Federal Judge Tells Arizona Attorney General to "Pick a Side" on the State's Medical Marijuana Issue, According to Altitude Organic Corporation

PHOENIX, Dec 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Altitude Organic Corporation (ERBB:OTC:Pink) reports the motion brought by the governor of Arizona to stall the implementation of the state's new medical marijuana law has been dealt a blow in court Monday by Federal Judge Susan Bolton. At the governor's request, the state filed a lawsuit which outlines two possible scenarios: One, that the state medical marijuana law voted in by the people of Arizona last year may subject state workers to federal fines or imprisonment should state workers be asked to implement it, or two, that the state law will prevail and thus, not endanger the state workers tasked to implement the state's new medical marijuana law. 

Federal Judge Bolton believes in order for the attorney general's motion to continue, the state must pick a theory.  That is, they must research both sides of the question and present their legal theory to the court – either the state employees will be endangered by implementing the new marijuana legislation or they will not.  If the Attorney General believes the new law can be implemented, then the state can opt to go into court against the federal government. Conversely, if it believes it cannot implement the law without endangering its state employees, it must go into court against the people of the State of Arizona and the new law's supporters in order to block the referendum from implementation. 

The law, approved last year by the people of Arizona, was partially implemented by the state when it issued permits to over 16,000 applicants enabling them to legally acquire 2.5 ounces of marijuana every two weeks for their physician-confirmed medical conditions.  However, the governor ordered the dispensary permit process frozen when she asked the attorney general to file this action, thus resulting in severely limiting the ability of these very same legal and authorized marijuana users to obtain high quality cannabis on a regular basis.

The ACLU has filed briefs to have the governor's action tossed out on the basis that there is no credible evidence to support the governor's concern that state employees would be "endangered" for implementing the new law.  The ACLU believes the governor and her attorney general expressed their concern of state worker exposure for the purpose of stalling the implementation of the new law.  Judge Bolton said it isn't her job to "advise state agencies on what the law is or isn't.  The state needs to pick a side and bring the opposing side into court."  Judge Bolton's formal ruling is expected shortly.

1. (http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/article_f55676d8-2507-11e1-8fe7-0019bb2963f4.html)

ABOUT ALTITUDE ORGANIC CORPORATION

Altitude Organic Corporation www.altitudeorganix.com provides independently-owned retail dispensaries in Colorado, California, and Arizona business support services, while also acting as a one-stop-shop for entrepreneurs looking to enter the burgeoning, multi-billion dollar industry of legal cannabis. Altitude Organic Corporation has launched its new management company strategy in Arizona. The company can manage, staff, consult, and provide uniquely branded products and concepts to medical marijuana dispensaries using a limited liability agreement. The company also sells horticulture equipment via its partnership in Sundance Hydroponics (http://www.sundancehydroponics.com/). Visit http://www.altitudeorganicmedicine.com/ today.

The Company's 8-year-old division, Tranzbyte, has become actively engaged in the sale of its optical media enhancement products to potential customers in the US and Asia. Products in the Tranzbyte division include FLASHAlbum™ and FLIXSTIX™ -- a technology that enables distributors of optical media (CDs, DVDs, etc.) to consolidate the best features of each medium onto a single content-protected USB flash drive.

NOTES ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Except for any historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission reports and filings. Certain statements contained in this release that are not historical facts constitute forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by that Act. Reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because they involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as estimates, anticipates, projects, plans, expects, intends, believes, should and similar expressions and by the context in which they are used. Such statements are based upon current expectations of the Company and speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which they are made.

Company and Contact:
Brian Cook,
President
Altitude Organic Corporation
14220 N. Northsight Blvd., Suite 139
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
480-443-1600
[email protected]
www.altitudeorganix.com

SOURCE Altitude Organic Corporation