Oh Please! They're raiding this one, too?

It's Newark, you expect anything different? LOL

They sent in a SWAT team??!!! WTF is that all about? I guess if you have police departments with intimidating military gear, you have to find some reason to use it, eh? I'm starting to consider getting out of this little banana republic called Newark and move to a city where sanity is the norm.

What a waste of city resources. Collect tax on their sales and fix up our sad little city!!!!

People get a clue. These are highly illegal operations as shown with the NBD raid where they had 75k in cash and a shotgun. Later they were linked to other illegal businesses in the Irvington district and the charges include money laundering. How many felony counts against the owners? Would you like to raid these places armed with shotguns without SWAT? They are not being raided for operating illegally without small City of Newark permits, they are organized (small yes) crime operations funnelling cash. These are not the legal tax paying collectives like you see in San Jose which maintain a positive community presence and follow all of the local and state laws!! These are shady operations being raided by the Dpt. of Justice! How many of the legal ones have been raided? Very few only one in SJ that had two sets of books and were money laundering. Support legal collectives, not these operations that think they can operate in a small town without being noticed.

well said John. We don't want this kind of operation here.

No surprise ! Join your friends & neighbors at boycottnewark@gmail.com !

Glad the other shoe finally dropped on these Danville crooks.

"So what we get drunk ! So what we smoke weed ! We're just havin fun ! We don't care who sees ! So what we go out ! That's how it's supposed to be ! Living young & wild & free !" - Wiz Khalifa,Snoop Dogg & Bruno Mars They may be able to close our dispensaries for the time being,but they'll never take our freedom to buy it elsewhere & enjoy it here. If you're a patient flaunt it by smoking in public places,medicinal marijuana & marijuana patients can't be pushed around by the city like the dispensaries. Dispensaries will return to Newark eventually,but those of us who benefit from it's use on a daily basis aren't going anywhere. And people wonder why the majority of us have so little respect for law enforcement & our city leaders.This issue is far from settled,but will most likely become a moot point upon legalization next November. Public opinion & time are on our side,so in the meantime call a dispensary that delivers to Newark (there's at least ten) or carpool to the nearest city that abides by state law.Did anyone really think that this was going to be easy ? Of course not ! Watch Weed Wars on the Discovery Channel & see how Oakland's city leaders work with the worlds largest cannabis dispensary to serve the needs of their constituents instead of trying to criminalize them. In 2010 45% of Newark voters favored legalization (55% in Alameda County),the majority disagree with the unjustified,callous & narrow-minded action of our elected leaders. Who do they represent ?

I go with you John, well said! I am not against people getting weed for their pain and truthfully I did not know this Happy Wellness existed til I was wondering why all the young hoodlums hang out there in front. Everytime I pass that place it is young kids going in there. Even during the day. You cannot tell me we have that many young kids in Newark suffering from chronic pain!!!! That place is a joke. Like I say, I am not against a place like this run legally for people with real pain and run with some dignity, but this place is a joke and we live in a small city and do not need this advertisement. We got to many other things going on that need to be addressed.

It will be nice when we legalize it so the police can focus on preventing and resolving violent crimes, kidnappings, and other real crimes going on in the sad city of Newark. This is why California is now 73% for marijuana to be legalized when it was only 45% last year. California is sick of it. However, once legalized, there will still be regulation and investigations if business owners are not complying with local regs.

I will not judge these businesses until there is valid proof of breaking the law. Having 75K does not make you guilty John and you are very sad person for stating that they are "highly illegal" because they make money. You have no idea where that came from and/or how long it took them to get that amount. Not everyone puts their money in the Criminal Banks. You want to argue about real crimes that are on a scale monumentally larger than this would ever be? Hey, lets talk about the Banks and the Fed.

But wait, lets first talk about how Hearst and Rockefeller helped destroy what would be our Bio-Fuel today. The stuff that puts 4X the amount of oxygen in the air in 4 months than a tree does in 20 years. The stuff that is 10X stronger than steel pound per pound. Lets talk about the fact that its "Schedule I" drug with no medicinal purpose according to the U.S. and yet it owns the patent on Cannabinoids which only come from marijuana and for which research shows it has medical purpose. Why else would they patent it? We've all been duped. Stand up Legalize.

I haven't heard a single word that would prove they are a non profit organization, legally registered with the state as such.IF,- and that's a big if,- they are truly non profit, then they aren't required to pay sales tax.
Like Margaret Jean Mikel I've seen lots of young kids hanging out around that place who sure don't look desperately ill to me! And where is all this research that shows cannabis is such a valuable medicine? Go to the poles and vote NO everytime it comes up on the ballot.

People, people...even if CA legalizes the stuff it will still be listed under the Federal Controlled Substance Act, and therefore illegal. The only way to get this done properly is to get the dorks like Pete Stark (on the Left) and John Bohner (on the Right) to pass legislation to remove gange from the CSA. But no, these monkeys can't work together to do anything, even something as simple as this.

DON'T VOTE FOR INCUMBENT POLITICIANS, YOU DUMMIES!

The fact is that very few people took the trouble to vote at all.

John Perkins couldn't have said it better.
I see young people hanging outside all the liquor stores too, can we shut them down too? Actually since we are getting rid of people we think might be up to no good but have no proof, can we shut down Jaques and Whiskey Town too? Their patrons usually are downright terrifying. I drive by all the time and see the drunks standing out in front of Jaques smoking. Can’t NPD could just sweep through there hourly and clear out 1/2 the meth in Newark.
It is amusing to me how many of you can "spot" who does or does not have a prescription for MMJ and who is medically qualified or not. So you all are a bunch of doctors? You have no idea how old their clients are. I am well over 35 and am often carded for alcohol and also mistaken for being under age. You mean to tell me that 95% of the population couldn't guess my age within a decade but somehow a bunch of you are sure it's minors patronizing that business. Seriously, it just a bunch of fear based accusations going on here and not a lot of fact. You have no idea who their main client base is; you just want to think you do.
Newark needs to get with the program and follow the lead that Oakland has laid out for regulation and taxing. It's just a matter of time before happens, it just is a matter of how long you want to turn away a ton of money that would go to strengthening our community. All we need is the younger segment of voters to show up at the polls and things will be a changing!

I disagree that Newark has to get with your program. Newark needs to do nothing other than shut down illegal businesses.

Why are there so many "ill people" out there that "need" weed to feel better? Is our society so sick that this is such a huge issue? And why is it that Kaiser, Blue Cross, Etc won't write perscriptions for weed if it is the best option? Why do I see adds for "Dr. 420" who will get you a Med Marijuana card because you have headaches or menstral cramps. If you want medical Marijuana to be taken seriously, then you need to present it in a professional manner. Public opinion will be better if you had typical family physicians prescribing and pharmacies like Kaiser, Walgreens etc selling, then you may get more support. But right now, for those of us who have grown up viewing marijuana as a street drug (and the stereotypes that go with it: see pot head, doper etc) we find it almost impossible to take marijuana users seriously.
Regardless of whether my perception (and stereotypes) are accurate or not, what I see on the news is a home with weapons, cash and drugs being raided. Multiple felony charges being brought forward, and lots of questions.
A more professional model would lead me to change my views, but until then, all I can picture is Cheech and Chong driving a van covered in pot.

Summer,

You quote California law; "To insure that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain & use marijuana for medical purposes where the medical use is deemed appropriate", but in the same sentence state that "You can get a recommendation for virtually any ailment,that's our state law." I don't see how you can extrapolate the second statement from the first. "virtually any ailment" does not equate to "seriously ill". The law was meant for people that have almost no alternative to relieve their ailments, not for anybody that has some ache or pain that could be resolved with over the counter drugs.

Role models like Paris Hilton, Wiz Khalifa and the Snoop Dogg are partially why our society is lost and broken. Potheads fall back on comparing dope to booze. Both are bad. Fact is Newark was a great place, STILL CAN BE. It's slide may have to do with meth, or whiskey or illegals. Nobody knows but if a police department looks the other way, then it is just a matter of time. In Danville, they took out and will take out all the dirty cops. I hope it's that way in Newark- it appears to be. Good for Newark PD.
If a small town society doesn't protect its decent citizens from the bad guys, it becomes a "big city", and mosly suburbs are full of folks that do not want to live in the big city. Why? Big cities all tend to look the other way to operate. Not true of small towns. I hope Newark and Danville continue to bust people and businesses that are breaking the law. The dispensaries that are doing things legit, okay I guess - let them be. I say anyone in the dope business should be heavily taxed to fund all the mental institutions that this "liberal" state will need if the Snoop Dog Hip Hop Drug culture is allowed to flourish. No hate here, just concern that Rome is on fire and the druggies don't notice or care, leaving leadership and policing to those whose choose sobriety and wisdom.
Our sorry culture is bad, but not bad enought that the good people should look the other way. As a child of the 70's, I say from my steppinwolfed heart, "God Damn the pusher Man". Right on Po Poh.

Mona, you are one of the wisest posters on patch, if not the WISEST! Everything you post on here shows how much you care about Newark that you have kept up with different subjects. I love reading your posts, you really care for the best of our town.

Ignorance is bliss here on the Patch. Look how many of you are against MMJ but pushing OTC medicines, which are worse for you and your body. Do some research people. You really have a very narrow perspective here. The pharmaceutical companies sure have you fooled.
"The AMA tried to argue for the medical benefits of hemp. Marijuana is actually less dangerous than alcohol, cigarettes, and even most OTC medicines or prescriptions. Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. By any measure of rational analysis marijuana can be safely used within a supervised routine of medical care. For marijuana to be illegal in the US when alcohol poisoning is a major cause of death in this country and approx. 400,000 premature deaths are attributed to cigarettes annually. The fact is smoking extreme amounts of marijuana will do nothing more than put someone to sleep, while drinking excessive amounts of alcohol will kill someone. The most profound activist for marijuana's use as a medicine is Dr. Grinspoon. According to Grinspoon, "The only well confirmed negative effect of marijuana is caused by the smoke, which contains three times more tars and five times more carbon monoxide than tobacco. But even the heaviest marijuana smokers rarely use as much as an average tobacco smoker.”
http://www.uri.edu/personal/atro6990/ this is just one source, if you look, you can the truth, not some old fashioned ill-informed BS that holds no fact!

I don't think you need to say that "I am very sad person because these places make money," John Perkins. The reason I made the comment is that the owners preached that they are a collective and make no profit after expenses. Michelle Gregory, Danville Police said: the dispensary is not set up for patient care but rather to make a large profit. “It’s not about patients’ needs, it’s clearly about making money and selling drugs,” The suspects are facing charges of sales of marijuana, possession for sales of marijuana and conspiracy," I also enjoy them having assault rifles as we all need these, and the other Danville home occupant is a repeat felon.
Brash, you keep quoting that 45% of Newark citizens approve of medical marijuana. That means 55%, the majority disaprove. John Perkins, Mona is correct that they do not pay any taxes to the City of Newark for the sale of marijuana as they are collectives and , "just the middleman." This is why San Jose changed their ordinances and now recieve taxes on their sales. Do we need businesses with all blacked out windows, doorbells to enter, security guards inside the business that ignore their clients selling drugs at the 7-11 that I personally witnesses months ago when I stopped by the 7-11 on Thornton. The whole alcohol argument is counter productive as that is an age law. For example a 21 year old buying for an 18 year old. A 21 year old in possession of marijuana without a card is illegal.

You know why Newark did not get the sales tax that NBD collected??? Because they refused to issue a business license. Duh! How could they collect on something they said wasn't a business? Newark shot itself in the foot with that one. I suspect it was a few million they lost out on while NDB was in operation. I know the schools could have used that.
In cities where a MMJ regulations for taxation are in place, the city and county get tax revenue from the dispensaries. In fact, when taxes were raised on MMJ this past year, most Oakland and San Jose dispensaries absorbed the additional taxes and did not raise the prices to the patients. A lot of good dispensaries offer services like holistic healing, massage, & counseling free of charge to their patients. I had not been to Happy Wellness so I don't know if they did. Truthfully NBD didn't offer anything, but they were constantly updating their store front, security and selections. I think with support of the city, it would have been more of a healing environment and not so misunderstood. It is clear when you go to established dispensaries supported by their cities, they are not in it for a profit, but to provide care for those in need. Seriously you guys that are all upset and think you know what the MMJ industry is about, you don't. Peek around this site http://www.harborsidehealthcenter.com/

Mr. A,
Your comment about most drugs, OTC or otherwise, not being a cure is correct. If drug companies sold actual cures, they'd run out of customers pretty quickly.
My wife uses medicinal cannabis for relief of a variety of symptoms and it works very well for her. Before you get on your self-righteous rant again, have you ever suffered from a migraine that puts you in bed for 3-4 days, and the only reason you get up is to go vomit in the sink? Do you have RA, CFIDS, FM and suffer from the pain of these diseases? I used to have to give her injections of anti-nausea medicatons 2-3 times a week, sometimes 3 times a day. We haven't had to do that for a long time now, due to the use of cannabis to relieve her nausea.
Medicinal cannabis has given my best friend her life back. She can spend time with our kids, run her business, visit friends and family again. And she has reduced her need for destructive narcotic painkillers.
Newark has taken a hard line with those who need a local source for their medication. What we need is bit more compassion for those who find relief from using cannabis, not condemnation.
Think it through, Mr. A. Those who use medicinal cannabis aren't hurting you at all and are able to return to their lives.

Nice comments Gary.

Mr. Anonymous, You are clearly out of touch with reality and with the public. You would have denied me the cure that I have from Severe PA. Cannabis is definitely curing my condition.

"The only thing that drugs of any type (and yes, pot is a drug) do is to mask the symptoms. THEY DON'T CURE."

Today's news: http://coloradoindependent.com/107958/local-cannabis-company-announces-success-with-cancer-treatment
And how did this come about? From an OUTLAW named Rick Simpson http://youtu.be/pjhT9282-Tw Yeah, Rick is still an outlaw but shouldn't be.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rick-Simpson-deserves-a-Nobel-Peace-Prize/159965097382580?sk=info Everyone should write our Gov as I have and protect Rick Simpson for the wonderful work he's done for 1000's. Some day you may have a friend Mr. Anonymous that has Skin Cancer. What will you do? Let them get Chemo or Marijuana? For my daughters I want Marijuana if they wish to use it and I want it to be legal for me to do as I please as a responsible law abiding, tax paying citizen of the U.S.

I'm sick of people telling me cannabis should only be for the terminally ill or cancer victims. Its for anyone who wishes to use it. Legalize!

There's this town all the way in Idaho that keeps calling my name. It's certainly no Newark, much smaller, Crime is literally Non Existent thanks to Every Citizen owning a Gun or two and everyone has each others back regardless of their Beliefs, Political Idealizations and outlook.

It's everything Newark will never be. Newark has Citizens who will gladly help their Neighbors if they can. Unfortunately when people want someone gone they rely on our Police, over there the Towns People join together and go to someones house and MAKE them leave Town. That's Unity right there!

I still hold out Hope for Newark though! Sure it will never be close to that because of California's Repressive Laws, but still it feels great to know there's still Parts of our Country where they practice what was originally written and NOT what some coke addict Lawmaker Adds onto the Document.

I often wonder why people like Jerry comment like they do. Hey Jerry, your village called...

John P. and Margaret, thanks for the kind words. To follow up on your comment, Margaret, I think it was entirely the city's fault that the dispensaries in Newark failed. This business does have a high possibility for abuse and requires oversight and regulation. The city set up a situation where the dispensaries were doomed to fail, and in a spectacular way as the above article points out. The council simply let the situation deteriorate until it was out of control.
The Harborside Health Centers in San Jose and Oakland don't have these issues because of close regulation by their respective cities. The Newark council members chose to let the situation here get out of hand, panicked, and issued a ban. Political incompetence at it's best.

I couldn't agree more with Gary Adams. Well said! Your wife and the millions of others that suffer from things that most people can't imagine, let alone tolerate, should not be discriminated against based on the medicine that works best for them. What a relief it must be for your whole family to have your wife healthy and able to thrive.

Many here are all too willing to allow the law to enforce their prejudice. This is more disturbing than anything else. Such may be found on both sides of the issue but more obviously among the anti-marijuana group.

This is not a medical issue but one of personal rights. The health benefits in this context are irrelevant.

It is upon this point ONLY that the argument should be made. Most people are subjective thinkers and take positions that most appeal to their prejudices. They are anti-liberal (read anti personal liberty/rights). The evils they decry are not really evils at all but they are not willing to see their error because their position does not originate from rational examination.

Let the anti-liberal side argue against these propositions:
1. People have a right to consume whatever they wish. they are not harming anyone in doing so nor is it a moral or immoral act.
2. No one has a superior right to tell others what they can or cannot consume. this is paternalism.
3. Each person is ALREADY liable for whatever damage or violence they do to others if and when they do it.

"When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law. These two evils are of equal consequence, and it would be difficult for a person to choose between them."
- Bastiat

I don't get it. Why don't you all just grow your own stuff and forget about the cannabis dispensaries?

They are gone. You can still get it legally delivered to your home if you have your card, everyone wins, Merry XMAS, Happy Holidays

Get out of Danville scumbag drug-dealer. This "medical marijuana" crap is ridiculous and a facade. Nice job with your 2 young kids. Great example you set being a drug dealer simply because you're too lame, lazy, or dumb to get a real job. How selfish can you be? Your kids have the shame of knowing "my dad's a drug dealer." You make me sick.

Define "a real job" please. We all hear that phrase from time to time, but I think it means something different for each person.
What does it mean to you, Jon? Please be specific.
And see my post above as to the quantitative and qualitative benefits of medicinal cannabis.

I compare Newark's prohibition of marijuana dispensaries to tatoo parlors. "Medicinal "cannibis is legal to those who "qualify." Tatoo parlors will scar anyone over 18 with enough cash. However, you don't see nice, small, middle class cities allowing these places to set up shop wherever they want because they attract lots of slobs and eventually degrade neighborhoods. That's why cities like Newark are allowed to require permits. No permit, no Old Town or Haley Street deterioration.

And Jacques and Whiskeytown, undesirable as they are, were grandfathered into a different Newark before you ever hatched out of your recreational weed-craving egg.

Take the Fremont line to Oakland. Please.

Shimadog, was your last post directed at me? If so, you should know that although I did use marijuana recreationally back in the '60s and 70's, it's been a very long time since I've done that. I "hatched" out of my "egg" 58 years ago, puppy.
And I wasn't aware that tattoo parlors and artists provided much-needed legal medications to patients. Sorry, but that is a very poor analogy. I suggest you take a night class at one of our local community colleges, perhaps in English composition.

Got a B.A. in Journalism in '73 so I beat you by at least two years Gary. Furthermore after review I see no errors in my composition or logic.

My point was, local governments have the right to determine their business "composition."

You are off track Mister pseudo-intellectual Gary.

Old Farts.

Your point is correct, they do have that discretion. For example, I wouldn't want a plating shop to move in across the street from me. In this case, however, there were no zoning issues - the city simply didn't want the business to get a license.

Pseudo-intellectual? Hardly. B.S. Chem. E., SJSU 1975; B.S. Computer Science, SJSU, 1977; M.S. Chem. E., USF, 1980; MBA, USF, 1982. Would have finished the Ph.D. dissertation but work was waaay more fun.

How do you know what the city wanted Gary? Did you attend the City Council or Planning Commisson meetings after NBD installed themselves on Thornton without any prior approval or notice? This was unprecidented; the operators knew it, and they expected to make a handsome short term profit until their run ended as they knew it eventually would.

Just for fun I bought weed there Gary. I saw the huge indimidating black guys in their black "SECURITY" t-shirts and the baddass Harleys parked in front. Everything about that operation made me nervous.

As to your intelectual capability, Gary? I conceed that you are light years beyond that carburetor cleaner-huffing moron jerkoff jaMEes lurking here so malevolently.

In your dreams loser.

Oh now that is just RICH! I knew by his posts that Shimdog was not worth paying any attention to, which is why I didn't respond to his BS posts. I mean really, would I listen to someone my older than my folks on something that is more progressive than his dusty brain could process. Hello no, now....add that he is also a total HYPOCRITE. Oh wow, after all the crap you have slung, the names you call, the soapbox you are so quick to jump on, and you have a MMJ card...REALLY? I though old dudes your age had integrity, clearly not so. This also explains your lame post comparing tattoo parlors to MMJ Clubs. Hey there old timer, I know you think they are unsavory and no one wants them but someone must. Fremont has opened 5 new tattoo parlors over the past 2 years. You are clearly just in denial, or dementia, one of the 2 maybe both. Disgusting. Shimdog stick to the San Ramon Express, perhaps they still think you have some integrity.

Here's a YouTube link that has short videos with very accurate (including 1930's footage about Harry J. Anslinger, head of The Federal Bureau of Narcotics, and Randolph Hearst, both who lied to the public for egos, to sell papers,.....name it. We were duped before we were born. http://youtu.be/ZJMeTR227h8 .
Then look up the first person convicted of marijuana sales. Samuel Caldwell got popped in 1937 and got 4 years hard labor and a $1000 fine (that's like $16,000 today). You know why? Because he was selling 3, count them 3 marijuana cigarettes to another adult (that guy got 18 months in prison). 18 months for purchase of 3 marijuana cigarettes?? This still goes on today.
"The penalty for possession of marijuana as a misdemeanor can result in a maximum of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. The Department of Public Safety also suspends the drivers' license of persons convicted of this offense for up to 90 days. The possession of marijuana as a felony can result in a penalty of a prison sentence of one year and a day to ten years and a maximum fine of $5,000."
Ridiculously, the U.S. spends over $500.00 per second, yes per second on the failed drug war. 40 years of failure at the expense of the citizens of the U.S. and yet they keep getting more and more funding each year. And you want them to keep spending your money that way? Really? You don't see they own you by your fears and they were the ones who fed you that fear? mmm Failure, tasty isn't it!
Legalize!

I wasted $100 on a card just to see for myself how easy it is to obtain and use one. Who's the hypocrite here? You, Jennifer, with your thinly veiled compulsive urge to escape your pathetic reality?

Almost everyone here is interested in indulging their prejudices.

"Ad hominem arguments work via the halo effect, a human cognitive bias in which the perception of one trait is influenced by the perception of an unrelated trait, e.g. treating an attractive person as more intelligent or more honest. People tend to see others as tending to all good or tending to all bad. Thus, if you can attribute a bad trait to your opponent, others will tend to doubt the quality of their arguments, even if the bad trait is irrelevant to the arguments."

example: calling someone a hypocrite = ad hominem = fallacy = not relevant to the issues = waste of everyone's time.

Compromising liberty (individual rights) allows this colossal waste of time with unchangeable moralists who have an irresistible impulse to reform society and control others (see John Perkins video post). We should stop trying to penetrate their deaf ears and instead Make THEM do the work of justifying their position. Keep asking "Why?" until they do.

insist they explain why the following propositions are wrong:
1. People have a right to consume whatever they wish. they are not harming anyone in doing so nor is it a moral or immoral act.
2. No one has a superior right to tell others what they can or cannot consume. this is paternalism.

Take your own advice, go away.
As you said to James...
Shimadog commented on:
Pot Club's Slow Burning Saga Comes to Close
"James, you are tiresome. Would you consider a time out from Newark Patch? You would not be missed. "

I really think the whole medical use issue has turned into one big clusterfluck. I think the idea is well intended, but doomed to failure.
Anyone who takes the time to read will know that cannabis has been used to good effect for centuries for a variety of medical conditions, alas it has fallen victim to the Western medical paradigm. I don't think most educated people would deny that. But the fact that it is prohibited creates a set of problems that people don't like-the criminal element associated with illegal drugs, the inability to regulate who can get it (i.e. the under-aged,) and the problems associated with sourcing the stuff.

I think the Compassionate Use law is a wonderful idea-but a grand gesture that creates as many problems as it purports to solve. The spirit of the law is good-it aims to help those who need care that does not fall within the realm of traditional Western medicine. But it is flawed and open to exploitation, both by those who game the system to get cannabis for recreational use and by those who try and game the system to make money. The ongoing legal battles between federal enforcement and local clubs/dispensaries/etc. will continue until cannabis is removed from the banned substance list. Unfortunately that will never happen if this issue is pursued as a medical one. Why? Because the medical marijuana folks will have to do battle with the lobbyists of the deep pocketed big pharma who have a vested interest in keeping pot illegal.

More patients,more political power ! Encourage your friends & neighbors to become legal medicinal cannabis patients today. California law says that doctors can recommend marijuana for "any illness for which it provides relief " & the recommendation gives you immunity from prosecution for possession,use,transportation & growing your own. Newark can attempt to exclude legitimate medicinal cannabis dispensaries,but they're powerless to control patients or their conduct. A doctor's recommendation makes a fine Christmas present (one that gives year round) & the best part is that you don't have to spend your holiday dollars in Newark to get one. Yes Virginia there is a silver lining to migrane headaches,lower back pain & menstrual cramps & it's called medical marijuana. Mikey tried it & he likes it !

Jacob STOP with the illegal since 1933. It should be a Schedule II drug at the very most, not a Schedule I. Look at the damn research, even read my story. We patients don't want to grow our own Corn, Tomatos, & make our own Ritz Crackers. I'm a Professional Realtor and I don't have the time to grow MJ and turn it into Hash (its an art/science and takes time and I also don't have time to make 6 different strains that I use). Do you freaking make your own cloths after you picked your own cotton? Did you use a loom to make your pants? If you made everything you use in life I'll grow my own, if not, then let us patients have the same rights you do to get your drugs and items that people make for you to help you live! I am so angry right now with your genuinely small minded comment.
http://youtu.be/RuqE28_YtN8 - Listen to Montel Williams and while this 4 part video makes some errors (leaving out conditions like mine and not being truthful about its help with PMS & PTSD it is helpful overall). Legalize!

btw: WHOA NELLY! Check out this article on the Feds close to granting a New York based company to use its patent. I shake my head in disbelief but its our Government right? The ones that lied to everyone to protect Big Pharma and now..... they look to profit seeing that the citizens are stepping up and insisting on access. Where there's money there's the corrupt government looking to capitalize. If this happens do all you pro-prohibitionists finally get angry feeling duped or did my prior info already give you a change of heart about your lying government. Time to step on board with us who already researched and understood what's really going on. Free Marc Emery, Free Rick Simpson, Free The People and get the Gov as far away as possible from this plant. Legalize!
http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2011/12/feds_close_to_granting_medical.php

I heard on the news this morning that ~20% of the dispensaries in CA are closing due to threats of asset confiscation by the DOJ. These are businesses operating legally under CA law. I thought Obama's DOJ was going to go after actual criminals, rather than enforce an outdated law that nearly half of the US wants to change. Dispensing medical cannabis is a victimless Federal crime, no matter how you look at it. This whole thing stinks of election year pandering. Obama's handlers need to understand that while this may get him a few cheers from the uninformed voters who would deny this necessary medication to their fellow citizens, they still disagree with him on everything else and he will not get any votes out of this effort. Obama continues to alienate his base, at the cost of our health and well-being.

NEWS BULLETIN: HAPPY WELLNESS DISPENSARY REOPENS !!! Despite a SWAT Team raid & many dubious felony charges Newarks only cannabis dispensary is once again providing vital medication to its many patients. Much like the NBD Dispensary reopened immediately after Newark leaders conspired with law enforcement to cast them as criminals in the public eye,we once again see their actions repudiated. If either of these collectives were actually operating illegally & contrary to state law would they really have the audacity to reopen & challenge the legality of the efforts to close them. The City Council contrary to the will of the majority of their constituents has enlisted all available law enforcement resources including the U.S. Attorney in an effort to deny the citizens of Newark their right to "safe & legal access" to medicinal marijuana guaranteed by California law. When their pathetic attempt to criminalize & close NBD failed they prevailed upon the Feds to threaten their landlord resulting in their closure. Their complicity & duplicity in both of the dispensary raids will eventually be exposed,as will all records of their involvement that haven't already been run through a shredder. Once again Newark's leaders have been exposed as the incompetent political hacks they are,wasting the taxpayer's money attacking cannabis patients. The upcoming criminal & civil matters are sure to cost thousands more,so be sure to let them know how you feel about their unconscionable moral crusade.

Summer, smoke a bone and chill.

Happy Wellness Medicinal Cannabis Dispensary is open & serving thousands of patients again ! This in spite of and in defiance of misguided & ultimately fruitless efforts of those in law enforcement at the behest of city government to shutter them.Once again these petty bureaucrats & their enthusiastic gunslinging servants have been exposed as the callous,self-righteous,lying simpletons they really are.Pursuing their ill-advised crusade to remove legal medicinal cannabis dispensaries is contrary to state law which guarantees "safe & legal access" for any patient with a physicians recommendation. Cannabis dispensaries have been operating for years in many Alameda County cities with the approval of elected leaders & haven't created problems any other business doesn't face.They provide medication,create jobs,pay taxes,collect sales tax revenue & give back to their communities all while operating as non-profit collectives.Any money that isn't spent on inventory,salaries,overhead,taxes etc. must be returned to the collective members in some fashion.Dispensaries are legal businesses with accountants and have to follow the law to avoid being labeled a front for illicit sales.Obviously Happy Wellness must be law abiding otherwise they wouldn't have the audacity to reopen under such scrutiny. It's time for the people of Newark to demand an end to this outrageous attack on cannabis patients. It's the wrong prescription & the patients a need second opinion.Marijuana,you'll feel better !

Newark's City Council needs to stop wasting the cities time & the taxpayer's money in their irrational & vindictive campaign to close the cannabis dispensaries they abhor so much. This isn't about their personal feelings on the subject,it's about respecting & serving the needs of the patients in our community. Contrary to their beliefs an overwhelming number of Newark residents support the licencing & regulation of a reasonable number of medicinal cannabis dispensaries right here in their town. That number should be determined by the voters of Newark as part of an initiative to overturn the ban & institute reasonable regulations that our City Council won't be able to subvert as easily as California law. As the civil & criminal cases move through the Alameda County courts we'll finally learn the truth as to the cities complicity in this horrid affair & how far they'll go to impose their irrational bias on their irate constituents. Repent & repeal ! When the truth comes out there will be no place to hide,so you'd better start burning every scrap of paper concerning this matter before the defense attorneys subpoena them. The city leaders took it upon themselves to creat this controversy so when it consumes them they'll have no one but themselves to blame.

Governor Brewer knows exactly what she is doing. Contrary to some rather odd attitudes, a former New Mexico Republican governor was the first politician to actually be covered by national media when he said the drug laws need to go; Ron Paul has been arguing the same position for years. Don't confuse the rural western libertarian politicians with the Moral Majority running around in three cornered hats and claiming to be holding a tea party.

http://regulatemarijuanalikewine.com is what I'm helping to put through CA this year. Please help as I don't think we need doctors prescriptions. I have studied and personally used Cannabis and Hash for over 2 years and successfully resolved my medical issues. After using it I now understand that it should be regulated similar to wine for the public to use. Mother Nature put the plant here for a reason and I will not stand for Fed interference on this matter. I will push every day for it to be legalized. Check this amazing story of how Cannabis helped a 2 year old child with Brain Cancer. http://youtu.be/2hO7uqK1EoM