Three Congressmen want the U.S. Department of Justice to keep its hands off medical marijuana.
Reps. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, Dana Rohrabacher, R-Costa Mesa, and Maurice Hinchey, D-New York, Tuesday introduced a bill that would cut off funding for federal enforcement of drug laws against medical marijuana suppliers by amending HR 5326, which funds the Justice Department.
Fall Asleep Fast: No Drugs... No Pills... Dr. Sears' Sleep Formula is Safe and Non-Addictive Native Rest"Patients suffering from painful and serious illnesses are following the recommendations of their doctors by using medical cannabis to minimize their pain and support their recovery," Farr said.
"It is time for the federal government to stop targeting the legal vendors that are providing safe access to this treatment, and instead focus limited resources on those who sell illicit drugs."
Farr said the amendment will work to assure funds under the Department of Justice do not target safe access to medical marijuana.


The bill comes in response to an interagency crackdown on medical marijuana involving more than 100 raids, primarily on California marijuana dispensaries, many of them operating in compliance with state laws.

Since October 2009, the Justice Department has conducted more than 170 raids in states where medical marijuana is legal, resulting in 61 federal indictments, according to data compiled by the marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access.
The full text of the amendment states:
 "None of the funds made available in this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to the States of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, to prevent such States from implementing their own State laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana."
Kevin Howe can be reached at 646-4416 orkhowe@montereyherald.com


Excise tax per pack $4,35 in New York


  • Statewide smoking ban: Effective March 30, 2003, smoking is banned statewide in all enclosed workplaces in New York, including all bars and restaurants and construction sites. 
  • The law exempts (1) private homes and automobiles, (2) hotel/motel rooms, (3) retail tobacco businesses, (4) private clubs, (5) cigar bars (A cigar bar that makes 10 percent of its gross income from the on-site sale of tobacco products and the rental of on-site humidors, not including vending machines sales 

  • between $200 and $2,000, depending how many violations one has had within a year. Adopted January 4, 2011, smoking was banned on sidewalks in front of commercial buildings, Village Green park, and the Housing Authority.
    • New York City, Effective May 23, 2011, smoking was banned in all parks, boardwalks, beaches, recreation centers, swimming pools and pedestrian plazas. 
    • On March 30, 2003, smoking was banned in all enclosed workplaces, including bars and restaurants; exempts tobacco bars, owner-operated bars, separately ventilated smoking rooms in bars, private clubs with no employees, private functions organized for the promotion and sampling of tobacco products, and retail tobacco shops.  The City may suspend or revoke a business's license if it has been found guilty of violating this law three times within 12 months.
  • On January 21, 1908,  passed the Sullivan Ordinance, which would have banned women from smoking anywhere except their homes, but was vetoed by the Mayor within two weeks of its passage. Wiki New York

New York's smoking ban extended to 178 more parks and beaches

PUBLISHED: 15:04 EST, 15 April 2012 | UPDATED: 15:06 EST, 15 April 2012

Nicotine lovers in New York are limited even further as to where they are allowed to light up as another smoking ban is introduced. 
New York State is creating smoke-free areas outdoors at New York state parks and historic sites, including around playgrounds, beaches and pools.
Clear Your Mind and Ramp Up Your Energy Levels with Better Than CoffeeAnnouncing the ban this week, state officials said it was done to make the six state parks consistent with their city-run counterparts, where smoking is already outlawed. 


Outlawed: Six state parks in New York City will now be smoke-free to make them consistent with the ban on smoking in all city-run parks

Lose Belly Fat with Primal LeanThe Office of Parks, 


Recreation and Historic Preservation 
says the smoke-free zones
 will be around recreation areas, 
including beaches and picnic shelters. 
The agency operates 178 parks
 and 35 historic sites. Read more: