Medical Marijuana - Big Change

[Fredkc]

Well it's a big thing here on our lil patch because daughter and husband are in the process of getting state certified as medical "marijuana care-givers" here in California.



Similar to the idea of a pharmacist keeping a prescription on file; They keep a copy of a medical marijuana user's certificate on file, and for each one they possess, and service, they are allowed to grow, and harvest a number of plants to supply each one.


IF there's interest, then I can hum a bit on their basic business plan here, as it is a pretty good way to get thru the coming financial mess.

___________________________

U.S. eases stance on medical marijuana

Attorney general says prosecuting such cases 'will not be a priority'


Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. directed federal prosecutors Monday to back away from pursuing cases against medical marijuana patients, signaling a broad policy shift that drug reform advocates interpret as the first step toward legalization of the drug.



The government's top lawyer said that in 14 states with some provisions for medical marijuana use, federal prosecutors should focus only on cases involving higher-level drug traffickers, money launderers or people who use the state laws as a cover.
________________________________________________


Another By DEVLIN BARRETT,

Associated Press Writer – Mon Oct 19, 6:22 am ET



WASHINGTON – Federal drug agents won't pursue pot-smoking patients or their sanctioned suppliers in states that allow medical marijuana, under new legal guidelines to be issued Monday by the Obama administration.

Two Justice Department officials described the new policy to The Associated Press, saying prosecutors will be told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state law.

The guidelines to be issued by the department do, however, make it clear that agents will go after people whose marijuana distribution goes beyond what is permitted under state law or use medical marijuana as a cover for other crimes, the officials said.

The new policy is a significant departure from the Bush administration, which insisted it would continue to enforce federal anti-pot laws regardless of state codes.

Fourteen states allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

California is unique among those for the widespread presence of dispensaries — businesses that sell marijuana and even advertise their services. Colorado also has several dispensaries, and Rhode Island and New Mexico are in the process of licensing providers, according to the Marijuana Policy Project, a group that promotes the decriminalization of marijuana use.

Attorney General Eric Holder said in March that he wanted federal law enforcement officials to pursue those who violate both federal and state law, but it has not been clear how that goal would be put into practice.

A three-page memo spelling out the policy is expected to be sent Monday to federal prosecutors in the 14 states, and also to top officials at the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration.

The memo, the officials said, emphasizes that prosecutors have wide discretion in choosing which cases to pursue, and says it is not a good use of federal manpower to prosecute those who are without a doubt in compliance with state law.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the legal guidance before it is issued.

"This is a major step forward," said Bruce Mirken, communications director for the Marijuana Policy Project. "This change in policy moves the federal government dramatically toward respecting scientific and practical reality."

At the same time, the officials said, the government will still prosecute those who use medical marijuana as a cover for other illegal activity. The memo particularly warns that some suspects may hide old-fashioned drug dealing or other crimes behind a medical marijuana business.

In particular, the memo urges prosecutors to pursue marijuana cases which involve violence, the illegal use of firearms, selling pot to minors, money laundering or involvement in other crimes.

And while the policy memo describes a change in priorities away from prosecuting medical marijuana cases, it does not rule out the possibility that the federal government could still prosecute someone whose activities are allowed under state law.

The memo, officials said, is designed to give a sense of prosecutorial priorities to U.S. attorneys in the states that allow medical marijuana. It notes that pot sales in the United States are the largest source of money for violent Mexican drug cartels, but adds that federal law enforcement agencies have limited resources.

Medical marijuana advocates have been anxious to see exactly how the administration would implement candidate Barack Obama's repeated promises to change the policy in situations in which state laws allow the use of medical marijuana.

Soon after Obama took office, DEA agents raided four dispensaries in Los Angeles, prompting confusion about the government's plans.

[Fredkc]

I am a bit curious about something; as wife and I have not watched a main stream TV news SHOW in almost 8 years...

Did this story make the news, at all?

Thanx.
Fred

[TheObserver]

It was on NBC Nightly news last night.

[TheObserver]

I almost posted the news here last night with the thread title 'Obama Admin GOOD News'.

[iainl140285]

Originally Posted by Fredkc

I am a bit curious about something; as wife and I have not watched a main stream TV news SHOW in almost 8 years...

Did this story make the news, at all?

Thanx.
Fred

Made it to the BBC news yes ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8315603.stm

[Fredkc]

Thank you folk... sorry to post a dupe.
Seemed important motion, sorta

Fred

[TheObserver]

No dupe, i said almost, you got the 'scoop'!

[Fredkc]

He heh.... wasn't keepin score, TO, but thanx.

Just didn't wanna waste people's time re-readin' old news. I quickly scanned the headlines and didn't see anything, but my "intuitive grasp of the obvious" runs amok, now and then, and I get fooled .

[Phtha]

I've wondered about this. Are they able to grow any strain the want using any method they want? Or are they given the seeds/clones and told to use certain chemicals in the growing process?

Originally Posted by Fredkc

Similar to the idea of a pharmacist keeping a prescription on file; They keep a copy of a medical marijuana user's certificate on file, and for each one they possess, and service, they are allowed to grow, and harvest a number of plants to supply each one.

[no caste]

I read it in the Washington Post yesterday

Yes, I'd keep an eye on the seed too, but it's a great move I think. Marijuana, rescues the CA economy! Give the people what they want... If it's government, there will probably be a small dossier of regulations... fine print alert. Even so, it seems to herald good beginnings to me.

It's better when government drug dealing is above board.

See also:
Deep black budgets - underground bases, UFOs
http://projectavalon.net/forum/showthread.php?t=16736

[Fredkc]

Originally Posted by Phtha

I've wondered about this. Are they able to grow any strain the want using any method they want? Or are they given the seeds/clones and told to use certain chemicals in the growing process?

Far as I know, and I'll talk to my daughter about it, there isn't any kind of differentiation done by govt. Govt's concern seems to be with quantity.

A personal use license allows one to have X amount around for personal consumption, and up to 12 plants in various stages of growth. So many seedlings (up to 4 inches), etc.

The sense of things she got was that, so far, the law has changed but the mindset hasn't. I mean by that, after 80 years of looking to arrest, they still can't quite give up. Getting clarification on laws hasn't been that easy for them, and she said it appeared they liked it that way. That most involved were hoping you'd screw up (ignorance of the law, being no excuse).

You can understand why I still have some mixed feelings around this. There are quite a few potential traps involved in doing this. And still...

She and husband have thought it through, and continue to investigate. It still looks to provide the "cash cow" that will finance the rest of the small agricultural business. A rather unique idea in itself.

They are growing more than 15 kinds of vegetables (so far) on their small place. All naturally grown. Now, the usual way to sell this is straight retail, waiting for people to find you, and buy your produce. Their approach is diff.

The idea began in the fact that their little "garden" was producing more than they could eat. They gave away so much food to friends, that friends stopped coming by

So... They went looking for charities to give food to, and in finding those, they also met up with folk who would just as soon pay as get charity... that's when the grey cells started working, and voila! a business was born

They are, in a sense, selling "subscriptions". The customer chooses what they want to receive, and pays by the month. In return vegetables are delivered throughout their various growing seasons. The advantage here is that you now have a small farming operation where your customer is already assured, and the income is equalized, rather than clumped around harvest time.

Additionally the risk is also spread out over a larger number of people. This is made plain to the subscribers, and so far, everyone understands and they seem perfectly willing.

Now, they have also started boarding horses on a small plot, so they have a source for composting to feed the gardens!

Now, the concept of all this going at once is where it gets it's symetry. They will soon have three independent businesses, all of which compliment and "feed" the other all operating at once. It means they will both soon "work at home" to raise their kids, and not only feed themselves off their own business, but generate the cash required to keep it all going.

To make it even more "local" and do-able, they're doing this on 10 acres of land. Not only that, should the need arise, this whole business is movable. They can go anywhere, so long as they can get a few acres, and within a few months be right back in business!

Seems to me like the perfect depression-era business

[LightSurfer]

Originally Posted by Phtha

I've wondered about this. Are they able to grow any strain the want using any method they want? Or are they given the seeds/clones and told to use certain chemicals in the growing process?

A good friend of mine has his (marijuana)card for medical use. He told me that he was allowed to grow 6 plants at a time. He also said that the one he buys legally is not even half as good as the one he buys from his friendly .
He grows any kind he wants and never got problems with that. He always buys it from and got caught a couple of time by the , but they can't do anything about it and they sure can't identify the products.

LS