Blog entries

L.A. City Council to Offer Limited Immunity to Select Collectives in 'Gentle Ban' as ...

Administrator — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:16:57 +0100

The Los Angeles City Council will take up a proposal to offer limited immunity to some medical marijuana collectives on Wednesday May 16.

The measure, introduced by council members Paul Koretz and seconded by Herb Wesson Jr., will have the city attorney draftRead More...

Insurer Terminates Lawyer's Coverage Because of Medical Marijuana Ties

Administrator — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:16:51 +0100

After several years of representing clients who are and were in the medical marijuana industry, Denver-based attorney Ann Toney was informed her insurer would no longer cover her for malpractice.

The Hanover Insurance Group, the company that covers Toney, tolRead More...

Insurance for Growers, Dispensaries Covers Fires, Theft and (Some) Law Enforcement Seizures

Administrator — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:47:42 +0100

If you don't need more proof of the growing acceptance and tolerance of medical marijuana, consider that this formerly outlaw product is now being covered by the most pedestrian of industries — insurance.

Oregon's KOMO reports that insurance agents are now ofRead More...

Medical Marijuana is Reimbursable, Louisiana Appeals Court Decides

Administrator — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:54:07 +0100

Risk & Insurance may not be the periodical of choice for most, but an interesting case was posted among its otherwise staid coverage of deductibles, collision coverage and actuary tables.

An appeals court in Louisiana (Creole Steel, Inc. v. Stewart, No. WRead More...

Banks Shut Doors on Dispensaries

Administrator — Tue, 01 May 2012 03:53:58 +0100

Like Michael Corleone, medical marijuana dispensaries are having problems going legit.

Never mind that 16 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical use. Banks and other financial institutions are treating anything that has to do with the mediRead More...

Amsterdam's Famous Coffee Shops May be Closed for Tourists

Administrator — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:15:33 +0100

The coffee shops in Amsterdam and in other cities of The Netherlands, known for sales of legal recreational marijuana, will be illegal for tourists if a recent court decision stands.

The country's coffee shops challenged a law that would only allow citizens aRead More...

After Years of Dodging Questions About Legalization, Medical Use, Obama Goes on Record — And ...

Administrator — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:21:42 +0100

President Obama began his administration giving proponents of medicinal marijuana and legalization proponents hope that this commander-in-chief would be different.

Keep in mind that this president fessed up to smoking pot (and that he inhaled) and doing a little coke while he attended Punahou, a very exclusive private school inRead More...

California State Senator Moves to Protect Collectives, Dispensaries from Federal Prosecution

Administrator — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:16:08 +0100

A California senator is proposing legislation to shield medical marijuana collectives and dispensaries from federal prosecution.

California law currently protects primary caregivers — those who grow, buy or distribute marijuana for medical use — from federal Read More...

Study Supports Anti-I-502 Position of Washington State's Dispensaries

Administrator — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:27:14 +0100

A recent study examining the THC level of marijuana users found traces of the chemical about a month after their last use.

A sample of 30 heavy pot users found detectable levels in their blood of THC 29 days after following their last use of the drug. While tRead More...

Unlikely Enemies: Recreational Proponents, Dispensaries Square off Over Washington State's I-502

Administrator — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:09:27 +0100

Small business magazine Inc. profiles the current movement in Washington state to legalize marijuana and how medical marijuana dispensaries are fighting the proposition.

Initiative 502, or I-502, is a ballot measure that will allow Washingtonians to own and Read More...

University of Colorado Attempts to End 4/20 Tradition

Administrator — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:33:28 +0100

University of Colorado at Boulder officials are looking to snuff out 4/20 festivities. But it's not because of the annual celebration is an unofficial holiday for all things and anything that has to do with marijuana — it's because too many people show up to celebrate.

Though the federal government put Richard Lee out of the medical marijuana business, Oaksterdam University will continue to operate under the leadership of its executive chancellor, Dale Skye Jones.

Oaksterdam University, which was established to educate thosRead More...

U.S. Stands Firm Against Legalization, Despite Calls from South and Central American Leaders

Administrator — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 23:44:19 +0100

Central and South American governments are calling for the legalization of drugs to stem the tide of violence and open urban warfare in their streets, but the American government continues to ignore the issue at the Summit of the Americas in Columbia.

"You haRead More...

Vallejo Discusses Dispensaries and Business Taxes

Administrator — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:58:04 +0100

Bucking the trend of cities sticking their heads in the sand when it comes to collectives and dispensaries, the Vallejo City Council is ready to discuss the legality of taxing medical marijuana revenues.

The Vallejo Times-Herald reports the discussions wRead More...

Oaksterdam University Raid Forces Richard Lee Out of Medical Marijuana Business — But He ...

Administrator — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:15:01 +0100

The federal government's war on medical marijuana and dispensaries claimed another victim. A paraplegic advocate of pot who grew cannabis, operated collectives and shared his knowledge with others — Oaksterdam University's Richard Lee.

In addition to OaksterRead More...

BREAKING: Feds Raid Medical Marijuana Training Facility Oaksterdam University

Administrator — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:58:49 +0100

Federal agents raided Oaksterdam University today, an institution that educated and trained individuals in the medical marijuana industry the Los Angeles Times reports. The university is also on the forefront of legalization issues, with owner Richard Lee an outspoken advocate of making recreational pot available in California.

'Wal-Mart of Pot' Spreads like Weeds Across the Country to Service the Needs of the Exploding ...

Administrator — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:22:30 +0100

When the California gold rush began in the 1800s, it's said the real money wasn't in panning for gold but selling the picks, axes and pans to the potential prospectors looking to get rich.

Fast forward to the 21st century. Marijuana is the new hot thingRead More...

San Francisco Moves to Outlaw Medical Pot Dispensaries

Administrator — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:30:28 +0100

Though San Francisco's known for being a tolerant sort of town, recent moves by its district attorney, George Gascón, points to a citywide crackdown on its dispensaries.

A woman making a delivery for a collective and the buyer were arrested and charged by theRead More...

Washington State Expects Windfall in Taxes if Recreational Use is Legalized

Administrator — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:37:08 +0100

One of the compelling arguments for legalization of marijuana is the new revenue of taxes for governments on the local, state and federal level. New projections done by the state of Washington seem to confirm that belief.

If recreational marijuana becomeRead More...

Bellingham Cops Raid Collectives, Laws Confuse Owners

Administrator — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:11:34 +0100

Police in Bellingham, Wash. launched raids on three of the town's collectives, claiming the businesses had too much marijuana on hand and too many members.

Washington law allows collectives up to 10 members and to only have an inventory, at most, of 4.5 poundRead More...