Press Releases

Three defendants now stand trial after dismissal of charges against cancer-stricken defendant, plea bargain by family friend

Paul Marini | February 26, 2015

Spokane, WA -- Trial began on Wednesday with jury selection and opening statements in a widely watched federal medical marijuana case against a family from eastern Washington State known as the Kettle Falls Five. Last week, amidst mounting pressure, the...

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Patient Focused Certification Program Director Kristin Nevedal will speak Thursday to the Coalition for Cannabis Standards and Ethics

Paul Marini | February 25, 2015

Seattle, WA -- Two Washington State-based laboratories -- The Werc Shop and Phytalab -- have recently been certified under a nationwide program that verifies quality control standards, calibration, and evaluation processes for labs that test medical marijuana products. These certificates...

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Government continues prosecution despite Congressional ban on interfering with implementation of state law

Paul Marini | February 24, 2015

Spokane, WA -- Trial starts Wednesday in a widely watched federal medical marijuana case from eastern Washington State known as the Kettle Falls Five. The Obama Administration is aggressively pursuing marijuana trafficking charges against a family of patients who claim...

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Trial set to proceed next week against remaining members of the so-called "Kettle Falls Five"

Paul Marini | February 19, 2015

Spokane, WA -- Days before trial is scheduled to start in a widely watched federal medical marijuana case, the government dismissed charges yesterday against Larry Harvey, 71, a defendant recently diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer. Harvey has been prosecuted...

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Patients praise common sense regulatory solution introduced in House, Senate hearing Tuesday on bill to add PTSD as qualifying condition

Paul Marini | February 16, 2015

Olympia, WA -- Medical cannabis patients are applauding the introduction of a bipartisan bill in the House that would fully restore vetoed provisions of a regulatory proposal first passed in 2011, along with a proposal in the Senate that would...

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Americans for Safe Access sponsors bill introduced by Marc Levine (D-San Rafael) to end discriminatory practice

Paul Marini | February 12, 2015

Sacramento, CA -- California State Assembly member Marc Levine (D-San Rafael) has introduced AB 258, the Medical Cannabis Organ Transplant Act, a bill aimed at preventing medical marijuana patients from being unduly denied organ transplants. The Medical Cannabis Organ Transplant...

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Defendant Larry Harvey will argue that new Congressional measure forbids the DOJ from prosecuting his family

Paul Marini | February 11, 2015

Spokane, WA -- A motion to dismiss will be heard in federal court Thursday in a widely watched medical marijuana case involving a family from rural northeastern Washington State. Larry Harvey, 71, and other family members of the so-called "Kettle...

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"Veterans Equal Access Act" would allow VA physicians to recommend medical marijuana without federal censure

Paul Marini | February 03, 2015

Washington, DC -- U.S. House Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and eight bipartisan Congressional cosponsors introduced the "Veterans Equal Access Act" today, marking a concerted federal effort to allow our country's veterans to become medical marijuana patients in states where it's...

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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,...

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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...

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