Joint Legislation: Federal Bills Would End Marijuana Prohibition in the United States

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Joint Legislation: Federal Bills Would End Marijuana Prohibition in the United States | NORML

WASHINGTON, DC — Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Jared Polis have introduced legislation in the House and Senate — to permit states to establish their own marijuana regulatory policies free from federal interference. In addition to removing marijuana from the United States Controlled Substances Act, this legislation also removes enforcement power from […]

Joint Legislation: Federal Bills Would End Marijuana Prohibition in the United States | The Daily Chronic

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MMJ Patient Advocates Take Cannabis Issues to United Nations

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MMJ Patient Advocates Take Cannabis Issues to United Nations
Steph Sherer, executive director of Americans for Safe Access (ASA), and Michael Krawitz, executive director of Veterans For Medical Cannabis Access, met with other organizations at the UN this week in preparation for the upcoming United Nations …
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Pot Smoking On The Job? Colorado Cannabis Companies Experiment With Marijuana
"When we have a company brainstorm session, we usually go to the rooftop or Red Rocks Park, and if people want to consume cannabis, they can smoke," said Isaac Dietrich, the co-founder of MassRoots, a tech startup social platform for cannabis users, …
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Albuquerque baby makes history with cannabis oil at Colorado hospital
It's a cannabis oil known to treat epilepsy in toddlers and children. The THC level is less than one percent so children don't get high, but it's controversial. According to the family, at 2-months-old Amylea is the first and the youngest patient to …
Read more on KRQE News 13

Revelation from United States environmental legislation

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America’s environmental laws have influenced the development of green legislation abroad: China’s Environmental Impact Assessment Law, for example, reflects study of the United States’ National Environmental Policy Act, while Beijing’s recent laws and regulations on public disclosure of information show an understanding of the US Freedom of Information Act. Mongolia developed its national environmental laws with the help of American lawyers. There are dozens of other such examples.

But what about environmental case law in the United States? Are there lessons to be drawn from the wins and the losses for counterparts in the environmental law profession and their colleagues abroad?

At a recent roundtable with Chinese environmental law professionals in San Francisco, a lively discussion developed on the issue of lawyers’ fees and court fees. On first blush, this might seem a minor issue compared to the larger environmental challenges at hand both in China and the United States, but in China, public-interest environmental law is so new that working out who pays for lawsuits is still a critical problem to solve.

In the United States, the rule of thumb (often called the “American rule”) is that each side pays its own attorney fees, regardless of whether they win or lose. That’s a critical reason some famous cases – such as the suit organised by Erin Brockovich against California’s Pacific Gas and Electric Company over contamination of drinking water in the southern Californian town of Hinkley – were able to go ahead. (In contrast in England, the risk to the injured citizen of having to pay defendants attorney fees is simply too great and can deter people from pursuing such claims.) Christiansburg Garment Company v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, though not an environmental case, further ensured that when citizen groups lose a case against big corporations in the United States, they don’t have to pay their opponent’s legal fees.

Another key issue for emerging environmental law in China and elsewhere is “standing” – the legal term for the right to sue. In the United States, Sierra Club v. Morton in 1972 was the fundamental Supreme Court case that established standing based on environmental-resource interests. The Sierra Club ultimately lost the case (in which it attempted to fight development in an area near Sequoia National Park, California) but won the war because the Supreme Court decision laid out a clear roadmap for how to successfully establish legal standing-to-sue in future cases. The case established that an environmental organisation could sue not on behalf of the organisation itself, but on the basis of evidence of injury to members whose aesthetic or recreational interests had been damaged.

In 2000, standing issues were further clarified to the advantage of environmental organisations, in particular for pollution cases, as a result of Friends of the Earth v. Laidlaw Environmental Services. The case was brought against a company that had formerly been polluting a section of the North Tyger River in South Carolina. The case held that the plaintiffs had the right to sue based on the damage to members who would have used the resources recreationally had it not been repeatedly and illegally polluted by Laidlaw. In other words, the case helped clarify that plaintiffs did not need to produce prohibitively expensive evidence that specific particles of pollution produced by the defendant had specific health impacts on its members.

New laws and regulations on the public right to access environmental information, and efforts to ensure there are legal avenues for making challenges on transparency grounds are at a critical proving point in China, and elsewhere. In the United States, legislation such as the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Freedom of Information Act, has provided clear guidelines on how information must be disclosed, and there have been few modifications by the courts.

Prior to the CWA, for example, the United States’ rivers and harbours protection laws required plaintiffs to prove injury to the environment directly from the defendant’s actions. The CWA put the burden on the defendants by requiring them to file regular “discharge monitoring reports”, detailing whether or not they were meeting their pollution-permit requirements, and creating the right for any citizen or NGO to sue for violations. A company’s own reports must show violations of permits, and the CWA citizen suit provisions have allowed citizen groups to hold companies accountable for these violations.

In other areas of natural resource decision-making, however, access to information on US government decisions has been less clear cut. In 2004, the Sierra Club and Judicial Watch sued vice-president Dick Cheney under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) for holding a series of secret meetings with industry representatives, under the auspices of the “National Energy Policy Development Group”. The plaintiffs were concerned that Cheney was attempting illegally to steer the United States towards a backward, carbon-intensive energy policy and felt that broader consensus on energy issues would be better for the country. Ultimately, Cheney was favoured by the Supreme Court on grounds of protecting state secrets. But the plaintiff’s efforts were hailed as an important tactic for exposing Cheney’s back-door manipulations of national energy policy.

Some US environmental lawsuits are useful to reflect upon not necessarily for their outcomes, but for the tactical issues they raised. Since the late 1980s, a long list of lawsuits brought by various environmental interests targeted protection of the northern spotted owl under the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act. These suits first appeared at a time when logging was rampant across the north-western United States, and the cases created a train wreck for the regional timber industry. The environmental side won some of the cases, and lost others. But more importantly, the cases did what the plaintiffs wanted them to do: they greatly raised the profile of the destruction of the nation’s last remaining ancient forests.

The most successful environmental suits in courts, however, are those that are brought as part of a much broader strategy involving public outreach, research, lobbying and other tactics. Environmental lawyers in the United States almost always work in collaboration with environmental non-profit organisations or other citizen groups. One crucial reason for this is that, as president Abraham Lincoln said in 1858, “Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed. Consequently, he who moulds opinion is greater than he who enacts laws.” Without public support for a lawsuit, or at least public awareness and concern over the issue it addresses, litigation efforts can backfire. But more importantly, public support is necessary for ensuring that, after a win in court, environmental gains can be sustained over time.

This is perhaps the most important lesson from US environmental case law for new practitioners of green legislation in China and elsewhere, as well as communities and organisations that may seek to bring lawsuits as a means of addressing environmental concerns.

As the professional manufacturer of complete sets of mining machinery, such as Flotation cells, Henan Hongxing is always doing the best in products and service.

New laws and regulations on the public right to access environmental information, and efforts to ensure there are legal avenues for making challenges on transparency grounds are at a critical proving point in China,

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United Patients Group Spearheads Medicinal Cannabis Education Efforts with CME-Eligible Online Courses

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San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 29, 2015

United Patients Group, an online resource for medicinal cannabis information and advocacy, is now offering doctors the opportunity to learn about the rapidly evolving science of medical cannabis with the 12-course online series “Medical Cannabis from A to Z—A Clinical Cannabinoid Medicine Curriculum.” Offered in collaboration with The Medical Cannabis Institute (TMCI), a division of Scitent, a leader in online medical education, the classes are eligible for up to 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Continued Medical Education (CME) credits.

“Stay ahead of the curve by learning how you can help your patients with medical cannabis,” invites United Patients Group founder John Malanca. “These courses are designed to review the history, science, and applications of medicinal cannabis, so you get an in-depth exploration of this emerging field from the comfort of your home.”

This series, which was developed by the Society of Cannabis Clinicians (SCC), is designed to teach clinicians the research and clinical practice facets of cannabinoid medicine. Topics covered by the series include:


    History Of Cannabis As Medicine: A Timeline Through Current Drug Policy Issues
    The Endocannabinoid System
    Cannabis—the Plant: A Phytocannabinoid Medicine
    Pharmacology Of Cannabis & Physiologic Effects Of Phytocannabinoids
    Delivery and Dosage of Cannabis Medicine
    Clinical Practice I: Cannabis Use for Pain
    Clinical Practice II: Insomnia, Glaucoma, and Immune Disorders
    Clinical Practice III: Movement Disorders & Neurodegenerative Diseases
    Clinical Practice IV: Mental Health Conditions and Potential Psychiatric Applications
    Clinical Practice V: Cancer and Palliative Care
    Clinical Practice VI: Cannabis Use Disorders and Precautions
    Clinical Case Study Reviews

“This is your opportunity to become a leader in this emerging medical field,” says Malanca. “Your expertise could open up a new level of treatment options for your patients.”

As acceptance of the validity of cannabinoid medicine has grown worldwide, clinicians, researchers, and patients are finding that it helps with a remarkable number of ailments, even when pharmaceuticals fall short.

“It’s time for us to stop burying our heads in the sand about cannabis,” Malanca declares. “Cannabis is a life-saving treatment option, one that all doctors should know about and all patients deserve access to. The information in this curriculum will forever change the way you help your patients.”

To learn more about United Patients Group’s CME course offerings or information about cannabinoid medicine, go to http://www.UnitedPatientsGroup.com.

About United Patients Group:

United Patients Group is a discreet, safe, and professional online medical cannabis information resource for prospective and current patients, caregivers, and medicinal cannabis industry professionals.

While most online medical cannabis sites cater to patients already familiar with medical cannabis, the UnitedPatientsGroup.com website is a comprehensive and easy-to-use information source for people of all ages and experience levels, from novice users to experienced industry professionals. The site’s News, Resource, and Blog pages introduce new patients to the ins and outs of medical cannabis healthcare, while helping experienced providers stay abreast of the latest developments in THC and CBD therapies.

A complimentary five-star-rated United Patients Group medical cannabis app is available on the iTunes app store for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), and any iPad.







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United Patients Group – Leading Medical Cannabis Information Website Simplifies Current Cannabis Laws By State

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San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 12, 2014

Cannabis legislation has been all over the news lately. New York just became the twenty-third state to legalize medical cannabis, and a day later, Washington state’s first recreational marijuana dispensaries opened their doors. Activists have successfully brought cannabis-related initiatives to the November ballot in three states and Washington, DC, and many other state legislatures are working on relaxing cannabis regulations.

In light of all these changes, United Patients Group thought it would be a good time to put together a comprehensive list of which states allow medical cannabis, which states allow recreational cannabis, and which states have pending legislation or ballot initiatives in 2014.

“Cannabis laws vary tremendously from state to state, and they have been changing faster than ever in recent years,” says John Malanca, founder and owner of United Patients Group, a trusted advocate and news source for medical cannabis patients. “We wanted to give a comprehensive overview of where each state stands and where each state is headed.”

Colorado and Washington are currently the only two states that regulate and tax recreational cannabis use. Since the law went into effect on January 1, Colorado has collected $ 11 million in tax revenue to fund education. Washington dispensaries opened on Tuesday, and the state is expecting to reap millions in taxes to fund its healthcare plan and the General Fund.

Three state legislatures passed medical marijuana bills this year: Minnesota on May 30, Maryland on June 1, and New York on July 5. This brings the total number of states that allow legal access to medical cannabis up to twenty-three states plus Washington, DC.

“It has been an incredible year for medical cannabis—and the year is only half over!” exclaims Malanca. “As more people become educated about the benefits of cannabis for treating a wide array of serious ailments, it becomes impossible to deny patients access to the medicine that helps them most.”

Even conservative states that have remained staunchly anti-cannabis have started to relax their stance a bit. This year, eleven states approved the use of a non-psychoactive cannabis derivative, CBD oil, to treat childhood epilepsy. After an affecting series of reports by Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN about how this oil was the only medicine that worked for a group of children with severe epilepsy, governors in Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin signed bills that allow its use. Legislatures in Missouri and North Carolina have approved similar bills, and the governors are expected to sign them soon.

“We applaud these states for recognizing that these children deserve access to medicine that makes an incredible difference to their seizures. We want to point out, however, that many parents find medicine that has more THC in it to be even more effective,” notes Malanca. “And while CBD oil helps with epilepsy, different strains and extracts of cannabis are effective at treating other diseases—including cancer, Alzheimer’s, fibromyalgia, depression, and many others. All patients in these states deserve full access to medical cannabis.”

Looking to the rest of 2014, United Patients Group sees promising activity all over the country. This November, voters in Alaska, DC, and Oregon will have the opportunity to legalize recreational cannabis, which will be regulated and taxed similarly to Colorado and Washington. Voters in Florida will have the opportunity to legalize medical cannabis.

State legislatures are working on cannabis laws, too. This session, many states have considered or are considering legalizing medical marijuana, treating cannabis like alcohol, reducing penalties for marijuana possession, and allowing industrial hemp.

Malanca concludes, “It’s heartening to see that so many states are taking steps to change their unjust cannabis laws, but we still have a lot of work to do to make sure that all Americans can have safe, legal access to the medicine they need.”

About UnitedPatientsGroup.com

UnitedPatientsGroup.com is a discreet, safe, and professional online medical cannabis information resource for prospective and current patients, caregivers, and medicinal cannabis industry professionals.

While most online medical marijuana sites cater to patients already familiar with medical marijuana, the UnitedPatientsGroup.com website is a comprehensive and easy-to-use information source for people of all ages and experience levels, from novice medical cannabis users to experienced industry professionals. The site’s News, Resource, and Blog pages introduce new patients to the ins and outs of medical marijuana healthcare, while helping experienced providers stay abreast of the latest developments in THC and CBD therapies.

A complimentary Five Star-rated United Patients Group medical marijuana app is available on the iTunes app store for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and any iPad.







United Patients Group Announces Speaker Lineup for Educational Seminar by American Cannabis Nurses Association

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San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 24, 2015

United Patients Group, a go-to resource for news and information on medical cannabis, is thrilled to share the lineup of presenters for the upcoming educational seminar for nurses “ACNA Core Curriculum for Cannabis Nursing,” which will be hosted by Laguna Woods Village Cannabis Club (LWVCC) located in Laguna Woods Village, Clubhouse 5 on March 17, 2015, in Laguna Woods, California. This seminar offers 6 contact hours, presented by the American Cannabis Nurses Association (ACNA), will feature in-depth explorations of the science behind and application of cannabinoid medicine by nurses at the forefront of this movement.

“Nurses across the country and around the world are embracing the use of medicinal cannabis to treat patients with a wide variety of ailments,” explains John Malanca, founder of United Patients Group. “This conference will present the latest findings and clinical recommendations from some of the most knowledgeable cannabis nurses working today.”

Presentations will include:


        History of Medical Cannabis Use – Alice O’Leary-Randall, LPN, CT
     Medical Cannabis Cultivation: Basics for Nurses – Eileen Konieczny, RN, and Heather Manus, RN
     The Endocannabinoid System – Cecilia Hillard
     Clinical Applications in Medical – Surgical Nursing – Leslie Reyes, RN
     Clinical Applications in Mental Health Nursing – Heather Manus, RN
     Side Effects and Medical Risks Related to Cannabis Use – Marcie Cooper, RN, MSN, AHN-BC
     Cannabis Dosage and Administration, and the Healthy Benefits of Hemp – Eloise Theisen, RN, MSN, AGPCNP
     Legal and Social Risks Related to Cannabis Use – Eileen Konieczny, RN, and Heather Manus, RN
     Cannabis Risk of Addiction and Interaction with Opioids – Mary Lynn Mathre, RN, MSN, CARN
     Clinical Implications for Nurses – Eileen Konieczny, RN

“By attending this conference, you will get a thorough exploration of the history, science, legality, and administration of cannabinoid medicine,” says Malanca. “If you’re looking for a safe, effective way to help your patients feel better, you should not miss this event.”

The seminar will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 17, 2015, at the Laguna Woods Village Clubhouse 5, a retirement community in Laguna Woods, California. It is eligible for six contact hours of continuing educational credits through the Ohio Nurses Association. * The ACNA member rate is $ 195, including contact hours. The non-member rate is $ 175 for those not seeking contact hours or $ 295 including contact hours. A discounted hotel rate of $ 129+ tax is available at the Ayres Hotel Laguna Woods. Register online at http://americancannabisnursesassociation.org/event-1846996.

*“This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the Ohio Nurses Association (OBN-001-91), an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Approval valid through 5/08/2016. Assigned ONA #17207.”

For more information about cannabinoid medicine, go to http://www.UnitedPatientsGroup.com.

About United Patients Group:

United Patients Group is a discreet, safe, and professional online medical cannabis information resource for prospective and current patients, caregivers, and medicinal cannabis industry professionals.

While most online medical cannabis sites cater to patients already familiar with medical cannabis, the UnitedPatientsGroup.com website is a comprehensive and easy-to-use information source for people of all ages and experience levels, from novice users to experienced industry professionals. The site’s News, Resource, and Blog pages introduce new patients to the ins and outs of medical cannabis healthcare, while helping experienced providers stay abreast of the latest developments in THC and CBD therapies.

A complimentary five-star-rated United Patients Group medical cannabis app is available on the iTunes app store for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), and any iPad.







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United Patients Group Invites Nurses to Join Educational Seminar by American Cannabis Nurses Association

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San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 30, 2015

United Patients Group, a trusted online resource for medicinal cannabis information and advocacy, is urging nurses to take advantage of an opportunity to access the latest information about cannabinoid medicine in nursing: a one-day seminar presented by the leading advocacy group for the use of cannabis in nursing, the American Cannabis Nurses Association (ACNA). The event, “ACNA Core Curriculum for Cannabis Nursing,” will give nurses a solid understanding of the history, science, legality, and application of cannabis as a medicine. The seminar will take place on March 17, 2015, in Laguna Woods, California, and is eligible for six (6) contact hours of continuing educational unit (CEU) credits.

“If you want to offer your patients the best possible care, you don’t want to miss this seminar,” says United Patients Group founder John Malanca. “The country’s leading cannabis nurses will teach you everything you need to know about how medical cannabis can improve the lives and outcomes of your patients.”

The seminar will cover:


    The history of cannabis as medicine
    An overview of the current legal status
    The various cannabinoids found in the plant
    The body’s endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS)
    Emerging science on the ECS and cannabis
    The nurse’s role in patient care and education regarding the safe use of cannabis
    Ingestion methodologies and interactions with prescription opiates

“ACNA Core Curriculum for Cannabis Nursing” will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on March 17, 2015, at Clubhouse 5 in Laguna Woods, California. The seminar is valid for six (6) contact hours of CEUs through the Ohio Nurses Association.* The ACNA member rate is $ 195, including CME credits. The non-member rate is $ 175 for those not seeking CEUs or $ 295 including CEU units. Learn more at http://americancannabisnursesassociation.org/event-1846996.

“Take your clinical practice to the next level with this in-depth seminar on the benefits of cannabinoid medicine,” invites Malanca. “The information you gain could save the lives of your patients.”

*“This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the Ohio Nurses Association (OBN-001-91), an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Approval valid through 5/08/2016. Assigned ONA #17207.”

For more information about cannabinoid medicine, go to http://www.UnitedPatientsGroup.com.

About United Patients Group:

United Patients Group is a discreet, safe, and professional online medical cannabis information resource for prospective and current patients, caregivers, and medicinal cannabis industry professionals.

While most online medical cannabis sites cater to patients already familiar with medical cannabis, the UnitedPatientsGroup.com website is a comprehensive and easy-to-use information source for people of all ages and experience levels, from novice users to experienced industry professionals. The site’s News, Resource, and Blog pages introduce new patients to the ins and outs of medical cannabis healthcare, while helping experienced providers stay abreast of the latest developments in THC and CBD therapies.

A complimentary five-star-rated United Patients Group medical cannabis app is available on the iTunes app store for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), and any iPad.