So far, it’s been an action packed year for medical marijuana advocates – indeed, so much has been happening that its been hard to keep up. In an effort to get current, Reefer Madness has compiled this cheat sheet of recent highlights:
In April, a group of doctors and medical researchers launched the American Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine, with the goal of setting the “gold standard for the practice of Cannabinoid Medicine” – in part by providing board certification for qualified practitioners.
Researchers in New Zealand have found more evidence that cannabinoids can actually help treat cancer.
New medi-pot laws are getting closer to passage in Delaware, Illinois, and New Jersey. In Jersey, the current version of the proposed medi-mari law is more strict than the original version. Still, Gov. Jon Corzine has said he will sign the measure into law if it gets to his desk. With passage of a medi-pot bill in the Illinois Senate, it now appears there is a three-way race to see which state will become the 14th to enact laws protecting ill patients using pot.
In Rhode Island, lawmakers have passed a measure that would expand the state’s medi-pot law to allow state-licensed dispensaries, reports the Marijuana Policy Project. The measure will now move to Gov. Donald Carcieri.
This article appears in June 5 • 2009.