Quartzsite Police assist BLM with arrest

In a Press Release issued today, January 23, 2012, Quartzsite Police Chief Jeff Gilbert states,

"On January 21, the Quartzsite Police Department assisted the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) law enforcement division with the arrest and investigation of several subjects staying in the La Posa North camp grounds.

One person was arrested and booked into the La Paz County jail for possession of a large quantity of marijuana. While the person in question may have possessed a medical marijuana card, the BLM camping area is on federal land and the “legal possession” of marijuana does not apply.

In fact, the amount of marijuana seized was over the legal threshold for personal possession by Arizona’s new laws, and if not charged federally, would have been charged under state statutes.

Numerous anti-Quartzsite Facebook sites have “posted” the following information which is far from the truth.

Demand Justice in Quartzsite AZ:
Demand Justice in Quartzsite has received several reports this morning from people camped in the North La Posa LTVA that various law enforcement agencies have been doing massive sweeps arresting and citing "undesirables". We talked to Jack Silent Eagle a Navajo Silversmith last night who said he was "chased by cowboys on ATV's" and injured his arm falling in a wash. "I thought they were gonna kill me" he said. The timing seems to be an indication that the town fears "traveling vagrants" may be registering to vote in the upcoming election. Zeke (who did not give his last name), a vendor camping in the LTVA said "They came into our camp and began searching everybody's RV's without warrants or probable cause. One retired guy was arrested for Marijuana possession even though he's a medical patient in California. They gave us all tickets."

The information being published on these sites regarding this incident is obviously intended to mislead and scare the public. “Law enforcement agencies” are not conducting “massive sweeps” and arresting “undesirables”.

The Quartzsite Police Department will, and always has, support other agencies in their law enforcement efforts within the jurisdiction of Quartzsite. Being a medical marijuana patient in California does not exclude you from other state and federal laws.

Other individuals were cited and released for possession of marijuana by BLM Rangers on the scene. One individual involved is being investigated by the Quartzsite Police Department for the possession of materials that may be associated with child pornography.

These arrests have nothing to do with any “upcoming election” as their propaganda alleges."

Arizona Medical Marijuana Final rules released by AZDHS

Medical Marijuana begins in TWO WEEKS!

Want to know the rules for

Medical Marijuana Dispensories in Arizona?

Arizona Dept. of Health Services published their final Rules for managing the upcoming Medical Marijuana Program in Arizona. AZDHS released the final rules and a series of fact sheets on their website first-thing this morning. The fact sheets are designed to help prospective qualified patients, designated caregivers, dispensary applicants and physicians understand the final set of rules (including dispensary application procedures). AZDHS will be updating their website on April 14th, including the electronic application so qualified patients can begin applying for medical marijuana cards.


Rules, fact sheets, applications and more can be found at:http://www.azdhs.gov/prop203/dispensary.htm

AZ Health Dept. releases first draft of Medical Marijuana Rules

The Arizona Department of Health Services announced their draft of rules for Medical Marijuana Program. Proposition 203 was passed in November by Arizona voters.

Here's a couple of highlights:

Debilitating Medical Conditions


An individual applying for a qualifying patient registry identification card shall have a diagnosis from a physician of at least one of the following conditions:

1. Cancer;

2. Glaucoma;

3. Human immunodeficiency virus;

4. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome;

5. Hepatitis C;

6. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis;

7. Crohn's disease;

8. A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or the treatment for a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that causes cachexia or wasting syndrome;

9. A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or the treatment for a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that causes severe and chronic pain;

10. A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or the treatment for a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that causes severe nausea;

11. A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or the treatment for a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that causes seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy;

12. A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or the treatment for a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that causes severe or persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis; or

13. A debilitating medical condition or treatment approved by the Department under A.R.S. § 36-2801.01 and R9-17-106.
 
 


To qualify for a dispensary, there are some important guildelines, some of which are:

Dispensary owners must be AZ residents for past 2yrs. Principal officer and board members.

Application fee for Dispensary $5000, Patient $150, Caregiver $200

No unpaid Judgements to goverment agencies (student loans etc, no missed child support etc)

Must provide remote access to computer system and unannounced inspections

Provide video cameras in dispensary and growing areas

Must cultivate 70% of your own medicine

Must offer education and support to patients

Food products must contain warning labels

If you are a Dispensary owner you can not use Medical Marijuana unless you are also a patient.

For the full rough draft of the new rules visit:


http://www.azdhs.gov/prop203/documents/Medical-Marijuana-Draft-Rules.pdf