MedicalMJ.org - News and Facts About Medical Marijuana

Medical Marijuana Lawsuit Filed Against CA Department of Motor Vehicles

Americans for Safe Access has filed suit against the California Department of Motor Vehicles to stop the state from suspending and revoking the driving licenses of medical marijuana patients. For more information, click here.


Michigan Becomes 13th State To Allow Patients Access to Medical Marijuana; Other Midwestern States Prepare to Follow Suit

The passage of Prop 1 in Michigan has inspired advocates in other midwestern states to renew their efforts to allow patients in need to have access to medical cannabis. For more on this story, click here.


California Issues Medical Marijuana Guidelines

The state of California has issued guidelines designed to help patients, caregivers, and law enforcement navigate their way through that state's medical marijuana law. For more info, click here.


State Appeals Court Rejects Suit By Counties; California Medical Marijuana Law Upheld

A California state appeals court has upheld that state's medical cannabis law. The court dismissed a challenge filed by two counties against the law and against the state's patient ID program. For more information, click here.


San Diego and San Bernardino Counties Renew Fight Against Medical Cannabis Patients

San Diego and San Bernardino Counties were in the California Court of Appeals, continuing their fight against medical cannabis patients. For more information, click here.


NY Patients Urge State Senators

New York may potentially enlist as the 13th state in allowing medicinal marijuana use. The latest tactic is television ads. For more information, click here.


Hep C Victim Ineligible For Transplant Due To Medical Marijuana Use Dies

Timothy Garon was a Seattle-area man suffering from Hepatitis C who had a recommendation for medical marijuana from his physician for pain relief and nausea and also as an appetite stimulant. He was denied a spot on the transplant list at two of his local hospitals, allegedly largely because of his medical marijuana use, Shortly afterward, Tim Garon died. For more information click here.

Barack Obama Speaking About Medical Marijuana

Barack Obama, asked by the Medford, OR Mail-Tribune about his position on medical marijuana, specifically regarding state laws allowing access and whether the federal government should interfere with these laws, responded: "I'm not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue."


Internists Endorse Legal Access to Medical Marijuana

The American College of Physicians, the nation's largest organization of Internists, is calling for protection of both doctors and patients from criminal and civil penalties in states that have adopted medical-marijuana laws. For more info, check out this CSDP Public Service Ad.


Major American Physicians Organization Endorses Medical Marijuana

The American College of Physicians has endorsed easing restrictions on medical marijuana. From their webpage: "ACP believes the science on medical marijuana should not be obscured or hindered by the debate surrounding the legalization of marijuana for general use." For more information, click here.


Kansas Legislature to Consider Medical Marijuana Bill

Legislators in the state of Kansas will have the opportunity to consider a bill granting limited protection to some medical cannabis patients. For more information, click here.


Medical Marijuana Vending Machines

A new vending machine product is now available in California: medical marijuana. For more information, click here.


New Research: Long Term Marijuana Users Seeking Medical Cannabis in California

This study yielded a somewhat unexpected profile of a hitherto hidden population of users of America's most popular illegal drug. It also raises questions about some of the basic assumptions held by both proponents and opponents of current policy. Read more by clicking here.

Tragic Casualty in the Federal War Against Medical Marijuana

Montana activist and patient Robin Prosser took her own life in October 2007. Read this touching tribute by Tom Daubert.

Justice Dept.'s Drug Enforcement Agents Raid Ten Dispensaries In Los Angeles

The US Justice Dept.'s Drug Enforcement Administration raided ten medical cannabis dispensaries in Los Angeles, CA on Wednesday, July 25. For more information click here.


DEA Threatens Los Angeles Landlords To Force Closure Of Dispensaries

The US Drug Enforcement Administration is threatening landlords in Los Angeles with seizure of their property and possible prison terms for renting to cannabis dispensaries. For more information, click here.


Ed Rosenthal Given One Day Sentence

Marijuana reform advocate and cultivation expert Ed Rosenthal was sentenced on Friday, July 6 to one day in prison, time already served. For more information, click here.


Rhode Island Legislature Overrides Governor's Veto Of Medical Marijuana Program

A bill to make the Rhode Island state medical marijuana law "permanent," allowing the program to continue, has passed into law in spite of the governor's veto. For more information, click here.


Rell To Patients: Forget About It

On June 20, 2007, Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell vetoed legislation which would have allowed patients in CT to have legal access to the medicine they need. For more information click here.


New York State Assembly Approves Medical Marijuana Legislation

The New York State Assembly passed a measure to legalize medical marijuana in that state. Differences with the State Senate on the other hand may hamstring efforts. For more information, click here.


Michigan Medical Marijuana Initiative Petition Approved For Circulation

An initiative petition to allow patients in need to have access to medical marijuana has been approved for circulation in the state of Michigan. For more info, click here.


Legislature Expected To Override Governor's Veto In Rhode Island

As expected, Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri vetoed the medical marijuana legislation which reached his desk recently. Proponents have enough votes to override the governor. For more information, click here.


Connecticut Medical Marijuana Legislation Goes To Governor For Approval

Legislation to allow patients in need to have access to medical marijuana has passed both houses of the state legislature and is on the way to the governor for approval. For more information, click here.


Vermont Broadens Its Medical Marijuana Law

The Vermont State Legislature has passed a measure expanding the state's medical marijuana law. The bill will be enacted without the governor's signature. For more information, click here.


Ed Rosenthal Convicted – Again – In Retrial For Cultivating Medical Marijuana

Noted author and marijuana legalization advocate Ed Rosenthal was found guilty by a federal jury in his retrial on marijuana cultivation charges, however he will not be punished further. For more information, click here.


Connecticut House Passes Medical Marijuana Legislation

The Connecticut State House of Representatives approved legislation allowing patients in need to have access to medical marijuana. For more information, click here.


Rhode Island Legislature Poised To Make Medical Marijuana Program Permanent

Legislation has passed both houses of the Rhode Island Legislature by margins sufficient to over-ride a threatened veto. For more information, click here.


IL Senate Votes No On Medical Marijuana Bill

The Illinois State Senate voted against SB650, that would have allowed some patients in Illinois to have access to medical marijuana. For more information, click here.


Minnesota Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Legislation

The Minnesota State Senate approved a bill allowing patients in need to get access to medical marijuana. For more information, click here.


New Mexico Legalizes Medical Marijuana

Governor Bill Richardson signed medical marijuana legislation, making New Mexico the 12th state to allow patients in need to have access to medical marijuana. For more information, click here.


Appeals Court Rules Against Angel Raich

On March 14, a federal appeals court decided against medical marijuana patient Angel Raich. The ruling rejected Raich's argument that she had a right to life. For more information, click here.


Flint, MI Approves Medical Marijuana

The city of Flint, MI, approved a ballot measure to allow patients in need to have access to medical marijuana. For more information, click here.


Americans for Safe Access Sues US Dept. of Health & Human Services

Americans for Safe Access have filed suit against the federal Department of Health & Human Services, accusing it of ignoring the scientific data regarding medical cannabis. For more information, click here.


Vermont Senate To Debate Medical Marijuana

Legislation which would allow authorized patients better access to adequate amounts of medical cannabis passed a Vermont State Senate committee and will proceed to the floor of the Senate for debate. For more information, click here.


UK Tory Leader David Cameron Endorses Legalization Of Medical Marijuana

David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative (Tory) Party in England, has endorsed the legalization of medical marijuana. For more information click here.

Court Throws Out County Suit Over Medical Marijuana Law

A California state judge rejected a lawsuit by three counties challenging state's medical marijuana law. For more information click here.

Update: San Diego County Supervisors vote to continue challenge to CA's medical marijuana law. Click here for the full story.


South Dakota Fails To Pass Medical Marijuana

South Dakota voters failed to approve a ballot measure which would have allowed patients in need access to medical marijuana. For more information click here.


Federal Grand Jury Re-Indicts Ed Rosenthal

A federal grand jury has re-indicted Ed Rosenthal and two co-defendants. For more information click here.


Federal Grand Jury Looks At Ed Rosenthal

The feds conduct a new grand jury investigation into Ed Rosenthal before his new trial. For more information, click here.


Court Ruling Allows Patients, Advocates To Oppose San Diego County In Lawsuit

Patients and their advocates, including the ACLU, will be allowed to join in defending against the suit by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors aimed at overturning California's medical marijuana laws. For more information click here.


Several San Diego Dispensaries Raided July 6; At Least 15 Arrested

Federal and county police in San Diego area raided several medical marijuana dispensaries. At least 15 people face a variety of charges. For more information click here.


Supporters put up a valiant effort and vow to continue.
Rep David Obey, D-WI: "If I am terminally ill, it is not anybody's business on this floor how I handle the pain or the illness or the sickness associated with that illness. With all due respect to all of you, butt out."

The state of California has enacted a policy which will allow the state's medical marijuana dispensaries to be able to secure business licenses and begin to collect and pay state sales tax. For more about this click here.


Santa Cruz, CA took the first step toward helping patients in need secure safe access to sufficient supplies of medical marijuana by moving to create the country's first city marijuana department, the Office of Compassionate Use. Click here for more info.


Americans for Safe Access held a series of protests at HHS offices around the country on Oct. 26, 2005. Click here for more information about these rescheduling rallies.


Performer/Songwriter/Cancer Survivor Melissa Ethridge appeared on Dateline NBC Sunday, Oct. 16, 2005, to speak about her breast cancer, her survival – she's now in remission – and medical marijuana. Click here to read the transcript.


Yanked from a Canadian hospital, turned over to US authorities with a catheter still attached, held for days without medical attention — Judge orders Steven Tuck temporarily released in order to be taken for treatment. Read more inside.


Legislation to allow patients in need in Rhode Island to have access to medical marijuana vetoed by governor was over-ridden by Senate but session ended before House could vote. Governor Carcieri has also called for a special session, during which House could bring bill to vote. Click here for an earlier blog entry on Rhode Island efforts.


Drug stores in Canada to begin stocking medical cannabis. Health Canada says a national pharmacy distribution program could take up to three years to implement. Learn more by clicking here.


Ed Rosenthal's appeal of his conviction on federal marijuana charges finally begins after more than two years. Click here to read more about Ed's case.


Report by Dr. Mitch Earleywine and MPP researcher Karen O'Keefe finds that marijuana use by young people declined in states with medical marijuana. Click here to learn more.


California Highway Patrol Revises Policy

CHP revises policy, will allow certified patients to possess and carry up to eight ounces of medical marijuana in a motor vehicle. Click here for more info.


California officials decide to reinstate medical marijuana patient ID program. To learn more click here.


California's state government suspended a new program to issue ID cards for medical marijuana patients. The suspension does not change the legal status of medical marijuana nor does it stop doctors from approving patients. For details, click here.


Three medical marijuana facilities in San Francisco raided by feds. Click for more info.


The US House by a 264-161 vote on Wednesday, July 15, failed to pass an amendment which would have barred the Justice Department from going after medical marijuana patients who are following state laws which allow the practice. For more on this story click here.


A setback, not a defeat: The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against medical marijuana patients. The Court's decision in the case of Ashcroft v. Raich was handed down on June 6, 2005. For more information click here.


New York State Sen. Vincent L. Leibell (R-Dutchess County) introduced S5040, a bill to allow legal use of medical marijuana. Click here to read more.


Canada becomes the first country to approve Sativex® for medical use. The drug will initially be made available to MS sufferers. Click here for more information.

Check out CSDP's new public service ad on Sativex.


Medical marijuana is on the move in states across the US in 2005. Bills have been introduced in several state legislatures including Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Alabama. Click here for more.


The federal government lost its case in the 9th Circuit against Angel Raich and Diane Monson, two patients in California. The feds took the case to the Supreme Court. To learn more about the case of Ashcroft v. Raich, click here.

Click here to view this CSDP public service ad on the medical marijuana issue featuring case of Raich v. Ashcroft, or download a PDF copy of the ad by clicking here.


Buckling to election-year pressure, the UK's Labour government has announced that it will re-examine the classification of cannabis, which it had moved from Class B to Class C in Jan. 2004.


Because there is no federal medical necessity exemption, juries cannot take all the facts into consideration when hearing a case involving medical marijuana. The US Justice Dept. is forcing hundreds of seriously ill patients, who rely on these support groups, to turn to the streets and black market in order to obtain their medicine while providers face long prison terms for their compassion. Contact your Congressperson and let them know how you want an end to the Federal assault against medical marijuana.


Statewide Billboard Campaign Proclaimed: "Medical Marijuana: Compassion Not Federal Prison"

As federal prosecutions against medical marijuana patients and providers escalate, a coalition of patients, care givers, doctors and public officials united behind the 8-year-old daughter of a now-free federal prisoner to call for an end to these injustices. The ads showed Ashley Epis holding a sign saying "My Dad is not a criminal," with the message, "Medical marijuana: compassion, not federal prison. www.MedicalMJ.org." For a copy of the news release from the SF ad launch, click here. For a review of news coverage of the campaign's launch, click here.

Help spread the word! Download, print and display these high-resolution copies of the billboard ad and of the transit shelter ad.

Also, download pics of Ashley & her mom at one of the billboards:
Billboard 1
Billboard 2


Relative Addictive Properties of Various Commonly Used Drugs

relative dangers and addictive properties of various drugs
Source: Dr. Jack E. Henningfield, Ph.D. for NIDA. Reported by: Philip J. Hilts, New York Times, Aug. 2, 1994 "Is Nicotine Addictive? It Depends on Whose Criteria You Use."
Image courtesy of Drug War Facts.

Legal Federal Patient Detained In Illinois After Testifying In Support Of Medical Marijuana Bill

Irvin Rosenfeld, one of the handful of remaining legal federal medical marijuana patients, was detained by police in Springfield, IL, after testifying in support of a medicalization bill. Click here for more about the Illinois legislation.


Cannabis-Based Medication Gets Preliminary Approval In Canada

Canadian health officials gave preliminary approval for trials of GW Pharma's drug Sativex, a medication derived from the cannabis plant. Already nearing approval in England, the UK-based company plans to apply for approval in other Commonwealth countries soon.


Medical Marijuana Debate In Illinois Legislature

Legislation to allow medical marijuana for patients in need has been introduced in the Illinois legislature. A former federal official, stumping the state to oppose the measure, refuses to debate the bill's merits with the sponsor, an AIDS victim and former cop.


Spain Moves To Allow Medical Marijuana

The Spanish Health Ministry is expected to approve a Catalonian plan to allow doctors to prescribe medical cannabis. This plan, involving 60 pharmacies and four hospitals, surpasses the reforms in place in The Netherlands and in England.


South Dakota Legislature Says No To Medical Marijuana

Jan. 2005: Legislators in South Dakota rejected legislation which would have allowed doctors to recommend marijuana to patients in need.


Feds Obstruct Medical Marijuana Research

The feds say they want scientific evidence that marijuana is medicine, but do they? In 2001, a researcher at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst applied to the government grow marijuana for research. Finally in 2004, after pressure from the courts and from advocates to issue a decision, the DEA announced it was denying permission. Click here for more about this issue. Also, view this Common Sense PSA on federal obstruction of legitimate research.


The federal raid on a Santa Cruz, CA, medical marijuana co-operative backfired in a big way. The city and county governments took the side of Valerie and Mike Corral and the other activists and supporters of WAMM, the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana. A federal judge finally agreed with Santa Cruz and WAMM, and told the feds to back off. Click here for more about the WAMM case.

View CSDP's PSA on the Santa Cruz-Corral case, also available in camera-ready PDF.


Marijuana is medicine for millions of patients around the US. Click here for medical marijuana news. Federal opposition persists in spite of successful medical marijuana programs in several states. States, cities moving to allow medical use by those in need.

For more information on medical marijuana and other drug policy reform issues, check out the Common Sense for Drug Policy. For the facts about medical marijuana, check out Drug War Facts: Medical Marijuana, and this CSDP public service ad on medical cannabis to learn more.


For The Latest News Check Out:

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Americans For Safe Access

Media Awareness Project

Drug Reform Coordination Network


Support The Campaign!

Support the Coalition campaign! To make a tax-deductible donation click here.


Get Active!

Help make sure that patients can access medical cannabis safely and legally. Americans for Safe Access maintains this terrific Take Action page on their site to help you decide what actions you can take. Common Sense for Drug Policy also maintains this organizers' toolkit on their website.


Meet The Patients

The US Justice Department continues to stand between patients and their medicine. Click here to meet some of the patients and read their stories, and learn why this issue is so important.


The drug war lies on a foundation of myth. Learn the truth. Get the facts. Drug War Facts is your premier information source, offering uptodate information with full citations to aid in further research. Individual sections as well as full edition available electronically at DrugWarFacts.org. Get the facts about medical marijuana, prisons, drug treatment, syringe exchange, and more.
Help spread the word! Put a Drug War Facts banner on YOUR website. Click here for more info.


Marijuana Is Safe, Effective Medicine

Cannabis, or marijuana as it is often called when referring to the drug form of the plant, is an effective medicine that is relatively safer than many commonly-used pharmaceutical products. In the last several decades US doctors and patients have been denied legal access to this substance. Click here to read this well-researched article about the medical benefits of cannabis and learn more about its uses.


The Ed Rosenthal Case

Rosenthal jurors outraged that medical marijuana aspect of case withheld from them. Read this lament by jury member Marney Craig, "Medical Marijuana: Blind Injustice," published by the San Jose Mercury News, Feb. 6, 2003.
Also check out this op-ed originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 19, 2003, "When A Jury Should Just Say No," and this op-ed published in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journals, March 6, 2003, "In the Dark: Medi-Pot Juries Kept Uninformed Can't Seek Out the Course of Justice."
For more info see:
"Jurors Who Convicted Marijuana Grower Seek New Trial," NY Times, Feb. 5, 2003
"Misguided Marijuana War," NY Times, Feb. 5, 2003
"One Angry Jury," by Alexander Cockburn, WorkingForChange.com, Feb. 5, 2003


Get Informed!

Get the facts about medical cannabis from Drug War Facts.
NORML's website provides a great deal of useful medical cannabis information. California NORML maintains this list of CA medical cannabis resources. Access hundreds of articles on medical cannabis from the popular press.


The US Justice Department is pressing forward with an aggressive campaign to prosecute medical marijuana offenders in spite of California's medical marijuana law (Prop 215) and in defiance of efforts by local officials to support legal medicine for patients. Targets have included prominent medical marijuana patients groups, caregivers, and individual patients attempting to grow medicine for themselves.... Click here for more.


In the Dark: Medi-Pot Juries Kept Uninformed Can't Seek Out the Course of Justice -- Read this excellent piece from the March 6, 2003 LA and San Francisco Daily Journals:
"But the minute the jurors stepped out of Breyer's courtroom, they were hit with what they really had done. The defendant was not the cold-hearted drug kingpin portrayed by federal prosecutors. In fact, he was a hero to thousands of seriously ill Californians who were depending on him for relief. Outside the courtroom, Craig discovered that Rosenthal was an official agent of the city of Oakland - growing marijuana for the ill."
To read the rest, click here.


When A Jury Should Just Say No -- Read this excellent piece from the Feb. 19th San Francisco Chronicle:
"It is a long-standing precept that juries act as the collective "conscience of the community" -- hearing the facts of a case and applying them to laws developed through the democratic process. Serving on a jury is a fundamental civic duty -- right up there with voting -- and as such sits at the heart of our democracy. Yet, when members of a federal jury late last month convicted medical marijuana activist Ed Rosenthal without being able to consider that he was growing pot to be used as medicine under California's Proposition 215, the integrity of our system of justice was seriously threatened."
To read the rest, click here.

Read the news release, "Federal Government Supplies Medical Marijuana to Some While Prosecuting California Patients and Providers" for details. Photos from the news conference also available by clicking here.


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Top Stories On The Web

"Could Obama's pro-marijuana Commerce Secretary spell a golden era for pot reform?," AlterNet, Dec. 18, 2008

"A safe prescription," TImes of Trenton (NJ), Dec. 18, 2008

"People v. Mentch defines marijuana caregiver," Willits News (CA), Dec. 17, 2008

"Medical marijuana act passes NJ panel," Press of Atlantic City (NJ), Dec. 16, 2008

"Sacramento supervisors urged to OK pot cards for patients," Sacramento (CA) Bee, Dec. 16, 2008

"State's first medical marijuana clinic opens in Southfield," C & G Newspapers (MI), Dec. 11, 2008

"Support for medical marijuana is high," Willamette (OR) Week, Dec. 10, 2008

"Site focuses on Mich.'s Medical Marijuana Act," WDIV (MI), Dec. 9, 2008

"German patients to receive medical marijuana," Salem-News (OR), Dec. 8, 2008

"Michiganders go to clinic seeking pot to dull pain," Detroit (MI) Free Press, Dec. 5, 2008

"Medical pot legal today...but not really," Muskegon (MI) Chronicle, Dec. 4, 2008

"Garden Grove cops: Give that pot back," NBC Los Angeles, Dec. 2, 2008

"Medical marijuana law hazy, law enforcement officials warn," Michigan Citizen, Dec. 1, 2008

"Medicinal marijuana legislation should be reconsidered," KOTA (SD), Dec. 1, 2008

"Marijuana sellers thriving with 'White Rhino,' 'Wonder Woman'," Bloomberg, Dec. 1, 2008

"CA Supreme Court: Caregiver must do more than provide marijuana," Times-Standard (CA), Nov. 30, 2008

"California Supreme Court rules unanimously against compassionate care," AlterNet, Nov. 27, 2008

"Dispute over pot garden heats up," Press Democrat (CA), Nov. 24, 2008

"Medical marijuana patients surge in numbers," KPUA (HI), Nov. 24, 2008

"Medical marijuana, pt. 1: Patients tell their story," KTVZ (OR), Nov. 24, 2008

"CA medical marijuana advocates concerned about Obama appointments," Capital Weekly(CA), Nov. 20, 2008

"Pot group sues to stop DMV from revoking licenses," AP / San Jose (CA) Mercury News, Nov. 19, 2008

"Border search nabs medical marijuana user," Reason Online, Nov. 19, 2008

"Charges 'fabricated' – marijuana grower," Maui (HI) News, Nov. 19, 2008

"Marijuana hotspots vs. Starbucks--who wins?," San Francisco (CA) Chronicle, Nov. 17, 2008

"Prop. 1's implications unclear, concern some," The State News (MI), Nov. 16, 2008

"Medical marijuana could ease economic pains," The Vancouver (Canada) Sun, Nov. 14, 2008

"Mich. may lead way for Wis. on medical marijuana," AP / Chicago (IL) Tribune, Nov. 8, 2008

"High expectations," Slate, Nov. 6, 2008

"Pot wins in a landslide: A thundering rejection of America's longest war," AlterNet, Nov. 5, 2008

"Voters say yes to marijuana in Massachusetts and Michigan," AlterNet, Nov. 5, 2008

"Group takes aim at medical pot law," The News Review (OR), Oct. 28, 2008

"Proposal 1: Medical marijuana," Detroit (MI) News, Oct. 28, 2008

"Santa Rosa pot garden sparks battle," FoxReno (NV), Oct. 28, 2008

"Canadian medical pot monopoly overturned," United Press International, Oct. 28, 2008

"County pursues medicinal marijuana case," Union-Tribune (CA), Oct. 27, 2008

"Apartment complex evicts medical marijuana user," Herald Net (WA), Oct. 26, 2008

"Marijuana helps 1 man despite doctor's verdict," MLive (MI), Oct. 25, 2008

"Business group takes aim at pot law," Corvallis (OR) Gazette Times, Oct. 25, 2008

"Red Ribbon Week highlights pot issue on ballot," Boston (MA) Herald, Oct. 25, 2008

"Patient's story led state to OK medical pot in '79," Detroit (MI) Free Press, Oct. 25, 2008

"5 cities OK with medical pot, but it's just symbolic," Detroit (MI) Free Press, Oct. 25, 2008

"Should hepatitis C patients who smoke marijuana be eligible for liver transplants?," Science Daily, Oct. 24, 2008

"Supervisors worry over issuing marijuana identification cards," Lodi (CA) News-Sentinel, Oct. 23, 2008

"San Mateo weighs medical pot regulations," San Jose (CA) Mercury News, Oct. 22, 2008

"Council ready to light up pot law," San Mateo (CA) Daily Journal, Oct. 21, 2008

"Couple wants $200,000 for ruined pot plants," NPR, Oct. 20, 2008

"Medical marijuana gardens worry Clackamas County," Coos Bay World (OR), Oct. 20, 2008

"City to vote on pot law," Royal Oak (MI) Daily Tribune, Oct. 19, 2008

"Medical marijuana: Science, politics intermingle," Kalamazoo (MI) Gazette, Oct. 18, 2008

"Supreme Court denies review of medical pot law," San Francisco (CA) Chronicle, Oct. 17, 2008

"San Mateo marijuana rules on the table," San Mateo (CA) Daily Journal, Oct. 17, 2008

"Vote 'yes' on medical marijuana plan," Lansing (MI) State Journal, Oct. 17, 2008

"Medical marijuana gardens grow concerns in Clackamas County," The Oregonian, Oct. 16, 2008

"State supreme court declines to hear county's appeal on medical marijuana," San Diego (CA) Union-Tribune, Oct. 16, 2008

"Michigan voters to decide on medical marijuana," Examiner (DC), Oct. 16, 2008

"Code enforcement officer arrested for marijuana says deputies disregarded medical cards," Lake County (CA) News, Oct. 16, 2008

"Officials ask voters to nix pot proposal," The Detroit (MI) News, Oct. 16, 2008

"No power for legal pot garden," Toronto (Canada) Sun, Oct. 16, 2008

"U.S. 'drug czar' criticizes Prop 1 in Lansing," Lansing (MI) State Journal, Oct. 15, 2008

"S.F. leads way on patient-friendly pot clubs," San Francisco (CA) Chronicle, Oct. 14, 2008

"For medicinal purposes," Billings (MT) Gazette, Oct. 13, 2008

"No more medical marijuana on the Central Coast," New Times (CA), Oct. 8, 2008

"Federal agents raid Cherryland pot club," Tri Valley (CA) Herald, Oct. 8, 2008

"Request for new trial in marijuana case denied," Modesto Bee (CA), Oct. 7, 2008

"Proposal 1 could legalize medicinal marijuana," The (MI) Echo, Oct. 6, 2008

"Harvest Fest participants march for smoking rights," The (WI) Badger Herald, Oct. 6, 2008

"Ministry wants 4,000 Kg of cannabis," The Sinhalaya News Agency (Sri Lanka), Oct. 6, 2008

"Doc says pot pill no good," Livingston (MI) Daily, Oct. 5, 2008

"Cannabis spray use may be made legal," The Dominion Post (New Zealand), Oct. 4, 2008

"Plymouth DA: Pot ballot question a deal for dealers," Wicked Local Marion (MA), Oct. 3, 2008

"State rule clarifies 60-day supply of medical marijuana," The Seattle (WA) Times, Oct. 3, 2008

"Council takes on medical marijuana growing issues," The Eureka Reporter (CA), Oct. 3, 2008

"A dangerous cash crop ," Asia Sentinel, Oct. 3, 2008

"Marijuana is real medicine," AlterNet, Oct. 2, 2008

"Yes on Prop 1: Allow seriously ill people the relief marijuana may offer," Detroit (MI) Free Press, Oct. 2, 2008

"Governor vetoes medical marijuana bill," San Francisco (CA) Chronicle, Oct. 2, 2008

"In Mass., it's a 'green' ballot," The (MA) Daily Collegian, Oct. 1, 2008

"Palm Springs mulls law for marijuana dispensaries," The Desert Sun (CA), Sept. 30, 2008

"Oregon group wants legal marijuana dispensaries," Seattle Post Intelligencer, Sept. 29, 2008

"Measure to decriminalize marijuana goes on Mass. ballot," Harvard Crimson (MA), Sept. 28, 2008

"Activists cite support for medical marijuana," Livingston (MI) Daily Press & Argus, Sept. 28, 2008

"Emerging opportunities with cannabinoids within the medical industry," MarketWatch, Sept. 26, 2008

"New cannabis chief tackles farms," BBC News, Sept. 26, 2008

"Government want to grown own dope," Metro (UK), Sept. 26, 2008

"Stem cell, marijuana proposals lead in Mich. poll," AP / Chicago (IL) Tribune, Sept. 26, 2008

"County OKs medical marijuana ID cards," Hanford (CA) Sentinel, Sept. 24, 2008

"Council OKs smoking pot in WAMM tent," San Jose (CA) Mercury News, Sept. 24, 2008

"Feds try to spark change in pot laws," The Province (Canada), Sept. 21, 2008

"Judge says feds violated 10th Amendment by subverting state marijuana laws," The Times-Standard (Eureka, CA), Sept. 14, 2008

"Lake County pot grower Lepp guilty," The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, CA), Sept. 5, 2008

"Brown: Some medi-pot dispensaries may be illegal," AP / San Francisco (CA) Chronicle, Aug. 25, 2008

"County loses another round in medical pot ID battle," San Diego (CA) Union-Tribune, July 31, 2008

"DEA agents raid Culver City medical marijuana dispensary," Los Angeles (CA) Times, July 31, 2008

"Arcata anticipates AG guidelines for medical marijuana," The Times-Standard (Eureka, CA), July 20, 2008

"Under the influence, but not impaired," Las Vegas (NV) Review-Journal, July 20, 2008

"Pot smoking linked to crash," Las Vegas (NV) Review-Journal, July 18, 2008

"Cops return medical-marijuana files taken in raid – but not the pot," Seattle (WA) Times, July 18, 2008

"Lawsuit against county and Sheriff Pat Hedges claims pot shop closure after raid violates constitutional rights," San Luis Obispo (CA) Tribune, July 17, 2008

"Politicians urged to allow marijuana for health problems," New Zealand Herald (Auckland, NZ), July 16, 2008

"McNerney changes medical marijuana stance," Oakland (CA) Tribune, July 12, 2008

"Medical marijuana list released," Honolulu (HI) Advertiser, July 12, 2008

"Across midwest, interest in medical marijuana grows," Chicago (IL) Tribune, July 12, 2008

"Dr. Joycelyn Elders visits Raleigh Wednesday," IndyWeek.com (Durham, NC), June 24, 2008

"Specter would 'absolutely' use medical marijuana," The Bulletin (Philadelphia, PA), June 18, 2008

"Medical pot law arguments heard," San Diego (CA) Union-Tribune, June 11, 2008

"Mendocino pot measure in limbo," Santa Rosa (CA) Press Democrat, June 5, 2008

"Feds raid Peninsula's only marijuana club," The Examiner.com, May 29, 2008

"Next president might be gentler on pot clubs," San Francisco (CA) Chronicle, May 12, 2008

"Medical marijuana needs new focus," Asbury Park (NJ) Press, April 27, 2008

"Pot shop owners: We followed law," Modesto (CA) Bee, April 27, 2008

"Make room in Minnesota for medical marijuana," St. Paul (MN) Pioneer Press, April 17, 2008

"Huntington Beach police return pot to medical marijuana patient," AP / San Jose (CA) Mercury News, April 9, 2008

"House panel may snuff pot bill," The Providence Journal, April 9, 2008

"No marijuana dispensary in Templeton," San Luis Obispo Tribune (CA), April 9, 2008

Medical Marijuana

Courtesy of Drug War Facts, a project of Common Sense for Drug Policy.

  1. Since 1996, ten states have legalized medical marijuana use: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ME, NV, OR, VT and WA. Eight of the ten did so through the initiative process, Hawaii's law was enacted by the legislature and signed by the governor in 2000, and Vermont's was enacted by the legislature and passed into law without the governor's signature in May 2004.

    Source:  National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), from the web at http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3391, last accessed Oct. 9, 2004.

  2. The Institute of Medicine's 1999 report on medical marijuana stated, "The accumulated data indicate a potential therapeutic value for cannabinoid drugs, particularly for symptoms such as pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation."

    Source: Janet E. Joy, Stanley J. Watson, Jr., and John A Benson, Jr., "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base," Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Research, Institute of Medicine (Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1999).

  3. The Institute of Medicine's 1999 report on medical marijuana examined the question whether the medical use of marijuana would lead to an increase of marijuana use in the general population and concluded that, "At this point there are no convincing data to support this concern. The existing data are consistent with the idea that this would not be a problem if the medical use of marijuana were as closely regulated as other medications with abuse potential." The report also noted that, "this question is beyond the issues normally considered for medical uses of drugs, and should not be a factor in evaluating the therapeutic potential of marijuana or cannabinoids."

    Source: Janet E. Joy, Stanley J. Watson, Jr., and John A Benson, Jr., "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base," Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Research, Institute of Medicine (Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1999).

  4. In the Institute of Medicine's report on medical marijuana, the researchers examined the physiological risks of using marijuana and cautioned, "Marijuana is not a completely benign substance. It is a powerful drug with a variety of effects. However, except for the harms associated with smoking, the adverse effects of marijuana use are within the range of effects tolerated for other medications."

    Source: Janet E. Joy, Stanley J. Watson, Jr., and John A Benson, Jr., "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base," Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Research, Institute of Medicine (Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1999).

  5. The Institute of Medicine's 1999 report on medical marijuana examined the question of whether marijuana could diminish patients' immune system - an important question when considering marijuana use by AIDS and cancer patients. The report concluded that, "the short-term immunosuppressive effects are not well established but, if they exist, are not likely great enough to preclude a legitimate medical use."

    Source: Janet E. Joy, Stanley J. Watson, Jr., and John A Benson, Jr., "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base," Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Research, Institute of Medicine (Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1999).

  6. "Conclusions: Smoked and oral cannabinoids did not seem to be unsafe in people with HIV infection with respect to HIV RNA levels, CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts, or protease inhibitor levels over a 21-day treatment."

    Source:  Abrams, Donald I., MD, et al., "Short-Term Effects of Cannabinoids in Patients with HIV-1 Infection - A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial," Annals of Internal Medicine, Aug. 19, 2003, Vol. 139, No. 4 (American College of Physicians), p. 258.

  7. "This study provides evidence that short-term use of cannabinoids, either oral or smoked, does not substantially elevate viral load in individuals with HIV infection who are receiving stable antiretroviral regimens containing nelfinavir or indinavir. Upper confidence bounds for all estimated effects of cannabinoids on HIV RNA level from all analyses were no greater than an increase of 0.23 log10 copies/mL compared with placebo. Because this study was randomized and analyses were controlled for all known potential confounders, it is very unlikely that chance imbalance on any known or unknown covariate masked a harmful effect of cannabinoids. Study participants in all groups may have been expected to benefit from the equivalent of directly observed antiretroviral therapy, as well as decreased stress and, for some, improved nutrition over the 25-day inpatient stay."

    Source: Abrams, Donald I., MD, et al., "Short-Term Effects of Cannabinoids in Patients with HIV-1 Infection - A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial," Annals of Internal Medicine, Aug. 19, 2003, Vol. 139, No. 4 (American College of Physicians), p. 264.

  8. "Nevertheless, when considering all 15 studies (i.e., those that met both strict and more relaxed criteria) we only noted that regular cannabis users performed worse on memory tests, but that the magnitude of the effect was very small. The small magnitude of effect sizes from observations of chronic users of cannabis suggests that cannabis compounds, if found to have therapeutic value, should have a good margin of safety from a neurocognitive standpoint under the more limited conditions of exposure that would likely obtain in a medical setting."

    Source:  Grant, Igor, et al., "Non-Acute (Residual) Neurocognitive Effects Of Cannabis Use: A Meta-Analytic Study," Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society (Cambridge University Press: July 2003), 9, pp. 687-8.

  9. In spite of the established medical value of marijuana, doctors are presently permitted to prescribe cocaine and morphine - but not marijuana.

    Source: The Controlled Substances Act of 1970, 21 U.S.C. §§ 801 et seq.

  10. Organizations that have endorsed medical access to marijuana include: the Institute of Medicine, the American Academy of Family Physicians; American Bar Association; American Public Health Association; American Society of Addiction Medicine; AIDS Action Council; British Medical Association; California Academy of Family Physicians; California Legislative Council for Older Americans; California Medical Association; California Nurses Association; California Pharmacists Association; California Society of Addiction Medicine; California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church; Colorado Nurses Association; Consumer Reports Magazine; Kaiser Permanente; Lymphoma Foundation of America; Multiple Sclerosis California Action Network; National Association of Attorneys General; National Association of People with AIDS; National Nurses Society on Addictions; New Mexico Nurses Association; New York State Nurses Association; New England Journal of Medicine; and Virginia Nurses Association.

  11. A few of the editorial boards that have endorsed medical access to marijuana include: Boston Globe; Chicago Tribune; Miami Herald; New York Times; Orange County Register; and USA Today.

  12. Many organizations have favorable positions (e.g., unimpeded research) on medical marijuana. These groups include: The Institute of Medicine, The American Cancer Society; American Medical Association; Australian Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health; California Medical Association; Federation of American Scientists; Florida Medical Association; and the National Academy of Sciences.

  13. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 established five categories, or "schedules," into which all illicit and prescription drugs were placed. Marijuana was placed in Schedule I, which defines the substance as having a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision. To contrast, over 90 published reports and studies have shown marijuana has medical efficacy.

    Source: The Controlled Substances Act of 1970, 21 U.S.C. §§ 801 et seq.; Common Sense for Drug Policy, Compendium of Reports, Research and Articles Demonstrating the Effectiveness of Medical Marijuana, Vol. I & Vol. II (Falls Church, VA: Common Sense for Drug Policy, March 1997).

  14. The U.S. Penal Code states that any person can be imprisoned for up to one year for possession of one marijuana cigarette and imprisoned for up to five years for growing a single marijuana plant.

    Source: The Controlled Substances Act of 1970, 21 U.S.C. §§ 801 et seq.

  15. On September 6, 1988, the Drug Enforcement Administration's Chief Administrative Law Judge, Francis L. Young, ruled:
    "Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known....[T]he provisions of the [Controlled Substances] Act permit and require the transfer of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II. It would be unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious for the DEA to continue to stand between those sufferers and the benefits of this substance."

    Source: US Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency, "In the Matter of Marijuana Rescheduling Petition," [Docket #86-22] (September 6, 1988), p. 57.

  16. The DEA's Administrative Law Judge, Francis Young concluded: "In strict medical terms marijuana is far safer than many foods we commonly consume. For example, eating 10 raw potatoes can result in a toxic response. By comparison, it is physically impossible to eat enough marijuana to induce death. Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. By any measure of rational analysis marijuana can be safely used within the supervised routine of medical care."

    Source: US Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency, "In the Matter of Marijuana Rescheduling Petition," [Docket #86-22], (September 6, 1988), p. 57.

  17. Between 1978 and 1997, 35 states and the District of Columbia passed legislation recognizing marijuana's medicinal value.
    States include: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IA, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, RI, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, and WI.

For additional research on medical marijuana, see this excellent analysis of medical marijuana research by Common Sense for Drug Policy President Kevin B. Zeese and this update from Common Sense for Drug Policy, as well as the Drug War Facts section on marijuana.

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Updated: Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008   ~   Accessed: 364044 times