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Public Hearings on HB 1393 - Medical Marijuana in PA
Landmark Medical Marijuana Hearings Tomorrow in Harrisburg
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana
www.pa4mmj.orgÂ
WHO: Pennsylvania House Health and Human Services committee
WHAT: Public Hearings on HB 1393, medical marijuana in PA
WHEN: December 2, 2009 Room 140 at 11AM, Main Capitol in Harrisburg
CONTACT: Chris Goldstein cellphone 505 577 5093 or email [email protected]
**UPDATE**
A Press Conference with Rep. Cohen and PA4MMJ patients will take place at 10:00AM at the East Rotunda
Landmark Medical Marijuana Hearings Tomorrow in Harrisburg
December 1, 2009
Philadelphia- Advocates and patients with the group Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana (PA4MMJ) will testify tomorrow before the PA House of Representatives Health and Human Services Committee during hearings on HB 1393, The Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.
These will be the first public hearings on medical cannabis in the history of the Commonwealth.
On April 29, 2009 Rep. Mark B. Cohen introduced the bill to legalize medical marijuana with PA4MMJ. HB1393 would allow registered patients to grow six plants or purchase cannabis through Compassion Centers. A provision in the bill allows these medical cannabis sales to be taxed.
At a press conference at the billâs introduction Cohen said, "It's time to create a new, honest image for marijuana. One as a form of treatment that when prescribed by responsible doctors could help thousands of patients across this commonwealth."
Three newspaper Editorial Boards endorsed the bill immediately after it was introduced: The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Pocono Record and the Daily Review of Towanda.
Testifying in favor of the bill: Chris Goldstein and Derek Rosenzweig of PA4MMJ; Ed Pane of Serento Gardens Treatment Center; Bradley Walter who lives with HIV; Andrew Hoover of the ACLU-PA, Criminal Defense Attorney Patrick Nightengale; MS patient John Wilson of New Jersey; Brian Gralnick of JSPAN; Bob Ceppecio of The Marijuana Policy Project along with other local patients and professionals. Signed written testimony from 26 PA residents will be presented by PA4MMJ along with 19 written submissions sent anonymously. Expert written submissions and comments came from the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, the National Lawyers Guild Philadelphia Chapter, The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey and the National Organization for the reform of Marijuana Laws Deputy Director Paul Armentano.
Several groups will testify in opposition to medical cannabis including the PA Elks Association.
The December 2nd hearings are informational and will not see a vote. The twenty-six-member committee may ask questions of the presenters and PA4MMJ is expecting a lively and educational discussion. Please visit www.pa4mmj.org
MEDIA MAY CONTACT CHRIS GOLDSTEIN DIRECTLY [email protected]
Please Support H.R. 3245, the "Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act." National Call in Day: Dec. 2, 2009
Please Support H.R. 3245, the "Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act." | |
National Call in Day: Wednesday, December 2, 2009 | |
For the first time, crack cocaine sentencing reform legislation received a favorable vote in Congress when the House Judiciary Committee in July approved the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009, H.R. 3245. This bill would completely eliminate the crack-powder sentencing disparity by applying current powder cocaine sentences to all forms of cocaine. To move the bill forward we need a vote on the bill by the entire House of Representatives. On Wednesday, December 2, please help NACDL reach this goal by calling your Representative and asking them to support and cosponsor H.R. 3245 . Take action by clicking the link above and/or by entering your zip code to obtain your Representative's office phone number. Please use the talking points provided to tell your Representative to support this important piece of legislation. With support from the Administration and key members of Congress, the prospects for reforming this unjust, 23-year-old law are good. Change cannot happen, however, without your continued pressure on Members of Congress. |
Attorney General Promises Aggressive Marijuana Enforcement
I know, I've been getting a little smug lately about all the progress that's been made this year, so let me just burst my own bubble here with an ugly reminder that the drug warriors in Washington, D.C. are still suffering from severe hysteria:
I don't know which is worse, Sen. Colburn's claim that marijuana is "the #1 risk for our kids," or Attorney General Holder's reply that the Feds "will be vociferous in our enforcement efforts." It's the sort of unhinged drug war lunacy that remains easy to obtain in the Nation's Capital, even as supplies are drying up elsewhere.
Deputy Drug Czar Asks: Why is Everyone Talking About Legalizing Marijuana?
This New Republic interview with deputy drug czar Tom McClellan is truly inspirational. Why? Because it shows, I think, how close we are to completely driving these guys over the edge. His best and only argument against marijuana legalization is that "marijuanaâs not good for you," as though that is a sufficient criteria for making something illegal.
By the time McClellan finishes complaining that some people actually get paid to advocate drug policy reform (as though he doesnât get paid to advocate against it), it's clear, yet again, how isolated and confused the once-proud drug war cheerleaders have become:
Itâs almost as though there were a contingent of people out there really eager to keep it at the front of the newspapers. Well, it isnât us. We donât want it there.
Dude, there's no almost about it. There absolutely is a massive contingent of people who want to talk about this. Don't you dare try to act surprised by it. You can't criminalize and vilify millions of good, hard-working, intelligent Americans and expect them to just be silent about it. If you don't want to talk about it, that's your problem and maybe "deputy drug czar" was an unfortunate career choice for you.
Watching the drug warriors try to explain the growing popularity of marijuana legalization is a guaranteed laugh-riot every time. 'It just seems so strange to me, I don't understand it. Why do people care so much about this?' Well, if you can't even figure that out, you're going to lose this debate before you know it.
More at NORML and DrugWarRant.
Law Enforcement: Man Trying to Snuff Joint at Checkpoint Ends Up Dead; Attorney Accuses Police
Candle Light Vigil for Drug War Prisoners
Feature: Los Angeles Marijuana Dispensary Ordinance Battle Continues
North Africa: Moroccan Human Rights and Drug Policy Activist to Remain Behind Bars
Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
Weekly: Blogging @ the Speakeasy
Feedback: Do You Read Drug War Chronicle?
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