Medical marijuana

[mantra]

I watched one of those American Court shows the other day where the Plaintiff was suing the Defendant for $600 for the supply of an ounce of medical marijuana.

Apparently all it takes is a doctor's certificate and you can legally grow and maintain 6 mature plants and an unlimited number of young plants. A comment was made that every man and his dog in California has a medical certificate for marijuana as it takes only a few aches and pains to be eligible for one.

I was astounded that this prolific "business" is allowed to thrive in the US, because that's what it is. You would assume that you could only get prescription cannabis through a chemist who supplied it as a restricted drug, but no - it's a great little money spinner where you can sell it legally to other prescription holders - although I doubt this would be strictly adhered to, but who could prove otherwise.

The Plaintiff won his case and was awarded a judgment of $600 against the Defendant. Amazing!

[Outlaw Yogi]

The war on drugs is lost, capitalism won the day.

Hooray!

Capitalist Stativa.JPG

[mantra]

They're weird looking plants the way they're shaped Hoppy.

We will never have medical marijuana here - we're too conservative.

[boxy]

Does the law allow people to grow their own dope here? Or do you just get a slap on the wrist?

There does need to be some use made of it for medicinal purposes. I don't see that allowing others to grow it for you as a good idea, other than commercial operations, selling via a pharmacist.

[Outlaw Yogi]

They're weird looking plants the way they're shaped Hoppy.

That was the top half protruding from lantana and had trouble holding its own weight up, particularly when rained on.

We will never have medical marijuana here - we're too conservative.

Never is a long time. Once upon a time Neville throat cancer Wran was set to decriminalise weed in NSW, but did a back-flip because convict state Labor were scared of losing the Catholic vote and nearly all NSW state MPs of the day had gone to Catholic schools. Wran then ramped up penalties off the scale to such a degree, that technically (worst case scenario) would allow a magistrate to gaol/jail someone for 10 years for possession of one cannabis seed.

Joh Bjelkie Peanutfarmer said he was going to scare all drug dealers out of Quinslund, and implemented penalties that indeed induce a bongers exodus from Qld to the hippy zone just over the border.

Since that time, South OZ and ACT have decriminalised weed. Originally allowing 5 plants for personal use, and later reducing to 3 plants, as crafty characters had found a way to make 5 plants commercially viable.

Not so long ago, the former NSW commissioner of police called for law reform concerning cannabis use, advocating decriminalisation.

I imagine once all the fusspot baby boomer hypocrites no longer run the show, laws will change rapidly, and when I'm an old bloke weed will be completely legal.

[AiA in Atlanta]

The Obama Administration is surprisingly beginning to challenge medical marijuana laws in a number of states. This is a move expected by the Bush Administration. Medical marijuana is a gray area and one can end up in jail even while following the law.

[Neferti]

Everyone thinks it is legal to smoke dope in Canberra, so they do, you can smell it around the streets. However, it has only been "decriminalised", so get a slap on the wrist if caught smoking it. However, growing it (for sale) is another matter and every other week you hear of some raid or other in some suburb and a "haul" of plants being destroyed.

Here is what I found out about how the Police in Canberra treat the matter.

I actually had to check up about the having your own plants here in canberra this weekend, as I had a client who was trying to tell me it was legal and you could have 3 plants or less.
Not true.
This is what the cops told me:
It is still illegal to possess, cultivate and distribute marijuana and you can still get a criminal record from any of the above.
The only difference between ACT and other places is that if you have 2 plants or 25 grams or less it is up to the discretion of the police as to how they deal with you.
They can either:
1. order you into treatment
2. issue you with a simple cannibas fine
3. or charge you and summons you to court.

So it is still illegal.

Here is the ACT Legislation, if anyone is at all interested.

http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/alt ... efault.asp