Today’s the day Los Angeles, not only do you get to step up and make a choice for who you’d like to see govern Los Angeles as your new mayor – you also get to voice your opinion on how you would like to see LA’s many medical marijuana dispensaries, and the patients that need them, handled.

Today’s special election is an all or nothing vote – according to the way the ballot is worded, “if any or all of the three competing measures are approved by a majority of voters, only the one ballot measure that receives the most votes will become effective.” Obviously, this means if you’re heading out today to cast your ballot for LA’s new mayor, and safe access to medical cannabis is important to you… or someone you know? You most definitely want to voice your opinion and vote yes on “F”! Treating medical marijuana collectives like any other business…allowing supply and demand to dictate the number of storefronts in any community.

All Angelenos concerned over their ability to have safe access to medical marijuana should give serious consideration to Ordinance F, which states that: “it is time that people take control of the situation and pass strict but reasonable regulations of medical marijuana.” Like any other business enterprise, Ordinance F will allow the market place to determine the overall number of dispensaries. Furthermore, F provides the city guidelines for those dispensaries that are found guilty of violating zoning restrictions.

Conversely, Ordinance D caps the number of medical marijuana collectives allowed in the city of LA to those that were permitted and operational by late 2007… approximately 135 collectives. Thereby jeopardizing the legitimacy and legality of the other 900+ collectives that dot the city and the volunteers that work there.

The divide and conquer fear is real. Many Angelenos believe that if neither ordinance gathers the required 50% voter approval needed to pass, the LA city Council will take that as a ‘green light’ to ban collectives under the municipal powers granted by the California Supreme Court recently.

Rather than regulating the number of medical marijuana collectives in any given municipality, we as a pro-pot voting bloc, should concentrate our efforts on educating our state representatives, seeking protection for medical marijuana patients from any unwarranted federal action.

Everyone has a different definition on “average” smoke use, but considering the average, daily smoker smokes at least an 1/8 of weed a week, that mean number is probably a lot closer to six ounces a year. Likewise, industry members and outside observers must take all this data with a heavy grain of shake–as with all studies– because a lot of the data is variable and conducive to response rates.

Which, when we’re talking about stoners, isn’t always the highest. TIME broke down all the data, and brought these numerical estimations on money spent and bud smoked to light:

Researchers estimate that in 2014, 642,772 Colorado residents, or about 12.5% of the state population, will take advantage of pot’s newly legal status. Analysts assumed each person would smoke or otherwise “use” 3.53 ounces of marijuana annually, for a total of 2,268,985 ounces (about 142,000 pounds) per year.

Again, these look like fairly low estimates. Based on lots of personal experience at varying smoke levels, the average daily smoker goes through between an 1/8 and a 1/4 of flower a week, and half an ounce to an ounce a month. Yes, weed in Colorado is cheap (about 30-35 bucks for an 1/8), but even so, a daily smoker will easily spend more than $1,000 on bud–not to mention extracts, smoking devices, and oh so much more the industry has to offer and dispensaries do and will sell.

And the $650 number is a mere fraction of what Big Tobacco gets on average. If you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day at an average of $5, you’ll spend about $2,500 a year. Or enough money to sustain four to five “average” weed smokers for a year. Cigarettes kill people, cannabis cures them. But one is still a much, much bigger–and far more legal–industry. America clearly needs a lot more blunts and a lot less butts–or the former will remain a shadow of the latter’s economical impact.

Which is clearly a crime, a shame, and a gap that only legal weed all over America would close. But, until there’s a distinct way to track cannabis sales–like through MMJMenu and WeedMaps.com’s tracking of weed from seed to sale, these numbers are kind of irrelevant: we cannot and will never be able to track the black market.

On a separate note, the study also gave some predictions on what Colorado’s tax will do for the state’s economy, and those numbers also underwhelm.

Oh, and about the point of the Colorado State study, regarding tax revenues for the state? Researchers estimate that the 15% excise tax on wholesale marijuana would yield $21.7 million annually, which is far short of the $40 million annual target.  [TIME]

Considering recreational businesses won’t sprout up in Colorado till early next year (at the least), that $21.7 Million number is essentially irrelevant. The industry today could double, or triple in size a year from now, which means that number will only climb.

Unless, you know, the Federal Government decides they’d rather have Drug Cartels, the Black Market, and BitCoin profit off God’s plant.

p.s. How much money do you spend  on weed a year and how much weed do you buy with it?

As Dr. Manny Alvarez asks “the medicine Hunter,” Chris Kilham: “what is it about cannabis that makes it that special?”  Chris checks off some of the better-known applications of marijuana’s active ingredients.

From THC to CBD / cannabidiol – the medicinal application of marijuana was treated uncharacteristically fair by the GOP loving, good old boys over at the Fox.

I wonder if Rupert has an investment somewhere in one of his stock portfolios, which might benefit from an actual truth being told about medical marijuana on his channel?

However it happened, I’m glad to see it.

alcohols kills, pots heals and now we can see the Emperor is truly naked.

Alcohol makes you sloppy, unable to remember, and regretful of the things you did during your untidy intoxication. Over-the-counter prescription pills are addictive, expensive and potentially lethal when taken in the wrong combination.

Like many baby boomers that grew up experimenting with the occasional bong hit, only to have been convinced at some later point in life that Weed was “bad” because it was illegal. And all other forms of relaxation, regardless of how deadly or destructive to society they may be, as long as their legal – are fine.

History is full of these backwards, nonsensical oddities. Some things become the ‘norm,’ thanks to political lobbying and human greed – and for a while no one thinks to object. However, as time progresses and people come to understand the inherent craziness in following archaic and outdated laws, created to make those connected rich. We reluctantly pull our heads out of our “scared straight” ass…and start thinking for ourselves.

In November 2012, pot smoking baby boomers made their voice heard, not only in Washington and Colorado, where marijuana was legalized for recreational purposes. But also in a handful of other states, which said yes to medical marijuana. Tired of the federal government’s overreaching and mandating of their unjustified prohibition against medical marijuana, limiting the state’s ability to serve their citizens and create tax revenue for their financially strapped states – the boomers came home to roost at the ballot box.

Sure, some baby boomers gave into pressure from their peers, which believed the ‘reefer madness’ propaganda – and stop hit the bong for a couple of years. However, as science and public perception evolved to understand marijuana’s helpful cannabinoids. Pot slowly began winning the moral high ground amongst boomers for both medical purposes and as a healthy alternative to slamming some mind rotting booze, or pounding a fistful of pills, just to take the edge off another crazy day of unrelenting stress.

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In a new report that borrows its title from the Cheech and Chong movie “Up in Smoke,” the grand jury reviews the convoluted history of medical marijuana’s legalization in California and recounts the crackdown by federal prosecutors over the past 18 months that has resulted in the closure of an estimated 800 medical marijuana dispensaries throughout the state.

The grand jury says the Board of Supervisors — in concert with law enforcement, the county Planning Commission and representatives from the county’s Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board — should develop a viable set of ordinances for medical marijuana dispensaries in the unincorporated areas of the county. The grand jury further recommends that the county’s Department of Health and Human Services establish standards for edible marijuana sold in Marin County.

Scot Candell, a San Rafael lawyer who has represented Marin Holistic Solutions in Corte Madera, Marin’s only remaining medical marijuana dispensary, said the grand jury’s report “affirms that a well-run collective is a benefit to the community. It’s in a community’s best interest to work with responsible collectives to give patients access to medicine.”

Candell said whether Marin County supervisors take the grand jury’s advice will be determined largely by how they think their constituents will react.

“It’s 100 percent political,” Candell said.

Marin County District Attorney Ed Berberian declined to comment, saying he hadn’t yet had a chance to read the report.

Supervisor Judy Arnold, the board president, said, “I really congratulate the Marin County grand jury for being compassionate and forward-thinking. I think their suggestions are good.”

Arnold said former supervisor Hal Brown, who died of pancreatic cancer a year ago, used medical marijuana to ease his pain. She also noted that when California voters approved the Compassionate Use Act in 1992 legalizing medical marijuana, 73 percent of Marin voters supported the law.

But Arnold added, “I’m not sure what is involved legally. I would want to talk to county planning to see what is involved in creating ordinances.”

Supervisor Steve Kinsey said, “I do believe we should provide a structure for some means to deliver safe and reliable medical marijuana for those who are qualified to receive it.”

Kinsey said the issue needs to be addressed at the city level as well as the county level. He said Supervisors Susan Adams and Katie Rice were appointed to a committee about eight months ago to study the board’s options.

He added, “The federal government has been of no help by their waffling back and forth on whether they want to impose federal restraints on local government and businesses. We need a much clearer federal policy before any meaningful change takes place at the local level.”

Marin County Sheriff Robert Doyle said if medical marijuana dispensaries approved by the Board of Supervisors opened in the unincorporated areas of the county, “I wouldn’t make it my mission to close them down. I think the board would have to worry more about the federal government. It’s still a violation of federal law and the federal government seems to be paying more attention to medical marijuana operations than they did before.”

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Likewise, while Ohio’s measure has a long way to go, polling indicates the state’s voters will vote for legal medical cannabis. Which means, including the District of Columbia, residents in 23 regions will have some type of medical marijuana policy. While the breadth and flexibility of these laws vary from state to state, it’s exciting to see America near a 50-50 medical vs. non-medical split.

And it will ne even more interesting–on the same day the Americas Coalition discussed legalization–to see if the federal government will start taking legalization–in a country where the majority of people approve of legal weed and believe the drug War is a complete waste of government.

Edit: New Hampshire will probably become the 21st MMJ state, and quite soon. That would make Ohio #22.

For reference, here are the current 18 medical states in America and their policies courtesy of Procon.org:

Some facts are hard to explain, others speak for themselves. After the last 75 + years of suffering a failed drug policy, and witnessing millions of lives being ruthlessly thrown on the trash heap of “bull shit mountain.” American’s have finally grown tired of seeing the tragic waste of human potential brought on by the feds cruel policies of craziness  and treachery. 

Reason-Rupe has just released new polling data that revealed only a minuscule percentage of Americans believe that marijuana use and possession should result in jail time. When asked which approach they thought the government and law enforcement should take toward someone found smoking marijuana or in possession of a small amount of marijuana, only 6% responded that they should be sent to jail. 35% of respondents said that these individuals shouldn’t be punished at all, 32% responded they should pay a fine, and 20% said they should have to attended substance abuse courses.

The survey also found that 52% of Americans favor federal legislation that would prevent the federal government from prosecuting people who grow [cannabis], possess, or sell marijuana in the states that have legalized it. Recently, Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) introduced the “Respect State Marijuana Laws Act” which would do exactly that. You can click here to easily contact your Representative and urge him or her to support this measure.

Full results of this poll are available here.

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It’s imperative that all registered voters in Los Angeles go out and VOTE YES ON F …while voting NO ON D !!!

In the meantime, you can help the cause by going to any of the dispensaries listed here AND win either

1) A Trip to Amsterdam for the Cannabis Cup

2) A Trip to Denver for the 710 Cup,

3) Judge Passes for the San Fran Cannabis Cup

You must cast a negative Vote for D, along with your positive Vote for F, or both measures may pass–causing a state of limbo. If Ordinance F loses, up to 90% of Los Angeles’ collectives will be forced to shutter their doors. And with safe access already being threatened all over Orange County, this is the last thing our medical marijuana patients and workers need to happen.

CALL TO ARMS: Additionally, all activists and volunteers are encouraged to go to Ordinance F’s two headquarters to lend a hand in these efforts, while showing up to polls on election day to steer people in the right direction. One is in Woodland Hills at 23035 Ventura Blvd, Wodland Hills CA 91364 above the Down to Earth Collective, while the other is in Lincoln Heights at 2310 Pasadena Ave Los Angeles CA 90031 in the Cloud 9 Collective. If you’re out of work and looking to find work in the cannabis industry, this is an incredible opportunity to network and show what you can do for the movement! This evening, collectives are hosting an event–The Alex Grey Visionary Art Experiencefeaturing Michael Menert of Pretty Lights Music, Thriftworks, Desert Dwellers and more. If you support this cause, it’s a great way to put your time and money to use by both contributing and having a great time with good people and good music. And if you’re in attendance, make sure to spread the word on Ordinance F…

To reiterate, if you’re registered to vote, on May 21–GO OUT AND VOTE YES ON F!