Oakland Becomes the FIRST in the Nation to Approve The Regulation of Industrial Marijuana Facilities

The City of Oakland last week became the first City in the Nation to approve the creation and regulation of 4 Industrial Marijuana production facilities. Marijuana would be grown, packaged, and processed for the 4 Medical Marijuana Dispensary's in the City. This measure was also enacted by keeping in mind Proposition 19, which is the Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010. The Proposition if passed, will Legalize Marijuana and allow state and local governments to regulate and tax the plant. It will be on the Statewide ballot this November 2nd, 2010. The City of Oakland will also require the privately owned Warehouses they license, to have $3 million dollars worth of insurance, hire Security Staff, and pay $211,000 in a permit fee each year. The City of Oakland will also vote this Fall on similar regulations to regulate small scale grow facilities. Other cities like Berkley, Sacramento, and Long Beach are discussing similar proposals. First the Oaksterdam District and now this. Oakland seems to embrace that Marijuana is not very harmful and will be legalized soon, rather then later. So they are Cashing in. Way to go Oakland.

Read More: Norml: California: Oakland City Council Approves Regulations For First-In-The-Nation Industrial Marijuana Production Facilities

Say Hello...and YES to California Proposition 19, Regulate & Tax Cannabis 2010

Proposition 19
Initiative Statute
1377. (09-0024. Amdt. #1S) - Final Random Sample Update - 03/24/10

Changes California Law to Legalize Marijuana and Allow It to Be Regulated and Taxed.

Qualified: 03/24/10

Proponents: Richard Seib Lee and Jeffrey Wayne Jones (510) 208-4554

Allows people 21 years old or older to possess, cultivate, or transport marijuana for personal use. Permits local governments to regulate and tax commercial production and sale of marijuana to people 21 years old or older. Prohibits people from possessing marijuana on school grounds, using it in public, smoking it while minors are present, or providing it to anyone under 21 years old. Maintains current prohibitions against driving while impaired. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Savings of up to several tens of millions of dollars annually to state and local governments on the costs of incarcerating and supervising certain marijuana offenders. Unknown but potentially major tax, fee, and benefit assessment revenues to state and local government related to the production and sale of marijuana products. (09-0024.) (Full Text)

Read more about the Qualified Ballot Measures here

Sacramento mulls marijuana tax, higher business fees

The City of Sacramento, California has recently been making waves and headlines similar to Los Angeles with an attempt to regulate medical cannabis collectives. The proposal, which was delayed until the end of the year for more inquiries into the local industry, would have limited the number of medicinal cannabis dispensaries to 12. A number randomly chosen by council members. Now, the city is looking at another city in California, a bit closer to home than L.A., Oakland. Sacramento is looking into the taxation of cannabis in general as we move topward possible legalization in California for responsible adults. The complete story can be found at the link below.

Sacramento mulls marijuana tax, higher business fees

The Hemperor, Jack Herer, has Died

The Hemperor, Jack Herer, has Died | Cannabis Culture Magazine

Afghanistan High

Afghanistan High: "Famous for leading the world in opium cultivation, now Afghanistan is the world leader in cannabis cultivation too. A UN report says the country produced upwards of 3,500 tons last year. All of it was made into hash."

Huge Medical Marijuana Convention in Denver

Huge Medical Marijuana Convention in Denver: "

It is being billed as the largest cannabis gathering in the country bringing in visitors from Maine to California. The organizers say Denver is the perfect city to host it.

The Colorado Cannabis Convention is open on Friday and Saturday at the Colorado Convention Center.

Michael Lerner is putting on the event.

'There is something for everybody and every age here; so come and enjoy yourself and have fun,' he said.

read more

West Hollywood Councilman is first politician in Southern California to endorse statewide initiative to legalize Marijuana

Check this Article Out from the LA Weekly. West Hollywood Councilman John Duran is the first politician of Southern California to publicly Endorse the state-wide initiative, The Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010. This initiative got the 430,000 plus required signatures from registered voters in order to get the initiative on the November 2010 Ballot. They shattered the requirement by getting 680,000 plus signatures. The count is not official, but it is safe to say that in November 2010 we will be voting on the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes and taxing it just like we do with the regulation of alcohol and Tobacco. Lets go California and lets be the first in our Nation to legalize Marijuana!

-Miguel Garcia

*Thanks to taxcannabis.org, laweekly.com for the articles.

Politics Daily: California Insurer Offers Medical Marijuana Coverage

A California Insurance company is now offering medical Marijuana coverage to Dispensary operators in all 5o states according the Sacramento Bee. Only 14 states have legalized Medical Marijuana but the coverage extends to all 5o states to avoid any delay once that day comes where Marijuana will be legalized in all 5o states. So this is good news for those who hope to operate a Dispensary/collective one day and for those who already do. Now I wonder if other insurance companies will follow suit.

Norml: Medical marijuana’s not getting any better – the time for RE-legalization is NOW!

Here is an interesting article from Norml.org. I'm a Medical Marijuana patient myself, so this is very interesting information regarding the 14 States to date, that have legalized Medical Marijuana and the states that have decriminalized Marijuana. Here is some interesting information from the article that I found to be really important:

California legalized medical marijuana in 1996. That initiative, Prop-215, established what is clearly the most liberal medical marijuana statute to date:

• A doctor can recommend for any condition;
• You needn’t have a “bona fide” doctor/patient relationship;
• Dispensaries are allowed;
• Self cultivation is allowed;
• Patients are protected from arrest

Though this is not new news regarding California, the article goes on to mention that if we consider these 5 attributes as the basis of Medical Marijuana law (MM's Bill of Rights per se) the 13 states to follow California that legalized Medical Marijuana, fail to meet all 5 attributes in its legislation. All in all, the only way to have full protection under the law for even Medical purposes, is full on legalization. The time is now to stop this Prohibition!

MAPS' 2010 Conference

MAPS' The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies

Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century

April 15-18, 2010 • San Jose, California

Open to physicians, healthcare professionals, and the general public

MAPS' 2010 Conference

HIGH TIMES MEDICAL CANNABIS CUP

HTTP://MEDCANCUP.COM




June 19-20, 2010 in San Francisco, CA, USA

Let Mandalay Bay Hotel Know What You Think About Cancelling Cannapalooza! | Cannabis Culture Magazine

Let Mandalay Bay Hotel Know What You Think About Cancelling Cannapalooza! | Cannabis Culture Magazine

Group Urging Legalization of Medical Marijuana Rallies in Alabama | Cannabis Culture Magazine

Group Urging Legalization of Medical Marijuana Rallies in Alabama | Cannabis Culture Magazine

High Times Banned From eBay? | Cannabis Culture Magazine

High Times Banned From eBay? | Cannabis Culture Magazine

Cheryl Shuman, Director of Beverly Hills NORML Speaks!

This story is just one that hurt and at the same time, after listening to Cheryl speak, I knew how much care, love and appreciation for human life many of us Marijuana activists actually have. Listen to Cheryl's brief, yet stunning and to the point, speech about her bout with Cancer, surgeries and more.