State Supreme Court to review dispensary cases
In a move that will almost certainly affect the medical marijuana industry across the state, the California Supreme Court has voted to review four cases revolving around the legality of local ordinances governing dispensaries.
The cases involve dispensary ordinances in Dana Point, Long Beach, Riverside and Upland. At issue is whether cities and counties can ban or otherwise regulate the distribution of medical marijuana, which is prohibited under federal law.
The Supreme Court gave no indication of when it would decide on the cases. The review came just less than a month since state Attorney General Kamala Harris (Editor’s note: See our feature on page XX!) sent letters to lawmakers asking for clarification on California’s confusing medical marijuana laws.
Child of Destiny’s Child is strain by another name
Local medical marijuana patients have a new reason to congratulate proud parents Jay-Z and Beyoncé for their recent new addition.
A powerful new cannabis strain now making the rounds has been christened “OG Blue Ivy” in honor of the musical superstars’ newborn Blue Ivy Carter. Celebrity watcher TMZ reports that “multiple dispensaries” around the Southland are carrying the top-shelf variety, adding that the strain first appeared in a Hollywood pot shop the day little Miss Carter was born.
OG Blue Ivy is reportedly going for about $20 a gram, or $55 an eighth.
Grumbine, Byron judge admits to misconduct
Attorneys for two men convicted in Long Beach on marijuana charges are calling for a new trial after the judge in the case revealed he sent a congratulatory letter to prosecutors while the matter was still being decided.
Long Beach Superior Court Judge Charles Sheldon recused himself from the sentencing portion of the trial of medical marijuana dispensary operators and activists Joe Grumbine and Joe Byron after admitting he sent the letter to Deputy District Attorney Jodi Castano in advance of sentencing the pair. “I don’t know what I was thinking,” Sheldon told a shocked courtroom when making the revelation.
Grumbine and Byron were convicted on 13 felony counts in December stemming from their medical cannabis activities. Defense attorney Christopher Glew said he would file a motion for a new trial, citing Sheldon’s admitted actions and juror misconduct.
L.A. city attorney wants “gentle ban” on dispensaries
Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich is calling for all cannabis dispensaries in the city to be shut down and replaced by the spectacle of 250,000-plus medical marijuana patients tilling the earth for their medicine.
Trutanich describes the proposal, which he made a City Council meeting in January, as a “gentle ban” on dispensaries. Under it, city officials would recognize only the portion of California’s medical marijuana law that allows patients or their caregivers to grow cannabis themselves, provided neither money nor a third party was involved in the presumably backyard grows.
Americans for Safe Access called the proposal “devious” and vowed to fight it. The council could vote on banning dispensaries as early as this month.
