GCSI and CSG Join Forces to Support Patient and Caregiver Rights in Michigan

The Cannabis Stakeholders Group recently received full representation from Lansing’s lobbyist powerhouse firm Governmental Consultant Services Inc., in efforts to promote patient and caregiver rights to safe access under the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act.

Michigan’s newest Political Action Committee is a grassroots organization of patients, caregivers, industry-related business owners, and like-minded people dedicated to supporting and improving cannabis laws in Michigan. Formed in the early fall of 2013, CSG continues to receive support and sponsorships to get the work done from the cannabis industry across Michigan. 

The Face of Recreational Marijuana

The Face of Recreational Marijuana

By Citizen Jay Daily

The face of recreational marijuana is not what I expected.  In the beginning weeks of 2014, I had the opportunity to experience life beyond the looking glass.  I became a bud tender.  I spent some time back in October going through the motions of getting my support badge from the Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division (MMED, what is now the MED).  At the time, I wanted to spend the effort getting my badge in order to share that experience with my audience.  And although I had entertained the thought of working at a dispensary, it was nothing more than just a thought. 

Ann Arbor Hash Bash: Part 2 of 3

Ann Arbor Hash Bash

Part 2 of 3 

by Adam Brook 

This is part 2 of a 3 part series on the Ann Arbor HASH BASH. If you read last months column you should have done your homework by now. Did you google HASH BASH and look at the images? Did you check out FREEDOM ACTIVIST NETWORK? Yes? Good. Now that you have some history of the event I thought I would touch on what HASH BASH has become in these “modern times”. Remember HASH BASH is an up from the people event. The event was shaped by those who put it together, for many many years.......UNTIL the University was told by the FEDERAL government to shut down the event. Dick Cowan, the former national NORML director, once told me about a conversation he had on an airplane on his way to speak at HASH BASH. He sat next to a U of M dean who basically told him how the University was being pressured to do something about HASH BASH. This was a HUGE realization as we (the ACLU took our first case) had been battling the university in court for a couple of years in order to get our permit. They kept losing and then each year they would try a different tactic in refusing us our permit. We sued the University 5 times in 6 years in the 90’s. Won each time and even got $5000 out of them for our lawyer. 

The Marijuana Conviction

The Marijuana Conviction: 

A History of Marijuana Prohibition in the United States

By Richard Bonnie and Charles Whitehead (1974, reprinted 1999).

These authors are professors, not potheads, but their story of cannabis prohibition is a “page turner”. Special attention is given to the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, which the Virginia Law Review has called “a near comic example of dereliction of legislative responsibility” and “a case study in legislative carelessness”.

Souped-Up Soil

Souped-Up Soil

 by Rick Weller, Founder of Organically Done Plant Products

Hot soil, super soil, souped-up soil...these all refer to soil with organic additives blended throughout prior to planting. The objective of making a souped-up soil is to place all of the elements (nutrients, amino acids, minerals, etc.) that a plant needs to grow into your planting mix. The goal is to produce healthy, high-yielding plants only adding water during the

grow cycle.

Fresh Water, What’s That?

Fresh Water, What’s That? 

by Chelsea Shaker

Like a scene out of National Geographic magazine, entire families and towns waited in never-ending lines for a fresh supply of  clean water- the difference is it happened right here in the United States. Over 9 counties and 300,000 families in West Virginia suffered from over 7,500 gallons of  calcium chloride and glycerin being spilled into the Elk River  and contaminated their water supply just miles from the West Virginia American Water Co., the regions main source of fresh water.  Major parts of Charleston, W.Va and various town had tanker trucks by the thousands bring them fresh water to sustain until conditions were examined and cleaned up, which is still currently active.

Cannabis Law Reform Planning for 2014 Underway

Cannabis Law Reform Planning for 2014 Underway  

Michigan Legislators Attend Strategy Meeting

The cannabis law reform movement in Michigan constantly gains momentum. We aim straight for victory. “You can make it if you try” says reggae singer Jimmy Cliff; and in Michigan we try harder. Our movement had a winning 2013, and enthusiasm for 2014 is tremendous.  2014 will be critical and decisive.