Marijuana Blog

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon House took a step toward legalizing medical marijuana dispensaries on Monday as lawmakers narrowly approved a bill that would license and regulate retail outlets that connect marijuana cardholders with the drug.

 

Under existing law, the state's nearly 55,000 medical marijuana cardholders must grow the pot themselves or find a person to grow it for them. The bill would give cardholders another option: purchasing their medicine from state-regulated medical marijuana retail outlets.

 

House Bill 3460, which passed 31-27, would require dispensaries to register with the state medical marijuana program and meet certain quality standards. The bill next goes to the Senate, which could vote on it later this week.

 

The bill sparked a hearty debate among lawmakers Monday.

 

Critics said it doesn't do enough to stop what they see as abuses of the state's medical marijuana program.

 

Rep. Andy Olson, an Albany Republican and former Oregon State Police lieutenant, said the bill lacks teeth to crack down on facilities that don't comply with the new regulations.

 

"I'm a major advocate for those who are in need of marijuana as a medicine," he said. "I am opposed to the abuse."

 

Olson said he wanted to craft a new bill for the 2014 Legislature to consider that would address his concerns.

 

Rep. Peter Buckley, an Ashland Democrat and a chief sponsor of the bill, acknowledged that the state's medical marijuana program has problems, but said the bill was never meant to be a panacea.

 

"This bill focuses on one thing: safe access to medical marijuana for people who are legally qualified to access medical marijuana," Buckley said.

 

Emphasizing this point, Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland, told lawmakers: "This bill does not fight Mexican cartels. The bill doesn't solve hunger in Oregon. The bill doesn't help the Blazers win the championship. The bill does a simple thing."

 

Greenlick said the bill is intended to create an easy, safe way for users to obtain the drug from dispensaries.

 

Read more: http://www.komonews.com

Once a business proposition that required little more than a few thousand dollars and some gardening equipment, selling medical marijuana is quickly becoming a dream fit only for deep-pocketed entrepreneurs.

 

Regulations in states that only recently legalized medical marijuana are mandating that would-be dispensary operators set aside large amounts of cash before even applying for a license, tipping the scales in favor of businesspeople with money to burn. Drawn-out licensing processes being devised in those states mean permits to run dispensaries will likely only go to those able to afford a cadre of consultants and lawyers.

 

Five years ago, Ean Seeb helped open Colorado dispensary Denver Relief with “four thousand dollars and half a pound of cannabis.”

 

“I don’t think that would ever happen again,” said Seeb, who now works as a dispensary consultant. “Somebody who just has a good idea but little capital would find it difficult to impossible to go into the business today.”

 

Seeb said he is counseling clients in Massachusetts, where only 35 dispensary licenses will be granted starting later this year, to set aside at least $2 million before even considering going into the medical marijuana industry. Not only are state fees related to the permitting process likely to total over $100,000 for many dispensaries, but the merit-based process for obtaining a license is also expected to privilege those who can demonstrate they have excess cash to secure an abundant supply of cannabis.

 

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com

The star has yet added another pot shirt to her collection! She debuted a tee that says ‘High Fashion’ while on her way to a concert. Do you like her bold fashion statement or is it time for her to tone it down?

Rihanna has obviously been enjoying her time in Amsterdam! The 24-year-old, who is currently on her world tour, showed off a brand new tee that featured a marijuana leaf and was titled, ‘High Fashion.’ We all know RiRi is a major marijuana supporter, so she must be thrilled to be in Amsterdam where weed is legal!

 

Rihanna’s Marijuana Shirt:

 

The star stepped out of her hotel in Amsterdam on June 24 in a white tee with a rainbow heart on the left-hand corner with the words ‘High Fashion’ written underneath it. A huge marijuana symbol was outlined inside of the heart. RiRi tucked the tee into a high-waisted, pleated leather skirt, an amazing gold snake choker necklace, high-top black Converse sneakers, black sunnies, and a backwards snap-back. She also sported a bunch of gold bangles and rings. We are so not surprised by this outfit – it is so RiRi! She even Instagrammed a pic of herself in the shirt and made the caption: ‘It’s what fashion killaz wear in Amsterdam #HIGHFASHION #silverspoonattire’

 

Recently, while in Amsterdam, Rihanna has been using Instagram as her outlet for all things marijuana. She posted a pic of her friend Jenn Rosales smoking out of a giant bong, Rihanna herself with two huge joint cones full of pot in her mouth ready to be lit, her smoking weed while speaking to her dad, and her sitting on a table smoking with the caption: ‘#legalizeit’ Rihanna is having a great time and we’re happy for her – but is she turning to pot to help with her heartbreak from Chris Brown?

 

Read more: http://hollywoodlife.com