Press Releases

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...

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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...

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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...

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"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...

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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...

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Letter demands that businesses apply for state licenses that don't exist, city offers no choice to dispensaries but closure

Paul Marini | October 23, 2014

Seattle, WA -- More than 300 medical marijuana businesses received cease and desist letters from the City of Seattle this week. While the move appears to be consistent with a local law requiring medical marijuana businesses to obtain state-issued licenses...

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Recent Police Raids on Medical Marijuana Gardens in California Cut Off Treatment for Children Living with Epilepsy

Paul Marini | October 22, 2014

Mendocino Co. / Modesto, CA -- As promising results from clinical trials are announced in the use of cannabis (medical marijuana) to treat intractable epilepsy, those lawfully cultivating the plant in California are being raided by local law enforcement. Two...

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New tool makes political candidates' positions, records on medical marijuana more accessible to voters

Paul Marini | October 16, 2014

Washington, DC -- The medical marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) has produced a new 30-second online TV advertisement to launch its groundbreaking, election-cycle voter education campaign "Vote Medical Marijuana." The ad will also air on this Sunday's...

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Surveys seeking positions on medical marijuana are widely disseminated in first-of-its-kind voter education campaign

Paul Marini | October 09, 2014

Washington, DC -- The medical marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) has produced a new 30-second online advertisement to launch its survey drive for for this year's election-cycle educational campaign. The ad will also air on this Sunday's...

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92% of participants reported that "medical marijuana helped alleviate symptoms or treat a serious medical condition"

Paul Marini | October 01, 2014

Sacramento, CA -- A new landmark study published last week by the peer-reviewed journal Drug and Alcohol Review refutes the long-held belief that abuse of California's medical marijuana law is ubiquitous. The study, "Prevalence of medical marijuana use in California,...

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