I have been turning over in my head recently the whole phenomenon of the “medical marijuana” movement and I conclude that it is time to discard a pernicious dichotomy. I believe that the irony of the struggle in New Jersey resides in the statutory name of the not-for-profit corporate dispensaries which the medical marijuana statute… Read More Cannabis as alternative medicine

It’s a little late, I know, but the following article, published July 13, continues to illustrate the point I made earlier. New Jersey Governor Christie’s proposal to revise the medical marijuana system devised by the legislature is in essence a plan to kill the system through federalism. According to this article, the association of teaching… Read More How to kill a medical marijuana system, Part II

My news source does not run many news stories about the situation in New Mexico, but the Associated Press just ran a story quoting a licensed cannabis producer and a patient as saying that New Mexico’s licensing system is too cautious and is not adequately supplying the market. This article states that New Mexico is… Read More Associated Press reports cannabis shortages in New Mexico’s program

A new piece on ynn reports that upstate prosecutors have come out against the medical marijuana law. There is nothing new in their arguments; indeed the recurrence of the identical arguments in every statement of opposition to the therapeutic use of cannabis [or any use, of course] ever more strongly suggests that the opposition derives… Read More More New York prosecutors grossly mischaracterize the proposed law

The medical marijuana bill which I described in my first post has changed as the legislative year draws to a close. As I read the revised bill, I reach one paramount conclusion: someone in Albany is taking seriously what is happening with medical marijuana in other states. Why do I say that? I detect in… Read More Changes to the proposed New York law

A recent op-ed in the Times Union (Albany) demonstrates the essential logic of the camp arrayed against therapeutic uses of psychedelics: society must be protected from the doctors. Keep control over psychedelics in the hands of the police. The op-ed calls for all reasonable men to oppose the proposed medical marijuana law because of the… Read More Save us from the doctors

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