Global Ganja Report

In three separate incidents in 24 hours July 6, Border Patrol agents in the Tucson sector seized more than 3,000 pounds of cannabis, claiming an estimated value of $1.5 million. In the first bust, a canine unit alerted to a vehicle during an inspection at the Hwy. 80 checkpoint, turning up 88 small bundles of cannabis concealed in the vehicle's compartments. The driver, a US citizen, is facing federal charges.

Arizona voters approved Proposition 203, authorizing the possession of up to two-and-a-half ounces of medical marijuana, according to results released by the Arizona Secretary of State Nov. 13. The measure, voted on during the midterm elections earlier this month, was too close to call on election night and remained so until all votes were counted this weekend, resulting in a final tally of 50.13-49.87%.

The New Mexico Department of Health is expanding its medical cannabis program with the approval of six new non-profits to produce the herb for patients. This brings the total number of such producers to 17. There are currently 2,807 medical cannabis patients, with 1,266 of those having individual permits to grow for personal use.

Proposition 19 mastermind Richard Lee spoke to supporters in Oakland after the initiative lost by some 540,000 votes, 46-53%, the night of Nov. 2. "The fact that millions of Californians voted to legalize marijuana is a tremendous victory," Lee said, noting that the measure won 3.3 million votes. "We have broken the glass ceiling. Prop. 19 has changed the terms of the debate. And that was a major strategic goal."

Robert Jones, a 70-year-old cancer patient in Las Vegas, NM, has been notified that he is no longer eligible to receive a federal housing subsidy because he uses medical cannabis. Jones received a letter from the local housing administrator Oct. 12 telling him even though medical marijuana has been legalized by the state, it remains illegal at the federal level. The letter told Jones he was being terminated from the Section 8 voucher program effective Nov. 30. He has filed an appeal.

Conservatives opposed to Arizona's medical cannabis initiative, Proposition 203, are raising the specter of "cannabis caravans" rolling through the state doling our doctor's recommendations and herb in one-stop shopping. But proponents say the measure is too restrictive for that.

The New York Times in a front-page story May 26 said that President Barack Obama will send up to 1,200 National Guard troops to the Southwest border and seek increased spending on enforcement there to combat drug smuggling. The decision was disclosed after Obama met the previous day with Republican senators.