By Jamaal Greenidge
...ministerial review of the 2001 report was first announced on Monday.
Jamaica Government officials are set to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal and religious use.The Bruce Golding Cabinet has appointed a ministerial committee to review the recommendations of the report of the national commission on ganja. The report also recommended the Government launches a national education programme aimed at reducing the number of young people who use ganja; the security forces intensify their interdiction of large scale cultivation of ganja and the trafficking of all illegal drugs; the establishment of a cannabis research agency; and that the Government ensures international support for these actions.
Any change in existing drug laws would have to be approved by Jamaica’s Parliament. The ministerial review of the 2001 report was first announced on Monday.
Source: i95.5 FM
If you know of an event that you feel should be listed on our calendar, please send details to info@mjdispensaries.com ~Thank You
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
East Los Angeles Dispensaries
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420 Grand Caregivers, Inc.
2802 S. Grand Ave.
East Los Angeles, CA
Phone: (213) 748-1992
The Bluegate Collective
3428 Whittier Blvd. [map]
East Los Angeles, CA 90023
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 8pm, Sun 11am to 7pm
Phone: 323-263-3009
The Holistic Co-Op
2627 E Cesar Chavez
East Los Angeles, CA
Phone: (323) 540-6700
Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat-Sun 12pm-7pm
420 Grand Caregivers, Inc.
2802 S. Grand Ave.
East Los Angeles, CA
Phone: (213) 748-1992
The Bluegate Collective
3428 Whittier Blvd. [map]
East Los Angeles, CA 90023
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 8pm, Sun 11am to 7pm
Phone: 323-263-3009
The Holistic Co-Op
2627 E Cesar Chavez
East Los Angeles, CA
Phone: (323) 540-6700
Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat-Sun 12pm-7pm
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
NEWS: 3 men busted for alleged theft of medical marijuana from Westchester home
Three men were in custody today for allegedly stealing a quantity of medical marijuana from a Westchester residence, police said.
The crime occurred at about 3:30 a.m. in the 7000 block of North Sepulveda Boulevard, Sgt. Troy Collins of the Los Angeles Police Department's Van Nuys Station said.
Officers sent to the scene in response to a burglar alarm set up a perimeter, arrested the three men within a couple of hours and recovered an unknown quantity of marijuana, Collins said. The names of the suspects were not immediately released.
Source: DailyBreeze.com
The crime occurred at about 3:30 a.m. in the 7000 block of North Sepulveda Boulevard, Sgt. Troy Collins of the Los Angeles Police Department's Van Nuys Station said.
Officers sent to the scene in response to a burglar alarm set up a perimeter, arrested the three men within a couple of hours and recovered an unknown quantity of marijuana, Collins said. The names of the suspects were not immediately released.
Source: DailyBreeze.com
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
NEWS: 2 West Hollywood medical marijuana dispensaries raided by federal agents
 |
| Photo courtesy of Harvard Film Archive |
The dispensaries -- Alternative Herbal Health Services and Zen Healing on Santa Monica Boulevard -- are among four that the city has authorized to operate. West Hollywood was one of the first California cities to regulate medical marijuana sales and is often cited as a model.
Sarah Pullen, a Drug Enforcement Administration spokeswoman, confirmed the raids, saying they started about 2:10 p.m. and were conducted with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. She declined to say what led to the raids or what was seized at the stores.
“The warrants are under seal by the courts, so I can’t get into any details as to anything further,” she said. “It’s part of an ongoing operation.”
Bill Kroger, an attorney who represents the operator of Zen Healing, said he arrived half an hour after federal agents served the warrant. He said he saw about half-a-dozen DEA agents inside the store and a few sheriff’s deputies outside. He said five or six employees were in handcuffs.
“It didn’t seem like something they were in a hurry to wrap up,” he said. “They don’t have to worry about protesters coming anymore.”
More than five hours after the agents arrived at Zen Healing, they were still at work inside the glass-front store. A hand-lettered sign taped to the door said: “Closed permanently.” The store’s ragged-edged neon marijuana leaf was unlit.
Kroger said agents seized marijuana and cash, but he did not know how much. “I’d say they have a good amount of money,” he said. He also said that DEA agents had the store’s operator in custody.
Pullen confirmed that federal agents had one person in custody.
West Hollywood has prided itself on diligent oversight of its dispensaries and the raids came as a shock to activists.
“This is incredibly unsettling that the DEA would strike permitted collectives in a sanctuary city,” said Dege Coutee, who runs the Patient Advocacy Network. “I hope that this is not going to be indicative for what the rest of our summer season will look like.”
The DEA raided five of six dispensaries in West Hollywood in 2007, but has left the city’s stores alone since then.
“It’s a very unpleasant surprise, of course,” said Don Duncan, who runs Los Angeles Patients & Caregivers Group, a West Hollywood dispensary that was not raided, and is the California director for Americans for Safe Access, an advocacy organization.
Duncan said that the DEA has conducted about a dozen raids in California since the Obama administration adopted its new approach. “That’s obviously disappointing, although it is an order of magnitude less than what we saw under the Bush administration,” he said.
Duncan visited both dispensaries while federal agents were still there. “It was remarkably discreet at both locations,” he said. He said he talked to the operators of the dispensaries and said they seemed very surprised that they were targeted.
“My gut instinct is these are one-off raids,” he said. “I don’t believe this is part of a sweep.”
Source: Los Angeles Times
Friday, March 11, 2011
Los Angeles Voters Pass Medical Marijuana Tax
by Andres Chavez, San Fernando Valley Sun
March 10th, 2011
City of Los Angeles voters overwhelmingly passed Measure M to tax medical marijuana dispensaries. It would allow the city to collect $50 out of each $1,000 in "gross reimbursements" that dispensaries receive from their patients. That could generate $10 million a year, which the city can use to pay for basic services such police, libraries and street repairs, according to proponents.
Councilmember Paul Koretz, who campaigned for Measure M, said the measure would help the city narrow the gap in its budget.
"The city of Los Angeles is facing a $350 million budget deficit next year," he said. "Thankfully, because of Measure M, we are going to help close that gap and generate significant revenue for public safety, parks and libraries."
Just how significant a tax that generates less than three percent toward closing the budget deficit is open to question.
Kris Hermes, spokesman for Americans For Safe Access, the nation's largest medical marijuana advocacy group, said he was disappointed.
"We campaigned hard against this additional tax in Los Angeles, because patients already pay a nearly 10 percent (sales) tax on the medication that's already expensive and unaffordable for many," he told City News Service.
Hermes said an eighth of an ounce of medical marijuana typically costs $40 to $60, and certain high quality varieties are even more expensive.
Measure M raises many legal questions as City Council President Eric Garcetti pointed out.
"If marijuana is supposed to be medicine, you can't tax medicine. And if it is a gross receipts tax on a business, these (dispensaries) are not supposed to be businesses," he said.
"If this wound up in court and we lost, a year from now or two years from now, it could blow a hole in the budget when we have to return the money."
The City and county officials had other legal concerns as well.
Police Chief Charlie Beck, Sheriff Lee Baca and District Attorney Steve Cooley all opposed Measure M, pointing out that federal law bans the growing, possessing or consuming of marijuana for any purpose.
"The city should not place a tax on something our federal government considers a Schedule I narcotic and against the law," they said in a written statement.
Testifying before the L.A. City Council last year, principal tax compliance officer Larry Manocchio noted that collectives are classified as nonprofit organizations, and therefore cannot be taxed.
But "this is something we cannot say 'no to," argued Councilmember Janice Hahn, who initiated the ballot measure.
Hahn disputed the notion the city would be taxing "profits" from the sale of medical marijuana. She said the city would instead be taking a portion of what patients give dispensaries as "reimbursement" for the costs associated with cultivating weed, such as worker salaries, rent and utilities.
Several other California cities have already imposed this tax, Hahn said. San Jose and La Puente each charge $100 per $1,000 in gross reimbursements. It's $50 in Oakland and Richmond, $40 in Sacramento, and $25 in Berkeley. Long Beach is considering a $50 tax.
There are hundreds of collectives across Los Angeles, but only the nonprofit organizations whose members cultivate marijuana for medical purposes are considered legal.
Source: Americans for Safe Access
March 10th, 2011
City of Los Angeles voters overwhelmingly passed Measure M to tax medical marijuana dispensaries. It would allow the city to collect $50 out of each $1,000 in "gross reimbursements" that dispensaries receive from their patients. That could generate $10 million a year, which the city can use to pay for basic services such police, libraries and street repairs, according to proponents.
Councilmember Paul Koretz, who campaigned for Measure M, said the measure would help the city narrow the gap in its budget.
"The city of Los Angeles is facing a $350 million budget deficit next year," he said. "Thankfully, because of Measure M, we are going to help close that gap and generate significant revenue for public safety, parks and libraries."
Just how significant a tax that generates less than three percent toward closing the budget deficit is open to question.
Kris Hermes, spokesman for Americans For Safe Access, the nation's largest medical marijuana advocacy group, said he was disappointed.
"We campaigned hard against this additional tax in Los Angeles, because patients already pay a nearly 10 percent (sales) tax on the medication that's already expensive and unaffordable for many," he told City News Service.
Hermes said an eighth of an ounce of medical marijuana typically costs $40 to $60, and certain high quality varieties are even more expensive.
Measure M raises many legal questions as City Council President Eric Garcetti pointed out.
"If marijuana is supposed to be medicine, you can't tax medicine. And if it is a gross receipts tax on a business, these (dispensaries) are not supposed to be businesses," he said.
"If this wound up in court and we lost, a year from now or two years from now, it could blow a hole in the budget when we have to return the money."
The City and county officials had other legal concerns as well.
Police Chief Charlie Beck, Sheriff Lee Baca and District Attorney Steve Cooley all opposed Measure M, pointing out that federal law bans the growing, possessing or consuming of marijuana for any purpose.
"The city should not place a tax on something our federal government considers a Schedule I narcotic and against the law," they said in a written statement.
Testifying before the L.A. City Council last year, principal tax compliance officer Larry Manocchio noted that collectives are classified as nonprofit organizations, and therefore cannot be taxed.
But "this is something we cannot say 'no to," argued Councilmember Janice Hahn, who initiated the ballot measure.
Hahn disputed the notion the city would be taxing "profits" from the sale of medical marijuana. She said the city would instead be taking a portion of what patients give dispensaries as "reimbursement" for the costs associated with cultivating weed, such as worker salaries, rent and utilities.
Several other California cities have already imposed this tax, Hahn said. San Jose and La Puente each charge $100 per $1,000 in gross reimbursements. It's $50 in Oakland and Richmond, $40 in Sacramento, and $25 in Berkeley. Long Beach is considering a $50 tax.
There are hundreds of collectives across Los Angeles, but only the nonprofit organizations whose members cultivate marijuana for medical purposes are considered legal.
Source: Americans for Safe Access
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Santa Ana Dispensaries, Collectives and Co-ops
Accesss OC Central
1833 E. 17th St., Suite 322 [map]
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 8pm, Closed on SUNDAYS
Phone: 714-972-2000
Aloha Community Collective Assn
2112 E. 4th St. Unit #227 [map]
Santa Ana CA 92705
Hours: Mon-Sun 10am to 7pm
Website: http://thedopeman.com
Coastal Collective
2001 E. 4th St. Unit 205
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 8pm, Sun 11am to 6pm
Phone: 714-542-2277
Greenway Healing Center
2720 S. Bristol St.. Suite #109
Santa Ana, CA 92704
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 8pm, Sat 10am to 7pm, Sun 11am to 5pm
Phone: 714-545-4040
Go N' Green P.C.A.
1905 E 17th St #201
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Hours: Mon-Sun 10am to 9pm
Phone: 714-766-0420
MJ's Compassionate Care
13912 Ponderosa St, Unit G
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Phone: 714-613-2191
Email: mjswild@yahoo.com
Orange Coast Premier Collective
3619 W. Pendleton Ave. Ste A
Santa Ana, CA 92704
Hours: Mon-Thu 11am to 8pm, Fri-Sat 11am to 9pm, Sun 11am to 6pm
Website: http://www.ocpcollective.org
Email: info@ocpcollective.org
Phone: 714-591-7000
Orange County Cannabis Collective
1833 E. 17th Street Ste #114
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 12pm-5pm
Phone: 714-476-9270
Orange Co. Patient Group Collective
2315 E. 17th Street #4 [map]
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 7:45pm Sat-Sun 11am to 6:45pm
Phone: 714-547-2525
Santa Ana Patients Group
1823 E. 17th St. Suite 209 [map]
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Hours: Mon-Thu 10am to 8pm, Fri-Sat 10am to 9pm, Sun 10am-7pm
Phone: 714-568-0041
South Coast Patients Center
1202 East 17th St Suite #200 [map]
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am to 8pm, Sun 11am to 6pm
Phone: (714) 547-4800
Covers the following zip codes in Santa Ana, California: 92701, 92702, 92703, 92704, 92705, 92706, 92707, 92711, 92712, 92725, 92735, 92799
1833 E. 17th St., Suite 322 [map]
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 8pm, Closed on SUNDAYS
Phone: 714-972-2000
Aloha Community Collective Assn
2112 E. 4th St. Unit #227 [map]
Santa Ana CA 92705
Hours: Mon-Sun 10am to 7pm
Website: http://thedopeman.com
Coastal Collective
2001 E. 4th St. Unit 205
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 8pm, Sun 11am to 6pm
Phone: 714-542-2277
Greenway Healing Center
2720 S. Bristol St.. Suite #109
Santa Ana, CA 92704
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 8pm, Sat 10am to 7pm, Sun 11am to 5pm
Phone: 714-545-4040
Go N' Green P.C.A.
1905 E 17th St #201
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Hours: Mon-Sun 10am to 9pm
Phone: 714-766-0420
MJ's Compassionate Care
13912 Ponderosa St, Unit G
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Phone: 714-613-2191
Email: mjswild@yahoo.com
Orange Coast Premier Collective
3619 W. Pendleton Ave. Ste A
Santa Ana, CA 92704
Hours: Mon-Thu 11am to 8pm, Fri-Sat 11am to 9pm, Sun 11am to 6pm
Website: http://www.ocpcollective.org
Email: info@ocpcollective.org
Phone: 714-591-7000
Orange County Cannabis Collective
1833 E. 17th Street Ste #114
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 12pm-5pm
Phone: 714-476-9270
Orange Co. Patient Group Collective
2315 E. 17th Street #4 [map]
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 7:45pm Sat-Sun 11am to 6:45pm
Phone: 714-547-2525
Santa Ana Patients Group
1823 E. 17th St. Suite 209 [map]
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Hours: Mon-Thu 10am to 8pm, Fri-Sat 10am to 9pm, Sun 10am-7pm
Phone: 714-568-0041
South Coast Patients Center
1202 East 17th St Suite #200 [map]
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am to 8pm, Sun 11am to 6pm
Phone: (714) 547-4800
Covers the following zip codes in Santa Ana, California: 92701, 92702, 92703, 92704, 92705, 92706, 92707, 92711, 92712, 92725, 92735, 92799
Saturday, March 5, 2011
NEWS: Medical Marijuana Tax Opposed in Los Angeles
by Chelsea Hoffman
Measure M, a medical marijuana tax, will be decided upon by voters Tuesday. This measure will add a 5 percent tax increase on legal medical cannabis dispensaries. It may not seem like a big deal since activists are for the taxation and legalization of the plant, but there is a stipulation to this measure.
Los Angeles plans on limiting the availability of dispensaries to only 100, but the kicker to this is the ones that get to stay aren't chosen by any rhyme or reason. They will be chosen by lottery. This is outraging dispensary owners and activists throughout the city, some who have served patients of medical marijuana for years.
Dispensaries in Los Angeles, who already run as non-profit, already pay a slew of taxes, and many feel that this 5 percent increase along with the lottery is only going to make it more difficult for dispensaries to maintain. This could limit the availability of medical marijuana to patients who are in need.
Source: Gather Inc.
Los Angeles plans on limiting the availability of dispensaries to only 100, but the kicker to this is the ones that get to stay aren't chosen by any rhyme or reason. They will be chosen by lottery. This is outraging dispensary owners and activists throughout the city, some who have served patients of medical marijuana for years.
Dispensaries in Los Angeles, who already run as non-profit, already pay a slew of taxes, and many feel that this 5 percent increase along with the lottery is only going to make it more difficult for dispensaries to maintain. This could limit the availability of medical marijuana to patients who are in need.
Source: Gather Inc.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
VIDEO: Nichole West discusses medical cannabis on Healthy OC
Patient-advocate Nichole West of CannaCollective Long Beach shares her insight on medical cannabis.
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