World News - August 2018

Cannabis Oil Crosses Border Legally, One Time.

GREAT BRITAIN- Following many months of tireless efforts, Warwickshire county resident Hannah Deacon managed to obtain a license from the Home Office back in June to allow her to obtain and treat her son, Alfie Dingley, with cannabis oil. Young Alfie suffers from Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy and experiences regular daily seizures without the oil.

But Deacon was able to pass through customs at London City Airport Tuesday evening after returning from a trip to Amsterdam where she had obtained medicinal cannabis oil for her son.

“Today, for the first time ever in this country, we have brought back THC oil through the airport legally,” said Deacon after coming through customs. “Which is amazing. It is very, very important for him to have a normal, happy life, so it’s a momentous occasion for us, his whole family, and for him, most importantly.”

Deacon had secured and brought back a supply of thirty milliliters of oil from the Netherlands, enough to last Alfie for up to five months.

Alfie’s General Practitioner, who approves the medication for prescription, is also charged with storing and dispensing the oil to Alfie. When the supply of medicine is exhausted, Deacon will likely have to repeat the entire approval process unless cannabis oil is rescheduled in the meantime.

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Caribbean to Consider Cannabis Confirmation

CARIBBEAN ISLANDS- The heads of Caribbean nations have agreed to “review marijuana’s current status with a view to reclassification,” noting “human and religious rights” issues stemming from criminalization as well as “the economic benefits to be derived” from legalization.

The move, which was announced by The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), an organization of nations including Bahamas, Barbados, Haiti, Jamaica and others, comes after a committee formed by the group recommended replacing cannabis criminalization with legal regulation.

“The medical and scientific evidence is clear that marijuana has substantial value,” commission Chair Rose-Marie Belle Antoine said. “Thousands of people are being imprisoned especially the most vulnerable and most marginalized in the region.”

The 19 Caribbean heads of state attending the group’s meeting in Jamaica this week “welcomed” the report, according to the official communiqué released at the conclusion of the gathering on Saturday, which also notes that “the current classification of marijuana as an illicit drug presented a challenge in the conduct of research to fully understand and ascertain the medicinal benefits to be derived.”

“They are recommending the decriminalization of marijuana. […] that it be deemed a substance that is controlled and managed as alcohol,” CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque said of the commission’s report.

The communiqué issued by the heads of state reads:

“Heads of Government welcomed the Report of the Regional Commission on Marijuana. They noted its findings, conclusions and recommendations in particular with respect to human and religious rights; the social and developmental impact of use among adolescents; the economic benefits to be derived and issues related to its classification.

 “They agreed that action should be taken at the national level by the relevant authorities to review marijuana’s current status with a view to reclassification taking into account all international obligations. […] Member States would need to review the Report in more detail to determine action at each national level in relation to law reform models as proposed by the Commission.

 “We also agreed that each member state, in accordance with its own circumstances, would determine its own pathway to pursue the law reforms necessary as proposed by the Regional Marijuana Commission,” Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said at a press conference.

The move by Caribbean nations comes just weeks after Canadian lawmakers voted to legalize marijuana. Mexico’s incoming presidential administration is poised to end cannabis prohibition as well.

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‘Chill Waves’ No Longer Crash South Australia 

AUSTRALIA- South Australia’s standing as a “cool state” has come under threat this week, with a push to change the way weed possession is prosecuted. Marijuana has been decriminalized in the state since 1987. Previously, getting busted with less than 25 grams would only see you hit with a maximum fine of $500; but it was more common to receive one for $125.

But this all looks set to change with the state government introducing laws to parliament to quadruple penalties for possession, pushing the maximum fine to $2000. Furthermore, they’re also out to create a new maximum prison sentence of two years, the same as ecstasy and heroin. Other plans also include introducing random drug checks and sniffer dogs in schools.

The changes are part of an ongoing push to increase penalties around possession that have been unfolding since last year. These increases were stoked by Deputy Coroner Anthony Schapel’s inquest into the 2012 murder of teenager Lewis McPherson.

McPherson was killed by fellow teen, Liam Humbles, who was drunk and high at the time of the crime. The coroner is reported to have said: “The maximum monetary penalty for the offences of possession, smoking and consumption of cannabis, cannabis resin and cannabis oil [should] be increased from $500 to a figure that reflects the deleterious effects that the consumption of those substances can have on the individual, especially the young”.

Opponents of the changes have spoken out, arguing that the change in the law would overload the legal system with small cases. They also stood by the current system, which favors counseling and diversion programs over jail time.

South Australian Member of Legislative Council (Greens Party) Tammy Franks also mentioned that laws like this target vulnerable groups who are less likely to pay to defend themselves in court. She called it a “war on the homeless, Aboriginal people and the poor”.

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Cannabis Company Gets $10M from Snoop Dog

GREAT BRITIAN- Snoop’s venture capital company Casa Verde Capital is among several to put $10 million into British cannabis venture Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies. (OCT) The firm also announced Blunt Talk/Star Trek/ X-Men star (and medical cannabis fan) Sir Patrick Stewart has become a patron.

“I am proud to become a patron of OCT. It’s wonderful that OCT have got together the funding that means that Britain will lead the way in what is, in my view, one of the world’s most exciting fields of medical research.” stated Patrick Steward. “The possibilities seem to me, to be virtually limitless.” Stewart (who says he uses cannabis medicine to help with his arthritis) will serve on OCT’s Advisory Board, with further appointments set to be announced.

OCT, established in 2017 to harness the prospective medical benefits of cannabinoids, also announced it has recently successfully completed a new round of funding. Research has now started across several new areas including treatments for cancer, pain management, a number of neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and MS and a range of inflammatory diseases.

“Snoop is a fan of cannabis, it’s fair to say” Neil Mahapatra, Chairman of OCT, “At a time when medical cannabis markets are opening across the world, it is still surprising how little focus appears to be dedicated to understanding the underlying molecular actions of cannabinoids.

We want to help fill this knowledge gap, ultimately developing medical products that could help a large number of people.”

National News - August 2018

SCOTUS Nominee’s Stance on Marijuana

WASHINGTON DC- POTUS’s Supreme Court pick, Brett Kavanaugh, will shape the country’s legal system for decades to come, if he is confirmed by the Senate. But how might the federal judge rule in cases dealing with marijuana legalization?

When it comes to cannabis and the right of states to set their own laws, it’s really anybody’s guess at this point. Kavanaugh doesn’t appear to have weighed in on the issue specifically, but it’s possible he’ll be asked about his views during confirmation hearings by pro-legalization Judiciary Committee members like Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) or Kamala Harris (D-CA).

However, a brief overview of the nominee’s judicial record reveals someone who routinely defers to the regulatory authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has for decades refused to change marijuana’s restrictive status under
federal law.

For example, Kavanaugh sided with the majority in a 2007 case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which determined that terminally ill patients don’t have a constitutional right to access drugs that haven’t received FDA approval.

A 2012 case concerning drug testing—for which Kavanaugh wrote a dissenting opinion—is also revealing. The federal judge argued that mandating drug testing of government employees at specialized residential schools for at-risk youth doesn’t violate the Fourth Amendment.

“A residential school program for at-risk youth who have a history of drug problems can turn south quickly if the schools do not maintain some level of discipline,” he wrote. “To maintain discipline, the schools must ensure that the employees who work there do not themselves become part of the problem. That is especially true when, as here, the employees are one of the few possible conduits for drugs to enter the schools.”

Kavanaugh also upheld the authority of the FDA in a 2013 case. He argued that the federal agency’s procedure for approving or denying expedited approval of medical devices should be respected. “A court is ill-equipped to second-guess that kind of agency scientific judgment.”

Kavanaugh said that because the drug testing program is “narrowly targeted” and the government “has a strong and indeed compelling interest in maintaining a drug-free workforce,” the mandate doesn’t amount to a violation of the constitutional right against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Though these cases don’t provide an especially comprehensive window into the SCOTUS nominee’s views on marijuana specifically, they do appear to reflect a pattern: Kavanaugh puts his faith in the FDA, which has denied that marijuana has any proven medical benefits, and his interpretation of the limitations of the Fourth Amendment seems to stand in contrast to drug policy reform advocates.

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Jury Clears MM Patient

GEORGIA-  The jury heard the case over three days of trial, spent two hours deliberating last week and ultimately found Javonnie McCoy not guilty on all counts, his attorney Catherine Bernard wrote in a Facebook post. McCoy was acquitted through a process known as jury nullification.

It’s not an especially unique choice in a Georgia court—except that the defendant,  McCoy, admitted that he was guilty. McCoy, who said he grew cannabis for personal use to treat chronic headaches he developed after being severely beaten in 2003, was transparent in the courtroom. And it paid off.

“The jury appreciated his honesty throughout the case—including testimony at trial and statements to police—and recognized that a good, hard working man living a quiet life and not bothering anyone didn’t deserve a felony conviction for his actions,” Bernard said.

Jury nullification isn’t unheard of, but McCoy’s case seemed to symbolically challenge prohibitionist policies that put patients and non-violent users in prison, with a criminal record that could follow them for the rest of their lives. While Georgia allows patients to use CBD extracts for medical purposes if a doctor recommends it, cultivating the plant is a felony that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in prison.

In other words, even if the judge wanted to give McCoy a pass, their hands would be tied. Only the jury’s leniency and right to nullify allowed the defendant avoid a serious conviction.

“Most people—and even many lawyers—are surprised to learn that juries are not required to follow the law,” Vince Sliwoski, an attorney at the Harris Bricken/Canna Law Group, wrote. “When a jury’s conscience takes over and tells it that someone does not deserve criminal punishment for his or her actions, regardless of the law, the jury can choose to acquit.”

Sliwoski offered an interesting, hypothetical scenario. What if a jury in federal court was tasked with deciding the fate of an individual charged for violating the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)? “The possibility of jury nullification in a CSA case against a cannabis business is both fascinating and realistic.”

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Committee Blocks Marijuana Votes (Again)

WASHINGTON DC- Lawmakers on a key congressional committee once again blocked colleagues in the full House from being able to vote on marijuana-related amendments.

But the Republican-controlled Rules Committee, led by Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), continued its recent tradition of preventing floor votes on any and all measures to scale back federal cannabis prohibition.

Before this block, his panel had blocked at least 34 other cannabis-related amendments from reaching the floor for votes during the current Congress. The full House of Representatives has not been allowed to consider marijuana reform proposals since the spring of 2016.

Bipartisan groups of lawmakers cosponsored two new cannabis measures, which they were seeking to attach to legislation to fund parts of the federal government through Fiscal Year 2019.

(A third marijuana-related measure considered proposes shifting money away from forest and rangeland research toward “eradicating, enforcing, and remediating illegal marijuana grow operations on National Forest System land.” That measure was cleared for a floor vote.)

Under a ballot measure approved by D.C. voters in 2014, low-level marijuana possession and home cultivation is legal. But because of an ongoing federal appropriations rider enacted in past years included in the new FY19 bill, local officials have been prevented from adding a system of taxed and regulated cannabis sales.

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Criminal Cannabis Market Shrinking

COLORADO- There are no completely accurate methods to measure the size of illicit markets, no matter what is being bought and sold. There are, however, some figures that can be taken as proxies of these markets. In the case of cannabis, it could be argued that seizures and confiscations can be, in a way, interpreted as surrogates of the actual illicit market sales.

Seizure figures can help us better understand the direction of the illegal markets: are they growing or shrinking?

Total confiscations declined by 35 percent from 2016 to 2017, signaling a similar drop in illicit market marijuana sales over last year – and an even larger drop when compared to previous years.
However, it’s important to notice that confiscations can relate to different phenomena. The decline can also be interpreted as:

• A signal of a reduction of illegal cannabis production and sales.
• A reflection of a reduced interest by the DEA and other agencies.
• A proxy of a decline in the efficiency or efficacy of said law enforcement agencies.
• A sign of the surging impediments and hurdles these federal agencies face as more states legalize weed.

 It can be difficult to quantify with precision just how large the illegal market is and moreover, to what extent it is contracting. In order to determine a baseline, the analysis of plant confiscations by state as disclosed by the DEA in its annual report as well as marijuana seizures reported along the southern border by Homeland Security.

The decline in overall activity could very well be attributed to an enforcement protocol that is more lax than in years past as provisions in the federal budget preclude the deployment of resources to shut down legal pot businesses… But the key is LEGAL businesses so, in theory, illegal markets should continue to feel pressure from fed intervention.

As it can be appreciated, black market sales accounted for only 1/3 of sales in Colorado, and half of sales in Washington.

 “The successful reduction of the illicit markets in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon provides evidence that legalization works, and continues to support the assertion that ‘more legalization is better.’ Colorado has been most successful, licensed most liberally, and taxed the least; its legal market has grown the most and done the most damage to the illicit market. With the addition of California and Canada to the ranks of adult-use markets, it can now be expected that the overall North American illicit market will continuously decline throughout the forecast period and beyond,” it reads.

Michigan News - August 2018

SJR-S: to Protect Voter Initiatives

LANSING- The Republican-led Senate and House did not pass the citizens' initiative legalizing recreational marijuana so they could amend it with a simple majority vote as opposed to rolling the dice on a public vote and then needing a three-quarters super majority to pass "clean-up legislation.”

But Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint) says this option should never have been on table to begin with. His constitutional amendment, SJR-S (was introduced June 5 and has been referred to the Senate Elections and Government Reform Committee. If it wins a two-thirds vote in the Senate and House, a question to amend the constitution would be placed on the ballot for voters to decide) is designed to protect the initiative petition and referendum process from what he calls "legislative bait-and-switch" tactics.

SJR S would require a three-fourths vote to amend or repeal any law enacted from initiative petition, even if adopted by the Legislature.

"When people sign a petition, they have an expectation that certain outcomes are going to happen," he said. "Marijuana highlighted the gamesmanship that potentially could happen. Thank goodness it wasn't able to get done, but there was a lot of potential circumventing of citizens wishes."

The state constitution allows citizens to initiate legislation by petition. If voters approve it at the ballot box, lawmakers must have a three-quarters majority vote to amend or alter it. If the House and Senate adopt it legislatively, only a simple majority is needed.

Ananich said that should not be too difficult for lawmakers. From 2015-2017, 70 percent of bills passed in the Senate by a supermajority three-fourths vote, he contended.

The resolution would also prevent the Legislature from repealing or amending a law submitted by initiative until the next legislative session. It would extend the power of referendum to any act except general appropriation bills. This would put an end to tagging on meaningless appropriations to bills just to make them immune to repeal.

The constitution currently blocks any bill that includes an appropriation from being subject to referendum. Ananich said the purpose is to protect the budget from being challenged at the ballot box, which could wreak havoc on state finances.

"They put appropriations on bills that they never spend to stop citizens to having a right to an initiative. The second emergency manager law was an example of that. There have been a few other examples of where they are so afraid of the voters saying we don't agree with this that they throw a meaningless appropriation on it for the pure purpose of circumventing the voters will. And I think
that's a problem," he explained.

That's the way the constitution was written, but Ananich argues it was never the intent that lawmakers should use appropriations on bills that are controversial to take away citizens' rights to overturn that with a referendum.


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Raid on Cultivation Applicant Facility;

DETROIT- On May 29, Detroit police executed a search warrant and arrested six workers inside the facility. Police officers, in conjunction with U.S. Border Patrol agents, confiscated more than 100 lbs. of cannabis. The six were arraigned June 1 in Michigan’s 36th District Court.

Attorneys for the company told local reporters that Viola Extracts had obtained its temporary cannabis business permit from the city of Detroit. Viola investor Al Harrington, a former NBA star and longtime industry advocate, stated “We're a company that's doing everything by the books. … They just decided to completely disregard all the paperwork that our company spent a lot of time obtaining.”
A spokesperson at the city’s Law Department confirmed that Viola Extracts had been granted zoning approval for its medical marihuana business. Such approval is a prerequisite for earning a state license.

 “At the end of the day, the issue with the industry is that a lot of people or entrepreneurs in the space, especially black and minority [entrepreneurs], only get one time to get this right,” Harrington told Cannabis Business Times. “When you have raids like this that happen and they seize bank accounts ... it puts you in a position where you can't even fight. It's out of your hands, and you're done. You're at the mercy of the court.”

The six defendants were each charged with controlled substance violations involving the delivery or manufacture of 45 kilograms or more of marijuana or 200 or more plants—a Class-C felony with a 15-year maximum prison sentence. Four of the six defendants were also charged with conspiracy to commit controlled substance violation, a felony that similarly carries a 15-year maximum prison sentence.

“Law enforcement raids of legally licensed and regulated operations across the country have been dating back now since the beginning of the licensing of cannabis [in the U.S.], and we need to bring a face and understanding of what is happening,” she said at the July 13 press conference. “These businesses are unable to recover, resulting in loss of high-paying jobs and marketable skills.”

“Because of these new laws and emergency regulations, companies from all over the country—legitimate companies—are coming here and investing in the city of Detroit,” attorney Barton Morris said at the press conference. “They’re investing in the state of Michigan. They’re investing in our economy in order to bring regulated commercial cannabis cultivation here in the city.”

Harrington states Viola specifically chose Detroit because of the investment implications: local jobs, the rehabilitation of an old riverfront warehouse, civic participation in a burgeoning industry. (Viola also has corporate operations in Colorado, Oregon and California.) “We want to be able to operate,” Harrington said. “We want to be able to go out and [take] our advantage of being the first to market in a huge market like Michigan.”

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Legalization of Recreational Cannabis Divides Gubernatorial Candidates down Party Lines

LANSING- In November, Michigan voters will not only decide who will be the state’s next governor, but also whether to legalize recreational marijuana. And candidates for Michigan governor in this month’s primary are sharply divided, along party lines, when it comes to legalizing recreational marijuana.

Here is a summary of which candidates stand where:

Lt. Governor Brian Calley summed up the GOP argument. “Having another mind-altering substance out there, with the endorsement of the government, I think it a bad thing,” says Calley.

State Senator Patrick Colbeck raised the issue of thousands of Michigan workers failing employer required drug tests. He says there are currently 31,000 open jobs in his state Senate district. “That number of open job-openings in my district is going to go up,” says Colbeck. “When that number of job openings goes up, the number of people on government assistance is also going to go up because they can’t find a job because they can’t pass a drug test.”

Dr. Jim Hines, a Saginaw gynecologist, is a supporter of medical marijuana, but not recreational marijuana. He says there are several potential issues, including lung cancer threats.

Attorney General Bill Schuette; A decade ago, Schuette lead the campaign against legalizing medical marijuana in Michigan.  A Schuette campaign spokesman released a statement saying, “Bill does not personally support legalizing recreational marijuana but as governor he will respect the will of the voters.”

Democrat Gretchen Whitmer (D)expects Michigan voters will approve legalizing recreational marijuana in November, which she says makes the implementation question key. “So it stays out of the hands of kids. To insure the dollars actually go where they’re supposed to go…into our infrastructure and our schools,” says Whitmer.

Businessman Shri Thanedar (D)sees a business opportunity for Michigan entrepreneurs: “I would make sure that big corporations from out-of-state do not come and take advantage of this new law,” says Thanedar.

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (D)calls legalization a civil rights issue. “If you are black in this country, you are 3.3 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession, despite no higher likelihood of use,” says El-Sayed.

Both El-Sayed and Thanedar say they would use their power as governor to pardon non-violent drug offenders serving time in Michigan prisons, and expunge their criminal records if Michiganders vote to legalize recreational marijuana.

Candidate Bill Gelineau (L)says there are several positives that can come from legalization, including reallocating law enforcement resources. “Redirection of police and judicial resources to serious crime; a reduction in the law enforcement infrastructure,” Gelineau says on his website. “We simply won’t need to pay for as many enforcement tools, from probation to prison.

John Tatar is the other Libertarian appearing on the August primary ballot, claims he supports decriminalizing recreational marijuana.

Cover Story: Stop on by The Station - by MMM Report

STOP ON BY THE STATION 

First of it's Kind in the area

Tuscola county is home to The Station Provisioning Center which serves its medical marijuana patients and the first facility of it’s kind to operate under Michigan’s emergency rules. A vintage little building at 302 E. Huron Ave. which used to be a Gas Station, is now the goto shop for many people in the area.

“At The Station we strive to give our patients the attention needed to find the right product for their ailments. Budtenders are knowledgeable and eager to help provide a friendly and stress-free environment. "We hope that every patient has a great experience in our center.”-Mark Bills, The Station Manager.  “We provide our patients with top quality medication and a personalized experience.”

Treating their patients’ ailments with the proper meds is certainly a priority, however safety is also of the most paramount. The Station not only covers the entire property in security cameras, and locked entry ways, the employees are equipped with panic buttons to alert the authorities if the need should ever arise. They do so to add as much protection and peace of mind to its patients (and employees) as possible.

The Station wants everyone to feel at home, and if the friendly security doesn’t do it alone, the warm, clean, inviting décor will get you there.  The knowledgeable staff treats you like the ever-helpful neighbor, guiding you to the best treatment for your symptoms.

The amenities don’t stop there. Located next door to The Station, at 310 E Huron Avenue, is the holistic center ISC.

The Station, together with IHSC, want to fulfill a complete holistic approach to treating the residents of Tuscola county.  They even have plans to bring in some support groups to IHSC, ensure that mind, body and soul are treated. 

“If there’s an interest piqued, we can then help them to get their medical-marijuana cards and they can come through and make some decisions as to whether they’d like to incorporate cannabis into some other holistic treatments.” 

 
The Station not only ensures that its patrons have access to knowledge, support and peace of mind, they also make sure their patients have access to top shelf, lab tested, verified safe and affordable medicines to the card holding patients.
Because at The Station…
Our Patients become our friends.

Cannibals of Freedom: Is the 4th of July a Celebration of Parasitism?? - by Daniel L. Price, Esq.

Finally, summer is here!  But, is there a dark secret lurking under our 4th of July celebrations?  I mean really, what do we celebrate on the 4th?  Sure, most people have picnics, drink the beverage of their choice, wave cute red, white, and blue flags and pennants, and those living on lakes have boat decorating contests, and spectacular fireworks.

I live on Crockery Lake in Chester Twp., MI.  But, the celebration this year will be clouded by the lake association board (“CLA”), and Chester Twp board’s (“TWP”), decision to enact an ordinance which denies lake residents freedom.  The ordinance makes it a crime to have our friends’ boat(s) moored up to our dock(s) overnight.  It also targets one landowner who has a private boat launch on their property, by making it a crime to use the launch, among other things.  As freedom hating as that is, it’s the way the ordinance came about that is under-handed, sneaky, favoritism politics.  Indeed, the Twp. held a public meeting with notice of the ordinance on the agenda.  But, enough residents showed up to complain that the TWP tabled it for that month.  However, the next month, without public notice, the Twp. enacted the ordinance anyway.  Yep, the board essentially told those residents, and freedom, to Fuck Off!!! 

The CLA president stated in an open letter that an unnamed resident had an unspecified problem with an unnamed neighbor, and that it worked to have the ordinance written and pushed through by the Twp.  That person with the problem, rather than using current laws and ordinances and taking the issue to the courts, decided to rob all the residents of some of their freedom.  I guess it’s cheaper to destroy freedom than to fight for it.  It certainly takes less thought. 

The CLA president also assured residents the ordinance would only be enforced if you turned in your neighbor.  Nice!  This creates a situation where if we speak out against the CLA, Twp, or any of its members individually, we will be fined and prosecuted, but if we cozy up to them, we are given permission to break the law without penalty.  Wink!

Of course, the language of justification for the ordinance, which applies to all laws that deprive individuals of their rights, is that it is in the interest of the public health, public safety, public good, and public welfare.  Never mind that these are all incapable of objective definition, because it is a requirement to base laws on the undefinable when their very purpose is to deny us our rights.  Indeed, the “public” consists of individuals and does not exist independent of individuals.  Therefore, laws are not for us, but for those in power, and against us as individuals. 

The following are those known to be responsible in Chester Township:

Twp. Gary Meerman (Supervisor), Jan Redding (Clerk), Dianne Berenbrock (Treasurer), Mike Dunnuck (Trustee), and Troy Goodno (Trustee);

CLA. Bruce Collen (Pres.), Pat Wolters (VP), Bob Blaiwkamp (Treasurer), Linda Lane (Secretary), and Trustees Dennis Arms, Linda Rexford and Del Deur.

I will remember those who fought for our independence when I celebrate the freedoms for which so many men and women gave up their money, property and lives.  I wonder if they would have done that if they knew that future generations of parasitic liberty hating control freaks would act to destroy those freedoms and dump them in the garbage stinking of rotting flesh.  At the same time, the parasites will be celebrating the 4th in honor of destroying freedom to satisfy their insane lust to control others, while spitting in the face of all those who gave up so much.  I note:  The lust to control others is a weed that grows only in the vacant lots of an abandoned mind. 

Let’s celebrate the 4th of July this year with a purpose to honor the freedom that was this nation’s promise.  Then let’s celebrate the struggle to fulfill that promise by thinking not about what we can take from others, but what we can produce for ourselves. Yes, you may be labeled a criminal or a traitor by the government and unthinking parasites for thinking for yourself.  But remember, the men and women who began this country put it all on the line, their reputations, property, money, and their lives.  Many lost everything.  Yet they earned independence for the new nation.  We too can earn our freedom, but it will take independent thought, and guts.  The most important thing to remember is that we must always be aware that when we act to deny others their freedom, we deny our own freedom, as we give others permission to take it from us.

America is at a crossroad.  One way leads to the total destruction of freedom, one leads to freedom.  Choose! 

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.

MMMR Recipe: Watermelon Buzz Blast - by Annette Nay Nay

INGREDIENTS

6 cups of watermelon

1 cups sliced cucumbers

1 juice of a lime

1 cup of mint leaves

1 cup of water

1/4 cinnamon

2 tablespoons of ground cannabis

1/2 almond milk

1/2  cup slivered almonds

DIRECTIONS

Cut watermelon in one inch cubes and cucumbers spread on a cookie sheet with wax paper. Place in a freezer until frozen about 1 to 2 hours. Meanwhile while place mint leaves in a bowl, pour boiling water over them covered estate for about 10 minutes. Drain mint leaves squeeze a lime in. Place reserved liquid in refrigerator to chill. Disregard leaves. Place Frozen watermelon cubes and cucumbers in the in a blender with cool mint liquid , cinnamon cannabis and almond milk. Blend on highest speed, until smooth, about 15 seconds. Serve in. 2 tall glasses, garnished sugar on the rim with watermelon balls on wedges, mint leaves and lime. Mini kabob style .

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL - Chad Morrow

State licensure is slow, communities unsure how to react,
some embrace, some battle, take a look at our Capitol.

The medical marihuana regulatory system and issuance of licenses is something that continues to be a hot topic throughout the state of Michigan. It seems that the majority of Michiganders can’t watch the nightly news or read their local paper without seeing mention of it several times a month. The first licenses were to be issued at the last BMMR meeting and it was canceled just days prior. Since it was cancelled, they’ve issued several bulletins about packaging, Ohio certifications, and Hazardous materials, yet not one license.

Conversations in local municipalities about opting in or out are still happening all over the state. There are communities like Bay City who have not only opted in, but are approving licenses at a rapid rate, being viewed one of the communities grabbing the reigns and leading by example. There are other communities opting out, some wanting nothing to do with any of the facilities, while others are taking a wait and see approach, wanting to see how it goes in the municipalities that allow them first. Then there are the contentious communities that seem to try to move forward only to be then be pushed back. Examples of this can be seen throughout the state. A meeting scheduled in Cadillac to discuss opting in or out with the puble is coming up, a year after Don Koshmider was continually trying to educate the council, they are now having the discussion while he sits in prison for medical marihuana. Kalamazoo township opted in, then a recall effort was made on the council members that voted to opt in, so the opt in has now been rescinded. The City of Detroit has two ordinances on the ballot this November to decide between the cities draft, and the peoples draft that was done via petition initiative. Lets not forget Lansing, a community with an opt in ordinance on the books, provisioning centers open, and a petition initiative to throw out the current ordinance that’s currently turned in enough signatures, but the signatures are being contested in a court battle. For the record,
Lansing’s petition is because they want more provisioning centers than the current ordinance allows!

Lets take a closer look at Lansing. The ordinance allows for 20 provisioning centers and an additional 5 if needed at a later date. In a city with more than double that number already, the majority of them were forced to closer their doors when they either couldn’t meet one of the states many criteria, or they were denied at a local level for one of any number of reasons, including a point system designed to choose the right applicants. That caused many to get a petition initiative going to toss that ordinance in favor of one allowing more. The needed amount of signatures was a little more that 4000 and more than 6000 were turned in. I spoke with Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope who explained many signatures were challenged and thrown out for being duplicates, non Lansing residents, or out of state circulators didn’t fill them out accordingly. Much of this is being challenged in court by the Let Lansing Vote committee. Mr Swope stated the city had asked for a summary disposition in court to have the case thrown out which was denied. So while the case moves forward, Lansing shops are open under an ordinance that may or may not stay. Mr. Swope stated the reason for the cap and the number was a number of reasons, they want a well regulated industry, other business owners were concerned about too many shops in business corridors, and that even some dispensary owners were for the caps. After a committee couldn’t come to an agreement on the language, a council member brought her own version that was basically adopted by the council with the cap. One thing I thought readers would want to know, where did the numbers 20 to 25 come from for the cap? Mr. Swope stated the city had consulted with a company in the industry, Weedmaps, who advised them that a cap is important to regulation, and that if your cap is too low, you’ll fuel the black market, and if its too high, its hard for shops to stay profitable which encourages them to cut corners and/or violate laws. The number suggested was 1 or 2 shops for every 10,000 people. Lansing has a population of 116,000 so they’re in at the high side of that suggestion. Mr. Swope stated 20 to 25 is probably too high for Lansing, but being that they’ll serve the greater area surrounding Lansing, it should be sufficient.

I spoke with Cannabis attorney Joshua Covert in Lansing and his personal take was quite different. First thing to take note of, I had to wait around for him because he needed CBD isolate and it wasn’t as easy as running to the nearest shop to get. He had to go up and down Cedar St, only to leave empty handed because they didn’t have any or it was over $60 a gram. He finally found a half gram for $20 and it was the last half gram in the shop. Before the shops were all shut down, Mr. Covert stated he could buy a whole gram at any number of shops for $20 to $30. In fact he noticed it was on sale for only $15 a gram at Lake Effect in Portage, Mi. He stated in his mind, that “a low cap was set to appease the anti cannabis group, who’s the minority in Lansing, and to ensure success for a limited group of people”. Mr. Covert stated one of his clients shops had an application denied, they appealed the denial and the hearing officer recommended an appeal hearing. He stated Mr. Swope held onto the recommendation for a month, then approved the appeal only to deny the application on points the same day. “My opinion is that the city is denying the high volume, low margin, for patient shops, in favor of the high margin for profit minded businesses. All the places providing cheap affordable medicine were shut down!” Covert was quoted saying. He also stated the Lansing ordinance as written could possibly cause an unfair advantage to Lansing businesses compared to businesses in other communities with the way the current ordinance is worded. “The way they have co locations and licenses set up subjects them to the secure transport and other expenses businesses that set up in other communities won’t be subjected to.”, according to Covert.

Got Meds is a provisioning center that was open for several years, was a staple in the Lansing Medical Marihuana scene, won Cannabis awards in multiple events, and had a huge patient base, but didn’t make the cut in the application process in Lansing. According to Mike Barron, marketing and advertising consultant for Got Meds, the company had everything to pass state licensure but they got pointed out in an extremely restrictive and hazy application process. “Got Meds received zero points for contributions to the community yet Got Meds donated all the lumber and labor to have a fence built for a community park” Barron said. “The company was an online website, just an idea by people back in 2011, basically a concept, it became brick and mortar in 2013, and was closed March 15th, 2018. They re-opened on May 19th after the cities request to have the initiative lawsuit thrown out, confident that the petition would win and the ordinance would have to be redone, knowing their application to the state was in by Feb. 15th and their denial locally was under an ordinance that would soon be invalid. On May 21st Lansing police issued them a ticket, and they were issued the same ticket the following day for being open. They then closed again and have since had both tickets tossed in court. “My thought is this, rather than working with the business owners and community, they seem to be working with a select few. And rather than being reasonable, they’re spending a lot of money fighting what the majority want. There was 85 applicants and each one paid $5000 to apply. If you’re denied, you get half of it back so their expenses of processing the app are covered. But if this ordinance gets tossed, they have to refund all of it. Then they lost all that money and they’re spending money fighting this in court. They spent money on an outside firm to go through applicants and they spent money on an outside firm to go through signatures.” Barron stated. Upon hearing the concerns of other businesses in the corridors and concerns of too many shops around them, Barron stated that the businesses around Got Meds always told him they were busier ever since Got Meds opened, and that other provisioning centers opened up in the same area, filling what had been vacant buildings for quite some time. “Something is fishy over here, all these shops are put under all this scrutiny and these point scoring systems here in Lansing, held to all kinds of standards other businesses aren’t held to here in Lansing. Just take a look at Let Lansing Vote, some of the signatures thrown out were because the circulator was from St. Louis, Missouri, an out of state collector, the clerk invalidated those claiming he filled the forms out wrong, turns out the clerk was wrong and those ones should count and we only missed by less than 50, and that was several pages of signatures incorrectly thrown out.”

One thing is for certain in Lansing, nothing is certain. Mike Barron, Josh Covert, and Chris Swope all agreed on one thing, if Let Lansing Vote is successful, there will be no ordinance in Lansing at that point and Lansing would be considered a city that hasn’t opted in and all current shops open under the current ordinance and emergency rules would have to close. Michiganders passed medical marihuana in 2007, 10 plus years later, the struggle is still ongoing. Patience is a virtue, especially when dealing with POLITICS.