Year in Review

BAKER’S DOZEN

There’s just so much that happened this past year—how did we squeeze it all in just 12 months? Take our hands as CULTURE takes you down memory-impaired lane to recap the highlights, low points and hilarious moments our medical marijuana community faced in 2010.

JANUARY

—In what is applauded as a significant victory for patients’ rights, the California Supreme Court struck down state limits on how much cannabis a patient or caregivers can posses. Essentially, the state’s highest court rules that the prior state limits of six mature or 12 immature plants were unconstitutional.

—But with progress comes a setback. The Los Angeles City Council passes new dispensary regulations that allow 187 cannabis providers to stay open—but essentially outlaws hundreds of others.

FEBRUARY

—State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano re-submits a bill that is designed to legalize, tax and regulate cannabis. AB 2254 is praised by NORML—no surprise there—but the law doesn’t make it out of the Assembly. Boo.

—Then comes some common sense: Don’t medicate and fly. Kinman Chan gobbles some super-potent medicated cookies before boarding a U.S. Airways flight to San Francisco. The Bay Area resident ends up screaming in the plane’s bathroom, dropping his pants and fighting with crew members. Lessons learned.

MARCH

—Sticking it to the “This is your brain on drugs” camp, Tommy Chong wins $50,000 providing questions to the tough answers on Jeopardy’s celebrity tournament. He beat out someone who most likely considered brainer and more steeped in worldly matters: Anderson Cooper. Cooper promptly took his own $25,000 winnings and finally bought some Just For Men.

APRIL

The man considered the grandfather of the marijuana and hemp movement—and the focus of this issue’s cover story—passes away to the Great Beyond. Jack Herer, you are missed.

—420 Day around the world!

MAY

The Oakland City Council and the government of Israel both lament the same problem: not enough medical marijuana. Both the California city and the Jewish state make moves to remedy the situation. Oakland declares a local emergency, while Israel asks its growers to, well, grow more. In related news, Oakland and Israel get crossed off a billion “green” travel wish lists.

JUNE

A food truck with the words “Weed World Candies.com” was seen making its rounds as Lakers fans celebrated the fabled NBA team’s championship and parade. The truck provided medicated lollipops to qualified patients. The sweets were reportedly made with OG Kush and Grand Daddy Perp. Threepeat. Threepeat.

JULY

Oakland becomes the first U.S. city to impose a tax on dispensaries. The 1.8 percent tax breaks down to roughly $18 in taxes for every $1,000 in marijuana transactions.

AUGUST

In a highly anticipated decision stemming from an Anaheim lawsuit, the Court of Appeals concludes what everybody—and I mean everybody, brother—has been saying for years: federal law does not trump the state’s medical cannabis law. While considered a partial victory, the case is sent back to the lower court.

SEPTEMBER

Iconic Canadian activist Marc Emery enters a guilty plea (based on drug and money laundering charges). He is later sentenced five years in federal prison. He is currently incarcerated in a Georgia prison.

OCTOBER

—Now a joint won’t land you in court. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signs a bill that makes possession of less than an ounce a ticket-able offense. Being caught with a baggie is now no longer a misdemeanor and will only involve a $100 fine once the law takes effect in January.

—Offering further proof of marijuana’s mainstreaming, comedian and actor Zach Galifianakis, appearing on Bill Maher’s Real Time show, lights up a you-know-what and puffs away.

NOVEMBER

—California’s Proposition 19 fails. Arizona finally gets a medical marijuana measure signed into law—barely. Sorry, South Dakota patients.

—Kamala Harris becomes California’s Attorney General. Hey, San Francisco’s loss is now our gain. While L.A. County DA Steve Cooley (who ran against Harris) has been medical pot’s Antichrist, it only seems fitting that Harris is lauded as a potential Savior for cannabis users’ rights.

DECEMBER

—Doesha Cup, baby.

—This issue you are currently holding in your hands.