U.S. Mayors Demand Change to Federal Policy, End to Crackdown on Medical Marijuana in Their Cities Paul Marini | June 21, 2013 Las Vegas, NV -- As mayors from across the country gather today in Las Vegas for the 81st annual U.S. Conference of Mayors, the federal government's crackdown on medical marijuana is expected to be discussed and debated over the weekend.... Read more
Report: Obama Justice Department Has Spent Nearly $300 Million on Aggressive Medical Marijuana Enforcement Paul Marini | June 13, 2013 Washington, DC -- Medical marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) issued a report today, detailing the costs associated with the federal government's years-long enforcement effort in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Notably, the report, which is... Read more
Advocates hold Detroit press conference today at Noon to draw attention to federal attacks on state lawful operations Paul Marini | May 27, 2013 Detroit, MI -- Several Michigan medical marijuana patients and caregivers are being forced to surrender to federal authorities over the next few days to serve out lengthy prison terms, after being convicted in federal court without any opportunity to defend themselves... Read more
Several Michigan Medical Marijuana Patients Surrender to Federal Authorities to Serve Lengthy Prison Sentences Paul Marini | May 27, 2013 Detroit, MI -- Several Michigan medical marijuana patients and caregivers are being forced to surrender to federal authorities over the next few days to serve out lengthy prison terms, after being convicted in federal court without any opportunity to defend... Read more
New Hampshire Legislature Votes Overwhelmingly to Approve Statewide Medical Marijuana Law Paul Marini | May 23, 2013 Concord, NH -- The New Hampshire Senate voted 18-6 today to approve HB 573, bringing the state closer to passing the country's next medical marijuana law. The New Hampshire House overwhelmingly approved a similar version of the bill in March... Read more
Los Angeles Voters Overwhelmingly Adopt Medical Marijuana Dispensary Regulations at the Ballot Box Paul Marini | May 22, 2013 Los Angeles, CA -- An overwhelming sixty-three percent of Los Angeles voters passed Measure D yesterday, bringing long-awaited regulations to the city's medical marijuana dispensaries. Measure D, which was placed on the ballot earlier this year by the Los Angeles... Read more
After Senate Vote, Illinois Now Waits on Governor Quinn to Become the 19th Medical Marijuana State Paul Marini | May 17, 2013 Springfield, IL -- The Illinois Senate voted 35-21 today to pass HB1, the "Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act," which creates a framework to protect physicians and certain qualified medical marijuana patients from arrest and prosecution. Today's vote... Read more
Medical Marijuana Advocates Protest U.S. Attorney General Holder's Speech in Berkeley Paul Marini | May 11, 2013 Berkeley, CA -- As U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder delivered a commencement speech this morning for UC Berkeley law school graduates, a plane flew overhead with a banner that read "Holder: End Rx Cannabis War. #Peace4Patients," in protest against recent... Read more
Massachusetts Public Health Council Votes to Approve Regulations for Medical Marijuana Paul Marini | May 08, 2013 Boston, MA -- The Massachusetts Public Health Council voted today to approve final regulations issued by the Department of Public Health (DPH) for the implementation of the state's first medical marijuana program. Today's approved regulations are the work of weeks... Read more
DOJ Files Forfeiture Lawsuit Against One of California's Oldest Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Paul Marini | May 08, 2013 Berkeley, CA -- One of California's oldest medical marijuana dispensaries, Berkeley Patients Group (BPG), was served with a lawsuit Friday in an attempt to seize the property in which it operates and to ultimately shut the facility down. In the... Read more