By CULTURE Staff
THE STATE
The fate of L.A. dispensaries to be decided by lottery
Los Angeles is using a lottery to decide which medical marijuana dispensaries can stay in business, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The city received 229 applications by the Feb. 18 deadline and will review the applications to determine which collectives meet the criteria to be included in the drawing. Officials have not said when the lottery will be held and how many would be selected.
New marijuana sodas could be available in spring
A Northern California entrepreneur is planning to start a line of marijuana-themed sodas, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reports.
The soft drinks, which contain THC, include flavors such as Canna Cola, Dr. Weed, Sour Diesel, Grape Ape and Orange Kush. The sodas will retail for $10 to $15 per bottle. Colorado was the first state targeted for distribution although the company hopes to sell them in California dispensaries by spring.
Dispensaries must pay sales taxes, state board announces
The California Board of Equalization has announced that medical marijuana dispensaries must pay sales tax.
The board reached the decision in a case involving a Berkeley dispensary that maintained that medical marijuana should have the same exemption as medications prescribed by physicians.
Assemblyman Tom Ammiano pushing for oversight bill
Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D- San Francisco) is proposing an “omnibus cannabis bill” regulating all aspects of the medical marijuana industry.
Because of varying standards in different communities, Ammiano said the Legislature needs to clarify the rules and create a state oversight program.
THE NATION
Montana lawmakers pushing to end medical marijuana
Some Montana legislators are pushing to repeal its 2004 medical marijuana law, saying that it has allowed for an excess of marijuana growth, The Associated Press reports.
Police say excess marijuana is now being exported out of the state while increasing number of residents have become registered users. Advocates say better regulations over who can get a patient card are needed, not repeal.
Kansas introduces legalization bill
Kansas lawmakers introduced a bill to legalize medical marijuana although advocates don’t expect it to gain approval from the Republican-majority Legislature.
The proposal would allow for growing, selling, buying and smoking marijuana for medical purposes. The bill would apply to approved patients in a state registry program.
Seattle city attorney calls for legalization, regulation
Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes is calling for the city to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana.
In an opinion piece in the Seattle Times, Holmes said he is the first city attorney to stop prosecuting marijuana possession cases and said prohibition is not working.
Colorado seeks to prohibit tinctures and ointments
Colorado is trying to impose controls on marijuana-related products such as tinctures and ointments.
A bill before the Legislature would prohibit such products. It originally also banned edibles, but that provision was removed.
Delaware moves to decriminalize medical use
Delaware is considering legalizing medical marijuana.
The bill, introduced in January, would decriminalize marijuana for patient use and issue patient cards. Patients would be allowed to possess six ounces or less.
NORML Conference scheduled for Denver in April
NORML’s 40th annual conference is scheduled for April 21-April 23 in Denver, considered by many to be one of the most cannabis-friendly cities in the country.
“Colorado has become the center of America’s legalization fight, and we want to both encourage that movement and learn how we might more effectively export that fight to other states,” NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said in a prepared statement. In 2005, Denver city officials became the first major U.S. city to legalize possession of less than an ounce of marijuana for adults 21 and older.
THE WORLD
Canadian patient returns “weak” medicine
A Canadian medical marijuana patient is asking the government to refund him his $450 for what he describes as “weak pot,” the Toronto Sun reports.
Lloyd Summerfield of Scarborough, Ontario bought 90 grams of government-licensed cannabis, but his doctor told him that the pot wasn’t strong enough to deal with his ailments. So, he returned it unopened to Health Canada.
An agency spokesman told the newspaper that the account charged to Summerfield will be credited to his account.
University study confirms THC appetite boost
A study out of University of Alberta found that small doses of THC boost the appetites of terminal cancer patients, the Los Angeles Times reports.
While there is plenty of anecdotal evidence about “the munchies,” researchers called this the first study under rigorous scientific standards to confirm it.
