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L.A. Judge: Dispensaries Must Come Up With $350,000 Bond
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge blocked parts of a city medical marijuana ordinance, but ordered

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L.A. Judge: Dispensaries Must Come Up With $350,000 Bond

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge blocked parts of a city medical marijuana ordinance, but ordered opponents to come up with a $350,000 bond for it to take effect, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The ruling, sought by about 50 dispensaries, found that several parts of the L.A. law are unconstitutional, including the process in which the city would allow some dispensaries.

City officials had asked for a $1 million bond while the plaintiffs asked for none. The judge set the smaller amount based on the estimated cost of police investigations and attorneys’ fees for closed dispensaries reopening or new ones opening.

LODI WANTS TO “STAY AWAY FROM IT”

The Lodi City Council has voted to ban medical marijuana, citing conflicts between state and federal law.

City officials say they want to “stay away from it” and will vote on an ordinance banning dispensaries this month.

HUGH HEFNER SAYS HE’S FOR LEGALIZATION

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner says he favors the legalization of marijuana, saying it should be handled as a medical concern.

“I don’t think there’s any question that marijuana should be legalized because to not legalize it, we’re paying the same price we paid for Prohibition,” the website Chronic Candy quotes him as saying.

LAGUNA BEACH’S BAN IS CHALLENGED BY COMMISSION

The city of Laguna Beach’s efforts to ban medical marijuana is running into opposition from the California Coastal Commission.

The city banned dispensaries in 2009, but members of the Coastal Commission, which has jurisdiction over coastal access such as beaches, said they have a responsibility to ensure that medical marijuana patients’ rights are protected.

The agency has asked the city to come up with an ordinance in line with other coastal cities that allow for the medical use of cannabis.

THE NATION

WASHINGTON STATE GROUP BACKS REFORM BILL

The Washington Cannabis Association is backing a proposal by a state legislator to reform Washington state’s medical marijuana laws.

The bill by State Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles would protect patients from arrest and offer legal protection to dispensaries and producers while also regulating them.

“It’s time to bring medical cannabis into the 21st century and this bill does that,” said Philip Dawdy, a spokesman for the association.

CANNABIS FEES WILL HELP COLORADO’S BUDGET

Cannabis fees are helping the state of Colorado close a $60 million budget shortfall. Gov. Bill Ritter has said he expects to collect $9 million from medical marijuana registration fees.

RHODE ISLAND CONSIDERING DECRIM

Rhode Island is considering reducing the penalties for marijuana possession.

The state legislature will consider a bill that would reduce possession of one ounce of marijuana from a criminal misdemeanor to a civil offense, punishable by a $150 fine with no jail time.

MONTEL WILLIAMS CITED FOR A PIPE

Former talk show host Montel Williams was cited last month at a Milwaukee, Wisconsin airport for possession of paraphernalia.

Authorities say he was found with a pipe used for smoking marijuana. Williams paid a $484 fine and continued with his trip to New York City.

Williams, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, supports legalizing medical marijuana and says he has used it for health reasons.

ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS REJECT MEDICAL USE BILL

The Illinois State House rejected on a narrow margin a bill that would have allowed medical marijuana.

The state Senate had approved the bill, but it failed to pass the House on a vote of 56-60. The sponsor, Rep. Lou Lang, said he hopes to reintroduce the bill, which would have allowed patients to possess up to two ounces and allowed them or caregivers to grow up to six plants.

TENNESEE FOOTBALL PLAYER HEADED TO TRIAL

Tennessee Titans back-up quarterback Chris Simms will go on trial in March on charges of driving while under the influence of marijuana, the Associated Press reports.

Simms rejected a deal from prosecutors for him to plead guilty to an infraction, pay a $500 fine, perform community service and have his driver’s license suspended for 90 days.

His lawyers have challenged the basis of his arrest and the legality of a sobriety checkpoint where he was stopped in July.

THE WORLD

CONSERVATIVE GROUP PRAISES PROP. 19’s FAILURE

The World Congress of Families, a conservative family-values group, has named California’s rejection of legalized marijuana (Proposition 19) as one of the top ten best developments for the family in 2010.

The group named the Republican take-over of the House of Representatives No. 1 on its list and the rejection of Prop. 19 as No. 3.

TOMMY CHONG BACKS PRO-LEGALIZATION CANADIAN

Comedian Tommy Chong is backing a Canadian politician who supports legalizing pot for leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party.

Chong, who is Canadian and lives in Vancouver, said he joined the party because of Dana Larsen and called him a man of honesty and integrity.

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