Two bills introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives last week would put a serious dent into federal prosecution of medical use of marijuana and offer protection to patients who use it. Representative Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) is a leader on both measures, which were introduced April 17. The Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act (HR 5842) would reschedule marijuana a from a Schedule I to a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act. The change would allow physicians to recommend use of marijuana under conditions set by state law.

The other bill, the Act to Remove Federal Penalties for the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults (HR 5843) would eliminate federal penalties for the possession of small amounts (up to 100 grams) or not-for-profit transfer of small amounts (up to one ounce, 28.3 grams) of marijuana. It would create a civil penalty of $100 for the public use of marijuana.

The bill would not legalize growing or distribution of commercial quantities of marijuana, nor would it affect any state laws.

"When doctors recommend the use of marijuana for their patients and states are willing to permit it, I think it's wrong for the federal government to subject either the doctors or the patients to criminal prosecution," Frank said in introducing the measures.

"Literally, to make a 'federal case' out of it is wholly disproportionate to the activity involved," Frank added. "We do not have federal criminal prohibitions against drinking alcoholic beverages, and there are generally no criminal penalties for the use of tobacco at the state and federal levels for adults. There is no rational argument for treating marijuana so differently from these other substances."

Continuing on that topic, Frank said, "I think it is poor law enforcement to keep on the books legislation that establishes as a crime something which in fact society does not seriously wish to prosecute. In my view, having federal law enforcement agents engaged in the prosecution of people who are personally using marijuana is a waste of scarce resources better used for serious crimes."

Keith Stroup, legal counsel for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said no decriminalization bill has been introduce in 37 years. "If passed by Congress, this legislation would legalize the possession, use, and nonprofit transfer of marijuana by adults for the first time since 1937."

The bill incorporates the basic recommendations of the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse (http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/ Library/studies/nc/ncmenu.htm ), which was issued in 1972 during the Nixon administration.

"Congressman Frank's bill represents a major step toward sanity in federal marijuana policy," said Aaron Houston with the Marijuana Policy Project. "The decades-long federal war on marijuana protects no one and in fact has ruined countless lives. Most Americans do not believe that simple possession of a small amount of marijuana should be a criminal matter, and it's time Congress listened to the voters."

The lead sponsor of the medical marijuana bill is Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas). The bipartisan group of initial co-sponsors includes Sam Farr (D-California), Frank, Maurice Hinchey (D-New York), and Dana Rohrabacher (R-California). They had supported similar legislation in earlier sessions of Congress but no hearings were ever held on those bills.

Caren Woodson, speaking for Americans for Safe Access, said, "By disregarding marijuana's medical efficacy, and undermining efforts to implement state laws, the federal government is willfully placing hundreds of thousands of sick Americans in harm's way." The nationwide group advocates for medical marijuana.

Pain study

A study published online in the Journal of Pain on April 17 offered further evidence of the utility of marijuana in reducing pain. It was conducted at the University of California, Davis with 38 patients experiencing neuropathic pain from diabetes, spinal injury, and multiple sclerosis.

THC is the major active chemical in marijuana believed to relieve pain. Patients were given marijuana cigarettes containing zero percent, 3.5 percent, or 7 percent THC and were asked to take the same number of puffs in the same manner so that the dose was controlled.

The patients experienced no relief when they smoked the cigarette containing no THC, but roughly similar relief when smoking either dose of the cigarettes containing THC. The relief lasted over five hours. The higher dose did result in a temporary slowing of memory and problem solving.

In other medical marijuana news, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom this month sent a letter to Representative John Conyers (D-Michigan), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, urging the panel to investigate the federal Drug Enforcement Administration's heavy-handed tactics against landlords of medical cannabis dispensaries throughout California.

Newsom wrote that the city recently passed a resolution confirming that San Francisco is a sanctuary for medical cannabis, including property owners who, pursuant to city regulations, lease space to the dispensaries. Newsom said the city opposes DEA "interference in medical cannabis dispensing and the recent issuing sensational threatening letters to these property owners threatening asset forfeiture and imprisonment."

I can't believe, what I have witnessed, throughout the years, in the San Francisco's Medical Cannabis movement. From Dennis Person's period, to present day, I have witnessed so many changes, and people, come and go, throughout the passing years.  From Pot Flies, to Pot Star, and Pot Whores, to Pot Pimp's. They have all passed through this movement, and with one thing in mind. That, ALMIGHTY  BUD!   That magical weed, that, some would sell their souls for! And yes, even their ass.....

The biggest joke of all, are those patient rights groups. Who emerged from out of nowhere, with a history in the movement that hasn't  yet, been recorded.  Though,  they all claim to have beem there, back, from the beginning.   What beginning?  Not from the one I was in!  There was no other beginning, other than the Cannabis Buyer's Club, or was there?  None, that I am aware of.

The leaders of these, hit and miss, patient rights movements, who claim to be around from the beginning, were in fact, not there at all, that I or others, can testify too. I worked, everyday of the week, that Dennis had his doors open, and I would of remembered them, coming into the club, or leaving, since I worked, front door security most of the time. 

What are they up too, I wondered?  Bringing to the table, a stash of free pot, being offered in exchange for your co-operation and attendants in various groups. 

"another voting block"

Signing up their groups, with growers, in exchange for a quarter pound of marijuana, free of cost to the patients.  Wow!  Hypnotizing, wouldn't you think?  Yeah! 

That is, if you ever receive the medicine, you signed your care-givership, up for!  And believe me, throughout the years I have signed up with a bunch of (care-givers) growers, through patient rights groups,  and have not received any FREE MEDICINE as of yet.

  Let me think?  A quarter pound of marijuana goes for, on the average, about $800 a quarter pound WHOLESALE, and RETAIL for about $1,000+. WHOLESALE, is what the Cannabis club  pay, and RETAILS back to the patients.

And who get to keep the pot, that never MAKES it back to the patients?  The growers, or the Patient Rights Groups Leaders, that sign you up in the first place?....... 

I now, have probably bought over $4,000 worth of Medical Marijuana, over the past years. All of those authorizing grow opportunities on my behalf, never come through.

They grew for me and keep my weed. Givng up nothing but a sob story, in deed;

and with no reasoning what-so-ever....Well, it looks like I shall never receive any of that Magical, Invisible Weed... I knew it sound to to good to be true.

Thanks allot! But no, thanks.  I rather not sign up for free pot, that I can't have,  than to fall for that scam again.  Where I authorize, someoneelse  to grow my medicine, in exchange for free medicine that I never receive.. And they get richer off of.

Don't they profit enough off of the sick, disabled, and dying, as it is?  So, why are they lying and cheating us, out of what we got coming to (their word ) us?  And believe me, that quarter pound of medicine they're suppose to give us, off the top, is just one tenth of what they truly harvest on our behalf.

"their making a killing inside of our pockets"

Cultivation with Multiple Recommendations: Part 2 of 2:  The Collective/Cooperative Mode

As a medical marijuana patient, you may only cultivate enough marijuana for your personal medical use.  The exception to this rule is if you serve as a caregiver for other patients, or, alternatively, cultivate as part of a collective.  While many patients currently use the caregiver model, it may be more appropriate for them to cultivate collectively.

According to Health and Safety Code § 11362.775, patients may associate collectively or cooperatively to cultivate marijuana for medical purposes without state criminal sanctions.   There are many models for medical marijuana collectives, all of which involve members contributing labor, funds, and/or materials, in exchange for a share of the medicine.  Unlike the caregiver model, collectives do not require members to demonstrate that they provide for the non-marijuana health needs of other patients.

When forming a collective, all members should sign an agreement and provide their physician's recommendations (see www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org /LegalFAQ-Civil4 for a template).  Post these documents near the collective cultivation site.

Under California law, each qualified patient may cultivate and possess at least 6 mature or 12 immature plants, and 8 oz. of dried marijuana (or a greater threshold in some localities).  Therefore, a collective may cultivate and possess these amounts, multiplied by the number of members.

Be aware that marijuana cultivation remains illegal under federal law and, since federal statutory minimum sentences are triggered at 100 plants or 220 lbs. of medicine per cultivation site, you are more likely to attract the attention of federal authorities if you exceed these quantities.

I have been a Patient's Activist, for the Medical Cannabis Movement, since 1994.  Where, back then, I went to work for Dennis Peron, in the Cannabis Buyers' Club; 1444 Market Street.  I first, started helping out, on the campaign fund raising drive, to legalize Prop 215.  I moved around this five story building, from department to department until I discovered my true calling with them..  We started a Newsletter Department, where I soon found myself, doing all the work to publish a quality Newsletter; the 'CBC Quad'.

I remember, after the fifth 'mock-up', I had to go to Dennis Peron, and ask, "When, Are We Going To Press?" He said, he liked everything in the Newsletter, so far,  but why was my name on every article in the paper. Why?  Because, I was, the one that did anyything.  I told his, if my name was holding us up, from going to publication, then just remove my name out of the Newsletter, altogether.

I don't know, what it was, that I said, that drove Dennis, to go to PRINT.   And when the Newsletter came out, off the press, my name, was not only on nearly everything article in the Newsletter.  but in the editorial credit list, my name sat right along side of  Dennis Peron's as Co-Editors...

Since the closure of the Cannabis Buyers' Club, I have either been, a patient, or a volunteer, with one of the medical cannabis dispensaries, here in San Francisco. Rising as high as, manager, with the San Francisco Patient's Co-op.  I now, work, at the Medical Cannabis Clinic #1, and in my spare time I have mastered videography.  I spent twelve weeks, last year, covering the San Francisco Mayoral Debate, Collaborative Forum; for h. Browns, Run for Mayor.  Taping and uploading the videos, out onto the Internet, for all to see; either YouTube and or Google Videos, Host Sites.

Today, since the scare tactic, of the DEA, going after the landlords, of the local cannabis dispensaries; I have taken it upon myself, to give coverage of what is happening to our movement, here in San Francisco.  I have recorded and uploaded, the closing of, two medical cannabis dispensaries; a domino effect, because of these threatening letters, to the landlords.

 The fall out, of the closure of 350 Divisadero (SFPC), left the patients, without any safe haven, to share their 420 gathering, (ritual).  Therefore, they took it upon themselves, to gather, in the Town Square, across from the Mayor's Office, in Civic Center Plaza; on the lawn, up under the flag pole.  I thought that this would be a perfect opportunity to assist the patient's, in their times of need.  I video recorded their event, helping to gain exposure, via uploading to the Internet.

So I approached Rev. Randi Webster, and gotten her permission to video tape their public events.  Five weeks later, video after video, uploaded, out onto the Internet, the gathering soon ended. The 420 on the Green, has moved in doors, for privacy reason.