Medical marijuana vending machines take root in LA: Turn on, tune in,…
The News Review:
- Medical marijuana vending machines take root in LA: Turn on, tune in,…
- Health – Life & Style Home – theage.com.au
- Nigeria: Police Nab Suspected Indian Hemp Dealer
- Two held after cannabis seizures at Dublin Airport
- New medical marijuana vending machines in California inadvertently…
- Border Patrol Seizes $72K Worth Of Marijuana
Medical marijuana vending machines take root in LA: Turn on, tune in,…
International Herald Tribune – Jan 30, 2008
The computerized machine requires fingerprint identification and a prepaid card with a magnetic stripe. Once the card and fingerprint are verified, a bright green envelope with the pot drops down a slot. Mehdizadeh says any user approved for medical marijuana and registered in a computer database at his dispensaries can pre-purchase the drug and then use the machine to pick up. The process provides convenience and privacy for users who may otherwise feel uncomfortable about buying marijuana, Mehdizadeh said. At the Timothy Leary Medical Dispensary in the San Fernando Valley, the vending machine is accessible only during business hours. An employee there said the machine was introduced about five months ago, and provides speedy service. “It helps a lot of patients who are in a lot of pain and don't want to wait around to get help,” Robert Schwartz said… 50) lower than the average price at other dispensaries. A spokesman for a marijuana advocacy group said the machine also benefits dispensary owners. “It limits the number of workers in the store in the event of a raid, and it'll make it harder for theft,” said Nathan Sands, of The Compassionate Coalition. Marijuana use is illegal under federal law, which does not recognize the medical marijuana laws in California and 11 other states. The Drug Enforcement Agency and other federal agencies have been actively shutting down major medical marijuana dispensaries throughout the state over the past two years and charging their operators with felony distribution charges. Mehdizadeh said the Herbal Nutrition Center was the target of a federal raid in December.
Health – Life & Style Home – theage.com.au
The Age – Jan 30, 2008
“There has definitely been a change in the political climate forliberalisation,” says Tim Lynch, a criminal justice expert at theCato Institute, a Washington-based think tank. “I think the peopleare ahead of the politicians, especially of the Washington, DC,politicians, on this issue. In the same poll, about a third approved totallegalisation, but 72 per cent said recreational users should befined, not incarcerated. Even in Texas, where medical marijuana legislation has never gotoff the ground, the legislature recently passed a law that allowsprosecutors to bypass the jail booking process for certainmarijuana offenses. It doesn’t change the penalty, but thelegislation marks Texas’ first lenient approach to marijuana inyears. Experts say the more tolerant approach has its origins inCalifornia, where in 1996 voters made it legal for people to smokemarijuana with a doctor’s recommendation… In the same poll, about a third approved totallegalisation, but 72 per cent said recreational users should befined, not incarcerated. Even in Texas, where medical marijuana legislation has never gotoff the ground, the legislature recently passed a law that allowsprosecutors to bypass the jail booking process for certainmarijuana offenses. It doesn’t change the penalty, but thelegislation marks Texas’ first lenient approach to marijuana inyears. Experts say the more tolerant approach has its origins inCalifornia, where in 1996 voters made it legal for people to smokemarijuana with a doctor’s recommendation. More than a decade later, 12 states permit some use of medicalmarijuana, and several others, including Michigan, Arizona, NewYork and Illinois, are likely to consider initiatives in 2008, saysBruce Mirken, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project. A ballot initiative in Massachusetts aims to go further bydecriminalising possession of small amounts of marijuana, making itsimilar to a traffic ticket.
Nigeria: Police Nab Suspected Indian Hemp Dealer
AllAfrica.com – Jan 30, 2008
CP John revealed that the suspects are Innocent James and Aliyu Salisu. GA_googleFillSlot(“AllAfrica_Story_Inset”); According to him, investigation is on and facts are emerging that these suspects may be linked to other crimes that have occurred in the FCT. The CP explained that the suspects and the suspected Indian hemp will be handed over to the NDLEA in due course for further verification and investigation. In another development, the CP explained that one Miss Ekelele Gloria of Wuse reported at the Wuse police station that she was jogging along old Municipal Area Council, Zone 11, Abuja when one young man attacked her at gun point and collected her necklace valued at N17,000. Relevant Links West AfricaLegal and Judicial AffairsNigeria According to the FCT police boss, a team of detectives laid ambush where the victim was attacked and subsequently, the suspect was arrested. The FCT police boss also stated that when the suspect was searched, one toy gun and a necklace pendant belonging to the victim were recovered from him. CP John gave the name of the suspect as Ndubuisi Egbo, saying that investigation is in progress.
Two held after cannabis seizures at Dublin Airport
Belfast Telegraph – Jan 30, 2008
The first consignment of 10. 6 kilos was seized when customs officers intercepted a 26-year-old Spanish man who had arrived from Bilbao via Madrid. The second seizure of 13. 6 kilos was made when officers searched the bags of a 46-year-old South African woman who had travelled into Dublin from Johannesburg via Abu Dhabi.
New medical marijuana vending machines in California inadvertently…
The Spoof – The Spoof (satire) – Jan 30, 2008
" Apparently, unfamiliar with the native customs of Californians, the man then proceeded to a pharmacy which had a medical marijuana vending machine just installed in its lobby and filled his prescription there. "We even provide chairs for our customers to seat and take a rest that decide to use our vending machines," said a pharmacist. "We just don't allow them to smoke the cannabis inside the building as we are a no smoking state. " Unfortunately, after taking the doctor-prescribed medical marijuana in the parking lot, the Copenhagen man returned to the lobby for a purchase of a can of Coke, which proved fatal. "Still in a purple haze altered state of mind from the effects of the marijuana, he bought a can of Coke believing it contained the white powdery narcotic substance of the same name," concluded a toxicology report. "As he began snorting the bubbly carbonated liquid contents up his nose, he suddenly collapsed to the floor in violent seizures. "The toxicology report listed, "Acute Prolonged Exposure to Carbonized Bubbles on the Brain Syndrome or A… "We even provide chairs for our customers to seat and take a rest that decide to use our vending machines," said a pharmacist. "We just don't allow them to smoke the cannabis inside the building as we are a no smoking state. " Unfortunately, after taking the doctor-prescribed medical marijuana in the parking lot, the Copenhagen man returned to the lobby for a purchase of a can of Coke, which proved fatal. "Still in a purple haze altered state of mind from the effects of the marijuana, he bought a can of Coke believing it contained the white powdery narcotic substance of the same name," concluded a toxicology report. "As he began snorting the bubbly carbonated liquid contents up his nose, he suddenly collapsed to the floor in violent seizures. "The toxicology report listed, "Acute Prolonged Exposure to Carbonized Bubbles on the Brain Syndrome or A.
Border Patrol Seizes $72K Worth Of Marijuana
NBC Sandiego.com – Jan 30, 2008
Authorities said the guardsmen informed agents, who responded and found two backpacks that contained the marijuana. The guardsmen saw the two subjects drop the backpacks and run back into Mexico. The marijuana is valued at approximately $72,000. The Border Patrol turned over the illicit narcotics to Operation Alliance, a collaborative multi-agency anti-drug taskforce.