cannabisnews.com: Bill To Protect MMJ Patients Passes Assembly Bill To Protect MMJ Patients Passes Assembly Posted by CN Staff on May 31, 2008 at 06:09:02 PT By Thadeus Greenson, The Times-Standard Source: Times-Standard CA -- California's medical marijuana patients are one step closer to being protected against work place discrimination after a bill made its way through the state Assembly this week. Assembly Bill 2279, authored by Assemblyman Mark Leno and co-authored by Eureka's Assemblywoman Patty Berg, would make it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee because of their status as a medical marijuana patient or caregiver or for failing a drug test. ”Voters have said that marijuana has legitimate medical uses, and this bill says workers shouldn't be punished for having medical needs,” Berg said in a statement. That doesn't, however, mean medical marijuana patients are free to light up on the job. The bill makes clear that employers would retain the right to fire or discipline employees for being impaired at work because of the use of medical marijuana. The bill is a direct response to a recent California Supreme Court ruling, which it aims to overturn. The Supreme Court voted in January to uphold a Sacramento telecommunications company's firing of Gary Ross, who flunked a company-ordered drug test, but had a medical marijuana card authorizing him to legally use marijuana to treat a back injury he suffered while serving in the Air Force. ”No state law could completely legalize marijuana for medical purposes because the drug remains illegal under federal law,” Justice Kathryn Werdegar wrote for the 5-2 majority. The company, Ragingwire Inc., successfully argued it rightfully fired Ross because marijuana is illegal under federal law, which does not recognize medical marijuana laws in California and 11 other states. The court's decision drew the ire of medical marijuana supporters, and from Leno who vowed to bring forward legislation that would overrule the court's decision. ”AB 2279 is merely an affirmation of the intent of the voters and the Legislature that medical marijuana patients need not be unemployed to benefit from their medicine,” Leno said in a press release after introducing the bill. In a previous interview with the Times-Standard, Eureka attorney Neal Sanders, who specializes in marijuana cases, said the bill would essentially put medical marijuana patients back in the same position they were in before the court's ruling. ”It's an issue that needs to be taken care of legislatively,” Sanders said. “It's gone as far as it can with the courts, and the courts don't seem to be sympathetic.” AB 2279 just narrowly passed the Assembly with a 41-35 vote, and now heads to the Senate for review. Complete Title: Bill To Protect Medical Marijuana Patients Passes AssemblySource: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA)Author: Thadeus Greenson, The Times-StandardPublished: May 31, 2008Copyright: 2008 MediaNews Group, Inc. Contact: editor times-standard.comWebsite: http://www.times-standard.com/Related Articles:CA Supreme Court To Rule on MMJ & Employmenthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23496.shtmlThe Clash Between Federal Drug Law and MMJ Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23464.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #73 posted by FoM on June 01, 2008 at 13:48:34 PT Hope Come on now just cry! LOL! I'm only kidding. All things in time and I sure hope he is feeling better. [ Post Comment ] Comment #72 posted by Hope on June 01, 2008 at 13:39:47 PT Best Buy and alltell Alltell is closer than Best Buy.Husband is taking care of it and I won't "nag" him... which means mentioning it again. He wouldn't appreciate my dealing with the business of it, either. My beloved husband is pretty much a cranky old man, or does a dang good job of acting like one. So that has to be factored in as to how soon I might get to try that Alltell connection. The ball's rolling... although it doesn't appear to be moving at this time... I'm sure it's rolling... maybe ... sort of.:0)I'll try to stop griping about it here. Just expect me to be slow and not watch any videos, slide shows, or live streams. Been listening to Obama in South Dakota. [ Post Comment ] Comment #71 posted by FoM on June 01, 2008 at 13:18:35 PT Hope The event is live on CNN now. I know you can't watch it yet. We have a long time to go and many events before November. You will love being able to check out these rallys and town hall meetings I know.http://www.cnn.com/video/live/live.html?stream=stream3 [ Post Comment ] Comment #70 posted by FoM on June 01, 2008 at 13:08:20 PT Hope Alltel offices are open on Sunday. I didn't know if you knew that. Also Best Buys will be handling Alltel soon or maybe even now already. [ Post Comment ] Comment #69 posted by FoM on June 01, 2008 at 13:02:09 PT Hope They are going to show some of Obama's event really soon on MSNBC. You will love Alltel. It has it's problems but they aren't bad like HughesNet was and tech is easy to understand and nice. All I have is a tiny 3 inch by 1 inch by a 1/2 inch gadget plug into a usb port on my computer. I can't wait until you get it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #68 posted by Hope on June 01, 2008 at 12:49:41 PT :0( No live streaming for me, yet.I'm beginning to doubt if there ever will be.HughesNet is out of the question, for me, of course. I'd be fapped the first day and always.It's extra horrible today trying to do anything online. [ Post Comment ] Comment #67 posted by FoM on June 01, 2008 at 12:37:57 PT Hope This is how I know an event might be streamed on CNN. In an hour or so an event should be streamed live. http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/mitchell [ Post Comment ] Comment #66 posted by FoM on June 01, 2008 at 12:11:18 PT Hope To do a speed test you click on one of the pyramids. It might not register with dial up speeds though. CNN probably won't show the rally live on tv but I watch them on this link below. They show portions on tv but using the live stream when there is an event shows the whole thing. No event is scheduled for Obama right now but if one comes up they post it. He is having a rally today though.http://www.cnn.com/live/http://www.speedtest.net/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #65 posted by Hope on June 01, 2008 at 11:50:19 PT I'm looking forward to it. "Internet life begins with a good high speed connection." [ Post Comment ] Comment #64 posted by Hope on June 01, 2008 at 11:41:48 PT CNN today I'll turn on the TV. [ Post Comment ] Comment #63 posted by Hope on June 01, 2008 at 11:40:11 PT Comment 60 Speed Test? What do I do when I get there? When I click on it I just get a page with a picture of something, results from something, and nothing clickable. [ Post Comment ] Comment #62 posted by FoM on June 01, 2008 at 11:31:03 PT Hope Later today more then likely a live Obama event will be on CNN. They never buffer. I have been able to watch town hall type meetings and see and hear questions and answers and that has helped me understand where he is coming from. Internet life begins with a good high speed connection. [ Post Comment ] Comment #61 posted by FoM on June 01, 2008 at 11:25:25 PT mykeyb420 A re-vote would have been nice but in Michigan there were people who voted for a Republican since that vote would count and some of those people might have voted for Obama if they could have voted for him. They wouldn't allow anyone who voted for a Republican to re-vote in Michigan. That didn't seem fair to me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #60 posted by FoM on June 01, 2008 at 11:17:42 PT Hope This is a speed test I just did. It goes a little higher and a little lower depending on traffic but it has been working fine for me since they pushed a PRL that I needed. Rev A is trying to kick in too which will be faster speeds. They are testing Rev A and plan on releasing it when all the bugs are out. This is Rev 0 speeds. http://www.speedtest.net/result/278560595.png [ Post Comment ] Comment #59 posted by Hope on June 01, 2008 at 10:21:29 PT Today I have about as much chance of seeing that video as I have of being ... once again... the Queen of England!Aaargh! This connection gets worse every day. Using the computer is a major struggle. The Republican is looking into the Alltel card... but he's not being quick about it. He hasn't been feeling well and he needs to be the one that makes the final decision and to contract on it. I can blame him then if it's lousy. :0) I hope alltell works... if I ever get it.I've had email's in the out box for about an hour now trying to get sent.Argh. Argh. Argh.I'm lucky if I can get a site to come up and stay up. I get Problem Loading Page over and over again. Maybe I can somehow play the video before the day is done, but I'm not optimistic about it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #58 posted by mykeyb420 on June 01, 2008 at 10:16:40 PT hillary did anyone see that woman from Missouri CRYING about the decision from the DNC rules party?? plain and simple: Florida and Michagan BROKE the rules and voted early. THE only fair thing to do is a RE-VOTE,,why is everyone so afraid of a re-vote???? How can HRC be the winner, when Obama was not on the ballot? TIME TO GO HOME HILLARY,,IT IS OVER !!!!! anyone who is in favor of Mc Cain being president is PRO BUSH,,,ANTI USA,,and dosent care if our TROOPS get killed in Iraq. IF you like j McCain,,then you DON"T like AMERICA,,and you like GW Bush's job as leader,,,a vote for McCain is a vote to kill our troops in Iraq [ Post Comment ] Comment #57 posted by FoM on June 01, 2008 at 06:33:48 PT Hope This is about a 5 minute video from yesterday. This is why I like her.Donna Brazile: "My mama taught me to play by the rules"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Znob6zUnIM [ Post Comment ] Comment #56 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 21:31:20 PT June to November... Could be interesting. [ Post Comment ] Comment #55 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 21:02:08 PT BGreen I think if they get this wrapped up by the end of June and Clinton stops fueling the fire Obama will beat McCain. People want change not the same thing for 4 more years. [ Post Comment ] Comment #54 posted by BGreen on May 31, 2008 at 20:56:32 PT I agree, FoM However, the most unimaginable thing might come to light due to the Clintons. They may be responsible for unleashing a scourge upon humanity that would be worse than our worst nightmare ... President McCain.Aaaaarrrrrrggggggghhhhhhh!!!!The Reverend Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #53 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 20:36:40 PT BGreen I was thinking because of how they have operated their campaign they will not be remembered by anyone practically in a good way. It's like both the Clintons are in a self destruct mode. [ Post Comment ] Comment #52 posted by BGreen on May 31, 2008 at 20:30:13 PT Hillary deserves to be mocked I have sensed a craziness in that woman for years, and now with her actions in trying to convince her supporters that the election has been stolen from her, I know I've been 100% right in my opinion of her.All the priest did was point out the fact that Hillary's tears come from the fact that she was a shoo-in to become the next president, and then this man named Obama came into the picture and has taken it away from her.Oh, boo hoo, Hillary, cry us your big crocodile tears because you've lost the power you've lusted after for so long.I have nothing but disdain for all of the Clintons because they lie, deceive, slander and promote racism and sexism, all in their attempt to retain their absolute power, and in their attempt to go down in history as the first husband and wife presidents.Hillary Clinton has demonstrated herself to be a very ugly person, so any mocking she gets is exactly what she deserves.The Reverend Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #51 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 19:14:50 PT Hope I never liked Nixon either. [ Post Comment ] Comment #50 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 18:39:21 PT Nixon He seemed to have an undercurrent of unnatural anger and resentment running, or burning, just below the surface of his persona.Turns out my sensibilities about him, even at that early age, weren't all that off target. [ Post Comment ] Comment #49 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 18:29:18 PT Hope One of the things I appreciate about what my father taught me was to vote for the best person even though he was a Republican. Ponies can be nasty little critters. LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #48 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 18:23:53 PT Eisenhower was very likable to me. As was Kennedy. Nixon was not. Odd how that worked out. That there really was a lot of reason to dislike Nixon. I mostly sensed it, somehow, on some level... and it proved ultimately, to be rather insightful.We had horses and a farm then... but the horse I was most expected to ride was a meanish shetland pony that had all sorts of idiosyncrasies and seemed to think he was somewhat of a wild bronc. He would not accept a saddle. He had to be ridden bareback. He may have been a biter, too, as I remember. He wasn't a well trained, gentlemanly, beloved companion type pony. He endured us... to a degree. [ Post Comment ] Comment #47 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 17:54:05 PT Hope I didn't do anything but ride horses back then. I know my father voted for Eisenhower then the next time he voted for Kennedy. [ Post Comment ] Comment #46 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 17:48:44 PT comment 44 You're right. It's not good. [ Post Comment ] Comment #45 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 17:47:12 PT 1956 Actually, I have more memories of the Republican National Convention that year.I liked Ike, tv and photography were good to him, which added to his appeal, and I think the Cow Palace setting was cool to me then, at eight years old.I loved the carrying on. The hats. The signs. Like I said... I was mesmerized. [ Post Comment ] Comment #44 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 17:33:19 PT Hope He really mocked Clinton. That's not good. [ Post Comment ] Comment #43 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 17:31:03 PT Hope If a President has a particular faith that is good but if he tries to make laws around his belief system that is wrong. [ Post Comment ] Comment #42 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 17:21:21 PT It's absoulely imperative that we must not be governed by a church.Next thing you know... we're wearing buns and prairie dresses because it's the law. [ Post Comment ] Comment #41 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 17:19:16 PT The Priest's speech I missed it.Obviously he was smitten with a bit of shadenfruede from the sound of it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #40 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 17:18:33 PT Hope I see that too when I look at a Republican and then a Democrat. I see a spirit in many Democrats that is hard to find in a Republican. [ Post Comment ] Comment #39 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 17:16:50 PT Hope I'm sure it was very hard for them but I think because of the Catholic Priest's sermon it was necessary. That was way over the top.I believe in render to Caesar etc. Church and state should be separate is what I mean. Since I was raised Catholic that is what I was taught.The priest shouldn't have mocked Clinton. We aren't to take joy in other's losses I believe. [ Post Comment ] Comment #38 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 17:14:53 PT comment 36 There's a different aura about the average republican and the average democrat.Repubs seem, I don't know... more puritanical and dangerous, maybe. They can both seem crazy. [ Post Comment ] Comment #37 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 17:10:49 PT Twice now I've heard about Obama resigning from his present church... his fellowship.There are a lot of reasons people attend a certain church. I know it was, likely, a very difficult decision for him. [ Post Comment ] Comment #36 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 17:07:58 PT Hope I mostly like the people in the Democratic Party. Many are younger and more progressive. Wiser to the world is what I mean. [ Post Comment ] Comment #35 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 16:47:58 PT "They are acting looney now." Lol!I can't wait for the convention! [ Post Comment ] Comment #34 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 16:47:05 PT Democratic National Convention I was absolutely mesmerized by the 1956 Democratic National Convention which was televised start to finish, as far as I could tell. I was actually mesmerized. I ate it up. It was fascinating! It was black and white.I was probably about eight years old.So much of that had a great effect on me.So much that was important to the country was pretty well televised in those days and for a long time afterward. Kids instead of staying up late to watch satellites launched to orbit the Earth and important events... instead, gradually, came to have more "entertaining" things to choose from.That was a good thing that early television sometimes did, I think... before it just about completely turned into the boob tube to a huge degree. [ Post Comment ] Comment #33 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 16:34:30 PT Denver ... That's cool, FoM.It might come up more often among people, even in private conversations, there, than it might somewhere else.GO SAFER! [ Post Comment ] Comment #32 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 16:27:23 PT Hope I think it has been an amazing process and the DNC in Denver where SAFER rules will be great! [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 16:21:47 PT Hope I think it worked out ok. Clinton might take it to the convention but Obama will still win. They are acting looney now. Clinton supporters are so darn angry. [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 16:17:55 PT And I might actually tune in to and watch the conventions this year. Something I haven't done in a while. [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 16:15:35 PT FoM Back to the point I really liked that woman, too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 16:11:49 PT Obviously I can't watch tv and make sense in a comment. [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 16:10:29 PT to finish that talke of what made me start I was walking a path near some flower beds at the front of my grandparent's houseI looked at them and was amazed at what I saw. I know what I usually saw was seven healthy dogs getting along peacefully, sparkling with health in the pleasant sunshine of an early spring day, and the dogs' names and personalties. For the first time that I ever recall thinking like that, as I was passing the dogs arrayed on the grass near where I was passing instead of how I usually thought when I saw the dogs, I saw a beautiful pattern of colors that their hair and the grass made up... a work of art of some sort.It was at that time that I thought...as I was in a room... "Is this a good room to die in?"Yes! I know! It was not a fun way to see something differently. Although it does make me realize that many people likely see the world in a completely different way than I do. It helps, maybe, with trying to develop those better character traits of tolerance and understanding? It felt hard on my brain. It was a major, major headache and pain and nausea. It was a strange fine rust colored rash. It was sudden pain in my feet. It was a nasty, nasty, nasty drug. It saves lives. I know. In my opinion, it had a very bad apparent effect on me. It was indeed and is for me, a nasty, nasty, nasty drug. (Something I'd like to say in recalling that government pharmaceutical scientist testifying at the hearings in Alaska in the cannabis hearings they held there a couple or three years ago.That antibiotic... for me... was the one and only actually sudden, unnatural seeming, perception changing experience I'd had in my life.Acid must have been like it. With severe pain and sickness. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 15:48:19 PT Icy Blue That lady that I can only see rman of her name plate.... I love her voice and demeanor! [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 15:46:58 PT I'd hate to be on TV Like this stuff. I'd be so stupid.The lady speaking now seems nice and icy blue and sensible.:0)Icy blue? [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 15:44:10 PT Oh my! She is so much like aunts of mine. I love it! [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 15:43:28 PT I was very impressed with the lady you speak of.That other woman seemed jealous to me. I felt bad for her though. Jealously... even listening to it's whisper for a moment can really hurt people and make them stumble.Oh my gosh.I do love that woman. I guarantee she is taking the hearts of American. She is... uh oh.Heckler!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 15:35:49 PT Hope This is the lady that I like. She is a good politician in my opinion.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Brazile [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 15:32:16 PT That particular observation is one of those new personality traits I developed when I was so sick on that antibiotic thing. I think I may have shared it a lot with you at the time.The thing is ... I often see things in color patterns. Something I don't recall doing until I was sickened by it.I first noticed it when, one day, shortly in to a slow recovery, I looked at my mother's, my sister's, and my grandmother's rather large pack of watchdogs. It's not likely anything will slip up on them in their sleep... if they get any. Yippers in the house can be hellish. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 15:26:59 PT Oh my gosh... she's choking in the background! [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 15:25:56 PT That's the lady you said you really liked... Isn't it?I find her remarkably and deeply attractive and she appears to be as solid as a rock and full of grace and mercy.So far.And badly needs a drink of water! She has my sympathies, too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 15:22:54 PT Man! Ms. Huffman sure is pretty. I do like her colors! [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 15:21:33 PT I'm watching. Nice cheer a moment ago. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 14:41:38 PT Hope That's the normal Saturday program you are seeing on MSNBC. They must be having quite a talk or a fight since it's taking this long. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 14:30:46 PT DRUG POLICY CHASES WEEDS, MISSES NEEDS http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n521/a12.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 14:23:26 PT strange I'm seeing Matthews and others now and obviously they're covering it... although it seems they're "Out to lunch". Strangely, the dish network menu is saying that in that time slot at MSNBC is something called "Predator Raw: The Unseen Tapes".Weird. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 14:17:49 PT CNN Seeing something there. They must be taking a break... from what the Wolf is saying. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 14:16:31 PT Dem meeting I can't find it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 14:15:17 PT Hope It's on C/Span and right now I'm watching MSNBC. I think it's on CNN too. Right now the space shuttle launch is on but they'll be back to the meeting soon. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 14:08:57 PT Sounds big... I'll turn it on.What network are you watching? [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 14:01:41 PT Hope You are missing democracy in action like I've never seen before. This really is incredible. Clinton won't win. She will get some benefit maybe but this is Obama's moment and soon to be determined I think in a couple of days. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 13:59:24 PT Hope They are getting ready to come back in and tell us what they decided. I like that Donna lady. She's good. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 13:44:26 PT Pssst! FoM. Anything happening you can tell us about? I don't think I have the stomach today to watch it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 11:39:55 PT Hope I'm back watching it now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 11:36:50 PT Hope We had company and I have been away from C/Span or CNN or MSNBC. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 10:22:58 PT I suspect I know what you are referring to... Florida and Michigan Primary votes.I won't even say what I think about what's going on regarding that. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Hope on May 31, 2008 at 09:43:44 PT Comment 2 What? Where? [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 31, 2008 at 09:05:49 PT Off Topic I am glued to the TV. I hope others are following the news today too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by afterburner on May 31, 2008 at 07:47:16 PT Boycott Ragingwire Boycotts have taught me many valuable lessons: Looking for alternatives has led me to an understanding that companies that lack compassion and oppress their employees, often cheat their customers with shoddy or tainted goods. Government protection agencies like the FDA are tools of special interests like Big Pharma. Medical groups that purport to safeguard healthcare like the AMA have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo and enriching their suppliers and members, often at the expense of the patients.The more the rabid prohibitionists seek to justify their corrupt position, the more we see the dawning of a new day, a better way! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment