Marijuana Blog

According to MCSO Administrative services manager Norm Thurston, the money coming into Mendocino county California for growers permits has more than doubled in the last month.

An analysis of the permits account on 4/20/11 showed the program had pulled in $152,000 in revenue but by Friday, the account showed more than $300,000.  This total includes zip-tie revenue, permit revenue, and $45,450 from a restitution program put in place by the District Attorney for growers who didn’t comply with the program.

Thurston has received more than 40 applications, and says he is on pace to meet the county goal of 100 permits. If this goal is met, it will mean no layoffs within the Mendocino County government, and the current amount is enough to avoid the most current round of layoffs in the sheriff’s department.
 

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Recent federal crackdowns on the medical marijuana industry have been happening all over the continental United States. The threatening letters and late night raids on dispensaries have made many state law makers review their current medical marijuana regulations and wonder when the feds are showing up; but not Alaska.  

The wording of Alaska’s MMJ bill leaves out one of the most essential parts of marijuana as a medicine; how you are supposed to actually get it. Though no state official will admit it, obtaining the herb for medical purposes almost always requires an illegal transaction because there is no approved method to purchase the medication, and the law doesn’t address the issue.

This is the main reason that Alaska isn’t taking any heat right now in the midst of a Federal crackdown.  The Anchorage based US attorney says she has never dealt with a marijuana issue since she took the job two years ago, and doesn’t see that changing any time soon.  

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An American Tourist, Edith Wolffe, was arrested Wednesday after Bermuda airport security found 14 rolled cigarettes filled with marijuana. Wolffe admitted to smuggling the marijuana  into the country but pleaded its medical usage. Wolffe uses the herb to treat Ménière's disease; an illness that affects hearing and balance.

“Simply put, it’s a poke. It’s brought here by a lady who had an existing medical condition. It should be dealt with by way of a fine and it shouldn’t be exuberant,” said Mark Pettingill, Wolffe’s lawyer. The Bermuda magistrate disagreed and sentenced Wolffe to 30 days in jail and a $3,000 fine.

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An employee of Miller-Coors in Denver Colorado was fired earlier this month for testing positive for cannabis during a random drug screening at the brewery.  Paul Curry worked at the plant for 7 years without incident, and was fired immediately following the drug screening. 

Miller-Coors refused Curry all unemployment rights following his termination, so he sued. The Court has ruled in Curry’s favor, rewarding him with all unemployment benefits. “This ruling says that he was not terminated through any fault of his own. It says that Coors was in the wrong. With this ruling, there can be no other reason for his termination than discrimination. Coors needs to take this ruling very seriously,” said Curry’s lawyer.

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A Nova Scotia couple has filed a lawsuit against the government claiming they are too poor to purchase the necessary equipment to produce medical marijuana, and they want the government to pay for it.

Both Tanya and Sam have licenses to grow marijuana for their own use, but run out quite often. "We can't keep up on the amount that we need to grow," says Sam. Sam has been diagnosed with glaucoma and a blood disorder, while Tanya suffers debilitating pain from a car accident.

The Couple is requesting that the providence covers a one-time set up fee of $2,500 and another $100.00 every three months for chemical supplies.  According to the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services, over $200,000 as already been spent fighting the couples request.

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