Posts Tagged "medical marijuana"

New State Profile: Florida

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New State Profile: Florida

Our newest state profile is the sunshine state of Florida.  Unsurprisingly, Florida has some of the harshest policies we’ve come across so far.  These policies as well as the laws and regulations are extensive and complicated.  We break it down for you to only what is relevant for a parent who uses cannabis or a child who is being treated with medical marijuana. As always, we welcome your feedback!  Please share this with your friends so all Floridians can benefit!

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Cannabis Research & Media

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Cannabis Research & Media

The course of this past week saw the completion of a major update to our Cannabis Research section.  New peer-reviewed clinical studies have been added to all existing pages (Prenatal Exposure, Breastfeeding, Environmental Exposure, and Medical Marijuana).  We have also added several new pages of resources — Drug Testing & Reporting, Pediatric Medicinal Cannabis, and Miscellaneous!  We always provide links to the abstracts or full texts where available. We have a new Media section as well.  You can now find our Writing here, as well as Video & Audio from our appearances and interviews, Links to where FLCA has been mentioned around the web, and which will serve as a repository for our Press...

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Videos from the DPA Reform Conference in Denver!

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Weren’t able to attend the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) 2013 International Reform Conference in Denver this past October? Sad to miss FLCA co-founders Sara Arnold (aka Sahra Kant) & Jess Cochrane on the CPS and family court panel? Want to watch it at home? Now you can! On Saturday, October 26, 2013 both FLCA co-founders, Sara Arnold (aka Sahra Kant) and Jess Cochrane, participated in “Overlooked Punishment: The Drug War’s Insidious Reach Beyond the Criminal Justice System” panel with Dr. Carl Hart of Columbia University, Emma Ketteringham of Bronx Defenders, Dr. Kay Teel of University of Colorado School of Medicine, and moderated by Lynn Paltrow of National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW).   Q&A following  Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) 2013 Reform Conference “Overlooked Punishment: The Drug War’s Insidious Reach Beyond the Criminal Justice System” panel.  Questions are from attendees including activists, grandparents, hospital administrators, a Texas judge, and more. Check them out!...

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New State Profile: New Jersey

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New State Profile: New Jersey

FLCA is pleased to announce a new state profile: the garden state of New Jersey!  This state has some of most favorable case law for parents who use medical marijuana — and a particularly unfavorable law for people who sell cannabis to pregnant women.  Check it out!  We welcome your feedback.  Of course, please share with your friends and colleagues! Please note that our Massachusetts profile has also received an update. Remember, the next state will be decided by you via our...

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Bree Green is Home!

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Bree Green is Home!

On Friday, November 22, eight-month-old Brielle “Bree” Green was returned to the home of her loving parents, Steve and Maria Green.  Bree was removed from her family home in Lansing six weeks earlier by Michigan DHS for the ” danger” of her parents’ medical marijuana use.  The Greens were (and are) legal medical cannabis patients for Steve’s epilepsy and Maria’s multiple sclerosis, and Maria was a legally registered caregiver allowed to cultivate at home for her husband and five cancer patients.  Maria was still breastfeeding her baby girl. In Michigan, a parent  who is also a patient cannot be denied custody of their children “unless the person’s behavior is such that it creates an unreasonable danger to the minor that can be clearly articulated and substantiated.”  According to state attorney referee Rob Porter,  any marijuana in the home is dangerous to children.  He emoted, “It is reasonable to assume that marijuana is being grown in that home with children being present, and that is dangerous for children to be involved in that situation.  We have homes being robbed at gunpoint – by individuals who know that children are at home.”  Mr. Porter did not mention nor comment on the parent-protective provision in the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act nor that homes are also robbed at gunpoint for flat-screen televisions, computers, and fine jewelry. Steve and Maria Green have been through a traumatic ordeal that was arguably illegal under state law.  They have faced criminal charges for legal cultivation activity, dirty tricks and lies over their medical marijuana use in a custody battle regarding an older child that led to Bree being taken into state custody, late notice of family court proceedings, court-required cessation of their legal medication resulting in the symptomatic return of their medical conditions including requiring Maria to need the use of a walker, and the high cost of both criminal and civil court. This family did nothing wrong, and as such, all criminal charges were dropped on October 3.  In a special hearing on October 22nd, the Greens agreed to attend parenting classes for thirty days and allow both themselves and Bree to be drug tested at regular intervals for the next month in return for Bree coming home with them.  If they meet all the parts of their agreement, some of which was not disclosed, Bree will be able to remain permanently in her family home.  They can also resume cultivating marijuana for patient use. Michigan did not prove there was a “danger” to Bree Green because such a danger never existed.  “I would die for Bree, but I don’t think I should have to choose that,” said Steve Green in an interview after court on October 22nd.  Nor should he.  The Green family is understandably just glad to have their daughter home, but under Michigan law — and simply what is right and just — Bree Green should have never been removed from her parents in the first place.   Let’s hope Michigan has learned from what they needlessly put the Green family...

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