Lanny's MAPP Newsletter Feb. 17, 2013

Lanny's MAPP Newsletter
February 17, 2013

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I just got home from the High Times Cannabis Cup in San Bernardino â?? you read that right â?? San Bernardino. Originally scheduled for Los Angeles and then moved to Glendale when the LAPD objected to their presence, the event was moved to the National Orange Show in San Bernardino at literally the last minute when once again the LAPD got the Glendale venue to renege on their agreement to hold the event there.

Considering how hostile the city of San Bernardino is to medical marijuana, let alone recreational marijuana, it seems incongruous that an event that could not be held in Los Angeles and Glendale could be held in San Bernardino. Of course unlike Los Angeles and Glendale, San Bernardino is bankrupt and needs whatever infusion of tax dollars that it can get. Although I am sure the SB police department was not thrilled with having the High Times Cannabis Cup in their backyard, the added certainty of being able to cash their next paycheck overcame their reefer madness inspired objections.

What makes the High Times Cannabis Cup unlike so many of the other cannabis themed events is that not only is marijuana allowed to be consumed, it is also sold. A dozen or more collectives had set up shop at the event and after signing you up as a member of their collective, sold you marijuana. Unlike the relatively more staid atmosphere found at a storefront collective, this was definitely patient party central with lots of free samples being given out including free wax dabs.

I could not help but wonder if this is the future of marijuana when it is legal or if this is the last vestige heralding the transformation of marijuana from being an illegal commodity to a legal one. Once legal and available at Costco in all its consumable forms along with quality imbibing equipment, will these events no longer be held to meet our current needs but be celebrations of the past like Renaissance Fairs?

What stood out most vividly about the HT Cannabis Cup is the joyful atmosphere and the diversity of people present. Humanity in all its diverse images and ages were present enjoying the day and evening together. If this had been an event to celebrate alcohol, it just would not have been so harmonious and peaceful.

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[align=left] Thanks to the folks at High Times, we were provided with a free booth to provide information to the attendees on the Brownie Mary Democratic Club and our radio show Marijuana Compassion and Common Sense. In addition to handing out flyers about our radio show, we signed up oodles of new people to receive our newsletters. I am especially pleased that we gistered 12 new voters who are now able to vote for candidates and initiatives that will further the rights of medical marijuana patients and bring marijuana prohibition to an end. Thatâ??s how we restore marijuana to its rightful place in our communities â?? one vote at a time![/align]

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Itâ??s been almost two weeks since the California Supreme Court hearing on the City of Riverside vs. IE Health and Wellness Center and there has been much speculation on how the Supreme Court will rule on the contentious issue of whether cities can ban mmj collectives. Most major media sources ran stories reporting that based on the questions asked by the Justices it seems that the court will rule in favor of letting cities ban. Most were quick to note, however, that is it not unusual for the court to go hard on the attorney representing the side they eventually wind up ruling in favor of.

If the court rules in our favor, then cities will have to regulate and license. We need to be ready to make sure that the regulations and licensing requirements are reasonable and not so impossible to meet that no one can open up.

If the court rules against us, then we will see cities throughout the state enacting bans if they have not already done so and if they have enacted bans, they will immediately file court actions against all the collectives in their jurisdiction and this time they will succeed in getting them closed. Except for a handful of cities, patients who cannot grow their own will have to obtain their marijuana the old fashioned way â?? they will get it from criminals.

Even patients who grow their own may find the restrictions imposed on them so stringent, such as outdoor growing bans or even bans on growing in residential areas, that they cannot grow their own.
No matter how the court rules, regulation of medical marijuana distribution will be up for grabs in the state legislature. Already groups like ASA and CalNORML are working on bills to provide for state regulations and groups like The League of California Cities and the California Narcotics Officers Association are working for legislation to give the cities the right to ban or impose restrictions so onerous that it will essentially overturn Prop. 215.

The decision from the Supreme Court is expected sometime in April. Thank goodness we have marijuana to carry us through these times of extreme nail-biting.

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Marijuana Compassion & Common Sense
Award Winning Radio Show
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[align=left] One avenue that is open to patients if the Supreme Court rules that cities can ban, is to circulate initiative petitions to repeal the ban. Patients in Santa Ana have just successfully circulated a repeal the ban initiative so no matter how the Supreme Court rules, the game is not over. On the 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18 broadcast and simulcast of our radio show Marijuana Compassion and Common Sense, Kandice Hawes from OCNORML will discuss the logistics behind getting an initiative to repeal a ban on the ballot, how they accomplished it and their plans to get voters to support repealing the ban and enact reasonable regulations and licensing requirements.[/align]
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Our second featured guest is Peymon Mottahedeh, President and Founder of the Inland Empire based Freedom Law School. Peymon will be speaking about the 2013 Freedom Conference that will be held at the Sheraton Ontario Airport Hotel from March 8 through March 11. Featuring speakers on everything from anti-war activism to beating the IRS at their own game, this Libertarian influenced conference features a presentation by Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of NORML and a conference keynote speech by Libertarian vice-presidential candidates Judge James Gray.
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Tune in this Monday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. and every Monday at 6 p.m. for Marijuana Compassion and Common Sense broadcast on KCAA radio station 1050AM and simulcast at www.kcaaradio.com.[/align]
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[align=center] [/align] [align=center] GET INVOLVED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The Brownie Mary Democratic Club
JOIN US[/align] [align=center] [align=center]Start a local chapter by you - Republican, Libertarian & Green Party[/align][/align] [HR] [align=center] Please take a moment to go to our website, www.marijuananews.org, and make a donation.[/align] [/align]
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[align=center] WATCH my latest videos HERE or click icon above.[/align]
[HR] [align=center] MISS THIS WEEK'S RADIO PROGRAM? No problem, click HERE to access the latest Marijuana Compassion & Common Sense Radio Program.[/align] [align=center] [/align] [/align]
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[align=left][align=center] The Human Solution
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[align=center] Because no one should go to jail for a plant - Joe Grumbine
www.the-human-solution.org[/align]
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