Americans for Safe Access hosts scientists, patients, doctors, advocates, lawyers, and policymakers in effort to advance health policy reforms Paul Marini | January 22, 2015 Washington, DC -- The country's leading medical marijuana advocacy group, Americans for Safe Access (ASA), formally announced its third annual Unity Conference, "Wellness is Winning: Advancing Evidence Based Medical Cannabis Policy," by running an ad in USA Today. The conference,... Read more
Patients welcome regulations, but strenuously oppose efforts to roll 16-year-old state law into recreational marijuana market Paul Marini | January 21, 2015 Olympia, WA -- More than 300 patients and advocates from nearly every legislative district in Washington State are expected to convene in Olympia this Thursday to meet with their elected officials and urge them to protect patients' rights amidst current... Read more
Larry Harvey argues that new Congressional measure should prevent the DOJ from prosecuting his family Paul Marini | January 19, 2015 Spokane, WA -- A motion to dismiss has been filed in a widely watched federal medical marijuana case involving a family from rural northeastern Washington State. Larry Harvey, 71, of the Kettle Falls Five has moved for dismissal of his... Read more
Patients call on state legislature to pass regulations that preserve and protect 16-year-old medical marijuana program Paul Marini | January 07, 2015 Seattle, WA -- Medical marijuana patient advocates praised a regulatory plan put forth earlier this week by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, while condemning the new aggressive enforcement approach proposed by City Attorney Pete Holmes. In addition to seeking taxes for... Read more
Advocates say restriction on enforcement will end federal prosecutions, asset forfeiture litigation, and imprisonment of patients Paul Marini | December 13, 2014 Washington, DC -- With today's US Senate vote, both houses of Congress have now approved an omnibus spending bill, which includes a measure prohibiting the Department of Justice (DOJ) from interfering in the implementation of state medical marijuana laws. Patient... Read more
Historic measure is similar to House amendment passed earlier this year aimed at ending DOJ/DEA interference Paul Marini | December 09, 2014 Washington, DC -- The House and Senate Appropriations leadership has hammered out a budget bill that includes an historic amendment to curb federal Department of Justice (DOJ) enforcement in medical marijuana states. The measure, which was originally passed by the... Read more
CMA resolution comes as California lawmakers consider introducing a bill to address widespread problem of transplant denials Paul Marini | December 08, 2014 San Diego, CA -- The California Medical Association (CMA) voted unanimously this weekend to urge transplant clinics in the state against removing patients from organ transplant lists based on their medical marijuana status or use. The CMA House of Delegates... Read more
U.S. Senate expected to take up measure restricting Justice Department funding for such prosecutions later this week Paul Marini | December 01, 2014 Spokane, WA -- A new judge assigned to hear the widely watched federal medical marijuana case of the Kettle Falls Five has continued the federal trial scheduled to begin today in Spokane, Washington. Senior Judge Fred Van Sickle has been... Read more
"Veterans Equal Access Act" would allow VA physicians to discuss medical marijuana with their patients without federal censure Paul Marini | November 20, 2014 Washington, DC -- U.S. House Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), along with ten bipartisan Congressional cosponsors introduced the "Veterans Equal Access Act" (VEAA) today, marking a concerted federal effort to allow our country's veterans to become medical... Read more
Meanwhile, federal Drug Enforcement Administration carries out latest raid on Los Angeles area medical marijuana dispensaries Paul Marini | October 24, 2014 Sacramento, CA -- The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California will hold rare formal hearings beginning Monday, October 27th to determine whether an indictment against Brian Justin Pickard and others for conspiracy to grow more than 1,000... Read more