Spearheaded by Denver-based Vicente Sederberg LLC, the Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Association (MMMA) will help advise prospective dispensary owners, growers, suppliers and contractors for Massachusetts’ recently approved medical marijuana law. They will also offer advice for regulations and support state and federal policy change.

At a town hall meeting, Rep. Blumenauer stated that he supports marijuana law reform in Oregon, and that the state should treat marijuana the same way it treats alcohol. He also added, “The point is that the federal government shouldn’t get in the way of what voters decide in Oregon, Colorado or anywhere else.”

After 3 years of dispensary security cameras being constantly available for remote access, the state’s Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division said it hasn’t been watching. This is just one aspect of medical marijuana regulations that is being revised to improve efficiency of regulation and enforcement, which should also help with the implementation of Amendment 64.

Kentucky’s hemp bill seems likely to pass, but the state police oppose the measure. The police oppose the hemp bill largely because they think a hemp field will be a good place to hide a marijuana crop. Marijuana would not be planted with (or within miles of) hemp because the two would cross-pollinate, creating undesirable product.

Marijuana Policy Project has big plans for 2013. On the agenda are things such as decriminalizing marijuana possession in Vermont, legalizing medical marijuana in New Hampshire, and building support for tax and regulate measures in California, Maine and Oregon.

Washington’s Liquor Control Board is recruiting marijuana experts as consultants to help advise them as they move to implement I-502. They are looking for people with expertise in marijuana production, safety standards, testing, regulation and estimating usage.

The city of Greenwood Village, which has preemptively banned marijuana retail stores, is now pushing an ordinance which would prohibit marijuana possession on public property. This would include city streets and sidewalks, meaning that no marijuana could be purchased and brought home, and no marijuana grown in one’s home could ever leave that home.

Former Colorado Republican Congressman and Amendment 64 supporter, Tom Tancredo, agreed to smoke a joint with filmmaker Adam Hartle if Amendment 64 passed. “Look, I made a bet with the producer of the film that if Amendment 64 passed (I did not think it would) that I would smoke pot,” something the former congressman has never done.

Washington Governor, Jay Inslee, said that his marijuana talk regarding I-502 with Attorney General Eric Holder was a “confidence-builder.” Though Holder said nothing about whether or not the feds will oppose I-502, he gave no indication that the state shouldn’t continue working towards implementing the measure.

Seattle was home to the second of six Liquor Control Board public forums last night to answer questions and hear concerns about I-502. The board has yet to set any regulations, and will likely finish these public forums by the end of February. Regulations should be in place by August, and retail stores could open by December.

US Attorney Melinda Haag was scheduled to participate in an educational panel at Golden Gate University’s law school. Pro-MMJ protesters quickly organized to protest the event, but once Haag got word of the protest, she cancelled her appearance.

In an effort that already feels weak vs. other states’ Medical Marijuana efforts, Rep. Dan Kaiser and Sen. Craig Tieszen circulated a measure among other South Dakota lawmakers Tuesday to make medical necessity an affirmative defense for people caught in possession of 2 oz or less of marijuana.

Erie, CO just approved a moratorium on the licensing of marijuana businesses until Oct. 1, which would prevent businesses from opening before all the A64 regulations are figured out. Broomfield, on the other hand, is one step away from approving a 2-year ban on marijuana businesses which could become permanent thereafter.

Denver’s City Council is divided over Amendment 64. Councilman Chris Herndon said voters in his district told him, “Don’t you dare put a commercial establishment in my community” which is apparently enough for him to fight against 66% of Denver residents.

Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA), is a national medical marijuana company that has products available in many states that have medical marijuana. The company’s net income was $3.39M out of the $5.1M gross. This is $2 million over last year’s gross income, representing the rapid growth of this company, and the medical marijuana industry itself.

The 24-member Amendment 64 Marijuana Task Force, created by Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper on Dec. 10th, is dividing into 5 working groups. They must develop their implementation recommendations by Feb. 28th. All rules and regulations must pass by July 1st, so that real implementation of Amendment 64 can begin in January 2014.

Steve Chapman explains the failures of existing drug laws to protect minors. He cites the fact that while alcohol and tobacco use have decreased in teens over the past 5 years, marijuana use has been on the rise. He also quotes a scientist arguing that studies showing that marijuana use affects IQ in adolescents may simply reflect differences in economic and educational factors rather than marijuana use.

This excellent infographic describes the varying prices of marijuana. Made by floatingsheep.org using data from the anonymous feedback site PriceOfWeed.com, this map describes the low prices of...

David Bowie’s son, film director Duncan Jones, has revealed that his wife Rodene has been suffering from cancer. He says that she benefits from “a world of relief” from the pain and complications of chemotherapy with medical marijuana. We’d like to wish Rodene Jones luck in her recovery.

Nathaniel Harshman, now only 20 years old, has been sentenced to 5 years for working on a 477-plant marijuana grow operation in Alaska in 2011. This is the Federal minimum sentence for working on a growing operation with more than 100 marijuana plants.