California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (a Democrat representing San Francisco) introduced a law that would regulate medical marijuana dispensaries statewide.

The bill, A.B. 2312, would allow "collectives, cooperatives, and other business entities to cultivate, acquire, process, possess, transport, test, sell, and distribute marijuana for medical purposes." The bill would also punish doctors who write bad patient recommendations with a misdemeanor offense, set up a government body to oversee the enforcement of the law and limit one collective per city of 50,000, The Huffington Post reports.

Unfortunately, the bill stands little chance of passing. Gov. Jerry Brown has not signed any pro-pot legalization into law and it's generally accepted that he won't.

Ammiano is a long time advocate of medical marijuana and access for patients. He's called for U.S. Attorneys to end their campaign to close dispensaries and met with them to personally question the closures.

The owner of Studio City, Calif. medical marijuana dispensary Perennial Holistic Wellness Center, Inc., contacted Patch.com with a concern about his neighborhood.

Perennial Holistic Wellness Center, Inc. is about to have an adult book store as a new neighbor.

The owner is concerned that the adult book store will bring an increase in crimes, sex crimes in particular. He cited an earlier sexual assault in the area and an act of vandalism he claims to have seen as proof that a porn shop in the area is a bad idea.

You know, like how people who don't like pot say that pot shops lead to more crime and drug dealing.

"Tonight's incident and the first sexual assult [sic] in Studio City in many years, last year near the Shell on Ventura Place is more proof positive that an adult book store is not the right thing for this community," he wrote.

What's interesting is that the so-called "secondary effects" that anti-porn groups cite are in dispute. They're not unlike the arguments anti-legalization groups make about dispensaries, which were dispelled by a RAND Corp. study (much to the dismay of the City of L.A.).

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn dares to utter the truth that marijuana advocates know and that anti-drug crusaders fear: illegal drugs fund criminals, reports NPR affiliate KPLU.

In his State of the City address, McGinn states:

“It is time we were honest about the problems we face with the drug trade. Drugs are a source of criminal profit, and that has led to shootings and even murders. Just like we learned in the 1920s with the prohibition of alcohol, prohibition of marijuana is fueling violent activity."

McGinn also calls on Washington state to legalize marijuana to end the erosion of civil liberties. He also remarked that though Seattle has taken a progressive stance on marijuana, federal anti-drug laws in place continue to fuel violence.

Mayor McGinn's example shows that legalization will ultimately be a bottom-up process, rather than coming from Washington.

Kevin Drum, political blogger for Mother Jones magazine, plays connect the dots with President Obama's about-turn on medical marijuana.

Citing coverage in The Rolling Stone, Drum points to holdovers from the Bush administration in the Drug Enforcement Administration but is quick to point out the U.S. Attorneys sending seizing property and money in California and Washington don't answer to or take orders from the DEA.

Drum adds that while the current administration maintains its position is "clear and consistent," its actions threatens to alienate the youth vote that voted the president into office.

In an update, Drum floats a theory by The New Republic's Tim Fernholz that Obama reversed his stance on medical marijuana when state governments requested information on licensing growers and distributers.

The L.A. Weekly details the trials, tribulations and history of medical marijuana in the city.

It's by no means a quick read. But for those on either side of the issue — from those that are absolutely pro-legalization to absolute prohibitionists — it does detail the actions of a City Council paralyzed by inaction, politicians who seem to want nothing less than the abolition of the state's medical marijuana laws and patients and advocates who are sincere in their belief that marijuana should be available for those in need.

The article pulls no punches, and recognizes that though there are legitimate patients who need medical marijuana as a last resort, there will always be those who will attempt to obtain pot for recreational use. In a media landscape that sometimes plays to partisan points of view, the L.A. Weekly's article something rare when it comes to an issue as emotional as medical marijuana: well-researched.

Though the Greater Los Angeles Collective Alliance only lists 13 collectives as members of its organization, it's become one of the leading voices for pot shops in the city. When the city council meets about anything related to their interests, the GLACA is there.

Recently, with U.S. Attorneys threatening action against local landowners and local governments that support medical marijuana, the city council's stance on the issue is to shut all the establishments down.

In response, the GLACA has proposed tight regulations on the medical marijuana dispensary community with a government enforcement arm to back it up, the L.A. Weekly reports. While the GLACA's stance on the issue seems contradictory to their mission, when examined closer it reveals perhaps the only way to save safe and legal access in L.A.

The organization is currently seeking signatures to place its proposal on the ballot.

National Public Radio, in conjunction with California Watch, detailed the recent decision by Mendocino County to end its program to regulate medical marijuana growers.

The report detailed that many of the growers felt the program was a success and they were more than happy to go from running afoul of the law to being above board, as well as the money that poured into the county sheriff's coffers through fees paid by the growers. It also detailed the pressure placed on the county by the U.S. Attorney's Office to end the program.

The report also quoted the U.S. Attorney as saying the program was "hijacked by profiteers who are motivated not by compassion but by money." Curiously, it failed to mention that the author of California's medical marijuana law, former state Senator John Vasconcellos, said profitable marijuana collectives were not meant to be illegal and that the law says as much.

Opponents of Los Angeles' medical marijuana dispensaries criticize them as being fronts for for-profit enterprises (among, of course, other things) which they not only decry as unethical, but illegal as well.

Funny how dealing in drugs to ease pain and suffering is bad, but what's ever worse is selling them to make money. Someone should tell that to Merck and Pfizer.

What's interesting is that according to the author of the state's medical marijuana law, former state Senator John Vasconcellos, there's no requirement for collectives not to be non-profits. But there's also no requirement for them to profitable, either, reports the L.A. Weekly.

In a letter he authored to clarify the issue, he wrote:

Nothing in that section prohibits profit. Nothing in that section explicitly authorizes profit, either. But I must point out that nobody is required to obtain an "authorization" from the Legislature to make a profit in California.

... the language does not in any respect purport to prohibit profit ~ if that had been the intent, the language would have so stated clearly. It obviously does no such thing.

Interesting, to say the least.

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and Brett Stone, moderator of the Medical Marijuana News group on Yahoo! passed along a news release making its rounds from the Coalition for a Drug-Free California.

The CDFC is urging its members to report on medical marijuana dispensaries to the IRS for cash rewards paid out under its whistleblower program.

"If this was a whistle-blower case, the whistle-blower would get 30% of the 2.4 million which is roughly $700,000 in your pocket," Paul Chabot, founder of the CDFC, states in the release. "Pot stores are in violation of Federal law. This is a no brainer - every dad, mom and other citizen who has been affected by pot stores and drug legalization tactics should use this tool to fight back."

Chillingly, he adds, "This will work nationwide. Pass it on. Retire early. It's better odds than hitting the lottery."

Despite a news report from California Fox affiliate KION reading like this medical marijuana vending machine is the first of its kind, Brett Stone, moderator of the Medical Marijuana News group on Yahoo! points out it's actually not in a commentary that accompanied the story link.

Oy. It's 2012 and finally someone has just invented a marijuana vending machine. Again. Funny how many people have invented these. Just like every new medible (medicinal edible) company claims to be reinventing the medible. Makes me laugh. First medicinal marijuana vending machine I ever saw was in a shop in West Hollywood way before Los Angeles or many cities had any shops. And that one was a custom made reconverted candy machine and is still in use even after a DEA raid and lock breaking. Put that in your pipe and smoke it buddy.  Peace --brett

Medical marijuana may be the law's undiscovered country, there's nothing new when it comes to selling it.