Ottawa Citizen, 25 Feb 2010 - An Ottawa technology consultant who told a judge he possessed more than a kilogram of marijuana because he was using it to help a sick friend avoided a criminal record when the judge gave him an absolute discharge Wednesday. Ontario Court Justice Jack Nadelle said a discharge for Lyle "Rick" Tweedy was appropriate and not against the public interest given the extraordinary circumstances in the case, which involved Tweedy possessing a little more than 1.2 kilograms of the drug. He was, he testified, planning to make hemp oil out of marijuana to help his friend Margot MacLeod ease the pain caused by her cervical cancer. She died Jan. 12.

The West Georgian, 23 Feb 2010 - The University of West Georgia's first meeting of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws chapter met in Humanities on Feb. 11 to discuss options for changing current Georgia laws addressing marijuana. NORML isn't a campus organization that collects dues. Rather, their focus is to hold benefits to collect money for the group's mission. The organization is dependant on participation in public events like town hall meetings, such as last week's visits from Congressman Phil Gingrey and US Senator Johnny Isakson.

The Daily Journal, 22 Feb 2010 - VINELAND -- New Jersey farmers, including some in this area, see a chance to add an important new crop now that the state has legalized medical marijuana. "We would all like to grow it because we think it would be a good cash crop -- literally," Fairfield nurseryman Roger Ruske said.

Los Angeles Daily News, 21 Feb 2010 - There were cannabis creams and THC soda, doctor green thumbs, hemp nurses, and even a marijuana chef all taking part in the green festivities at HempCon 2010. Thousands of medical marijuana consumers, advocates and vendors crowded the Los Angeles Convention Center Saturday for the three-day event.

Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb 2010 - LOS ANGELES -- Three decades ago, Bruce Perlowin was smuggling hundreds of thousands of pounds of Colombian marijuana to California in fishing boats passing beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. His childhood friend, David Tobias, was trafficking dope across turquoise Caribbean waters to Florida and Georgia. On Saturday, at a Los Angeles medical marijuana trade show teeming with entrepreneurs hoping to cash in on California's legal pot market, the two chums were reunited as business consultants marketing "solutions for an emerging industry."

Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb 2010 - City Sues Three Collectives and Moves to Evict 18 Others From Their Stores, Saying They've Violated State Laws Los Angeles city prosecutors Thursday escalated their efforts to shut down medical marijuana dispensaries, suing three collectives and moving to evict 18 others from their stores.

The News Tribune, 14 Feb 2010 - Health: Recent State Court Decision Has Medical Marijuana Users Wary Of Compassionate Legislation Just as medical marijuana commerce was beginning to flourish openly in Tacoma, a Washington State Supreme Court decision sent many patients running for cover.

The Daily News, 14 Feb 2010 - Just as medical marijuana commerce was beginning to flourish openly in Tacoma, a Washington State Supreme Court decision sent many patients running for cover. "People are scared," said Mike Allison, a principal behind North End Club 420, one of three new Tacoma exchanges for medical marijuana patients. "And that's too bad because they're sick and they need this medicine."

Kalamazoo Gazette, 14 Feb 2010 - KALAMAZOO -- Dr. David Crocker has never given a recommendation for a patient to use medical marijuana to treat a debilitating condition. But that will change Monday when Crocker is set to open Michigan Holistic Health -- the first full-time medical marijuana clinic in Southwest Michigan -- at 500 W. Crosstown Parkway, near the corner of South Westnedge Avenue, in Kalamazoo.

Waushara Argus, 10 Feb 2010 - On Saturday, February 6, a crowd gathered at the Berlin Library from noon to 3 p.m. to attend the T.H.C. Expo ("Talking Hemp and Cannabis") to learn about Wisconsin's Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act (JRMMA) that was introduced by Representative Mark Pocan (D-Madison), Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) and a number of other legislators in November 2009 and is currently being reviewed by the Committee on Public Health in both the assembly and the senate. Assembly Bill 554/Senate Bill 368, similar to the medical marijuana bill that passed in Michigan in November of 2008, would make it legal for those who have certain illnesses or diseases to purchase and use marijuana for medicinal purposes when prescribed by a physician.. Passing of the bill would mean that those who suffer from Cancer and are having chemotherapy could use marijuana to relieve the nausea and vomiting often brought on by the chemo treatment. Those who suffer from seizure disorders, AIDS, severe glaucoma, Crohn's Disease, Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Hepititis C, Alzheimer's Disease, and other illnesses that cause wasting away, severe pain, or persistent muscle spasms would be able to use the medicinal marijuana legally. Advocates of the JRMMA are hopeful that the bill will pass out of the Committee for Public Health by March 4 and pass by April 22, with Wisconsin becoming the 14th state to legalize medicinal marijuana. Thirteen other states have passed similar laws, including Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

Lismore Northern Star, 10 Feb 2010 - NIMBIN should be put on the top of the US President's proposed Australian itinerary, according to several prominent people. Legendary Australian adventurer Dick Smith joined Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell and Nimbin Hemp Embassy president Michael Balderstone speaking out in defence of Nimbin's cultural significance following Tweed Tourism general manager Phil Villiers' tongue-in-cheek comments last week about leaving the infamous town off his preferred presidential itinerary.

Lismore Northern Star, 08 Feb 2010 - CANNABIS may be a viable cure for chronic pain, but convincing the authorities is proving to be a political minefield for one pioneer. Tony Bower, founder of Mullaway's Medical Cannabis, has developed a way to access the healing qualities of cannabis without the infamous 'side effects', and his weekly Nimbin dispensary is fast gaining popularity.

DrugSense Weekly, 05 Feb 2010 - Dear Change.org, I recently received an e-mail from you announcing the launch of "Ideas for Change in America 2010," a campaign that seeks to "empower citizens to identify and build momentum behind the country's best ideas for addressing the major challenges we face." This noble and worthy effort uses direct democracy to encourage the online audience to submit and vote for ideas.

Oshkosh Northwestern, 05 Feb 2010 - BERLIN - The timing may be a little off for a hemp and cannabis expo in Berlin Saturday, coming on the heels of a major drug bust of some 30 illegal drug manufacturers and dealers in the city, but the coordinators of the event make no apologies. The T.H.C Expo is being held to tout the wonders of medical marijuana and the economic potential of hemp farming.

Colorado Daily, 04 Feb 2010 - Boulder residents are largely divided on how far the city should go to regulate medical-marijuana dispensaries, according to a new survey. The city on Wednesday released the results of a month-long online survey about how people feel about medical marijuana being grown and sold in Boulder.

Indianapolis Star, 01 Feb 2010 - I'll admit to being one of the multitude of fans who have made shows like "NCIS" and "CSI" such hits. It isn't that I don't recognize how unrealistic they are; no publicly financed lab could afford such cutting-edge equipment even if someone invented it. But I love watching the search for hard evidence, and the characters' willingness to abide by what that evidence shows even when the result is to exonerate some really unattractive suspect. Wouldn't it be nice if those we elect to make policy were similarly devoted to evidence-based decision-making?

Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan 2010 - A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge Friday ordered an Eagle Rock dispensary to stop selling medical marijuana in a decision city prosecutors believe is the first to conclude that state law does not allow collectives to sell the drug. Judge James C. Chalfant's preliminary injunction applies only to Hemp Factory V, a small outlet on Colorado Boulevard near the Glendale border, but would have a dramatic impact on how medical marijuana is distributed if a higher court upholds it. The decision came in the pretrial phase of the city's lawsuit against the dispensary.

Victoria Times-Colonist, 28 Jan 2010 - Documentary Tracks Growers And The Police Who Pursue Them (CNS) - Marijuana is believed to be a $20-billion industry in Canada. But most discussion about the drug is centered around the moral issue of whether to legalize it.

Summit Daily News, 28 Jan 2010 - Charged with misdemeanor possession, Trevor Douglas thinks religion should save him An Avon man is furious over a misdemeanor charge for possession of marijuana because he says it violates his religious rights.

Edmonton Journal, 28 Jan 2010 - Marijuana is believed to be a $20-billion industry in Canada. But most discussion about the drug is centred around the moral issue of whether to legalize it or not. Lionel Goddard thought it was high time somebody looked at marijuana as a business, not a social issue. The result is CannaBIZ, an hour-long documentary airing on CBC-TV's DocZone tonight.