Marijuana Blog

Although many "ignorant" people think marijuana use is a bad thing, it can really help those who are in chronic pain or have chronic conditions. According to a report made by The Columbus Dispatch on May 3, proposals may full legalize the use of marijuana. That means not just for medicinal purposes but also allow for recreational use.

 

Rep. Robert F. Hagan has been trying to legalize it for years but his attempts have always been ignored and have died. However, a poll done by Ohioans has shown that many people are coming around to feeling more comfortable with the use of pot.

 

One bill that may be passed would be to allow medical marijuana for those with chronic conditions and pain to use it. The other one would be to allow for those 21 and older to purchase and use pot for recreational use. However, there are a few stipulations to the second bill. If the second bill is passed and those 21 and older are allowed to buy and use it, they will have to pay a 15% tax on their purchase. Also, the pot will only be sold by those establishments that have a license to sell it.

 

Since 18 other states have passed for at least medical marijuana, Ohio may be next on the list. This may not go over well with some people but many will be happy about it. Especially those who are on pain killers and need something better to help ease their pain or control their conditions.

 

Read more: http://www.examiner.com

In a case that originated in Riverside, the California Supreme Court ruled 7-0 that local governments can ban medical marijuana dispensaries. The court said nothing in current laws authorizing medical marijuana in California grants a “right” of convenient access or overrides local governments’ zoning powers.

 

The Monday, May 6, ruling means the estimated 200 bans already in place statewide will remain in effect. It opens the way for any cities and counties that might be considering a ban on clinics but were awaiting the court's decision to move forward.

 

California voters approved Prop. 215, which authorized medical marijuana, in 1996. The Medical Marijuana Program, passed by the Legislature in 2003, tried to provide guidelines for medical marijuana use and distribution.

 

“We must take these laws as we find them, and their purposes and provisions are modest,” the court opinion said.

 

Those two laws, the court concluded, “do not establish a comprehensive state system of legalized medical marijuana; or grant a 'right' of convenient access to marijuana for medicinal use; or override the zoning, licensing, and police powers of local jurisdictions; or mandate local accommodation of medical marijuana.”

 

Read more: http://www.pe.com

At first glance, the menu of Have a Heart Compassion Care Cafe (Have a Heart CC) seems no different from that of any other restaurant. But its burgers, fries, and smoothies come with a twist: They can be custom-ordered to contain medical marijuana.

 

The cafe opened its doors to the community April 20 as the first fully functioning medical marijuana restaurant in Washington state. Located on 9th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 45th Street, it provides restaurant services as well as a medical marijuana dispensary and vapor lounge. 

 

The goal of this new restaurant-dispensary is to provide a community center for medical marijuana patients. Though the restaurant section of Have a Heart Cafe was initially open to the general public for a few days, it is now open exclusively to medical marijuana patients.

 

“We decided that we really wanted to create an atmosphere that was safe and available for medical patients to utilize … [and to] create this one-stop, all-inclusive safe space for medical patients,” said Gail Tsai, general manager of the cafe.

 

This is the third Have a Heart CC dispensary but the first to provide restaurant services. The other two locations are in North Seattle and Fremont.

 

The Have a Heart CC company started two years ago to bring a new style to the traditional medical marijuana access point.

 

“A lot of places would prepackage their items … [Patients] wouldn’t have a lot of options as to look, see, and smell, touch the medicine. They would just have to take someone’s word for it,” said Ryan Kunkel, co-owner of Have a Heart CC. “Essentially, what we did is went away from the prepackage model and put our medicine in jars, so they could come in and see it for themselves.”

 

Kunkel said they allow their patients to examine the different types of medication, particularly the smell of the marijuana, up close before purchasing. 

 

“Everybody’s a little bit different, so that’s a better way to pair people with their medicines that will work,” he said.

 

Read more: http://dailyuw.com