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In Arizona, an MPP-sponsored signature drive to place a medical marijuana initiative on the ballot in November 2010 is moving into the home stretch. Can you help us finish the job by making a contribution to the campaign today? |
- Drug Reformers Prepare for Changing Environment
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Medical marijuana is finally happening—but distributing it may be the least of New Mexico’s worries. Such was the conceit of the International Drug Policy Reform Conference, which began just days after New Mexico’s Department of Health approved four new medical marijuana producers to field demand from the state’s 755 patients. ... Given the statistics, drug activists’ optimism is hardly baseless. An Oct. 19 Gallup Poll finds that 44 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana, the highest figure ever; in 2003, another poll found that 75 percent support allowing doctors to prescribe medical marijuana. And in Colorado, according to Sensible Colorado Executive Director Brian Vicente, the number of medical marijuana dispensaries jumped from 4,000 to more than 30,000 in 2009 alone. (November 18, 2009)
- Colorado to Tax Medical Marijuana Sales
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Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter Jr. on Tuesday directed the state's medical-marijuana dispensaries to pay sales tax and obtain retail-sales licenses, bringing the once-taboo product closer to mainstream respectability. Colorado is now the second state, behind California, to tax and regulate medical-marijuana sales, medical marijuana to the states. Fourteen states have legalized medical marijuana, but California and Colorado are unique in their use of storefront dispensaries. Three other states - Maine, New Mexico and Rhode Island - are now moving to license providers, said Bruce Mirken, a spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project. "Certainly California and Colorado are the only states where it's happening on a large scale," Mr. Mirken said. (November 18, 2009)
- Colorado Attorney General Declares Medical Marijuana Sales Taxable
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In an opinion that could generate more revenue for cash-strapped governments and give additional legitimacy to a fledgling industry, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said Monday that the state can collect sales tax on medical marijuana. "Medical marijuana is tangible property that is generally subject to state sales tax," Suthers, a Republican, wrote ... The opinion also said medical-marijuana dispensaries must obtain retail-sales licenses from the state to do business. "I think the community is willing to pay taxes if it will help prove the legitimacy of their efforts," said Courtney Tanning, executive director of the Colorado Wellness Association, which represents medical-marijuana dispensaries and the patients and doctors who deal with them. (November 17, 2009)
- L.A. City Council Ignores City Attorney, Supports Dispensaries
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Two Los Angeles City Council committees rejected the advice of the city attorney and voted Monday to approve an ordinance that allows marijuana dispensaries to continue to sell the drug to people with a doctor's recommendation.
The city attorney's office has maintained for a year and a half that Los Angeles has no choice but to ban sales because state law and court decisions are clear that collectives can only cultivate marijuana. That opinion had stalled the council's deliberations because dispensary operators insisted it would force them to close.
Four hours into a raucous hearing, frustrated council members decided to replace the provision with one that authorizes cash contributions as long as they comply with state law, which prohibits collectives from making a profit. (November 16, 2009)
- Former U.S. Attorney Urges Overhaul of Marijuana Laws
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Three years ago, former U.S. Attorney John McKay was somewhere near the front lines of the nation's drug war. ... "I think there has to be a shift in the paradigm," said McKay, now a professor at Seattle University. "The correct policy change would be a top-to-bottom review of the nation's drug laws." McKay joined a panel as part of an effort by [travel author and decriminalization activist Rick] Steves and the American Civil Liberties Union to, in their view, return rationality to discussions about the nation's drug laws. ... While the panelists did not agree on all points, each said they see the need for substantive change in the way marijuana is regulated and offenders are punished. They also each spoke about the fears, or lack of courage, of elected officials in addressing issues surrounding the drug. (November 16, 2009)
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MPP tracks marijuana policy in all 50 states and at the federal level.
MPP in the News
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February 1, 2009 —
MPP's Bruce Mirken discusses the benefits of marijuana policy reform on CNN.
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June 18, 2009 —
Bruce Mirken discusses the introduction of compassion centers in Rhode Island, the benefits of taxing and regulating marijuana, and its efficacy as medicine on "CNBC Reports."
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June 16, 2009 —
Rob Kampia appears on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" to talk about the reasons to support treating marijuana like alcohol in a regulated fashion.
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March 28, 2009 —
MPP's Bruce Mirken is interviewed by CNN correspondent D.L. Hughley.
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March 26, 2009 —
MPP's Troy Dayton criticizes the DEA's raid on a San Francisco medical marijuana facility despite U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement that federal law enforcement would not target state-legal facilities on CBS affiliate KPIX.
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February 11, 2009 —
MPP's medical marijuana bill passes Minnesota Senate health committee 8-3.
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December 10, 2008 —
MPP's Dan Bernath discusses recent changes in Amsterdam's marijuana coffee shop zoning on G4's "Attack of the Show!"
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December 17, 2008 —
MPP's Aaron Houston discusses the future of marijuana policy in the Obama administration, on Russia Today news.
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May 13, 2008 —
MPP's Rob Kampia and Montel Williams discuss marijuana law reform on Fox Business News' "Happy Hour".
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October 6, 2007 —
Medical marijuana patient Clayton Holton asks GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney if he would end federal raids targeting patients in medical marijuana states during a forum in Dover, New Hampshire. Romney refused to answer Holton's question and walked away.
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June 5, 2008 —
MPP's Aaron Houston discusses the financial savings and potential revenue that could be generated by taxation and regulation of marijuana, on FOX Business News channel.
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August 24, 2007 — MPP executive director Rob Kampia appeared on the Austin, Texas, ABC affiliate KVUE to discuss a new law allowing police the option of citing -- rather than arresting -- minor marijuana offenders. Each marijuana arrest costs Texas taxpayers an estimated $2,000 and takes a police officer off the street for four- to-six hours to book that nonviolent offender.
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August 8, 2008 -- MPP's Dan Bernath discusses the portrayal of marijuana users in films and television on CNN Headline News' "Showbiz Tonight."
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April 16, 2008 -- MPP's Neal Levine on CBS affiliate WCCO in Minneapolis, urging Minnesota lawmakers to pass a law protecting qualified medical marijuana patients from arrest.
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Jan. 24, 2008 - Bruce Mirken appears on FOX affiliate KTVU in San Francisco, discussing the California Supreme Court decision giving employers the right to fire legal medical marijuana patients in the state.
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Jan. 27, 2008 - Bruce Mirken appears on KRON in San Francisco, discussing the California Supreme Court decision giving employers the right to fire legal medical marijuana patients in the state.
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March 9, 2007 – MPP's Rob Kampia appears on Fox News Channel's "The Big Story" to discuss dispensing medical marijuana to high schoolers who have doctor's recommendations and parental consent
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July 30, 2007 — MPP's Bruce Mirken discusses the safety and efficacy of medical marijuana on the Comcast Network's "Art Fennell Reports."
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December 19, 2006 — MPP's Rob Kampia appears on MSNBC to discuss a new study identifying marijuana as the top cash crop in the U.S.
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May 4, 2005 — Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (D-CA) presents MPP's Public Face of Reform Award to TV host and medical marijuana patient Montel Williams at MPP's 10th anniversary gala in Washington, D.C.
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"[A] marijuana grower can land in prison for life without parole while a murderer might be in for eight years. No rational person can defend this; it is a Dostoevskian nightmare and it exists only because politicians fled in the face of danger." — Garrison Keillor, radio personality
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In March 2006, more than 700 MPP supporters attended MPP's party at the Playboy Mansion, raising more than $170,000 for MPP's work to reform marijuana laws. - Pictured: Hugh Hefner after receiving Pioneer Award from MPP's Rob Kampia.
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"I am absolutely in support of legalizing marijuana. It doesn't make any sense to me to keep it illegal when there is little argument that alcohol and tobacco are clearly far more deadly." — Margaret Cho
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MPP Executive Director Rob Kampia and award-winning news correspondent John Stossel
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Montel Williams called for passage for New York's medical marijuana bill at an MPP-organized press conference in Albany in May 2004 (pictured here with New York health officials and legislators).
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Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman -- shown here with MPP's Rob Kampia --
was a lifetime member of MPP and a staunch advocate of marijuana
policy reform.
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"There's been medical marijuana ever since there's been medicine. Nobody gets hurt, so why not? People still smoke marijuana, and they still go to work." — Gary Coleman
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Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) received MPP's Legislative Leadership Award at MPP's June 2006 Awards Gala in New York City.
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"I support MPP because our existing marijuana laws — based on fear, ignorance, and vested interests — are unenlightened, overreactive, and often inhumane to the point of tyrannical cruelty." — best-selling author Tom Robbins
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"Instead of taking five or six of the prescriptions, I decided to go a natural route and smoke marijuana ... Every single one (of my doctors) was, 'Oh, yeah. That's the best help for the effects of chemotherapy."— Melissa Etheridge
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