Gregoire expected to veto medical pot bill on Friday Paul Marini | April 27, 2011 Jonathan Martin, Seattle Times Gov. Chris Gregoire on Friday is expected to veto all or part of a landmark medical-marijuana bill because of federal prosecutors' threat to prosecute state employees who carry it out. Read more
Medical marijuana: What are renters' rights? Paul Marini | March 08, 2011 Lily Leung, San Diego Union-Tribune Landlord attorneys and tenants’ advocates in San Diego County and throughout the state have for more than a decade dealt with a sticky subject that many want to avoid and few know how to address.... Read more
Medical marijuana sellers can't take their money to the bank Paul Marini | February 07, 2011 Susan Ladika, CreditCards.com Conflict between state and federal laws over the legality of marijuana has left owners of medical marijuana dispensaries finding that their financial services can go up in smoke. They're caught in a legal gray area that makes... Read more
La Puente, South El Monte take first steps to regulating medical marijuana Paul Marini | December 08, 2009 James Wagner, San Gabriel Valley Tribune LA PUENTE -- The City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to allow six medical marijuana dispensaries to open their doors. Read more
Medical marijuana patients can travel with pot from SFO, other Bay Area airports Paul Marini | October 21, 2009 Mike Rosenberg, San Mateo County Times Considering the haziness surrounding medical marijuana laws, it may be surprising that some of the most uptight places in the Bay Area — local airports — are also some of the most laid back... Read more
Top prosecutor, advocacy attorney debate medical marijuana Paul Marini | April 07, 2009 Josh Richman, Oakland Tribune SAN FRANCISCO — Sparks flew Wednesday as Northern California's top federal prosecutor squared off in a debate against a national medical marijuana advocacy group's attorney. Read more
Marijuana in Sacramento: healing power of pot Paul Marini | May 21, 2008 Nick Miller, Sacramento News & Review It’s early spring in Sacramento. Trees are filling out with leaves; buds are beginning to flower. The morning air is fresh, crisp, clean. A security guard at a downtown medicinal-marijuana dispensary checks IDs from... Read more
Perris passes emergency ordinance to ban pot dispensaries Paul Marini | January 08, 2008 Julissa McKinnon, Press Enterprise (CA) The Perris City Council took the first step Tuesday night to quash any medical marijuana dispensaries that might be budding in town. Read more
SELF-HELP LAW: California pot laws, Part 2 Paul Marini | December 11, 2007 Marc Komer, Willits News (CA) Proposition 215, the California Compassionate Use Act, was enacted by the voters and took effect on November 6, 1996. This law fundamentally changed who can be arrested for possessing marijuana in this state. Read more
San Mateo County may regulate pot dispensaries Paul Marini | September 10, 2007 Michael Manekin, San Mateo County Times (CA) Two weeks after the DEA raided three San Mateo medical marijuana dispensaries that the county district attorney said violated state law, the County Counsel's office is preparing guidelines for the distribution of medical... Read more