Doctors are traveling around California and selling medical marijuana ID cards without examining patients, according to a new report by the county's top lawyers submitted to the Kern County Board of Supervisors for its review. The eight-page report, which also lists options for the supervisors to take on handling medical marijuana dispensaries, detailed the practices of some doctors abusing state law. State law allows seriously ill people to get medical marijuana if they have a doctor's recommendation. "Doctors travel up and down the state renting motel rooms" to sell the medical recommendations, says the report from County Counsel Bernard Barmann and his deputy John Irby. [continues 298 words]
A new statewide task force kicked off its fight against methamphetamine abuse this morning. The 27-members of the Colorado Methamphetamine Task Force held their first meeting at the Colorado Department of Law building. The group, funded by a $50,000 grant by the El Pomar Foundation, examines local prevention, intervention and treatment of meth. "Meth abuse in Colorado has risen to extremely dangerous levels," said Attorney General John Suthers and chair of the group. "The damage meth inflicts on our communities and economy is immeasurable." [continues 167 words]
Number Of Addicts In Treatment Doubles Over Past Five Years John Suthers says damage to economy from meth use is immeasurable. A new statewide task force is hoping to ease the crisis caused by methamphetamine use - an addiction that is sending more than twice as many people into treatment than in years past. The Colorado Methamphetamine Task Force, created by the legislature during the past session and funded by a $50,000 grant from the El Pomar Foundation, held its first meeting Tuesday. [continues 236 words]
HIV Sufferer Who Battles Nausea Taking Case To Jury An HIV-positive man who smokes marijuana to fight nausea triggered by antiviral drugs can defend his pot use to a jury, a judge ruled Monday. David La Goy, 46, is the second person to challenge a pot possession ticket issued by Denver police since city voters passed an initiative in November to legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana by adults. In January, the city dismissed the first case after the prosecutor said police didn't have enough probable cause to justify searching the defendant's car, where the pot was found. [continues 321 words]
A Fort Morgan councilman was arrested Thursday after police said they found methamphetamine and what appeared to be a meth lab in his home. Mike Mese, 35, is being held without bail on charges of manufacture, possession, sale and distribution of drugs, possession of materials to make methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police raided the councilman's home at 709 Meeker St. Thursday night after authorities received an anonymous tip about a meth lab at Mese's home, said Fort Morgan Police Chief Keith Kuretich. Mese was arrested without incident in his home. [continues 191 words]
Along with feeling redemption, Timothy Haas was also feeling queasy today as he picked up a plastic bag containing half an ounce of marijuana at the Denver Police Department. "I just want to go home and lie down," Haas said. "The marijuana will calm me down." Denver police returned the marijuana to Haas after authorities confiscated the drugs a month ago. Haas is prescribed to use medical marijuana for post traumatic syndrome and post concussion syndrome. He suffered the ailments when he was attacked with a bat and stabbed three times in an attempted robbery at his wine business in 2001. Haas started using medical marijuana to deal with the pain three years ago. [continues 199 words]
Get-Out-Of-Jail Bids Add To The Suffering The words come out slowly for Erika Mulligan. When asked to describe her 17-year-old son, Michael Tarasuik, she has to pause and look again at the picture of him. The memories of Michael's long brown hair, which hung to his shoulders, and how he always insisted on pushing his late stepfather's wheelchair help her speak. "It was the 1970s," she said. "He was a typical teenager. He liked working with his hands and worked landscaping jobs after school." [continues 1316 words]
