Kharla Vezzetti

Aug. 24th, 2009 – UPPER LAKE, CA: In what are believed to be the first DEA medical
marijuana arrests since President Obama took office, the federal government arrested five Lake County defendants on marijuana charges on Tuesday, August 18th. The arrestees include Tom Carter, a well known local contractor; Scott Feil, former manager of the UMCC medical cannabis dispensary in Los Angeles who has been fighting a federal forfeiture case for several years; Scott’s wife, Diana; and Brett Bassignani and Steven Swanson.…

August 12 – According to press and eyewitness reports, the DEA and other federal and local agencies raided two Los Angeles cannabis collectives today, as well as the residences of collective officials.

Officials say more than 20 people from various agencies served a state search warrant at around 11 a.m. at the Organica Collective in Marina del Rey. According to AP, Los Angeles police, the FBI and DEA were still searching the distribution center three hours later. DEA spokesman Jose Martinez said agents also served the warrant at the Overland Gardens Collective in West Los Angeles.…

SEE AUG. 22 UPDATE

August 10 – As California considers how to reduce prison spending, it has overlooked releasing non-violent marijuana prisoners in favor of car thieves.

Later this month, the legislature will be debating a plan by Gov. Schwarzenegger to reduce $1.2 billion in prison spending as part of the state’s budget deal. Last week, a federal court ordered the state to eliminate 44,000 inmates over the next two years to reduce overcrowding.

However, a draft of the Administration’s plan by the Department of Corrections budget office makes no mention of marijuana or other non-violent drug prisoners.…

After Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske pronounced “Marijuana is dangerous and has no medicinal benefit,” in Fresno last week, California NORML cordially invites Kerlikowske to come and interview a few real, live medical marijuana patients, physicians, researchers and providers next time he visits California.

If the government can’t get medical marijuana straight, how can we expect them to a run a national health care program?

See attached letter.

D. Gieringer, Cal NORML

UPDATE: August 7, 2009:

In an interview on Seattle’s KOMO-TV former Seattle Police Chief Kerlikowske “found himself under fire” for his statement.…

July 23 – The Governor’s proposed prison cuts would reduce penalties for car theft, writing bad checks, and receiving stolen property, but not for the victimless crimes of cultivating or selling marijuana. It’s time to tell the Gov. that his priorities aren’t in order.
– D. Gieringer

Read more.…

July 13 – A story by Joseph Abrams of FOXNews.com begins, “California’s tax board says the state could reap about $1.4 billion by taxing their biggest cash crop — marijuana — but their estimate appears to be based on hazy ‘studies’ conducted by marijuana advocates.”

CalNORML director Dale Gieringer writes: “While Fox news is right that studies on marijuana consumption are hazy, it is confused about how Cal NORML got its estimates on marijuana consumption in CA. In fact, our estimates are lower than those of the ONDCP.”…

July 22 – Last night’s landslide victory for Oakland’s cannabis business tax, Measure F, by 79.9% mirrors the historic 79.6% victory of San Francisco’s path-breaking medical marijuana initiative, Prop. P, in 1991. Like Prop. P, Measure F seems destined to serve as a model for cannabis reform elsewhere in the state and country.

Measure F would impose a 1.8% tax on the city’s medical cannabis businesses, raising an estimated $300,000 for the city.

Kudos to attorney James Anthony for having proposed and authored this measure; to councilmember Rebecca Kaplan for having shepherded it through City Council; and to medical cannabis collective directors Steve DeAngelo, Richard Lee, and Keith Stephenson for their enlightened support of this landmark measure.…

July 23 – Prop 215 advocates should take a close look at the LA City Council’s resolution calling for clarification of state medical marijuana laws.
The resolution outlines several measures that the council would like to see implemented, among them state licensing and standards for dispensaries, a requirement that they organize as “mutual benefit corporations,” and closer oversight of MMJ doctors by the State Medical Board.
– DG

July 18 – At yesterday’s LA city council meeting, councilmember Janice Hahn introduced a motion to study the feasibility of taxing medical marijuana collectives in Los Angeles.…

Board of Equalization, Cal NORML Agree On Benefits of Ammiano Bill AB 390

July 15 – Assemblyman Tom Ammiano’s marijuana legalization bill would net California $1.38 billion in tax revenues per year, according to a newly released analysis by the State Board of Equalization. The BOE’s estimate parallels a similar analysis by California NORML, which estimated tax revenues at $1.01-$1.26 billion: Not included are savings in law enforcement costs for investigating, arresting, prosecuting, and imprisoning marijuana offenders, which are estimated to total some hundreds of millions per year.…

July 15 – A new nationwide CBS News poll reports 41% support for marijuana legalization. This is a 10% jump since the last CBS poll just four months ago! The West shows highest support: 46% for, 48% against (support would likely be higher within California). The under 35 age group is supportive; a majority of over 35-year-olds oppose.

The CBS poll figures are lower than the recent California Field poll results, but in the same ballpark. The results confirm that a pro-legalization majority is in the process of forming in the West, while a national majority is likely to emerge in coming years.…