Phoenix New Times:  “A new rule on foster parenting released by the Arizona Department of Child Safety still discriminates against cannabis patients, but it defies federal authorities in approving cannabis extracts.  The rule codifies a September decision about a possible foster-care license for a woman who treats her adopted 12-year-old son’s self-injuring behavior with cannabidiol (CBD).  Phoenix New Times received a copy of the ruling last week after a public-records request.”

Tucson Local Media:  “Arizona voters legalized medical marijuana a few years ago, but employers are still adjusting to how these new laws affect how they handle their employees.  In some ways, medical marijuana use is no different than any other prescription drug. But it is still an intoxicant and even with a medical marijuana card, there are restrictions on use by workers.  It is a tricky time for many employers: There are state and federal patient rights to uphold, but marijuana, even for medical use, is still illegal under federal law. 

Phoenix New Times:  “t the beginning of this month, Oregon became the third state where adults 21 and older can buy marijuana at retail stores — and Arizona may not be far behind.  But the pro-legalization movement and even Arizona’s medical-marijuana program could still be derailed in the next few years by court rulings or by a new president, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery maintains.  New Times asked the Republican politician and pot prohibitionist about the start of retail sales in Oregon, where he thinks the law still could be reversed, and about how such a thing could occur when all signs suggest that the United States is growing more, not less, cannabis-friendly.”

myfoxny.com: “The Los Angeles city attorney filed a lawsuit Tuesday to shut down a mobile phone application that arranges medical marijuana home deliveries.”

Chron.com: “One of the many problems created by the conflict between federal and state marijuana law is uncertainty in the enforceability of certain contracts.  Judges can, and in cannabis cases often do, void contracts for violating federal policy.”

Associated Press:  “A graduate student has sued a textile company for refusing to hire her for a two-month internship because she uses medical marijuana to treat frequent and debilitating migraine headaches, a decision her lawyer calls discrimination.”

The Daily Signal:  “So who supports decriminalizing cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamine, ecstasy and all dangerous drugs, including marijuana?  No, it’s not your teenage nephew. It’s President Obama’s new acting head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Vanita Gupta. In 2012, Gupta wrote that “states should decriminalize simple possession of all drugs, particularly marijuana, and for small amounts of other drugs.”

If your company employs people in Arizona the people running the company need to read this article by Arizona attorneys Michael D. Moberly & Charitie L. Hartsig of the Ryley Carlock & Applewhite law firm.

Phoenix New Times:  “Phoenix police say they might bust you for holding the wrong kind of cookie.  In researching this week’s cover story about marijuana food products and concentrates, ‘Half Baked,’ New Times asked police to clarify their position on the preparations of marijuana not protected by the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act.  Patients and dispensary operators won’t like the answer, though it might not surprise them.”

Here is the content of the email message Phoenix Police Sergeant Martos sent to the New Times:

“Hash oil purity:

“In order to identify marijuana we need to be able to look at plant material under the microscope and observe structures on the leaf surfaces. If someone has removed the resin from the plant material by mechanical or chemical means what we get is hashish, hash oil or cannabutter for example.

I can tell you that hashish runs the gamut in color from green to dark brown. Under the microscope it appears resinous and not like plant material and occasionally there may be some particles of plant material adhering to it. The resinous material does not look like plant material, nor does it contain the features in place for us to look at so we do not call it marijuana. Testing the hashish in the lab will allow us to identify THC and other cannabinoids which is how we arrive at classifying the material as cannabis (narcotic drug) vs. marijuana.

The lab does not grade hashish or marijuana for that matter for purity, quality etc. If we receive a food product as evidence, which contain no plant material, but we can identify THC etc. the material will be reported out as cannabis (narcotic drug). Our examination of items submitted as evidence is using definitions contained in ARS 13-3401. We do not use the AMMA as a means of testing evidence submitted to the laboratory.

“cannabutter”: This substance is considered a narcotic drug if created from extracts from marijuana. We deal with this in accordance with title 13.

We do not have a department policy for every single Title 13 criminal violation. It is our job as law enforcement personnel to enforce the laws of Arizona, which is what is being done when it comes to the aforementioned violations related to use/possession of cannabis. Department policies are not specific to each A.R.S. code.”

azcentral.com:  “I am a computer programmer and licensed medical marijuana patient. I only use it at night to help deaden the pain so I can sleep. My new job required me to take a drug test. Two weeks later, they told me I was being fired because I tested positive for marijuana. I showed my employer my prescription card, and later that day, they fired me for being incompetent. I had not received any complaints about my work, so I think they fired me because I use medical marijuana. What are my rights?“