Local initiatives
Imperial Beach activists are attempting to place an initiative on the November ballot aimed at reversing the action by the Imperial Beach City Council's ban on medical marijuana dispensaries. June 8;
Link to San Diego Union story.
Posted in the Imperial Beach Patch, June 22;
The County of San Diego Registrar of Voters has verified that a sufficient amount of signatures have been collected to put medical marijuana dispensary regulation on the ballot in Imperial Beach in the fall.
Now the Imperial Beach City Council gets to decide if they want to spend the money to maintain their undemocratic ban on dispensaries.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Researching Marijuana
Researching Marijuana online leads to hundreds of different articles throughout the web. As I read through them I find more information posted from the comments sections then from the article. Obviously, legal card holders are doing their research and spreading their knowledge. It's no surprise that patients with recommendations from expert professional Doctors, have considerable knowledge on the medical effects of cannabis. Patients who visit trusted medical offices and dispensaries are more educated on the effects and use of medical marijuana.
Some of today's searches led me here;
http://dotsub.com/media/fc4e051a-1709-4e63-8a2c-912b09486c9f/embed/eng
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-teenage-mind/201102/does-marijuana-cause-cancer
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21915267
http://www.leap.cc/
We invite your comments.
Some of today's searches led me here;
http://dotsub.com/media/fc4e051a-1709-4e63-8a2c-912b09486c9f/embed/eng
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-teenage-mind/201102/does-marijuana-cause-cancer
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21915267
http://www.leap.cc/
We invite your comments.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
L.A. Times Editors are medicating
Read this story published in the Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-medical-marijuana-crime-20120606,0,4761144.story
A fabulously funny read. The writers claim to be reporting on a study performed on the correlation between medical marijuana dispensaries and crime. The newspaper story is one of the most slanted biased pieces outside of Fox News.
The reader comments are worth the time, filled with very funny and insightful comments.
The story makes some outlandish claims which are contradicted in the study they are reporting on. The Times waits for the forth paragraph to mention the study, giving the reader 3 paragraphs of biased misleading commentary. The story purports as evidence; "some recent headlines indicate that U.S. pot dispensaries may be on track to follow suit." Since when did anyone use headlines as evidence?
The misleading and contradictory point of the story had me reading it over and over along with the links to the various studies. I came to the conclusion that the editors who placed the story, are themselves using medical marijuana; and abusing it!
Additionally, the comments section brought about various opinions concerning the use and effectiveness of medical marijuana. I would hope the editor's would consider those comments for future articles. We have.
A fabulously funny read. The writers claim to be reporting on a study performed on the correlation between medical marijuana dispensaries and crime. The newspaper story is one of the most slanted biased pieces outside of Fox News.
The reader comments are worth the time, filled with very funny and insightful comments.
The story makes some outlandish claims which are contradicted in the study they are reporting on. The Times waits for the forth paragraph to mention the study, giving the reader 3 paragraphs of biased misleading commentary. The story purports as evidence; "some recent headlines indicate that U.S. pot dispensaries may be on track to follow suit." Since when did anyone use headlines as evidence?
The misleading and contradictory point of the story had me reading it over and over along with the links to the various studies. I came to the conclusion that the editors who placed the story, are themselves using medical marijuana; and abusing it!
Additionally, the comments section brought about various opinions concerning the use and effectiveness of medical marijuana. I would hope the editor's would consider those comments for future articles. We have.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Clarification; Laws May De Different From Policy
A reader pointed out that an earlier post may have been misleading. Most of the previous posts were copied from the CANORML website. We have Italicized copied portions and tried to state when the post was copied. Medimar takes the issue of legal recommendations for cannabis very seriously. We want to guide our patients on all aspects of medical marijuana. Card holders should expect expert recommendations from trusted clinics. Medimar prides' themselves on offering legal same day recommendations with fully compliant verifications for their patients.
Call 877-627-1644 for scheduling and information.
Call 877-627-1644 for scheduling and information.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Cultivation License
All holders of recommendations and cards should stay familiar with any updates to all legal information. One of the best sites for this is the California National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws; CA NORLM
On CANORML site;WARNING: Beware bogus clinics! Some unethical doctors are charging clients extra for so-called "cultivation licenses" supposedly entitling them to grow more than the normal number of plants. There is no such thing as a "cultivation license" under California law. Any patient with a California physician's recommendation may legally cultivate or possess as much marijuana as they need for their own personal medical use, and no more. No physician can authorize them to cultivate more (they can only testify in court that a certain amount of marijuana is consistent with the individual patient's needs, and they do not have professional competence to prescribe plant numbers). Other unethical clinics are using doctors whose licenses are invalid or suspended, or are under the ownership of non-physicians, which is against California law. Our policy is not to list illegal or unethical clinics at this website. Please let us know of any violations.
Dr. Johnson will speak with patients about the legal aspects of the use of medical marijuana. The California Cannabis licensed issued at Medimar follows the state guidelines;
Medical marijuana: Medical patients and their designated primary caregivers may legally possess and cultivate (but not distribute or sell) marijuana under Health and Safety Code 11362.5 (Prop 215) if they have a physician's recommendation or approval. State law SB420, now codified as California Health & Safety code sections 11362.7-11362.83, set a state threshold of 6 mature OR 12 immature plants per patient, allowing locals to pass higher allowances (many have). Read more on medical marijuana laws.
Call Medimar at 877-627-1644. Appointments are best but walk-ins welcome. San Diego office at 2121 5th Ave Suite 100 San Diego, Ca. 92101 is open Tue. & Thur. 1 to 4pm Fri. & Sat. 11am to 2pm.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Medical Marijuana Strains; Sativa & Indica
Learning the difference between the strains of medical marijuana is important to card holders when choosing the proper medicine. Patients with recommendations from any M.D. should know their condition and how to treat it. Dr. Johnson, of Medimar in San Diego, is an expert and quite well versed in the differences of marijuana and will guide patients towards the correct medication. Cannabis is a strong medicine. Patients should use guidance of trusted professional doctors from a legal clinic.
All patients should study the differences between Sativa and Indica, learning which would be best for their personal situation.
These sites will help the patient learn the differences of Sativa and Indica;
All holders of recommendations and cards should also stay familiar with any updates to all legal information. One of the best sites for this is the California National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws; CA NORLM
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Cannabis Culture
Just surfing the Web
Blog
The following is an excerpt from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/420_(cannabis_culture))
California Senate Bill 420 (colloquially known as the Medical Marijuana Program Act[1]) was a bill introduced by John Vasconcellos of the California State Senate, and subsequently
passed by the California State Legislature and signed by Governor Gray Davis in 2003 "pursuant to the powers reserved to
the State of California and its people under the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution."[2] It clarified the scope and application of California Proposition 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996,
and established the California medical marijuanaprogram. The bill's title is notable because "420" is a common
phrase used in cannabis culture. (Wikipedia)
420 (cannabis culture)
From Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia
420, 4:20, or 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty) is primarily a term used
in North America and refers to the consumption of cannabis and, by extension, a way to
identify oneself with cannabis subculture.
Observances based on the number include the time (4:20 pm) as well as the date (April 20).[1]
Origins
The earliest use of the term began among a
group of teenagers in San Rafael, California in 1971.[2][3] Calling themselves the
Waldos,[4] because "their chosen
hang-out spot was a wall outside the school,"[5] the group first used the
term in connection to a fall 1971 plan to search for an abandoned cannabis crop
that they had learned about.[4][6] The Waldos designated the Louis Pasteur statue on the grounds of San Rafael High School as their meeting place, and
4:20 pm as their meeting time.[5] The Waldos referred to this
plan with the phrase "4:20 Louis". Multiple failed attempts to find
the crop eventually shortened their phrase to simply "4:20", which
ultimately evolved into a codeword that the teens used to mean pot-smoking in
general.[6]
High Times editor Steven Hager wrote "Are You Stoner
Smart or Stoner Stupid?" in which he called for 4:20 pm to be the socially accepted
hour of the day to consume cannabis.[7] He attributes the early
spread of the phrase to Grateful Dead followers,
who were also linked to the city of San Rafael.[7]
April 20 observances
April 20 has evolved into a counterculture holiday in North America,
where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis.[1] Some events have a
political nature to them, advocating for the decriminalization of
non-medical cannabis in the United States.
Observances have been held in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park near the Haight-Ashbury district,[8] the University of Colorado's Boulder campus,[3][9][10] Ottawa, Ontario, at Parliament Hill and Major's Hill[11][12] Montréal, Québec at Mount Royal monument[13][14] Vancouver, British Columbia
at the Vancouver Art Gallery [15] Auckland, New
Zealand at the Daktory.[16][unreliable source?] and Dunedin, New
Zealand, at University
of Otago.[17][18][19][20][21][22]
And some YouTube video humor; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdPjocfSoII
Guide To California Marijuana Laws
Guide To California Marijuana Laws (from Ca NORML website http://canorml.org/)
As of January 1, 2011, possession of one ounce (28.5 gms) or less of marijuana is an infraction, punishable by a maximum $100 fine (plus fees) with no criminal record underCa Health & Safety Code 11357b.
(Prior to 2011, possession of one ounce or less of marijuana was a misdemeanor, but convictions under this section are expunged from the record after two years under Health and Safety Code Sections 11361.5 and 11361.7.)
Possession of larger amounts of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 and six months is jail under Health & Safety Code 11357c. Possession of hashish or concentrated cannabis is an optional misdemeanor or felony ("wobbler") under Health & Safety Code 11357a. However, under Prop. 36 first- and second- time possession-only offenders may demand a treatment program instead of jail. Upon successful completion of the program, their conviction is erased. Possession (and personal use cultivation) offenders can also avoid conviction by making a preguilty plea under Penal Code 1000, in which case their charges are dismissed upon successful completion of a diversion program.
Possession of one ounce or less in a vehicle while driving may also be charged underVehicle Code 23222, which is treated identically to HSC 11357 b.
No arrest or imprisonment is allowed for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. However, police often get around this provision by charging minor offenders with felony intent to sell (see below).
Marijuana defined. "Marijuana means all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or its resin. It does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the steilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination" (H&SC 11018).
Possession with intent to sell any amount of marijuana is a felony under Health and Safety Code 11359. Police often charge intent to sell if they see such indicia as: scales,cash, multiple packages, "commercial" packaging materials, "excessive" quantity, pay-owe seets, address books, pagers, etc.
Cultivation of any amount of marijuana is a felony under Health and Safety Code 11358. People who grow for personal use are eligible for diversion under Penal Code 1000 so long as there is no evidence of intent to sell. There are no fixed plant number limits to personal use cultivation.
Medical marijuana: Medical patients and their designated primary caregivers may legally possess and cultivate (but not distribute or sell) marijuana under Health and Safety Code 11362.5 (Prop 215) if they have a physician's recommendation or approval. State law SB420, now codified as California Health & Safety code sections 11362.7-11362.83, set a state threshold of 6 mature OR 12 immature plants per patient, allowing locals to pass higher allowances (many have). Read more on medical marijuana laws.
Sale, transportation or distribution of marijuana is a felony under Health and Safety Code Sections 11360. Transporting or giving away one ounce or less is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum $100 fine.
Sale or distribution to minors is a felony under Health and Safety Code 11361.
Marijuana paraphernalia are illegal to sell or manufacture, but not possess, underHealth and Safety Code 11364. All marijuana paraphernalia are subject to seizure by the police.
Driving suspension for minors: Any minor (age under 21) convicted of any marijuana, alcohol, or other drug offense faces a 12-month drivers license suspension, regardless of whether the offense was driving-related. The court may allow restricted license privileges if the minor demonstrates a "critical need to drive." Vehicle Code 13202.5. (Note: This penalty can be avoided by entering a diversion program).
Driving under the influence: It is unlawful to drive while under the influence of marijuana (or alcohol or any other drug) by Vehicle Code 23152. "Under the influence" is not specifically defined in the statute, but is interpreted to imply some degree of impairment. Therefore the mere fact of having taken a toke of marijuana does not necessarily mean one is DUI. For evidence of impairment, officers may administer a field sobriety test. Arrestees may also be required to submit to their choice of a urine or blood test under Vehicle Code 23612. Since marijuana is detectable for much longer periods in urine than in blood (several days vs. several hours), a positive urine test constitutes much weaker proof of recent use and impairment than a positive blood test. If you haven't smoked marijuana recently and are not under the influence, you are better off to choose a blood test, since you will probably pass it. However, if you are a chronic smoker or have smoked recently, you are better off to choose a urine test; even though you can expect to test positive, the question will at least remain open as to whether you were actually "under the influence" at time of arrest.
Marijuana in a Vehicle: Drivers found in possession of less than one ounce of marijuana in their vehicle are liable for a maximum $100 misdemeanor fine under Vehicle Code 23222 (larger amounts are punishable under H&SC 11357(a) and 11359).
Forfeiture: Unlike federal law, California law requires a conviction for forfeiture of property involved in a drug crime. Also unlike federal law, state law does not permit forfeiture of personal real estate for marijuana cultivation. Vehicles may be forfeited only if 10 pounds or more of marijuana is involved. Health and Safety Code 11470.
California Law search full text of codes: www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html
Federal Law: Marijuana is also illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act. Federal charges are typically brought only in large cases where commercial distribution is suspected (e.g., cultivation of several hundred plants).
Medical marijuana patients are not protected while on federal park land or forest land in California. CalNORML has received reports of campers and those driving through federal land who are searched, charged with federal possession statutes, and had their medicine confiscated. A California medical recommendation is not a defense in federal court to these charges.
Text of the Controlled Substances Act.
(Prior to 2011, possession of one ounce or less of marijuana was a misdemeanor, but convictions under this section are expunged from the record after two years under Health and Safety Code Sections 11361.5 and 11361.7.)
Possession of larger amounts of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 and six months is jail under Health & Safety Code 11357c. Possession of hashish or concentrated cannabis is an optional misdemeanor or felony ("wobbler") under Health & Safety Code 11357a. However, under Prop. 36 first- and second- time possession-only offenders may demand a treatment program instead of jail. Upon successful completion of the program, their conviction is erased. Possession (and personal use cultivation) offenders can also avoid conviction by making a preguilty plea under Penal Code 1000, in which case their charges are dismissed upon successful completion of a diversion program.
Possession of one ounce or less in a vehicle while driving may also be charged underVehicle Code 23222, which is treated identically to HSC 11357 b.
No arrest or imprisonment is allowed for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. However, police often get around this provision by charging minor offenders with felony intent to sell (see below).
Marijuana defined. "Marijuana means all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or its resin. It does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the steilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination" (H&SC 11018).
Possession with intent to sell any amount of marijuana is a felony under Health and Safety Code 11359. Police often charge intent to sell if they see such indicia as: scales,cash, multiple packages, "commercial" packaging materials, "excessive" quantity, pay-owe seets, address books, pagers, etc.
Cultivation of any amount of marijuana is a felony under Health and Safety Code 11358. People who grow for personal use are eligible for diversion under Penal Code 1000 so long as there is no evidence of intent to sell. There are no fixed plant number limits to personal use cultivation.
Medical marijuana: Medical patients and their designated primary caregivers may legally possess and cultivate (but not distribute or sell) marijuana under Health and Safety Code 11362.5 (Prop 215) if they have a physician's recommendation or approval. State law SB420, now codified as California Health & Safety code sections 11362.7-11362.83, set a state threshold of 6 mature OR 12 immature plants per patient, allowing locals to pass higher allowances (many have). Read more on medical marijuana laws.
Sale, transportation or distribution of marijuana is a felony under Health and Safety Code Sections 11360. Transporting or giving away one ounce or less is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum $100 fine.
Sale or distribution to minors is a felony under Health and Safety Code 11361.
Marijuana paraphernalia are illegal to sell or manufacture, but not possess, underHealth and Safety Code 11364. All marijuana paraphernalia are subject to seizure by the police.
Driving suspension for minors: Any minor (age under 21) convicted of any marijuana, alcohol, or other drug offense faces a 12-month drivers license suspension, regardless of whether the offense was driving-related. The court may allow restricted license privileges if the minor demonstrates a "critical need to drive." Vehicle Code 13202.5. (Note: This penalty can be avoided by entering a diversion program).
Driving under the influence: It is unlawful to drive while under the influence of marijuana (or alcohol or any other drug) by Vehicle Code 23152. "Under the influence" is not specifically defined in the statute, but is interpreted to imply some degree of impairment. Therefore the mere fact of having taken a toke of marijuana does not necessarily mean one is DUI. For evidence of impairment, officers may administer a field sobriety test. Arrestees may also be required to submit to their choice of a urine or blood test under Vehicle Code 23612. Since marijuana is detectable for much longer periods in urine than in blood (several days vs. several hours), a positive urine test constitutes much weaker proof of recent use and impairment than a positive blood test. If you haven't smoked marijuana recently and are not under the influence, you are better off to choose a blood test, since you will probably pass it. However, if you are a chronic smoker or have smoked recently, you are better off to choose a urine test; even though you can expect to test positive, the question will at least remain open as to whether you were actually "under the influence" at time of arrest.
Marijuana in a Vehicle: Drivers found in possession of less than one ounce of marijuana in their vehicle are liable for a maximum $100 misdemeanor fine under Vehicle Code 23222 (larger amounts are punishable under H&SC 11357(a) and 11359).
Forfeiture: Unlike federal law, California law requires a conviction for forfeiture of property involved in a drug crime. Also unlike federal law, state law does not permit forfeiture of personal real estate for marijuana cultivation. Vehicles may be forfeited only if 10 pounds or more of marijuana is involved. Health and Safety Code 11470.
California Law search full text of codes: www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html
Federal Law: Marijuana is also illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act. Federal charges are typically brought only in large cases where commercial distribution is suspected (e.g., cultivation of several hundred plants).
Medical marijuana patients are not protected while on federal park land or forest land in California. CalNORML has received reports of campers and those driving through federal land who are searched, charged with federal possession statutes, and had their medicine confiscated. A California medical recommendation is not a defense in federal court to these charges.
Text of the Controlled Substances Act.
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