Subject: [asa] Medical Marijuana in the News: Week of 6/15
From: "William Dolphin"
Date: Mon, June 18, 2007 1:42 pm

MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE NEWS
ASA’s Media Summary for the Week of 6/15/07

* RESEARCH: Marijuana May Be Topical Allergy Cure
* ASA IN THE NEWS: Patients’ Right to Grow as Groups Tested in Court
* NEW YORK: Advocates Change Governor’s Mind on Medical Marijuana
* MICHIGAN: Advocates Seek Signatures for Medical Marijuana Initiative
* CONNECTICUT: Medical Marijuana Bill on Governor’s Desk
* COLORADO: Limits on Plant Numbers Challenged
* DISPENSARIES: Federal and Local Action in California
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RESEARCH: Marijuana May Be Topical Allergy Cure
Few remember that cannabis was a popular remedy in the early twentieth century,
commonly prescribed by doctors and widely available at pharmacies in several
forms, including oral tinctures and topical salves. Scientists are
rediscovering the potential of cannabis preparations for treating skin
problems.

Cannabis helps treat allergic reactions
New Zealand Herald
A cannabis folk remedy has been resurrected by scientists who found that active
ingredients in the drug reduce allergic reactions. Extracts from the hemp plant
were traditionally used to treat inflammation and could be bought from chemists
in the early part of the 20th century.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4768

New frontier for medical cannabis -- topical pot
by Kavita Mishra, San Francisco Chronicle
Skin allergies may be the next reason to use marijuana -- a topical form, at
least. Scientists have long suspected that marijuana, used for recreational
purposes and to help fight chronic pain, nausea and even some mental disorders
like anxiety and depression, also had anti-inflammatory effects in the body.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4773
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ASA IN THE NEWS: Patients’ Right to Grow as Groups Tested in Court
The most seriously ill patients must rely on others to grow medical marijuana,
something California’s law recognizes with a “caregiver” provision. But many
patients have also organized as cultivation collectives to help each other,
which the state legislature expressly made legal in 2003. A new court case may
help better define the responsibilities of law enforcement when dealing with
those patient collectives.

Medical marijuana suit could break new ground
by Heather Hacking, Oroville Mercury-Register
A Superior Court case heard in Chico is raising the question whether a
medicinal marijuana case can be tried in civil court — a step that would open
up law enforcement to fighting lawsuits from people who have plants confiscated
or destroyed. Collectives were OK'd in March 2002 by the Legislature, said Joe
Elford, a lawyer for Americans For Safe Access, an advocacy group for medical
marijuana.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4771
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NEW YORK: Advocates Change Governor’s Mind on Medical Marijuana
Ten years of tireless work by medical marijuana patients and advocates has made
a difference in New York. The Governor himself has had his mind changed by the
education he has gotten from patients and doctors. Myths and misinformation are
the biggest barriers standing between many patients and a safe, effective
treatment option.

Legislators Grapple Over How to Legalize Medical Marijuana Use
by Danny Hakim and Michael Grynbaum, New York Times
Gov. Eliot Spitzer and legislative leaders said this week that the use of
marijuana for medical purposes should be made legal in New York State. But
whether all involved can come to an agreement on how that should be done with
one week left in the legislative session remains in significant doubt.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4759

NY Pols consider 'medical marijuana'
by James T. Madore, NewsDay (NY)
Legalizing marijuana for medical use appeared Wednesday to gain momentum here
with lawmakers and then lose it as the legislature's two houses disagreed over
implementation.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4756

Medical Marijuana Legislation Passes State Assembly
by John Abraham, Long Island Press
A new measure which would allow patients experiencing pain to ingest and grow
marijuana cleared the state Assembly Wednesday in a 92-52 vote. The
controversial measure is currently being debated between Democrats and
Republicans in the state Senate.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4755

Spitzer is open to New York legalizing medicinal marijuana
by Tom Precious, Buffalo News (NY)
Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer, in a reversal of a campaign position, said Tuesday he
could support legislation legalizing the use of marijuana for certain medicinal
purposes. In a debate last summer, Spitzer said he opposed medical marijuana.
Now he said he is “open” to the idea after being swayed by advocates in the
past couple of months.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4762

Medical marijuana bill passed in Assembly
Capital News 9 (NY)
The state Assembly passed a bill legalizing medical use of marijuana Wednesday,
after about a decade of attempts to approve similar legislation in the state.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4760
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MICHIGAN: Advocates Seek Signatures for Medical Marijuana Initiative
Michigan's groundspring of public support is forcing lawmakers to recognize
that medical marijuana is an option people want for themselves and their
families. A flurry of local initiatives is being followed by a statewide
measure that will be put to voters this fall, if organizers can get the
required signatures. If passed, the bill will go to the legislature; if state
lawmakers fail to act, it will return to voters.

Prescription pot
by Curt Guyette, Detroit Metro Times
Rochelle Lampkin knows she's breaking the law when she lights a joint and takes
a few tokes, but she doesn't feel like a criminal. The 48-year-old Detroit
grandmother has multiple sclerosis, and an associated condition called optic
neuritis, an excruciatingly painful inflammation of the optic nerve. It hits
her a few times a month.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4765

Medical pot: Petition drive can put issue where it belongs - with voters
EDITORIAL, Lansing State Journal (MI)
Six years ago, Michigan saw petition gatherers advocating a statewide vote on
recreational use of marijuana. It was a bad idea at the time, as an LSJ
editorial stated. It's still a bad idea, as Lansing-based pollster Ed Sarpolus
affirmed in noting full legalization is still a no-go with state voters.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4764
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CONNECTICUT: Medical Marijuana Bill on Governor’s Desk
Bipartisan support got a medical marijuana bill to the desk of the governor in
Connecticut. She is being urged to sign it by her constituents and even a
celebrity patient. Polling by the University of Connecticut shows 83% of the
state wants to see the law enacted.

MS Sufferer Montel Williams Makes the Case for Medical Pot
by Montel Williams, AlterNet
Editor's note: Connecticut may become the 13th state in the country to permit
the use of marijuana for medical purposes. After legislation was passed in the
state legislature this month, it is now up to Gov. M. Jodi Rell. What follows
is a letter of support from Montel Williams.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4763

Marijuana Law in Connecticut Gains Ground
by Stacey Stowe, New York Times
Seventeen years ago, Mark Braunstein dived 60 feet off a footbridge into a
river, landed wrong and became a paraplegic. A librarian at Connecticut
College, Mr. Braunstein, 55, walks with the aid of crutches and leg braces. He
smokes marijuana every three days or so to control the pain and spasms in his
feet that would otherwise immobilize him.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4766
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COLORADO: Limits on Plant Numbers Challenged
State laws that impose arbitrary limits on the number of plants or medicine
patients can possess are not realistic. With other medications, we let doctors
decide together with their patients what treatment levels are appropriate. In
addition, differences in cultivation techniques mean some grow many small
plants indoors while others grow a few larger ones outdoors. ASA is working
with Sensible Colorado to help make state policy more reasonable.

Veteran challenges arrest under medical-marijuana law
Associated Press
A former Marine who said marijuana helps him deal with injuries suffered during
Operation Desert Storm is challenging the state’s medical marijuana law.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4753
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DISPENSARIES: Federal and Local Action in California
Many California state and local officials have recognized that dispensaries
provide an invaluable service to patients while allowing oversight by the
community. The state legislature made provisions for dispensing collectives in
2003, and local officials around the state have been implementing or
considering regulations for their operation. A study by ASA found that
regulations are working well. (See
http://AmericansForSafeaccess.org/DispensaryReport) But that has not stopped
the federal government from trying to intervene in local attempts to help
patients.

Federal agents search dispensary in Pomona
by Monica Rodriguez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency - assisted by Pomona police officers - served
a search warrant Wednesday afternoon at a medical marijuana dispensary in the
eastern end of the city.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4769

D.A. rejects marijuana raid case
Jewish Journal
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has rejected a case against
the operator of a Van Nuys medical marijuana pharmacy that was raided in April
by police who allegedly desecrated a mezuzah at the shop.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4772

New assistant DA sees no change in dispensary policy
by K. Kaufmann, The Desert Sun
When it comes to medical marijuana dispensaries, the Riverside County District
Attorney’s Office will be standing by the white paper opposing dispensaries
issued by former District Attorney Grover Trask last fall.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4770

City studying marijuana dispensary ban
by Nisha Gutierrez, Whittier Daily News (CA)
The Baldwin Park City Council is taking steps to consider placing a temporary
ban on medical marijuana dispensaries, officials said.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4767

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MORE ABOUT AMERICANS FOR SAFE ACCESS
Find out more about ASA at http://AmericansForSafeAccess.org. More medical
marijuana news summaries can be seen at
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?list=type&type=122.