Archive for July, 2009

Medicinal and Recreational – all together now.

July 17, 2009 at 12:22 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged , , , , , ,

Medicinal Marijuana users who truly use Cannabis as medicine will benefit from, and actually need, Recreational users being involved in the movement.

It is the great number of Recreational users that will help keep the market going, help push for higher quality and more diversity in strains and help regulate price.

Regardless of whether they get some medicinal benefit or are just being a part of it to avoid legal issues, without the huge number of people that just like to get high, there simply will not be the demand and quality.

Marijuana smokers come together! For whatever needs you have, for whatever draws you to Cannabis and for whatever makes you LOVE it…join in so we can all benefit.

ReporterB

Comments (1)

Keep Marijuana Records? Yes, Keep Records

July 14, 2009 at 11:36 am · Filed under Medicinal Marijuana, cannabis industry ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

As the logistical side of Medicinal Marijuana continue to take shape in each state and all over the country, many decisions are being made about best practices. What should you do to stay legitimate within your state’s laws while maintaining discretion and privacy?

Medicine, as a business, is highly regulated and highly documented. It has to be when you’re dealing with people’s health – this ensures the saftey and protection of the Patients and the Health Care Providers. So why should Cannabis be any different? It should not and this is why the community must keep records.

They will be private. They will be secure. They can have generic patient names. But you should keep records. And I’m not the only one who thinks this…check out these examples:

1. Michigan Medical Marijuana Assocation:  Accurate records will also help a caregiver prove to law enforcement, should the need arise, that they are operating within the guidelines set forth in the Act. Caregivers should keep accurate records of each patient including:

  • A copy of each patient’s Registry I.D. Card
  • Complete address and contact information for each patient
  • An inventory of each patient’s strain, plants, and usable marijuana
  • A log of transactions for each patient

2.  State of California vs. Dennis Peron (started first Cannabis Club) – 1997: Issued the following: Superior Court of the City and County of San Francisco, David A. Garcia, Judge:  Respondents shall maintain records showing monies expended and received as reimbursement of expenditures including overhead for their activities relating to the provision of medicinal marijuana.

3. District Attorney of Butte County, CA: On their website said “Do keep records on your patient’s medical needs, including a copy of the physician recommendation and recommended dosage. Do keep records of any expenses relative to the patient’s care.”

Some may be concerned of course but these are the types of steps that help LEGITIMIZE Cannabis as a true medicine. It should be measured and regulated by the people involved so it can be fully understood and accepted.

ReporterB.

Comments (1)

Cannabis Prohibition…In The Beginning

July 13, 2009 at 10:34 am · Filed under Cannabis Culture, Medicinal Marijuana, cannabis industry ·Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

So I took a few days off from posting but just saw something that made me want to share. I have spoken a number of times on my experience at the THC Expo and just saw a video clip talking about Prohibition in general:

From Police Captain, Peter Christ (ret.) member of LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) speaking about how Prohibition does not work in any way, at any place. He spoke about the very first instance of Prohibition:

1. The Law: Do not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil!

2. Location: Garden of Eden

3. Number of people involved: 2

4. Number of Trees of Knowledge to prohibit: 1

5. Entity enforcing the Prohibition: The Creator himself…wow.

We all know how that ended up. And while this is an extreme example (and I DO NOT want to get into a religious conversation) knowing that this all mighty Prohibition itself did not work on such a small control sample is an interesting way to illustrate why it does not work.

By dangling something in front of people and saying “See this lovely thing here? Well, you can’t have it!” all you are doing is making them want it more.

This is nothing new, I just thought it was a funny illustration of Prohibition.

Enjoy…more to come as always.

ReporterB.

Leave a Comment

Come out of the Cannabis Closet.

July 9, 2009 at 8:52 am · Filed under Cannabis Culture, Medicinal Marijuana, cannabis industry

I’ve mentioned before how attending the THC Expo in LA last month was liberating and inspiring. And it seems that everyday, I’m reading a story or blog or seeing people on Twitter that are essentially, coming out of their Marijuana closet.

The stigma attached to using Cannabis, whether medicinally or recreationally, is not gone by any means. However, it is decreasing every single day.

So what makes people finally comfortable being open about their Cannabis use? Well, the more people that do it, the more is written and discussed in public forums, the more it seems ok, others are going to join in – empowering Marijuana Momentum! If you hear about something all the time, if you talk about it more, if it’s in the media and all around the culture, it starts to take away the taboo aspect of it. It becomes familiar and comfortable and accepted – besides the federal law part of ‘accepted’ of course.

If you care about Cannabis.  Medicinal Marijuana. Weed. Whatever. I would encourage you to take some strides towards liberation. I’m not saying tell your boss you get high, walk around waving doobies all over the place, etc. but start to open up with trusted friends.

Or you can always start writing a blog about it – that helps too :)

ReporterB.

Leave a Comment

Dispensaries: Beta Version

July 8, 2009 at 7:16 am · Filed under Medicinal Marijuana, cannabis industry ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

Today, Google officially took off the “beta” title off its most popular and most used applications like Gmail, Calendar and Docs. From a Reuters article “Apps are considered in beta phase when they’re good enough for the public to use on an interim basis but haven’t quite reached the point where the company is absolutely confident in their utility”.

I think we need some local Medicinal Marijuana dispensaries, in Beta version of course. Let’s get them up and running, possibly in those gray areas of the law yet to be fully determined, and measure the affect.

The people overseeing them (and the people overseeing the people) should continue to watch, observe and regulate with great attention – just as they are right now in so many states where this is new. Obviously the full health, financial and societal affects cannot truly be known for years. However, we have many current examples from which we can learn and refine the next iteration, the Dispensaries: Beta Version.

From the same Reuters article ” ‘We’ve focused our efforts on reaching our high bar for taking our products out of beta, and all the applications in the Apps suite have now met that mark,’ wrote product management director Matthew Glotzbach in a blog post.”

I have absolutely no doubt that the people involved in the Cannabis world have incredibly high standards themselves and will be able to remove the “beta” tag soon. But we have to start somewhere…so let’s get on with it.

ReporterB.

www.michiganmedicalmarijuana.org

www.marijuana.com

Leave a Comment

Compassion Clubs: Go Team Cannabis!

July 7, 2009 at 2:20 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

As the state of Michigan continues to gain ridiculous velocity into the world of Marijuana – both recreational and medicinal – I have started to hit Compassion Club meetings around my area.

For those that don’t know, these are “simply community-based support groups of patients, caregivers, families and loved ones, local caregiver groups, and the public, who meet regularly to learn and provide mutual support.” (Taken from the MMMA site)

The people there are a mix of Patients, Caregivers, organizational people and just people who are not sure of their involvement, but want to learn more about what is going on. Some are very sick, some are not. But one thing is consistent: They are there to answer questions, ask questions, and put their heart into this because they believe in Cannabis as something positive.

It is a team atmosphere and like any team, it’s not without conflict or disagreement. But from what I’ve seen, it’s all healthy debate striving to get MORE information, MORE answers, MORE action. These are the people that are going to initiate change in laws, change in community and change in perception.

And the people that run them work their asses off. People like Brad Forrester and Greg Francisco give tirelessly of their time, their money and their brain power for the good of us all. So Thank You to everyone who gives.

If you have a chance, go check out a Compassion Club meeting. It’s not an AA meeting. It’s not religious. It’s not a hippy-fest smokedown. It’s just real life with real people.

ReporterB – also check out these:

Marijuana.com – http://www.marijuana.com/

Michigan Medical Marijuana Association – http://www.michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/

HempNews – http://hempnewstv.wordpress.com/

420 Magazine – http://www.420magazine.com/forums/

Leave a Comment

Come Together, Right Now….Over Need.

July 6, 2009 at 10:49 pm · Filed under Cannabis Culture, Medicinal Marijuana, cannabis industry ·Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

(Original title: Come Together, Right Now…Over Weed)

I live in Michigan, and unless you have been hidden away filming a Reality Show for the past 2 years, you will know that this area is hurting. With the forced reinvention of the Auto Industry, this State is in need of new solutions, new economy and a new energy.

There are some people who are looking to find that next big single industry to come and take the place of the Big Three. The Movie Industry. The Alternative Energy Industry. Maybe the reinvented Auto Industry itself. But most people know that there will not be just one solution to this problem…it can and must be a Collective Effort.

The Cannabis Industry is going to be a part of this effort, and not only in Michigan. Consider that the Government of California received an additional $100 million in tax money from the legal sale of Cannabis and you can see how it could make sense to so many.

A major driver in the success of the industry is that it’s driven by people that genuinely care about and enjoy what they’re doing. It’s a talented community because they believe in it and they are good at it. The need is definitely there as is the desire to be a part of the solution.

You have enthusiastic suppliers, deserving demand and caring people in all facets.

Living in these massively transitional times has a way of changing how we look at things. Family, Money, Time, Business. A lot of people are looking at the Cannabis Industry in a different way and with that, the possibility for significant good.

ReporterB – also check out these:

Marijuana.com – http://www.marijuana.com/

Michigan Medical Marijuana Association – http://www.michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/

HempNews – http://hempnewstv.wordpress.com/

420 Magazine – http://www.420magazine.com/forums/

Leave a Comment

The Connoisseurship of Cannabis.

July 5, 2009 at 8:01 am · Filed under Cannabis Culture, Uncategorized ·Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

With the world of Marijuana exploding in all ways, I’m very excited about one of the wonderful things I’m seeing: The Connoisseurship of Cannabis.

If you consume Cannabis for any reason, be it Medicinal, Recreational, Religious or other, there is always a place for appreciating its natural characteristics. And people are starting to keep track of, get deeper into and truly savor the differences in smell, density, taste and effect.

Not only does this once again show the level of love that people have for this plant but it helps change how others look at and think about Cannabis. Now, trust me, I know she ain’t the most beautiful flower in the garden. However, like wine, cigars, or cheese, there is a special connection with things that we put into our bodies and learning to appreciate them deeply lifts our level of humanity.

And while most of these are items that humans have played a part in creating, working in tune with nature to create something new, Cannabis grows without aid from us (although we have helped perfect and propagate this species through our love and usage). This means that its characteristics are a reflection of the empirical and complex beauty that is Nature.

Next time you are around Marijuana for whatever reason, take a close look at. Hold it, look at the color, the trichomes, the hairs. Then give it a slight squeeze to feel the density and release some of the scent and take a deep smell. It’s the smell of humanity and nature, both elevated and connected – and it’s lovely.

That was a nice post to write, so I will probably be covering this topic more in the future.

Reporter B is gone.

Leave a Comment

The Business of Compassion?

July 3, 2009 at 10:51 pm · Filed under Cannabis Culture, Medicinal Marijuana ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

With the Medicinal Marijuana movement becoming more and more legitimate everyday, a new crop (pun intended) of businesses and business people will be born.

These will hopefully be continuations of people like Dennis Peron and now Richard Lee who blaze trails, push limits, and take chances for the good of others, for the good of all. And they will view this as a mission, a joy and also a business.

I’m envisioning a smart, driven person who is so damn happy that they can do something they love and to which they are completely dedicated! As I mentioned in previous posts, people LOVE THEIR CANNABIS! And being able to spend time around Marijuana – talking about it, handling it, cultivating it, providing it, using it – is motivation enough to get involved.

And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with viewing this as a growing industry because it completely is. But here’s the advantage: The community itself will benefit by having a rush of innovation and energy by intelligent, caring business people. These are eager and savvy caregivers and patients (and unstoppably passionate recreational consumers!) who know what they want and are not afraid to speak up.

I think it’ s going to be a wild ride, one that I’m absolutely ready for.

Enjoy.

Reporter B.

Comments (2)

Freedom, 4th of July and words from Dazed and Confused

July 3, 2009 at 9:29 am · Filed under Cannabis Culture, Marijuana Style, Medicinal Marijuana ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

Happy Fourth of July everyone. It’s a time to celebrate our freedom as a nation and to celebrate what that freedom allows us to do. (And remember, it’s NOT like this in every country,  so we most definitely should be thankful!)

As this time approaches every year, I can’t help but think of a few quotes from the movie Dazed and Confused:

This one from the teacher: “Okay guys, one more thing, this summer when you’re being inundated with all this American bicentennial Fourth Of July brouhaha, don’t forget what you’re celebrating, and that’s the fact that a bunch of slave-owning, aristocratic, white males didn’t want to pay their taxes.”

Albeit limited in its perspective, this is Classic and True. The slave-owning part aside, these were good strong people that were rebelling and pushing for change. Yes, they were aristocratic white males, but that is who was (and usually still is) in power. But the fact that they were taking a stand against  injustice is what we must keep in mind – especially when we’re in the middle of such change in the realm of Cannabis rights, legality, and use.

Then my mind takes a nice journey to this exchange:

Kyle: George toked weed, man?

Slater: Absolutely George toked weed, are you kiddin’ me, man? He grew fields of that stuff, man, that’s what I’m talkin’ about. Fields.

Kyle: He grew that shit up Mount Vernon, man.

Slater: Mount Vernon, man? He grew it all over the country, man. He had people growin’ it all over the country, you know. The whole country back then was gettin’ high. Lemme tell you, man, ’cause he knew he was onto somethin’, man. He knew that it would be a good cash crop for the southern states, man, so he grew fields of it, man. But you know what? Behind every good man there’s a woman, and that woman was Martha Washington, man, and every day, George would come home, she’d have a big fat bowl waiting for him, man, when he’d come in the door. She was a hip, a hip, hip lady, man.

I’m not sure if this is 100% accurate (besides the part of Martha having a big fat bowl for George because that part is DEFINITELY true) but hey, it’s the Fourth of July mixed with Marijuana, so that’s a good thing.

[UPDATE: I got this article off of someone I follow on Twitter - guess it is all true: http://ow.ly/graC ]

We are in the middle of a dynamic, changing, growing time and July 4th is an excellent time to reflect on the push for Freedoms, of all Kinds.

Have a safe, fun, high holiday.


Leave a Comment

Older Posts »