One physician told Salem-News that the average age of the Oregon medical marijuana patient is 47. Few are under 25, and many are considerably older. Photo courtesy: NORML

U.S. Supreme Court: State Medical Marijuana Laws Not Preempted by Federal Law

December 1st, 2008, Americans For Safe Access

Medical marijuana case appealed by the City of Garden Grove was denied review today

Washington, DC — The U.S. Supreme Court refused to review a landmark decision today in which California state courts found that its medical marijuana law was not preempted by federal law. The state appellate court decision from November 28, 2007, ruled that ‘it is not the job of the local police to enforce the federal drug laws.’ The case, involving Felix Kha, a medical marijuana patient from Garden Grove, was the result of a wrongful seizure of medical marijuana by local police in June 2005. Medical marijuana advocates hailed today’s decision as a huge victory in clarifying law enforcement’s obligation to uphold state law. Advocates assert that better adherence to state medical marijuana laws by local police will result in fewer needless arrests and seizures. In turn, this will allow for better implementation of medical marijuana laws not only in California, but in all states that have adopted such laws.

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Medical marijuana symbol posted on a fence that encloses a ‘legal’ garden in California. (Photo courtesy http://peacecorpsonline.org/)

CA medical marijuana advocates concerned about Obama appointments

By Malcolm Maclachlan (published Thursday, November 20, 2008) In this year’s presidential election, medical marijuana advocates in California were pretty clear on which candidate they were rooting for. On multiple occasions, Democrat Barack Obama has pledged to end the federal raids that have bedeviled the state’s dispensaries for years under the Bush administration…

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Dianne Byrum, spokeswoman for the support group Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care. \’I just had a feeling from the very beginning this was going to pass, and it was going to resonate with the voters. … \’Voters knew right from the beginning the medical value of marijuana.\’

Michigan voters approve medical marijuana measure

by The Associated Press Tuesday November 04, 2008, 10:53 PM DETROIT – Voters in Michigan overwhelmingly approved a medical marijuana ballot measure — making it one of a quarter of states to allow severely ill patients to use the illegal drug.

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An Aug 12, 2008 protest in San Bernardino County, at which the board of supervisors was urged to drop this lawsuit. (Courtesy http://druglaw.typepad.com/drug_law_blog/medical_marijuana/)

California Supreme Court denies review of medical pot law

Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer Friday, October 17, 2008Print E-mail Share Comments (47) Font | Size: (10-16) 18:22 PDT SAN FRANCISCO — The state Supreme Court turned back a challenge to California\’s medical marijuana law Thursday from two counties that said they were being forced to condone federal drug-law violations by state-approved pot users.

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LEAP Billboard

COPS SAY LEGALIZE DRUGS!

Zogby Poll: If hard drugs such as heroin or cocaine were legalized would you be likely to use them? 99% SAY ‘NO’

Meanwhile, people continue dying in our streets while drug barons and terrorists continue to grow richer than ever before. We would suggest that this scenario must be the very definition of a failed public policy. This madness must cease! …

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
August 04, 2006 (less info) Many police officers are asking the question: if prohibition didn’t work for alcohol, why are we in denial about it working for other things? LEAP is a major initiative now, and gaining steam. Check out www.leap.cc for more.

(Photo courtesy of http://hiphappy.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/conservatives-marijuana/)

Marijuana Could Be a Gusher of Cash If We Treated It Like a Crop, Not a Crime

By Steven Wishnia, AlterNet. Posted September 11, 2008. — Economists estimate tens of billions for governments if we taxed pot like tobacco and stopped wasting money on the drug war. One 2006 study called cannabis the top cash crop in the nation, worth more than corn and wheat combined…

23 hours ago: The shoes of US Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain (L) (R-AZ) and his vice presidential running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin are shown as they stand at a campaign event in Dayton, Ohio August 28, 2008. (Photo from Reuters Pictures)

MPP, August 29, 2008 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Noting that his just-announced vice presidential pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, has acknowledged having smoked marijuana, reform advocates today urged Sen. John McCain to respect states’ rights to set their own marijuana policies if he is elected president.

TREE OF LIFE – CANNABIS PLANT GROWING
time lapse film of cannabis plant growing from seed to wonder weed

(photo courtesy Michael ‘M’ Designs, http://www.michaelm.com/)

(8/20/2008) ACLU Press Release, CONTACT: media@aclu.org SAN JOSE, CA – In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a federal court today held that the U.S. Constitution bars deliberate subversion by the federal government of state medical marijuana laws.

Courts, feds, ’subverting, medical marijuana, laws, cannabis, pot, marijuana, chronic, hemp, California, Jerry Brown, Graham Boyd, ACLU Drug Law Reform Project, unconstitutional, Tenth Amendment, County of Santa Cruz v. Mukasey, Bingham McCutchen, Drug Policy Alliance, Gerald F. Uelmen, Benjamin Rice, Santa Cruz, medical marijuana cooperative, Wo/Men’s Alliance, Daniel Abrahamson, Jeremy Fogel, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Chief Judge Alex Kozinski, Conant v. Walters, Michael Mukasey, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, Office of National Drug Control Policy

Medical marijuana raid After the raid was over and he was released, Brian Birbiglia was visibly enraged. Birbiglia, who said he is a disabled former Marine who has a prescription to smoke marijuana for a foot injury, stands amid destroyed plants.

By Tami Abdollah, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer August 1, 2008 — The action comes on the same day an appellate court in San Diego rules that federal law does not preempt California’s medical pot law.

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