Philadelphia - Arlen Specter has always been known as a political maverick, never one to tow the party line; whichever party. One issue that he has consistently supported, medical marijuana, has become a very prescient topic. In 2008 Specter told the Philadelphia Daily News "If it were legali… Read full post »

Trenton -  The final votes have been officially scheduled for The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act S119/A804 on January 11, 2010. The Legislative Calendar can be found here.

The NJ Assembly Health Committee passed the bill in June 2009 with new restrictions compared to the vers… Read full post »

Philadelphia- A majority of Pennsylvanians favor medical marijuana in the Commonwealth according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released yesterday. Specifically asked about the current legislation, this is the strongest indicator yet of the tremendous popular support for safe, therapeutic cannab… Read full post »

MS patient: Not guilty on most serious marijuana charge

Somerville- The jury returned a not guilty verdict to John Wilson on the first-degree felony charges against him. But the MS patient could still face time in prison after being found guilty of second-degree charges of ‘Manufacturing&rsquo… Read full post »

 Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana ( PA4MMJ )  logoPhiladelphia- A majority of Pennsylvanians favor medical marijuana according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released yesterday. Specifically asked about the current legislation, thi...

Read full post »

Somerville, NJ – Family and supporters of John Wilson demonstrated today in front of the Somerset County Courthouse as jury selection began in his trial.

About 50 volunteers held signs for over 5 hours and passing cars honked their support. The rally was organized by the Coalition for… Read full post »

 It's the red robes that really get me...like they are a Gospel Choir

For some strange reason the existence of this video was something that I was blissfully unaware of my entire life...until this morning. It might be heralded as the worst filmed moments for the creative mind of… Read full post »

12-3-09 Chris Goldstein

Yesterday a diverse group of advocates and medical professionals testified before a legislative committee in favor of medical marijuana. 

These were public hearings before the House Health and Human Services Committee on HB 1393, a bill to legalize the medical use of c… Read full post »

By Chris Goldstein

In 1937 the first federal marijuana prohibition was debated in Congress. The infamous prohibitionist Harry Anslinger was pushing though the Marijuana Tax Stamp Act.

Anslinger's racist and fantastical demonization of marijuana, encompassed in the propaganda film Reefer Madness, unfo… Read full post »

AMA Agrees: Marijuana is Medicine

WHO The American Medical Association (AMA)
WHAT: Recognizes Medical Benefits of Marijuana, Urges Further Research
WHEN: November 10th, 2009
WHERE: Houston, Texas during AMA’s annual Interim Meeting of the House of Delegates
WHY: Marijuana has both already-demonstra… Read full post »

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana
www.pa4mmj.org

WHO: Pennsylvania House Health and Human Services Committee
WHAT: Public Hearings on HB 1393, medical marijuana in PA
WHEN: December 2, 2009 at 11AM in Harrisburg
CONTACT: media@phillynorml.org

Medical Marijua… Read full post »

"Jim Miller supporting John Ray Wilson mycentraljersey.com"

Despite a public call from two state Senators for a pardon, the criminal trial against John Ray Wilson is moving ahead.

John lives with MS and used cannabis therapy for treatment. He now faces 15 years in state prison… Read full post »

10/30/2009  by Chris Goldstein

On October 19th the Ocean County College in Tom's River, NJ hosted a debate on medical marijuana. A professor of Social Science, Brad Young, moderated.  The opposition was Terrence Farley, a former county prosecutor and the now head of the NJ Narcotics Task Fo… Read full post »

 10/27/2009 by Chris Goldstein

In a major development in New Jersey today, two of the state Senators sponsoring The Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act asked for  Governor Corzine to pardon John Ray Wilson.

 John faces 15 years in state prison for being caught with 17 marijuana pl… Read full post »

Rant drive - engaged.

 So, last week I fed a breaking news story to OS - The Department of Justice medical marijuana memo, cross posting at the CMMNJ Blog and the NORML-NJ blog.

Before there were stories in over 1,900 newspapers, websites and radio/tv, before the memo was even officially… Read full post »

10/25/09 by Chris Goldstein

Scoop:  Staffers at Americans for Safe Access met with Department of Justice officials before the memo on medical marijuana was released last week.

My role with several marijuana reform non-profits in New Jersey and Pennsylvania requires interaction with the n… Read full post »

10/24/09 by Chris Goldstein

Intense. That’s the only word to describe the recent focus of the national mainstream media on issues related to cannabis. Three Newsweek articles, an investigative piece on PBS Newshour, FOX News segments and an absolute frenzy over the new Department of… Read full post »

 Chris Goldstein 10/19/09

This is truly an historic day for the issue of safe cannabis access in America. It is the first order issued by any White House Administration in support of patient’s rights and upholding the existing programs in place through ballot initiative or legislation. The… Read full post »

Chris Goldstein 10/18/09

 Breaking news tonight from the AP reports a new federal set of guidelines on medical marijuana.

AP Newsbreak: New medical marijuana policy issued

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they c… Read full post »

 OS, please get on this and I sincerely hope this is not a trend.

 10-16-09

frank florent to freedomisgreen

Hello

Please Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethic. By introduction, I am Mr.frank flornet a Fund Manager with SOCIETE GENERALE DE BANQUES EN -RC… Read full post »

President Obama: A Plea For Peace At Home

10/9/2009 - Chris Goldstein

In my opinion, this Nobel Peace Prize is well awarded. It may be also the strongest-ever political act of the premier peace-forwarding organization in the world. They offer the prize to President Obama not only for his achievements… Read full post »

An NJN crew was out on the streets of Newark pulling people aside to ask questions of the New Jersey gubernatorial candidates for a televised debate. Little did they know that a member of the NORML-NJ Board of Directors and the Associate Publisher of High Times Magazine would stroll on by...… Read full post »

Corzine and Christie favor Marijuana in first debate

10/2/2009 - Chris Goldstein

Politics in New Jersey could not be hotter with a very close race for governor between Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine and Republican challenger Chris Christie.

The negative a… Read full post »

 

Boston: 30,000 smoke pot, celebrate decrim

9/20/2009 -  Chris Goldstein

An estimated 30,000 people were crowded onto the Boston Common at the peak moment of the 20th annual Boston Freedom Rally on September 19th 2009.

That moment was 4:20PM ET.

The thousands… Read full post »

The REAL Tea Party

9/17/09 Chris Goldstein

In two days I have the honor of speaking before a crowd of about 15,000 people at the 20th annual Boston Freedom Rally.

 There is something wonderfully patriotic about seeing so many people happily consume cannabis on America's oldest public meeting… Read full post »