California Supreme Court Recognizes Legality of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries, But Says Localities May Ban Them Paul Marini | May 06, 2013 Sacramento, CA -- The California Supreme Court ruled today in the case City of Riverside v. Inland Empire Patients Health and Wellness Center that local governments may ban the distribution of medical marijuana and are not preempted by state law... Read more
Medical Marijuana Advocates Applaud Passage of Illinois House Bill and Continue to Lobby for Changes Paul Marini | April 17, 2013 Springfield, IL -- The Illinois House voted 61-57 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. HB1, which... Read more
Michigan Medical Marijuana Patient Refused Placement in Prison Medical Facility Despite Judge's Recommendation Paul Marini | April 15, 2013 Detroit, MI -- Late last week, 53-year-old Michigan medical marijuana patient Jerry Duval received a Justice Department order to surrender to federal authorities on June 11th to begin serving a 10-year prison sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Elkton,... Read more
Medical Marijuana Advocates Voice Opposition as Well-Intentioned, But Flawed Bill Passes Maryland Legislature Paul Marini | April 08, 2013 Annapolis, MD -- The Maryland Senate voted 42-4 today to pass what legislators are calling a new statewide medical marijuana bill, but patient advocates say that HB1101 is more symbolic than practical and will fail to make much "real-world" difference... Read more
Massachusetts Department of Public Health Issues Draft Regulations for Medical Marijuana Paul Marini | March 29, 2013 Boston, MA -- The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) issued draft regulations today to begin implementation of the state's first medical marijuana program, ahead of its own schedule. Today's proposed regulations are the work of weeks of deliberation, during... Read more
Medical Marijuana Advocacy Group Petitions Full DC Circuit to Review Rescheduling Appeal Paul Marini | March 22, 2013 Washington, D.C. -- Medical marijuana patient advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) filed a petition with the federal court of appeals today in a widely watched case that seeks to reclassify marijuana for medical use. Plaintiffs in the case... Read more
Comprehensive Maryland Medical Marijuana Bill to be Heard by House Committees Today Paul Marini | March 08, 2013 Annapolis, MD -- A comprehensive statewide medical marijuana bill introduced in January by Maryland House Delegate and Deputy Majority Whip Cheryl Glenn (D-Baltimore) is scheduled to be heard jointly by the House Judiciary Committee and Health and Government Operations Committees... Read more
Hundreds of Medical Marijuana Advocates to Gather in Washington, D.C. for National Conference, to Change Federal Policy Paul Marini | February 20, 2013 Washington, D.C. -- The country's leading medical marijuana advocacy group, Americans for Safe Access (ASA), will host a 4-day National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference, "Bridging the Gap Between Public & Policy," this week in Washington, D.C. from February 22-25, 2013.... Read more
Federal Medical Marijuana Bills Introduced Today in Anticipation of Patient-Led Congressional Lobbying Effort Paul Marini | February 14, 2013 Washington, D.C. -- More than a dozen Members of Congress co-introduced legislation today that would reclassify marijuana for medical use and provide federal defendants the right to use state law compliance as evidence in medical marijuana trials, a right they're... Read more
Medical Marijuana Group Featured at RAND Conference and Webcast on Public Health Regulations for Marijuana Paul Marini | February 11, 2013 Washington, DC -- Medical marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) will be featured today in a RAND Drug Policy Research Center conference and webcast discussion on developing public health regulations for marijuana, given the recent passage of "adult... Read more