HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The first school in Nevada devoted to teaching people how to operate a successful medical marijuana dispensary has opened.

The Cannabis Career Institute launched its Budtender School with a workshop for about 40 students on Saturday in Henderson.

Institute founder Robert Calkin says his school educates would-be entrepreneurs on all aspects of the medical marijuana business, including how to grow marijuana legally and bake it into brownies, cookies and cakes.

The school’s opening comes as Nevada lawmakers consider a bill that would provide a way for patients to finally get the drug 13 years after Nevada voters approved use of medical marijuana.

The measure cleared its first hurdle Thursday as the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved it. The bill calls for the establishment and regulation of pot dispensaries.

“It’s coming,” Calkin told the Las Vegas Sun. “Nevada has always been cutting-edge socially and politically. It was ahead of other states on gambling and prostitution, and (marijuana) is a lot less problematic. Nevada appears to be on the cusp of approving it.”

A bill to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in the Silver State died Friday in an Assembly committee without a vote.

The institute has held similar workshops in other cities across the U.S., and more than 1,500 people hold certificates from it.

But Calkin acknowledges a federal law prohibiting the growth and sale of marijuana poses a problem for the business. No state law will prevent federal authorities from sending owners of pot dispensaries to prison.

“We know that (because of) federal laws, no matter what we do in the realm of medical marijuana, it is illegal,” he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Hopefully in the future, that will evolve.”

A successful marijuana dispensary can earn $250,000 a year, Calkin said, and the average dispensary in Arizona can make up to $10,000 a day.

“It’s quite a challenge to open a dispensary that meets all the legal criteria,” Calkin said. “But it’ll be pretty lucrative for whoever has the skills. And it’s definitely going to be a boon to the economy here.”

Saturday’s daylong seminar, which cost $249, featured instruction by several marijuana experts and the use of a textbook on pot dispensaries.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

pot clubs

The most exciting news is that we are seeing last year’s patients coming back for renewals with amazing testimonies about how much better they are since initiating the regular use of small doses of medical cannabis.

We have patients who have gone into spontaneous remission.  Epilepsy patients report having virtually no more seizures.

Because the stories are so compelling, I have begun writing down the various benefits of medical cannabis.

Feel free to call the clinic if you have questions.

Christine Strong, NMD

480-777-5945

Weed Wars is a new show that premiered in December on the Discovery channel. The whole reality show revolves around the Harborside Health Clinic(which is the largest marijuana dispensary in the world!!) It shows what daily life is like running the biggest and most successful dispensary, where they run into problems such as unfair taxes, threats from the federal government, and criminal employees. While all that sounds bad, the show does have a softer side, with stories how medical marijuana has helped and saved patients lives.

I’ve only seen the first two episodes(there is a total of four so far), but boy am I already hooked! I love how you show all different types of patients that they see everyday. I also like how they show you into the lives of some of the employees and how working there affects them. But the best part of this show is its about WEED, from beginning to end!

Catch “Weed Wars”, thursdays at 10:00p.m. on the Discovery channel.

So remember to set your Tivo, otherwise you might just forget;)

Here is the whole first episode and you can watch all the other whole episodes on youtube.

Our Favorite Song!

Wax – Dispensary Girl

Come in to visit your favorite girl budtender at Cafe Vale Tudo
24601 Raymond Way, Suite 9B
Lake Forest, Ca
92630

(949) 454-9227

Open from 10 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week!

See also: CelebStoner’s review; mentions the cameo

New Jersey Activist in MSNBC’s Marijuana Inc

3/16/09 

New Jersey marijuana reform activist and media personality Chris Goldstein made a brief appearance in MSNBC’s Marijuana Inc hosted by Al Roker. The program premiered 3/15/09 and is expected to be re-aired frequently. 

Goldstein is currently presenting local marijuana information seminars in support of The New Jersey Compassionate Use  Marijuana Act S119/A804. This legislation passed the NJ State Senate February 23rd in a 22-16 vote and now continues to the Assembly.
http://www.cmmnj.org/
 

 The next seminars are Monday March 16th at the A-Space in Philadelphia,  hosted by PhillyNORML and Saturday March 21st at the Collingswood Public Library hosted by CMMNJ.

Goldstein’s short appearance in the MSNBC program stemmed from 2007 journalism work in Los Angeles. The writer and audio broadcaster was covering a federal DEA raid on a state authorized medical marijuana dispensary; The Arts District Healing Center in West Hollywood.  

Chris Goldstein’s podcast for NORML about that 2007 raid can be found online: PLAY MP3- NORML Podcast 10-31-07 

More information about his work regarding cannabis reform can be found:

http://open.salon.com/blog/freedomisgreen
 

http://stash.norml.org/archive
 

http://www.activevoiceradio.com/