FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 11, 2010
Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana PA4MMJ
www.pa4mmj.org
CONTACT: Pittsburgh: Patrick Nightingale [email protected] 412-225-7959
Philadelphia: Derek Rosenzweig or Chris Goldstein [email protected] or 215-586-3483
PA: Public hearing for medical marijuana bill scheduled
8/11/2010 - The Pennsylvania House Health and Human Services Committee will hold a satellite hearing on medical marijuana in Pittsburgh, PA on August 19, 2010.
HHS Committee Chair Representative Frank Oliver issued a memo yesterday:
Please be advised that on Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. in the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health at 130 Desoto Street, Room G-23, Pittsburgh, PA 15320, there will be a public hearing on House Bill 1393.
Representative Mark B. Cohen introduced HB1393 and the first public hearings took place in Harrisburg last December. Residents living with chronic medical conditions, doctors, medical professionals and attorneys testified in favor of the bill.
Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana (PA4MMJ) is a statewide non-profit advocacy group promoting passage of the bill. Patrick Nightingale Esq., a criminal defense attorney in Pittsburgh, serves on the Board of Directors for PA4MMJ and coordinates efforts in Western Pennsylvania.
Nightingale commented on the memo, “We at Pittsburgh NORML and Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana are thrilled to learn of the upcoming hearing. We have heard from dozens of current medicinal patients or potential medicinal cannabis patients - veterans, retired school teachers, young people, grandparents, professionals and blue collar workers - all united by the belief that marijuana can provide relief for their medical conditions.”
Nightingale added, “ We believe that passage of the Barry Busch Compassionate Use Act will greatly benefit the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania just as it benefits the citizens of 14 other states and the District of Columbia who's legislatures have enacted medicinal marijuana laws.”
A Franklin & Marshall poll conducted this year showed that 80% of PA residents support the medical marijuana legislation.
The twenty-six-member House HHS committee includes HB 1393’s sponsor Rep. Cohen and co-sponsor Representative Tony Payton Jr.
Senator Daylin Leach introduced the companion bill, SB 1350, earlier this year. Senator Jim Ferlo of the Pittsburgh area recently co-sponsored the medical marijuana legislation. Senate committee hearings are expected in the fall.
Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana will be holding rally events, information seminars and fundraisers across the Commonwealth to raise awareness for HB 1393 and SB 1350.
PA4MMJ welcomes the opportunity to put legislators and the media into contact with local patients and cannabis experts.
CONTACT: Pittsburgh: Patrick Nightingale [email protected] 412-225-7959
Philadelphia: Derek Rosenzweig or Chris Goldstein [email protected] or 215-586-3483
It may sound like a dumb question, but opponents of marijuana reform have been arguing for years that federal law somehow prevents states from enacting their own marijuana policies.
Please join us for this event presented by WorldBeat Center and Southern California NORML.
Bambu Station was founded in 1996 by Jalani Horton of St. Thomas, V.I. to present creative ideas that would impact peoples lives. In 1999, Andy Llanos of St. Croix joined Bambú Station as the bassist and Tuff Lion, with his brilliant guitar work offered his wealth of experience to help the young bredrens evolve and grow.
Their initial recording was the independently released single, “Amadou Diallo” (2000) and commenced a musical relationship with the addition of Warren Pedersen in 2003 that has galvanized roots fans across the world. Several of their releases are some of the most regarded works today. The sound of Bambú Station is best described as heavy, natural and relentlessly captivating. From its’ music to its’ lyrics, Bambú Station’s sound is very percussive, profound and inviting to any listener.
Their recordings and live shows are filled with a brilliant spirit, harmonies and an alluring quality. They are certainly one of the most significant artists representing reggae music in this generation.
VENDOR SPACE AVAILABLE: Contact [email protected].
Find the latest marijuana policy news on the JustSayNow page. You can also follow JustSayNow on Twitter and Facebook.
Last week, Mexico’s President Calderon called on President Obama to join the debate on legalizing marijuana. The US drug policy has lined the pockets of the drug cartels with billions of dollars, and they are threatening to destabilize not only Mexico but countries across Latin America.
In many regions, the drug gangs are seeking to replace the government, imposing their own taxes in towns they dominate.
Three former Latin American presidents — Cesar Gaviria of Colombia, Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico and Fernando Cardoso of Brazil — wrote an oped in the Wall Street Journal, urging the legalization of marijuana as a way to undermine a major source of income for cartels.
Recently, the U.S. Joint Forces Command warned that the Mexican government could experience “a rapid and sudden collapse” due to drug cartel violence. And the outgoing head of the CIA, Gen. Michael Hayden, warned that drug cartels “threaten … the well-being of the Mexican people and the Mexican state.”
The problem is so bad that following President Calderon’s statement, two Mexican cardinals have endorsed his call to open a debate on the merits of legalization.
There have been 28,000 people killed since 2006 in the war with the drug cartels, including 1200 in July – the deadliest month yet. The recent shooting in Arizona that triggered the debate between right and left over immigration was the result of marijuana smuggling, not people trying to get over the border to find jobs. It’s insane that the conversation instantly devolved into a right-left battle over immigration. The Arizona law does nothing to address the underlying problem.
Yesterday the Guardian had a piece on the push to end prohibition, including the Just Say Now campaign we launched last week. Further, the Guardian editorial board called on David Cameron and Nick Clegg to “launch a national debate on whether we should try legalisation,” and to “tear up the current policy. It has failed.” “That debate must be opened in Britain and the recent change of government provides a rare opportunity,” they say.
But as Peter Guither notes, although there is strong interest in the issue among both progressive and conservative voters, leadership on both sides of the aisle have been unwilling to address it. Most are terrified of walking into a meat grinder of social taboos left over from the culture wars, and they won’t brave it until the public demands it.
That’s why we launched the Just Say Now campaign. Over 30,000 people have already signed the petition to President Obama, saying it’s time to end the war on marijuana. America’s prison population has quadrupled since 1984 when Nancy Reagan’s war on drugs began, and the private prison system exploded.
Last fall, Eric Holder issued a directive that the DEA should respect state medical marijuana laws. But as Jacob Sullum notes, that directive had a lot of wiggle room and as a result the DEA’s raids on medical marijuana suppliers continue.
Please show your support and sign the petition asking President Obama to end the war on marijuana.