I get these Normal Ezines in my email box. Is it ok to post them here? Other people might be getting them as well, but for those that don't these are the most current updates on MMJ and cannabis decriminalization. Could be a good weekly news thread. opcorn-2: [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]This Week's News from NORML[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Colorado: Medical Marijuana Dispensary Regulations Take Effect [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]California: Senate Passes Marijuana Infraction Measure [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Michigan: Detroit Legalization Measure Confirmed For November Ballot [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]San Francisco: High Times To Hold Medical Cannabis Cup And Expo This Weekend [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Colorado: Medical Marijuana Dispensary Regulations Take Effect[/FONT] Share This Article [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Denver, CO:[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Democrat Gov. William Ritter signed legislation into law last week amending the state's nearly ten-year-old medical marijuana law.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]House Bill 1284 establishes state provisions regulating the distribution of medical cannabis to authorized patients. The law requires medical marijuana dispensing facilities to obtain state and local licensing approval and to be in compliance with all local zoning codes. Dispensaries must pay a state licensing fee, shall be located no closer than 1,000 feet from a school or daycare, and operators must oversee the cultivation at least 70 percent of the marijuana dispensed at the center. Licensed dispensary owners will be required to undergo criminal background checks by the state.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The measure also imposes a statewide moratorium on the establishment of new dispensaries, beginning next month. House Bill 1284 grants local municipalities the authority to prohibit the establishment of dispensaries in their community. Individual caregivers are legally permitted to provide medical cannabis for up to five patients in localities that have formally banned dispensaries.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A second measure signed by Gov. Ritter, Senate Bill 109, limits the authority of physicians so that they may only recommend cannabis therapy to patients with whom they have had a prior counseling relationship. The law also requires doctors to conduct a physical exam of any patient before they recommend marijuana, and prohibits physicians from having a financial relationship with a cannabis dispensary.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Both laws went into effect immediately upon passage.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It is anticipated that hundreds of the state's dispensaries will likely be forced to close under the new regulations.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]According to a National Public Radio report, over 65,000 Coloradoans are now registered with the state to use marijuana legally under state law.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For more information, please contact Keith Stroup, NORML Legal Counsel, at (202) 483-5500. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]California: Senate Passes Marijuana Infraction Measure[/FONT] Share This Article [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sacramento, CA: [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Senate lawmakers have passed legislation reducing statewide marijuana possession penalties from a criminal misdemeanor to an infraction.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Senate Bill 1449 amends the California Health and Safety Code so that the adult possession of up to 28.5 grams of marijuana is classified as an infraction, punishable by no more than a $100 fine.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Under present law, minor marijuana possession for non-medical purposes is classified as a criminal misdemeanor. While the offense is not punishable by jail time, defendants charged under the law must appear in court, pay court costs, and attend a court-ordered diversion program. Offenders who refuse to attend the program may retain a criminal record for up to two years.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The senate bill was backed by the California District Attorney's Association, which argued that the present law places an undue burden on California's courts.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Senate lawmakers passed the bill by a vote of 21 to 13. The measure now awaits action from the state Assembly, Committee on Public Safety.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For more information, please contact Dale Gieringer, California NORML Coordinator, at (415) 563-5858. Additional information on S.B. 1449 is available online at: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=14857001. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Michigan: Detroit Legalization Measure Confirmed For November Ballot[/FONT] Share This Article [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Detroit, MI: [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Detroit citizens will vote this November on a municipal measure to prohibit the criminal prosecution of adults who possess minor amounts of marijuana.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]City Council members this week elected not to take action on the measure – instead opting to let the voters decide its outcome this fall. If passed, the initiative would amend the Detroit City Code to remove criminal penalties for "the use or possession of less then one ounce of marijuana, on private property, by anyone who has attained the age of 21 years."[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Measure proponents, the Coalition for a Safer Detroit, collected over 6,000 signatures from registered voters to qualify the measure for the November ballot.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Voters have previously enacted similar municipal measures in other cities, including Denver, Colorado.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For more information, please visit: http://saferdetroit.net. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]San Francisco: High Times To Hold Medical Cannabis Cup And Expo This Weekend[/FONT] Share This Article [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]San Francisco, CA:[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Medical cannabis advocates, patients, growers, and dispensary operators will gather in San Francisco this Saturday and Sunday to attend the first-ever American High Times Medical Cannabis Cup. [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The two-day event features seminars from industry leaders, cultivation experts, attorneys, and marijuana law reform advocates – including NORML Founder Keith Stroup, Harborside Health Center Executive Director Steve DeAngelo, High Times Magazine Senior Cultivation Editor Danny Danko, NORML Outreach Coordinator Russ Belville, expert witness and author Chris Conrad, Berkeley Patients Group co-director Debbie Goldsberry, and NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The event will also include prizes for the best medicinal cannabis, hashish and edibles from California's legal medical marijuana dispensaries, along with a Saturday night party and surprise musical guests.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Event information and tickets are available online from High Times at: http://hightimes.com/public/medcancup/. [/FONT]
