The air inside the Los Angeles Patients and Caregivers Group was pungent with the aroma of premium hydroponic marijuana, but the proprietor, Don Duncan, said on Thursday that he was breathing a bit easier.

A day before, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. had said that the [...]]]> From the March 19 edition of the New York Times:

The air inside the Los Angeles Patients and Caregivers Group was pungent with the aroma of premium hydroponic marijuana, but the proprietor, Don Duncan, said on Thursday that he was breathing a bit easier.

A day before, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. had said that the federal authorities would no longer take action against medical marijuana dispensaries if they were in compliance with state and local laws.

While 13 states, including California, have laws allowing medical use of marijuana, they had not been recognized by the federal government. One of Mr. Duncan’s two marijuana dispensaries was a target, in 2007, of one of the scores of raids involving medical marijuana that the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted in Los Angeles during the Bush administration.

Mr. Duncan, a founder of Americans for Safe Access, a medical marijuana advocacy group, said he was meeting with officials at City Hall at the time of the raid, trying to work out a local ordinance under Proposition 215, which allows the medical use of marijuana.

“I got a call and found out they smashed through our window and pried open the back door,” Mr. Duncan said. Since then, he has operated only one dispensary, fearing he could again be a target of the federal authorities.

Mr. Holder’s statement that he would not authorize raids on medical marijuana dispensaries appeared to shift Justice Department policy, at least rhetorically, away from the Bush administration’s stated policy of zero tolerance for marijuana, regardless of state laws. Advocates of medical marijuana welcomed the change.

But conversations with government officials on Thursday revealed disagreement within the administration about how great a shift Mr. Holder’s statements represent.

A spokesman for the drug enforcement agency, Garrison Courtney, pointed out that the attorney general’s statement indicated that the federal authorities would continue to go after marijuana dispensaries that broke state and federal laws by selling to minors, selling excessive amounts or selling marijuana from unsanctioned growers.

Mr. Courtney said that the agency had raided only a fraction of the thousands of marijuana dispensaries now operating and that agents had used discretion to go after only the worst offenders.

The city of Palm Springs is poised to become the first and only place in Riverside County to allow medical marijuana collectives and cooperatives.

Palm Springs City Council members voted 3-2 Wednesday to create a draft ordinance allowing medical marijuana collectives and operatives.

Councilwoman Ginny Foat and Councilman Lee Weigel voted [...]]]> From The Desert Sun in Palm Springs:

The city of Palm Springs is poised to become the first and only place in Riverside County to allow medical marijuana collectives and cooperatives.

Palm Springs City Council members voted 3-2 Wednesday to create a draft ordinance allowing medical marijuana collectives and operatives.

Councilwoman Ginny Foat and Councilman Lee Weigel voted no, saying they disagree with some of some ordinance details.

The law would:

• Allow only two collectives in the city’s industrial areas.
• Prohibit the establishments within 1,000 feet of each other and within 500 feet of schools, churches, public playgrounds or parks, youth centers and residential areas.
• Allow collectives and cooperatives to grow medical marijuana on the premises.

The council will consider the new ordinance, and if approved, will take effect 30 after the vote. The city has six dispensaries operating illegally and another was waiting for the council’s vote.

Palm Springs could be the first city in Riverside County to allow medical marijuana dispensaries if approved by city council members Wednesday night.

The meeting will open with a public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the council chambers at City Hall, according to the agenda. The proposed law limits dispensaries to [...]]]> From ABC7 in Los Angeles:

Palm Springs could be the first city in Riverside County to allow medical marijuana dispensaries if approved by city council members Wednesday night.

The meeting will open with a public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the council chambers at City Hall, according to the agenda. The proposed law limits dispensaries to industrial zones. The city now has at least four dispensaries operating illegally, with at least one more waiting for council approval to open, according to The Desert Sun.

The draft ordinance states that dispensaries would not be allowed within 1,000 feet of each other or within 500 feet of schools, public parks, playgrounds, churches, youth centers or residential areas. Other provisions state that the dispensaries must be set up as nonprofit collectives or cooperatives, as recommended in the guidelines issued by California Attorney General Jerry Brown in August. No one under the age of 18 would be allowed to work in marijuana dispensaries.

The LAPCG is a not-for-profit medical cannabis(marijuana) dispensing collective serving legally-qualified patients since 2004. We provide a community-based solution for the need to safe access to medicine for patients [...]]]> The LAPCG is committed to protecting and providing safe and affordable access to medical cannabis for those qualified under California Health and Safety Code §11362.5 (Proposition 215).

The LAPCG is a not-for-profit medical cannabis(marijuana) dispensing collective serving legally-qualified patients since 2004. We provide a community-based solution for the need to safe access to medicine for patients suffering from HIV/AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, and other serious illness.

LAPCG is organized to serve patients in the Greater Los Angeles area.

Click here for the LAPCG website

Officers responded to reports of gunfire at 10 p.m. Friday at the dispensary in the 1500 block of Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles Police Lt. Darryl Grayson said.

The men, believed to be [...]]]> The LA Times with more:

Orange County cities with moratoriums or permanent bans on pot dispensaries:

Laguna Woods recently became the first local city to pass an ordinance [...]]]> The Seal Beach City Council passed a ban on medical marijuana stores on Monday night. Seal Beach is no the eighth Orange County to ban or restrict medical marijuana.

Orange County cities with moratoriums or permanent bans on pot dispensaries:

• Buena Park
• Fullerton
• Garden Grove
• Mission Viejo
• Santa Ana
• Tustin
• Huntington Beach
• Placentia

Laguna Woods recently became the first local city to pass an ordinance allowing medical marijuana dispensaries.

The council members said they sympathize with patients who need marijuana to ease their pain, but they’re worried about (a) regulating the dispensaries and (b) how such businesses would affect Garden Grove neighborhoods.

Some Orange County cities with moratoriums or permanent bans [...]]]> The Garden Grove City Council voted to ban pot dispensaries earlier this week (KNX1070)

The council members said they sympathize with patients who need marijuana to ease their pain, but they’re worried about (a) regulating the dispensaries and (b) how such businesses would affect Garden Grove neighborhoods.

Some Orange County cities with moratoriums or permanent bans on pot dispensaries include:

• Buena Park
• Fullerton
• Mission Viejo
• Santa Ana
• Tustin
• Huntington Beach
• Placentia

*** Laguna Woods last week became the first local city to pass an ordinance allowing medical marijuana dispensaries.

More on the City Council decision from The OC Register:

Council members voted 4-1 for the ordinance prohibiting the dispensaries, with Councilman Mark Rosen casting the sole dissenting vote.

Rosen said he would like more information from police about an existing unauthorized medical marijuana clinic in Garden Grove.

“I’d like to find out if this facility has had any negative impacts on the community,” he said.

Police officials said no incidents were reported at or near the dispensary on Brookhurst Street in the seven months it has operated. Several speakers at the meeting also said they have been buying their marijuana from this business popularly known among users as “Unit D.”

Police officials confirmed that the business at that location was licensed as a dance studio but operating as a medical marijuana dispensary. No children were seen there taking dance lessons, officials said.

Joe Byron, the owner of the dispensary in question, told the council that he was not operating covertly and in fact has a general retail license from the city to do business. He said the business at the location before his was a dance studio.

“We weren’t trying to be covert or sneaky,” he said. “In fact, we do quite a bit of Internet marketing.”

But the rest of the council was firmly in support of the ban.

The event will be held at The Malibu Inn. Tickets are still available at $150 a pop. Click here to buy tickets.

2008 STONY [...]]]> Join the HIGH TIMES crew and a slew of stoner celebrities at our annual Stony Awards show honoring television and film’s “highest” moments. Saturday, Sept. 27th, 4-8 pm in Malibu, California.

The event will be held at The Malibu Inn. Tickets are still available at $150 a pop. Click here to buy tickets.

2008 STONY AWARDS NOMINEES

BEST COMEDY FILM
Superbad
Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay
Pineapple Express
Surfer, Dude
Strange Wilderness

BEST DRAMA
The Wackness
Kush
Garden Party

Humboldt County

BEST DOCUMENTARY
SuperHigh Me
Totally Baked
American Drug War
Trips
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
The 20th Anniversary Cannabis Cup

BEST TV SHOW
Weeds (Showtime)
Entourage (HBO)
Flight of the Conchords (HBO)
Buzzin’ (MTV)
Californication (Showtime)

BEST TV SPECIAL
Attack of The Show: 420 Special (G4)

BEST WEB VIDEO
Stonervention (Tim Saccardo of UCB)
High Times Editorial Office (College Humor)
World Stoner Games (Dan Skye)

STONER OF THE YEAR
James Franco (Pineapple Express)
Matthew McConaughey (Surfer, Dude)
Woody Harrelson (Surfer, Dude)
Josh Peck (Wackness)
Kal Penn (Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay)

STONETTE OF THE YEAR
Mary Kate Olsen (Weeds, The Wackness)
Paris Hilton (Internet Video)
Danneel Harris (Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay)