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Marijuana vending machine company sues AR Family Council

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Jerry Cox with Family Council Action Committee stands next to a cardboard prop of a "Medbox". The makers of the prodcuct sued Cox & FCAC on Friday November 2, 2012 for defamation, negligence & trademark violations. (David Goins)

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Jerry Cox with Family Council Action Committee stands next to a cardboard prop of a "Medbox". The makers of the prodcuct sued Cox & FCAC on Friday November 2, 2012 for defamation, negligence & trademark violations. (David Goins)

Reported by: David Goins

Email: dgoins@fox16.com

Tags:

arkansas family council, jerry cox, Medical Marijuana

Updated: 11/02/2012 12:37 pm

Published: 11/02/2012 11:23 am

	Medbox vs Family Council Action Commitee & Jerry Cox (710.9KB)
	Motion for Temporary Restraining Order (91.7KB)
	Brief in Support of Temporary Restraining Order (188.5KB)

LITTLE ROCK, AR - The company that produces medical marijuana vending machines sued Family Council Action Committee and Jerry Cox on Friday for defamation, negligence and trademark violations related to a press conference earlier this week.

Medicine Dispensing Systems Inc and Kind Clinics LLC also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order Friday in federal court in the Eastern District of Arkansas.

Attorneys for the "Medbox" machines say statements made by Cox during a Tuesday press conference "damage the reputation of the Plaintiffs and are falsely derogatory."

The 16-page suit also alleges that Family Council Action Committee altered the Medbox product by displaying a prop of a machine with a marijuana leaf depicted on the bottom.

"Defendants' false statements, altering the appearance of Plaintiff's product and displaying it at the news conference at the Arkansas State Capitol irreparably harmed Plaintiff."

Issue 5 is the medicinal marijuana ballot initiative currently before voters on November 6th.

If approved, Arkansas would be the first southern state and 18th overall to approve the use medicinal marijuana.

Cox did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Statement from the Family Council Action Committee

“A lawsuit has been filed against us by a company in California,” Cox said. “We have no response to the specific allegations in the lawsuit itself. The matter has been referred to our attorney.”

Cox went on to say, “Family Council Action Committee has taken a stand for what’s right for many years. The people of Arkansas are well aware of that, and most appreciate it. However, not everyone agrees with us. When you operate in the arena we do, lawsuits can and will be filed against you.

“This is a national issue. People from all over the country are watching to see what Arkansas does. We addressed the broad issue of marijuana and vending machines.

“This does not change any of the problems with the measure. Issue 5 is still a backdoor effort to legalize marijuana in Arkansas.”

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arkieblue - 11/4/2012 6:48 AM

0 Votes

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After reading the filing, it would appear that this is nothing more than a 4-year-old running to their mommy saying, "He's picking on me!" This lawsuit is frivolous and will probably be dismissed. As far a being a "famous" brand and defamation. That would hold true if this was California or another state where Medbox has been for a long time. I never heard of them, never knew they existed, and never knew you could fill prescriptions with them. My friends have never heard of them..so it would seem that they're not very famous. Once again, dismissed. Now, I really don't care either way with this issue, but all Medbox has done is fueled Family Council's fire!!!

ArkansasYankee - 11/3/2012 11:50 PM

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Now LSSLSM, I have been reading your posts since I logged on a few months back. I can tell you are an intelligent person. You know where that money went! Into the pockets of politicians and their cronies, judges and lawyers and their cronies, and other assorted riff raff. And you can take that to the bank! Actually, they are taking it to the bank, but you know what I mean! LOL

LSSLSM - 11/3/2012 9:19 AM

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The only thing that concerns me about passing medical marijuana is how or who will be responsible for the tax revenue it will bring in. AR has this uncanny way of losing money and NO ONE is ever made accountable. And, where is the tax money going to be allocated to?? Remember the cigarette tax was supposed to build a medical center - where is THAT??? Good luck getting an answer from our elected officials on that one because I HAVE inquired and have been simply ignored. Not even a canned response back. If passed, taxes accrued from medical marijuana should be spent for more police officers to fight this upsurge in crime in Arkansas.

ArkansasYankee - 11/3/2012 7:59 AM

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LSSLSM; How right you are! Cox and company would have been good Nazi's back in the '30's and '40's! That is the kind of people they are. Thank God propaganda only works on the ignorant and uneducated!

LSSLSM - 11/3/2012 6:52 AM

3 Votes

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The commercial being ran on tv against medical marijuana is simply laughable!! And then, it is very very sad.

wallfisher - 11/3/2012 5:56 AM

3 Votes

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If you follow the governments policy to the letter, peanuts have no medicinal value yet the consumption of peanut is responsible for approximately a 100 deaths a year so why are they still legal? And why are they sold in vending machines? Jerry Cox needs to think about how dangerous and deadly legal products are before condemning a plant that has never been successfully proven to cause a death from consuming it. As for the claim that marijuana is a gateway drug , I can and do consider it to be one of the gateways to every over the counter and prescription drugs we presently have on the market to purchase and possess.

samtadlock501 - 11/2/2012 9:12 PM

4 Votes

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Marijuana Vending Machines are a hoax read the truth at the compassionate care website. Mr. Cox stop trying to keep Arkansas from progressing. Because of people like Cox Arkansas has no industry and high taxes. Vote for issue 5!

ArkansasYankee - 11/2/2012 6:41 PM

2 Votes

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wmgerman1: Right you are! Genesis 1:11,12. Word of God you so called "Christians" that are against this. Vending machines? If this passes, vending machines with pot won't be available to just anyone. Can't imagine it being in vending machines to begin with. If I had a scrip, I'd want to see and smell what I'm buying! Wouldn't you? As far as the family council; they are indeed stuck in the last century, and they always will be, as will I imagine what they breed. Hope they lose their shirts in this lawsuit!

Butch54 - 11/2/2012 3:26 PM

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Vending machines. Now I'm saying hell no to this. My wife and I owned Vicki's vending for several years. I may have said to much. Give away who we are. I don't care though when it comes to right being right. We wouldn't hold with it being sold out of vending machines anywhere. We know the lack of security in those things. I have just been pushed to vote no for this.We had about a 25% loss of our profit due to theft. That was with chips, candy and soda. I wouldn't even want to think of that much pot going into the hands of our youths. I don't care how secure you might think they are. Ours were in publicly open businesses that were lock after hours. They could get to ours and I bet these would be hit just as hard.

arkbri2 - 11/2/2012 3:06 PM

4 Votes

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The vending machines are inside the medical marijuana dispensary BEHIND the counter where the license carrying public does not have access to. The anti issue people want you to believe they will be on every street corner like cigarette machines.

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