By Hannah Guzik
Tidings correspondent
Ed Rosenthal stood before 400 pot plants on the stage Sunday at Southern Oregon University, as he taught locals how to successfully grow medical marijuana and grew heated himself as he railed against state laws restricting how many plants a patient can have.
There was no actual pot present at the gathering, save for the occasional smell of it on people's clothes; instead, Rosenthal projected photographs of the plants onto a large screen to a crowd of about 50 at Meese Auditorium.
Rosenthal, considered an expert in the field and author of more than a dozen books on marijuana, traveled from California to give the lecture, which raised money for SOU's Students For Truth group and Voter Power, an Oregon medical marijuana activist organization with an office in Medford.
Voter Power is working to collect 130,000 signatures to get a measure on the state's 2010 ballot that, if passed, would allow medical marijuana dispensaries to be set up, like in California. Under existing laws, Oregon patients can grow up to six plants for themselves, or have a registered grower cultivate the same amount for them.
"It's high time that people in Oregon have access to medicine when they need it," Rosenthal said before his lecture. "Nobody should be deprived of medicine when they need it."
One of the benefits of the dispensary system is that patients have access to pharmaceutical-grade pot and different tinctures of marijuana, he said.
"Patients need the best medicine they can get," Rosenthal added. (more)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Fuck the Feds
Modesto men sentenced in medical pot case
The Associated Press
Posted: 11/21/2008 07:08:05 PM PST
FRESNO, Calif.—Two men who ran a medical marijuana dispensary in Modesto are headed to prison after being convicted of running a criminal enterprise.
A federal judge in Fresno on Friday sentenced 28-year-old Luke Scarmazzo to nearly 22 years and 28-year-old Ricardo Montes to 20 years for manufacturing marijuana and possessing it with intent to distribute.
Drug Enforcement Administration officials say records at the clinic, called the California Healthcare Collective, showed the pair made more than $4.5 million in marijuana sales from October 2004 to June 2006.
Two jurors said last month they wanted the men to get a new trial after voting for conviction, then learning later that the punishment was so steep. (here)
The Associated Press
Posted: 11/21/2008 07:08:05 PM PST
FRESNO, Calif.—Two men who ran a medical marijuana dispensary in Modesto are headed to prison after being convicted of running a criminal enterprise.
A federal judge in Fresno on Friday sentenced 28-year-old Luke Scarmazzo to nearly 22 years and 28-year-old Ricardo Montes to 20 years for manufacturing marijuana and possessing it with intent to distribute.
Drug Enforcement Administration officials say records at the clinic, called the California Healthcare Collective, showed the pair made more than $4.5 million in marijuana sales from October 2004 to June 2006.
Two jurors said last month they wanted the men to get a new trial after voting for conviction, then learning later that the punishment was so steep. (here)
Fresno County Issues Medical Marijuana ID Cards
By Gene Haagenson
11/22/2008 Fresno, CA, USA -- Five years after voters in the state approved a measure allowing marijuana use for medicinal purposes, Fresno County has agreed to issue marijuana ID cards.
If you have a note from a doctor saying you need pot, and $107, you can get a card allowing you to be in possession of a small quantity of marijuana, for medical use.
Jena Adams, Fresno County Health Department, says "The card will allow them to possess and to grow a certain amount of marijuana and to use for their medical purposes."
It's welcome news to Diana Kirby. She uses marijuana for pain management and other medical problems. She'll be first in line to get a marijuana card. It will keep her from being arrested. "Actually it makes the police officers life a little easier and it takes a little of the fright from most of us who have to travel somewhere to get our medication."
The Fresno County Health Department is offering a packet of information on how to get a card. The information is also online. They key is a Doctor's note saying the patient needs marijuana. "We do not need to know the diagnosis, just that they qualify," says Adams.
While California law enforcement officers will not arrest someone who has pot and a valid card, it's still a federal crime. But Action News legal analyst and attorney, Tony Capozzi says the feds won't get involved unless someone has a lot of pot, or is selling it. "The federal government won't come in an prosecute someone who is using it for medical purposes, so long as the possession of that marijuana is in small quantities," says Capozzi.
Those who operate marijuana dispensaries are still subject to federal prosecution. In Fresno County possession of 6 mature, or a dozen immature plants and 8 ounces of pot will be allowed with a valid marijuana card. Cards can be applied for now. They won't be issued until December 2nd.
The intent of the law is to allow those who have a medical need for marijuana to be able to get it. It's not for recreational users. (here)
11/22/2008 Fresno, CA, USA -- Five years after voters in the state approved a measure allowing marijuana use for medicinal purposes, Fresno County has agreed to issue marijuana ID cards.
If you have a note from a doctor saying you need pot, and $107, you can get a card allowing you to be in possession of a small quantity of marijuana, for medical use.
Jena Adams, Fresno County Health Department, says "The card will allow them to possess and to grow a certain amount of marijuana and to use for their medical purposes."
It's welcome news to Diana Kirby. She uses marijuana for pain management and other medical problems. She'll be first in line to get a marijuana card. It will keep her from being arrested. "Actually it makes the police officers life a little easier and it takes a little of the fright from most of us who have to travel somewhere to get our medication."
The Fresno County Health Department is offering a packet of information on how to get a card. The information is also online. They key is a Doctor's note saying the patient needs marijuana. "We do not need to know the diagnosis, just that they qualify," says Adams.
While California law enforcement officers will not arrest someone who has pot and a valid card, it's still a federal crime. But Action News legal analyst and attorney, Tony Capozzi says the feds won't get involved unless someone has a lot of pot, or is selling it. "The federal government won't come in an prosecute someone who is using it for medical purposes, so long as the possession of that marijuana is in small quantities," says Capozzi.
Those who operate marijuana dispensaries are still subject to federal prosecution. In Fresno County possession of 6 mature, or a dozen immature plants and 8 ounces of pot will be allowed with a valid marijuana card. Cards can be applied for now. They won't be issued until December 2nd.
The intent of the law is to allow those who have a medical need for marijuana to be able to get it. It's not for recreational users. (here)
Monday, August 11, 2008
Pulling the lid off pot
(from the Seattle Times)
Marijuana has an image problem.
That's not the only problem with it, but its image probably keeps it lurking in the shadows: People who smoke pot are unkempt, unruly, counterculture. Best just to drink scotch or pop OxyContin.
If marijuana had the ad agencies that cigarettes have had, it would be legal, too.
I'm not craving a joint. It's not my thing, but I noticed that Hempfest is coming up this weekend.
Speakers at the Seattle festival will try mightily to pull the weed from darkness.
I agree with them that it makes sense to decriminalize marijuana use.
Bring it out into the light, regulate it, tax it, put trafficking gangs out of business and let police and courts do more important work.
Rick Steves, the travel entrepreneur from Edmonds, will be one of the main speakers at Hempfest.
We had a story in our paper Friday about a television program he and the ACLU made to get people talking about marijuana laws (marijuanaconversation.org).
Some local television stations were not willing to air the TV show, though I can't think of a station that hasn't carried entertainment programs in which weed played a part.
I guess it's like sex, which you can display a bit, but not discuss seriously.
Outlawing grass doesn't seem to have the intended effect, assuming the intent is to keep people from using.
According to the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, more than 83 million Americans older than 12 have used marijuana.
Marijuana production earns billions every year.
Think of what we could do with the taxes on legal marijuana. And we'd save the $7.5 billion a year the nation spends enforcing pot laws.
One of the big raps against pot is the idea that using it leads to using more dangerous drugs.
The other day, I asked a roomful of people about marijuana. One man, an educator, said that when he was in high school in 1972, he had a drug-education class.
The kids were told marijuana was the same as heroin.
The ones who experimented with it found out it wasn't, and some went on to try heroin figuring that since marijuana hadn't done them in and heroin was the same, it wouldn't hurt either. How's that for a gateway effect?
I'm sure arresting people for using pot has a gateway effect. A little time in jail gives a person the opportunity to learn more about other drugs and bigger crimes.
But if marijuana were legal, we could institute some controls and even have serious conversations about it.
I spoke with Steves, who is in Belgium. He said his interest started with "knowing so many people who were closet smokers but couldn't talk about it. I thought, 'What if everybody agreed [it should be decriminalized] but was too afraid to speak out.' "
He figured maybe people would listen to a straight-laced businessman.
Steves is pushing democracy, not pot. It bothers him that Americans shrink from discussing drug laws.
That's a truly sorry image.
Jerry Large's column appears Monday and Thursday. Reach him at 206-464-3346 or jlarge@seattletimes.com.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Marijuana has an image problem.
That's not the only problem with it, but its image probably keeps it lurking in the shadows: People who smoke pot are unkempt, unruly, counterculture. Best just to drink scotch or pop OxyContin.
If marijuana had the ad agencies that cigarettes have had, it would be legal, too.
I'm not craving a joint. It's not my thing, but I noticed that Hempfest is coming up this weekend.
Speakers at the Seattle festival will try mightily to pull the weed from darkness.
I agree with them that it makes sense to decriminalize marijuana use.
Bring it out into the light, regulate it, tax it, put trafficking gangs out of business and let police and courts do more important work.
Rick Steves, the travel entrepreneur from Edmonds, will be one of the main speakers at Hempfest.
We had a story in our paper Friday about a television program he and the ACLU made to get people talking about marijuana laws (marijuanaconversation.org).
Some local television stations were not willing to air the TV show, though I can't think of a station that hasn't carried entertainment programs in which weed played a part.
I guess it's like sex, which you can display a bit, but not discuss seriously.
Outlawing grass doesn't seem to have the intended effect, assuming the intent is to keep people from using.
According to the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, more than 83 million Americans older than 12 have used marijuana.
Marijuana production earns billions every year.
Think of what we could do with the taxes on legal marijuana. And we'd save the $7.5 billion a year the nation spends enforcing pot laws.
One of the big raps against pot is the idea that using it leads to using more dangerous drugs.
The other day, I asked a roomful of people about marijuana. One man, an educator, said that when he was in high school in 1972, he had a drug-education class.
The kids were told marijuana was the same as heroin.
The ones who experimented with it found out it wasn't, and some went on to try heroin figuring that since marijuana hadn't done them in and heroin was the same, it wouldn't hurt either. How's that for a gateway effect?
I'm sure arresting people for using pot has a gateway effect. A little time in jail gives a person the opportunity to learn more about other drugs and bigger crimes.
But if marijuana were legal, we could institute some controls and even have serious conversations about it.
I spoke with Steves, who is in Belgium. He said his interest started with "knowing so many people who were closet smokers but couldn't talk about it. I thought, 'What if everybody agreed [it should be decriminalized] but was too afraid to speak out.' "
He figured maybe people would listen to a straight-laced businessman.
Steves is pushing democracy, not pot. It bothers him that Americans shrink from discussing drug laws.
That's a truly sorry image.
Jerry Large's column appears Monday and Thursday. Reach him at 206-464-3346 or jlarge@seattletimes.com.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Saturday, July 19, 2008
State Supreme Court narrows probable-cause grounds in pot case
Law-enforcement officers who smell marijuana coming from a vehicle can't arrest all of the occupants, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
By Leslie Anne Jones
Seattle Times staff reporter
Law-enforcement officers who detect the odor of marijuana from a vehicle can't arrest all of the occupants, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
In a unanimous ruling, the court determined the smell of pot isn't enough probable cause to warrant the arrest and search of everyone inside a car. While smell alone may be reason for a vehicle search, the court determined, it doesn't warrant handcuffing passengers without other supporting evidence.
Defense attorneys on Thursday called it a right-to-privacy victory. Law-enforcement officers say it won't greatly affect the way they make arrests.
The ruling stems from a traffic stop in April 2006 in Skagit County.
Jeremy Grande was riding in a car driven by Lacee Hurley when they were pulled over by State Patrol Trooper Brent Hanger, court documents said. Hanger stopped the car for windows too darkly tinted, he testified.
Hanger said he smelled pot in the car, so he arrested and handcuffed Grande and Hurley, court documents said.
A search of Grande revealed a glass pipe with marijuana in his pocket, according to court papers. Hanger searched the car and found a joint in an ashtray, which Hurley said belonged to her, court documents said. Both were charged with marijuana possession. Grande was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, court documents said.
The case initially came before the Skagit County District Court, which found there was no probable cause for Grande's arrest. But the state appealed the ruling and the county's Superior Court reversed the order, court documents said. The case was appealed to the state Supreme Court.
Summing up the state Supreme Court's decision, Justice Charles W. Johnson wrote: "Our state constitution protects our individual privacy, meaning that we are free from unnecessary police intrusion into our private affairs unless a police officer can clearly associate the crime with the individual." In the case of the Skagit County traffic stop, the court found the mere presence of the odor of marijuana was not enough probable cause to warrant the arrest of Grande.
Attorney David Zuckerman, who brought the case before the state Supreme Court, said the problem is that arresting someone based solely on the odor of marijuana can affect innocents.
"The smell of marijuana smoke can linger for weeks," Zuckerman said. "You could have a perfectly innocent citizen get into a car where somebody smoked marijuana at some point ... and an officer can just pull you out of a car and book you based on that."
Zuckerman said Grande was delighted with the decision. (more)
By Leslie Anne Jones
Seattle Times staff reporter
Law-enforcement officers who detect the odor of marijuana from a vehicle can't arrest all of the occupants, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
In a unanimous ruling, the court determined the smell of pot isn't enough probable cause to warrant the arrest and search of everyone inside a car. While smell alone may be reason for a vehicle search, the court determined, it doesn't warrant handcuffing passengers without other supporting evidence.
Defense attorneys on Thursday called it a right-to-privacy victory. Law-enforcement officers say it won't greatly affect the way they make arrests.
The ruling stems from a traffic stop in April 2006 in Skagit County.
Jeremy Grande was riding in a car driven by Lacee Hurley when they were pulled over by State Patrol Trooper Brent Hanger, court documents said. Hanger stopped the car for windows too darkly tinted, he testified.
Hanger said he smelled pot in the car, so he arrested and handcuffed Grande and Hurley, court documents said.
A search of Grande revealed a glass pipe with marijuana in his pocket, according to court papers. Hanger searched the car and found a joint in an ashtray, which Hurley said belonged to her, court documents said. Both were charged with marijuana possession. Grande was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, court documents said.
The case initially came before the Skagit County District Court, which found there was no probable cause for Grande's arrest. But the state appealed the ruling and the county's Superior Court reversed the order, court documents said. The case was appealed to the state Supreme Court.
Summing up the state Supreme Court's decision, Justice Charles W. Johnson wrote: "Our state constitution protects our individual privacy, meaning that we are free from unnecessary police intrusion into our private affairs unless a police officer can clearly associate the crime with the individual." In the case of the Skagit County traffic stop, the court found the mere presence of the odor of marijuana was not enough probable cause to warrant the arrest of Grande.
Attorney David Zuckerman, who brought the case before the state Supreme Court, said the problem is that arresting someone based solely on the odor of marijuana can affect innocents.
"The smell of marijuana smoke can linger for weeks," Zuckerman said. "You could have a perfectly innocent citizen get into a car where somebody smoked marijuana at some point ... and an officer can just pull you out of a car and book you based on that."
Zuckerman said Grande was delighted with the decision. (more)
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