LA Weekly:  “Cannabis is a top, ‘Schedule I’ outlaw, which means it has ‘no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and there is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.’  This, of course, is patently untrue, seeing that doctors right here in this part of the United States have found plenty of accepted medical uses:  Is this a case of law enforcement trumping science? A new research paper out of Southern California says yes.  The paper, ‘Medical Marijuana: Clearing Away the Smoke,’ published in the latest Open Neurology Journal, concludes that there are plenty of medical uses for pot”

Here is the abstract of the paper:

“Recent advances in understanding of the mode of action of tetrahydrocannabinol and related cannabinoid in-gredients of marijuana, plus the accumulating anecdotal reports on potential medical benefits have spurred increasing re-search into possible medicinal uses of cannabis. Recent clinical trials with smoked and vaporized marijuana, as well as other botanical extracts indicate the likelihood that the cannabinoids can be useful in the management of neuropathic pain, spasticity due to multiple sclerosis, and possibly other indications. As with all medications, benefits and risks need to be weighed in recommending cannabis to patients. We present an algorithm that may be useful to physicians in determining whether cannabis might be recommended as a treatment in jurisdictions where such use is permitted.”

Arizona Republic:  “Arizona health officials are considering adding post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and migraines as qualifying conditions to use medical marijuana. Department of Health Services Director Will Humble is expected to decide this week. . . . The Republic turned to two Arizona activists to discuss whether the state should add post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and migraines as qualifying conditions to use medical marijuana.  Ingrid Joya oversees Elements Caregivers Collective, a medical-marijuana caregiver collective in northeast Phoenix.  Carolyn Short is chairwoman of Keep Arizona Drug Free, an organization that opposed Proposition 203.”

The Payson Roundup:  “So far, 10 Valley-based companies or individuals applied to open a dispensary in Payson, while Globe received just one request. . . . Nature’s Harvest, a local collective that helps patients get marijuana cards, has applied for a dispensary certificate for its 404 S. Beeline Highway location.”

SF Weekly:  “Your credit is no longer any good at California medical marijuana dispensaries, whose accounts with credit card processors have been canceled, thanks to pressure from the federal government.  Merchant services providers — the intermediaries between retailers and credit card companies who process customers’ payments — began informing their medical marijuana dealing clients that cannabis credit card transactions would not be processed after July 1, according to Stephen DeAngelo, Executive Director of Oakland’s Harborside Health Center.”

Rob Kampia, Executive Director of the Marijuana Policy Project, sent the following email on July 3, 2012:

I’ve had many conversations in the last few days with key allies and friends who aren’t quite sure what the federal government is doing with regard to medical marijuana.

When I speak to them, there are usually two things that surprise them …

The first surprise is that the federal government’s threats and raids are focused primarily in California. But more broadly, the federal raids are happening in states that have no state licensing procedures for medical marijuana dispensaries (which means California, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, and Washington state).

The second surprise is that there have been zero federal raids against state-licensed businesses in the three states that have state licensing — Colorado, Maine, and New Mexico.

Even in Colorado — where a few dozen businesses received letters from federal prosecutors recently — the letters didn’t mandate that the businesses must shut down. Rather, the federal letters said that the businesses must move more than 1,000 feet away from a school.

In a June 27, 2012, press conference Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said the following about Arizona’s medical marijuana law:

“With respect to one other part of the Court’s ruling in SB 1070, it is instructive for state officials and for those who are advocates of Arizona’s ‘medical’ marijuana act to read it well. Particularly at page 8 of the slip opinion, in section 3 of that opinion, where it mentions specifically and I’m going to quote: ‘Second, state laws are preempted where they conflict with federal law. This includes cases where compliance with both federal and state regulations is a physical impossibility.’ The federal Controlled Substances Act prohibits the possession, use, distribution, transportation, or cultivation of marijuana. Arizona’s ‘medical’ marijuana act is unconstitutional on its face. And with this very clear and most recent analysis of those provisions, there is no reason for state officials to not act responsibly and cease any further implementation of that Act. And consistent with my previous opinion that was issued to the Board of Supervisors with respect to the ability for county employees to participate at all in accepting, processing or issuing permits or applications for zoning in pursuit of a state license for a dispensary or cultivation site on county land, that cannot happen.

 So, to the extent that any state officials need help in researching the impossibility of complying with the ‘Medical’ Marijuana Act in light of the Supremacy Clause of the federal Constitution, I am more than happy to provide them with a copy of our research so they can issue their opinion forthwith. And I am aware that there are state legislators who have asked for an opinion from the Attorney General. And there’s no reason why that opinion can’t issue.“

Mr. Montgomery issued his opinion over a year ago advising county employees to take no action to help a dispensary open for business (including issuance of zoning permits or business licenses) because they would be facilitating violations of federal drug laws and would have no immunity.* He has called upon Attorney General Tom Horne several times over the past year to take similar action to protect state employees. In issuing his opinion, Mr. Montgomery referred to the oath he took to uphold the U.S. Constitution as well as the laws and constitution of the state of Arizona. Our Governor, Attorney General, and legislators all took the same oath of office.

Arizona state officials received two separate warnings (May 2, 2011 and February 16, 2012) from the Department of Justice, making it clear that (1) Arizona’s scheme for cultivation and sale of marijuana will not be tolerated, and that (2) state employees, landlords, financiers and others who facilitate the activities authorized under the state marijuana law have no immunity from federal prosecution. State legislators have asked for an opinion from Tom Horne as to whether our marijuana law conflicts with federal law and whether state employees could be held personally liable for their actions under the “medical” marijuana law. The legislators (and we) are statutorily entitled to an answer. If Mr. Horne is unwilling or unable to answer the legislators’ request, then he needs to turn over the matter to independent counsel. Now.

The outrage being expressed by many in this country, and especially in Arizona, over the failure of the federal government to enforce federal immigration laws is understandable. The outrage expressed by Arizona state officials over the federal government’s failure to enforce federal immigration laws while blatantly disregarding the federal government’s demands that Arizona comply with federal drug laws is disingenuous.

In responsibly heeding the warnings of the U.S. Attorneys for their states, Washington Governor Gregoire, Delaware Governor Markell and Rhode Island Governor Chafee all expressed concern about the consequences to their state residents if illegal marijuana laws were allowed to be implemented. Attorney General Horne does not have the option of staying neutral and leaving Arizonans vulnerable to arrests, seizures of property and prosecutions.

Our “health” department intends to start issuing dispensary licenses on August 7 in blatant disregard of clear federal law and two separate warnings from the Department of Justice. Pro-pot bloggers are predicting that state officials will call out the National Guard when the federal government comes after dispensaries. As ridiculous as that sounds, you can see why they might believe it. And, you can bet they’ll be screaming at state officials to do it.

*There will be more on this subject soon — A potential dispensary owner has sued Maricopa County for refusing to certify its registration certificate.  Read  “An applicant for a medical-marijuana dispensary and cultivation site has sued Maricopa County.”

yourwestvalley.com:  “For Robert Geier, a medical marijuana dispensary moving into his Sun City neighborhood would be ‘sort of like having a rats nest in the backyard.’ . . . If Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery has his way, neither Geier nor McCoy will have to worry. . . . ‘Arizona’s medical marijuana act is unconstitutional on its face,’ Montgomery said.”

If your dispensary needs a location to operate an Arizona medical marijuana dispensary and grow marijuana that has been approved by the City of Phoenix consider purchasing the central Phoenix commercial building located at 2620 West Encanto.  See the realtor’s information flyer and the zoning compliance statement.  Here is a summary of the property:

This property is the perfect location for a full service Dispensary, Cultivation and infusion Medical Marijuana facility.

The site is zoned  A-1 and meets Phoenix Zoning Ordinances.  Zoning ordinance specifies that the exterior building walls of the facility shall not be located within the following:

• 250 feet of residential zoned district
• 1,320 feet of a preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, secondary school or high school, public parks or community center
• 500 feet of a public place of worship

This property has been green lined and granted the zoning approval.

Features:  Total Square Footage 9,595

Security is one of the most important aspects of the dispensary center. The facility itself is designed with a secondary secured (barb wired can be added for even stronger deterrence) fence that can  be manned by a security guard that will ensure that only approved personnel can access the Cultivation area.  There is a an office space for an armed security guard (state requirement) And a private secured employee entrance.  Inside the building there is a key pad coded locked door that restricts non cultivation employees from accessing area as well.  Adequate exterior lighting is set on a timer system to automatically turn on at dusk.

Cameras located both inside and outside of the facility, High Resolution Color Security Cameras 960FPS Realtime @ D1 Resolution  ran by  a 1 TB hard drive and 150-day DVD recorder installed in each room ( exception of Restrooms) and around the outside of structure with day and night vision capabilities with adjustable 3.5mm to 8mm lens. ( a total of 32 cameras). They are prominently displayed throughout the business to deter theft and to ensure the safety of all who enter the facility and or grounds.

New phone system installed (including phones). New internet server and cabling installed.  Furniture items including safe and retail display cases are included in this property. (comp Dispensary, Cultivation and infusion lete list will be included the purchase documents)

Chicago Tribune:  “The Chicago City Council overwhelmingly voted today to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana possession.  Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s  proposal passed 44-3, allowing Chicago police to issue pot-possession tickets starting Aug. 4. The move makes Chicago among a growing wave of states and several of the largest U.S. cities to adopt reduced penalties.”

Medical Marijuana Business Daily:  “As if the medical marijuana industry needs another challenge.  Last week, we published an exclusive story about a move by the MMJ industry’s primary credit card processor to stop handling Visa and MasterCard transactions made at cannabis centers as of July 1. . . . our sources in the merchant services arena say Visa and MasterCard were behind the decision to sever ties with the MMJ industry . . . . Many cannabis professionals have feared this day was coming since American Express stopped processing dispensary transactions last year. Most dispensaries in the nation will be forced to conduct business solely in cash”