Thursday, August 31, 2017
MMMR RECIPE: Ganja Goo Balls - by Annette Nay Nay
Ganja Goo Balls are SO healthy!! And SO easy! And SO yummy!
Ingredients:
1 cup of cannabutter melted
3 cups of oats
1 cup of peanut butter
(smooth or chunky)
3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp cinnamon
2 tbsp coco powder
½ cup of mini chocolate chips
I tsp of vanilla
Directions:
1. Add all ingredients to a large bowl and stir until well mixed
2. Place bowl into freezer for 15-20 minutes
3. Take scoops and mold them into individual balls
For alternatives, instead of using the chocolate chips you can use chopped walnuts, raisins, corn flakes, or rice krispies. If the result is too gooey, more oats may be added. If it's too dry, more peanut butter or honey may be added.
Ingredients:1 cup of cannabutter melted
3 cups of oats
1 cup of peanut butter
(smooth or chunky)
3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp cinnamon
2 tbsp coco powder
½ cup of mini chocolate chips
I tsp of vanilla
Directions:
1. Add all ingredients to a large bowl and stir until well mixed
2. Place bowl into freezer for 15-20 minutes
3. Take scoops and mold them into individual balls
For alternatives, instead of using the chocolate chips you can use chopped walnuts, raisins, corn flakes, or rice krispies. If the result is too gooey, more oats may be added. If it's too dry, more peanut butter or honey may be added.
Microdosing Uprise - by Dolan Frick
Microdosing has been a term in the medical community for a very long time. It is exactly what it sounds like, the goal of microdosing is to use a dosage that gives you the minimal noticeable effects possible. Microdosing is typically associated with hallucinogenics like LSD, and psilocybin mushrooms. Microdosing with these psychedelics is known to enhance productivity and inspiration. It could also have the capability to treat various mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Microdosing has become more and more popular in recent years and the benefits are definitely there.
MICRODOSING WITH CANNABIS
Microdosing with cannabis has recently become much more popular and could definitely be
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| Less is More |
BENEFITS
According to Leafly; Dustin Sulak, an osteopathic physician based in Maine , believes in the benefits of microdosing and treats many of his patients with small doses of cannabis. The benefits include: improved focus, sleep promotion, and treatments for conditions such as depression, stress, anxiety and pain.
The most popular ways of delivery are smoking, vaping, and ingesting cannabis. All have their own advantages and disadvantages. But it is important to find what works best for you even if that means combining all three.
Smoking is the most difficult way to control your dose. One single hit could contain up to 10 milligrams of THC. So if this is your chosen method try to avoid big bongs or large pipes that hold a lot of smoke. Maybe try a mini hitter pipe or a small glass steamroller. Combusting your cannabis is not the most economical way to microdose. Also if you are medicating for health reasons, you may want to avoid combusting as it is not the cleanest way to consume cannabis.
Vaporization of cannabis allows you to dial in your microdose and accurately regulate your intake. Also, vaporization allows you to avoid harmful carcinogens, and Vaping has never been easier than with the new discrete handheld vaporizer pens.
Ingesting cannabis edibles and tinctures is an easy way to microdose. There are many healthy and tasty treats out there with minimal THC. Check the packets before you buy, THC amounts should be listed on their labels. Eating cannabis edibles is a great way to consume discreetly and precisely without inhaling harsh smoke.
CORRECT DOSAGE
According to Leafly and Osteopathic Physician, Dustin Sulak, the general recommendation for first time microdosers is to start off at 2.5 milligrams. For those using cannabis regularly, Sulak
The challenge with finding your dose is that it’s different for each person. With most drugs there is a tolerance or curve, the same amount is not for everyone. There is no magical dosage amount. In fact, what works for you one day, may not work the following. It is about trial and error and the process will take patience. Slow and steady is the key to proper microdosing. Just remember that the point of microdosing is to avoid amounts which produce euphoria and unwanted side effects while still reaping the subtle benefits of consuming cannabis into your mind-body-spirit system.
According to Merry Jane News, you can expect to feel a slight devoid of paranoia. You may feel more relaxed, energetic, or focused. Some people report an increase in creativity. Some also feel an improved emotional balance and heightened spiritual awareness. Others microdose to relieve stress, treat disorders, alleviate pain, or take advantage of cannabis’ anti-inflammatory properties without having to deal with intense psychoactivity.
HELPFUL TIPS FOR MICRODOSING
• Avoid mixing cannabis and alcohol until you have a firm understanding of your relationship with both.
• Pay attention to the potency of your cannabis and the ratios of CBD and THC.
• Try strains high in CBD and low in THC to experience CBD’s muscle-relaxing benefits while minimizing THC’s strong psychoactivity.
• Create therapeutic blends by combining cannabis and natural tobacco alternatives.
• Metabolism and physiology can affect your experience. Be mindful of the ingredients in your edibles by looking for gluten-free, vegan, organic, sugar-free, and low-fat options to maintain a well-balanced diet.
• Be patient. Finding what works for you may take a little time.
Grow Tip for September 2017 - by Ben Horner
Outdoor Flowering Cycles
Outdoor grows in Michigan have had a turbulent summer, packed with lots of rain and storms. Green house growers are likely to have weathered the storms better than some, but with the high humidity, mold issues are a challenge as well. September is when the days shorten towards the end of the month. The fall equinox lands on the twenty-third of this month, however many breeds of cannabis will start to mature and show their pistols (white hairs) as soon as mid-August. By paying careful attention to your plants and the changing seasons, you can make sure your plant finishes with optimal ripeness and avoids the tragic freezes in October and November.September is a good month to cover your outdoor grows with translucent plastic if you have not yet done so. By law all outdoor grows must be covered on all sides and be secure on the top as well. Take caution when covering your grow area and make sure ample air flow circulates throughout. In early September, light pruning of bottom branches can stimulate flowing and help with airflow in congested grow areas.
There are many different breeds of marijuana plants, which have different flowering times. Indicas tend to have a shorter flowering cycle, typically between 7-9 weeks. Sativas usually take longer to finish, often 9-11 weeks. Hybrids, Indicas and sativas all vary, so consulting the seed producer website, to learn what they indicate is the appropriate flowering time, can give you helpful information. Outdoor growing can extend the flowering cycle a week or two due to the gradual shortening of the days.
By using a hand-held microscope, 30-100 times magnification, trichomes can be observed. The goal is to harvest when the trichomes are milky with hints of amber. Check every plant regularly throughout the month of September to get a feel for which plants to harvest first.
Verbascum Thapsus: Mullein - by Rebecca Veenstra
Did you know that there are many herbs that have been traditionally used for smoking besides Cannabis? Native American tribes and indigenous cultures throughout the globe have smoked a huge variety of herbs including bearberry, spearmint, comfrey, willow bark, catnip and many others for both medicinal and ceremonial purposes.
One of the smoking herbs that is most easily identified for beginning wild crafters is Mullein. The botanical name for the Mullein we see in our fields here in Michigan is Verbascum Thapsus. There are numerous types of Mullein with different botanical names. The name "Mullein" would be referred to in text books as it's "common" name. Wild crafting is the term herbalists use for the act of seeking and harvesting an herb from its natural habitat in the wild.
Mullein is a biennial plant. That means that the plant lives for two years. The first year the plant grows a rosette but no flower stalk. The rosette survives through the winter and the flower stalk grows the second year. Then, bees pollinate the small yellow flowers along the stalk which results in a large, dark, seed head by autumn. The plant then drops the seeds so that the following spring new rosettes will grow, restarting the cycle.
Mullein is typically found in open fields. It would be unusual to find it in deep woods or swampy areas. The plant prefers poor sandy soil but will grow in pretty much any kind of dirt. I've taken seeds from the fields to my home garden and successfully propagated it there.
The seed heads from the previous year will be standing tall on their stalks... this can be a great way to locate the low lying rosettes. Find a field where you see the tall seed heads and begin walking slowly and carefully through the long grasses looking down at the ground.
When you locate a rosette, carefully remove the inner leaves and put them in a basket or paper bag. The outer leaves are usually sandy and hard to dry properly. If you are gentle and you just pluck a few of the center leaves the rosette will survive the season and grow new leaves for you to harvest until winter. A responsible wild crafter should only remove a small portion of the plant medicine at any site. If you take it all, Mother Nature will not be able to keep growing it for you.
Additionally, it is wise to distribute seeds from seed heads any time you are able. Just give the seed head a good pull between your fingers and the seeds will fall free. Every time you distribute seeds you are perpetuating the cycle of growth for the plant, assuring future generations will be able to benefit from the herb too.
It is very important to note that gathering Mullein on a wet day or when the morning dew is still wet on the leaves can really interfere with proper drying. It is best to wait until the dew has evaporated and it's a dry day. Never gather plants intended to be dried on a rainy day. Your chances for mold developing during the drying process are far greater if you gather during wet weather. Gathering with plastic bags, or closed containers also can contribute to spoilage. If you intend to dry an herb always collect it in a container that allows moisture to evaporate. Trapping moisture will create problems.
Mullein looks fuzzy and soft. It is not so much fuzzy and soft as it is prickly. Those little hairs can make you itchy. If you happen to get itchy just hit the shower, the little hairs will wash right off. If you were to consume the Mullein leaves internally you would want to sift the hairs off. Ayurvedic healers native to India traditionally sift the Mullein intended for human consumption. Those little hairs could make your insides feel itchy too. I recommend buying the herb sifted as it is a difficult process. Not impossible, just difficult. I am sure it can be accomplished, I just haven't done it myself.
It is important to note that vaporizing or smoking Mullein leaves will not make you itchy. Only large scale skin contact (over a large portion of the body, not just your fingers and hands) and consumption could result in possible irritation. Handling the plant with your fingers and hands during harvest and processing is unlikely to cause irritation.
Ok, so now you have a basket or paper bag full with your carefully harvested inner leaves from the Mullein plant. The next step is to dry them. If you have gathered many leaves you may want to use a screen. You should prop it up so that the screen allows for air flow underneath it. Then you would want to spread your leaves out in a single layer on the screen. Don't pile them up, that will trap moisture and cause improper drying.
A fan or dehumidifier in the room can help but it is not necessary. The key is to keep dust, pet hair, dirt, etc. away from the leaves as they dry. If you have just a few leaves paper plates work great. You would just spread a single layer on a few paper plates and set them in a clean place to dry.
It is best to turn the leaves over once a day for a week or so. If the weather is humid it could take longer. When you can pick up a leaf and hear it snap like a potato chip as you break it you can be assured it is dry enough to store. If you don't hear it snap... it's not dry enough yet. Depending on your preference you can store the dried leaves in a glass jar or a paper bag. The paper bag will assure that no trapped moisture will interfere with storage. If you use a jar be absolutely certain you have achieved the proper dryness before you seal it.
In addition to being a relaxing smokable herb with no known drug interactions or side effects, besides slight sedation, Mullein has very useful medicinal applications.
The flowers from the mature second year flower can be soaked in oil to make a healing preparation with a huge variety of uses. The oil has been found to have anti-microbial action as well as pain relieving properties. Mullein oil has been used historically to aid in the healing of ear infections. Many natural healers still rely on Mullein oil today. (1)
The leaf you have harvested and dried has many medicinal properties too. It is a well-known expectorant with anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used in a vaporizer or rolled to smoke. Individuals who suffer from Asthma may find vaporizing Mullein to be helpful. I have several friends with Asthma who rely on the daily use of Mullein to help ease their symptoms.
Mullein can be mixed with other smoking herbs. Among those, a good companion herb is Cannabis. There have been many studies done to determine the usefulness of both Mullein and Cannabis as potential natural treatments for the symptoms people with asthma and other lung congesting conditions, may suffer from. "Marihuana smoke, unlike cigarette smoke, causes bronchodilation [expansion of the air passages] rather than bronchoconstriction [narrowing of the air passages] and, unlike opiates, does not cause central respiratory depression."(2) The small inner leaves of the Mullein plant, properly dried, and mixed with Cannabis for smoking may be very relieving to a person with lung congestion.
Many Cannabis smokers find that the marijuana they smoke can make them cough regardless of how well it has been grown and cured. Often, I have found that individuals with this common complaint are sometimes able to alleviate the coughing by adding a small quantity of Mullein to their joints or pipes.
Every person has their own unique experience with healing herbs. Some people find Mullein's sedative actions to make them feel like taking a nap. This effect can be minimized by carefully choosing the strain of Cannabis to combine with the Mullein. Often using a strain with more Sativa content can offset the sleepiness.
Most years my best friend and I are able to gather enough Mullein to carry her through the winter in a matter of hours. She uses one or two small leaves of Mullein every day to offset her asthma symptoms. We store one large paper grocery bag of dried Mullein leaves in her pantry every fall. By the time we are able to gather again she usually has a small supply still remaining.
I hope you find the information in this article helpful and inspiring. If you take the time to wander an open field this summer perhaps you will find some Mullein. Even if you don't gather it for harvest, please... take the time to spread some seeds for future generations.
One of the smoking herbs that is most easily identified for beginning wild crafters is Mullein. The botanical name for the Mullein we see in our fields here in Michigan is Verbascum Thapsus. There are numerous types of Mullein with different botanical names. The name "Mullein" would be referred to in text books as it's "common" name. Wild crafting is the term herbalists use for the act of seeking and harvesting an herb from its natural habitat in the wild.
Mullein is a biennial plant. That means that the plant lives for two years. The first year the plant grows a rosette but no flower stalk. The rosette survives through the winter and the flower stalk grows the second year. Then, bees pollinate the small yellow flowers along the stalk which results in a large, dark, seed head by autumn. The plant then drops the seeds so that the following spring new rosettes will grow, restarting the cycle.
 |
This is what a first year plant looks like:
|
Mullein is typically found in open fields. It would be unusual to find it in deep woods or swampy areas. The plant prefers poor sandy soil but will grow in pretty much any kind of dirt. I've taken seeds from the fields to my home garden and successfully propagated it there.
The seed heads from the previous year will be standing tall on their stalks... this can be a great way to locate the low lying rosettes. Find a field where you see the tall seed heads and begin walking slowly and carefully through the long grasses looking down at the ground.
 |
2nd year flower in bloom:
|
When you locate a rosette, carefully remove the inner leaves and put them in a basket or paper bag. The outer leaves are usually sandy and hard to dry properly. If you are gentle and you just pluck a few of the center leaves the rosette will survive the season and grow new leaves for you to harvest until winter. A responsible wild crafter should only remove a small portion of the plant medicine at any site. If you take it all, Mother Nature will not be able to keep growing it for you.
 |
2nd year mature seed head:
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It is very important to note that gathering Mullein on a wet day or when the morning dew is still wet on the leaves can really interfere with proper drying. It is best to wait until the dew has evaporated and it's a dry day. Never gather plants intended to be dried on a rainy day. Your chances for mold developing during the drying process are far greater if you gather during wet weather. Gathering with plastic bags, or closed containers also can contribute to spoilage. If you intend to dry an herb always collect it in a container that allows moisture to evaporate. Trapping moisture will create problems.
Mullein looks fuzzy and soft. It is not so much fuzzy and soft as it is prickly. Those little hairs can make you itchy. If you happen to get itchy just hit the shower, the little hairs will wash right off. If you were to consume the Mullein leaves internally you would want to sift the hairs off. Ayurvedic healers native to India traditionally sift the Mullein intended for human consumption. Those little hairs could make your insides feel itchy too. I recommend buying the herb sifted as it is a difficult process. Not impossible, just difficult. I am sure it can be accomplished, I just haven't done it myself.
It is important to note that vaporizing or smoking Mullein leaves will not make you itchy. Only large scale skin contact (over a large portion of the body, not just your fingers and hands) and consumption could result in possible irritation. Handling the plant with your fingers and hands during harvest and processing is unlikely to cause irritation.
Ok, so now you have a basket or paper bag full with your carefully harvested inner leaves from the Mullein plant. The next step is to dry them. If you have gathered many leaves you may want to use a screen. You should prop it up so that the screen allows for air flow underneath it. Then you would want to spread your leaves out in a single layer on the screen. Don't pile them up, that will trap moisture and cause improper drying.
A fan or dehumidifier in the room can help but it is not necessary. The key is to keep dust, pet hair, dirt, etc. away from the leaves as they dry. If you have just a few leaves paper plates work great. You would just spread a single layer on a few paper plates and set them in a clean place to dry.
It is best to turn the leaves over once a day for a week or so. If the weather is humid it could take longer. When you can pick up a leaf and hear it snap like a potato chip as you break it you can be assured it is dry enough to store. If you don't hear it snap... it's not dry enough yet. Depending on your preference you can store the dried leaves in a glass jar or a paper bag. The paper bag will assure that no trapped moisture will interfere with storage. If you use a jar be absolutely certain you have achieved the proper dryness before you seal it.
In addition to being a relaxing smokable herb with no known drug interactions or side effects, besides slight sedation, Mullein has very useful medicinal applications.
The flowers from the mature second year flower can be soaked in oil to make a healing preparation with a huge variety of uses. The oil has been found to have anti-microbial action as well as pain relieving properties. Mullein oil has been used historically to aid in the healing of ear infections. Many natural healers still rely on Mullein oil today. (1)
The leaf you have harvested and dried has many medicinal properties too. It is a well-known expectorant with anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used in a vaporizer or rolled to smoke. Individuals who suffer from Asthma may find vaporizing Mullein to be helpful. I have several friends with Asthma who rely on the daily use of Mullein to help ease their symptoms.
Mullein can be mixed with other smoking herbs. Among those, a good companion herb is Cannabis. There have been many studies done to determine the usefulness of both Mullein and Cannabis as potential natural treatments for the symptoms people with asthma and other lung congesting conditions, may suffer from. "Marihuana smoke, unlike cigarette smoke, causes bronchodilation [expansion of the air passages] rather than bronchoconstriction [narrowing of the air passages] and, unlike opiates, does not cause central respiratory depression."(2) The small inner leaves of the Mullein plant, properly dried, and mixed with Cannabis for smoking may be very relieving to a person with lung congestion.
Many Cannabis smokers find that the marijuana they smoke can make them cough regardless of how well it has been grown and cured. Often, I have found that individuals with this common complaint are sometimes able to alleviate the coughing by adding a small quantity of Mullein to their joints or pipes.
Every person has their own unique experience with healing herbs. Some people find Mullein's sedative actions to make them feel like taking a nap. This effect can be minimized by carefully choosing the strain of Cannabis to combine with the Mullein. Often using a strain with more Sativa content can offset the sleepiness.
Most years my best friend and I are able to gather enough Mullein to carry her through the winter in a matter of hours. She uses one or two small leaves of Mullein every day to offset her asthma symptoms. We store one large paper grocery bag of dried Mullein leaves in her pantry every fall. By the time we are able to gather again she usually has a small supply still remaining.
I hope you find the information in this article helpful and inspiring. If you take the time to wander an open field this summer perhaps you will find some Mullein. Even if you don't gather it for harvest, please... take the time to spread some seeds for future generations.
Rebecca Veenstra
Chartered Herbalist
New World Seeds
Traverse City, MI
Cannibals of Freedom: The Purpose of Law - by Daniel L. Price, Esq.
September is a month in history that helps point out the purpose of laws in the United States. That is, on September 3, 1783 the Treaty of Paris formally ended the American Revolution. Also, on September 3, 1838, Frederic Douglas began his journey to escape slavery.
I am an advocate of freedom, period! Yet, when we look at laws that support freedom, and compare them with laws that deny freedom, it is revealing to note that the laws in the United States do not support freedom. Right from the beginning our constitution, in Article 4, Sections 2.2 and 2.3, requires states to return fugitive slaves to their owners. And, the Fugitive Slave Acts of 1793 and 1850 levied punishment on those who helped slaves escape. They were guilty of the crime of supporting freedom of the individual. Some of you may be thinking the 13th Amendment changed that. Really? After all, you are “forced” to pay about 1/3 of your life to parasites. So, other than for whom you are “forced” to provide, and what percentage of it you are “forced” to provide, you still are not protected by the 13th Amendment.
Today, our laws continue to deny freedom. You are not allowed to do anything with, or during your life, which is not regulated and/or taxed by parasites. I issue a challenge to anyone who can think of anything which a citizen can do without some regulation, law, or tax involved from birth to death. Our laws simply do not support freedom.
Indeed, readers of this article are violating the law when they ingest marijuana, that the State of Michigan “protects” you while engaging in this illegal activity makes no difference, you are still violating federal law. For example, I spoke to a young lady who had tubed down a river in a national forest in Michigan while ingesting medical marijuana. Federal forestry agents were in the bushes spying on people going down the river so they could arrest anyone ingesting marijuana. Moreover, if you have nearly any level of THC in your body, when you are required to give a swab sample while driving the roads of Michigan (Yes, that is coming to Michigan), you will be violating laws and subject to punishment.
One asks, so what laws do support freedom? That’s actually a very easy question to answer. One need only look to the Declaration of Independence: Law 1 – Any person who interferes with the life of another shall be guilty of a crime; Law 2 – Any person who interferes with liberty of another shall be guilty of a crime; Law 3 – Any person who interferes with the property of another shall be guilty of a crime.
From these laws, of course there would be degrees of punishment. For example, if I interfered with my neighbor’s property by negligently spilling sewage, then the punishment would be for me to pay to clean it up, and pay for any damage inflicted beyond the cleanup. Yet, if I stole property from my neighbor, then I would be liable to return the property in its original condition or pay the value of the property to my neighbor, either in cash or by my labor. As for taking a life, it would be pretty much the same depending on whether the act was intentional or negligent. I would be liable to pay the value of the services of that person to their family, and face prison time as well. And the same goes for violating another’s liberty.Of course this article does not provide room for a complete analysis, but you get the idea. Also, it’s harder to implement only laws that support freedom. There are many people who are afraid of freedom. There are also those who wish to get away with destroying freedom for others. Only thing is, they cannot do this without destroying their own. The parasites in government are simply eager to accumulate power over others, so they are all too willing to help secure a country where the laws deny freedom.
In order to have a country that supports freedom, another law would need to be implemented. Law 4 – Any government official, whether elected or not, who interferes with the life, liberty or property of another who has not violated these laws, shall be guilty of crimes against humanity and shall either, by their choice, be put to death, or stripped of his/her citizenship and set adrift on the open sea with 3 days of food and water.
The result of failing to understand the purpose of laws that deny freedom is why The Constitution and the laws here in the United States do not support freedom. The key to understanding is that when we deny others their right to life, liberty and property, we deny ourselves those same rights. Do you support freedom?!?!
Till next month, as always, keep rolling on.
Disclaimer: This is an informational article only. It is not to provide individual legal advice. If you need legal services, feel free to contact me, or any attorney of
your choosing.
Free the Weed 78 - by John Sinclair
Highest greetings from Amsterdam, still the marijuana capital of the world where you can buy your weed over the counter in a coffeeshop, sit down, roll it up, and smoke it to your heart’s content. There’s a coffeeshop for every taste, in every part of town and you may obtain five grams at a time from the menu of tasty selections of cannabis and hashish on offer by the gram.
Amsterdam’s smokers have developed this highly civilized system for taking care of their everyday toking needs over the past 45 years. Although the federal government has carried on an intensive campaign to shut down as many coffeeshops as they can get away with, there remain close to 200 operating coffeeshops in the city. Certainly enough to take care of everybody who wants to get high.
At the same time the coffeeshops began to take root in Amsterdam, people in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and East Lansing, Michigan determined that marijuana use was no more of a social problem than say, jaywalking. With any cannabis crimes that captured the attention of the police warranting no more than a $5 ticket to the offender—no arrest, no criminal charge, no foul, no pain.
This was a pretty good solution for the time, quite simple and easy to effect. No harmful results for the smoker and efficiently removing the police force from the socially repulsive task of harassing marijuana smokers for getting high. By the same token, the coffeeshops in Amsterdam were allowed to grow and flourish unchecked for about 20 years; until the authorities reared their ugly heads in the mid-1990s to force registration and licensing of the coffeeshops as a harbinger of more and more repressive moves that continue to this day.
The most terrible thing about marijuana laws and regulations of any kind is that there’s nothing wrong with marijuana. The entire rationale for outlawing marijuana was completely fabricated by the federal narcotics authorities. They were eager to expand their realm of power and their crusade was swallowed whole by the lawmakers in Washington D. C., and the many state capitals that were quick to categorize this harmless weed as a narcotic.
Marijuana was never a narcotic. It was never a “dangerous drug.” The term “controlled substance” is more accurate, but says nothing about what cannabis is nor what it does for us. Basically, it is green vegetable matter with healing properties and the propensity to alter the user’s consciousness for the better, to brighten and improve one’s mental outlook and make one feel better all over.
A joint of marijuana has about as much potential for social harm as a carrot. In a rational world intent upon peace and mutual understanding, marijuana use should be encouraged by all social sectors and treasured as an inalienable human right.
Recognition of marijuana’s medical potential by California voters in 1996 changed the terms of cannabis suppression and forged an alternative course for marijuana smokers to follow in our quest to obtain and enjoy our medicine. Michigan voters recognized the medical use of marijuana in 2008 with a simple, straight-forward initiative that provided for personal growing by patients and the assistance of caregivers, who would grow and provide for patients who couldn’t do it for themselves.
There was no detailed regulatory scheme proposed by the State of Michigan other than to force marijuana patients to register with a state agency and wait for months to receive their patient identification cards, issued without the recipients’ photographs attached.
From 2008 to 2016, there were no regulations in place governing the establishment and operation of medical marijuana dispensaries, commonly called “compassionate care centers”. These businesses were either allowed to flourish or subjected to police raids entirely at the whim of local and county law enforcement officials.
Not until the ill-advised MILegalize campaign in 2016, which attempted to extend the timeframe for submitting signatures to place the issue of legalized recreational marijuana on the ballot, failed to succeed did the state legislature take up the issue of regulation, and exert its attempts to counteract the will of the electorate by creating an elaborate bureaucracy. A bureaucracy which was designed—among other things—to trace the progress of every marijuana seed sold in the State of Michigan.
Now this legislation has matured over the past year to involve the establishment of a state licensing agency called LARA. Staffed with former state police officers and lobbyists, LARA wants to shut down all operating dispensaries in Michigan until the agency can get its licensing criteria and application process established.
Michael Gerstein reported in The Detroit News recently that retired State Police sergeant Donald Bailey, a member of the state board charged with creating new rules for the medical marijuana industry, called for all existing dispensaries to be shuttered until official licenses can be doled out. But, Gerstein said, the board tabled the issue until the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation and the office of Attorney General Bill Schuette could weigh in on the proposal.
The state board is following the lead of the Insane Clown Posse (posing as the Detroit City Council) who has caused significant damage of their own, with their rampage against the scores of marijuana dispensaries that have opened in neighborhoods all over the city.
I know I’ve been harping on this issue for months, but this is one of the stupidest examples of public marijuana policy I’ve ever witnessed. Led by Detroit corporation counsel, Melvin Hollowell (better known as Butch), the city’s crackdown on illegally operating medical marijuana dispensaries has closed 218 shops. The city's regulation efforts began last year when 283 dispensaries were identified.
"None of them were operating lawfully," Hollowell told Katrease Stafford of the Detroit Free Press, who reported that “the new ordinances require operators to obtain a business license designed for the medical marijuana stores.” In the year since the regulatory system was approved, Stafford says, “only five have been licensed and are legally allowed to operate within city limits,” with Hallowell’s goal to permit only 50 dispensaries citywide. “The licensed shops are prohibited from operating within a 1,000-foot radius of a church, school, park, liquor store, other dispensaries and other places considered a drug-free zone under city law, such as libraries or child care centers. They also must close by 8 p.m.”
Perhaps no one else has noticed, but the proliferation of medical marijuana outlets in the city of Detroit is one of the most positive signs of renewal in Detroit’s many years of urban decline. Abandoned storefronts and other facilities have been reclaimed, reopened, painted and staffed with citizen employees. Medical marijuana patients are able to obtain their medicine in a safe and well-run environment. One would think the City would be looking forward to the millions of new tax dollars generated by these establishments.
Dispensaries sprouted up in response to patient's need for their medicine. There were no licensing procedures or regulatory guidelines proposed by city or state authorities whatsoever for more than eight years. The citizens who opened these dispensaries should have been awarded for their foresight and hard work rather than persecuted and punished by the authorities. This goes for the entire State of Michigan as well as the City of Detroit.
Where do they get these people? Free The Weed!
Amsterdam’s smokers have developed this highly civilized system for taking care of their everyday toking needs over the past 45 years. Although the federal government has carried on an intensive campaign to shut down as many coffeeshops as they can get away with, there remain close to 200 operating coffeeshops in the city. Certainly enough to take care of everybody who wants to get high.
At the same time the coffeeshops began to take root in Amsterdam, people in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and East Lansing, Michigan determined that marijuana use was no more of a social problem than say, jaywalking. With any cannabis crimes that captured the attention of the police warranting no more than a $5 ticket to the offender—no arrest, no criminal charge, no foul, no pain.
This was a pretty good solution for the time, quite simple and easy to effect. No harmful results for the smoker and efficiently removing the police force from the socially repulsive task of harassing marijuana smokers for getting high. By the same token, the coffeeshops in Amsterdam were allowed to grow and flourish unchecked for about 20 years; until the authorities reared their ugly heads in the mid-1990s to force registration and licensing of the coffeeshops as a harbinger of more and more repressive moves that continue to this day.
The most terrible thing about marijuana laws and regulations of any kind is that there’s nothing wrong with marijuana. The entire rationale for outlawing marijuana was completely fabricated by the federal narcotics authorities. They were eager to expand their realm of power and their crusade was swallowed whole by the lawmakers in Washington D. C., and the many state capitals that were quick to categorize this harmless weed as a narcotic.
Marijuana was never a narcotic. It was never a “dangerous drug.” The term “controlled substance” is more accurate, but says nothing about what cannabis is nor what it does for us. Basically, it is green vegetable matter with healing properties and the propensity to alter the user’s consciousness for the better, to brighten and improve one’s mental outlook and make one feel better all over.
A joint of marijuana has about as much potential for social harm as a carrot. In a rational world intent upon peace and mutual understanding, marijuana use should be encouraged by all social sectors and treasured as an inalienable human right.
Recognition of marijuana’s medical potential by California voters in 1996 changed the terms of cannabis suppression and forged an alternative course for marijuana smokers to follow in our quest to obtain and enjoy our medicine. Michigan voters recognized the medical use of marijuana in 2008 with a simple, straight-forward initiative that provided for personal growing by patients and the assistance of caregivers, who would grow and provide for patients who couldn’t do it for themselves.
There was no detailed regulatory scheme proposed by the State of Michigan other than to force marijuana patients to register with a state agency and wait for months to receive their patient identification cards, issued without the recipients’ photographs attached.
From 2008 to 2016, there were no regulations in place governing the establishment and operation of medical marijuana dispensaries, commonly called “compassionate care centers”. These businesses were either allowed to flourish or subjected to police raids entirely at the whim of local and county law enforcement officials.
Not until the ill-advised MILegalize campaign in 2016, which attempted to extend the timeframe for submitting signatures to place the issue of legalized recreational marijuana on the ballot, failed to succeed did the state legislature take up the issue of regulation, and exert its attempts to counteract the will of the electorate by creating an elaborate bureaucracy. A bureaucracy which was designed—among other things—to trace the progress of every marijuana seed sold in the State of Michigan.
Now this legislation has matured over the past year to involve the establishment of a state licensing agency called LARA. Staffed with former state police officers and lobbyists, LARA wants to shut down all operating dispensaries in Michigan until the agency can get its licensing criteria and application process established.
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| Sergeant Donald Bailey, MSP |
Michael Gerstein reported in The Detroit News recently that retired State Police sergeant Donald Bailey, a member of the state board charged with creating new rules for the medical marijuana industry, called for all existing dispensaries to be shuttered until official licenses can be doled out. But, Gerstein said, the board tabled the issue until the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation and the office of Attorney General Bill Schuette could weigh in on the proposal.
The state board is following the lead of the Insane Clown Posse (posing as the Detroit City Council) who has caused significant damage of their own, with their rampage against the scores of marijuana dispensaries that have opened in neighborhoods all over the city.
I know I’ve been harping on this issue for months, but this is one of the stupidest examples of public marijuana policy I’ve ever witnessed. Led by Detroit corporation counsel, Melvin Hollowell (better known as Butch), the city’s crackdown on illegally operating medical marijuana dispensaries has closed 218 shops. The city's regulation efforts began last year when 283 dispensaries were identified.
"None of them were operating lawfully," Hollowell told Katrease Stafford of the Detroit Free Press, who reported that “the new ordinances require operators to obtain a business license designed for the medical marijuana stores.” In the year since the regulatory system was approved, Stafford says, “only five have been licensed and are legally allowed to operate within city limits,” with Hallowell’s goal to permit only 50 dispensaries citywide. “The licensed shops are prohibited from operating within a 1,000-foot radius of a church, school, park, liquor store, other dispensaries and other places considered a drug-free zone under city law, such as libraries or child care centers. They also must close by 8 p.m.”
Perhaps no one else has noticed, but the proliferation of medical marijuana outlets in the city of Detroit is one of the most positive signs of renewal in Detroit’s many years of urban decline. Abandoned storefronts and other facilities have been reclaimed, reopened, painted and staffed with citizen employees. Medical marijuana patients are able to obtain their medicine in a safe and well-run environment. One would think the City would be looking forward to the millions of new tax dollars generated by these establishments.
Dispensaries sprouted up in response to patient's need for their medicine. There were no licensing procedures or regulatory guidelines proposed by city or state authorities whatsoever for more than eight years. The citizens who opened these dispensaries should have been awarded for their foresight and hard work rather than persecuted and punished by the authorities. This goes for the entire State of Michigan as well as the City of Detroit.
Where do they get these people? Free The Weed!
—Amsterdam
August 25, 2017
© 2017 John Sinclair. All Rights Reserved.
V.G.I.P. Update for September 2017 - by Ben Horner
Don Koshmider: A Cannabis Hero
Don Koshmider was sentenced in Wexford County, for selling medical marijuana at Cadillac Provisions, a medical Marijuana Dispensary. His sentencing was 13 to 180 months (1-15 years).
Don had a criminal history that included prison time, which made him a repeat offender; repeat offenders receive longer prison time based on the Michigan sentencing guidelines.
Don is a true hero, and he chose to put himself in harm's way. Don has entered into the Michigan Hall of POW, such as Adam Brooke, Ryan Basore, John Sinclair and many others. Don was an outspoken advocated that dared the law and drew attention to many things that we needed to know. In regards to the newly appointed board member Baley, and the mindset of the MSP. Don will always be remembered for his valiant effort. His conviction is a prime example of why cannabis must be legalized.
Don Baley, then a sergeant for the MSP, was involved in the original investigation that led to Mr. Koshmider's arrest and conviction. Using a criminal informant that was cooperating in return for leniency for selling heroin, the task force was able to make a “controlled buy” from Koshmider. Although the informant was a patient, Don failed to document the needed information to use a medical marijuana defense in court. Don fought the charges, believing he was in the true spirit of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act.
World News for September 2017 - by Rachel Bunting
CBD Instead of Ibuprofen
Ireland: Gym users in Ireland have started using a new supplement to handle their delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after a tough work out. Many gym enthusiasts and athletes use anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen after a long work out. The medication, while helpful, can actually hinder post exercise healing and over a period of time can be harmful to filtering organs. Now those looking to get pumped without the after pain of DOMS have started turning to CBD oil. The oil not only eases pain, though more research on CBD in relation to DOMS should be done, it also doesn’t have the high associated with THC, making the supplement a more natural alternative to anti-inflammatories.
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Marijuana Hospitalizes Infants
France: Since mid-August nearly half a dozen babies have been admitted to a hospital in Nice, France for ingesting marijuana. All the infants brought in were under the age of two. One of those admitted was taken to the emergency room in a coma and had to be placed in the intensive care unit. None of the other children were in as bad of condition when brought in and all recovered. Parents of the sick children claim their kids found and ingested the cannabis at a nearby park. Head of service at the hospital, Dr. Herve Haas, told French news agency AFP, “It is important to warn parents, even if they are consumers, that leaving nuggets of cannabis around can have significant consequences, including hospitalization. When ingested, cannabinoids rise directly to the brain with major effects. And in babies, the impact is 100 times greater than in adults. The cases of cannabis intoxication are unfortunately fairly regular, but it is remarkable to have five in less than fifteen days.” The hospitalized children displayed symptoms of drunkenness and drowsiness when first brought in. Unfortunately, according to Haas, the only thing doctors can do is give them an IV drip and wait for the cannabinoids to leave the system.
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Former Football Star Requests Relaxed Conditions
Ireland: Robert Bayly, a former Leeds United and Republic of Ireland football player, was arrested earlier this year for being in possession of €240,000 worth of marijuana. His car was stopped for a minor traffic violation when the flowers were discovered. He was ultimately charged with possession with intent to sell or supply. Bayley remained in custody for 4 days before posting his €200 bail. Since being released, Bayly has obeyed his bail conditions which included surrendering his passport and signing at the local Garda station daily. Last month though, Bayly and his attorney went before the judge to ask for more relaxed bail conditions. He is requesting to have the Garda daily sign-on discontinued and to be allowed to have and use his passport for employment purposes. The judge adjourned the case while the conditions are considered.
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China’s Cannabis Culture
China: In the Heilongjiang province the small town of Hexin is populated with farmers growing legalized marijuana. The hemp is grown and used for everything from fabric to medicine to kitchen oil. Farmers of the area set aside as much land as needed to meet demand for the crop, sometimes up to 1,500 acres per farm. The workers view the crop as green gold since they sell each part of the plant for a profit and rarely have to invest in anything such as pesticides to keep the cannabis alive. They sell the stems of the plant to textile plants for high-quality fabrics, the leaves and flowers to pharmaceutical companies to make medications, and the seeds contained in some plants are sent to food companies to make cooking oil, drinks, or even snacks. Though the practice was just legalized last year, officials in the country turned a blind eye to the market in previous year due to the economic boost the service was providing. Hexin as well as the Yunnan province, another large hemp provider, account for almost half of the world’s legal commercial hemp. Thanks to the secrecy of China’s government, the country has quietly been becoming the powerhouse for both marijuana cultivation and research. Though using the THC form of cannabis is new (legally) to the area, the country has been growing hemp cannabis for rope, fabric, and paper for centuries. Until new laws came into effect recently, possession of marijuana containing THC could be punishable by death. However, research was going on long before legalization allowing China to claim more than half of the 600-plus patents that revolve around the plant. According to the nzherald, Dr. Luc Duchesne, an Ottawa-based businessman and biochemist, said "Because cannabis in Western medicine is becoming accepted, the predominance of Chinese patents suggests that pharmaceutical sciences are evolving quickly in China, outpacing Western capabilities.”
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American Banking Disrupts First Legalizing Country’s Sales
Uruguay: The first country to legalize recreational marijuana ran into some expected and unexpected problems in the first month. Expectedly, the pharmacies that are distributing the plant ran extremely low on supply with demand being higher than anticipated. Then an unexpected problem, letters from American Banks threatening to stop doing business with banks in Uruguay if they were involved with the pharmacies. Uruguayan banks, worried over losing access to the American banking system, immediately sent word to some of the pharmacies informing them that their accounts would be closed later in the week. President Tabare Vazquez told reporters his administration is attempting to come up with a solution, but “we can’t hold false hope.” Pharmacies are currently the only businesses in the country that are allowed to supply the drug and at least 15 of the pharmacies that signed up to participate in the venture have backed out since the announcement. Years of studying and planning went into starting the program that was legalized in 2013. Officials in Uruguay are hopeful that lawmakers in America will pass a law allowing banks to do business with marijuana producers and distributors in states and countries that allow the plant.
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Cannabis May Treat Schizophrenia And Tourette Syndrome
Austrailia: Researchers in Austrailia are making tremendous strides in regards to the discovery of mental health ailments that could possibly be treated with cannabidiol (CBD). According to recent studies, the cannabis-derived chemical (CBD) may be used to offer relief to patients with schizophrenia, a frequently chronic condition which can significantly interfere with how we think, feel, and behave.
At the University of Wollongong, researchers have discovered that CBD could provide new kinds of symptom relief for schizophrenic patients by examining what science has uncovered about the chemical so far. Dr. Katrina Green, Professor Nadia Solowij, and Wollongong Ph.D. candidate, Ashleigh Osborne, conducted a detailed review of 27 extant studies on the chemical to determine what kind of impact CBD would have on cognitive function in relation to schizophrenia. The researchers ultimately uncovered some “fascinating insights” about its potential therapeutic value.
Ireland: Gym users in Ireland have started using a new supplement to handle their delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after a tough work out. Many gym enthusiasts and athletes use anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen after a long work out. The medication, while helpful, can actually hinder post exercise healing and over a period of time can be harmful to filtering organs. Now those looking to get pumped without the after pain of DOMS have started turning to CBD oil. The oil not only eases pain, though more research on CBD in relation to DOMS should be done, it also doesn’t have the high associated with THC, making the supplement a more natural alternative to anti-inflammatories.
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Marijuana Hospitalizes Infants
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Former Football Star Requests Relaxed Conditions
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China’s Cannabis Culture
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American Banking Disrupts First Legalizing Country’s Sales
Uruguay: The first country to legalize recreational marijuana ran into some expected and unexpected problems in the first month. Expectedly, the pharmacies that are distributing the plant ran extremely low on supply with demand being higher than anticipated. Then an unexpected problem, letters from American Banks threatening to stop doing business with banks in Uruguay if they were involved with the pharmacies. Uruguayan banks, worried over losing access to the American banking system, immediately sent word to some of the pharmacies informing them that their accounts would be closed later in the week. President Tabare Vazquez told reporters his administration is attempting to come up with a solution, but “we can’t hold false hope.” Pharmacies are currently the only businesses in the country that are allowed to supply the drug and at least 15 of the pharmacies that signed up to participate in the venture have backed out since the announcement. Years of studying and planning went into starting the program that was legalized in 2013. Officials in Uruguay are hopeful that lawmakers in America will pass a law allowing banks to do business with marijuana producers and distributors in states and countries that allow the plant.
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Cannabis May Treat Schizophrenia And Tourette Syndrome
At the University of Wollongong, researchers have discovered that CBD could provide new kinds of symptom relief for schizophrenic patients by examining what science has uncovered about the chemical so far. Dr. Katrina Green, Professor Nadia Solowij, and Wollongong Ph.D. candidate, Ashleigh Osborne, conducted a detailed review of 27 extant studies on the chemical to determine what kind of impact CBD would have on cognitive function in relation to schizophrenia. The researchers ultimately uncovered some “fascinating insights” about its potential therapeutic value.
National News for September 2017 - by Rachel Bunting
Las Vegas, NV: Though marijuana is now recreationally legal in Nevada, Sin City will have no part of it according to the Nevada Gaming Commission. The commission believes marijuana has no place in the gaming industry and they intend to keep it that way. Last month the first in a series of policy meetings took place and the Gaming Commission claimed the reputation of the gaming industry could be at stake if there is not a clear separation between the two vices. Commission Chairman Tony Alamo spoke at the meeting stating, “On one hand you have the gaming industry and on the other hand you have the marijuana industry ... The two shall not meet.” The group maintains that ‘as long as marijuana consumption and possession is viewed as a felony by federal authorities, it will have no place in Nevada casinos.’ This includes licensees in the gaming industry hosting shows or conferences that promote the use, sale, or cultivation of the plant. Licensees are also expected to not maintain any business relationships, including leasing property, to anyone, including a spouse of someone, involved in the cannabis industry. The meetings in coming months will continue to focus on marijuana policy in the gaming district.
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No Revenue for LA
Los Angeles, CA: Currently Los Angeles has already banned dispensaries from operating in the area, but looking to the new recreational law set to go into effect in January the city is banning even more. The city, also known as the city of industry, is not taking part in the new industry about to be flourishing in the state. Instead they have chosen to not only prohibit dispensaries, but also the sale, growing, or distributing of the cash crop. The new law is reported to bring in nearly one billion dollars a year in tax revenue. Unfortunately none of that will be going to the city that has chosen not to take part. Members of the city council claim that there is not a good enough seed to sale tracking system in place, making the risk of crime in the city too great. They hint that things may change in the future, but they would like to see tighter security measures in place before they hop on the wagon.
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Boston, MA: Last month the Governor’s office received a request from the federal government pertaining to the states medical marijuana patients. Gov. Charlie Baker is concerned with the request coming from the White House’s National Marijuana Initiative. He says that most of the information requested is generic such as gender and age range of patients, but some, including specific patient conditions, could be used to identify specific patients. He told CBS Local, “We just got the request. We won’t do anything that is going to violate anybody’s privacy. I can promise you that.” Massachusetts is only one of the states being asked to turn over marijuana patient information to the federal government, but it is not the only one stating they will refuse to give out any information that will lead to identifying the patient.
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Reno, NV: The national convention for the American Legion saw to the approval of a new resolution to urge the federal government to allow Department of Veterans Affairs doctors to recommend marijuana as a medical option to suffering vets. The resolution was created by Legion member Rob Ryan from Ohio. Ohio has the fourth highest rate of overdose deaths in the country. Ryan heard from many veterans that chose to use marijuana instead of opioid painkillers for their ailments. This is not the first time the American Legion has acted in support of medical marijuana. Last year the group showed support for removing marijuana from being a Schedule I drug so there could be more opportunities to study the effects. Studies have continuously showed that marijuana could be extremely useful to veterans suffering from PTSD. One psychiatrist studying those effects has called marijuana the “game-changer” for PTSD sufferers. The Veterans Equal Access measure was introduced last year but died before final legislation. Members are more hopeful for the amendment passing this year with the full weight of the American Legion behind it. Currently the American Legion represents 2 million veterans nationwide.
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It’s a Nice Night for a Weed Wedding
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Flying Pot
Phoenix, AZ: Boarder Patrol Agents in Arizona recently came across a large bundle of marijuana just this side of the wall separating the US from Mexico. Reviewing surveillance video, agents could see the 100-pound package being thrown over the wall and into the country. While it is unclear what device the smugglers are using to launch the heavy load of cannabis over the barrier, officials believe it is probably similar to a stolen van found in Mexico last year which was fitted with a 10-foot air cannon. Spokeswoman Stephanie Dixon says it is a growing and dangerous trend. “Not only is it illegal activity but it’s extremely dangerous to the public,” Dixon says. She recounted one instance when a bundle fell through the roof of a dog house and said the effects of something launched hitting a person would be dire because of the weight of the packages. The latest incident happened one week after a visit from President Trump who once again began voicing ‘the need for a wall’ to stop the flow of drugs from Mexico. Many, however, argue that much of the boarder does have a wall, usually between 18 and 23 feet high, which does not stop smugglers from finding ways to fling their product over it. No arrests have been made in connection to the latest package and as far as boarder agents know there is no investigation as to who sent the package from the Mexican side. Despite the new, creative ways dealers are finding to smuggle their goods into the US, the number of marijuana seizures have dropped dramatically in the last few years.
Michigan News for September 2017 - by Rachel Bunting
Ann Arbor: California-based WeedMaps is bringing “WeedFacts” to Michigan. The technology and marijuana discovery service is paying for 22 pro-cannabis billboards in Lansing, 12 in Ann Arbor, and 6 in Metro Detroit. This is part of an international awareness venture which is also taking place in six other states and Canada. The billboards show statistics from states that have already legalized the plant with the goal of providing “communities with credible, verifiable facts about the benefits of legal marijuana.” Statistics include unchanged youth use, lower crime rates, and increased tax revenue. A spokesperson for the site told the Detroit Free Press, “As Michigan residents consider a marijuana legalization petition…there is a lot of marijuana misinformation out there. So we think it’s important to share and talk about the benefits, underpinned by research, regarding marijuana. We want Michiganders to be informed and we want to foster open, informed discussion and debate.”
While there are groups attempting to get legalization on the November 2018 ballot, they are not working with WeedMaps in their current campaign. A spokesperson for the Coalition to Regulate Alcohol, Josh Hovey, said the organization is ‘indifferent’ to the advertisements as they are more focused on gathering the required number of signatures to make the ballot. Hovey then added, “Our preference, if they want to be helpful, would be for them to contribute [money] for signature collection. We’re not going to do any adds until we’re guaranteed we’re on the ballot.” The site has it’s own motivation for ordering the billboards as they are being called the ‘yelp’ of the legalized marijuana industry. They will have more businesses paying to be a part of their location site once marijuana is legalized in Michigan. Not everyone agrees with billboards. Some critics believe the statistics being presented do not tell the whole story of the effects of legalization in other states and are only based on “half truths”. No matter how critics feel or what the motivation, there is no doubt WeedMaps is trying to boost the idea of full legalization in our state.
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Tim Locke Gets Abrogate Michigan Language Approved
A new legalization petition has been approved in August that would create the most liber language in
the country for cannabis. Unlike the Regulate Cannabis like Alcohol campaign, Abrogate would legalize all form of cannabis and prevent any state monopoly. A grassroots group is forming to acquire the 315,654 signatures needed to pass the constitutional amendment.
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Convicted After Nearly a Year
Benzie County: Last year Michigan State Police, along with the Traverse Narcotic Team and the Benzie County Sheriff’s office, obtained search warrants to raid three properties belonging to Ronald Snyder. The properties contained 383 plants as well as firearms and cash. According to mLive, nearly a year after his initial arrest for his role in the grow operation, Snyder was convicted last month and sentenced to one year with electronic tether, five years of felony probation, 40 hours of community service, and ordered to pay $3,400 in fines. Others who were charged in connection with the raid pled guilty to lesser charges and settled their cases months ago. Officials estimate the street value of the marijuana found to be around $1 million. Though most of the plants were found in enclosed, locked areas with patients names tagged on them, officers claim further investigation showed the suspects were “operating well outside of state laws”. As of now there is no word on whether Snyder plans to appeal the decision.
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Closing Dispensaries to Make Them Legal
East Lansing: Dispensaries are being told to close their doors before a certain date or risk losing the opportunity to become legal in December. This threat comes from a motion proposed by board member Donald Bailey, which roughly says if a dispensary doesn’t shut down operations by September 15th it will be ineligible for licensure when the new system goes into effect on December 15th. Though the board has ultimately postponed voting on the motion, the chair of the Medical Marijuana Licensing Board, Rick Johnson, told attendees of a meeting held last month, “If we don’t do this today we’re going to do it somewhere in the future.” Bailey referred to a Michigan Supreme Court decision from 2013 when defending his proposal, saying ,”Every dispensary that’s out there right now is open in violation of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act.” Last month’s meeting was the first announcement of any plans to change dispensaries before the new licensing law takes effect in December. The idea of closing every dispensary in Michigan for 4 months is meeting strong opposition not only from shop owners themselves, who were caught off guard, but also from medical marijuana patients. One of those patients, Sue Molff, told mLive she depends on the concentrates she is only able to obtain from the retail shops. Most patients, including Molff, hate even thinking of having to turn to the black market for the medication they rely on. Medical patient and PhD candidate from Michigan State University, Mark Gibson, asked the board to take patient access into account. He told those present, “I ask in fairness, not talking about the businesses, but the patients, and ensuring that they have continuous access.” Jason Moon, a spokesperson for LARA, which houses the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation, said there would be a review if the proposal ends up passing the board. Moon said, “The Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation will thoroughly review the recommendations and discussion from the board, and consult with the Attorney General’s office before any action is taken.” This is only a tiny reassurance to the patients with crippling pain and debilitating illnesses that depend on this medication to make it through daily life. Though the board’s next meeting is not scheduled until Oct, Johnson said the board will meet before September to discuss and vote on Bailey’s motion.
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Legalization without Taxation
Lansing: A new ballot proposal effort was given the green light to move forward last month by the Board of State Canvassers. The new movement is focusing on amending the state constitution to fully legalize the use of marijuana without taxing it. The proposal comes from Abrogate Prohibition Michigan of Midland and would get rid of all laws banning or regulating the use of marijuana. There would be no fines, taxes, or penalties associated with use of the plant. Sponsor of the proposal, Timothy Locke, told Detroit Free Press he calls it ‘the Second Amendment of Cannabis’ and compares it to the right to bear arms. There is a provision in the proposal to make the amendment retroactive to 1970. Locke explains that this was included because that is when marijuana was first criminalized in Michigan. If approved the amendment would allow those imprisoned for only state marijuana related crimes would be able to be released and have their records expunged, though this would not apply to federal drug crimes. This is completely a grass roots movement, with no paid signature collectors to gather the 315,654 valid signatures according to Locke. Supporters of the movement believe the change will boost the economy as the plant can be used to make over 50,000 different products. Volunteers will begin collecting signatures at the end of August.
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LARA Wants Your Opinion
Lansing: The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is looking for input from both users and nonusers of medical marijuana to help determine the details of future medical regulations. They would like to hear suggestions on the future rules for growers, processors, safety compliance facilities, dispensaries, and delivery drivers. Spokespersons for LARA, Jason Moon, announced, “We are interested in finding a group that represents diverse perspectives in order to gain insight into the core issues in the implementation of this new regulatory program. We will analyze the potential participants with the intent to capture feedback from all these perspectives.” The Department is inviting anyone who is interested to send an email to LARA-MedicalMarihuana@michigan.gov with WORK GROUP in the subject line to be considered for the opportunity. Other than a name, mailing and email address, phone number, which work group the applicant chooses, and the job title desired, LARA only asks for a 150-word explanation of qualifications to be in the work group. The email needs to be sent by 9 p.m. on September 5th to be considered. Those chosen will be announced on September 12th with the goal of ‘seeking input on the regulatory topics’. Officials stress that even those that are not accepted can voice their opinions at public hearings.
www.mmmrmag.com
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
The Emerging Face of the Michigan Marijuana Licensing Board - by Tim Beck
The second meeting of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board (MMLB) opened with an unexpected bang on August 21st in East Lansing.
Before any input from the medical cannabis community could be taken, Donald Bailey made a motion which was seconded by Vivian Pickard. The motion was to order all dispensaries who want to be considered for a state license, to shut down no later than mid September.
Bailey's motion however, was derailed by David LaMontaine, who declared Bailey's move premature until testimony could be heard from the over 200 members in attendance. The Board agreed with Mr. LaFontaine's opinion and the fireworks began.
The testimonies (limited to 3 minutes per person) went on for close to four hours. At the end of the day, the Board decided further input was needed from LARA and the Office of the Attorney General before a vote could be taken.
It is believed by some, that only the powerful, heartrending testimony from at risk patients, expert opinions from attorney's, and tough denunciations by political activists saved the day. What the final resolution of the matter will be is still unclear as of this writing.
In addition to the compelling drama of the meeting, a clearer picture of where this Board and its members are coming from was revealed to all. Two of the five MMLB members have a clear personal agenda.
Donald Bailey, a retired state police sergeant whose special expertise was busting drug offenders, is an affable, law and order, drug warrior. I spent close to an hour chatting with the man at an anti asset forfeiture rally up north some months ago, before his appointment to the Board and we bantered a bit before the Monday Board meeting on August 21st. I showed him his picture on the cover of last month’s MMM Report Magazine. I teased him a bit about how he looked like a Nazi in the picture, dressed in his police regalia. He replied with a slight smile, stating he already had a copy of the magazine. We then talked in generalities about the dispensary issue. He made it clear his mind was already made up. All "illegal" dispensaries have to go, it’s "the right thing to do." To his credit, Bailey has been transparent since day one. For him, this is a moral crusade. The "wrong” people who opened for business after the McQueen Michigan Supreme Court decision in 2013, deserve to be punished and denied a license.
Unlike Mr. Bailey, MMLB Chairman and Lansing insider, Rick Johnson, does not seem to be motivated by any moralistic compulsions. In another life Johnson was Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, and last year he was a lobbyist for some investors who wanted to get a piece of the cannabis business action in Michigan. He is believed to have been a member of the "Michigan Responsibility Council" (MRC) whose goal in 2015 was to get a state sanctioned oligopoly on all legal marijuana sold in the state. MRC is now fighting to stop legalization in Michigan in 2018 because it is the "wrong" kind of model. Johnson's appointment as MMLB Chairman was lavishly praised by MRC spokesperson, Suzie Mitchell, when the Governor's announcement came down.
Bailey and Johnson were not swayed by any testimony at the meeting. They said so directly.
Ms. Pickard, who initially seconded Bailey's shut down motion, stated after the hearing she could not support any vote that day. David LaFontaine made it clear he was not on board either. Board member, Nicole Cover, remains a cipher, as she was not in attendance on August 21st.
It appears Donald Bailey and Rick Johnson have entered into a marriage of convenience.
Charges by critics that Johnson (in so many words) is a sleazy shill for business interests who wants to cash in by getting rid of the competition, are becoming all too real. And Donald Bailey's moral absolutism and desire to punish lawbreakers, makes for an unholy alliance between the duo as they are two out of five Board votes.
What's up next?
Legal experts are divided as to whether or not the MMLB has the power to do what Bailey and Johnson want. No one knows if they have the majority of the Board in their pocket. No one knows if they will make another play to shut down dispensaries at the next Board meeting-- which could happen prior to September 15th.
It is certain that only the County Prosecutor or AG, Bill Schuette himself, has the power to bust an existing dispensary, not the MMLB. It is unclear however, as to whether this Board even has the power to arbitrarily deny a license to an already existing dispensary, simply because they refuse to shut down upon MMLB command.
What is completely certain is that a plethora of lawsuits will be hitting the fan, and some members of the community will be putting on their war paint. Guaranteed results, should Bailey and Johnson's misguided desires prevail upon the Board as a whole.
Tim Beck is Chairman of the Safer Michigan Coalition. The Coalition's goal
is to fully legalize the use of cannabis by all adults in Michigan.
is to fully legalize the use of cannabis by all adults in Michigan.
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
MICHIGAN NEWS for August 2017 - by Kathy Hess
Mitten Marijuana Milestone
It seems that efforts to finally get the issue of legalizing marijuana on the ballot are off to a fabulous start. The new petition drive has already collected more than 100,000 signatures, only six weeks into the campaign, of the required 252,523 valid signatures within a constricted 180-day period.
With another 100 or so days of signature collecting to go it looks like the organization spearheading the efforts, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, is determined to gather the required signatures in time to put a legalization question on Michigan’s ballot in November of 2018.
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