Legalization of Marijuana

  I have reported on the ongoing battle in the courts in the matter of a medical marijuana case - Garden Grove vs. Superior Court - which eventually weedled (no pun intended) its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Yesterday, the high court of the land refused to review a landmark decision, wherein California State Courts found that the medical marijuana law was not preempted by Federal Law as previously argued. Initially, the lower court Justices in the Appellate court issued an... Read Full Story

Medical marijuana case appealed by the City of Garden Grove was denied review today Washington, DC -- The U.S. Supreme Court refused to review a landmark decision today in which California state courts found that its medical marijuana law was not preempted by federal law. The state appellate court decision from November 28, 2007, ruled that "it is not the job of the local police to enforce the federal drug laws." The case, involving Felix Kha, a medical marijuana patient from Garden Grove... Read Full Story

According to a story in the LA Times, former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo has called out the United States’ ‘War on Drugs’ as more or less a complete and utter failure. While the War on Drugs has already been dismissed by many in the drug-loving U.S. public, including notables with influence ranging from Noam Chomsky to Woody Harrelson, Zedillo’s statements are unique in that they are coming from a world leader with direct ties to the campaign. Zedillo said of the War on Drugs, “The... Read Full Story

By Amanda Schaffer MarijuanaThis summer, British and Italian researchers found that in a laboratory plate, molecules in marijuana can slay the superbug methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, which recently infected seven babies and four employees in a Yonkers, N.Y., maternity ward, heightening fears of outbreaks in schools and locker rooms, as well as in its more familiar breeding grounds, hospitals and nursing homes. In theory, compounds derived from the cannabis plant could someday... Read Full Story

Most of the time the War on Drugs is just costly and worthless, but sometimes it kills good people. This time the blood is on the hands of the University of Washington Medical Center and Swedish Medical Center. Tim Garon was a Seattle guitarist, who described his style as Acoustic Funk Americana. Being a snarky punk, I tend to describe it as above average hippie chord picking, but he was greatly appreciated on the PNW caffeine circuit. Tim was also one of two lead singers for Nearly... Read Full Story

In Seattle, all the high roads lead to Vivian McPeak. It sometimes seems Vivian knows everyone connected to the marijuana movement in the Emerald City, and everyone knows Vivian. The members of this diverse community of medical marijuana activists, pot legalization advocates, and industrial hemp boosters don't always agree on strategy and tactics, but one thing they do almost all agree on is that McPeak is a good guy. When you meet Vivian in person, it's impossible not to notice his... Read Full Story

  Today, the California Supreme Court denied an appeal lodged by the County of San Diego - and in the process - signaled to lawmakers that - "Federal Law does not trump State Law."The County of San Diego filed suit in February 2006 - after challenging the validity of California’s medical cannabis laws - and refusing to issue patient ID cards for Medical Marijuana patients which are mandated under Senate Bill 420 (2003). Shortly thereafter, a Superior Court Judge dismissed the action, which... Read Full Story