It seems that this week had more bad news than good in the political sphere of medical marijuana, but we keep the faith that the great work of MMJ and legalization supporters will pay off in the end. We’ll be writing soon about our favorite blogs and Facebook groups that you should be following, too! This week, our favorite senior activist faces prison (again), North Carolina democrats makes a step in the right direction, and New York republicans stop a positive bill.

NC Dems Want to Legalize MMJ
At the North Carolina Democratic Party Convention last weekend, members supporter the decriminalization of medical marijuana use in the state. Many supporters believe it will cut down on crime while lowering costs for patients and raising tax money for the state.Another resolution from supporters would allow Norht Carolina farmers to grow industrial hemp. Via Toke of the Town.

Dispensaries Don’t Increase Crime
The DEA and Law Enforcement like to cite crime as a reason for criminalizing dispensaries, an argument which appears to be unfounded. A study by the National Institutes of Health conducted at UCLA found that neighborhoods with dispensaries had no predisposition to increased crime compared to any neighborhood without a dispensary. The study was conducted in Sacramento. Via High Times.

Robert Platshorn May Return to Prison
We recently wrote about The Silver Tour, run by Robert Plathorn, who spent 30 years in prison for nonviolent possession of marijuana. He educates seniors on why they should vote for medical marijuana, and seems to be targeted for his cause. His former parole officer allowed the use of cannabis oil in the treatment of his skin cancer, but his new parole officer wants to imprison him for a positive drug test caused by the oil. He is currently banned from travelling, despite the fact that speaking engagements makes up 80% of his salary. Via 420 Magazine.

NY Reps Shoot Down Decriminalization Bill
We reported last week that the New York State Assembly approved a medical marijuana possession bill. Earlier this month, New York Governor Cuomo proposed a bill to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana, much like Rhode Island’s recently passed bill. This proposal has been shot down by Republicans, who say “We do not support decriminalization.” 82% of the 53,124 people arrested last year in New York for possession were blacks or Hispanic. Via Kush Magazine.

Support comes from an unlikely source this week as a notably conservative politician’s daughter publicly endorses marijuana legalization, while New York takes great steps in legalizing medical marijuana. Rhode Island meanwhile lessens the punishment for possessing marijuana; possessing an ounce or less will become a civil violation with a $150, like a ticket. Read on for the full stories.

Meghan McCain Speaks Out in Support of Legalization

The Arizona conservative Senator’s daughter went on a cross-country roadtrip with liberal comedian Michael Ian Black. They toured cultural sites, discussed gay marriage and gun rights, and wrote it all down for us to read in America, You Sexy Bitch: A Love Letter to Freedom.

On the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, she discusses why she supports the legalization of marijuana:

California Hospital Denies transplant for Legal MMJ User

Patient Toni Trujillo has been on the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s transplant list waiting for a kidney for six years…until now. Trujillo has been using medical marijuana legally for two years to stimulate her appetite and increase and maintain protein levels while on dialysis, yet she was removed from the list for “substance abuse.”

This isn’t the first time this has happened, either.  Last year the hospital removed a man with inoperable liver cancer from their transplant list for the same reason – legally smoking marijuana. Without the transplant, doctors expect him to die within 90 days.

From DrugFree.org:
Sally Stewart, a spokesperson for the hospital, said marijuana users can be exposed to a type of mold that can cause deadly disease among patients whose immune systems are compromised. They also are at risk of a fatal lung infection after transplantation, she told the newspaper. “We do not make a moral or ethical judgment about people who are smoking medical marijuana. Our concern is strictly for the health and safety of our patients,” she said.

NY General Assembly Approves Medical Marijuana Bill; RI Decriminalizes

The same day that Rhode Island Governor Chafee signed a bill to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana, the New York State Assembly approved a bill to allow qualified patients to possess medical marijuana. The vote passed 90-50, setting a positive note for the Senate vote. Similar legislation have previously been stopped twice in the Senate, but supporters are optimistic for AB7347’s passing. Tell your New York Senator to support the bill here.