Medical marijuana sting targets doctor
The News Review:
- Medical marijuana sting targets doctor
- Marijuana patients caught in a cloud of confusion
- Lighten our prison load: Decriminalize marijuana
- Traffic stop evolves into drug bust
- Amy Winehouse in bubbly mood after dope bust
- Police Blotter
Medical marijuana sting targets doctor
San Diego Union Tribune – Oct 21, 2007
California was the first of a dozen states that have legalized marijuana for medical use, although federal drug laws still make any use of the drug illegal. Some say medical marijuana laws properly legitimize marijuana as a therapeutic drug. Others say they are just backdoor attempts to legalize marijuana. Since the California law went on the books, the Medical Board has investigated 20 complaints filed against doctors who prescribe marijuana. Five doctors have been disciplined statewide… In an interview, Sterner defended his prescribing practices, saying he must rely on the symptoms described by his patients. He spoke contemptuously of the police, saying they were simply trying to “lampoon” his practice by going undercover with a hidden camera. Sterner said he is a Harvard graduate and has a bloodline to one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, a document he pointed out was written on paper milled from cannabis hemp. He spoke passionately about his belief in the marijuana's medicinal value. “I want to see as many options as possible available to my patients,” Sterner said. “It causes no harm and provides great benefit. ”
Sterner said he has been practicing medicine for 24 years and until he began prescribing marijuana the Medical Board had never taken issue with his conduct.
Marijuana patients caught in a cloud of confusion
KOMO – Oct 21, 2007
In medical circles, the subject is awkward to the point of taboo, with few doctors willing to recommend marijuana for patients. And patients live in a clandestine world, fearful to say where they got their medicine, or even that they use it at all. An overarching problem is that the federal government does not recognize a medical value to Cannabis sativa, the plant from which marijuana is derived. The state law also is fuzzy on logistics. For example, while a patient with a doctor’s note may legally possess marijuana, there is no clear way to obtain the drug. “It’s a pretty odd law, from my perspective,” said Jim Carlson, director of pharmacy, clinical health and plan services for Group Health, the state’s largest medical provider. “It’s one of the only laws that I am aware of that states that something is legal, in the face of there being no legal way to do what is legal.
Lighten our prison load: Decriminalize marijuana
pittsburghlive.com – Oct 21, 2007
prisons are filled. The economic ripples build up to tsunamis. So the question comes back: Would legalizing encourage more use? Or less?
Some favor decriminalizing only marijuana, a relatively nonaddictive “high. ” This might be enough to satisfy most users and empty many prison cells. It seems worth a try — if federal law permitted.
Traffic stop evolves into drug bust
Deseret News – Oct 21, 2007
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The car was registered to Johnny Pierce, 43, of Lancaster, Calif. It was being driven by John Greenfield, 35, of Beaver, who deputies said had a revoked driver’s license and a warrant for his arrest. Both men had a prescription for marijuana that was issued in California, deputies said. However, the sheriff’s office said the prescription is not valid here. “We do not recognize prescriptions out of California because marijuana is illegal in this state,” Washington County Undersheriff Bart Bailey said in a statement. “People need to know the laws before they travel. ”
California’s Compassionate Use Act of 1996 allows doctors to prescribe marijuana for medical use, primarily for patients with severe chronic pain or illness… Both men had a prescription for marijuana that was issued in California, deputies said. However, the sheriff’s office said the prescription is not valid here. “We do not recognize prescriptions out of California because marijuana is illegal in this state,” Washington County Undersheriff Bart Bailey said in a statement. “People need to know the laws before they travel. ”
California’s Compassionate Use Act of 1996 allows doctors to prescribe marijuana for medical use, primarily for patients with severe chronic pain or illness. Utah judges have previously refused to recognize medical marijuana laws in other states. Story continues below In 2001, Cedar City police arrested one of the authors of California’s law in a motel room drug bust.
Amy Winehouse in bubbly mood after dope bust
NEWS.com.au – Oct 21, 2007
The troubled singer ordered several bottles of champagne after checking into a spa yesterday morning in Bergen, Norway. She and her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, were arrested on Thursday night after police raided their hotel room in the city. Officers found a small amount of marijuana after staff tipped them off about the smell of the drug wafting along the corridor. After 12 hours in custody and a fine of $390 each, they were released and Miss Winehouse promptly eased her woes with champagne, according to reports. The couple were arrested alongside an unnamed 24-year-old man after being found with 7. 1g of marijuana in their suite at the five-star Radisson SAS Hotel. The hotel’s head of security complained to police about the scent of cannabis lingering in the corridor leading to the couple’s room.
Police Blotter
Des Plaines Journal – Oct 21, 2007
Officers allegedly recovered suspected
marijuana and drug equipment. An 18-year-old Niles man was charged with possession
of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia at
10:24 p.