Netherlands: Dutch Lawmakers May Limit Coffee-Shop Access

The Hague, Netherlands: Dutch Ministers are contemplating legislation to impose restrictions on who may legally visit and purchase cannabis at licensed 'coffee-shops,' according to a memorandum leaked to several international media sources on Wednesday.

According to the memo, Dutch lawmakers may introduce legislation that would limit access to the shops to 'members-only' Dutch citizens. Such 'members-only' restrictions are scheduled to begin on a trial basis this fall in the border city of Maastricht.

A legislative committee recommended in July that Dutch 'coffee-shops' begin catering to 'locals only.'

Under Dutch law, licensed business establishments may sell up to 5 grams of cannabis to patrons age 18 years or older. Proposed amendments to the law may limit future sales to 3 grams.

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Patrick Swayze Using Medical Marijuana

As he battles pancreatic cancer, Patrick Swayze has been using medical marijuana to treat the nausea, insomnia and anxiety from the chemotherapy treatment.

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California has three initiatives filed to legalize marijuana

Previous articles compared two marijuana legalization initiatives filed in California and discussed the California initiative process and the relationship of initiatives to laws passed by the state legislature. One of these initiatives has been amended and a third filed.

The newest addition to California's marijuana legalization initiatives is the Common Sense Act of 2010 by Common Sense California.

This initiative, which was filed 4 Aug 09, repeals marijuana prohibition in California, gives the legislature a year to pass laws to regulate and tax marijuana, and calls for California members of Congress to work to remove cannabis from the Federal Schedule of Controlled Substances.

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Medical Marijuana Inc. Signs More Collectives & Invites Oakland to Learn About Tax Collection System

Medical Marijuana Inc continues an aggressive program of expansion, with the announcement of four new North Californian medical marijuana collectives signing up for its 'Stored Value Platform System'.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: MJNA) announced today that MOU agreements are now in place with an additional four medical marijuana collectives from different counties in the Northern California region. All four collectives have signed on to implement MJNA's Stored Value Platform System in their respective businesses.

The Stored Value Platform System, a Point-of-Sale system, is a hallmark element of Medical Marijuana's business solutions package. This stored value-based system, once in place, helps businesses that are dispensing medical marijuana more efficiently and securely manage the tasks of revenue and taxation collection. The ease of access to certifiably secure transactions lessens the risk of loss at each level. Both provider and patient benefit greatly from this revolutionary program designed by MJNA.

The addition of collectives within the top half of the Golden State is also important to Medical Marijuana, Inc. on another level too.

As part of its effort to persuade at least one major Bay Area municipality to join in discussions with the Company regarding its automated tax collection solutions.

Per a special July 2009 election, the City of Oakland, CA, will become the first U.S. city to tax proceeds on the sale of medical marijuana. Approximately 80 percent of voters residing within city limits chose to support the initiative, which was adopted by many of the city's medical marijuana collectives and the Oakland City Council as part of the solution to Oakland's longstanding budget shortfall.

By employing Medical Marijuana's tax collection system, the City of Oakland could cost-effectively implement the necessary infrastructure to collect on every sale made within city limits by licensed collectives and collect those taxes on a daily basis. The POS system automatically recognizes the collective's tax ID number, state and local tax rates and then provides Automated Clearing House settlement of the taxes and routes the amount to the City's appointed financial institution. Taxes can be collected on a daily basis, providing an economic windfall for the city of Oakland and any other municipality recognizing the advantages of this model.

Tax Collection

The Stored Value Platform System will provide verifiable solutions to manage the difficult task of revenue and taxation collection. The "Point of Sale" (POS) system will recognize the dispensary's tax ID number, state and local tax rates and then provide "Automated Clearing House" (ACH) settlement of the taxes to the proper financial institutions. The customers of the dispensary are issued a plastic debit card or medical revenue card. The ease of access to certifiably secure transactions lessens the risk of loss at each level of the transaction.

Internal Management

All collectives/dispensaries in the U.S. are cash businesses. This presents a number of challenges. Dispensary owners risk employee theft and possible competition for sales with unsupervised employees. Our stored value card also eliminates the risks of carrying cash. For the investor looking to open more than one dispensary, this card allows him the ease of mind of knowing all transactions are accounted for in all of his locations.

Solutions

Medical Marijuana, Inc. is developing a suite of solutions to deliver an efficient and secure infrastructure for the Medical Marijuana Industry that will provide the tools to industry operators to effectively manage their businesses with the confidence that they are in full compliance.

ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA, INC.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. is the first public company to recognize the vast and unequaled opportunities that exist in the rapidly expanding medical marijuana industry. The scientific recognition of marijuana as a powerful medicine, and as an effective, non-narcotic pain reliever, has brought legalized marijuana use to the forefront of mainstream discussion thus opening the door for safe and lucrative investment opportunities.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. has developed a suite of turnkey business and management solutions for the fledgling medical marijuana collective industry in California. The growing number of other states that have legalized the use of medical marijuana have yet to establish a system for the legalized commercial production and sale of the medicine. These regions are also strong potential targets for Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s products and services down the road. It is likely that other states will follow California's basic lead as the Golden State more specifically defines the regulations and protocol that are shaping the supply-side of the legal medical marijuana sector.

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Buy “99 Diamond Kush” and Win a $1,800 Heart-Shaped Diamond

The King of Pot is at it again! Bruce Perlowin has created the Gemstone Candles to show everyone that the treasure is within – it is within all of us. The flame that burns to reveal the treasure within represents the fire that purifies. It is often these burning experiences that reveal the treasure within.

If you live in LA area and are a Medical Marijuana Patient, hurry over to the 99 High Art Collective, 1108 Abbot Kinney, Venice, CA 90291 (310-450-8699)

When you buy a eight of “99 Diamond Kush” at 99 High Art Collective, you get to buy one “Gemstone Candle” for $40.00. Out of the 420 Gemstone Candles there is ONE $1,800(retail value) heart shaped 1/3 carat diamond.

The Gemstone Candles have quartz from Quartzite, Arizona on the top portion of them, however, hidden within each candle are semi-precious gemstones (peridot, garnet, amethyst, citrine, topaz, etc.- which was a Crackerjack of an idea) worth between $30.00 to $40.00 (retail). These are all calibrated cut gemstones.

The winning candle has a Mother of Pearl pendant inside of it. The person that finds the Mother of Pearl wins the diamond. But you must keep it a secret until all the candles are sold. You can’t even tell any of the collective workers, owners, directors, etc. If you tell anyone you are disqualified from winning the diamond – so you must keep the secret – until all the candles are sold.

So rush down to the 99 High Art Collective in Venice and get your 99 Diamond Kush and Gemstone Candle before they are all sold out. Get your chance of winning the diamond.

Oakland proposes statewide semi-legalization of pot

Oakland marijuana activists are looking for nearly 434,000 signatures statewide to support a ballot measure that would allow adults 21 and over to possess up to an ounce of pot.

”Marijuana is California's largest cash crop,” said Greg Allen, an attorney who has been a medical marijuana activist for more than a decade. Allen said the latest movements toward taxing marijuana will have significant economic benefits for the state. Legalizing it would also lower the price of marijuana, possibly leading to less criminalized behavior associated with the underground marijuana market, Allen said.

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A proposed ballot measure may allow possession of 1 Oz. Marijuana

A proposed ballot measure filed with the California attorney general's office would allow adults 21 and over to possess up to an ounce of pot. Homeowners could grow marijuana for personal use on garden plots up to 25 square feet.

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Cannabis Planet - Premiers this Friday & Saturday at Midnight

Cannabis Planet - Premiers this Friday & Saturday at Midnight

July 27, 2009 - Los Angeles, CA – Cannabis Planet Productions, Inc. announces the debut of a new, 30 minute weekly television program, Cannabis Planet, premiering this Friday night, July 31st at Midnight on KDOC TV, (Los Angeles – consult your local listings). The show will air on both Friday and Saturday at midnight this week, then will air twice weekly, Thursday's at midnight after Rod Serling's Twighlight Zone, and again each Saturday at midnight.

Cannabis Planet will focus on the merits of the cannabis plant (medicinally, industrially, agriculturally) and the benefits this plant brings to planet earth, mankind, and the United States.

Cannabis Planet is Co-Hosted by Ngaio Bealum (Publisher of West Coast Cannabis Magazine) and Sarah Diesel (Medical Cannabis Activist). Horticultural legend and best-selling author Ed Rosenthal will serve as the resident Cannabis expert and will provide weekly growing tips.

Weekly topics will include Cannabis News and Information, profiles of Medical Marijuana Collectives,
Cannabis Cooking, Celebrity Interviews, Music, Entertainment and more.

Click below for a preview



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Oaksterdam University in place to teach next generation of pot entrepreneurs

Listening to another news report that stated there are more medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles than Starbucks coffee shops, I thought it would be a good time to look at Oaksterdam University, a “school” that teaches students the finer points of marijuana law and cultivation techniques. The school sits on a busy street corner in downtown Oakland, California with several of its business entities found throughout the neighborhood. There is a book store to sell students books and supplies, as well as hats, t-shirts and smoking paraphernalia; a glass blowing shop across the street; and a medical marijuana dispensary around the corner.

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Medical marijuana class is Saturday

The Montana Caregivers Network is holding a class in Great Falls on Saturday to explain the medical marijuana law as well as teach caregivers some growing techniques.

The class will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Great Falls and costs $26. Participants are asked to register by calling 406-207-7078.

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San Diego Faces a Medical Marijuana Industry

SAN DIEGO — Using marijuana for medical reasons has been allowed in California for a dozen years. But court challenges to medical marijuana and federal prosecutions, have put a limit on groups that want to provide and sell it until now. KPBS Health Reporter Tom Fudge tells of this year's dramatic increase in activity around medical marijuana.

Five months ago, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told some reporters that federal raids on state-sanctioned marijuana dispensaries would stop. His statement marked a dramatic change from the Bush administration. And it got the attention of Steve Walter, assistant chief of narcotics for San Diego District Attorney's office.

"Shortly after that happened I started getting a lot of phone calls from members of the public wanting to know if the could open a dispensary," says Walter, "asking me for guidance on how you go about doing it."

Attorney Patrick Dudley, who has defended some distributors of medical marijuana, says he got about two calls a day for two months following the Holder statement. Dudley estimates there are now more than 60 medical marijuana dispensaries in the city of San Diego. The growth in the medical marijuana industry has raised a lot questions, and it's caused two local cities to call for a time out. Chula Vista and National City have passed moratoriums that prevent the creation of any dispensaries for at least 45 days. Steve Castaneda, a Chula Vista councilman, says his city wants to know the rules and protect the public interest before it moves forward.

"We're trying to understand how best to insure that we have the restriction and regulations and that we have the business owners that will comply with the laws that we set forth," he says.

Proposition 215, passed in 1996, allows people to cultivate and to consume marijuana with a doctors recommendation. But it left many questions unanswered. More recently, the legislature has passed clarifying laws and the State Attorney General has issued guidelines. Current law allows medical marijuana users and care givers to form non-profit collectives to grow and provide marijuana. Sales to anyone outside the group is still a crime, under state law.

One of the more established marijuana dispensaries in San Diego is called Hillcrest Compassionate Care. Founder Paul Derrick Cody says his collective is run on donations from members. Cody himself uses a wheelchair as a result of a spinal cord injury.

"Pain is something that is continuous on a day to day level," he says. "Cannabis is something that allows my legs to relax, that allows the spasms to subside. But more so, I've known other people that the cannabis has helped across the board."

Cody says it has helped people who are bipolar and schizophrenic. Its helped people with Alzheimer's disease and people suffering from post-traumatic stress. Ads for dispensaries suggest marijuana could help reduce anxiety, insomnia, depression, even asthma.

Prop 215 allows doctors to recommend marijuana for anything they think it will help. Prosecutor Steve Walter says he agrees with those who say prop 215 has become a bit of a joke.

"This was something that was sold to the electorate as a proposition that was going to help those who were grievously ill. But I think the vast majority of the people who are doing this are just doing it to get high," says Walter.

Marijuana does have some proven medical uses. Studies run by the University of California have found marijuana is very effective in treating pain in AIDS patients. A UCSD study of people with multiple sclerosis found marijuana reduced pain and muscle spasms. That study also showed people who used marijuana suffered a significant loss in cognitive skills. Yes, they did get high.

Attorney Steven Feldman has been a proponent of marijuana legalization. He says the desire some people have to get high doesn't mean medical marijuana is a joke.

"I'm sure that people use marijuana for recreational purposes. But that doesn't mean that we should outlaw the use of the opiates that are used for patients in serious pain. Nor does it mean that we should outlaw the use of those marijuana patients who benefit from the use of marijuana," says Feldman.

Tomorrow San Diego's city council committee on public safety and neighborhood services will take up the subject of medical marijuana dispensaries.

Pot activists file ballot measure in California

SAN FRANCISCO — Oakland pot activists fresh off a victory at local polls on the taxing of medical marijuana took their first official step Tuesday toward asking California voters to legalize pot.

A proposed ballot measure filed with the California attorney general's office would allow adults 21 and over to possess up to an ounce of pot. Homeowners could grow marijuana for personal use on garden plots up to 25 square feet.

The measure's main backer is Oakland medical marijuana entrepreneur Richard Lee, who helped push a first-of-its-kind tax on city medical marijuana dispensaries that passed with 80 percent of the vote last week.

The statewide measure needs nearly 434,000 signatures to make the November 2010 ballot.

"It's one more pretty amazing element in the momentum toward ending statewide prohibition," said Stephen Gutwillig, California director of the pro-legalization Drug Policy Alliance.

His group would rather wait until 2012 to build more support for a ballot initiative but would be happy with an earlier victory, he said.

A similar but less restrictive pot legalization initiative was filed two weeks ago by a group of Northern California criminal defense lawyers.

The Tax, Regulate and Control Cannabis Act of 2010 would set no specific limits on the amount of pot adults could possess or grow for personal use. The measure would repeal all local and state marijuana laws and clear the criminal record of anyone convicted of a pot-related offense.

Both ballot measures would be competing with a bill introduced by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol.

The San Francisco Democrat is pushing legalization as a way to generate revenue for the cash-starved state from California's massive marijuana industry. He plans to hold hearings on the legislation this fall.

California and Their Laws on Medical Marijuana

Sellers of marijuana as a medicine here don’t fret about raids any more. They’ve stopped stressing over where to hide their stash or how to move it unseen.

Now their concerns involve the state Board of Equalization, which collects sales tax and requires a retailer ID number. Or city planning offices, which insist that staircases comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Then there is marketing strategy, which can mean paying to be a “featured dispensary” on a Web site for pot smokers.

After years in the shadows, medical marijuana in California is aspiring to crack the commercial mainstream.

“I want to do everything I can to run this as a legitimate business,” says Jan Werner, 55 years old, who invested in a pot store in a shopping mall after 36 years as a car salesman.

State voters decreed back in 1996 that Californians had a right to use marijuana for any illness — from cancer to anorexia to any other condition it might help. But supplying “med pot” remained risky. The ballot measure didn’t specify who could sell it or how. The state provided few guidelines, leaving local governments to impose a patchwork of restrictions. Above all, because pot possession remained illegal under U.S. law, sellers had to worry about federal raids.

But in February, the Justice Department said it would adhere to President Barack Obama’s campaign statement that federal agents no longer would target med-pot dealers who comply with state law. Since then, vendors who had kept a low profile have begun to expand, and entrepreneurs who had avoided cannabis have begun to invest.

Some now are using traditional business practices like political lobbying and supply-chain consolidation. Others are seeking capital or offering investment banking for pot purveyors. In Oakland, a school offers courses such as “Cannabusiness 102″ and calls itself Oaksterdam University, after the pot-friendly Dutch city. As shops proliferate, there are even signs the nascent industry could be heading for another familiar business phenomenon: the bubble.

Medical use of pot now is legal in 13 states. It is also facing some resistance. New Hampshire’s Democratic governor, John Lynch, vetoed a med-pot bill this month, citing inadequate safeguards. Los Angeles, which passed a moratorium on new dispensaries in 2007, is trying to close a loophole that has led to an explosion of new ones.

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Medical marijuana vote a victory for patients

The Denver Post
"A proposal that would have effectively shut down medical-marijuana dispensaries was rejected Monday night by the Colorado Board of Health.

In addition to voting down a plan to limit medical-marijuana caregivers to five patients each, the board also refused to require that caregivers help patients with daily activities. The board did, however, agree to changes meant to prevent fraud — and left the door open to revisiting the cap on patients another time.

"We're happy the board did the compassionate thing," said Brian Vicente, the director of Sensible Colorado. "This is a win for Coloradan sick patients and the voters."

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Medical Marijuana, Inc. Expands Internationally To Canada And Adds More Collectives in CA

MARINA DEL REY, CA--(Marketwire – July 16, 2009) - Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA) expands internationally by signing Growers with Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. MMI has also added five additional collectives in the United States as follows; Soultree Art of Healing Co-Op in Daly City, California; Netexdive Products in Valley Center, California; Chron Don’s Clinic in Garden Grove, California; Association for Alternative Therapy in Westminster, California; and Better Health Group in San Rafael, California.

Bruce Perlowin is living up to his reputation of having built the largest Marijuana business in the US. Now he is doing it legally and because of his vast experience in the business, who better to help medical marijuana become a legitimate business? Check out the latest activity and news on the company's website: www.medicalmarijuanainc.com

Cannabis Hemp: Is the oldest plant known to man future-proof too?

It will come as absolutely no surprise to some, that in 1971, the year British Petroleum took out the largest bank loan in history to finance its offshore oil explorations (a statistic which still stands today), the serving British government implemented the Misuse of Drugs act. A law which would take away the cannabis plant from those that need it most, forever.

Ever since, successive governments have told the wider population how bad cannabis is for us. Indeed the evidence delivered through a carefully crafted press campaign which spans almost a century, has been delivered with such force and magnitude, the very mention of the word 'Cannabis'
these days brings about much sharp-intaking-of-breath, accompanied by lots of nudge's and wink's. But does it really deserve the bad rap it gets in the press?

420 Radio show sponsored by Medical Marijuana, Inc. on July 10, 2009

Medical Marijuana, Inc. is sponsoring the 420 Radio show on July 10, 2009 (http://www.latalkradio.com/420.php). Bruce Perlowin will again be speaking about his new venture in the medical marijuana industry with Jamie Simon.

Bruce Perlowin is making news AGAIN!

Bruce Perlowin has long been know as the KING OF POT. That is since he was caught in the 80's and convicted as the largest marijuana smuggler in history. If you look at his story (http://bruceperlowin.com/kingofpot.html) you will see the genius behind the operation.

Now Bruce Perlowin is creating history again with the first publically traded company Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA) in the medical marijuana industry. The company offers a payment solution and tax remittance card which collects the taxes on a daily basis, making it simple for compliance with government regulations. Check out the company, Medical Marijuana, Inc. at: www.medicalmarijuanainc.com

Others are now starting to tell the story and bring attention to Bruce Perlowin's genius activities. (http://theganesagroup.blogspot.com/2009/07/read-this-article-on-worlds-best.html)

Now would be a good time for people who want a good investment in this edgy time, to buy at least $420 of stock in this company. There are now 13 states in which medical marijuana is legal and this is just the beginning. The revenues that can be achieved from a cash crop like marijuana are staggering. So many wonderful products can be produced from hemp, not to mention the benefits of medical marijuana.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. Signs the First Cannabis Collective in Venice, California to Use Tax Remittance Card

MARINA DEL REY, CA--(Marketwire – July 2, 2009) - Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA) expands into Venice, California by signing ‘99 High Art Collective,’ which will begin to implement Medical Marijuana, Inc.’s tax remittance card in the 4th quarter 2009. “The high energy marketing efforts of our Agents are building major momentum, moving us full steam ahead, as we now have 13 Cannabis Collectives who have agreed to use our Tax Remittance Card”, says Rob Griffin, Chief Operations Officer of Medical Marijuana, Inc.

High Art, High Love, High Quality Medicine. A Cutting Edge Art Gallery Opens Up In Venice Beach With Light Paintings of Psychedelic Pioneers By Dean Chamberlain. Breaking away from the typical gallery model, "99 High Art Collective" will open its doors on July 3rd 2009, not only as a high art gallery, but also as a Medicinal Cannabis dispensary, with world renowned artists and according to their proprietor and patients, "...very high quality art, love and organic medicine".

Medical Marijuana, Inc is developing a suite of solutions and tools for the Medical Marijuana Industry that will enable efficient tax compliance and business management, delivered in a secure (patent pending) infrastructure.

For further details on Medical Marijuana, Inc. contact: info@medicalmarijuaninc.com
www.medicalmarijuanainc.com
www.twitter.com/medmarijuanainc
www.MySpace.com/marijuanainc

Eastern States Line Up for Medical Marijuana – NJ; NH; NC; DE

A perfect storm of relaxed federal intervention, intriguing new science and the failure of pharmaceutical narcotics for treating chronic illness has citizens clambering for legal access to medical Cannabis (marijuana) and several state legislatures scrambling for solutions to an issue many politicians don’t adequately understand.

While most states with legal medical marijuana are concentrated in the west, their programs established through voter referendum, eastern states generally don’t have ballot initiative processes, so changes must come through the legislature.

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