointed out juana users, but alcohol hangover symp- ly tried to make petty possession an infrac- plant nutrients. In the 1940s and 50s, that 600 feet from schools is the standard toms were not linked to performance tion, but at the insistence of law enforce- petrol-based chemicals were introduced to limit for liquor stores. among marijuana users.” ment it was made a unique kind of misde- agriculture, and since then vast areas of The bill covers all activities by dispen- meanor, the only such offense under state They concluded: “Results confirm pre- earth have been laid waste. Many have saries or other providers that have a store- law not punishable by booking or jail time, vious studies linking adolescent heavy learned that organically grown plants are front location or mobile outlet and which if proper ID was shown. drinking to reduced verbal learning and superior in quality, aroma and flavor. are required to have a business license. It memory performance. However, this rela- Offenders will no longer have a crimi- The purity and quality of nutrient grandfathers dispensaries that already tionship is not seen in adolescents with nal arrest record under SB 1449. Under the sources used to feed the cannabis plant have permits to operate closer to schools similar levels of alcohol involvement who previous law, misdemeanor possession affect the more complex and delicate issued under existing local regulations. also are heavy users of marijuana.” convictions were theoretically expunged cannabinoids that provide relief from a after two years, but in reality arrests Medical use resolution dies A previous study published in 2009 wide array of medical conditions. A bal- reported that binge drinkers who also used ance of light, water and micro-organisms remained on people’s records. The CA State Assembly failed to pass cannabis experienced significantly less living in the root zone is the key to clean, Attorneys say the new law will proba- Resolution SJR 14 by Sen. Mark Leno, white-matter damage to the brain than potent medicine. bly not save students from losing federal which would have called on the federal those who consumed alcohol alone. student aid if they are cited for possession. government to respect state medical mari- A home-brew earthworm-casting tea “Binge drinkers who also use marijua- kit from CannabisWormTea.com comes California misdemeanor possession juana laws. The vote was 37- 29, four votes na did not show as consistent a divergence complete with air pump. Anyone can brew offenses have mounted in recent years, short of the 41 required. A similar resolu- from non-users as did the binge-drink-only up a fresh batch of organic worm tea plant reaching 61,388 in 2008, the highest level tion, also by Leno, was approved by the group,” investigators concluded. “[It is] food right at home. It is always fresh, and since 1975. Legislature in 2003. This year’s vote was hampered by absences and abstentions. possible that marijuana may have some teeming with microbial life.

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PayPal payments accepted at WestCoastLeaf.com ... or Call (8326) for Visa / other Credit Card payments ... or UGENE ENSON, ATTORNEY AT LAW 510-215-TEAM E D Fill-out and mail-in this handy coupon with check or MO to Creative Xpressions PO Box 158, Alderpoint, CA 95511 • Free initial consultations. ❏ Subscriber $20 ❏ 20 copies / $50 ❏ 50 / $75 ❏ 100 / $100 • I have lived in Humboldt County for 28 years, and was a leader in the fight Begin: ❏ Winter 2011 ❏ Spring 2011 against the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting abuses. Name: ______• I’m willing to travel to Northern California counties to defend you. (I’ve been Address: ______in Del Norte, Siskiyou, Plumas, Shasta, Trinity, Humboldt, Mendocino, City, State, Zip Code ______Sonoma, Marin, Colusa, Contra Costa, Lake, Glenn, Nevada; even Los Angeles). Phone or Email ______Phone 707-923-4764 for an appointment Make check or MO payable to ‘Creative Xpressions’ and mail it with this form to: email: [email protected] • http://marijuanadefenselawyer.com/ Creative Xpressions Subscriptions, PO Box 1716, El Cerrito CA 94530 West Coast Leaf Page 13 Winter 2011 extract fossil fuels increase the environ- SOLAR Grow it in the sun, urges new organization POWERED mental impact of grid energy use. MEDICINE By Liz Davidson, growitinthesun.org environmental pollution or create toxic If the indoor uses off-grid diesel gener- Photo by waste. Naturally grown MJ is healthier for Chris Conrad Grow it in the Sun, a group of Humboldt ators, additional problems with motor-oil patients, growers, watersheds, and the County and Bay Area environmental disposal and particulate, noise and water planet,” Miller said. activists, has formed to educate medical pollution occur, as do occasional disastrous cannabis patients about pollution issues One pound of marijuana grown artifi- fuel spills. The energy-intensive technolo- associated with cannabis cultivation. cially under grid-tied lights releases up to a gies of indoor pot growing were invented “Grow it in the Sun wants patients to ton of carbon dioxide emissions, the princi- to hide marijuana cultivation from CAMP make informed choices when obtaining ple greenhouse gas — if one assumes that helicopters. Now that medical use is legal, medical cannabis,” said Ken Miller, MD, a the best new technologies are used to cre- GIITS questions why expensive and pollut- medical cannabis practitioner since 2001, ate electricity from natural gas. If the ing technologies of concealment should be and a medical advisor to GIITS. power is made from coal, each pound of the norm for California’s burgeoning mari- The campaign encourages responsible, indoor pot would also emit six pounds of juana industries. sulphur dioxide, the principle cause of acid small-scale, water-wise and salmon-safe, Oakland’s proposed mega-gardens rain, and 6.5 pounds of nitrogen oxide, organic outdoor marijuana cultivation, and would create the biggest electricity user in which causes smog and acid rain. Beyond opposes the industrialization of marijuana that city, according to GIITS, requiring oth- these greenhouse gas emissions, the dam- growing, indoors or out. erwise unneeded electrical infrastructure aging mining and drilling methods used to ”Growing medicine should not add to and releasing millions of pounds of green- house gas pollution from unnatural and ecologically destructive practices — in the Tax measures win big in Cali Oakland police shoot man holding a digital scale state known around the world for its Continued from page 2 By Mickey Martin owned to the nearby BART station where superlative natural agricultural bounty. balanced on the backs of patients.” People who feel that the dangers of mari- Grant was killed, shutting it down for Mendocino County’s recent ground- One particular tax measure, passed by juana prohibition are minimal should talk more than an hour. breaking marijuana regulations make voters, Rancho Cordova’s Measure O, will to the family of Derrick Jones, a man who The police assertion of mistaking her indoor cultivation of more than 100 square impose a license fee of up to $900 per was shot and killed by Oakland Police brother’s scale for a gun and killing him feet illegal anywhere in the county. Similar square foot on cannabis cultivation. That Dept. personnel while reaching for a shiny outraged Jones’s sister Tonya Saheli, 34. laws restricting commercial indoor resi- means for a modest indoor garden of 200 silver marijuana scale. Officers were pursu- “My brother is gone over the fact that he dential cultivation in Eureka and Arcata, square feet, a patient there will be required ing Jones Nov. 8 when he allegedly tried to had weed,” Saheli said. “And they said Humboldt County’s two largest cities, cre- to pay up to $180,000 annually. Needless to ditch some marijuana and a scale that they didn’t want to reveal what it was ate regulatory opportunities for growing say, this discriminatory fee amounts to a de would have locked him up for parole vio- because it would be embarrassing to my medicine responsibly and safely. facto ban on cultivation and will make out- lation. The officers say they mistook his family? Are you serious? It just magnifies Grow it in the Sun encourages patients laws out of patients. attempt to dump the items as a threat to my sentiments on the fact that they should to ask where their cannabis comes from — ASA is considering a legal challenge to their safety and opened fire on Jones, not be given a pass. The fact that it was an does it come from responsible growers, or Measure O, as are others. Regardless who killing the 37-year-old. electronic scale, it just really hurts.” from factory farms or destructive planta- files suit, the initiative is unlikely to stand In the wake of the Oscar Grant shoot- The officers were put on administrative tions in the national forests? up to legal scrutiny. ing and Johannes Mehserle sentencing, the leave and the Oakland Police chief is “bet- Patients have a choice, and making While the trend to tax medical marijua- Oakland community is already on edge tering” the department’s policy on dealing their choice known can reverse the trend na may not be over — as evidenced by an regarding police violence. The shooting of with people who may be reaching into toward destructive and polluting practices. effort in Los Angeles to impose yet another an unarmed man over his attempt to avoid their waistband or clothing. Regardless, California can cultivate a natural, sustain- tax — ASA remains committed and deter- going to jail for cannabis has sparked out- Jones lost his life because he feared arrest able, honorable, and profitable industry mined to fight against such increased costs rage in the community. About 100 people for marijuana — and the Drug War has simply by doing what it does best: for patients. marched from the barber shop Jones senselessly claimed another life. Grow it in the Sun. Winter 2011 Page 14 West Coast Leaf West Coast Leaf Page 15 Winter 2011 Winter 2011 Page 16 West Coast Leaf

PROP 19 CAMPAIGN — (Top row, l-r) Amanda Rain Brazel with news and supporters at LA election night party; James Rigdon, Prop. 19 field director with Kenya Wheeler, Courage Campaign; Bob Lee (Richardʼs father) addresses the crowd on election night. (Second row, l-r) Neill Franklin, LEAP; Stephen Gutwillig, DPA, Dale and Jeff Jones at wedding-fundraiser; Dale Sky Jones, spokesperson; Michael Whitney, Firedoglake; Courage Campaign volunteer. (Third row, l-r) election attorney Jim Wheaton with consultant Doug Linney, The Next Generation; Gianni Feliciano, Prop. 19 intern. (Fourth row, l-r) Ann Lee (Richardʼs mother) with, Dale and Jodie Emery; Dale, Hannah Dershowitz and Mauricio; Campaign Director Mauricio Garzon with initiative proponent Richard Lee; firetruck sponsored by David Bronner; Dan Rush, UFCW union. (Bottom) busy campaign office works to get out the vote.

Thank you, Richard Lee

and the Prop 19 team!

e at Medi-Cone would like to thank the Whard-working organizers and activists who campaigned for Prop 19 and all the millions of California voters who came out to support rational, responsible cannabis reform.

e’d especially like to thank Jeffrey and Dale WSky Jones and Richard Lee of Oaksterdam University for their unwavering dedication to the movement. Pre-Rolled ... for FAST Relief! oving forward, Medi-Cone will continue to Mstand with all those committed to ending the injustices of cannabis prohibition to protect patients, caregivers, and ordinary citizens alike. West Coast Leaf Page 17 Winter 2011 social prohibition has shift- Proposition 19 sparked a global shift ed the political playing field around legalization. Campaign made history would be major tax savings on enforce- ment and incarcerations, while billions of The official opposition to Continued from page 1 dollars in new revenues would come from Prop 19, Public Safety First, 1996 passage of Prop 215. In the midst of taxing the already existing industry in non- was funded by the California the campaign, he married Prop 19 spokes- medical cannabis sales. This would in turn Beer and Beverage Distributors, person Dale Sky Clare, of Oaksterdam bring down prices and eliminate high prof- California Narcotics Officers Associ - University, who became a familiar face and its in the illegal marijuana market, result- ation, District Attorney Assn., Police Chiefs a calm voice of reason on news programs ing in reduced crime and violence, both in Assn., Peace Officers Assn., and the prison around the world. Lee also has a licensed California and in Mexico. guard-based Correctional Super visors medical marijuana dispensary in Oakland, Organization, among others. Mexico’s former President Vincente Coffeeshop Blue Sky. Fox prayed aloud, “May God let it pass.” The federal ‘drug czar,” DEA officials, The campaign pressed its theme that and US Attorney General Eric Holder came While Prop 19 fared well in the San legalizing personal adult use and cultiva- out against it, as did every major corporate Francisco Bay area, however, the fact that tion, then taxing and regulating retail sales daily newspaper editorial board except the initiative did no better in the marijua- like alcohol, is a common-sense way to the Orange County Register. na-rich Emerald Triangle counties, control cannabis. Creating licensed outlets Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity, than it To the surprise of many, an organized where proof of age is required for a pur- did in the rest of the state showed that the opposition emerged within the marijuana chase would reduce access to teens. There economics of legal medical marijuana amid community, funded primarily by a handful Latin America embraces cannabis reform reforms have been extremely significant. In of Argentina, for example, the Supreme Court dis- The drive to end prohibition grows throughout the Hemisphere ruled in late 2009 that punishment for pos- pen- By Daniel Robelo, Drug Policy Alliance murdered in Mexico in the last four years. session of cannabis is unconstitutional. saries, med- The eyes of most Latin Americans were Despite taking out several top drug traf- While the ruling only considered marijua- ical marijuana fixed on the Nov. 2 US elections — not so fickers — such as the October killing of na, it is widely speculated that the prece- physician groups, and commercial growers much out of interest in the midterm con- Gulf Cartel head Antonio Ezequiel dent it set has effectively de-penalized pos- with a financial interest in maintaining the gressional contests as in the outcome of Cardenas Guillen (aka “Tony Tormenta”), session of all drugs. In fact, a full-on status quo, and fueled by fears that Prop 19 California’s Proposition 19. or the earlier capture of the acting head of decriminalization bill to formalize the might affect the medical marijuana laws, in While the Golden State did not legalize the Beltran Leyva cartel, Edgar Villarreal Court’s decision is pending in the an assortment of disinformation, rumors cannabis this year, it succeeded in further- Valdez, (aka “La Barbie”) — and in spite of Argentine legislature. and conspiracy theories. They were fronted several recent high-profile drug seizures, by a disruptive group, known as ‘Stoners ing a debate about legalization throughout Ecuador and Brazil are both consider- including a record 134-ton shipment of Against Legal ization’ and spearheaded by the Westerm Hemisphere. ing similar proposals to decriminalize pos- marijuana in October and one containing Dennis Peron and John Entwhistle. Russ The historic initiative inspired a serious session of drugs and reduce penalties for 15 tons in November, myriad drug traffick- Bellville of the National Organization for national conversation in Mexico about small-scale trafficking. For its part, ers continue to operate with impunity. the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) legalization. Fed up with bearing the brunt Ecuador issued a blanket pardon for so- kept track of some of their activities on his of prohibition-related violence, Mexican For several years now, a rising tide of called drug ‘mules’ (couriers), and added blogs at norml.org and related links. policymakers and civil society organiza- reform has been sweeping across Latin important provisions in its new constitu- tions opened a meaningful, public discus- America. In late 2008, the Latin American tion, ratified in 2008, including a funda- Even opponents of the initiative often sion on legalization strategies, putting all Commission on Drugs and Democracy, a mental recognition of rights for people had to preface their position that they were options on the table. blue-ribbon panel of intellectuals led by the who used drugs. in favor of legalization, but they had some former presidents of Mexico, Colombia technical disagreements with Prop 19. Supporters in Mexico include many Colombia, in fact, decriminalized pos- and Brazil, declared the drug war a failure NGOs, legislators, academics, celebrities, session in the 1990s, and its Supreme Court Immediately after the election, the cam- and called for marijuana decriminalization. former presidents and other ex-govern- reaffirmed it in 2008. Yet, as Washington’s paign announced plans for the 2012 ballot, ment officials. Even current President In the same spirit, several countries in one stalwart ally, Colombia is constantly and California NORML set up a Jan. 29 Felipe Calderon, who opposes legalization the region have adopted or are considering bucking the regional reform trend — actu- statewide conference in Berkeley to discuss and called Prop. 19 “a terrible inconsisten- drug law reforms. Some have been quite ally amending its constitution to allow re- “What Next” for state efforts, with more cy in government policies in the US,” modest, like Mexico’s 2009 narcomenudeo criminalization of drug possession in 2009, information at canorml.org. encouraged this open dialogue to go for- law, which eliminated penalties for five subject to administrative penalties. The Next Generation ran the campaign, grams or less of cannabis and smaller ward. Several concrete legislative propos- Overall, an undeniable spirit of change with campaign director Mauricio Garzon. amounts of other substances. Unfortu- als to legalize or decriminalize cannabis are is engulfing the region, a rejection of the Firedog Lake, Law Enforcement Against nately, it also increased the penalties asso- now pending in Mexico’s Congress. Washington consensus for a war on mari- Prohibition, the Courage Campaign, Drug ciated with other drug law offenses. Such a level of support should come as juana in favor of reasoned steps on the path Policy Alliance, Students for Sensible Drug no surprise. Some 31,000 people have been In other countries, however, the toward legalization. Policy and many others chipped in.

Wisconsin medical advisory referenda pass By Phillip Smith, stopthedrugwar.org Voters in Dane County, Wisconsin, home of Madison, and the city of River Falls approved medical marijuana advisory refer- enda by 75.5% and 68% respectively on Nov. 2. The non-binding measures are aimed at building political support for passage of a medical marijuana bill in the state legislature. Unfortunately, the prospects for passage of a medical use bill in the legislature are tough. Advocates face a hostile Republican governor, Scott Walker, a hostile attorney general, JB Van Hollen, and now a state legislature in the hands of Republicans with the patients’ nemesis Leah Vukmir in the state Senate as the likely chair a key health committee. Still, voters in two Wisconsin jurisdictions did put legisla- tors on notice that medical marijuana is a winning issue.

Collective and Cooperative Farming Compliance Consultations Custom Built Legal Binders • Better Farming Practices Collective Certification Program Garden Yield and Probable Cost Analysis Asset Management-Crop Protection Winter 2011 Page 18 West Coast Leaf Prop 19 shifted political tone and direction A new dialogue has begun black and Latino police officers associa- Editorials and Commentary tions declared the end of cannabis prohibi- By Stephen Gutwillig, Drug Policy Alliance tion a racial-justice priority. The Prop 19 Despite the frustrating defeat of coalition included the state’s largest labor Proposition 19, this is still a watershed union, SEIU of California, alongside long- Decrim: Good, but not enough moment in the long struggle to end canna - shore workers and food and commercial bis prohibition in this country. California’s workers, all pronouncing the positive eco- California cannabis consumers have reason to celebrate in the fact that the state legislature historic ballot initiative has impacted the nomic impact of cannabis legalization a has finally passed a ‘decrim’ bill that reduces the penalty for simple possession of an ounce national debate for the long term, placing priority for working families. Retired or less from a misdemeanor to an infraction, effective in 2011. That means getting caught cannabis legalization squarely in the main- judges, district attorneys, police chiefs and with a little pot is more like a traffic ticket than a crime, as it generates a fine and citation stream of American politics. It is likely to beat cops — many of them members of the rather than a criminal record. While the timing and motive behind Governor maintain that status for years to come as group Law Enforcement Against Prohi - Schwarzenegger’s signature were suspect — did he sign it to derail Prop 19, or was it sim- the national reform movement builds on bition — publicly broke ranks with the ply because “No one cares if you smoke a joint or not,” as he stated on the Tonight Show this remarkable campaign and on the over- public safety officials who dominated the with Jay Leno? — it is clear that the warming climate of marijuana reform made it easy for whelming support of younger voters. opposition campaign. him to take that step. Hopefully our new Governor Jerry Brown will take the next. Few of us could have predicted the How this incremental legal change affects the stigma that has been used to rationalize shift that occurred this year. Media cover- This discussion will resonate in similar prohibition, and what the social consequences will be for having a marijuana citation on age is one barometer of this change. For ballot campaigns as soon as 2012. one’s record still remain to be seen. Still, decriminalization is not the be-all and end-all in years, mainstream media outlets haven’t the struggle for equal rights, and we dare not become complacent. With possession being quite known how to cover the movement And then there were the young people. an infraction, it’s less hassle for police to cite people for marijuana. That means that local for cannabis reform. Formerly wary of Support for cannabis legalization among governments can view pot as they do parking, issuing tickets to generate revenue. making this issue front-page news, outlets young likely voters in California has con- Decrim is a small step in the right direction that leaves sales and cultivation as felony in every medium around the world closely sistently polled between 70% and 80%. In a offenses and keeps the market outside of legal control. So, our work is far from over. Until followed Prop 19 from start to finish. The recent Newsweek poll, 70% of likely voters cannabis is legal and the market is regulated, its consumers will be subject to discrimina- headlines and content of marijuana policy under 30 nationally would support a Prop tion in society, investigations for complicating circumstances, and good people will still be articles, where puns were once a must, 19 in their own state, as would 51% of like- arrested, prosecuted and incarcerated for providing cannabis to adults who want it. have evolved alongside the increasingly ly voters between 30 and 49. Marijuana serious tone of the public debate. Cali - legalization is an issue today’s young vot- fornians heard detailed arguments for end- ers — and tomorrow’s middle-aged voters Prop 19 vote puts ball in legislature’s court ing the state’s failed marijuana ban, a dis- — are excited about. The Newsweek poll Congratulations, Prop 19. Rarely has a ballot measure lost at the ballot box and still been cussion that will resonate in similar cam- also found that legalization is a significant hailed as such a landmark of success. Nonetheless, the loss was poignent. Equal rights paigns in Western states as soon as 2012. draw to the ballot box for under-30 voters, were nearly within our grasp, but the tally came up short. It shows that we have not nego- Another highly significant accomplish- with 64% saying they would be more likely tiated the final details of consensus on how to achieve this goal. The vote margin raises a ment of the Prop 19 phenomenon is the to vote if the issue were on the ballot. fundamental question of electoral government: Is it morally right for fewer than 54% of unprecedented coalition it forged. As more young people join the elec- the people to vote to criminalize behavior that more than 46% think is okay? Longtime drug policy reformers such as torate, the tide for reform is swelling. Prop The election sends a strong signal to Sacramento: California voters want the legislators my organization were joined for the first 19 showed them that a serious campaign to do their job and fix these broken laws. Negotiate basic points of agreement on how to time by mainstream civil rights groups, can be waged to end prohibition, that seri- allow adult social use and cultivation. Make the public feel that impaired driving and organized labor and the largest contingent ous people are with them, and that sensi- workplace usage are adequately controlled. Regulate the market to keep cannabis away of dissident law enforcement figures ever bility and principle are on their side. from kids while respecting adult rights and the sanctity of the family. Sort out the messy publicly assembled on this issue. This is the wave that will end the disas- details that are too arcane for the sound bite-driven rumor mill that the electoral process Decrying the chilling racial disparities ter of cannabis prohibition in America. has become. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano and Senator Mark Leno are exemplars who in drug law enforcement, the California * Stephen Gutwillig is California State Director of the DPA, have shown the courage to do the right thing, and for that we commend them. Conference of the NAACP, the Latino Drug Policy Alliance. latimes.com/topic/social-issues/ racism/naacp-ORNPR000027.topic The Prop 19 experience reaffirmed that reformers need to engage minority populations Voters League and each of the national and women with children under the age of 18 to feel invested in this issue and come to the table. This campaign began to bridge that gap for the first time, and the playing field of Dispensaries need to act as positive role models cannabis reform is forever changed. Now it is time for the legislature to play ball. Lessons learned from a loss regulate, or bungled the process. The prime example is Los Angeles, where there has West Coast Leaf By Steve DeAngleo, Harborside Health Center been an uncontrolled proliferation of Let’s get federal The West Coast Leaf™ is a free speech publication While disappointing, the defeat of entirely inappropriate dispensaries. The political tide seems to have turned owned and operated by Creative Xpressions. ISSN Proposition 19 was neither unexpected nor against Big Government. The rise of the 1945-211X. Business license EC08-0002765. The Leaf Shoddy storefronts sprouted up, often supports tolerance and maintains that cannabis surprising. Many people had urged its pro- self-proclaimed Tea Party is widely inter- close to sensitive locations. Over-saturation sales and cultivation should and will be legal for ponents to postpone it for the general elec- led to inappropriate promotions, like biki- preted as a rejection of government waste adult consumption in a well-regulated market. We tion in 2012. It’s now time to reflect on why ni-clad ‘nurses’ on roller skates. Leaflets and meddling in our lives. May we suggest invite your submissions and advertising. WCL fos- Prop 19 lost, and to consider interim steps an easy-to-understand target for newly ters a socio-political community by providing were distributed around schools, and photos, news, directories, features, and regional the cannabis community can take to legit- materials intended for patients were foist- elected anti-tax / anti-government officials? information for our readers. Special thanks to imize itself in society. The Drug War. Vote to move marihuana out ed on the public at large. Jackie G. Wilson for her editorial assistance. At root, California voters decided of the Controlled Substances Act, defund Many voters were understandably Chris Conrad, executive editor against Prop 19 because they are still not the DEA and Office on National Drug Con- soured by the experience. Until they see Mikki Norris, managing editor convinced that cannabis can be distributed trol Policy, and let the States and free mar- medical cannabis being distributed in a PO Box 1716, El Cerrito CA 94530 in a safe, seemly and responsible fashion. ket decide how cannabis is handled. way that benefits communities, rather than WestCoastLeaf.com • 510-215-TEAM (8326) Voters made clear they will not welcome brings harm, they hesitate to expand access That would show true commitment to Vol 3 No 4. Print run: 167,000 copies. cannabis distribution until it is done in a personal liberty and free enterprise. Winter Issue. © 2010-2011. All rights reserved. to cannabis. They likely will not authorize way that they believe is not threatening to more extensive sales until the existing sys- the health and welfare of their families. tem is healthy and functional. Poll after poll has established that In the wake of Prop 19, the task of the Californians, like voters nationwide, over- cannabis movement is clear. Over the next Upcoming Quarterly Schedule and Submission Deadlines whelmingly support medical cannabis. two years, we must demonstrate to our fel- Surveys also show that voters are far less Your ad in this newspaper helps build our community in California and low citizens that we are worthy of their likely to approve of fully legal cannabis. the West, and will be seen around the world. trust. The movement should now focus on In other words, many voters are taking passing reasonable regulation of medical Spring 2011 • Deadline Feb. 11, 2011 a wait-and-see approach. If medical cannabis in those California jurisdictions Circulated March — May 2011 cannabis appears to work out well, they that have not yet done so — and then make Summer 2011 • Deadline May 9, 2011 may consider further reform. If not, they sure positive models of distribution are may continue to have reservations about Circulated June — August 2011 actually launched. When more people have legalization. Since 1996, Californians have experienced the civic benefits from good- ADVERTISERS AND SUBSCRIBERS HELP GROW THE LEAF been watching our state’s experiment with faith regulation of cannabis, then we can West Coast Leaf provides free copies of our newspapers at locations the legal distribution of medical cannabis. successfully ask them to expand access to and events throughout California and the West Coast. Unfortunately, the performance of this nas- all adults. cent industry has been spotty. We are an advertiser, subscriber and donor supported community newspaper. If we do not shrink from holding the To subscribe, you can use the handy coupon in this issue or visit us online. Cities like Oakland, which moved mirror to our own community; if we insist quickly to establish good-faith regulation Place your Ad at www.WestCoastLeaf.com or call: equally on effective regulation and positive of medical cannabis, have been rewarded models of cannabis distribution; if we earn West Coast Leaf • 510-215-Team (8326) with trouble-free dispensaries. the trust of our fellow citizens, then our For bulk distribution, contact us at [email protected] However, many jurisdictions failed to time may come in 2012. West Coast Leaf Page 19 Winter 2011 San Jose MC3 coalition fights stereotypes, bias

By Paul Stewart, MC3 Director * understand the error of this biased depic- With the overwhelming passage of tion. Measure U on Nov. 2, the San Jose City Breaking stereotypes about medicinal Council can now tax sales of cannabis up to cannabis is an ongoing battle. Patients 10%. Problem is, with Prop 19 not passing, everywhere must become educators and the only cannabis sales they’ll be taxing warriors, or they will surely become vic- will be for medicinal use. tims. In San Jose, patients may be taxed to Getting the Council to understand the the point of having to resort to the streets to impact this will have on the cannabis obtain their medicine, while still facing patients community is vital. This issue is heavy-handed, systematic police raids . paramount for the Medicinal Cannabis * Stewart is Executive Director of the Medicinal Cannabis Collective Coalition (MC3) in San Jose, California. Collective Coalition (MC3) as it seeks sen- sible regulation for collectives. Educating the public about the cannabis movement is Imagine ... then manifest now more urgent than ever. By Amanda Rain Brazel Oaksterdam University Key to this understanding is quashing Imagine, if you would, cannabis in its full HONORED — Alice Huffman, President of the CA NAACP, lent support to Prop. 19 at the NORML the Hollywood stereotypes. Patients who conference held in Portland, OR Sept. 9-11, and called the war on drugs a civil rights issue, freedom, in the truest form of Jack Herer’s depend on cannabis and the collectives because so many young people of color are being arrested for marijuana and lives ruined by dream and vision: people freely growing needless criminal records. “Our youth want and deserve a future. Letʼs invest in people, not who serve them face such misconceptions cannabis for medicine or personal use, and prisons.” Photo by Mikki Norris on a daily basis, and they need to overcome farmers growing industrial hemp for the that bias. healing of our economy and environment. Former cops played big role in Prop 19 campaign Many elected officials, when asked to Imagine all that, and the freedom from debated all the major ‘No on 19’ advocates. vote to assure safe access for medicinal LEAP’s well-received message threat of prosecution — imagine. Now, By October, Prop 19 opponents were con- cannabis (or, as in San Jose, to tax patients’ By Shaleen Title, LEAP what would it take to get there? ceding that maybe legalization itself wasn’t medicine), simply assume they are legaliz- Celebrating alongside the organizations such a bad idea, but not the way Prop 19 ing ‘head shops.’ Many voters often have Consider the opposition. The well and volunteers with whom they worked was written. Then the opposition started this same impression. funded, profit-driven pharmaceutical on California’s Proposition 19 campaign, industry with its massive lobbying influ- failing to show up to debate and defend The MC3 is retaining the services of a the pro-legalization police officers, judges ence over the federal government. There’s pot prohibition. On many occasions, LEAP public relations firm to help craft an educa- and prosecutors of Law Enforcement law enforcement: the DEA, narcotics offi- law enforcement speakers had the plat- tional campaign as well as advise us and Against Prohibition (LEAP) are proud to cers, district attorneys and prison guards, form to themselves to tell audiences that patients on other issues affecting the city’s have played a role in making history. They each with its own lobbying clout. There are they had reviewed Prop 19 and found it to deeply flawed draft ordinance. finally sent into the mainstream the clear the illegal drug dealers, street criminals be a far superior alternative to the war on Patients who utilize medicinal cannabis message that a significant portion of law marijuana. and drug gangs that bring a heinous level enforcement opposes prohibition. are as diverse a group as any. They include of violence and atrocities. There are hidden Though the proposition fell short, the senior citizens, attorneys, municipal and The Prop 19 campaign brought togeth- financial interests. Of course, there’s the results were just as historic as the cam- state employees, business people, journal- er an unprecedented coalition of faith lead- federal government itself, which in the paign. Millions of voters have proclaimed ists, corporate heads, bankers, students, ers, elected officials, some of the state’s final week of the campaign threatened that the state is ready for this change. A blue- and white-collar workers — and, yes, biggest unions, political groups including Californian voters with punitive retribu- rational public discussion about legalized elected officials. Their unifying concern is county Democratic parties, large individ- tion if they approved Prop 19. Let’s not for- cannabis regulation has begun. the need to relieve pain and suffering. ual coalitions of mothers, doctors, lawyers, get all the tactics employed, both locally Clearly, LEAP considers this a tremen- and many others. To add law enforcement The many people who still believe and federally, to maintain the status quo. dous victory and eagerly looks forward to to the Yes on 19 alliance, LEAP recruited cannabis patients should be lumped in Still, we fight for freedom. Citizens future opportunities to support cannabis the National Black Police Assn. and the with recreational users are bolstering an across America commit civil disobedience legalization and common-sense controls. National Latino Officers Assn. LEAP also even more insidious stereotype: that the in defiance of the failed war on cannabis, helped bring the CA NAACP into the What’s next for LEAP? Members get owners of co-ops operate as a front for risking their freedom and livelihood to broadest coalition ever to support a back to their primary mission of educating drug sales, and profit from their patients. advance the belief that sick people should cannabis-legalization initiative. the public about the broader failure of pro- This image of the medicinal cannabis have safe access to medicine, that cannabis hibition and the need for legalized regula- Between March and November, LEAP ‘co-cop as drug dealer’ is a harmful fallacy, consumers and providers should not be tion of non-medical drug consumption. tripled its law-enforcement presence in because as a result most people don’t know criminals, and that law enforcement They will also be preparing for 2012 cam- California and put on more than 300 pre- or care about the closed-loop system man- should focus on violent crimes instead of paigns now being discussed in several sentations throughout the state, in-person dated by current law. non-violent drug offenses. states. National campaigns are forming to and via news media. Working with the Also, the claim that collectives are Reformers have repeatedly seen that build on the milestones set by Prop 19, as coalition, LEAP CA spokespeople, includ- merely “making a profit from drug sales” we cannot rely on politicians for reform; are state campaigns in OR, WA, CO, NV, ing retired San Jose Chief Joe McNamara is used to justify the actions of law enforce- most likely even the modest and long-over- MA and maybe again in CA. and retired LAPD Deputy Chief Stephen ment in busting a dispensary, delivery due decrim of SB-1449 wouldn’t have been Downing, spread the message that legal- Wherever legalization is up for debate, service or patient grower. These officials signed into law if not for the pressure of ization with regulation is the best policy to LEAP drug warriors will be ready to give aren’t doctors or CPAs, but they make their Prop 19. an insider’s view. In the meantime, support promote public safety. raids and then let the courts hash it out. What has brought us this far has been is needed to help them to continue speak- Chief McNamara was featured in a TV The ‘collective operator/drug dealer’ coalitions of dedicated activists advocating ing out about the failure of current policies. ad explaining that cannabis legalization stereotype is rampant, and the media make for reform, standing up against the injus- As the discussion moves past prohibition, would allow police to focus on violent little attempt to amend this view among tices of failed prohibition and taking the LEAP seeks an intelligent conversation crime and help put drug cartels out of busi- average TV viewers, movie-goers, or elect- lead in creating an exit strategy from the about what policies will come next to ness. Cop-for-cop, sheriff-for-sheriff, they ed officials, who rarely take the time to war on cannabis. replace it. Winter 2011 Page 20 West Coast Leaf Cannabidiol: CBD becomes the new rising star of the therapeutic cannabinoid galaxy Science and Horticulture By Dale Gieringer, California NORML can be identified only by chemical testing, New varieties of CBD-rich cannabis are which has just recently become widely becoming available in strains that could available. A potency study by California Nor Cal growers improving garden techniques deliver distinct therapeutic benefits. NORML and MAPS found only two of 47 Looking back on 2010 season producing biodegradable packaging alter- Cannabidiol (CBD) is the second leading samples had significant levels of CBD. natives. The cannabis industry’s waste pile By Chris Van Hook* Clean Green cannabinoid in the plant, but it lacks THC’s At least 10 CBD-rich strains have been needs to be addressed, and this company is psychoactive ‘high.’ identified in the past year by labs in It was a busy finishing and harvesting sea- starting. Look at their ‘eco jar’ and ‘tea can- California, Montana and Colorado. They son this year, with the rains in much of When combined with THC, CBD coun- ister’ containers. include Soma A+, Women’s Collective California affecting the scheduling and ters such negative psychoactive effects of This is the time of year to plant any Stinky Purple, Cotton Candy/Diesel, True timing of harvests. cannabis as anxiety, memory loss, and cover-crop seeds and start building com- inability to work or concentrate, which Blueberry/OG Kush, Harlequin, Omrita This highlights the importance of post piles for early spring. many users can’t tolerate. Rx, Jamaican Lion, Rx Red, Misty, improved processing techniques as out- Many garden supply stores have seed Cannatonic, and Good Medicine. Harbor - door crops get larger and the supply is combinations that add nitrogen to the soil side Health Center in Oakland pioneered backed up, sometimes for months. While breeders have worked for decades to as well as provide green mulch to be raise the THC content of marijuana, another testing for CBD content and has had the There is a lot of interest in nitrogen turned into the soil next spring. compound, CBD, has quietly proven itself to steadiest supply and widest variety. packaging, although one must be certain to Also, review which crop strains did have therapeutic benefits while it neutralizes the The effects of CBD are being explored use food-grade gas and packing materials. well at the garden site and determine psychoactive effect. New breeders are trying to through ProjectCBD.com, a website with a Three new and exciting products have which ones not to grow again — which restore a balanced cannabinoid profile. survey developed by the Society of shown up this past season that are impor- ones were susceptible to the local weather Cannabis Clinicians (SCC). Patients will be tant to know about for outdoor as well as and pests, and which thrived. It also has anti-inflammatory, anti-anx- asked to report the effects of the strain they indoor growers. Review the past growing season to pin- iety, anti-spasmodic, and anti-oxidant are currently using before switching to a Looking to light-deprive a crop? point bottlenecks and problem areas and properties, according to research published CBD-rich strain and reporting its effects for Grobots.com links to a small greenhouse better plan the upcoming year. Selection of in scientific and medical journals. comparison. According to co-author Stacey manufacturer in California. It makes an crop strain is a decision that needs to be GW Pharmaceuticals researchers have Kerr, M.D., the goal is “a study with data automatic light-depo hoop house that is well thought-out each year, and it is never found that a plant extract with a 50-50 mix- clean enough for publication in a peer- mobile, easy to set up, expandable, cost- too early to start. ture of CBD and THC was strongly pre- reviewed medical journal.” effective and ships by UPS. These green- ferred to pure THC or CBD by multiple Strains with high CBD-to-THC ratios houses can be ordered in different lengths Two changes are evident within the sclerosis patients. The low psychoactivity Please turn to page 22 to suit individual needs. industry. First, outdoor medical cannabis is improving in quality and consistency as of the 50-50 Sativex extract An amazing piece of equipment for the growing and processing techniques of helped GW get govern- growers both indoor and out is a configu- CBD RICH Delivery Collective outdoor growers improve. ment approval to market it ration of rotating bars that produces a in the UK, Canada and Second, indoor growers are becoming “from our collective to your door…” humming sound, found at biowaveindus- elsewhere. tries.com. This sound wave opens the more aware of their energy consumption Although CBD is com- 1-510-CBD-RICH stomata of the leaves, allowing for greater and are trying to reduce their carbon foot- mon in hemp, it had been Specializing in CBD RICH Medical Marijuana respiration and nutrient uptake. Years of print as well as costs. almost entirely bred out of research now confirm larger yields. These changes show California agricul- Delivery available to qualified popular cannabis strains ture is continually solving problems and CA Medical Marijuana Patients Looking for a solution to all of the due to its lack of psychoac- improving practices. www.CBDRICH.org packaging used by collectives, both glass tive kick. High CBD plants and plastic? Eco-vision.com is a company Van Hook is director of the Clean Green Certified Program and can be reached at cleangreencert.com

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 11 AM –7 PM West Coast Leaf Page 21 Winter 2011 Spice combines smoking herbs with synthetic Coping with indoor pests and disease cannabinoid that eludes most drug tests Ask Cannabis MD: K2/Spice K2 has a 3-fold preference for CB1 recep- tors. It binds to the psychotropic CB1 By David Ostrow, MD receptor with approximately four times the Q: I’ve recently seen reports of a ‘synthetic potency of natural THC. Since the CB1 marijuana’ being sold on the Internet, mostly receptor is the primary means by which from England and Germany, and, in the US, (endo)cannabinoids exert a psychotropic from Kansas, Arizona and Missouri, where a effect, its effect compared to smoked bill has been introduced to add it to the state’s cannabis depends on the dose in the prod- list of illegal drugs. Why would anyone go uct, how stable it is during combustion, through the trouble of making synthetic mari- how it’s metabolized in the body, etc. juana when the real thing is available world- By Samuel Janovici able today. His Veganics aproach gives No human toxicology studies have yet wide, albeit illegally in most locations? Nothing can ruin an indoor grower’s day indoor growers healthy solutions to vexing reported on it, but the indole portion of K2 more than pests, diseases, fungi and molds. problems and is eco-friendly and 100% A: ‘Synthetic marijuana’ or ‘fake weed,’ does raise the possibility that it may lead to Hunting for those telltale webs of spider non-toxic. It eliminates harmful chemicals known as K2 or Spice, are herbal products serotonin syndrome, a rare but potentially mites, the pinholes in the fan leaves from and minimizes the salts that alter the pH sprayed with an unknown concentration of fatal condition. Otherwise, concern about thrips, the white sheen of powdery mildew balance by using beneficial bacteria, fungi, one or more synthetic compounds that potentially fatal over-dosage seems or that spongy feeling of aspergillums and and enzymes derived solely from plant behave similarly to THC, the primary psy- overblown when compared with drugs other plant-killing molds is a full-time job extracts. choactive constituent of cannabis. such as methamphetamine. that must be taken seriously, indeed. Some prefer the surety of chemicals The compound most commonly found In a conversation with Abel Pharmboy The cure is usually prophylactic — while others like to balance biological solu- in these products is a chemical first synthe- and Fred Gardner of O’Shaughnessy’s, designing the grow space with enough tions such as predator mites and thrips or sized by well-known organic chemist Prof. Huffman remembered K2 as “nothing spe- ventilation, airflow and filtering. Molds herbal remedies like rosemary oil or Neem John W. Huffman, hence its names JWH- cial…but it was one of the more potent and fungi can be prevented by reduced oil. For most, a mixture of technologies is 018,* K2 or 1-pentyl-3-(1-naph thoyl) compounds we made, and it was quite humidity, germicidal UVC light and con- necessary. That’s why farming should be indole. Another compound found in Spice easy to make from commercially available stantly improving techniques for cleanli- considered a practice. products in Germany is an analog of CP- materials, probably the reason it has now ness. Remember, there is more than one way 47,497, a cannabinoid developed by Pfizer caught on. I’ve lived a long time [and] I’ve Hygiene and proper maintenance are to do things, and everyone has an opinion. more than 20 years ago. come to the conclusion that if an enterpris- necessities, especially when working Ed Rosenthal’s latest edition of the Huffman synthesized over 100 com- ing person wants to find a new way to get indoors. Pumps and irrigation lines must Marijuana Handbook and Indoor Marijuana pounds in search of cannabimimetics, high, they’re going to do it.” be flushed and cleaned, tables and sumps Horticulture by Jorge Cervantes both hold drugs that mimic the effect of cannabinoids Even now, said Huffman, enterprising scoured, and the rooms disinfected like useful advice, and Hemp Diseases and Pests, such as THC. The primary goals in creating chemists are inventing new analogues: hospital operating rooms. The goal is to by McPartland, Clarke and Watson, drugs like K2 were to (1) determine the “[Their] goal is to get another psychoactive start fresh and to supply your next crop the remains the most comprehensive tome. structure-activity relationships of these compound that is not illegal. compounds and (2) tease out the physio- perfect environment to grow up strong and There are a lot of alternatives for treat- “Because Spice is now illegal all over logical function of the endocannabinoid healthy. Remember it’s medicine — poi- ing your problem, if caught in time. Europe, I have told people ‘Do not use this receptors, CB1 and CB2. sonous chemicals need to be avoided or Otherwise, you might need to start over. stuff. ... (Whispering) If you want to get high, flushed and washed away with environ- Whichever one chooses, the goal should What does it do? The late Prof. Billy R. use marijuana.’” Martin (Medical College of Virginia) pub- mentally friendly products. remain the same: a healthy product that * Aung MM, Griffin G, Huffman JW, et al (2000). Influence of does not hurt patients or consumers. lished the classic paper about K2 in Drug the N-1 alkyl chain length of cannabimimetic indoles upon Organic solutions are preferable, but and Alcohol Dependence. While THC binds CB(1) and CB(2) receptor binding. Drug and Alcohol not always practical. Kyle Kushman offers Stay safe out there, and remember that Dependence, 60 (2), 133-40 PMID: 10940540 almost equally to CB1 and CB2 receptors, arguably the best organic practices avail- security is always the first consideration. Winter 2011 Page 22 West Coast Leaf

CBD-BUDS — Ending the NIDA monopoly on cannabis research Karen Byars, By Stephen Morseman and tion campaign has gotten over a dozen let- of the Womenʼs Collective and Rick Doblin, Ph.D., MAPS.org ters to the editor published throughout the CBD-Rich Delivery In recent months, MAPS (Multidisciplinary country, which has brought greater aware- Collective, shows some Stinky Assn. on Psychedelic Studies) has ness to this issue. Purple, which increased its efforts to break the govern- This campaign culminated Nov. 17 at was tested at a ment monopoly over the supply of mari- Leonhart’s confirmation before the Senate 1/9 THC/CBD ratio. juana for FDA-regulated studies so as to Judiciary Committee. Although she was Photo begin to develop cannabis into a prescrip- critically questioned by both Senators Kohl courtesy tion medicine. It is seeking to secure a DEA and Whitehouse, the hearing resulted in of W.L. permit for UMass Amherst to cultivate a her confirmation as DEA administrator supply under contract to MAPS. without any commitment on her part to Without breaking the monopoly over stop blocking scientific research on the the legal supply, sponsors of research will risks and benefits of medical marijuana. not dedicate their scarce resources, because In its effort to obtain a license for Rick Doblin of MAPS. Photo by Mikki Norris NIDA can arbitrarily delay or prevent Craker, MAPS hired the Raben Group, a FDA-approved studies from taking place. lobbying firm that is exploring the delicate Our inability to move marijuana Furthermore, should studies be successful, political situation in the Dept. of Justice through the FDA drug-development the only source for prescription use would and DEA to see if a different strategy might process lends urgency to the need for pas- be the monopoly provider, which has help obtain the license. sage of state medical marijuana laws. major conflicts of interest and could charge whatever it wanted. Fortunately, MAPS has the recommen- Could legalizing cannabis help cure breast cancer? CBD-rich cannabis arrives Continued from page 20 dation of DEA Administrative Law Judge By Mary Jane Borden,* DrugSense.org that is interrelated with molecules in the might make it possible for patients to Mary Ellen Bittner in hand. On Feb. 12, For 70 years, we’ve been taught that mari- cannabis plant and now known to govern ingest high cannabinoid doses while 2007, Bittner stated that it would be in the juana has no accepted medical use and that numerous bodily processes like appetite remaining highly functional, and CBD-rich public interest to grant a DEA license to Dr. its high potential for abuse demands and pain. Cannabinoid receptors, called strains may be well tolerated by people Lyle Craker to cultivate marijuana at absolute prohibition. Medical research has CB1 and CB2, are located in various cell who don’t like the effects of high-THC UMass Amherst under contract to MAPS. been virtually impossible since the materi- membranes and activated by the body’s cannabis. These are two of the hypotheses After almost two years of delay, this recom- al for legitimate research is monopolized own cannabinoid molecules (endocannabi- that the SCC doctors intend to test. mendation was rejected by Acting DEA by the federal government. noids), as well as those unique to the Administrator Michelle Leonhart, six days ProjectCBD.com was launched earlier Bypassing the ineffective anti-drug ads cannabis plant (THC, CBD) or synthetically before President Obama was inaugurated. this year at the initiative of Martin Lee, an depicting stoned-out teenagers, click on derived. Craker’s lawyers hope to persuade award-winning journalist who is writing a the National Library of Medicine’s website, Scientific research shows that cannabi- Leonhart to reverse her decision. If this is social history of cannabis. Pubmed.gov. Under “breast cancer and noids, as part of this bodily system, play a unsuccessful, MAPS will go to court to sue cannabinoid” you will find studies in sci- mitigating role in breast cancer. “The Web site will report on all things the DEA for unreasonable delay if it contin- entific journals like Breast Cancer Research Breast cancer is a frightening diagnosis CBD,” says Lee “from the scientific ues to ignore a pending motion to recon- and Treatment that conclude: “Our data that will confront about 1 in 8 American research to real-time availability. sider. Should DEA reject the motion, MAPS demonstrate the efficacy of CBD in pre- women during their lifetime. Some 40,000 “Participating dispensaries will feature can sue in the federal Court of Appeals. clinical models of breast cancer.” will die from it each year. Breast cancers CBD-rich cannabis — and edibles and tinc- In recent months MAPS reached out to A study in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics can grow through four increasingly incur- tures, of course — and encourage those over 300 different organizations in the says, “These results indicate that CB1 and able stages. The disease may be worse than patients who try it to take part in SCC sur- medical community. Despite private CB2 receptors could be used to develop the cures, but the treatments presently in veys.” expressions of support, the current political novel therapeutic strategies against breast use can also kill. Project CBD provides a chance for the climate has made most of them apprehen- cancer growth and metastasis.” From the So, while science seems to point toward medical marijuana movement to live up to sive about taking a formal position on this journal Molecular Cancer: “These results a revolution in breast-cancer treatment, the its name. Interested readers are invited to issue. Meanwhile, a MAPS public educa- provide a strong preclinical evidence for government still manages to stifle this visit ProjectCBD.com. the use of cannabinoid- amazing discovery. based therapies for the It’s been 73 years since management of ErbB2-posi- Congress relegated canna - tive breast cancer.” This bis to the dungeon of dan- basic research further extols gerous drugs. Petitions and the safety of potential lawsuits have been filed to cannabinoid therapies. reclassify the herb and chal- The human body con- lenge the federal monopoly tains a neurological signal- over research and supply, ing structure, termed the yet its grip remains tight. endocannabinoid system, Please turn to page 24

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West Coast Leaf Don’t miss a single issue! Subscribe today. Compassionate care programs for patients in need. westcoastleaf.com or 510-215-8326 WWW.BERKELEYPATIENTSGROUP.COM West Coast Leaf Page 23 Winter 2011 Ban on National and International Reports coffeeshop

NJ medical use now in effect, supply to be available in July tourism?

The New Jersey Compassionate Use ONLY FOR THE DUTCH? — Medical Marijuana Act (CUA) took effect A new card licensing in October 2010 exempting from state and scheme for Dutch residents may put the Netherlands local penalties qualified patients who have famous cannabis-tolerant state-issued ID cards and use the drug in a shops out of the reach of manner consistent with the law. The Dept. Americans and other tourists. Photo: Original of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Bulldog coffeeshop in released draft regulations that State Amsterdam. Photo courtesy of Derrick Senator Nicholas Scutari, sponsor of the Bergman / G0NZ0 Media CUA, decried as overly restrictive and not consistent with the law. large number of shops The regulations also create a physician CMMNJ press conference on the State House will have to close. The registry that advocates say will discourage steps in Trenton, NJ Oct. 18, 2010 included (L to R) Jim Miller, Peter Rosenfeld, Sen. Scutari, northern city of Leeu - physicians from participating in the pro- Jeff Glock (holding sign) Ken Wolski, RN, and warden, for example, gram. Arbitrary and capricious regulations Anne Davis. CMMNJ photo. would have to shut down would limit THC content to 10%. This 11 of its 13 coffeeshops. number, combined with a two-ounce per month limit allowed by the law, means many On top of this, an “adjust- patients will not have adequate supplies. Although its program may be unworkable, ment” of the legal distinc- DHSS said its cannabis will be available by July. See the DHSS website for updates or visit tion between soft and cmmnj.org to voice your concerns. hard drugs is planned, a Sen. Scutari has introduced a resolution to compel DHSS to re-write regulations to be measure that would more consistent with the law. Hearings were set to decide the merits of this resolution and threaten the foundation of a concurrent bill in the Assembly. — Ken Wolski, RN, MPA Incoming Dutch government Dutch cannabis policy. Cannabis reformers win governors’ seats in VT, CT races Activists are deeply concerned that, wants foreigners kept out while parliament hasn’t debated cannabis Voters in Vermont and Connecticut have elected declared supporters of cannabis reform By Derrick Bergman, G0NZ0 Media policy in almost three years, regulations as their next governors, bringing new hope for the passage of saner laws in their states. The new right-wing government of the are getting ever more repressive. Democrats Peter Shumlin (VT) and Dan Malloy (CT) were the only two major-party Netherlands has announced drastic meas- gubernatorial candidates in the nation to vocally support both medical and broader The VOC (Society for the Abolition of ures against coffeeshops. All foreign visi- decriminalization. Both have been declared winners. Cannabis Prohibition, voc-nederland.org) tors are to be banned from coffeeshops coordinates opposition against the Dutch “We simply are penny wise and pound foolish to be using law through a membership card system, and war on cannabis among consumers, scien- enforcement dollars to be locking up criminals when they’re deal- rules are tightened for coffeeshops near tists, activists and the industry. Their com- ing with small amounts of marijuana,” Shumlin said Aug. 10, just schools, threatening hundreds of business- mon goal is summed up in a slogan: two weeks before Vermont’s primary. In Connecticut, longtime es throughout the country. ‘Cannabis? Don’t criminalize, regulate!’ mayor of Stamford Dan Malloy beat Republican Tom Foley. The new government is a minority Malloy said he “absolutely” supports decriminalization efforts as A new study by economist Martijn coalition of Christian party CDA and con- well as a medical-use law. — Mike Meno, MPP Peter Shumlin (VT) Boerman published in the Amsterdam Law servative-liberal VVD, as ‘condoned’ by Review concludes that legal cannabis No compassion center licenses in RI until summer of 2011 the extreme right anti-Islam party PVV led would net up to $1.2 billion annually for Rhode Island patients now must wait until summer to obtain cannabis from regulated by Geert Wilders. This means PVV has no the Dutch treasury. stores as authorized in June 2009. The RI Patient Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC) was over- ministers in the government, but supports the coalition in Parliament. joyed when the legislature amended the Medical Marijuana Act by allowing non-profit ASSET PROTECTION retail distribution centers for patients. The Dept. of Health (DH) was to accept applications For the cannabis industry, this coalition BUSINESS LAW • TAX and issue licenses to three centers by last September. Fifteen groups applied in May, the is a worst-case scenario. Prime Minister DH held a public hearing in June, and in July, DH sought more time. Then on Sept. 10 it Mark Rutte wants to ban all foreigners ESTATE PLANNING • PROBATE summarily rejected all 15 applications. from coffeeshops, introduce mandatory Applicants were diverse in philosophy, location, experience and physical layout, but passes, and increase the minimum distance DH said none of the applications both met its minimum scoring requirement and com- between schools and coffeeshops from 250 plied with the 25-page limit on applications. RIPAC reviewed all 15 documents and found meters (820 feet) to 350 (1150 feet). two to be outstanding and another five impressive. This ‘distance criterion’ would include LAW OFFICE OF The DH has reopened the process with new applications, and a final decision is due by primary schools, even though coffeeshops JEROME D. HANDLEY March 2011. Even if DH licenses the centers in April, however, it will take months longer very strictly enforce the age limit of 18 for them to open. — Jesse Stout years. If the measure passes Parliament, a 1-800-517-5166 www.jeromehandley.com [email protected]

Medical Cannabis Collective Consultations William McPike Attorney at Law

California 1-888-420-BUDS 1-888-420-2837 [email protected]

West Coast Leaf Support your cannabis newspaper of record. Place your ad today! westcoastleaf.com or 510-215-8326 Winter 2011 Page 24 West Coast Leaf Activists aim for 2012 Colo legalization initiative Silver lining of election 2010 found in Colorado By Kirsten Roszel toward supporting such a measure. By Josh Kappel, Sensible Colorado Colorado’s two largest cannabis-reform “Over the past five years we have built For cannabis activists across the country, groups have agreed to move forward with a large coalition of organizations, elected November 2010 was a time of historic a statewide 2012 ballot initiative similar to officials, and citizens across the state,” said heartbreak. It appears that three of four California’s recent Prop 19 effort. SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert. statewide cannabis reform proposals were Safer Alternative for Enjoyable “Now that the 2010 election is over we defeated. Yet these facts are encouraging: Recreation (SAFER) and Sensible Colorado are moving full-steam ahead with a plan to California Prop 19 earned more votes in are working to place a measure on the 2012 organize, mobilize, and energize our coali- favor of legalizing the recreational use of cannabis than any other initiative in histo- Activists take a stand at federal courthouse in ballot to remove penalties for adult tion and potential voters. Coloradans are Denver to protest a Sept. 21, 2010 hearing for cannabis use and establish a system of reg- ready to bring about a safer, more sensible ry, and Arizona’s Prop 203 passed by the Chris Bartkowicz. Photo by colorado420.com ulations similar to that for alcohol. approach to marijuana.” narrowest of margins. According to a News/Denver Post poll There was disappointment in voters in cities who have never had a released in November, 46% of likely 2010 Colorado, where a new medical marijuana Get local at DrugSense.org cannabis business were opposed. In El voters would support such a measure, code allowed cities to vote on whether to By Mary Jane Borden, DrugSense.org Paso County, where the vote was positive, while just 43% oppose it. The survey permit cannabis businesses in their juris- there are over 300 cannabis businesses. echoed other polls showing support for What visitors to DrugSense.org will first dictions. Forty-two of Colorado’s more Conversely, in Aurora, where medical regulating cannabis around 50% among notice is its bright, new appearance. The conservative communities exercised this access lost, there has never been a single 2010 likely voters. The 2012 electorate like- essential Web portal for drug policy option, and 34 of these voted to prohibit one. This would indicate that voters who ly will be even more favorably inclined unveiled its new look and its exciting new such businesses in their communities. have been exposed to responsible cannabis project, “Get Local.” Choose a geographic Yet there, too, was reason to celebrate. businesses tend to approve of them. area from the drop-down box within the The election was an unquestionable win Politics of breast cancer globe. For example, the page that results for patients in the eight communities that However, a few communities with from selecting California contains a large existing cannabis businesses did vote to Continued from page 22 voted in favor of dispensaries. These join collection of drug-policy resources focused prohibit them. In Loveland, a town of Medical cannabis is legal in 14 states, but more than 20 other municipalities which on that state. 50,000, voters chose to shut down 11 exist- only California has conducted research. already allow access to cannabis from Leading the pack is a link to the Drug ing dispensaries. The cannabis community There is rising support for further research storefront outlets. Policy Forum of California (DPFCA), a had been accused of using tasteless signs, among groups like the American College of Most of the communities that voted on well trafficked e-mail list dedicated to offering free joints, and placing large green Physicians. the issue are among the most conservative planning and discussing strategy for drug cannabis stickers all over town. Although a Nonetheless, the clock is ticking for the in the state. There was a record-high policy reform. Join the discussion with a handful of reputable dispensary owners 207,000 women expected to be diagnosed turnout of conservative voters statewide, few clicks of your mouse. While the News, tried to repair their image, the damage had with breast cancer in 2011. Clinical trials on as is often the case in midterm elections or Letters, and Opinions pages carry the same already been done. promising cannabinoid-based breast can- in stressed economic times. Nevertheless, format as the DrugSense.org home page, It is troubling that patients in these cer treatments must be accelerated, but the the aggregate vote count on all Colorado here they concern California only. Next communities are now forced back to the DEA and politicians seem not to care. cannabis measures showed a margin of come links to state drug policy organiza- only 7% between the yea and nay votes. black market to obtain their doctor-recom- Perhaps the afflicted wife or daughter tions displayed in alphabetical order. Then Moreover, in some places where communi- mended medicine. There are lessons to be of a congressman will have to be the one to come links to over 270 California publica- ty members came together to fight these learned for the future. The importance of ask the question that could turn the nation- tions. The final component is the back- bans, such as conservative El Paso County, working together to establish a positive al debate: “Could legalizing marijuana ground, results, dates and, in some cases, cannabis won. image is key to eventually ensuring that help cure me of my breast cancer?” ballot language of several California citi- every community in Colorado will permit It is noteworthy that voters in cities that * Adapted from an article for AlterNet.org. Borden is editor zen-led initiatives. At Get Local, you’ll get licensed and regulated cannabis sales. of the website and book, Drug War Facts. She was a marketing already have cannabis businesses were similar local information for other states, * Kappel is Outreach Director for Sensible Colorado and a analyst in the 1980s for the largest marketer of cancer generally in favor of allowing them, while chemotherapy drugs in the US. provinces and countries. Law Clerk for Vicente Consulting LLC. The nation’s legal authority on medical cannabis. www.MedicalCannabisCounsel.com Our attorneys and staff have over 30 years of experience assisting patients, caregivers, and cooperatives in California—and now in Colorado. COLORADOCOLORADO WORKSHOPSWORKSHOPS The Lobby Restaurant • 2191 Arapahoe Street, Denver, Colorado “Employment Law Issues” “Advanced Tax Planning” Workshops offered January 18, Afternoon Workshop offered and February 4, 2011 March 11, 2011 $150 per person, lunch included $250 per person 10:00 am - Noon 1:00 pm - 4pm presented by Stephen Sommers, Partner presented by Matthew Kumin, Medical Cannabis Counsel is the nation’s of Kumin Sommers LLP Partner of Kumin Sommers LLP most experienced law firm regarding medical • employment law issues Detailed tax planning and accounting under cannabis issues: • wage & hour laws, federal income law. • Zoning & Permitting • how to classify employees CLE credit for lawyers and CPAs is pending. • Site Selection • issues in terminating employees. • Tax Planning • Corporate Compliance 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm • Lobbying & Government Regulations presented by Matthew Kumin and Warren • Litigation Edson, partners of Kumin Sommers LLP Pre-register by calling • Business Operations • federal and state taxes • Non-profit Counseling • general business issues 303-831-8188 415-434-4500 • 303-831-8188 • staying competitive amidst the regulatory environment. West Coast Leaf Page 25 Winter 2011 Cannabis complacency after decrim in Mass Montana reformers brace for tough legislative year

By John Dvorak, hempology.org ing, so the Legislature is not required to do By Tom Daubert, Founder/director, PFU* in a single day, and the opening of flashy The Massachusetts electorate voted by 65% anything. It’s been apparent for the past year that dispensaries in communities around the in 2008 to decriminalize cannabis, making A workable law is needed to allow Montana’s medical marijuana law would state incited a backlash. Whereas no organ- possession of less than an ounce a civil patient access to cannabis. Most people face skeptical scrutiny and major proposed ized opposition campaigned against the offense. Police are now issuing $100 tickets don’t realize that, while two medical-use changes at the 2011 state Legislature. medical initiative when it was proposed six instead of arresting people. There were laws have been enacted in the past, little November’s election results made the situ- years ago, today a group based in Billings, fewer police officers in attendance at was done to implement them. ation much worse, indicating that reform- called Safe Kids Safe Communities, is focused on ending medical rights com- Boston’s 2010 Freedom Fest, resulting in a The Legislature approved the ers will have a hard fight just keeping the pletely. substantial savings of overtime pay. There Bertonazzi bill in 1991, which allowed for a law on the books. were also significantly fewer arrests than in therapeutic cannabis research program at Republicans took record-setting, lop- recent years. The cost savings associated the Dept. of Public Health. Because the fed- sided control over the state House of Through 2009 patients were making steady with each arrest can be placed in the hun- eral government classifies it as a Schedule I Representatives (68-32). Some of their lead- progress, but in 2010 new opposition sprang up dreds if not thousands of dollars. Controlled Substance, no research into its ers have ties to groups that sought to put a along with seriously negative publicity. Some say that since cannabis has been medical value has gone forward in the repeal measure on the 2010 ballot. Patients & Families United, founded in decriminalized, there is no need for further state. In 1996, a law was passed authoriz- Thus, Montana’s 90-day legislative ses- 2007, and Montana Medical Growers reform. In fact, while decrim is a big step ing the State to certify cannabis patients for sion, which begins Jan. 3, may feature more Assn., a trade group of caregivers formed forward, more needs to be done before treatment of glaucoma, chemotherapy- cannabis-related bills than in all prior state in 2009, are gearing up to defend the law, cannabis hemp attains its rightful status in associated nausea and asthma. While a history — most intended to keep reformers and believe that if the legislature can be society as a utilitarian commodity. three-doctor panel was created to screen on the defensive. Proposals can be offered persuaded to “fix” rather than repeal the cases, no patients were certified because until early 2011, but by early December leg- Despite the decrim, retail prices have law, improvements that help patients may the program depended on access to med- islators already had requested at least five not decreased. While the benign plant can still be achievable. be cultivated for a fraction of its street ical-grade cannabis grown only by the fed- major bills. price, the inflated profits of selling black- eral monopoly. These ‘Catch-422’ rules A repeal measure will be sponsored by market marijuana does lead to violence. must be addressed to ensure that any laws Sen. Jim Shockley (R-Victor), now chair- Several high-profile violent crimes in the or initiatives passed result in patients actu- man of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Michigan program Boston area arguably were caused by ally gaining access to cannabis. Sen. Dave Lewis (R-Helena) is developing nears 40,000 registered struggles over illegal market profits. House Bill 2160, the medical marijuana a bill to license and heavily regulate pro- Decrim sets the stage for the next phase legislation, is stuck in committee. Several ducers and distributors of medical cannabis patients groups are holding meetings to drum up cannabis, charging a sales fee to cover the of Massachusetts reform. In the last elec- By Matthew R Abel* tion, voters in nine cities approved public support and obtain local endorsements to oversight, inspection and auditing costs. The Michigan Court of Appeals recently policy questions asking legislators to vote help the bill move forward. A bill developed last summer by the ruled that both registered and unregistered to tax and regulate cannabis. Nine others So, while progress is being made in Interim Com. on Children, Families and cannabis patients are protected by state approved public policy questions asking cannabis reform in the Bay State, a concert- Health proposes many key changes to the law. The Wolverine State even provides legislators to approve medical use. While ed effort is needed to turn public opinion medical use law. It would require two legal rights for visiting patients. this shows that the general public is against into public policy. physician recommendations for pain prohibition, the measures were non-bind- patients; limit all patients to a maximum of However, many courts still require two ounces of cannabis per month; elimi- patients charged with cannabis crimes to Lack of science plagues NJ medical use laws nate the affirmative defense clause; make prove the existence of a bona fide physician- probationers ineligible to be patients, with- patient relationship, even if the patient is The Lab Bench The cannabis plant does not produce out regard to their medical conditions; and registered with an ID card from the Dept. uniform amounts of cannabinoids in its of Community Health. These pockets of Jahan Marcu Lab Bench bar anyone with a felony record of any flowers. This is basic biology. Light helps kind from being a ‘caregiver.’ resistance hinder fair implementation of As New Jersey continues to revise its med- plants grow, and the parts that are exposed the law throughout the state. Another bill, supported by the ical cannabis law, the feasibility of imple- to more light, on the top of the plant, Chamber of Commerce and some large Many other legal issues remain to be menting it is impaired. become more developed than the fruits on employers, would clarify the right of an resolved as well. Criminal prosecutions are The NJ program’s legislative authors the lower branches. So in theory a cannabis employer to ban medical use during the pending in Oakland County against nearly claim they are following science, but do not plant could have 15% THC on the very top work-day — in ways that patients fear 20 people accused of felonies involving the reference a single scientific study. They flowers but a mere 3% level on the lower could open the door to more employment operation of dispensaries and compassion claim the law is similar to a program at the branches. clubs. Patients have filed motions to dis- University of Mississippi (UM), justifying discrimination. In addition, under DUI leg- In the rest of the world, the plant is islation that ordinarily would focus on miss, and the court is expected to rule on the proposed 10% THC limit in cannabis ground up and a uniform mixture is pre- them in January 2011. plants grown for New Jersey’s program. alcohol impairment, the creation of a per se pared at the desired THC level, reached by A civil action is pending in Isabella While UM doesn’t usually provide offense for having cannabis in one’s system mixing low- and high-potency plant mate- County, home of Central Michigan cannabis cigarettes with more than 10% while driving will likely be proposed. rials. This is also how GW Pharmaceuticals University. In that case, the prosecuting THC, the NJ lawmakers leave out the rea- No matter what happens, patients will makes Sativex, as a mixture of two attorney filed a civil nuisance action soning behind this. The UM project doesn’t be deeply affected by the 2011 legislature. cannabis varieties that have been against a collective called the supply cigarettes with high THC content Montana passed its medical law with a processed and standardized. Compassionate Apothecary. The judge because the mixture will get stuck in the 62% vote in 2004, at the time a record level The plant material needs to be tested in denied his request for a preliminary injunc- cigarette-rolling machine. of support. By the end of the 2009 session large batches as at UM. Statements by tion, and heard the case several months of the legislature, after assertive lobbying “The cigarettes are not made here, Walsh imply that in NJ every plant would ago. A decision is expected within the next for improvements to the law, it seemed that unless there’s a requirement for high- need to be tested. No cannabis center will few months. The case will likely be taken to the patient rights movement was making potency material, which doesn’t lend itself be able to test each individual plant. The the Court of Appeals, where a decision steady progress and the 2011 session could to mechanized production of cigarettes, costs of setting up and running a lab alone could set an important precedent. because it gets resinous and gums the be the occasion for success. would be in the millions. Furthermore, the Dispensaries and compassion clubs of machine. We use a small hand roller for Then in late 2009, a plethora of state can’t protect the cannabis centers or all types are appearing throughout the that,” said Dr. ElSohly in a CNN interview. ‘cannabis caravan’ physician clinics issued associated laboratories from the blunt force state, from Detroit to the Wisconsin border. “But if we need them in bulk, like say hundreds of new patient recommendations of the DEA. The state government refuses to register 60,000 cigarettes, we have a subcontract any type of cannabis business, even non- with a company in North Carolina.” profit, and a suit is pending to resolve that Other differences abound. For instance, issue in the Court of Claims. the federal program can process cannabis Over 20 dispensaries operate in the city into cigarettes, patches, suppositories, etc. of Lansing, and Ann Arbor has another to fit specific patient needs. Elsohly also eight or so. There are two known dispen- grows high potency varieties for research, saries in Detroit, with more expected to and in doing so has discovered new open soon. cannabinoids. Every government-spon- sored medical-cannabis program in the A new governor and attorney general world allows the plant to be homogenized have been elected to take office in January. and thus standardized. Incoming Republican governor Rick Snyder (a self-described “nerd” from Ann The NJ Dept. of Health and Senior Arbor) is expected to name new depart- Services failed to acknowledge that THC ment heads. Patients hope that the next content can vary within varieties, and even Medical Marihuana Program director will within a plant itself. Asked what a produc- be more concerned with serving patients er would do if the crop tested over 10% and seeing that caregivers and patients are THC, Dr. Walsh of DHSS responded, “The protected, as the MMP has envisioned. plants would have to be destroyed.” * Abel is a Michigan attorney, see cannabiscounsel.com Winter 2011 Page 26 West Coast Leaf Times cultivation writer Danny Danko. sion of how to proceed in California. Jan. 29, Statewide Conference on Topics will focus on proposals for new Marijuana Reform: Next Steps for legalization initiatives and legislation, Calendar and Community Directory California, Berkeley, CA. improving the state’s medical marijuana David Brower Conference Center, 2150 laws, and legislative and legal issues in Allston Way, Berkeley. 9:30 AM to 5:30 the upcoming year. See canorml.org Dec. 11, Marijuana Policy Project’s Exhibitors, performances, half-pipe skate, PM. The conference will feature diverse Mar. 4-6, Hempire Expo, Seattle, WA. Winter Ball at The Mission, Sonoma Co., cooking, glass-blowing demos, and more. viewpoints, including leading drug Qwest Field Events Center. Exhibitors, CA. Hacienda Del Pinto, a private wine Presented by Kush Magazine and reform advocates, interest groups, attor- vendors, entertainment, and educational country estate. 7 PM to Midnight. Dailybuds.com. See kushcon.com neys, public officials, medical providers, programs. Inquiries welcome. See hem- Exquisite evening of cocktails, dinner, Dec. 18, Ninth Annual Oregon Medical patients and growers in a public discus- piremedia.net camaraderie, and entertainment to benefit Cannabis Awards, Portland, OR. the work of MPP. For tickets and info see The World Famous Cannabis Cafe, 322 SE Local and regional meetings themission.mpp.org 82nd Ave. Day event is free and open to Dec. 11, Catalysts Conference – The the public with unique green shopping Central CA ASA, second Tues/mo., 6 PM, C.A.F.E., 935 Oceanside. [email protected] Impact of Psychedelics: From bazaar, educational programs and legal F Street, Fresno. [email protected] San Diego South Bay ASA, second Thurs/mo., 6 PM, Consciousness to the Clinic, Los Angeles, panel, 10 AM to 5 PM. see ornorml.org East Bay ASA, third Tues/mo., 6:30 PM, Oaksterdam 1233 Palm Ave. Imperial Beach, [email protected] Student U, 1915 Broadway, Oakland. CA. The Downtown Independent Theater, San Francisco ASA, second & fourth Tues/mo., 7:30 PM, For registration and tickets for the evening [email protected] Bowers Pizza, 371 11th St, SF. [email protected] 251 S. Main St., 9 AM- 10 PM. For tickets Humboldt County ASA, third Thurs/mo., 6 PM, Bayview event, call Oregon NORML, 503-239-6110. San Joaquin ASA, first Mon/mo., 6 PM, Valley Brew, 157 Courtyard Senior Housing, Rec. Room 550 Union St., and info, maps.org/catalysts W. Adams St., Stockton Banquet, awards ceremony for best Arcata. 707-407-8522. [email protected] San Jose - Silicon Valley ASA, first Tues/mo., 7:30 PM, Dec. 17-19, KushCon II, Denver, CO. strains , Freedom Fighter of the Year and LA ASA, 3rd Sat/mo., 1 PM, 7100 Santa Monica Blvd. MedEx Collective, 2000 Senter Rd, SJ,siliconvalleyasa.org Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St. more, 6 to 9 PM. Grow seminar with High #152, West Hollywood. [email protected] Marin ASA, second Wed/mo., 7:30 PM, Whistlestop, 930 San Luis Obispo ASA, third Tues/mo., 7 PM, Studio 23 Tamalpias Ave., San Rafael. [email protected] Salon, 570 Higuera (in the Creamery), Suite 235, SLO, Community Announcements Napa ASA, third Tues/mo., 6 PM, Round Table Pizza, [email protected] 3331 Solano Ave., Napa. [email protected] Santa Cruz County ASA, third Thurs/mo., 7 PM, Greenway Compassionate Relief, 140 Dubois St., SC. under great duress.” Orange Co. ASA, third Fri/mo., 7 PM, Giovannis Pizza, Rest in Peace “Medicinal 922 W. Williamson, Fullerton. [email protected] Solano ASA, first Tue/mo., 8:30 PM, 650 Benecia Rd., Michelle” Rainey Her husband, activist Jef Tek, has San Diego ASA second Tues / mo., 7 PM, La Jolla Brew Vallejo. [email protected] vowed to carry on her work. A memorial House, 7536 Fay Ave, La Jolla. [email protected] Sonoma ASA, first Thurs/mo. 5 PM, Dept. of Health, So. June 7, 1971 - Oct. 20, 2010 website, michellerainey.com, maintained San Diego North County/Oceanside ASA, fourth City View Rm., 625 5th St, Santa Rosa, knock loudly. Tues/mo., 7 PM, The Fish Joint, 514 South Coast Hwy, Contact [email protected] By Mickey Martin by her family, states her daily purpose: To The cannabis movement lost a great friend educate the educators and persuade the Local and regional Americans for Safe Access meetings Oct. 20, when the beloved Michelle Rainey, legislatures of this world that marijuana is 39, lost her battle with cancer. medicine and should be legalized. The East Bay NORML, third Thurs/mo., 7:30 PM (after mo. 6 PM, City Hall, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland. Rainey was a dedicated and familiar Medicinal Cannabis Education Package Measure Z Oversight Comm.), OU Student Union, 1915 Orange County NORML, third Fri./mo. 7 PM. OC ASA, 8 Broadway, Oakland. [email protected] activist in the Canadian movement. she developed remains available to help PM.Giovanni’s Pizza, 922 W. Williamson, in Fullerton. cannabis patients in Canada find access. El Dorado Co. American Alliance for Medical Free pizza. ocnorml.org Known as “Medicinal Michelle” because of Cannabis, 4th Sat/mo., 2:15-4:20, Garden Valley Grange, Palm Springs/ Coachella Valley Area MAPP, first Sat/ her dedication to the medical applications Her famous “MEDICINAL” tee shirt with 4940 Marshall Rd. Garden Valley, CA, 530-621-2874 mo. 3 PM, 266 N. Palm Canyon Dr., PS. 760-799-2055 of marijuana, she used cannabis to fight a marijuana leaf in the “A” has become an El Centro/Imperial County Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Phelan/Victorville MAPP, third Thurs/mo. 7 PM, Coco’s icon. The shirts are still available for sale to Project (MAPP), third Tue/mo. 7:30 PM at Imperial Valley Restaurant, 15570 Park Ave. E, Victorville. 760-799-2055 Chrohn’s Disease and replace high doses of Collective, 119 N. 5th St., El Centro 92243. 760-799-2055 Western Inland Empire Area MAPP/ASA, first Wed / dangerous pharmaceuticals. When diag- support the Michelle Rainey Foundation High Desert Area MAPP/ ASA, third Wed/mo. 6:30 PM mo., 7:30 PM, THCF Medical Clinic, 647 Main St. nosed with cancer, she continued her mis- for “Continuing Crohn’s, Cancer and Castle Inn, 1388 N. Golden Slipper in Landers 92285. Riverside, CA 92501. Also hosts Friday evening seminars Cannabis research.” Lanny 760-799-2055 on Anti-aging and medical benefits of cannabis, 8 PM. sion of education and inspiration by telling Oakland Measure Z Oversight Committee, third Thurs/ 951-782-9898 people about her positive experiences with Her husband and mother, Emilie, were with Rainey when she passed. One of her therapeutic cannabis. Reform organizations of interest Rainey was revered as one of the most last public statements was this: “I want vocal and recognizable activists in the people to keep working, keep working for change. Too many sick people are still hav- Americans for Safe Access who support drug regulation rather than prohibition. world. A founder of the BC Marijuana safeaccessnow.org / A patient advocacy and support net- Legal Services for Prisoners w/ Children Party, she ran as a candidate on its platform ing difficulty getting their medication. That work. 510-251-1856 prisonerswithchildren.org/ Advocates for the human rights and helped many other candidates as well. is what I want as my legacy — change.” Axis of Love SF/ Activist Resource Center and empowerment of incarcerated parents, children, fami- Patients organizing for their rights, 415-240-5247 ly members and people at risk for incarceration She was instrumental in the Marc Emery She was a pioneer whose work will be California NORML Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project MAPP Seed Company and Cannabis Culture mag- remembered as shattering the grass ceiling. canorml.org/ Advocacy, directories, lobbying, research, mpp.org/ national membership azine. On July 29, 2005 she was indicted by news, alerts. 415-563-5858 Marijuana Policy Project MPP Michelle Rainey Cannabis Defense Coalition mpp.org/ national membership org. Focuses on removing the US government on conspiracy and with Marc Emery, cdc.ccop/ Cannabis Resource Center. 888-208-5332 criminal penalties through initiatives and legislation. money laundering charges with Emery Aug. 20, 2007. Cannabis Consumers Campaign Mendo Medical Marijuana Advisory Board and Greg Williams. Emery is now serving a cannabisconsumers.org/ Come out of the closet to stand mmmab.net/ [email protected] five-year sentence for these charges. up for equal rights. Medical Marijuana of America Civil Liberties Monitoring Project medicalmarijuanaofamerica.com/ directory, court reports, “Michelle needs to be recognized as civilliberties.org/ Monitors police eradication abuses, etc, POW stories and contacts. one of the greatest activists this movement to protect civil rights in the CA northcoast. 707-923-4646 Media Awareness Project has ever had,” said Emery through an e- Drug Reform Coordination Network mapinc.org/ MAP has generated millions of letters to the stopthedrugwar.org/ drcnet.org, Global support network editor. Help gather news for their clearing house. mail from prison to his wife Jodie. for drug policy reformers with weekly analysis. Michigan NORML “Michelle may have literally given her life Drug Policy Alliance minorml.org/ lots of chapters throughout the state to the movement, and when people think drugpolicy.org/ DPA works on drug policies based on sci- Mothers Against Misuse and Abuse ence, compassion, health, human rights and a just society mamas.org/ responsible drug education about what they can do for freedom in free from prohibition. MAPS their lifetime, Michelle’s life is a shining Drug Policy Forum of CA maps.org/ Multidis ciplinary Association on Psychedelic example of how much is possible, even Photo by Mikki Norris Listserve for Cal cannabis/drug war issues. Sign up at Studies, studies on cannabis, psychedelics. 831-429-6362 drugsense.org/dpfca/list.htm NORML DrugSense norml.org/ National Organization for the Reform of Internet radio shows & podcasts focussing on cannabis drugsense.org/ Daily compilation of news excerpts. Web Marijuana Laws. 202-483-5500 site dev. and hosting. 501(c)3 tax exempt fiscal sponsor. November Coalition Cannabis TV, cannabistv.org/watch some great movies and videos on hemp/marijuana. Drug War Facts november.org/ National support group for Drug War Cannabis Planet TV, cannabisplanet.tv/weekly, 30 minute television show, includes collective drugwarfacts.org/ Just the facts. POWs. Publishes The Razor Wire. profiles, grow tips with Ed Rosenthal, cooking, news and information on all things cannabis. Sat. and Families Against Mandatory Minimums Oregon Green Free Sun. at 10:00 PM, KJLA TV, Ch. 57, So. CA. Check local listings for SF Bay Area, San Diego, famm.org/ Advocates an end to harsh, unjust sentencing oregongreenfree.net. Free OMMP info. laws affecting prisoners and their families. Sacramento, and Denver airings. Oregon NORML Family Council on Drug Awareness ornorml.org / Drug Truth Network (DTN), drugtruth.net/cms/ 4:20 Drug War News, Cultural Baggage fcda.org/ Accurate information on effects of drugs and Patient Advocacy Network (interviews), live shows, archives, Sundays 4:30-5:30 PT, kpft.org or call 877-9-420-420. Exposes the drug policies. Down loadable PDFs to print and hand out. cannabissaveslives.com fraud, misdirection, and wastefulness of the war on drugs. Green Aid Marijuana Legal Def. & Education Fund, SAFER Marijuana Radio, marijuanaradio.com/ live shows, Tuesdays 6 PM PST, podcasts that cover entertain- Inc. green-aid.com/ saferchoice.org/ Safer Alternative For Enjoyable ment, politics, comedy, music and celebrity guests. Harm Reduction Coalition Recreation. [email protected] harmreduction.org/ Works to reduce drug-related harm by Sensible Colorado NORML Daily Audio Stash with host ‘Radical’ Russ Belville, stash.norml.org/ programs such as clean needle exchange. sensiblecolorado.org / Non-profit resource for patients and current podcasts, news, interviews, etc. See RadicalRuss.com for archives of his shows. California Hemp Industries Association those interested in reforming laws. 720-890-4247 Marijuana Report with Eric Brenner is a weekly segment that features interviews with elected officials hempindustries.org/ The HIA is a non-profit trade group Southern Oregon NORML and marijuana law experts as well as profiles of California residents currently incarcerated or being representing hemp companies, researchers, supporters. so-norml.org/ Reform activities and OMMP support. prosecuted for marijuana offenses. Human Rights and the Drug War Medford. 541-779-1448 NORML SHOW LIVE runs Monday-Friday from 1 PM -3 PM PST at live.norml.org. Host "Radical" hr95.org/ Photo display of Drug War POWs, analyzes Students for a Sensible Drug Policy human rights abuses. Russ Belville brings news and interviews with the movers and shakers in the cannabis community. Co- ssdp.org/ Students for reducing the harms caused by drug host Cannabis Karri covers the day’s Hemp Headlines and Ganja Jon spins Daily Toker Tunes. The first Humboldt Medical Marijuana Advisory Panel abuse and drug policies. hummap.org/ Community policy group. 707-223-4014 hour is archived as The NORML Daily Audio Stash podcast at stash.norml.org and on iTunes and VoteHemp Interfaith Drug Policy Intiative votehemp.com/ Industrial, horticultural hemp. replayed at 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, and 9pm Pacific. Takes live calls in our second hour at 2 PM Pacific at 971- idpi.us / Organizing people of faith to promote reform. Voter Power, Oregon 533-7111. 301-270-4473 voterpower.org/ Advocating for fair, cannabis laws and Time 4 Hemp Radio Show with Casper Leitch/ Time4HempRadio.com, live shows Mon.-Fri. 9 PM Law Enforcement Against Prohibition policies. OMMP registration. 503-224-3051, 541-245-6634 PST (americanfreedomradio.com). Time4hemp.com hosts podcasts, music, video, interviews, archives. leap.cc/ Current and former members of law enforcement To get listed, please email [email protected] West Coast Leaf Page 27 Winter 2011 With engaging footage from around the fascinating history and the economic and Video and book releases to start the year off world, it shows how hemp paper produc- cultural forces behind its prohibition. It Reviews by Mikki Norris and more. It’s even coded for content to let tion can help solve deforestation problems, examines the controversy around ‘marijua- you know what kinds of drugs are depict- hemp textile production can offset the na’ (the psychoactive My Medicine: ed, and is filled with fun photos from the harms of chemical use by the cotton indus- herb), the Drug War How I convinced the films. Reefer Movie Mad ness is the second try, and hemp building materials can pro- and alternative policy US government to book from the authors of Pot Culture: The vide a negative carbon footprint. options. provide my marijuana A-Z Guide to Stoner Lan guage and Life. It looks at how hemp seeds and oil pro- This beautiful- and helped launch a Bloom and Halper in vide easily digestible whole protein, vita- ly made, 93-minute national movement do a thorough job of mins, minerals and Omega-3 essential fatty film by Anthony By Irvin Rosenfeld keeping track of the Open Archive Press 2010. acids that could help reduce world hunger Clarke (aka Sol $19.95.Order via cannabis arts and and improve global diets. It shows how Ramana-Clarke), fea- mymedicinethebook.com culture in modern hemp medicine alleviates many ailments, tures many renowned Irv Rosenfeld is one history, and both ref- and an update adds new research into experts on hemp-related issues, including of only four remaining patients in the fed- erence books should THC’s ability to kill cancer cells and the Andrew Weil, MD, Lester Grinspoon, MD, eral Investigational New Drug (IND) pro- be part of any role of can na binoids in balancing bodily Terence McKenna, Prof. Peter Dale Scott, gram who gets a monthly supply of respectable cannabis functions. and others. The movie also has a great cannabis from the US government as a consumer’s library. The Hemp Solution reviews the plant’s soundtrack. matter of medical necessity to treat his rare medical condition. What If Cannabis Cured Cancer? (DVD) My Medicine recounts the unique and Order via lenricmondfilms.com or amazon.com Celebrities come out to endorse Prop 19 effort; Could the chemicals found in marijuana uplifting story of his personal journey from prevent and even heal several deadly can- SF Giants beloved ‘stoner’ pitcher wins again the onset of his illness as a child, the treat- cers? Could the tumor-regulating proper- By Ellen Komp, VeryImportantPotheads.com closer Brian “Fear the Beard” Wilson to ments he endured, his discovery of ties of “cannabinoids” someday replace make the statement: “I think I’m having a cannabis as a young man, the years-long As Prop. 19 went down partly due to a the debilitating drugs, chemotherapy, and mini-heart attack...maybe it’s the smell of fight for the right not only to use cannabis well-heeled, ridiculous ad campaign by the radiation that harms as often as it heals? Prop. 19.” (The crowd cheered.) but to have the government send him 300 Chamber of Commerce warning against a pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes a month, to What If Cannabis Cured Cancer? explores stoned California workforce, one known More likely, the caffeine-heavy Red Bull his present-day advocacy to make medical the truth about this marijuana smoker was quietly winning the could cause heart palpitations, since it was marijuana available to all patients who ancient medicine, as World Series. banned in some European countries when need it. It is rich with humorous anecdotes, world-renowned Pitcher Tim Lincecum, 26, led the SF an 18-year-old Irishman died after sharing accounts and encounters related to his scientists in the field Giants to victory over the Texas Rangers four drinks and playing basketball. Red unique status as a legal patient. of cannabinoid two days after the anniversary of his bust Bull now markets Red Bull Cola, with trace research explain and amounts of coca it says is “de-cocained.” Rosenfeld, a stockbroker from Florida, last year for possession. Posters seen at illustrate their proves that people can smoke his pre- AT&T Park borrowed Lincecum’s image Meanwhile, Prop. 19 picked up some promising discover- scribed 10 joints a day and lead a successful and said, “Tim Is Not a Criminal: Vote Yes celebrity endorsements when actor Danny ies. It’s a powerful life. Written by a natural storyteller, this on Prop. 19” and “Tim Lincecum Smokes Glover and musician Melissa Etheridge and eye-opening film about the future of autobiography is a fascinating read, inspi- as Well as Many American Athletes.” appeared at an LA press conference just cannabis medicines. This one-hour film is rational, and a real page-turner. Immediately after the Giants took before the vote to speak in support of the directed by Len Richmond, narrated by home the trophy, the press began speculat- measure. Glover said he’s had brothers Reefer Movie Madness: Emmy-winning actor Peter Coyote, and ing over whether Lincecum’s ‘pothead’ arrested for marijuana use and added, “I The Ultimate Stoner Film Guide features interviews with doctors and image would hurt his endorsement deals. go to a great number of incarceration hous- By Shirley Halperin and Steve Bloom researchers from the US, Spain, and Israel. es where I see men and women incarcerat- Abrams Image, $18.95, 336 pp. Bob Dorfman, a sports marketing expert ed for a small amount of marijuana. Their This book is exactly what the title suggests The Hemp Solution — with Baker Street Advertising told the San Francisco Chronicle, “For more of the edgier lives are being changed and impacted, it’s — a complete guide to all the movies (in For a Sustainable Future (DVD) been catastrophic.” English, anyway) ever made that have a Order via thehempsolution.com.au products that appeal to teenagers and scene, theme, story, or character that is When the award-winning documentary twenty-somethings who are very familiar “A yes vote on Prop 19 is the right thing somehow involved with marijuana. The Hemp Revolution was first released, it with marijuana and aren’t alarmed by it all, to do,” said Glover. “It’s a way in which we I think it just makes him one of the guys.” can control, legalize, decriminalize it and It reviews the films from various cate- became a key educational tool in the global get our police doing the work they need to gories: comedies; dramas, sci-fi, fantasy resurgence of hemp industries and medi- It was noted that during the city’s do in creating safe communities.” and horror; action and sports; animated cines. The newly revised and re-released World Series celebration, “some of the films; music; and documentaries. There are 2010 version has been expanded and loudest cheers for Lincecum came from Etheridge, who spoke about her use of interviews with directors, actors, and updated, and continues to explore the people who were also taking a few hits” of medical marijuana while undergoing musicians, interesting sidebars featuring potential of cannabis hemp to solve major what became known as “The Prop. 19.” chemotherapy for breast cancer in 2005, trivia and background on the filmmakers environmental and health problems. Ironically, Lincecum appeared at the said about full legalization, “I don’t want big victory to look like a criminal to my children any- Babá KEN OKULOLO and His BANDS parade in a more. I want them to know this is a choice Live AFRICAN Music for All Occasions Red Bull that you make as a responsible adult.” AFROBEAT – HIGHLIFE baseball cap, Sean Parker and Dustin Moskovitz, the ACOUSTIC – SOLO - LESSONS having Facebook founders who are the subjects of signed up as the film Social Media, ponied up $170,000 New CD “We Are All from Africa” an endorser for the Prop. 19 campaign, and at the last at www.CDBaby.com for the ener- minute, Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner www.AfricanMusicSource.com gy drink in kicked in $2,500. 510-778-1885 July. It was Seeveryimportantpotheads.com/blog.html,laist.com/2010/ left to his 10/21/_well_the_word_bud.php Winter 2011 Page 28 West Coast Leaf