Marijuana

California medical pot advocates push bill to regulate legal dispensaries

By Peter Hecht - Updated: Sunday, May 20 2012 - 9:28 am

Medical marijuana advocates Saturday opened a three-day event to rally support to regulate a legal dispensary industry in California, spurred on by videotaped messages from two members of Congress who recently pushed an amendment to deny funds for federal raids on cannabis businesses.

California's Emerald Triangle pot market is hitting bottom

By Peter Hecht - Updated: Sunday, May 6 2012 - 2:47 pm

The pot market is crashing in California's legendary Emerald Triangle.

Read comprehensive coverage of the medical marijuana issue.

California Assembly panel passes medical marijuana regulation bill

By Peter Hecht - Published: Wednesday, April 18 2012 - 12:00 am

An Assembly committee Tuesday passed a bill to create state oversight for pot businesses, as its chairman implored the Legislature to act to stave off federal raids on medical marijuana providers.

Pot-shop crackdowns in San Francisco all about location

By Peter Hecht - Updated: Sunday, April 15 2012 - 9:57 am

Directly across the street from tiny Sgt. John Macaulay Park, with its swings and wooden climbing train, is a strip club flashing signs for "Live Nude Shows."

Marijuana dispensaries in San Francisco

Oaksterdam founder says he'll leave renowned Oakland pot school

By Peter Hecht - Updated: Sunday, April 8 2012 - 12:15 pm

Richard Lee, who brought California its first university of cannabis and bankrolled a pot legalization initiative, said Monday's federal raids have persuaded him to give up his Oakland marijuana businesses – but not his cause.

Besieged California marijuana advocate vows to 'fight on'

By Peter Hecht - Updated: Wednesday, April 4 2012 - 2:38 pm

A day after federal agents rousted him from his apartment and seized his famed Oakland cannabis college, a renowned California marijuana advocate said Tuesday he knows "they can indict me any day" and "arrest me any time."

Feds target one of California's most famous marijuana advocates

By Peter Hecht - Updated: Tuesday, April 3 2012 - 4:43 pm

Multiple federal agencies unleashed raids Monday on the home and businesses of one of California's most famous marijuana advocates, Richard Lee, founder of the renowned cannabis industry trade school known as Oaksterdam University.