cannabisnews.com: Attorney Addresses Legal Marijuana










  Attorney Addresses Legal Marijuana

Posted by CN Staff on June 23, 2004 at 11:57:24 PT
By Jason Williams, Record Staff Writer 
Source: Stockton Record 

Stockton -- Aaron Paradiso just wants his medical marijuana back and a cannabis store opened in Stockton to end his Bay Area commute for the drug that manages his pain and eases his muscle spasms. Bill Pearce, a spokesman for the Valley Patient Alliance, wanted information on the legality of medical marijuana as well as how to create a marijuana cooperative, similar to a food cooperative, to work and share the product.
And three San Joaquin County deputy district attorneys were present to learn more about it. They were all at the Maya Angelou Southeast Branch Library on Tuesday to hear Joe Elford, a staff attorney with Americans for Sale Access, give a legal seminar about the rights of medical marijuana users. A majority of the talk centered on a new state law, SB420, as well as the different legal interpretations of the issues. SB420 authorizes giving people identification cards for medical marijuana use. It also grants immunity from arrest and allows medical marijuana users to have up to six mature cannabis plants, 12 immature plants or 8 ounces of dried cannabis buds unless a doctor has authorized more. Paradiso, 26, had marijuana cultivation and possession charges filed against him in September before the new law took effect. He is paralyzed from the shoulders down from a 1998 traffic accident. San Joaquin County deputies say they seized 52 plants from his home last year. That was much more than he needs, the authorities said. Paradiso has said he has grown his own marijuana for three years and has a medical permit to grow it under Proposition 215. His case is pending. "Stockton should have a safe distribution mechanism," Paradiso said. "They are going to prosecute medical cases and waste money and county resources." But the interpretation of the law gets tricky when it comes to the creation of cooperatives. Co-ops are allowed, but how to distribute the drug legally is in question, said Phil Urie, a San Joaquin County deputy district attorney who is coordinating the medical cases for the county. "If you go outside, you are outside the protection of the law," he said. Urie's colleagues at the meeting were Dave Wellenbrock and Todd Turner. "We want to know how people can stay within the law and still provide their medicine," Pearce said. Elford said the definition of membership in a co-op is not clearly defined, such as how to count people's contribution to the cooperative in time, money, or labor. But if a medical marijuana case is brought to court and dismissed, Elford encouraged those involved to seek their property back as well as monetary damages. Source: Record, The (CA)Author: Jason Williams, Record Staff WriterPublished: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 Copyright: 2004 The RecordContact: editor recordnet.comWebsite: http://www.recordnet.com/Related Article & Web Site:Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmParalyzed Man Faces Pot Chargeshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17418.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml

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Comment #21 posted by FoM on June 25, 2004 at 20:21:40 PT
Feds: Ban Ads for Moore Flick
Saturday, June 26, 2004WASHINGTON - TV ads for filmmaker Michael Moore's Bush-bashing ``Fahrenheit 9/11'' should be barred from the airwaves after July 30 because they are political commercials, a top federal legal opinion says. A draft opinion by the Federal Election Commission's general counsel states that the Moore movie ads should come under the campaign law provision blocking companies and unions from advertising for or against political candidates 30 days before a primary election. 
 July 31 would mark 30 days before the Republican National Convention, when the GOP will formally choose President Bush as its nominee. Moore's film, which casts President Bush in a harsh light, opened nationwide yesterday. A conservative group, Citizens United, filed a complaint with the FEC alleging that Moore and the companies involved in the marketing and distribution of the film are violating the law. 
``We are insisting the law be applied equally to all who are involved in campaigns and elections,'' said David Bossie, president of Citizens United. Moore said he ``absolutely'' will fight the complaint as a violation of his First Amendment rights. ``For them to try and remove my ads from television because I want people to come see my movie - it is a blatant attempt on the part of a right wing, Republican-sponsored group to stop people from seeing my movie,'' he said at a press conference. Moore added that he is not a member of the Democratic Party and has not endorsed Sen. John F. Kerry, although he has repeatedly called for Bush to leave office. 
 The FEC could take months to issue a ruling. 
   
http://news.bostonherald.com/national/view.bg?articleid=33402
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on June 24, 2004 at 22:51:53 PT

BGreen
Thanks! I really am proud of everyone that comments here. It's so good to be able to talk and not have people fighting. I really love peace and war makes me very upset to say the least. I really like Miichael Moore. He is adorable. Now I know many people wouldn't call him adorable but he is too me. He is a breathe of fresh air I believe.
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Comment #18 posted by BGreen on June 24, 2004 at 22:46:03 PT

Cannabis Culture has a great article on F' 9/11
This is a portion of it:If you read some of the thoughts posted on the Cannabis Culture forums by American folks who claim to love freedom and marijuana, you have to wonder if rationality, honesty, logic and introspection are traits being bred out of the American species.You find people in the CC forums, people who never use their real name, who claim that they know the Bush administration has stepped up the war on marijuana, who realize the Bush administration has demolished the right to privacy and vastly increased police powers, who know Bush gleefully started the Iraq war based on premises that are provably false. And these people, who know Bush would gladly throw them in prison for pot, are defending Bush against Moore, calling Moore a fat, stupid slob and a "leftist."I'm SO glad Cannabisnews.com is such a civil group of intelligent people. You should be proud, FoM!The Reverend Bud Green
Fahrenheit 9/11 opens fire
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on June 24, 2004 at 22:38:34 PT

BGreen
I agree! I am really a new Neil Young fan. Since I saw Greendale last June I've met nice people who have followed his career and some since his career began. Greendale is a protest rock novel I think. Heck I don't know what Greendale is because it's music, a play and soon the movie will be out on DVD. Some of the friends from a Neil Young web site I visit are planning an imaginery trip to Vancouver because of what the Mayor said. We have buses picked and all! LOL! It's fun to goof around now and then. Seriously though, I hope that more musicians stand up and say something in song or in interviews. We need help and that would be so good. Music is Universal. It's speaks to people often in the same way even if we are from a foreign country. It would be great to have the best songs from different musicians of their protest songs all on one CD. Like a number of Steve Earles or Willie Nelson or Neil Young to name a few.
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Comment #15 posted by BGreen on June 24, 2004 at 22:23:16 PT

That's great news, FoM
It's exciting seeing the stars of music and the visual arts finally speaking out.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on June 24, 2004 at 21:38:58 PT

BGreen, Mayan and Anyone Interested
Check this out! ***'Fahrenheit' Prompts Neil Young Re-release  Friday 25th June, 2004 Neil Young's Rockin' in the Free World, which plays over the closing credits of Fahrenheit 9/11, will be re-released, Daily Variety said Thursday.Reprise Records will re-release the song as a single, along with a video directed by Fahrenheit filmmaker Michael Moore, in late July or early August.Young's song criticized President George H.W. Bush when it was released as part of the 1989 album Freedom.Fahrenheit 9/11, which criticizes the policies and leadership of President George W. Bush -- opens nationwide on Friday. Young presented Moore's movie Tuesday at the Los Angeles Film Festival, where he is this year's artist in residence.It's the perfect time for this movie, Young said. http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=ed19e20a95cea9de

Neil Young - - Greendale
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Comment #13 posted by siege on June 24, 2004 at 08:08:56 PT

Proposition 215: Text of Proposed Law
(C) To encourage the federal and state governments to implement a plan to provide for the safe and affordable distribution of marijuana to all patients in medical need of marijuana. This is where it is at. Federal goverment can't read what the people want.
http://vote96.ss.ca.gov/Vote96/html/BP/215text.htm
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Comment #12 posted by kaptinemo on June 24, 2004 at 05:20:43 PT:

Time to look at the law, again
It never ceases to amaze me.This is the entire text of the Prop215 law: http://vote96.ss.ca.gov/Vote96/html/BP/215text.htmRead it. Read it carefully. Where in it does there even *imply* growing limits? Nowhere.Yet sick and dying people are being dragged over the coals, in county after county, with this idiotic beetle-tracking, wheel-spinning and monkey-motion about limits. The matter was DELIBERATELY left out of the law. For good reason: to AVOID this nonsense. The law was made simple for a good reason: to prevent what we are seeing happening in California *from happening at all*. The omission was not one of carelessness but cunning; to prevent those hostile to the law from having anything to grab onto and throttle it with. Yet...here the antis are, doing just that...without a leg to stand on.
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Comment #11 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on June 24, 2004 at 04:23:57 PT

FEC may ban Moore's ads after 7/30
I think he's got a good case with the press exemption, but it's indicative of the firestorm this film is causing. Good. By the way, we had to drive an hour each way to see Bowling for Columbine, but F911 is opening in a new local megaplex just a few minutes away.
http://www.thehill.com/news/062404/moore.aspx
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Comment #10 posted by Hope on June 24, 2004 at 04:06:59 PT

Goodmorning, Brother Bud
Haven't spoken to you in awhile. Hope you and yours are all well.
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on June 23, 2004 at 21:10:23 PT

westnyc 
My husband said the same thing a little earlier tonight. It would be great. I told him I wasn't sure but if Michael Moore keeps up what he is doing the truth will out itself I believe.
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Comment #8 posted by westnyc on June 23, 2004 at 21:04:12 PT

Documentaries
Perhaps Mr. Moore will one day make a documentary (Moore style) about the WOD; and, the profiteers and victims of this corruption. 
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on June 23, 2004 at 19:03:08 PT

Democrats Screen 'Fahrenheit 9/11' in D.C.
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Entertainment/ap20040623_2393.html
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on June 23, 2004 at 18:59:27 PT

BGreen
I just looked and it still is fairly far. I figured it will be closer in a week or two. I really want to see it. What an exciting time. Please tell us all about it then. This movie being shown in the USA gives me hope that we all can make a difference. 
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Comment #5 posted by Virgil on June 23, 2004 at 18:54:28 PT

The media is true to its colors
and has a medical permit to grow it under Proposition 215.There is no red, whit, and blue in this. We see that the prohibitors do not want the subject of compassion raised by the proper name of the current law - The Compassionate Use Act of 1996. Maybe the next state law will have another descriptive name such as the Restoration of Freedom Act.
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Comment #4 posted by BGreen on June 23, 2004 at 18:50:25 PT

Keep checking, FoM
They've added over 350 theaters in under a weeks time. There are 868 theaters so far and growing.We're driving to Springfield this weekend to see it at the Wehrenberg theater.The Reverend Bud Green
Theaters Showing Fahrenheit 9/11
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on June 23, 2004 at 18:33:10 PT

mayan
I wish that Fahrenheit 9/11 was being shown closer to us but it's a good distance to travel so we'll wait until it gets to a closer city to see it. Please tell us all about it after you see it. I want to hear as much as I can about how people feel. It's a monumental event in history in my opinion. Nothing like this has ever happened before. What a time we live in. I was talking to my husband a few minutes ago and I told him I wondered how I will look back on this time in History. I mean the war in Iraq. We are watching Ron Reagan on Larry King Live! I really like him. He said he will vote for whoever will beat Bush! I was shocked and surprised and I smiled too.
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Comment #2 posted by mayan on June 23, 2004 at 18:18:40 PT

FoM...
That's crazy about the missing evidence, but I guess it's only to be expected since our law enforcement organizations are corrupted to the core due to the failed war on drugs.On an unrelated note, I'm going to see 'Fahrenheit 9/11' on Sunday. It's important that it has a strong opening weekend so I'm dragging as many people with me as possible! Only the small, locally owned theatre is showing it where I live. The two corporate "cineplexes" are refusing to show it so I called them and let them know my feelings. I urge everyone else to go see it this weekend also!The way out...Use Michael Moore's Movie, Fahrenheit 9/11 to Help Fire Bush:
http://www.opednews.com/kall_061904_fahrenheit_911.htm'Fahrenheit': A Dubya scorcher
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/205374p-177291c.html
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on June 23, 2004 at 14:03:52 PT

Off Topic: Audit: $3 Million in Drugs Gone 
By Matt GourasGuns, cash also missing from evidence room.An investigation into evidence room abuses at the Memphis Police Department has revealed that nearly $3 million in drugs, $147,000 in cash and dozens of seized guns could not be located.The details were released yesterday as part of a state audit prepared to help federal authorities investigating the case.Police officials, who initially discovered the problem and asked for help from the FBI, said the investigation has sent a message through the department.''What it has done, it has helped to impress on everybody our commitment to integrity,'' said police Deputy Director Ray Schwill. ''We wanted to do the right thing.''So far, 16 people, including two civilian employees but no commissioned police officers, have been charged in a scheme that links thefts from the evidence room to a cocaine ring. Five of those defendants have pleaded guilty.The audit by state Comptroller John Morgan found that 116.6 kilograms of cocaine, with a street value estimated at $2,332,408, and 559.9 pounds of marijuana, with a street value estimated at $447,876, ''could not be accounted for.'' Morgan said that about $147,000 in cash and 66 guns also could not be found.The FBI said it's possible all of the items noted in the audit were stolen, but could not offer specifics on the ongoing investigation.''I'm not suggesting that the FBI has accounted for each and every item missing yet,'' said George Bolds, Memphis FBI spokesman.Schwill said he assumes it has been stolen, not just lost in a bad accounting system. ''Obviously we had a problem, a pretty big problem,'' he said.Morgan said auditors warned the agency about problems in its evidence room in 1999, three years before they began investigating the thefts. Those problems weren't fixed, the auditors wrote.In a response to the auditors, Police Director James Bolden said changes — including better oversight and a surveillance camera — are being made to make sure similar situations can't happen again. Copyright: 2004 The Associated Press

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