By Ryan Grim, Huffington Post
Source: AlterNet

USA -- The Rhode Island legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto of a medical marijuana law Tuesday afternoon by an overwhelming margin, paving the way for state-licensed medical marijuana shops to begin operating. The House voted 68-0 for the pot measure and the senate moved it minutes later by a 35-3 count.

Once the law takes effect, the state will be the first in the nation to have one officially licensed nonprofit center selling marijuana. Over time, the state will license further nonprofit dispensaries.

By James Merriweather, The News Journal
Source: Delaware Online

Delaware -- In the 2004 presidential election, George W. Bush claimed 59 percent of the vote in beating John Kerry in Montana -- no surprise in one of the most conservative states in the nation.

During the same election, 62 percent of Montana voters gave thumbs up to a proposal that would legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The lesson? Delaware legislators don't necessarily have to stick out their necks politically to legalize medical marijuana use here.

By Shaun Bishop
Source: Daily News Staff Writer

Want to open your own medical marijuana collective in unincorporated San Mateo County?

In a few weeks, you'll have to fill out an application, pay a $100 fee and submit to inspections to make sure your club is in line with all the terms of the county's new ordinance governing the collectives.

By Bob Kerr
Source: Providence Journal

Providence, R.I. -- Now that it has overcome Governor Carcieri’s ongoing attempt to impose a statewide ban on compassion, the Rhode Island General Assembly has some questions to answer about these pot shops.

Will they be mom-and-pop operations, where a customer can carry a half-gallon of milk and a bag of chips to the counter, then order an ounce of primo weed along with scratch tickets?

By Heather Clark, GateHouse News Service
Source: Sussex Countian

Delaware -- If a bill before the state Senate is passed, Delaware soon could join 13 other states that have legalized the possession of marijuana for medical use, but while there appears to be significant popular support for the measure, some legislators and physicians aren’t quite ready to jump on the bandwagon.

When Senate Bill 94, sponsored by Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington, was heard in the Senate Health and Social Services Committee earlier this month, not one person testified in opposition to the legislation.

By Megha Satyanarayana, Free Press Staff Writer
Source: Detroit Free Press

Michigan -- After testimony from a Southfield clinic doctor who recommends medical marijuana, a judge in the 43rd District Court in Madison Heights has dismissed felony manufacturing charges against a Madison Heights couple, who were growing plants they thought were legal under the state’s medical marijuana law.

At issue was whether Robert Redden, 59, and Torey Clark, 47, could use a letter from their doctor as authorization to grow a legal number of plants in the absence of the state-sponsored ID program.

By Chris Good
Source: Atlantic Monthly

Rhode Island -- In the latest advancement for marijuana law reformers, the Rhode Island state legislature today legalized medical marijuana stores in the state, overriding Gov. Don Carcieri's (R) veto.

The new law will take effect immediately. Legislators voted in favor of the measure by wide margins on several votes today (vetoes of both House and Senate bills had to be overcome in each chamber): 67-0 and 64-0 in two votes in the House, and 35-3 in both House votes.

By Robert Rizzuto
Source: Post-Journal

New York -- The debate about medical marijuana isn't quite as divided as the debate about overall legalization, but it is still a somewhat polarizing issue. Twelve states have followed the lead of California and adopted legislation to make marijuana available to patients in need and New York may be the next state to do the same.

Currently, New York State politicians are considering a piece of legislation (S-4041A) that would legalize marijuana for medicinal use in accordance with the recommendations of a medical professional, and different people have different opinions about that.

By Andrea Billups
Source: Washington Times

Lansing, Mich. -- Lynn Allen was born with severe hemophilia. In 1978, Mr. Allen discovered he had been infected with HIV and hepatitis C through a contaminated blood transfusion. Now in chronic pain, the Williamston, Mich., man, once a rehabilitation counselor and social worker, is disabled, using a wheelchair to get around.

His medication of choice: medicinal marijuana, which has stimulated his appetite and allowed him to maintain his weight. He is among the growing number of Michigan residents who have received state approval to use and grow the herb for certain medical conditions under a new law passed resoundingly by Michigan voters in November.

By Katherine Gregg, Journal State House Bureau
Source: Providence Journal

Providence, R.I. -- Republican Governor Carcieri has, as promised, vetoed legislation that would make Rhode Island the second state in the nation to allow state-licensed dispensaries to sell marijuana to the chronically and critically ill.

In his first veto message of the year, Carcieri said: “Although the intent of the legislation is to allow consenting adults to use marijuana only for medicinal purposes based on illness, the increased availability, along with a complacent attitude, will no doubt result in increased usage, and will negatively impact the children of Rhode Island.”

By Stefanie Frith
Source: The Desert Sun

California -- A medical marijuana dispensary the city of Palm Springs recently filed a complaint against has submitted its own legal documents to try and throw out the city's claims.

The city of Palm Springs filed its complaint in April against The Holistic Collective at 2235 N. Palm Canyon Drive, saying it was in violation of the city's 2006 moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries and collectives, City Attorney Doug Holland said.

By Rick Orlov Staff Writer
Source: Daily Breeze

California -- The Los Angeles City Council took the first steps Tuesday to close existing medical marijuana clinics and prevent the opening of new ones until a permanent law governing their use is adopted.

The actions were taken four years after the city passed a temporary moratorium on new clinics that has proven ineffective, as hundreds of operators have taken advantage of a loophole to open since then.

By Rick Orlov, Staff Writer
Source: Daily News

California -- The Los Angeles City Council took the first steps Tuesday to close existing medical marijuana clinics and prevent the opening of new ones until a permanent law governing their use is adopted.

The actions were taken two years after the city passed a temporary moratorium on new clinics that has proven ineffective. Hundreds of operators have opened without getting full authorization from the city by using a "hardship exemption" loophole.

By Cynthia Needham, Journal State House Bureau
Source: Providence Journal

Providence, R.I. -- Nearly a decade after patient advocates first pressed for full-scale legalization of marijuana for medical use, Rhode Island on Tuesday became only the second state to establish state-licensed dispensaries to sell the drug to the critically ill.

Senate lawmakers gave final approval to the House and Senate versions of the legislation, sending it to the governor’s desk with enough votes to override a veto, if necessary.

By The Associated Press
Source: Associated Press

Providence, R.I. -- Rhode Island would be the third state in the nation and the first on the East Coast to allow nonprofit stores to sell marijuana to medical patients under legislation approved Tuesday by state lawmakers.

The state Senate voted 30-2 to adopt a measure permitting three stores to sell marijuana to more than 680 patients registered with the state Department of Health. It now heads to Gov. Don Carcieri, who has previously vetoed bills legalizing marijuana for medical use.

Editorial
Source: Hudson Valley Press

USA -- With some uncertainty surrounding the Obama administration's policy on the use of medical marijuana in states that have legalized the drug for that purpose, the House Appropriations Committee today approved a provision authored by Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) that calls on the U.S. Department of Justice to report to Congress in writing on the administration's position within 60 days of the bill's enactment. The Hinchey provision was included in the report accompanying the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies appropriations bill for fiscal year 2010. The full House is expected to consider the bill within the next several weeks.

By Chris Megarian and Susan K. Livio
Source: Star-Ledger

New Jersey -- The State Police and the New Jersey Army National Guard took to the South Jersey skies in a Black Hawk helicopter last week to train officers how to locate and bust marijuana growers.

A day later, lawmakers in Trenton approved a bill they hope, if enacted, would allow seriously ill residents to legally use marijuana for medical purposes.

By The Grand Rapids Press Editorial Board
Source: Grand Rapids Press

Grand Rapids, MI -- Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved a medical marijuana ballot initiative last year. A majority of voters in every county supported the issue, which garnered 63 percent of the ballots cast.

The clear intent was to allow people with certain medical conditions to obtain marijuana to relieve suffering. What the law didn't provide, however, was a legal means for approved users to acquire the drug.

By Marie Myung-Ok Lee
Source: Los Angeles Times

USA -- I'm on the phone getting a recipe for hashish butter. Not from my dealer but from Lester Grinspoon, a physician and emeritus professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. And not for a party but for my 9-year-old son, who has autism, anxiety and digestive problems, all of which are helped by the analgesic and psychoactive properties of marijuana. I wouldn't be giving it to my child if I didn't think it was safe.

By Trip Jennings
Source: New Mexico Independent

New Mexico — The nation’s top cop said Friday that marijuana dispensaries participating in New Mexico’s fledgling medical marijuana program shouldn’t fear Drug Enforcement Agency raids, a staple of the Bush administration.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, speaking in Albuquerque during a meeting focused on border issues, including drug trafficking, said his department is focused “on large traffickers,” not on growers who have a state’s imprimatur to dispense marijuana for medical reasons.

By Adrienne Lu, Inquirer Trenton Bureau
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

New Jersey -- A bill to allow the medicinal use of marijuana for seriously ill patients has been tightened to address concerns the drug could become too widely available.

An amended version of the bill that was approved by the Senate in February cleared the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee yesterday by a vote of 8-1, with two abstentions. Next, Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. (D., Camden) will determine whether to post the bill for a floor vote in the Assembly.

By Susan K. Livio, Statehouse Bureau
Source: Star-Ledger

Trenton -- The effort to allow severely ill New Jerseyans to use medical marijuana gained momentum today as an Assembly committee cleared a revamped bill that would also set strict limits on who can grow, distribute or get the drug.

The bill, which would make New Jersey the 14th state to allow marijuana use for medical purposes, includes restrictions lawmakers added in response to criticism that a measure the Senate passed last year was too lax because it would have allowed patients to grow their own.

By Randall Chase, Associated Press Writer
Source: Associated Press

Dover, Del. -- A bill that would allow the use of medical marijuana in Delaware cleared a Senate committee Wednesday with no opposition.

The Senate Health and Social Services committee released the bill Wednesday after a 90-minute hearing in which no one spoke against it. Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, the chief sponsor, said amendments to clarify language in the bill will be drafted before it is brought up for a vote by the full Senate.

By Dave Maass
Source: Santa Fe Reporter

New Mexico -- The Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Rio Rancho triangle could become home to four medical marijuana growhouses, according to documents filed with the New Mexico Department of Health and the Public Regulation Commission.

In July 2007, the Department of Health began development of New Mexico’s Medical Marijuana Program as mandated by the Legislature.

By People's forum
Source: Michigan Live

Michigan -- The drug warriors are at it again. They are trying to undermine the will of the voters and put medical marijuana patients in prison with new legislation.

Sen. Kuipers, who opposes medical marijuana, recently introduced legislation to develop unnecessary and unjust regulations on medical marijuana. Senate Bills 616-618 have been sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.

Breaking News
Sorce: KNX1070.com

California -- A Los Angeles City Council committee today will consider eliminating a loophole that would allow nearly 500 medical marijuana dispensaries to operate despite a temporary ban that went into effect in the fall of 2007.

Two years ago, the city council approved a temporary moratorium on new medical marijuana dispensaries. The purpose of the interim ordinance, which will expire on Sept. 14, was to give city leaders time to draft regulations that limit where and how dispensaries can operate in Los Angeles.

By Stephen J. Novak
Source: Express-Times

New Jersey -- The state Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee is scheduled to vote on a medical marijuana bill Thursday, according to a legislative calendar. The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was passed by the state Senate in February by a 22-16 vote.

The committee can amend the bill and allow it to move to the full Assembly for a vote, which would move New Jersey closer to becoming the 14th state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. Gov. Jon S. Corzine has said he will sign the bill.

By Laura Griffith, The Telegraph
Source: The Telegraph

Illinois -- Some medical professionals are at odds as to whether medical marijuana would offer a viable treatment option for patients with extreme pain and nausea. Others say working with the drug would be more of a moral or comfort issue.

Doctors in oncology and infectious diseases have access to a drug called Marinol, or synthetic THC, to help cancer and AIDS patients with extreme pain and symptoms consistent with "wasting syndrome."

Editorial
Source: Daily Times

PA -- State Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Phila., introduced legislation (H.B. 1393) at the end of April that would allow the use of medical marijuana in Pennsylvania.

Few subjects stimulate the heated discussion legalizing a drug vilified for decades as a gateway to further drug abuse can cause. But Cohen is right to say the time has come to recognize a need to expand options for health care and help alleviate patient suffering.

Editorial
Source: [urldelawareonline.com/]Delaware Online[/url]

Delaware -- State Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, who won the long and necessary fight for a needle-exchange program for street drug addicts, is moving with as much forethought on the issue of medical marijuana.

She is backed by a growing medical community consensus and possibly critical judicial authority.