ROME, Nov. 9 (UPI) — Italy’s Radical Party called a sit-in for Friday in front of the parliament building in Rome to demand the decriminalization of medical marijuana cultivation.
Complete article:
http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2012/11/09/Italian-party-holds-sit-in-for-marijuana/UPI-28821352489970/

Rebecca Richman Cohen 

 
On September 27th, Chris Williams, co-founder of Montana Cannabis, was found guilty on eight counts of marijuana and related firearms charges, despite his state’s medical marijuana law. These charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of more than 80 years in prison — and expose the grave human consequences resulting from the existing disparity between federal and state laws pertaining to the medical use of marijuana.
I started filming Chris and his business partners during the last Montana state legislative session, as part of my feature-length documentary Code of the West. They seemed determined to create a model for a responsible medical marijuana caregiving operation, and routinely offered growhouse tours to law enforcement officials, politicians and community leaders, any number of which accepted this invitation.
Chris Williams had reason to believe his risk of federal prosecution was minimal, following the release of a 2009 memo by the Justice Department stating that the federal government should not focus federal resources on medical marijuana growers and patients who complied with their own state laws. But in March 2011, federal agents raided Chris’ growhouse during a statewide crackdown across Montana.
 
Complete article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-richman-cohen/medical-marijuana-montana_b_2095609.html

On Nov. 5 the federal government announced investments in projects with the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA) that will help determine the best hemp varieties by region and will give growers the tools they need to promote Canadian hemp in international markets.
An investment of more than $64,000 from the Agricultural Innovation Program (AIP) will be used to test and evaluate different hemp varieties across Canada for their food and non-food uses. This project will help the industry identify the best hemp varieties to grow in each region for grain yield and fibre yield.
A second investment of over $31,000 through the AgriMarketing Program will support the CHTA in increasing Canada’s presence in new and existing international hemp markets. It will help the CHTA develop promotional material, participate in key international tradeshows, attract new clients, and undertake market research to identify market opportunities.
 
Complete article:
http://www.atlanticfarmfocus.ca/Canada%20/%20World/2012-11-08/article-3116572/Market-opportunities-created-for-hemp-producers/1
 

Reporting Bill Hudson
 
A 3,400-square-foot hemp home was designed by green builder Anthony Brenner in Ashville, N.C. He says home is heated and cooled for about $45 a month.
“It’s easily about 75 percent less to operate that home compared to a conventional home,” he said.
 
Anderson’s company promotes industrial grade hemp as the perfect building material. It’s non-toxic, mold and mildew resistant and non-flammable. A fully encapsulated wall will not ignite even when the hot flame of a soldering torch is held to the surface for five minutes. In comparison, conventional building products can give off toxins like formaldehyde, which get trapped in today’s air tight construction.
 
Complete article:
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/06/12/company-uses-hemp-to-help-build-homes-despite-regulations/

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – There are currently 16 states allowing the use of medical marijuana.  And since the Tuesday elections, there’s even one allowing recreational use of the drug.  The question is, “could Alabama be next?”
Currently, there is a bill circulating through the state house that would legalize the drug for it’s medicinal properties.  Ben Crumpton, executive director of the Alabama Medical Marijuana Coalition, says there are at least 24 illnesses that marijuana can be used to treat.  Glaucoma, cancer and HIV/AIDS are just a few.
 
Complete article:
http://www.cbs42.com/content/localnews/story/Legalizing-medical-marijuana-in-Alabama/-3tAk-6u2UinNNu_vqOEvg.cspx

Randy Astaiza

 
Colorado and Washington both passed legislation that legalizes the recreational use of marijuana on Tuesday.
 
While recreational marijuana is controversial, many people believe that the drug should be legal, especially for medical uses.
See the good side of pot >
Psychiatrist Tod H. Mikuriya, who helped develop Proposition 215, the state ballot that allowed doctors to recommend marijuana for patients in California, began researching marijuana’s therapeutic possibilities in the 1960s.
He believed the symptoms of over 200 ailments could be treated with marijuana including stuttering, insomnia, premenstrual syndrome, and writer’s cramp. Even the National Cancer Institute agrees with Mikuriya — specifically the use of marijuana for treatment of side effects of chemotherapy, preventing nausea and vomiting, increasing appetite, relieving pain, and improving sleep.
 
Complete article:
http://www.businessinsider.com/health-benefits-of-medical-marijuana-2012-11?op=1

By Joey Peters

 
After more than three hours of debate over dropping post traumatic stress disorder from the Medical Cannabis Program, theMedical Cannabis Advisory Board unanimously recommended to keep PTSD as a qualifier.

Albuquerque psychiatrist William Ulwelling made headlines last month when his plans to petition against PSTD as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana went public. It led to plenty of press coverage—more than Ulwelling says he’s ever experienced in his life—and resistance from medical marijuana advocates across the state.
 
Complete article:
http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/blog-3988-medical-cannabis-adv.html

Detroiter’s resoundingly passed Proposal M Tuesday, 11-6-2012, allowing possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana on private property for adults aged 21 and over.

 
Complete article here:
http://www.examiner.com/article/marijuana-initiative-passes-detroit-s-2012-election

Joel Feick

Soon it will be OK for Flint adults to have a small amount of marijuana. With most of the votes in, about 60 percent of voters have said “yes” to pot.
Specfically, they’re expected to  approve a measure to decriminalize possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.  The vote will make it legal for anyone 19 years of age or older to have less than an ounce– on private property. Still to be determined: when it would go into effect. Grand Rapids and Detroit appear to be headed to supporting similar measures. Voters in Colorado and Washington also approved initiatives to decriminalize the recreational use of marijuana.
 
Complete article:
http://www.minbcnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=822386#.UJqxMG_A-Ps
 
 

Pot possession is nowa civil infraction with fines

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) – Getting caught with some marijuana in Grand Rapids is now a civil infraction similar to a parking ticket after voters OK’d the city-wide Proposal 2.