Yosemite Rangers Find $22M Marijuana Operation

Aug 14, 2007 4:18 pm US/Pacific


Yosemite Rangers Find $22M Marijuana Operation



(CBS13) A new plant has been popping up in Yosemite National Park that doesn't have the rangers too happy.

On Monday, park rangers in Yosemite found 7,428 marijuana plants from three gardens in the park that was part of a full-blown growing operation.

At a value of $22 million dollars, the owners of the farm are going to be the ones who are not going to be happy.

According to officials, these Yosemite cultivation sites look similar to a Mexican drug trafficking enterprise, which includes watering systems, use of fertilizers and other dangerous chemicals.

The rangers say California based crime families aren’t normally near the drug farms because they often use illiterate and financially desperate Mexican nationals to do the actual cultivation.

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

http://cbs13.com/local/local_story_226192148.html



DaBronx

Salinas City Council Considers Ban on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

Salinas City Council Considers Ban on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

Last Update: Aug 14, 2007 10:11 AM

Video Watch This Video





SALINAS, Calif. - Monday, the Salinas City Council will talk about a proposed ban on medical marijuana dispensaries.

While most council members want to keep the pot clubs out of the city, one of them says that she believes in them.

Jyl Lutes says she lost her husband to bone cancer 23 years ago and she's seen first hand what wonders medicinal marijuana can do.

Council member Sergio Sanchez was also in favor of the dispensaries in the beginning, but now he says he supports a ban because Salinas isn't ready for a pot club.

http://www.kion46.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=b63a6c1b-df42-4023-8a2c-e25943b95164&rss=172


DaBronx

What is Paris Hilton smoking?

YUBA COUNTY: Medical pot issue pushed

YUBA COUNTY: Medical pot issue pushed

Group wants Yuba County to implement state law on IDs


By Andrea Koskey/Appeal-Democrat
August 13, 2007 - 1:15AM


Yuba County residents may get a chance to voice their opinions on ID cards for medical marijuana users if county officials grant an organization’s request.

Safe Access Now, a nonprofit organization promoting legal access to medical marijuana, will submit a request during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting to schedule public hearings to follow state law and implement an ID program.

“The county just hasn’t directed the work to a department,” said Aaron Smith, state coordinator for Safe Access Now. “Once action is taken by the county, patients can apply for the cards, making it easier for legitimate users.”

The state’s Compassionate Use Act, passed in 1996, allows doctors to prescribe marijuana for medical purposes. Similarly, in 2003, state legislators approved a bill enabling the state Department of Health Services to maintain a program issuing identification cards.

Smith said that by assigning the process to a department, Yuba County officials would be helping law enforcement as well as implementing the law.

“Right now, there is no way to identify legitimate users. It’s very difficult,” Smith said. “It’s up to law enforcement to determine if it’s verifiable. It’s a mechanism to curb abuse.”

To date, 35 of California’s 58 counties, including Butte, Plumas and Sierra, have adopted an ID card program and set fees averaging $150.

Some Yuba supervisors, however, said they were opposed to such an effort because they are opposed to the law.

“When federal law conforms to the state law, then it’ll be considered,” Supervisor Don Schrader said. “But this argument has come up many times; I don’t think it’s appropriate for the board to get involved in state law.”

Supervisor John Nicoletti added that a lawsuit in San Diego County over the legality of medical marijuana has the Yuba County Board of Supervisors waiting and watching.

“We’re all just glad we’re not in the middle, but watching on the sidelines,” he said. “Right now, we’re just waiting to see how that lawsuit goes.”

Steve King, a member of the Compassionate Use Group of Yuba and Sutter, said an ID card program should have been implemented long ago.

“The law passed in 2003,” he said. “Basically, it’s a card to show officers when they’re stopped and verify they are legitimate.”

Smith will present information about the state’s medical marijuana laws to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, while urging elected officials to set public hearing dates to implement the law.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Andrea Koskey can be reached at 749-4709 or at akoskey@appealdemocrat.com

http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/law_52515___article.html/state_county.html



DaBronx

SANTA BARBARA: City Hall Grapples with Medicinal Marijuana Dispensaries

Photo: Paul Wellman

Up in Smoke

SANTA BARBARA: City Hall Grapples with Medicinal Marijuana Dispensaries


Thursday, August 9, 2007
By Nick Welsh


Next week, city councilmembers Grant House, Helene Schneider, and Mayor Marty Blum will ask their colleagues whether the council should try to regulate the conduct of medical marijuana clinics within Santa Barbara city limits. Given the recent outcry over dispensaries operating too close too apartments and kids’ dance studios — and smoking taking place on premises — it’s highly likely the entire council will agree. Currently, there are ten marijuana dispensaries in Santa Barbara, with another on the way.

In related news, the Santa Barbara City Council unanimously voted in closes session to not challenge the recent court ruling upholding Measure P, last year’s ballot initiative that declared marijuana possession to be the lowest law enforcement priority. Although the measure passed overwhelmingly last November, the City Council challenged the results in court—by a 4-to-3 vote—arguing that the people did not have a constitutional right to make such policy edicts using the initiative process. Judge Thomas Anderle strenuously disagreed and issued his ruling to that effect one month ago. City Attorney Steve Wiley still maintains that the city’s position was correct, and that Anderle misapplied the law, but recommended that City Hall let the matter drop. The council has already appointed the committee to enforce Measure P by overseeing the possession arrests that city police do make.

http://www.independent.com/news/2007/aug/09/smoke/


DaBronx

Stoned Dog Uncovers Marijuana Grow

Stoned Dog Uncovers Marijuana Grow

BY CAT ROBERTSON





Last week, Deputy Gil Flores of the Twin Peaks Sheriff Department discovered 150 marijuana plants after he investigated a suspicious circumstances call in Cedarpines Park. Kurt Norlander placed the call after his chocolate Labrador, Maple, had eaten a large quantity of marijuana.

“We had a new neighbor move in a couple of weeks ago,” explained Norlander. “He was unloading things at night and seemed kind of suspicious. Maple kind of befriended the guy and went over there sometimes.

“We believe the man fed him, and Maple grabbed some marijuana off a table and ran off with it,” Norlander continued. “He came home and was staggering and his eyes were dilated. We thought maybe he'd gotten into some poison or something, so we rushed him to the animal hospital. They gave him some charcoal to make him throw up and there was a lot of marijuana in his stomach.”

“Marijuana is not really dangerous for dogs,” said Lynnda Nafzgar of the Rim Forest Animal Hospital. “It kind of has the same effect on animals as it does on humans—it just makes them dazed and dumb looking. We gave Maple charcoal and he vomited. He's fine now, but we kept him overnight to keep an eye on him.”

Once he discovered the marijuana in Maple's stomach, Norlander reported the incident to the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department, and Deputy Flores went out to investigate. “I attempted to contact the neighbor,” said Deputy Flores in a report on the incident. “While on the property, I observed small amounts of marijuana on the coffee table. I checked the perimeter of the residence and noticed an odor of marijuana. I could hear a humming sound from within the lower buildup of the residence. Upon further investigation, I saw discarded air ducts as well as empty lighting boxes. The windows on the lower level were completely blacked out. I also noticed the electrical meter was spinning very rapidly.”

Deputy Flores contacted the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Narcotics Division and secured the scene. Several members of the sheriff's Marijuana Eradication Team arrived on scene and a search warrant was obtained. Approximately 150 live marijuana plants were confiscated from within the residence.

Also recovered were several plants, which were ready to be processed, hanging in a bedroom closet. Documents recovered inside the residence suggested a James Julianna resided at the location. He was not found at the scene, but is a person of interest in the case.

Anyone with information on James Julianna should contact Deputy Flores at (909) 336-0600.

http://www.crestlinecourier-news.com/articles/2007/08/09/news/news2.txt


DaBronx

Hemp OK in Yolo County

Hemp OK in Yolo County

Supervisors support Assembly bill letting some counties grow it


By LUKE GIANNI/Democrat staff Writer
Article Created: 08/09/2007 08:59:22 AM PDT



Thomas Jefferson grew it.

The Declaration of Independence was written on it.

Benjamin Franklin made paper from it and sold it.

Bill Clinton smoked it, but denied inhaling it.

And now Yolo County wants in on it.

It's hemp and recently the County Board of Supervisors authorized their support for a state Assembly bill that would permit certain counties to grow the marijuana-related fiber for industrial use.

The bill, AB 684, would authorize hemp cultivation within state supervised pilot programs in Butte, Imperial, Kings, Mendocino and Yolo counties.

Similar bills have been brought in the past decade but were met by vetoes by governors Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger respectively. AB 684 was passed by the Assembly and is presently being considered in the Senate.

Industrial hemp has been touted by advocates as an inexpensive and durable commodity that could add hundreds of millions of dollars to the U.S. economy.

According to a report produced by the Hemp Industries Association, hemp products generated $207 million in revenue in 2005 and is predicted to grow by $26 million annually.

Yolo county supervisors were briefed by Petrea Marchand, manager of intergovernmental affairs for the county, on the pros and cons of hemp cultivation, during the July 25 board meeting.

The upside, said Marchand, is a new and potentially profitable industry well suited for the county's agricultural landscape.

The downside is no farmer in Yolo County is going to grow it - at least for now.

"It is unlikely that any farmer will grow hemp any time in the near future," Marchand said at the meeting.

That is because of two major obstacles, Marchand said.

The first is there is no infrastructure, namely no processing plants, within the county to make hemp harvesting profitable.

The second problem: "To grow hemp you have to grow marijuana and that's a violation of federal law," said Garret Courtney, spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Agency.

More specifically, hemp contains Tetrahydrocannabinol - known as THC - which is a schedule 1 controlled substance under federal drug law. The schedule 1 designation places the popular depressant within the same category as illicit drugs like crack and cocaine, which equates to strict federal control over its production.

Proponents of the proposed bill say it would only permit hemp to be grown under its provisions that have a THC level of less than .03 percent, far less than the average THC level found in drug-oriented marijuana.

The bill would also require hemp growers to submit samples of their crops to DEA sanctioned labs and report the GPS coordinates and acreage size of their plots.

Not good enough, Courtney said.

"The common argument that is out there is that industrial hemp has only a small percentage of THC. Well, that's like the difference between Mexican bud and BC bud," Courtney said.

Mexican marijuana is has relatively low contents of THC, while BC bud marijuana from Canada can harbor more than 20 times as much THC, Courtney said.

Either way, they get you high and, as a result, are illegal.

Besides, Courtney said, there is already a registration process in place for farmers to get certified through the DEA to grow hemp for industrial use.

"We don't legislate - we just operate," Courtney said. "There are practical uses for controlled substances and you can get certified by the DEA."

Despite the pending legal conflict, the board decided to support the bill.

"I see no reason not to support the bill," Supervisor Matt Rexroad said at the meeting, adding that he hadn't heard any opposition from the county's agricultural leaders. "Silence is consent as far as I am concerned."

Rick Landon, Yolo County's agricultural commissioner, said farmers probably would not take to growing hemp until the legal issues are settled.

"There has to be a test case," Landon said. "I don't think growers want to be the first ones to challenge federal law."

Landon said, however, there would be a viable market for hemp if it were legalized and the county could develop adequate infrastructure to grow it.

"There are a lot of products made from hemp. It's not just fiber-based products either. There are products like Shampoo and lotion that are made from hemp as well," Landon said.

Supervisor Helen Thomson, who supported the bill, said she has used hemp products before and thinks concerns regarding its cultivation are exaggerated.

"I tried the body lotion and I didn't get high," Thomson said. "Perhaps this is a niche market for some Yolo County farmers."

Supervisor Mike McGowan added, however, that hemp growing in Yolo county is not exactly a novel concept.

"I got news for you," McGowan said. "They're growing marijuana in Yolo County now."

- Reach Luke Gianni at 406-6234 or lgianni@dailydemocrat.com.

http://www.dailydemocrat.com/news/ci_6582807


DaBronx

SANTA BARBARA: Reefer Madness

Photo: Paul Wellman



SANTA BARBARA: Reefer Madness

Goleta Doctor Cracks Down on Pot-Seeking Patients

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

By Barney Brantingham


Reefer Madness: Years ago, if you wanted to smoke marijuana, you’d likely turn off the lights, pull down the shades, and hunker down before puffing.

Today, you might amble down to one of Santa Barbara’s eight medical marijuana shops, letter from a doctor in hand, and score pot to ease your physical woes.

But getting that letter might be a lot harder than some people seem to think, especially if you try to make an appointment with Dr. David Bearman, a well-known Goleta physician.

It’d be easier — and probably a lot cheaper, from what I hear — to score weed on the street than to jump Dr. Dave’s hurdles.

Although he’s not familiar with how other Santa Barbara area doctors operate under Prop. 215 (the California medical marijuana measure approved by voters), he feels that certain California out-of-town chains offer brief, what he calls “HMO-style” appointments with patients claiming medical need to alleviate their ailments.

“Frankly, most doctors, patients, and dispensaries are concerned about these brief office visit approvals.”

I have a sore back and although I wouldn’t dream of soothing the aches and pains with wacky tobaccy, even temporarily, I asked Dr. Dave what it takes to get one of his letters of recommendation.

First, he said, you can’t even get an appointment without a careful screening. “We do not make an appointment for just anyone,” unless he has a pretty good idea that he or she is likely to qualify under the Prop 215 measures, Bearman told me.

“We try to see the patient’s medical records before their appointment, or if not, have them bring [their records] in with them.” Otherwise, Bearman said, the only time he would issue a letter without copious documentation is when an exam documents a serious problem — such as a missing limb, lumbar or cervical fusion, multiple knee surgeries, or the like.

And if you suspect that most of his patients are college-age kids trying to score, Bearman says 90 percent of his clients seeking marijuana letters are 25-years-old or older, and very few have Isla Vista addresses.

So what about those “HMO-style” doctors, as Bearman puts it? “The position of these doctors, who may see the patient only briefly before granting their approval for medicinal cannabis, seems to go something like this:

“If a patient tells them that they have a particular medical problem and that cannabis is useful to them, these doctors will recommend cannabis. They say that they have no reason not to approve its use when it provides medical benefits, because they see cannabis as being extremely safe and because they can.”

“I take a more conservative view,” Bearman says, blaming the problem on what he calls “vague” guidelines set down by the Medical Board of California, which allows for “wide latitude for interpretation by the MBC.”

Because the MBC has been on what he calls “a witch hunt” investigating doctors who OK marijuana letters, contrary to a court ruling, many physicians avoid the issue, Bearman said.

“At least 60 local doctors have referred patients to me, 15-20 local doctors have made a few approvals, and at least three other physicians are making recommendations for patients for whom they are not the primary care provider.”

“I have been working with other like-minded physicians to set up a specialty of ‘cannabinology,’ which would lay out acceptable medical and ethical standards. No one is benefited by the perception or reality of people who are not ill [getting] medical cannabis approval.”

Meanwhile, the Santa Barbara City Council soon plans to consider a possible moratorium on new medical marijuana dispensaries, along with guidelines. Some residents have complained about the location of the present ones, which apparently wouldn’t be affected by the moratorium.

Supervisor Bearman?: Dr. Bearman, by the way, says he’s thinking of running for the 3rd District county supervisorial seat now held by Brooks Firestone of the Santa Ynez Valley. Other names are being mentioned in Goleta to oppose Firestone, who gives every impression of seeking re-election next year. This will be a hot one.


Barney Brantingham can be reached at barney@independent.com or 805-965-5205. He writes online columns on Tuesdays and Fridays and a print column on Thursdays.


http://www.independent.com/news/2007/jul/31/reefer-madness/


DaBronx

GO NY YANKEES!

STOP DOMESTIC TERRORISM BY THE DEA!

(This space for rent)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROTEST AT VAN NUYS FRIDAY AUGUST 3, 2007

:::::::::PROTEST AT VAN NUYS FRIDAY AUGUST 3, 2007:::::::::


PROTEST/RALLY FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND PATIENT RIGHTS!


WHEN: Friday August 3rd. 9:30 am.-1pm.

WHERE: Van Nuys Civic Center
14410 Sylvan Street
Van Nuys, Ca.

WHY: Protest the DEA actions and local police involvement in recent raids and fear letter campaign

The recent times have been difficult for everyone, especially owners and patients who have had their collectives closed or raided, so we must stand together if we are to get anything done.

There will be drinks and food provided to the protesters that come, and we are looking for all ideas that we can use, such as perfomance art as protest. and things that will be creative and different then ways before.

We will be having a large funeral for States rights, with a large coffin built with a California Flag covering it, and RIP STATE'S RIGHTS, written on the coffin.


FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP, CONTACT PATRICK at 818-386-2998 (12 PM-8 PM or leave message) or email "patrick_duff2000 [at] yahoo.com"

Sheriff comments on predicted closure of final pot shop

Sheriff comments on predicted closure of final pot shop

Last Update: Jul 30, 2007 9:07 PM

Posted By: Megan Trihey


Video: Watch This Video

BAKERSFIELD - As predicted by Sheriff Donny Youngblood, the last remaining pot shop in Bakersfield is out of business, leaving those who rely on marijuana for medicine out of luck.






“This is not about what I can tell people they can and cannot do,” said Youngblood. “This is about the law, and they have a responsibility to know that possession of marijuana with certain restrictions can be a felony with the feds. It is a felony with the feds.”

The owners of California Compassionate Services on Bernard Street in northeast Bakersfield closed late last week.

They said they were caught in a pinch between state and federal law.

A month ago, Bakersfield had six medical marijuana shops, but after a series of DEA raids and federal indictments, each shut down.

Youngblood said he doesn’t plan on issuing licenses for any more pot shops to open.

“People have to do what they think they need to do,” said Youngblood. “I just thought it was a little bit unfair to issue licenses to someone, take their money, and then help put them in federal prison.”


http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=45bb3b6c-4c36-45a0-a1f8-99df30285641&rss=91


DaBronx


GO NY YANKEES!