In case you have not seen it, here is the New York Times feature article on the medical marijuana market in Colorado. I have just started reading the new Colorado statute, since I have been focusing on events here in the Northeast, but from what I have seen so far it is a fascinating mix… Read More NY Times article on Colorado market

Chris Goldstein of Philadelphia NORML reported that the NJ legislature has granted only a minor amendment to the NJ medical marijuana law. If so, then the legislature did not acquiesce in Governor Christie’s proposal to eviscerate the law by allowing only Rutgers University to cultivate cannabis and allowing only hospitals to dispense to patients. Instead… Read More NJ legislature allows only a limited amendment to the state’s medical marijuana law

As discussed in my post from this past Saturday, New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Bridget Brennan, has publicly stated opposition to the proposed medical marijuana bill now pending in the New York State legislature. I wondered if Brennan’s position represents an authentic statement of New York City’s position on the bill. Apparently it does:… Read More Bloomberg and Brennan come out against NY medical marijuana law

This article from Friday explains a lot about what is happening in NJ. Basically, according to the article and – as usual – I have not yet seen the text of the actual proposal by the State – Governor Chris Christie wants to eliminate the ability of nonprofit dispensaries to participate in the supply-side of… Read More More on how the executive branch can prevent implementation of a medical marijuana law – NJ Governor wants to dispense only through hospitals

Various news sources, including the New York Post and MSNBC, have reported that Bridget Brennan, the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for New York City, has stated her opposition to the proposed medical marijuana law. I have not yet seen the actual text of the letter, but the news reports suggest a willful misreading of the proposed… Read More NYC prosecutor criticizes proposed New York medical marijuana law

I think that this article about the spreading legal war in Colorado, city-by-city, over whether to ban cannabis dispensaries demonstrates well the difference between the first generation medical marijuana laws and the second generation that is taking root here on the East Coast. The California/Colorado model fails to provide explicitly for regulation of the supply… Read More New Jersey: a new form of struggle

From the website for the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey: MEDIA ADVISORYFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE6/14/2010 The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ)http://www.cmmnj.org Medical Marijuana Press Conference in Jersey City on 6/17City officials work on guidelines; patients, professionals seek timely regulations On Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 1 PM, New Jersey medical marijuana advocacy groups… Read More Medical Marijuana Press Conference in Jersey City on 6/17

Here is a statement from the press conference by the Coalition for Medical Marijuana – New Jersey indicating that New Jersey medical marijuana advocates will be going to court to force the governor to move forward in implementing the medical marijuana law. The specific issue at hand, apparently, is the State’s refusal to allow patients… Read More Litigation coming in NJ over Governor’s intention to delay?

See the recent article on L.A.’s move to shut down dispensaries. Query whether this approach is possible in a jurisdiction in which the state government approves applications to open dispensaries – and those applications specify the address of the dispensary, meaning that the state government has already approved operation of the dispensary at a particular… Read More L.A. City Council action to limit dispensaries

Thanks to Buford Terrell for directing my attention to Carl Olsen’s litigation in Iowa to compel the Iowa Board of Pharmacy to reclassify cannabis. I have only begun reading the documents at the Iowans for Medical Marijuana website but from what I have seen so far, the essential argument is that “medical use” is defined… Read More Carl Olsen’s litigation in Iowa