Legislative Update:  Increase access to medical marijuana for Veterans!  Vote on Monday.

Legislative Update:  HB 1284-- which seeks to regulate dispensaries-- will be voted on in the House Judiciary Committee on Monday, March 22 at 1:30pm.  No public testimony will be allowed at this Hearing.  However, it is important that the Committee members hear from advocates in advance of the vote. 

Please call or email these legislators and ask them to:

(1) Keep patients needs in mind!  Don't restrict where patients can live or force them to give up their right to grow, if they choose to designate a caregiver.

(2)  Don't let cities ban dispensaries!  Patients get sick in all corners of Colorado and dispensaries should be allowed to service patients in their home communities.

(3)  Let Veterans with PTSD have access to medical marijuana!  Every month at Sensible's office we hear from dozens of Vets and other traumatized citizens who could benefit from medical marijuana.  On Monday, Rep. Sal Pace will offer an amendment to allow these disabled individuals to have access to medical marijuana for their diagnosed PTSD.  Please thank Rep. Pace and urge other Committee members to vote "yes" on this amendment!  

Here is the contact information for the House Judiciary members who will be voting on Monday:

Email all House Judiciary Committee Members claire.levy.house@state.co.us, beth.mccann.house@state.co.us, loiscourt@msn.com, bob.gardner.house@state.co.us, repkagan@gmail.com, steve.king.house@state.co.us, joe@joemiklosi.com, rep.nikkel@gmail.com, sal.pace.house@state.co.us, su.ryden.house@state.co.us, mark.waller.house@state.co.us

Rep. Claire Levy (D) - Chairperson, Majority Whip District 13: Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin Profession: Attorney Cap: 303-866-2578 E-mail: claire.levy.house@state.co.us

Rep. Elizabeth "Beth McCann (D) District 8: Denver Cap: 303-866-2959 E-mail: beth.mccann.house@state.co.us

Rep. Lois Court (D) District 6: Arapahoe, Denver Cap: 303-866-2967 E-mail: loiscourt@msn.com

Rep. Bob Gardner (R) District 21: El Paso Profession: Attorney Cap: 303-866-2191 E-mail: bob.gardner.house@state.co.us

Rep. Daniel Kagan (D) District 3: Arapahoe Cap: 303-866-2921 E-mail: repkagan@gmail.com

Rep. Steve King (R)District 54: Delta, Mesa Profession: Violent Crime Investigator Cap: 303-866-3068 E-mail: steve.king.house@state.co.us

Rep. Joe Miklosi (D) District 9: Denver Cap: 303-866-2910 E-mail: joe@joemiklosi.com

Rep. B.J. Nikkel (R) District 49: Larimer, Weld Cap: 303-866-2907 E-mail: rep.nikkel@gmail.com

Rep. Sal Pace (D) District: 6 Pueblo Cap: 303-866-2968 E-mail: sal.pace.house@state.co.us

Rep. Su Ryden (D) District 36: Arapahoe Cap: 303-866-2942 E-mail: su.ryden.house@state.co.us

Rep. Mark Waller (R) District 15: El Paso Profession: Attorney Cap: 303-866-5525 E-mail: mark.waller.house@state.co.us

Also, the public can attend this Hearing:

Public Hearing on HB1284
Monday, March 22, 2010
1:30 pm
House Judiciary Committee
Room: Room 0107 (Basement)

Please check our website for updates as this vote draws nearer.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                                 

MARCH 17, 2010

Medical Marijuana Qualifies for November Ballot in South Dakota

“Measure 13” Would Allow Seriously Ill Patients to Use Medical Marijuana With a Doctor’s Recommendation

CONTACT: Mike Meno, MPP assistant director of communications …… 202-905-2030 or mmeno@mpp.org

Emmett Reistroffer, South Dakota Coalition for Compassion … 605-370-1108, emmett.reistroffer@gmail.com

         PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA — In November 2010, South Dakotans will once again have the opportunity to make the medical use of marijuana legal in the state. The South Dakota Coalition for Compassion, a nonprofit group composed of physicians, patients, law enforcement officials and private citizens, received word from the Secretary of State this week that “Measure 13” had qualified for the ballot. The campaign submitted close to 32,000 signatures last month. They needed just 16,776 valid signatures to qualify.

         South Dakotans voted on a similar initiative in 2006, with the measure narrowly failing by a 52% to 48% margin. This year’s “South Dakota Safe Access Act” is sponsored by Patrick K. Lynch, former chairman of the board for the North Central States Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and was drafted with the assistance of the Marijuana Policy Project.

         “We are excited that South Dakota voters will have another opportunity to make the medical use of marijuana legal for patients in the state,” said Steve Fox, director of state campaigns for the Marijuana Policy Project. “Given the increasing level of support for medical marijuana across the country over the past few years, we are fully confident that a solid majority of voters in the state will support patients’ rights this November.”

         The initiative, if passed into law, would allow medical marijuana cardholders to possess up to one ounce of marijuana if they have been diagnosed with or are undergoing treatment for certain cancers, glaucoma, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, seizures or multiple sclerosis, along with other specifically diagnosable ailments. The initiative outlines specific disabilities that qualify patients for use, rules regarding registration cards, distribution, and rules for establishing a registry for medical marijuana users.

         The entire initiative can be read at http://www.sdcompassion.org/sdsaa.htm

         With more than 124,000 members and supporters nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. For more information, please visit www.mpp.org.

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MEDIA ADVISORY                                                                                                                                               

MARCH 17, 2010                                                                                                                                                     

Medical Marijuana Bill to Be Debated by Senate Committee on Thursday

SB 627 Would Allow Seriously Ill Patients to Use Medical Marijuana With Doctor’s Recommendation

CONTACT: Mike Meno, MPP assistant director of communications …… 202-905-2030 or mmeno@mpp.org

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND— Tomorrow, on Thursday, March 18, the state Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will receive testimony on SB 627, a bill that would make Maryland the 15th state in the nation to have an effective medical marijuana law. Sponsored by Frederick County Republican Sen. David Brinkley, the bill would allow pharmacies or other state-regulated outlets to dispense medical marijuana to patients who receive a recommendation from their doctor. The bipartisan bill is cosponsored by Senate President Mike Miller, Minority Leader Allan Kittleman, Minority Whip Nancy Jacobs, and Deputy Majority Leader Robert Garigiola, among others.

         WHAT: Hearing on SB 627, a medical marijuana bill in Maryland

         WHERE: 2 East, Miller Senate Building, 11 Bladen Street, Annapolis, MD

WHEN: Thursday, March 18, at 1 p.m. (Please note that 11 bills are scheduled for the 1:00 p.m. hearing and we don’t know what order they will be called in.)

         WHO: Patients, advocates and others will testify

         The House Judiciary and Health and Government Operations committees heard testimony Feb. 26 on HB 712, companion legislation sponsored by Del. Dan Morhaim (D-Baltimore County), an E.R. physician, and cosponsored by 47 other delegates. Several doctors, patients and advocates spoke in support of the bill during the previous hearing, and a similar turnout is expected Thursday.

         With more than 124,000 members and supporters nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. For more information, please visit www.mpp.org.

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MEDIA ADVISORY                                                                                                                                               

MARCH 17, 2010                                                                                                                                                     

Kansas Medical Marijuana Bill to be Subject of Informational Hearing Today

Rep. Gail Finney Has Proposed a Bill that Would Allow Doctors to Recommend Medical Marijuana for Seriously Ill Patients

CONTACT: Mike Meno, MPP assistant director of communications …… 202-905-2030 or mmeno@mpp.org

TOPEKA, KANSAS— Today, the Kansas House Health and Human Services Committee will hold an informational hearing on a medical marijuana bill proposed by Rep. Gail Finney. Under the proposal, doctors could recommend medical marijuana to patients with serious illnesses such as cancer or HIV/AIDS. Fourteen other states, including Colorado and New Mexico, have passed similar laws.

         WHAT: Informational presentation on medical marijuana

         WHERE: Docking State Office Building, Room 784, 915 SW, Harrison Street, Topeka

WHEN: Wednesday, March 17, at 1 p.m.

         WHO: Patients, medical professionals, and others will speak.  

         With more than 124,000 members and supporters nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. For more information, please visit www.mpp.org.

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Dear friends:

The Washington, DC premiere and live webcast that was cancelled on Feb. 12 has been rescheduled!

Flex Your Rights invites you to attend...

10 Rules for Dealing with Police

FILM PREMIERE!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Noon

(Luncheon to follow)

Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C.

with comments from

William "Billy" Murphy, Jr.
Attorney and 10 Rules Narrator

and
Neill Franklin
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

moderated by
Tim Lynch
Director, Project on Criminal Justice, Cato Institute

If you can make it, please register now. Seating is limited.

If you can't make it to DC, that's okay. You can visit this page to watch the live event.

If you haven't done so yet, pre-order your 10 Rules DVD today for only $15.00. Orders will ship by March 23. (Check out the sexy 2-minute video preview.)

Sincerely,

Steve

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                                 

MARCH 16, 2010

MPP Calls for National Boycott of Wal-Mart

Corporation Fired a Michigan Patient For Using Medical Marijuana Under State Law With a Doctor’s Recommendation

CONTACT: Mike Meno, MPP assistant director of communications …… 202-905-2030 or mmeno@mpp.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the nation’s largest marijuana policy reform organization called upon shoppers across the country to boycott Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., in order to protest the unjust and potentially unlawful firing of Joseph Casias, a 29-year-old medical marijuana patient and sinus cancer survivor who suffers from an inoperable brain tumor. Casias’s cancer is in remission, and marijuana alleviates his pain that resulted from it. The Marijuana Policy Project is asking shoppers to demand that Wal-Mart abandon its discriminatory policy of firing employees who are legal medical marijuana patients under state law.

         After dutifully working at a Wal-Mart in Battle Creek, Michigan, for five years, Casias was suddenly terminated because he tested positive for marijuana during a drug screening administered after he sprained his knee on the job. Casias, who was named store Associate of the Year in 2008, is a registered medical marijuana patient in Michigan, where it is legal to use medical marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation.

         “It’s despicable that Wal-Mart would fire such a hardworking and seriously ill employee simply for treating his symptoms with a medicine that he is authorized to use under state law,” said Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project and lead drafter of Michigan’s medical marijuana law. “Would Wal-Mart also fire someone for taking doctor-prescribed Percocet, or any of the other legal medications sold in many of Wal-Mart’s own stores?”  

         Casias’s firing violates the “Michigan Medical Marihuana Act,” which reads in part that a qualifying patient shall not be “denied any right or privilege, including but not limited to … disciplinary action by a business or occupational or professional licensing board or bureau, for the medical use of marihuana.” Under the law, the definition of “medical use” contains “internal possession”— having marijuana in one’s system. The law does not require employers to allow the “ingestion of marihuana in any workplace” or employees to work while under the influence, but there is no allegation that Casias used marijuana at work or worked while impaired.  To add further insult to injury, Wal-Mart is contesting Casias’s eligibility for unemployment.

         With more than 124,000 members and supporters nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. For more information, please visit www.mpp.org.

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Dear friends:

Joseph Casias, a medical marijuana patient and cancer survivor in Michigan, has been fired by Wal-Mart simply for following his doctor's recommendation and trying to ease his pain.

Just 29 years old, Joe has already survived sinus cancer and now suffers from an inoperable brain tumor. He's spent the last five years working at a Wal-Mart in Battle Creek, Michigan and was honored as the store's Associate of the Year in 2008. Joe also happens to be a legal medical marijuana patient, registered with the state of Michigan. After a recent workplace injury, Joe was given a drug screen — which he failed because of his medical marijuana use.

Rather than having compassion and understanding for a model employee who was following the law, Wal-Mart fired Joe and has recently contested his unemployment benefits.

Will you help us send a message to Wal-Mart that punishing medical marijuana patients who are trying to get better, following their doctor’s advice, and adhering to state law is cruel and unacceptable?

MPP is calling on our members to boycott Wal-Mart until it abandons its discriminatory policy of firing employees who are legal medical marijuana patients under state law. Please help us send a message to Wal-Mart CEO Michael Duke that you don't support Wal-Mart’s policy and won't be shopping there until it’s changed.

Check out this video of local activists in Michigan protesting Wal-Mart’s actions. Together, we can let Wal-Mart and other businesses know that discrimination against medical marijuana patients will not go unchallenged.

Sincerely,

Karen O'Keefe
Director of State Policies
Marijuana Policy Project
Washington, D.C.

Cultural Baggage * Century of Lies * 4:20 Drug War NEWS

Cultural Baggage for 03/14/10 29:00 Reports from Oaksterdam University, professors, students, staff and interns
LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/node/2814
TRANSCRIPT: TBD

Century of Lies for 03/14/10 29:00 Reports from Students for Sensible Drug Policy conference in San Francisco
LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/node/2815
TRANSCRIPT: TBD

4:20 Drug War NEWS, 03/15 to 03/21/10 Link at www.drugtruth.net on the right margin -

Sun- Pablo Vasquez from San Antonio at SSDP conference Sat - Dr. Rick Doblin of Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies Fri - Steve Rolles of Transform drug policy in UK at SSDP conference Thu - Micah Daigle of Students for Sensible Drug Policy Wed - Jack Cole, director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition at SSDP conference Tue - Stacia Costner of Students for Sensible Drug Policy Mon - Steve Deangelo, Exec Dir Harborside Health Center - Cannabis Dispensary .

Programs produced at Pacifica Radio Station KPFT in Houston, 90.1 FM. You can Listen Live Online at www.kpft.org
- Cultural Baggage Sun, 7:30 PM ET, 6:30 PM CT, 5:30 PM MT, 4:30 PM PT
- Century of Lies, SUN, 8 PM ET, 7 PM CT, 6 PM MT & 5 PM PT

Who's Next to "Face The Inquisition?": Houston Constable Victor Trevino

Hundreds of our programs are available online at www.drugtruth.net, www.audioport.org We have potcasts, searchability, CMS, XML, sorts by guest name and by organization. We provide the "unvarnished truth about the drug war" to scores of broadcast affiliates i You can tune into both our 1/2 hour programs, live, at 6:30 central time on Pacifica's KPFT at http://www.kpft.org and call in your questions and concerns toll free at 1-877-9-420 420.

The two, 29:00 shows appear along with the seven, daily, 3:00 "4:20 Drug War NEWS" reports each Monday morning at http://www.drugtruth.net . We currently have 72 affiliated, yet independent broadcast stations. With a simple email request to dean@drugtruth.net , your station can join the Drug Truth Network, free of charge.

Check out our latest videos via www.youtube.com/fdbecker Please become part of the solution, visit our website: www.endprohibition.org for links to the best of reform. "Prohibition is evil." - Reverend Dean Becker, DTN Producer, 713-462-7981, www.drugtruth.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     
Date:  March 11, 2010                                       
Contact: media@famm.org              
 

BREAKING NEWS:
Senate Judiciary Votes to Reform Federal Crack Cocaine Sentencing Policies
Eliminates first mandatory minimum since Nixon Administration

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Moments ago, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed a bill that would reduce the sentencing disparity between federal crack and powder cocaine offenses. 

The bipartisan vote to approve an amended version of Senator Richard Durbin’s (D-Ill.) bill, S. 1789, acknowledged that disparate sentencing policies enacted for federal crack cocaine offenses in 1986 have had a negative impact on the nation’s criminal justice system. 

The amended bill would reduce the ratio between crack and powder cocaine from 100:1 to 20:1 and direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to enhance penalties for aggravating factors like violence or bribery of a law enforcement officer.  Significantly, the bill also would eliminate the mandatory minimum sentence for simple possession of crack.

“This is an exciting vote, but also disappointing.  We hoped the Committee would go further in making crack penalties the same as powder.  There was no scientific basis for the 100:1 disparity between crack and powder cocaine created 24 years ago, and there is no scientific basis for today’s vote of 20:1 ,” said FAMM President Julie Stewart. “However, if this imperfect bill becomes law, it will provide some long-overdue relief to thousands of defendants sentenced each year.

With regard to the bill’s provision that would eliminate the mandatory sentence for simple possession of crack, Ms. Stewart stated, “If enacted, this legislation would repeal a mandatory minimum law for the first time since the Nixon administration.”

Under the Senate’s proposed 20:1 ratio, a conviction for 28 grams of crack cocaine will trigger a five year prison sentence and for 280 grams of crack a 10 year sentence.   The 20:1 ratio could affect an estimated 3,100 cases annually, reducing sentences by an average of about 30 months.  The bill would not, however, reduce sentences for those currently incarcerated for crack offenses.  Impact of the amendment’s other provisions has not yet been calculated. 

The House Judiciary Committee passed its own crack cocaine sentencing reform bill on July 29.  H.R. 3245, the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009, introduced by Congressman Robert “Bobby” Scott (D-V.A.), removes references to “cocaine base” from the U.S. Code, thus treating all cocaine, including crack, the same for sentencing purposes.

Families Against Mandatory Minimums is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization supporting fair and proportionate sentencing laws that allow judicial discretion while maintaining public safety.  For more information on FAMM, visit www.famm.org or contact Monica Pratt Raffanel at media@famm.org

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