Medical Marijuana Info

Subject: US Appeals Raich-Monson & WAMM Injunctions

San Francisco, Jun 22nd - The U.S. Government filed a notice of appeal of the injunction protecting medical cannabis patients Angel Raich and Diane Monson. It likewise filed a notice of appeal and request for stay of the WAMM injunction. The appeals will now be heard in the 9th Circuit, where they face likely rejection in light of the Raich-Monson decision. Further appeals to the Supreme Court seem likely.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is expected to announce imminently whether to grant cert to the government's previous appeal of the Raich-Monson ruling. If the Court takes up Raich-Monson, it will not
be heard until next year's session. In the meantime, the Court could tip its hand earlier by ruling on whether to stay the WAMM injunction. This decision could come as soon as six weeks.

- D. Gieringer, Cal NORML

Oakland Cannabis Initiative Makes Ballot

OAKLAND, CA Jun 29th - The Oakland Cannabis Regulation and Revenue Initiative has qualified for this November's ballot, according to the registrar of voters. The initiative would put the city officially on record in favor of legally taxed and regulated cannabis for adult use, and make adult private cannabis offenses lowest enforcement priority. "This marks a new frontier in the campaign to end cannabis prohibition," said California NORML coordinator Dale Gieringer of the Oakland Civil Liberties Alliance, sponsor of the initiative, "We believe Oakland voters will recognize that a legally regulated market can keep cannabis off the streets and away from kids, reduce crime, and raise tax revenues for the city," Details of the initiative may be found at www.taxandregulate.org