Oakland Voters Support Medical Marijuana Tax (Drug Policy Alliance Interviewed)

BACKERS OF POT INITIATIVE TARGET BENEFITS OF TAX REVENUE

California
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Facing an uphill battle, proponents of a ballot measure to legalize marijuana are mapping out a campaign stressing the millions of dollars in tax revenue that pot could provide.

The initiative, sponsored by Oakland marijuana magnate Richard Lee, would legitimize the sale of marijuana and allow pot shops to open their doors in cities that permit it. Local authorities could also decide how to tax and regulate marijuana sales, although it's unclear if federal officials would tolerate such a bold and unprecedented move.

Despite lawmakers' reluctance, political consultants working on the initiative claim a marijuana tax could contribute more than $1 billion toward reducing California's $20 billion budget deficit. Opponents call that a pipe dream.

Last February, US Attorney General Eric Holder said the Justice Department would no longer raid medical marijuana dispensaries that comply with state law.

However, his office has not indicated if it would tolerate marijuana for people without a medical need.

The 2010 campaign is better funded and organized than previous attempts to decriminalize marijuana. Lee, founder of an Oakland medical marijuana dispensary and Oaksterdam University, a marijuana trade school, spent $1 million to gather 680,000 signatures calling for the initiative to be placed on the November ballot.

The Secretary of State's office is now checking to see whether at least 433,971 of those signatures - the minimum required for placement - are valid.

"This is not a whim," Dan Newman, a consultant with SCN Strategies, said. "The initiative is carefully crafted, well-funded, and professionally run. There will be TV ads, mail, sky writing - whatever it takes to communicate with voters - and a very active and engaged new media component."

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Medical Marijuana Inc Continues Development and Completes 1st Stage of the National Rollout of Its Educational Seminars

MARINA DEL REY, CA — (Marketwire) — 11/20/09 — Medical Marijuana Inc (PINKSHEETS: MJNA) announced today they have completed the taping of the Educational Seminar series as the 1st step toward the Seminar program being offered across America in those states where permitted by law. These Seminars will continue to be held in Ukiah, Ca. through the rest of the year.

Noted speakers included Oakland defense attorney James Silva, Mendocino Country Independent Editor Richard Johnson, Aeroponics cultivation expert Wayne Zallen, and MJNA – CEO Bruce Perlowin. The panel focused on current California laws and ordinances. Cultivation techniques and environmental sensitivity and solutions regarding the broad based tax solution that MJNA offers were explained in depth and unanimously agreed upon as paving the future for Medical Marijuana.

MJNA business protocol modules include Marketing, Accounting and Tax Compliance. Other modules include Trademarks and Patents, barter and their relevance to Medical Marijuana. Special attention is given to compliance issues related to extended Caregiver and Co-Op models. How-to instructions from some of the best Cannabis growers, use of Cannabis in the kitchens, legal experts, journalists and business professionals have enabled an unprecedented course of informational dialogue to move forward weekly.

Online enrollment can be accomplished at www.medicalmarijuanainc.com

Oregon Cannabis Tax Act 2010

The Oregon Cannabis Tax Act OCTA will comprehensively reform cannabis and hemp laws by regulating and taxing adult commercial use while promoting industrial hemp cultivation. By regulating the sale of cannabis Oregon stands to earn millions in tax revenue for the the Oregon General Fund, which pays for schools, health care and public safety to name just a few.

Over 200 attend first Medical Marijuana, Inc. Educational Symposium and Expo

Medical Marijuana, Inc. reports that more than 200 people from 12 states and 3 countries attended their first Educational Symposium and Expo, January 16 and 17. The event was held in the Los Angeles Convention Center. Sixty tickets were sold with many guest celebrities and pioneers from the medical marijuana movement in attendance. Video cameras rolled during the entire event and there were 6 interviews with the media. Video highlights are in post-production and coming soon.

Licensing agreements for local Educational Center partners were picked up by over 35 attendees showing an interest in opening their own local Medical Marijuana, Inc. Educational Center.

"Products were sold at the event demonstrating another profit center for MJNA, the Centers and future Expos - and basically the event surpassed our greatest hopes – it was an incredible success." said Bruce Perlowin, CEO of Medical Marijuana, Inc.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. trades on OTC:MJNA.

Two Coast Tuna Black Tuna Leader on the move for Medical Marijuana

Two Coast Tuna
Black Tuna Leader on the Move for Medical Marijuana
West Palm Beach Fl-Robert Platshorn, a.k.a. Bobby Tuna, author of Black Tuna Diaries www.blacktunadiaries.com (featured in High Times Magazines 35th Anniversary Issue) and Americas longest serving prisoner for a non-violent marijuana offense(30 yrs in federal prison), will have a busy weekend working for legalization of medical marijuana. On Saturday the 16th the Tuna will be at the 12th Annual Medical Marijuana Concert at Miamis Tobacco Road, signing books and collecting signatures for PUFMM and NORML, to put medical marijuana on the Florida ballot. At dawn on Sunday he flies to LA to speak at the Medical Marijuana EXPO at the LA Convention Center.

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Is Justice paving the way for legalizing marijuana?

Marijuana smokers might be breathing a little easier thanks to a policy switch by the U.S. Justice Department. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that federal prosecutors would not spend limited time and resources on people who use or sell medical marijuana "in strict compliance with state law." Thirteen states have medical marijuana laws, which are controversial because federal narcotics laws trump state statutes.

Of course, the new federal policy doesn't prevent local prosecutors from cracking down on medical marijuana dispensaries. Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley has vowed to shutter the city's dispensaries, which he says cater to people who do not have legitimate medical reasons for using marijuana.
Is the Justice Department paving the way for legalizing marijuana? And is it crazy to think the Obama administration is more federalist -- that is, respectful of state and local government decision-making -- than the supposedly federalism-loving Republicans? Joel Mathis and Ben Boychuk, the RedBlueAmerica columnists, attempt to cut through the haze.

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Medical Marijuana, Inc. Launches Seminar and Training Program in Ukiah, CA

Medical Marijuana, Inc. is currently offering free Informational Seminars in Mendocino County, CA. These two hour seminars will be held every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the remainder of 2009 at 7:00 PM at the Discovery Inn, 1340 N. State St., Ukiah, in the Corporate Room hosted by MJNA’s, CEO and “King of Pot”, Bruce Perlowin, who was featured in CNBC's most watched television documentary "Marijuana, Inc.". Additionally, beginning November 6&7, 2009 and every weekend after that MJNA will be conducting a series of two day paid seminars ($420 for the weekend course) in the Landmark Room at the Discovery Inn.

Among significant topics to be covered in the weekend courses are clarification of State, City and County laws and ordinances governing Medical Marijuana collectives in regards to dispensaries and cultivation. This is tied into Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s transparent patent pending Tax Remittance Card and Closed Loop Inventory Tracking System to ensure total compliance. Also discussed are the cottage industries that will sprout from the core medical marijuana industry beyond cultivation and collectives such as; cannabis kitchens and various franchises, testing facilities, distribution and logistics, delivery services, security and more. Dozens of other topics related to running any business – from internet marketing, advertising and media exposure, to trademarks, patents and proper accounting protocols – will also be taught in the weekend courses.

For more information contact: www.medicalmarijuanainc.com

Medical Marijuana Inc Begins Licensing of Its Patent Pending Tax Remittance Technology

MARINA DEL REY, CA--(Marketwire - October 22, 2009) - Medical Marijuana Inc (PINKSHEETS: MJNA) has entered into discussions with a publicly traded coffee distribution company for licensing of its patent pending tax remittance solution. Medical Marijuana Inc's tax remittance technology was originally designed to be industry and product neutral; it can be implemented in any industry. Execution of this agreement will launch phase one of Medical Marijuana Inc's multi-industry implementation strategy.

Once daily tax remittance becomes standard practice in the medical marijuana industry, government officials are likely to have a strong interest in implementing Medical Marijuana Inc's patent pending technology across all industries. The windfall to the government could be enormous, with sales taxes being delivered to government coffers on a daily basis versus the currently accepted practice of submitting taxes every ninety days or more.

For further information contact:
www.medicalmarijuanainc.com

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Commerce Online launches pre-paid debit, ID card for medical marijuana

Palm Beach, Fla., Oct. 21, 2009 -- Commerce Online Inc. (Pinksheets: CMIB - News) (www.commerceonlineinc.com ), a leading company specializing in both bricks and mortar and online merchant payment solutions, today announced the initial launch of a branded, pre-paid debit and ID card for licensed medical marijuana dispensaries and collectives operating within the states of California and Colorado.

"The Commerce branded, pre-paid debit and ID card will be marketed through our new Collective Card Services division, and may be loaded to any denomination of funds through a PCI compliant gateway, via the Internet, POS system or PayPal Account by the member of the collective or medical dispensary . Members of each collective will be provided a card as a registered member. The card will have a photo id, and act as a pre-paid debit card branded and recognized by the collective. Funds may be transferred by the registered user via internet, POS, or mobile phone. In case of theft or loss, the card may be cancelled immediately through an 800 number provided or online. The card will also act as the Collective member's identification having Picture ID, medical id number identifying him/her as a collective member, the collective name, and expiration date of membership. With recent economic issues and more stringent requirements within the banking industry, many Americans may no longer have or qualify for a credit card or checking account to pay for essential needs or medical services and do not want to exchange or carry large amounts of cash to these locations. The Commerce Online "GreenCard" will essentially be the logical choice as a low cost, effective cash alternative to regulated medical marijuana industry", further stated Mr. Gotshalk.

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Mexican Drug Cartels Threatened by Medical Marijuana Laws in U.S.

The expansion of legalized medical marijuana has caused significant increases in local U.S. marijuana farms, which has resulted in intensified competition with large Mexican drug organizations. About half of the marijuana consumed in the United States is now grown domestically, and often by small “mom-and-pop” farmers. The decentralized nature of domestically grown marijuana has threatened Mexican drug lords in a far more effective manner than the efforts of anti-narcotics programs.

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Full legalization of marijuana would likely put an end to cartel involvement, just as the end of alcohol prohibition in 1933 knocked organized crime out of the business.

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Is Marijuana a "Buy American" Program that Actually Works?

The cry of "Buy American" is being renewed as the nation tries to climb its way out of a recession. Often times those programs can fall short. But there's a surprising market where people are indeed increasing domestic purchases -- marijuana. And, in the process, it is hurting the bottom line for the murderous Mexican and Colombian drug cartels in a way that the official War on Drugs couldn't do.

There was a time when virtually all of the marijuana used in the United States came from Mexico or Colombia. Now, half of the pot being smoked is produced here, according to a report in The Washington Post.

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Medical Marijuana Inc., Prepares for CA Rollout with Completion of Custom Programming and Tax Compliance System

MARINA DEL REY, CA--(Marketwire - October 8, 2009) - Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA) continues to execute its business plan with the next step of their Tax Compliance System in place. MJNA now has over 30 collectives in 3 states and Canada signed on to use this tax system. These collectives are showing their intent to comply with proper business systems regarding tax remittance to the proper agencies. This puts these collectives in compliance with one of the most crucial aspects of Medical Marijuana and its proper distribution. Charles Larsen, President of MJNA, says, "With our fully scalable, robust processing platform, we are able to meet the most stringent requirements of any Government agencies requesting our system for their municipalities."

Medical Marijuana, Inc. is the first public company to recognize the vast and unequaled opportunities that exist in the rapidly expanding Medical Marijuana market. The scientific recognition of marijuana as a powerful medicine has brought marijuana to a new status, and opened the door for investment and opportunity.

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