Representatives of the Michigan law have assaulted two medical marijuana dispensaries and made 15 arrests on charges of illegal drug sales.
The Oakland County Sheriff implementation in Narcotics
Narcotics The Oakland County Sheriff implementation team raided three businesses and homes and confiscated 12 marijuana Wednesday, $ 30,000 in cash, firearms, grow lights, patient records and two crocodiles guard, authorities said Thursday.
Prosecutors allege that operators of emergency clinics in Ferndale and all Coffee and herbal remedies, in Waterford, surpassing the number of people who could supply medical marijuana and provide drugs to people without proper documentation .
"You can not sell to anyone other than designated five patients," said Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper Thursday at a news conference. A two-month investigation found the stores were selling a dozen, he said.
"This is Michigan. This is not a Cheech and Chong movie," Oakland County, said Sheriff Mike Bouchard.
The operators pledged to fight the charges.
"What we do is legal," said Ryan Richmond, co-owner of the Relief clinics, who said their partner was in jail. "What they did with the raid was illegal."
Legal experts said the attacks could lead to a confrontation in court between prosecutors, who want to reduce their health care operations of marijuana, and those who want the new industry to grow outdoors.
The Oakland County authorities said the raid resulted in the arrest of 15 agents, employees and customers, and following an investigation into drug trafficking and alleged abuses of the Medical Marijuana Act of Michigan.
By law, people with licenses may possess up to 2 oz half of the pot. They have to suffer long-term pain, nausea or epilepsy or illnesses such as cancer, glaucoma and AIDS. Patients can grow pot or appoint someone else to. The law, however, does not mention whether patients or caregivers can buy it in clinics.
During the press conference, Bouchard displayed what he said is about $ 750,000 worth of marijuana seized in the raids, including plants, hundreds of bottles of marijuana and lots of bags filled with marijuana and marijuana laced brownies, cookies and candies.
Prosecutors allege that operators of emergency clinics in Ferndale and all Coffee and herbal remedies, in Waterford, surpassing the number of people who could supply medical marijuana and provide drugs to people without proper documentation .
"You can not sell to anyone other than designated five patients," said Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper Thursday at a news conference. A two-month investigation found the stores were selling a dozen, he said.
"This is Michigan. This is not a Cheech and Chong movie," Oakland County, said Sheriff Mike Bouchard.
The operators pledged to fight the charges.
"What we do is legal," said Ryan Richmond, co-owner of the Relief clinics, who said their partner was in jail. "What they did with the raid was illegal."
Legal experts said the attacks could lead to a confrontation in court between prosecutors, who want to reduce their health care operations of marijuana, and those who want the new industry to grow outdoors.
The Oakland County authorities said the raid resulted in the arrest of 15 agents, employees and customers, and following an investigation into drug trafficking and alleged abuses of the Medical Marijuana Act of Michigan.
By law, people with licenses may possess up to 2 oz half of the pot. They have to suffer long-term pain, nausea or epilepsy or illnesses such as cancer, glaucoma and AIDS. Patients can grow pot or appoint someone else to. The law, however, does not mention whether patients or caregivers can buy it in clinics.
During the press conference, Bouchard displayed what he said is about $ 750,000 worth of marijuana seized in the raids, including plants, hundreds of bottles of marijuana and lots of bags filled with marijuana and marijuana laced brownies, cookies and candies.
Recession is the reason of the lowest U.S. birth rate
The recession may be the reason why the U.S. birth rate declined for the second consecutive year in 2009 and was the lowest in a century, according to experts.
There were 4.136 million births in 2009, 2.7 percent less than the 4,251,095 births in 2008. There were more than 4.3 million births in 2007, more than any other year in the history of the nation, The Associated Press.
Data released Friday by the National Center for Health Statistics also showed that the birth rate in 2009 was 13.5 births per 1,000 people, compared to 14.3 in 2007. The health statistics center is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The fall of 2009 births is "a drop of good size for a year. Every month we present a decrease from the previous year," said Stephanie Ventura, a demographer who oversaw the report, told the AP.
"There is probably a relationship between the decline in births and the economic downturn," says the CDC. "More details on the demographics of the mothers who gave birth in 2009 are necessary to more forcefully in this regard."
There were 4.136 million births in 2009, 2.7 percent less than the 4,251,095 births in 2008. There were more than 4.3 million births in 2007, more than any other year in the history of the nation, The Associated Press.
Data released Friday by the National Center for Health Statistics also showed that the birth rate in 2009 was 13.5 births per 1,000 people, compared to 14.3 in 2007. The health statistics center is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The fall of 2009 births is "a drop of good size for a year. Every month we present a decrease from the previous year," said Stephanie Ventura, a demographer who oversaw the report, told the AP.
"There is probably a relationship between the decline in births and the economic downturn," says the CDC. "More details on the demographics of the mothers who gave birth in 2009 are necessary to more forcefully in this regard."
New medical marijuana rules in LA
LOS ANGELES - A lawyer for the city of Los Angeles filed a lawsuit Thursday asking a judge to ease the transition of the city close more than 130 stores medical marijuana under a new ordinance.
The clerk of the city found that only 41 pot shops comply with the ordinance, city officials were designed to surprise 70 clinics in the city.
The counterclaim asks a judge to determine that the interpretation of the city's ordinance was appropriate.
The new law was passed in January and aims to regulate the clinics, hundreds of whom came after officials failed to implement a 2007 moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries.
The regulations require that clinics have been reported previously with the city and the owners to pass a background check.
Later, the construction and Security Department will inspect sites to ensure clinics are 1,000 meters of schools, parks and other gathering sites, city attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan. Each bottle of pharmacy should be made on an independent laboratory.
Mateljan said his office will not try to close any clinics before the court decides.
He said 132 clinics were ineligible due to a change in ownership or management. Other stores were ineligible because they moved more than once or their owners did not complete or pass a background check.
About 30 lawsuits have been filed challenging the city process of clinical assessment. Most were submitted by some of the 400 ordered to close in June, when the ordinance took effect.
"They go beyond a strict interpretation of the ordinance and make every effort to find out how to disqualify," said James Shaw, who runs a clinic pan center and represents the Union Medical marijuana patients. "This is not what the council intended. The city attorney wants to close their minds."
More clinics will be chosen by lot to reach a total of 70, Mateljan said.
"This is just the first round of qualifying," he said. "The spirit of the law will be upheld by the time we reached the end of the process. We are moving very deliberately to achieve a balance between allowing access to medical marijuana and making sure that the laws of the city is maintained."
The clerk of the city found that only 41 pot shops comply with the ordinance, city officials were designed to surprise 70 clinics in the city.
The counterclaim asks a judge to determine that the interpretation of the city's ordinance was appropriate.
The new law was passed in January and aims to regulate the clinics, hundreds of whom came after officials failed to implement a 2007 moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries.
The regulations require that clinics have been reported previously with the city and the owners to pass a background check.
Later, the construction and Security Department will inspect sites to ensure clinics are 1,000 meters of schools, parks and other gathering sites, city attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan. Each bottle of pharmacy should be made on an independent laboratory.
Mateljan said his office will not try to close any clinics before the court decides.
He said 132 clinics were ineligible due to a change in ownership or management. Other stores were ineligible because they moved more than once or their owners did not complete or pass a background check.
About 30 lawsuits have been filed challenging the city process of clinical assessment. Most were submitted by some of the 400 ordered to close in June, when the ordinance took effect.
"They go beyond a strict interpretation of the ordinance and make every effort to find out how to disqualify," said James Shaw, who runs a clinic pan center and represents the Union Medical marijuana patients. "This is not what the council intended. The city attorney wants to close their minds."
More clinics will be chosen by lot to reach a total of 70, Mateljan said.
"This is just the first round of qualifying," he said. "The spirit of the law will be upheld by the time we reached the end of the process. We are moving very deliberately to achieve a balance between allowing access to medical marijuana and making sure that the laws of the city is maintained."
41 medical marijuana dispensaries are eligible to stay in business
Los Angeles city officials announced Wednesday that only 41 medical marijuana dispensaries are eligible to stay in business under the ordinance restricting the city, a number so low that the city suspend the winnowing process and ask a judge to rule that is legal.
"It was a surprise," said Jane Usher, assistant special counsel in the city who have worked in close collaboration with the Council the draft law is complex and that the defense in court.
Instead of moving in a selection process that clearly lead to an avalanche of lawsuits clinics disqualified, the office of city attorney decided to sue first and ask a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge to determine that the city process appropriate.
"We're trying to be proactive," said Usher.
Yamileth Bolanos, who heads PureLife Alternative Wellness Center, she learned that the city had given his clinic were not eligible for continued operation. "I will not take this lying down," she said. "This is ridiculous.'ve Screwed up one thing after another. Not once have thought of the patients in Los Angeles."
Los Angeles already is tangling with about 85 clinics that have filed about 30 lawsuits opposing the procedure the City Council adopted January 26 to limit the number of dispensaries. Most of the clinics that have sued are among more than 400 ordered to close.
The city experienced a surge in the number of clinics failing to comply with a moratorium on pot-shop launched in 2007. Under the ban, only 186 were approved to operate clinics, but hundreds open, a trend that accelerated after the Obama administration said last spring that does not attack clinics that meet state law.
Judge Anthony J. Mohr presides over all the claims and has set a hearing on September 21 constitutional issues. It is unclear how quickly Mohr could act on the request, that the office of city attorney intends to present on Thursday.
"The judge has found things very quickly so far," said Usher. "There seems to be acutely aware of the damage caused to the community to leave this unresolved."
When the City Council approved the ordinance, acting on an estimate that about 130 clinics would be entitled to stay open. Under the ordinance, however, if the number fell below 70, additional clinics would be chosen in a lottery. The total number of dispensaries in the city would be capped at 70.
City officials said 169 clinics asked to be allowed to remain in operation, but 128 did not meet the strict criteria. The city clerk's office sent letters to each clinic on Wednesday notifying it of its status and also published the list on the website of the office. [Edited at 8:50 pm: A previous version of this post said 170 clinics applied to remain in operation.]
The ordinance, which took effect June 7, allowed just the clinics that were registered November 13, 2007, to operate during the moratorium. But it also had to prove ownership and management had not changed, that management had no criminal record and that the main clinic was in its original location, or had moved only once after having been expelled by the landowners who received letters DEA drug warning.
"We took a very strict interpretation of the ordinance, and if it did not match the exact order, then declared ineligible," said Holly Wolcott, senior officer of the city clerk.
The city does not try to close the clinics disqualified before a court. "As of Tuesday," said Usher, "the entities that filed notices of intent to register and comply fully with state law will not be prosecuted under the city ordinance."
"It was a surprise," said Jane Usher, assistant special counsel in the city who have worked in close collaboration with the Council the draft law is complex and that the defense in court.
Instead of moving in a selection process that clearly lead to an avalanche of lawsuits clinics disqualified, the office of city attorney decided to sue first and ask a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge to determine that the city process appropriate.
"We're trying to be proactive," said Usher.
Yamileth Bolanos, who heads PureLife Alternative Wellness Center, she learned that the city had given his clinic were not eligible for continued operation. "I will not take this lying down," she said. "This is ridiculous.'ve Screwed up one thing after another. Not once have thought of the patients in Los Angeles."
Los Angeles already is tangling with about 85 clinics that have filed about 30 lawsuits opposing the procedure the City Council adopted January 26 to limit the number of dispensaries. Most of the clinics that have sued are among more than 400 ordered to close.
The city experienced a surge in the number of clinics failing to comply with a moratorium on pot-shop launched in 2007. Under the ban, only 186 were approved to operate clinics, but hundreds open, a trend that accelerated after the Obama administration said last spring that does not attack clinics that meet state law.
Judge Anthony J. Mohr presides over all the claims and has set a hearing on September 21 constitutional issues. It is unclear how quickly Mohr could act on the request, that the office of city attorney intends to present on Thursday.
"The judge has found things very quickly so far," said Usher. "There seems to be acutely aware of the damage caused to the community to leave this unresolved."
When the City Council approved the ordinance, acting on an estimate that about 130 clinics would be entitled to stay open. Under the ordinance, however, if the number fell below 70, additional clinics would be chosen in a lottery. The total number of dispensaries in the city would be capped at 70.
City officials said 169 clinics asked to be allowed to remain in operation, but 128 did not meet the strict criteria. The city clerk's office sent letters to each clinic on Wednesday notifying it of its status and also published the list on the website of the office. [Edited at 8:50 pm: A previous version of this post said 170 clinics applied to remain in operation.]
The ordinance, which took effect June 7, allowed just the clinics that were registered November 13, 2007, to operate during the moratorium. But it also had to prove ownership and management had not changed, that management had no criminal record and that the main clinic was in its original location, or had moved only once after having been expelled by the landowners who received letters DEA drug warning.
"We took a very strict interpretation of the ordinance, and if it did not match the exact order, then declared ineligible," said Holly Wolcott, senior officer of the city clerk.
The city does not try to close the clinics disqualified before a court. "As of Tuesday," said Usher, "the entities that filed notices of intent to register and comply fully with state law will not be prosecuted under the city ordinance."
Medical Action Industries
Medical Action Industries Inc., a provider of medical and surgical products, said Friday it completed the purchase of Avid Medical Inc. for $ 62.5 million in cash plus transaction costs.
Avid makes custom procedure trays to serve the industry of health care. Medical Action said the purchase will increase its capacity to serve health care providers in places of intensive care and surgery centers.
Avid had about $ 136 million in revenue during the most recent fiscal year, which ended in March 1931. Michael Sahady, founder and CEO of Avid, will join the medical board of directors of Action, and Avid's president and chief operating officer Richard Setian will become vice president of sales and marketing.
The Medical Action shares rose 47 cents, or 6 percent, to $ 8.30 in afternoon trading. The stock has traded between $ 7.61 and $ 17.74 over the past 52 weeks.
Avid makes custom procedure trays to serve the industry of health care. Medical Action said the purchase will increase its capacity to serve health care providers in places of intensive care and surgery centers.
Avid had about $ 136 million in revenue during the most recent fiscal year, which ended in March 1931. Michael Sahady, founder and CEO of Avid, will join the medical board of directors of Action, and Avid's president and chief operating officer Richard Setian will become vice president of sales and marketing.
The Medical Action shares rose 47 cents, or 6 percent, to $ 8.30 in afternoon trading. The stock has traded between $ 7.61 and $ 17.74 over the past 52 weeks.