Cannabis Law Group’s Medical Marijuana Legal Blog

U.S. researchers have long sought to explain the link between consumption of marijuana and the trigger in appetite – often referred to as “the munchies.” The connection is significant not just for the potential spike in Twinkies sales, but because it’s this aspect of the drug that is often touted by those with certain serious…

The patchwork of state laws pertaining to marijuana continues to be subject to even more stitching. When California passed its medical marijuana law in 1996, it was historical and revolutionary. Now, nearly two decades later, nearly half of all states have followed suit, four states plus the District of Columbia have allowed for the legalization…

There has been extensive coverage over the last several years of incessant police raids and seizure of private property under an arcane federal law intended to deprive drug lords of their assets. Now, one couple from Michigan is fighting back with a civil lawsuit of their own, asserting the raid was illegal. Michigan’s medical marijuana…

Under federal law, certain kinds of taxes have to be paid electronically. This has proven a major problem for many marijuana dispensaries because they are unable to find a bank willing to allow those organizations to set up an account. Banks are leery because federal law considers marijuana to be an illegal Schedule I narcotic,…

Quietly, two congressmen separately filed two bills in the House recently that, together, would effectively spell the end of federal marijuana prohibition. The bills, introduced by two Democrats – one from Colorado, the other from Oregon – would legalize the drug and lay out a plan to regulate and tax the drug at the federal…

It seems such a simple matter, rescheduling marijuana. Currently, the drug is rated by federal authorities as a Schedule I narcotic, meaning it has no value as medicine, is highly addictive and extremely dangerous. It actually ranks higher than methamphetamine in terms of risk and lack of redeeming value. This is in clear opposition to…

The U.S. Supreme Court has granted the state of Colorado an extension as it prepares to defend against a lawsuit filed by Oklahoma and Nebraska, alleging their states are being polluted with marijuana by their neighbor. Originally, Colorado was required to file a response to the litigation by February 16th. But in a one-sentence order,…

U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag has been tenacious in her attempts to shut down the Berkeley Patients Group, touted as the state’s oldest medical marijuana dispensary. But recently, Judge Jon S. Tigar of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit issued an order backing the continued operation of the dispensary while litigation is pending.…

California medical marijuana patients are prescribed the drug because they are sick. Yet, because they take the drug, they may be barred from certain life-saving treatments – namely, organ transplant. This is an especially cruel twist of law, one that some California legislators hope to rectify with Assembly Bill 258, also called the Medical Cannabis…

Drivers who use marijuana are far safer motorists than those who consume alcohol. That’s according to the Drug and Alcohol Crash Risk study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association’s Office of Behavioral Safety Research. This is not to say driving impaired is necessarily safe under any circumstances. It’s true marijuana is known to…