Marijuana Measure Does Not Prioritize Health Over Business Interests, Researchers Say
The initiative to legalize marijuana is likely to end up on the ballot in November. Elsewhere, doctors debate the the proposal, LA County supervisors place a moratorium on marijuana cultivation and a California-based medical marijuana company eyes expanding into Mexico as the country opens up import of some products for medical use.
The Associated Press:
Public Health Critique Offered Of California Pot Measure
A marijuana legalization measure likely to end up on the California ballot this year does not do enough to prioritize public health over business interests with the financial incentive and political clout to downplay any adverse effects of allowing people to use pot recreationally, two researchers with expertise in curbing tobacco use said Tuesday. Stanton Glantz and Rachel Barry of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California, San Francisco said that while they support legalization, they worry the initiative as currently written would create a legal marijuana market dominated by large players with the incentive and political clout to downplay the adverse health effects of pot, just as tobacco companies did decades ago. (Leff, 2/2)
The Ventura County Star:
Local Doctors Debate Pros, Cons Of Legalized Pot
Dr. Ronald C. Thurston endorses a statewide proposal to legalize marijuana. That doesn't mean he endorses marijuana. The distinction is key to the psychiatrist from Somis who serves on the state board of the California Medical Association. Leaders of the group that represents more than 41,000 doctors announced they support a proposed ballot measure that would allow adults over 21 to purchase as much as 1 ounce of marijuana for recreational use. (Kisken, 2/2)
Los Angeles Times:
County Supervisors Move To Halt Commercial Marijuana Cultivation
Concerned about a possible influx of commercial medical marijuana farms, Los Angeles County supervisors voted Tuesday to put a temporary moratorium on cultivation of the crop in county unincorporated areas and to study a permanent ban. Last year, California's legislature passed a package of bills that established a statewide regulatory structure overseeing the medical cannabis industry, but left room for cities and counties to set up stricter local regulations. (Sewell, 2/2)
Capital Public Radio:
Sacramento City Council: Marijuana Moratorium Next Step To Legalizing Cultivation
The Sacramento City Council voted Tuesday to issue a 45-day moratorium on marijuana cultivation, with the understanding that cultivation rules will be determined in the coming weeks. People at the meeting argued over the requirement for a conditional use permit. (Moffitt, 2/2)
The Associated Press:
3 Nurseries Seek Injunction In Medical Marijuana Licenses
Three Florida nurseries filed a lawsuit Tuesday asking for an injunction to delay the state's medical marijuana process in three of five state regions. McCrory's Sunny Hill Nursery, San Felasco Nurseries and Tornello Landscape's 3 Boys Farm filed the suit in Leon County Circuit Court against Florida's Department of Health and the nurseries approved to cultivate medical marijuana. (Reedy, 2/2)
Reuters:
California-Based Medical Marijuana Eyes Mexico As Next Big Market
Medical Marijuana Inc, a pioneer in the industrial hemp business, is betting on Mexico as its next big market as the country opens up to the import of some cannabis-derived products for medical use. The California-based company manufactures a hemp oil which can, under permits granted this week, be imported to Mexico for the first time to treat specific medical cases. It already supplies a similar product to Brazil. (Grover, 2/2)