cannabisnews.com: Santa Cruz Med Pot Outfit On Brink of Survival Santa Cruz Med Pot Outfit On Brink of Survival Posted by CN Staff on March 30, 2009 at 06:46:01 PT By Howard Mintz, Mercury News Source: San Jose Mercury News Santa Cruz, C.A. -- For at least the past six years, one of the fiercest struggles in the federal government's war with the states over medical marijuana has been waged from a nondescript Santa Cruz warehouse, tucked between an auto repair shop and an electrical contractor.These days, there is unprecedented optimism inside that warehouse, where the feisty Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana appears to be on the brink of outlasting the feds and winning the most important legal fight still left in the courts over California's nearly 13-year-old voter approved medical pot law. The Obama administration, through new Attorney General Eric Holder, has publicly indicated in recent weeks that it will not enforce federal drug laws against medical marijuana providers in states with medical pot laws, as long as those providers are obeying their state laws. For WAMM's leaders and patients, such a policy shift would not only end their 6-year-old lawsuit, but also an era of raids, uncertainty and near-extinction for an operation that tends to the sick and dying.The Santa Cruz case also could be the first in the country that forces the new administration to lay out its exact policy on medical pot in writing.On a recent morning inside WAMM, Valerie and Mike Corral, who cofounded the cooperative in the early 1990s, appeared visibly relieved as they discussed the prospects of the feds finally leaving them alone. As they spoke, the unmistakable, pungent smell of pot wafted through the corridor outside their cramped office."We've been barely scraping by," said Valerie Corral, a medical pot user since a 1973 car accident left her suffering from epileptic seizures.For now, the Justice Department is mum on the WAMM lawsuit, which was backed by the city and county of Santa Cruz. The suit argued the federal government under the Bush administration had been enforcing drug laws selectively to interfere with California's medical marijuana provisions. San Jose U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel gave the lawsuit a boost last summer, allowing it to proceed on its central claims.The U.S. Supreme Court has twice found that federal drug laws trump state medical pot laws, but the Santa Cruz case raised a novel legal theory.U.S. Attorney Joseph Russoniello, whose office directs federal law enforcement in Northern California, did not respond to a request for an interview. But during a hearing last week, Fogel said it appeared Holder's comments would apply to WAMM. And Justice Department attorney Mark Quinlivan told Fogel the administration is evaluating how the policy change will impact the WAMM case, and suggested "something in paper could be forthcoming."In California, such a policy change would alter the landscape for medical pot providers, who've been raided dozens of times in recent years. Federal and state agents would still enforce drug laws against providers who hide behind medical pot laws to deal in black market sales of marijuana, but outfits that keep close tabs on patients and ensure they have valid prescriptions from doctors appear to be safe from raids.Legal experts say the feds will stay out of the 13 states with medical marijuana laws as long as they regulate pot operations carefully. But medical pot providers will not be immune — federal drug agents raided a San Francisco cannabis club last week."It could be kind of a test," said Robert Mikos, a Vanderbilt University law professor and expert on the state versus federal conflict over medical pot. "The federal government is telling California that as long as you control these cooperatives, we're going to let it slide."American Civil Liberties Union attorney Graham Boyd, who represents the Corrals, said resolving the case would send an important message."It's not just California," he said. "A number of people have been very careful to comply with state law, and yet live in constant fear of federal prosecution."Valerie Corral chuckles at the notion that her operation is an easy way for people to get marijuana. She serves about 150 patients suffering from serious ailments ranging from AIDS to cancer. In a room where patients light up, one wall is a reminder of the stakes — it is covered with pictures of WAMM patients who have died. Corral said she makes sure only proper candidates get pot through WAMM."I'm such a stickler," she says. "I'm brutal."Sitting around a table on a recent Friday afternoon, a number of WAMM patients said they are relieved the threat of federal raids may waft away like so much pot smoke."I think it's about time," said Carol Meyer, who's suffering from cancer. "I think the federal government needs to back out of it. The people voted."Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)Author: Howard Mintz, Mercury NewsPublished: March 30, 2009Copyright: 2009 San Jose Mercury NewsContact: letters mercurynews.comWebsite: http://www.mercurynews.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/Z3J0Hc7ERelated Articles & Web Site:WAMMhttp://www.wamm.org/WAMM Moves Forward, Cautiouslyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24630.shtmlMedical Marijuana Farm Faces Uncertain Futurehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24352.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #32 posted by FoM on March 30, 2009 at 14:48:25 PT California: Cannabis Tax Increase Cannabis Tax Increase Could Bring ‘Couple Million’ in RevenueURL: http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2009/03/30/daily16.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by FoM on March 30, 2009 at 14:45:45 PT Florida: Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em URL: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090330/BLOG29/903309970/-1/NEWSSITEMAP [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by FoM on March 30, 2009 at 12:45:22 PT Hope We had a number of friends who worked on the oil rigs thruout the 70s. They were all capped and finally they stopped drilling. The guys said the purpose of drilling and capping was to make sure we used up all the oil from other countries and then we would be in the drivers seat and the prices would be very high and we would profit. [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by FoM on March 30, 2009 at 11:56:18 PT Developing Brains: Alcohol Worse than Marijuana By Miranda Marquit March 26th, 2009PhysOrg.com -- It appears that when it comes to teen brain development, parents should be more worried about alcohol abuse than marijuana abuse. Two recent studies have been published showing that alcohol -- a legal substance (though not legal for teens in the U.S.) -- is considered more dangerous than marijuana, which is illegal in many countries. URL: http://www.physorg.com/news157280425.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by Had Enough on March 30, 2009 at 11:30:27 PT Hope comment 26 There are lots of wells capped off in the United States, many more than we really know...some in places you would never expect.It’s part of the globalist/international bankers/builderberg scheme…less than 1% control over 60% of the world’s wealth.This assures that most of the world’s oil will be bought from the middle-eastern countries…and we all know what that has brought to the world…Much of this is spelled out on various websites, radio stations, DVD’s…etc…the 3rd part of the ‘Zeitgeist’ movie covers it pretty well.I have to go now…and make myself a new Tin-Foil Hat…mine has too many wrinkles in it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by FoM on March 30, 2009 at 11:18:20 PT Hope They wanted to drill on our property because they found oil under this area. They were persistent but we stood our ground and they backed off. We are fortunate because they can't push as hard because we live in an area that is protected because the state park lake supplies water to a decent size city. We have lots of capped wells in this area too. We had that guy named Red Adair here within a few miles of us years ago putting out an unbelievably big oil fire. It was something to watch at night. It lit up the whole sky. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by Hope on March 30, 2009 at 11:11:57 PT 153,223 wells in Texas That's producing wells. Lots of wells and rigs not producing for one reason or another. I don't understand it, but I think they're only allowed to produce so much. Which I guess is about saving it for the future or keeping prices from falling. It doesn't make much sense to me and I've never put much effort into understanding it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by FoM on March 30, 2009 at 11:08:44 PT Another Article Will Develop Medical Cannabis Pharmaceutical ProductsADDISON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 30, 2009 - Gulf Onshore Inc (OTCBB: GFON.OB) announced today that it has acquired the assets of Cannex Therapeutics and will continue development of its medical cannabis-based pharmaceutical products. Cannex Therapeutics is a privately owned California group founded and operated by Medical Cannabis pioneer and entrepreneur Steven W. Kubby (www.kubby.com). The asset purchase agreement includes all intellectual property rights, formulas, patents, trademarks, client base, hardware and software pertaining to Cannex's pharmaceutical cannabis research & development business.Complete Article: http://www.pharmalive.com/News/index.cfm?articleid=615144&categoryid=10 [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by Had Enough on March 30, 2009 at 11:07:09 PT Who Knows what's up with this We will have to hear from Kubby and Co.It could go either way…That company can trash can the whole project if they want…or…They just might pick the ball up and run with it…Maybe Steve Kubby will shed some light on the subject. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by FoM on March 30, 2009 at 11:05:51 PT Had Enough You're very welcome. [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by Hope on March 30, 2009 at 11:05:42 PT "interests in four producing wells" is not "big oil" by any means. I'm pretty sure there are plenty of individuals in Texas that have more than that on their own property.In 2007 there were 153,223 wells in Texas. (According to http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/data/production/oilwellcounts.phpOil Production and Well Counts (1935-2007) History of Texas Initial Crude Oil, Annual Production and Producing Wells) [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by Had Enough on March 30, 2009 at 11:02:46 PT Hot should be Not #9 Thanks for fixing that for me…:)It really looked funny didn’t it? [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by FoM on March 30, 2009 at 11:00:11 PT Had Enough Then if they are investing in it as medicine they will have to re-schedule because it has at least medicinal research value I would think. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Hope on March 30, 2009 at 10:58:39 PT This Gulf is not the old Gulf Oil Company. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_OilThis Gulf is a small company in comparison."The company holds interests in four producing wells in Texas. It holds interests in several oil and gas leases in Throckmorton and Shackleford Counties, Texas. The company was formerly known as Brighton Oil & Gas, Inc. and changed its name to Gulf Onshore, Inc. in April 2008. Gulf Onshore is based in Addison, Texas." [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by Had Enough on March 30, 2009 at 10:56:05 PT They do Pharms too Gulf Onshore, Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil and gas properties in the United States. The company holds interests in four producing wells in Texas. It holds interests in several oil and gas leases in Throckmorton and Shackleford Counties, Texas. The company was formerly known as Brighton Oil & Gas, Inc. and changed its name to Gulf Onshore, Inc. in April 2008. Gulf Onshore is based in Addison, Texashttp://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?ric=GFON.OBGFON Inc vs. PeersGFON Gulf Onshore Inc 6.4M +537.5%WPI Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 3.0B +8.2%CEGE Cell Genesys, Inc. 32.8M +71.8%SPPI Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 59.8M +26.2%TTNP Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1.7M +36.4%Company BackgroundGulf Onshore Inc. is a development-stage company. On April 3, 2006, the Company changed its line of business from the business of manufacturing and distributing decorative stone veneers and finishes, to the business of oil and gas exploration and production, mineral lease purchasing and all activities associated with acquiring, operating and maintaining the assets of such operations. In June 2008, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the Agreement) with K&D Equity Investments, Inc. (K&D). On June 10, 2008, the Company closed the Agreement and acquired, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Curado Energy Resources, Inc., interests in 10 oil, gas and mineral leases (the Leases) located in Throckmorton Co. and Shackleford Co., Texas, Net Revenue Interests (N.R.I.) in these leases, including wells already producing on the Leases, range from 75% to 84.76%. http://research.scottrade.com/public/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?symbol=gfon [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by FoM on March 30, 2009 at 10:48:36 PT Hope I have no idea. I don't think having a petro company involved with this gentle medicinal herb makes any sense. I look at things way differently since I have no interest in the stock market. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Hope on March 30, 2009 at 10:46:14 PT Sorry... looked at the link... it is oil. Maybe they're seriously looking at some "Greener" things. Maybe they're seeing fields of hemp instead of fields of oil wells in their future. It's possible, isn't it?Kubby and Cowan aren't stupid. Like I said, if I had the money, I might "bet" on their venture. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by Hope on March 30, 2009 at 10:42:11 PT If it is the oil company... maybe they like the word "Diversify" or "Green" and what they're talking about is a major, green, new field of new medicines from a natural source.It wasn't clear to me that it was the oil company, though. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Hope on March 30, 2009 at 10:35:41 PT Gulf Oil Company? Are you sure? There are a lot of "Gulf" companies in Texas. Insurance and everything else. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Hope on March 30, 2009 at 10:32:21 PT They sold it... "Steve Kubby sold the whole lock, stock, and barrel to them."But, as I understand it, they're running it. Kubby, Cowan, and Melamede. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Hope on March 30, 2009 at 10:30:48 PT The Stock Market can be investing in businesses. If that is kept in mind. If you like that business and appreciate what it is producing, and the people trying to run it. If you want to support it and believe it will someday be viable, relatively secure, and profitable to all involved. A lot goes in to that.It turns into something else when it's money, money, money and the people handling the money are playing fast and loose. That's not good business sense. It's gambling. I'm not a gambler. I know many people who do like to gamble. As long as they don't wreck themselves, somehow, or devastatingly, and they're having fun, I have no problem with it. I wonder at it... but I have no problem with it.As someone who likes to keep all risk to a minimum, I try to make it go the way I want it to after I find out where I want it to go. We have to have risks in life, but we should calculate them carefully, when there's a serious risk involved, and keep them on a close rein.I look at the guys in charge of this new business and I see people I've "known" or have "known of" for years. I've corresponded with Steve and Richard. I've heard of the other guy and seems like read some stuff by him.Steve and Richard have been above board and honest all the way around as far as I can see. I can't see them deluding anyone. I know they are "Persistent"... with a capital P. They're diligent. They're bright. They have a vigorous work ethic. If I had money to gamble I would certainly risk it on these guys.Businesses fail. Good businesses fail. This one could too. But looking at all the factors... if I had the money to blow... I might try to give these guys a chance to carry out their brainstorm. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Had Enough on March 30, 2009 at 10:29:34 PT Spell check again #9 Hot should be Not [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on March 30, 2009 at 10:28:22 PT Had Enough Thank you. I think I understand. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Had Enough on March 30, 2009 at 10:24:49 PT Big Oil & Hemp Farming Yes FoM they are a petrol company.Not sure why they would buy it. But it has been discussed here many times over how the oil companies wouldn’t want hemp products on the free market. I hope they don’t end up shelving it.Steve Kubby sold the whole lock, stock, and barrel to them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Had Enough on March 30, 2009 at 10:19:41 PT Back in the day of… March 27, 2007 that stock looks like it was worth about 550 dollars per share…Today 25 cents is what it looks like…5-yr charthttp://research.scottrade.com/public/stocks/charts/charts.asp?symbol=GFON [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on March 30, 2009 at 10:12:31 PT Had Enough Isn't Gulf a Petro Company? Why would they be interested in cannabis in any form if they are the same company? [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Had Enough on March 30, 2009 at 10:09:03 PT Gulf acquisition It looks like Steve Kubby has sold it to Gulf. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on March 30, 2009 at 09:57:28 PT Had Enough I really don't understand anything about stocks. I watch them go up but mostly down. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Had Enough on March 30, 2009 at 09:43:30 PT Stock Looks like Gulf has had and or having problems…Officers resigning…their stock have tanked…looks like it fell 50% just since this morning if I’m reading the chart properly.Scroll down some to the news section.http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?ric=GFON.OBHere is another one that gives a good overview…It mentions Steve Kubby.http://research.scottrade.com/public/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?symbol=gfon [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 30, 2009 at 09:29:51 PT Just a Comment I hope people read the link I posted about the company. I have no idea what it is all about but familar names are mentioned so maybe someone knows. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on March 30, 2009 at 08:36:22 PT GULF Acquires Assets of Cannex Therapeutics LLC Monday, March 30, 2009URL: http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/energy/gulf-acquires-assets-cannex-therapeutics-llc/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 30, 2009 at 06:46:52 PT Valerie and Mike Corral I couldn't be happier for them! Good luck! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment