The forgotten pioneers within the medical marijuana industry
The forgotten pioneers within the medical marijuana industry
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
Proposition 215 was a California State voter initiative, also known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, authored by Dennis Peron, Anna Boyce,...
Keep Reading » Proposition 215 was a California State voter initiative, also known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, authored by Dennis Peron, Anna Boyce, Valerie Corral, Dale Gieringer, William Panzer, Steve Kubby, Richard Cohen, Ivan Silverberg, and Tod H. Mikuriya. Approved by voters in 1996 it allows those with a valid doctor's recommendation to possess and cultivate marijuana for personal medical use. It has also been expanded to protect a growing system of collective and cooperative distribution, but is not very well regulated or clearly defined. As such, implementation across the State varies widely, some counties and cities trying to ban it all together, while others such as San Francisco, Oakland and Santa Cruz embrace it with city-sanctioned gardens, patient programs and even taxation.
It was back in 1993 when Dennis Peron, one of the key authors of Prop 215, opened the first California medical marijuana dispensary in San Francisco, The Cannabis Buyers Club, supplying medical cannabis to patients in need through a truly compassionate business model. It was a genuinely care giving enterprise to safely serve those suffering from a number of serious illnesses and disabilities which cannabis helped with the associated pain, appetite, nausea, and more. When they moved to their permanent location on Market Street in 1994 it became the headquarters for the 215 movement and model for future outlets. In mid 1996, with polls showing a clear majority ready to vote in favor of medical legalization and more clubs gearing up to open, then acting Attorney General Dan Lungren made his first move against the clubs by ordering the DEA to raid the Cannabis Buyers' Club. This, just one instance of a long line of tribulations Dennis has had to endure which has helped enable the industry to become what it is today.
About the same time Dennis was setting up the Cannabis Buyers Club in San Francisco, WAMM was being established by Valerie Corral and Husband Mike Corral in Santa Cruz. WAMM (Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana - www.WAMM.org) is the first medical marijuana collective to be granted non-profit status in the United States. It is also considered to be the most legitimate medical marijuana collective and cooperative in the nation due to their truly compassionate commitment to the cause and dedicated non-profit attitude. It is a model on how every medical marijuana enterprise should be developed based on the written law. Despite this, on September 5, 2002 armed federal agents from the DEA raided the WAMM garden, arresting the Corrals, detaining and restraining critically ill and disabled patients, and destroying the entire collective's medicine. Years later Valerie continues to care for her patients and if it was not for her die hard commitment to the cause patients and even growers would never be in the permissible state as they are now.
But when asked to a large group of newbie commercial growers, growers that each distribute more then $30,000 a month to our local dispensaries but have only been in the business 5 years or less, what they know about the leaders and activist founders, the current laws, and how their businesses are structured; most did not know the individuals mentioned, and the majority were not structured legally through a non-profit organization as required with current laws. Nearly all agree they are primarily profit minded, care less about the cause, and have little compassionate association to patients. Typically they still look at it as a black market, only now with viable methods of distribution, and do not pay taxes nor operate within the perimeters of the law. A lot of this is based on unclear regulations, continued DEA arrests and federal influence, and non cooperating cities that force growers to stay underground. But there seems to be a lack of compassion or care to those that led the way or those that use the product for medical use with only finding self-indulgence and free-enterprise leading the way.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Valley Attorney's
We have a network of 5 Lawyers who specialize in these type of cases, one from SF.
Central Valley Cannabis Doctors
Medicann
Also we now have :
two private doctors in Modesto as well as two public new clinics with a total of 5 doctors and clinics in MODESTO. THANKS TO THE SO CALLED "WAR ON DRUGS" MANY FOLKS ARE STANDING WITH US TO HELP OTHERS!
EMAIL ME FOR CONTACT INFORMATION!
THERE IS two CLINICS in Fresno as well as over 8 in Sacramento
Also we now have :
two private doctors in Modesto as well as two public new clinics with a total of 5 doctors and clinics in MODESTO. THANKS TO THE SO CALLED "WAR ON DRUGS" MANY FOLKS ARE STANDING WITH US TO HELP OTHERS!
EMAIL ME FOR CONTACT INFORMATION!
THERE IS two CLINICS in Fresno as well as over 8 in Sacramento
Monday, June 21, 2010
Modesto Cannabis Marijuana Ban, Discussions, Services and Support!
Welcome to the Modesto Cannabis Marijuana Blog! We will update you with new services and old with discrete titles. Just as I expected the county demand is growing. As ID cards are rising, recommendations and doctors are coming out. We have 16 services and counting. To be listed or work with us contact me asap.
PCC 2003
PS 2004
CVC 2006 collective
CVC-D 2008 deliveries
NG -2009
MH -2009
MCD-2009
MJM-2009
MH-2009
HM-2009
PP -2010
MOE -2010
CAL -2010
CC -2010
HSD-2010
MSD-2010
PCC 2003
PS 2004
CVC 2006 collective
CVC-D 2008 deliveries
NG -2009
MH -2009
MCD-2009
MJM-2009
MH-2009
HM-2009
PP -2010
MOE -2010
CAL -2010
CC -2010
HSD-2010
MSD-2010
Lowest Prop. 215 recommendation rates on 215 approvals and SB-420
Recommendation are now cheaper than ever in HollyWood, Long Beach,Orange, San Diego and LA area. We have contact to clinics and doctors as low as $35-60 Bucks!
Thanks California Compassionate Caregivers, we will market and advertise compassion for free as we believe in KARMA!
Thanks California Compassionate Caregivers, we will market and advertise compassion for free as we believe in KARMA!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Odds of getting busted selling marijuana
What are the odds of getting busted for selling marijuana?
The marijuana business poses one unique risk that you won't find in most business ventures -- you could wind up in jail for a long time. As with any other business risk, this one needs to be analyzed.
The first thing to understand is that the odds depend on the behavior of the marijuana grower and dealer. In many cases where someone got busted, there was a clear reason -- like their crop was growing over their fence and bothering the neighbors. Or, in many cases, the people just got too big and too greedy and fairly well provoked their arrest and prosecution. On the other hand, there are lots of examples of people who have been in business for years without getting busted. There are traditional marijuana dealers who have been in business for thirty years or more and some openly operating stores that have been in business for ten years or more. It has a great deal to do with the local situation, and how intelligently someone operates their business in view of the local situation. The goal is to "fly under the radar" of enforcement. It might also be added that marijuana dealers should be good citizens in every way they can. Being a good citizen is a good way to stay under the radar, and to have people vouching for one's integrity if anything bad should happen.
Overall, provided someone's behavior is what could be called "average" for marijuana growers and dealers, the odds of getting busted are something less than one percent over a period of about five years. If someone is reasonably careful, the odds of getting busted are close to zero. Marijuana dealers who want to stay hidden from law enforcement, and pay attention to what they are doing, can operate quite freely without any real fear from law enforcement.
This is true even of the clubs that are openly operating in California right now. Our surveys show that there is a uniform sentiment among the owners and operators of these clubs. They simply are not afraid of getting busted. They know they are safe under California law and with the current political situation in the Los Angeles area. They are not afraid of the Federal DEA because they know that the DEA is overwhelmed and rapidly losing the battle of public image. The DEA has raided several stores but arrests are few and prosecutions, so far, are fewer. There are already too many stores for the DEA to feasibly prosecute them. Under the current worldwide terrorist situation they would have a tough time justifying the resources needed for the prosecution of several thousand people for medical marijuana in Los Angeles.
The DEA has sent letters to landlords warning the landlords that they face seizure of their properties. As we will discuss in more detail elsewhere, this will not turn out to be a credible threat. If the DEA actually tries to do that, they will be in for one of the nastiest political battles of their lives.
Given this situation, the DEA is reduced to a kind of temper tantrum. They raid shops, take all the money and marijuana, break everything in the place and then leave. They are acting like stupid kids because they know they have lost this battle. They are still potentially dangerous and no one should underestimate their capacity for dangerous stupidity but they have already lost this fight and they know it themselves.
Therefore, the bottom line is that, if you pay attention to what you are doing, don't bend your security rules, don't have lines around the block outside your apartment, or stink the neighbors out with 400 plants in your apartment, you should be OK. If someone is careful, it is quite possible to do business for many, many years with no significant risk of any significant bust. In fact, it is the rule, rather than the exception.
The marijuana business poses one unique risk that you won't find in most business ventures -- you could wind up in jail for a long time. As with any other business risk, this one needs to be analyzed.
The first thing to understand is that the odds depend on the behavior of the marijuana grower and dealer. In many cases where someone got busted, there was a clear reason -- like their crop was growing over their fence and bothering the neighbors. Or, in many cases, the people just got too big and too greedy and fairly well provoked their arrest and prosecution. On the other hand, there are lots of examples of people who have been in business for years without getting busted. There are traditional marijuana dealers who have been in business for thirty years or more and some openly operating stores that have been in business for ten years or more. It has a great deal to do with the local situation, and how intelligently someone operates their business in view of the local situation. The goal is to "fly under the radar" of enforcement. It might also be added that marijuana dealers should be good citizens in every way they can. Being a good citizen is a good way to stay under the radar, and to have people vouching for one's integrity if anything bad should happen.
Overall, provided someone's behavior is what could be called "average" for marijuana growers and dealers, the odds of getting busted are something less than one percent over a period of about five years. If someone is reasonably careful, the odds of getting busted are close to zero. Marijuana dealers who want to stay hidden from law enforcement, and pay attention to what they are doing, can operate quite freely without any real fear from law enforcement.
This is true even of the clubs that are openly operating in California right now. Our surveys show that there is a uniform sentiment among the owners and operators of these clubs. They simply are not afraid of getting busted. They know they are safe under California law and with the current political situation in the Los Angeles area. They are not afraid of the Federal DEA because they know that the DEA is overwhelmed and rapidly losing the battle of public image. The DEA has raided several stores but arrests are few and prosecutions, so far, are fewer. There are already too many stores for the DEA to feasibly prosecute them. Under the current worldwide terrorist situation they would have a tough time justifying the resources needed for the prosecution of several thousand people for medical marijuana in Los Angeles.
The DEA has sent letters to landlords warning the landlords that they face seizure of their properties. As we will discuss in more detail elsewhere, this will not turn out to be a credible threat. If the DEA actually tries to do that, they will be in for one of the nastiest political battles of their lives.
Given this situation, the DEA is reduced to a kind of temper tantrum. They raid shops, take all the money and marijuana, break everything in the place and then leave. They are acting like stupid kids because they know they have lost this battle. They are still potentially dangerous and no one should underestimate their capacity for dangerous stupidity but they have already lost this fight and they know it themselves.
Therefore, the bottom line is that, if you pay attention to what you are doing, don't bend your security rules, don't have lines around the block outside your apartment, or stink the neighbors out with 400 plants in your apartment, you should be OK. If someone is careful, it is quite possible to do business for many, many years with no significant risk of any significant bust. In fact, it is the rule, rather than the exception.
Friday, April 16, 2010
The Hemperor, Jack Herer has Died Bonnie King Salem-News.com The global cannabis community mourns the loss of the
The Hemperor, Jack Herer has Died
Bonnie King Salem-News.com
Jack Herer
June 18, 1939 – April 15, 2010
Jack Herer
The one and only Jack Herer will be missed forever
The global cannabis community mourns the loss of the great Jack Herer.
(SALEM, Ore.) - The sad news has been confirmed. Jack Herer, author of The Emperor Wears No Clothes and renowned around the world for hemp activism, has died at 11:17 a.m. today, in Eugene, Oregon.
Jack Herer suffered a heart attack last September just after speaking on stage at the Portland HempStalk festival. The last seven months have proven to be a huge challenge to the man, with several health issues making his recovery complicated.
Jack Herer's health has been poor lately, this last week there have been reports of the severity, and an outpouring of prayers on his behalf.
"It's shocking news, even after these last seven, trying months," said Paul Stanford, THCF Executive Director.
"Jack Herer has been a good friend and associate of mine for over 30 years. I was there when he had the heart attack at our Hempstalk festival and I know he wouldn’t appreciate the quality of life he's endured these last months. Still he will be greatly missed. I honor his memory."
"No other single person has done more to educate people all across the world about industrial hemp and marijuana as Jack Herer. His book is translated into a dozen different languages, it's a bestseller in Germany," added Stanford.
"The Hempstalk stage will forever be the Jack Herer Memorial stage. And, a Memorial is planned to be built where he fell that day," Stanford said.
"His legacy will continue to inspire and encourage for generations to come."
Jack HererJune 18, 1939 – April 15, 2010
ARCHIVE of recent Salem-News.com reports about Jack Herer:
Marijuana Author Jack Herer Collapses After Stage Appearance at Portland Hempstalk (9/13/09)
Supporters of Jack Herer Say They're Focusing on the Positive (9/14/09)
Jack Herer Continues to Fight for His Life -- Donation Fund Formed (9/17/09)
Hemp Guru Jack Herer's Condition Critical But Stable (9/19/09)
Portland Media Group Releases False Report About Jack Herer's Death (9/19/09)
Dr. Phil Leveque Comments on Jack Herer's Recent Heart Attack (9/23/09)
The Hemperor Jack Herer Shows Slight Progress in Oregon Hospital (9/27/09)
Jack Herer Strives To Recover While The Fight For Hemp Goes On (10/13/09)
Jack Herer: A Man Well-Loved is Saved Again (11/2/09)
Jack Herer Benefit Event Tonight at Village Ballroom in Portland (12/3/09)
JACK, JACK: Who's Got Your Back? (12/21/09)
The Story of Jack Herer and Hempstalk VIDEO (12/24/09)
================================================
Bonnie King has been with Salem-News.com since August '04, when she became Publisher. Bonnie has served in a number of positions in the broadcast industry; TV Production Manager at KVWB (Las Vegas WB) and Producer/Director for the TV series "Hot Wheels in Las Vegas", posts as TV Promotion Director for KYMA (NBC), and KFBT (Ind.), Asst. Marketing Director (SUPERSHOPPER MAGAZINE), Director/Co-Host (Coast Entertainment Show), Radio Promotion Director (KBCH/KCRF), and Newspapers In Education/Circulation Sales Manager (STATESMAN JOURNAL NEWSPAPER). Bonnie has a depth of understanding that reaches further than just behind the scenes, and that thoroughness is demonstrated in the perseverance to correctly present each story with the wit and wisdom necessary to compel and captivate viewers.
View articles written by Bonnie King
Bonnie King Salem-News.com
Jack Herer
June 18, 1939 – April 15, 2010
Jack Herer
The one and only Jack Herer will be missed forever
The global cannabis community mourns the loss of the great Jack Herer.
(SALEM, Ore.) - The sad news has been confirmed. Jack Herer, author of The Emperor Wears No Clothes and renowned around the world for hemp activism, has died at 11:17 a.m. today, in Eugene, Oregon.
Jack Herer suffered a heart attack last September just after speaking on stage at the Portland HempStalk festival. The last seven months have proven to be a huge challenge to the man, with several health issues making his recovery complicated.
Jack Herer's health has been poor lately, this last week there have been reports of the severity, and an outpouring of prayers on his behalf.
"It's shocking news, even after these last seven, trying months," said Paul Stanford, THCF Executive Director.
"Jack Herer has been a good friend and associate of mine for over 30 years. I was there when he had the heart attack at our Hempstalk festival and I know he wouldn’t appreciate the quality of life he's endured these last months. Still he will be greatly missed. I honor his memory."
"No other single person has done more to educate people all across the world about industrial hemp and marijuana as Jack Herer. His book is translated into a dozen different languages, it's a bestseller in Germany," added Stanford.
"The Hempstalk stage will forever be the Jack Herer Memorial stage. And, a Memorial is planned to be built where he fell that day," Stanford said.
"His legacy will continue to inspire and encourage for generations to come."
Jack HererJune 18, 1939 – April 15, 2010
ARCHIVE of recent Salem-News.com reports about Jack Herer:
Marijuana Author Jack Herer Collapses After Stage Appearance at Portland Hempstalk (9/13/09)
Supporters of Jack Herer Say They're Focusing on the Positive (9/14/09)
Jack Herer Continues to Fight for His Life -- Donation Fund Formed (9/17/09)
Hemp Guru Jack Herer's Condition Critical But Stable (9/19/09)
Portland Media Group Releases False Report About Jack Herer's Death (9/19/09)
Dr. Phil Leveque Comments on Jack Herer's Recent Heart Attack (9/23/09)
The Hemperor Jack Herer Shows Slight Progress in Oregon Hospital (9/27/09)
Jack Herer Strives To Recover While The Fight For Hemp Goes On (10/13/09)
Jack Herer: A Man Well-Loved is Saved Again (11/2/09)
Jack Herer Benefit Event Tonight at Village Ballroom in Portland (12/3/09)
JACK, JACK: Who's Got Your Back? (12/21/09)
The Story of Jack Herer and Hempstalk VIDEO (12/24/09)
================================================
Bonnie King has been with Salem-News.com since August '04, when she became Publisher. Bonnie has served in a number of positions in the broadcast industry; TV Production Manager at KVWB (Las Vegas WB) and Producer/Director for the TV series "Hot Wheels in Las Vegas", posts as TV Promotion Director for KYMA (NBC), and KFBT (Ind.), Asst. Marketing Director (SUPERSHOPPER MAGAZINE), Director/Co-Host (Coast Entertainment Show), Radio Promotion Director (KBCH/KCRF), and Newspapers In Education/Circulation Sales Manager (STATESMAN JOURNAL NEWSPAPER). Bonnie has a depth of understanding that reaches further than just behind the scenes, and that thoroughness is demonstrated in the perseverance to correctly present each story with the wit and wisdom necessary to compel and captivate viewers.
View articles written by Bonnie King
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