At one established Colorado Springs dispensary, it's easy to find leaves, stems and success stories
by J. Adrian Stanley

Take it from Robert Melamede, better known as "Dr. Bob," a University of Colorado at Colorado Springs professor. Back in 2002, Melamede blessed the Pikes Peak area with its first college course on medical marijuana. He was a natural, since he'd already hosted a call-in TV show on cannabis, and he ran for public office several times in Vermont on the "legalize it" ticket.

Anyway, Melamede says that despite appearances, the "Evangelical Vatican" can toke with the best of 'em — at least when it comes to herb as medicine (versus herb as pairing for Oreos and Monty Python flicks).

"We have, I think, something like 13 [medical marijuana] dispensaries in Colorado Springs — in one of the most conservative cities in the country," Melamede says, laughing. "And we have certainly the biggest dispensary in Colorado, and the best."

That's right. We're No. 1. Read more »

By Steve Elliott

Every year since 1983, the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) has engaged in a quixotic quest to "eradicate marijuana" in California. And every single year -- all 26 of them -- it has failed miserably as marijuana became more and more available.

The waste, arrogance and abuse associated with the program -- which has unfortunately become the largest law enforcement task force in the United States, with more than 100 agencies participating -- have become legendary. Ordinary families have been terrorized by paramilitary units, peaceful homeowners have been buzzed by low-flying helicopters, and community relations between citizens and law enforcement have suffered almost everywhere CAMP has laid its heavy hand.

Of course all this is done at taxpayer expense, to the tune of millions upon millions of dollars. Good thing the state treasury's in good shape, flush with all that extra cash. Oh, wait... Read more »

By KRISTIN BUEHNER

MASON CITY — Robin Mahnesmith said he is not lying — there are medical benefits of marijuana use.

Mahnesmith, 48, of Mason City, was one of several Iowans who pleaded their case for the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes Wednesday at a public hearing of the Iowa Pharmacy Board in Mason City.

“I’m not a liar,” Mahnesmith told the Pharmacy Board. “It’s a fact. My symptoms are so much less and my mind is so much easier (when taking marijuana). I don’t just have to sit and think about this rotten disease I have.”

Diagnosed with MS in 1988, Mahnesmith lost the use of his legs in 2005 and is in a wheelchair. “We don’t want to be criminals for doing something that helps us physically and psychologically. I tell people, what would you do?” Read more »

By Dan Morse
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 3, 2009

Although far smaller in scale, a California-style approach of going easy on medical-use pot smokers has been wafting through the Montgomery County courthouse.

Within minutes of each other last week, two defendants left the courthouse with slaps on their wrists: a 56-year-old man with cyclic vomiting syndrome, and a 19-year-old woman with epilepsy.

Their cases show how Maryland's little-known medical marijuana law might be applied in the future and how some ill pot smokers are beginning to raise awareness of it.

"It's essential the state do more. Marijuana is critical for people with certain illnesses," said Steven Kupferberg, a defense lawyer in one of the cases.

Thirteen states allow the medical use of marijuana. California has led that effort, permitting storefront dispensaries to sell pot to residents with a doctor's recommendation. Read more »