Daily Press, 15 May 2012 - DISPENSARY, LANDLORD FACE $1,500 DAILY IN FINES HESPERIA With a new medical marijuana dispensary in town, Hesperia officials are touting a tough policy that could hit both the dispensary and its landlord with fines that can reach $1,500 a day after a 24-day warning period.

Washington Post, 15 May 2012 - MARIJUANA MAY HELP RELIEVE MUSCLE TIGHTNESS LINKED TO MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS THE QUESTION Marijuana has been investigated as a medicinal aid for people with cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and other conditions. Might smoking marijuana help relieve the muscle spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis?

Martinsville Bulletin, 14 May 2012 - Still, Two-Thirds Don't Smoke Pot, Say Results of Survey in County The percentage of Henry County Schools high school students who say they smoke marijuana every day has increased dramatically in the last few years, and some other measures of marijuana use also have increased significantly, all mirroring national trends.

Amherst Daily News, 14 May 2012 - Cannabis Crusader Has Been in Europe Since 2009 AMHERST - A series of drug charges against an Athol man who says he's exiled in Europe have been withdrawn. Rickey Logan Simpson, 62, was charged with the production of cannabis marijuana, possession of cannabis marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and possession of cannabis marijuana and possession of cannabis resin following a raid of his Athol Road home in November 2009. Simpson was in Amsterdam, Holland accepting the Freedom Fighter of the Year Award at the annual Cannabis Cup when the raid occurred and it's believe he has been in Europe since then.

Charlottesville Daily Progress, 14 May 2012 - The Charlottesville City Council has shown its willingness to push the envelope on marijuana policy, but Central Virginia's representatives in Richmond seem uneager to follow suit. The City Council broke new ground last week by calling on state lawmakers to rethink penalties for pot possession and give "due consideration" to legislation that would decriminalize, legalize or regulate marijuana like alcohol.

The Dartmouth, 14 May 2012 - Policymakers, doctors and professors from across New England debated the merits and pitfalls of legalizing medical marijuana at the eighth annual Dartmouth Symposium on Substance Abuse, held on Friday in Collis Common Ground. The conference - "Medical Marijuana: Compassionate Care or Oxymoron?" - examined the controversial issue of medical marijuana in the context of a current bill facing the New Hampshire legislature. The symposium aimed to provide an informed, scientific discussion of the topic and sought to eliminate politicized arguments, according to Seddon Savage, director of the Dartmouth Center on Addiction, Recovery and Education and the event organizer.

Winnipeg Sun, 12 May 2012 - A Manitoba judge has blasted the actions of two Winnipeg cops, saying they illegally walked into and searched a reputed Hells Angels associate's business and flagrantly breached his rights by handcuffing and searching him without cause. The drug-trafficking case against Alejandro Chung, 45, collapsed Friday after Court of Queen's Bench Justice Doug Abra refused to allow into evidence the cocaine and marijuana cops found during their search of La Mota on Portage Avenue on Oct. 27, 2009.

Helena Independent Record, 12 May 2012 - A Helena lawyer is asking a federal court judge to throw out the charges against his client, saying that the U.S. Attorney's office has no right to "veto" Montana voters' approval of medical marijuana. Michael Donahoe, a federal defense attorney, said that the federal government "selectively targeted" medical marijuana cultivators and dispensers like his client, Chris Williams, who is a founding member of Montana Cannabis. Donahoe is asking that the case against Williams be dropped.

Toronto Star, 11 May 2012 - DRUG DEALER ATTACKED AND 'THE FIGHT WAS ON,' WITNESS TESTIFIES A former Toronto drug squad officer has told a cop corruption trial he never viciously beat a prisoner, as alleged, but simply defended himself in a "brawl."

The Mail Tribune, 11 May 2012 - Medical Marijuana Laws Will Invite Exploitation As Long As the Drug Is Illegal Medical marijuana laws in Oregon and California, enacted by voters with the best of intentions, are running into trouble. The details differ because the laws do, but the root causes are the same: The impulse to make money is stronger than the desire to help suffering patients, and "back door legalization" tempts recreational users to take advantage of a system designed to relieve pain and suffering.

Cowichan News Leader, 11 May 2012 - Start the conversation: Experts say it's a good thing if you are talking about substance abuse with your teens RCMP Corporal Scott Hilderley's drug prevention tip for parents may surprise you in its simplicity.

Lake Country Calendar, 11 May 2012 - The call for legalization-or at least decriminalization-of marijuana in B.C. is getting louder. Recently eight B.C. mayors-including James Baker of Lake Country, Robert Sawatzky of Vernon, Chris Pieper of Armstrong, Howie Cyr of Enderby, John Ranns of Metchosin on Vancouver Island, Darrell Mussamotto of the City of North Vancouver, Burnaby's Derek Corrigan and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson-released a letter they had all signed calling on Victoria to tax and regulate the drug as a way to stop gang violence in this province and help make communities safer.

Parksville Qualicum Beach News, 11 May 2012 - What would be the real health impacts, were marijuana to be legalized? That question was raised at Tuesday night's Regional District of Nanaimo committee of the whole meeting when Vancouver Island medical health officer Dr. Paul Hasselback gave a talk about his role.

The Union, 11 May 2012 - ASA Rallies Members to Overturn Cannabis Cultivation Ordinance Americans for Safe Access - Nevada County is holding an Emergency Town Hall Meeting to rally members of the community who are opposed to the newly enacted Medical Marijuana Ordinance.

The Virginia Gazette, 11 May 2012 - RICHMOND - After months of an undercover investigation in 2008, a York County sheriff's deputy finally had enough evidence to charge Brandon Gomez, then 18, with intent to distribute marijuana. "I had actually been just basically the middleman," Gomez said, describing himself as an intermediary between a dealer and users in marijuana sales.

Toronto Star, 10 May 2012 - A Toronto police constable has rejected a suggestion he played "good cop" while other drug squad officers beat up traffickers in a police station 14 years ago. Under heated cross-examination Thursday, Steven Correia denied abetting officers assaulting Montreal stripper Aida Fagundo in 1997 or pot dealer Christopher Quigley the following year.

The Exponent, 10 May 2012 - Out of Control Marijuana Grows Prompt Federal Action Locally The federal government has launched "Operation Mercury" which trumps state law in a new effort to eradicate an out of control marijuana problem in areas such as Squaw Valley.

Peace Arch News, 10 May 2012 - Despite a recommendation from city staff and a majority vote by White Rock council to reject a licence for a hemp-themed retail store on the waterfront, the business venture will proceed. Council voted 4-2 this week to refuse an application by Victor 'Randy' Caine for a licence to operate Hempyz Gifts and Novelties at 14967 Marine Dr. However, the city's bylaws state that council can only deny such applications if the vote is unanimous.

Mukilteo Beacon, 10 May 2012 - Medical marijuana garden regulations are now on the books in Mukilteo. After nine months of study, the City Council on Monday voted 6-1 to adopt permanent regulations allowing medical marijuana "collective gardens" within city limits.

Tucson Weekly, 10 May 2012 - The State Is Making Prospective MMJ-Dispensary Owners Jump Through Costly Hoops The aerie is a place of the past now, so I am hunkered down, listening to too many sirens and dodging too many broken bottles in the bike lanes and chronically getting a neck ache from the stress and stark realities of life and foraminal spinal stenosis.