70 Year old woman convicted in Marijuana charges

In a further example of what a circus our “War on Drugs” has become, a 70 year old former police dispatcher of Lake Orion, is now a felon and could face 4 years of prison for having 19 plants for her own usage while working at a dispensary as a receptionist. Let me tell you how protected I feel by my government now that Grandma is to be locked away.


Let’s point out that she was convicted of growing the marijuana, not using it. Makes a whole lot of sense right?


During the trial the judge didn’t allow the mention of the state’s legal medicinal marijuana. Speculation is that it was disallowed because her 19 plants would still be above the states’ limit, therefore by breaking the limit, she had no medical marijuana defense in the eyes of the law.


Several attorneys who are not directly involved with the case have stated that after reviewing the facts of the case, it would appear it will be most likely be turned over in appeals court. Which equals a great big old waste of money for the state just to prove a point.


The war on drugs is an epic failure. Everyone knows it, we can only wonder how and when it will be cleaned up. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has issued approximately 75,521 Medical Marijuana Patient Cards out of the 137,000 original and renewal applications it has received. At the same general time period in Michigan, a judge ordered 8 people who were involved with a medical marijuana clinic in Detroit to face drug charges.


Many people are going into our jail systems due to trying to decipher the enigmatic laws our governments are putting out. While at the same time violent offenders are being released due to over population.

Something to think about today, how does a rapist or violent assaulter walk from jail in basically the same amount of time as someone who is sent to jail for trying to relieve their pain in their own home, not hurting anyone and offering to pay taxes on it?   Please share your thoughts and comments! 

Medical Marijuana, Learn to Grow Your Own

Article first published as Medical Marijuana, Learn to Grow Your Own on Technorati.

Marijuana for medicinal reasons is a topic I’m sure we have all come to notice recently, given the constant protests and ambiguous laws in the media coverage. Most recently dispensaries have come under fire and many have been forced to close until the laws can be clarified. This leaves many patients who are legally prescribed and registered in their states, without means to get their medicine unless they grow their own, or turn to the illegal back-alley pharmacist. Many states do allow a caregiver to grow or assist in growing the plant for the client. This is often the only method that patients can acquire medical marijuana somewhat “legally”.

Marijuana is found to be beneficial in many illnesses, especially those with neuropathic pain. In cases where you have traumatic pain that is acute and isolated, a prescribed pharmaceutical pain medication may help to give you relief. However in instances of neuropathic pain which is often brought on by illness, the brain is sending out constant pain signals to the nerves starting in your hands and feet and you may not get relief even if you were prescribed opiates for pain management.

Currently, the least frowned on method for acquiring medical marijuana is to grow your own. Citizens in Arizona are offering “classes” on doing it properly. The class offers a full curriculum and help with filling out paperwork. They are not alone in the effort to educate home-growers. Several states have classes being offered. Some are free, and some are using this as a money making venture. Some classes in Michigan have been noted with entrance fees at or above $475.00.

Gone is the notion that you can hang tin foil in your closet with a light bulb and grow huge plants with a snap of your fingers. It has become a true science and with proper seed and education on how to grow for higher THC content, patients are able to make “cocktails” that allow the individual the level of relief they need. Marijuana can be a picky plant and without the proper education it could be very difficult for a patient to grow correctly and produce plants offering the content they need. A class which teaches the valid key points to growing effectively will help patients remain legal, and allow medical marijuana to reach those who are in need. With the intention of the access to marijuana being relief for the patients, this education is a good thing and will continue to keep money out of illegal hands.

Image courtesy of Google Images.

Medical Marijuana Laws Must Yield to Employer Drug Use Policy

Article first published as Medical Marijuana laws must yield to Employer drug use policy. on Technorati.

Marijuana for medical purposes can legally be prescribed in several states according to state laws however your employer drug policy will determine if you may have your job or not regardless of your prescription. A Washington state supreme court upheld the decision of a Colorado based company to dismiss an employee for failing her drug test, even though she had a valid prescription for marijuana usage. The employee worked for Tele Tech Customer Care, a customer service company subcontracted by Sprint at the time. The vote was 8 to 1, not even a close call.

The Court declared that the state medical marijuana law does not require employers to allow for medical marijuana usage outside of work. It further clarified that it by no means requires an allowance for usage at work. The court affirmed that the state’s Human Rights Commission, which is responsible for employee discrimination cases, is not allowed to handle Medical Marijuana based cases, due to it still being illegal at a Federal level.

The single supporting vote was placed by Justice Tom Chambers, who argued that citizens had intended for protections for prescription bearing patients when the medical marijuana law was voted into place in 1998. He is quoted by the Seattle Times as having stated the majority vote “jeopardized the clear policy” of the law. This is not the first employee who has taken this matter to court. In February of 2008 an employee of Walmart took the decision of termination to court in Michigan as well. That employee also lost and is intending to appeal.

The ruling by Washington State further confuses citizens as to what is legal and what is not. DOJ memorandums, attorney general letters, governor statements, police policy changes, and department of health involvement are spelling out a large problem in Washington and across the nation. It would seem a lot of finances are being wrapped up in arresting and prosecuting people who are attempting to follow the law. Clarification seems necessary on all levels.


Image courtesy of Google Images