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[Courtesy of Ohio Patient Network] SPONSOR AND PROPONENT TESTIMONY HEARING SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 19 A Sponsor and Proponent Testimony Hearing for SB 343 has been scheduled by the Ohio Senate Criminal Justice Committee for 10:00 am on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 in the North Hearing Room at the Ohio Statehouse. Known as the Ohio Medical Compassion Act, SB 343 would allow patients and their caregivers to possess and cultivate marijuana to treat the patients' serious illness. The Proponent component of this hearing will be grounded in testimony from seasoned medical professionals. If you would like to encourage your state Senator to vote for this important legislation, please visit https://ssl.capwiz.com/mpp/issues/alert/?alertid=11445816. It is hoped that this bill will be accorded swift passage in consideration of the highly successful Michigan Initiative. MICHIGAN LEGALIZES MEDICAL MARIJUANA Before the statewide initiative was started in five citywide medical marijuana votes, medical marijuana won in a landslide (with 62% in Flint in February 2007; with 63% in Traverse City and 61% in Ferndale in November 2005; with 74% in Ann Arbor in November 2004; and with 60% in Detroit in August 2004). All these efforts were spearheaded by Michigan NORML http://www.minorml.org/ and it's affiliated chapters. Based on these efforts Tim Beck wrote 'Taking the Initiative; A Reformer's Guide to Direct Democracy' online at http://www.drugsense.org/caip#take. When the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care http://stoparrestingpatients.org/ launched it's statewide signature drive they sought the help of Michigan NORML. The NORML members gathered a substantial share of the signatures, and then went on to support the initiative in every way possible. They wrote letters to the editor and OPEDs, which were published. They placed thousands of Yes on 1 yard signs. What they did not do was connect their effort in any way at with NORML to preclude any perception that they were really working to legalize marijuana. Thus they set a standard of professionalism for other NORML chapters to emulate. On Election Day, the initiative, on the ballot as Proposal 1, passed by 63% with 3,005,678 Yes votes. It passed in every county in the state. The new Michigan law, now known as The Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, will be certified and go into effect later this year. However, implementing regulations to include the patient and caregiver I.D. Card system may take until May of next year to go into effect. Unique among the 13 states with medicinal marijuana laws, covering a quarter of the U.S. population, Michigan's law recognizes the patient identifying documents of the 12 other states. The Ohio Patient Network salutes Michigan activists for their success with the hope that it will catch not only the attention of Congress but also the Ohio State Legislature. MEETING WITH OHIO SENATOR TOM ROBERTS The meeting of Ohio medical marijuana activists, called by Ohio Senator Tom Roberts (D-5), was held on November 6, 2008, in the Senate Minority Conference Room on the Southeast corner of the Ohio Statehouse. Excluding the Senator and his staff, around fifteen people participated in this meeting, including Ohio Patient Network officers Jeff Horvath, Nikki Plassenthal, and Mary Jane Borden, each of whom introduced themselves by their respective titles (Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer) and were recognized by the Senator as such. Others in attendance included Eleanor Ahrens, Christy Becker, Jim Cowen, Tonya Davis, Dennis Day and Dawn Dunlap (Ohio Patient Action Network); Damien Hardy (Senator Roberts' aide), Brian McCann, Cher Neufer, Ed Orlett (Drug Policy Alliance), and Penny Tipps (State street Consultants). Topics covered included LTEs; meetings with editorial boards; consumption (the Senator wanted to know how much patients typically consumed); Marinol and Sativex; possible pharmaceutical industry resistance; and opposition to the bill from government agencies. Medical marijuana advocates should be inspired by the harmony and unified purpose displayed at this meeting. OPN ANNUAL MEETING HELD ON MAY 31, 2008 The Ohio Patient Network held its Annual Meeting on Saturday, May 31, 2008, at the offices of the Columbus Free Press at 1000 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH. Forty-three people participated in this meeting to elect the organization's officers for the coming year. After the meeting, OPN Past President, Mary Jane Borden commented, "This is a very special board. Well over half of the original co-founders came together to seat this board, which includes three of them in the positions of President, Vice President, and Treasurer." Board President Brandy Zink said that she looks forward to setting the organization on a course to better achieve its goals and be of service to patients. "With the introduction of the Ohio Medical Compassion Act, there is a greater need for educational resources from a credible, professional organization such as the Ohio Patient Network. The OPN Board Members are listed at http://www.ohiopatient.net/v2/content/view/16/34/ RIGHT, MORAL AND GOOD It has been said that we are living in a time of great change. There are new voices in Washington, the legislature, and even in the world of activism. If we could offer leadership advice at this pivotal moment, we wish that change, which has been given so much lip service, would be based on the principle of right, moral, and good. We encourage leadership to weigh decision making and subsequent action using this three-legged principle. Right, moral, and good means: Right: Right refers to the information on which decisions are made and asks if that fact base is correct. What are the holes in it and where might it be potentially wrong? Is the information on which actions are planned logical? Does it pass the smell or common sense test? Can it be substantiated by independent, third party sources? Right is not a feeling; it is the truth and cold hard facts that withstand repeated tests to discredit them. Moral: Morality concerns principles of conduct. For moral teachings, we often look to the Golden Rule or the 10 Commandments. The Golden Rule quite simply states, "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." As most people don't seek harm, we should behave toward others as we would want them behave toward us. The 10 Commandments also provide a moral compass. "Do not bear false witness against your neighbor" - don't lie. "Do not steal" - don't take things that aren't yours. "Do not covet." - don't desire or scheme to obtain that which belongs to another. Morality doesn't equate to any specific religion or doctrine; all religions have their tests of moral conduct. Still, moral conduct pivots on the query: does action find its roots in lies, harm, theft, or greed? Would I want to be treated this way? Good: Good is actually a two-part test. There is the definition of good as beneficial and also good as of high quality. The beneficial test of good deals with well being. Good draws a direct line to positivity, prosperity, health, and vitality. It easily bridges to its benefits to others through the greater good. Good being of high quality equates to functional excellence. When something is good, all parts work, all pieces fit together, beauty radiates, and intended results are achieved. In both definitions, good refers to a plural or to the larger whole. As a two-part test, good asks, is action both beneficial to and functional for the larger whole and for the greater good? The right, moral, and good paradigm of decision making is a three legged stool that will topple when one leg becomes compromised. Actions cannot be moral or good if their fact base is lacking. They are neither right nor good if based in lies, theft, or greed. They can't be right or moral, if they function improperly or harm overall well being. We encourage leadership both nationally and locally to weigh these three tenets in the decision making process and as it considers actions based on this process. If we are to engender change at this pivotal time, then change should mend the rips and tears in our culture. Engaging in thinking that is right, moral, and good - holistically - gives all of us the best chance of achieving the results that we all want and for which we chanted change in the first place. You may wish to read another essay on this topic, "On Harmony," http://www.ohiopatient.net/v2/content/view/817/2/ You can also participate in an online discussion about it on our forum at http://www.ohiopatientnetwork.org/zot/viewtopic.php?t=535.

Kentucky: Formerly Disenfranchised Voters Chronicle their Election Day Experience Kentuckians for the Commonwealth currently features on its Web site a host of stories of first-time voters who participated in Election Day after having been disenfranchised. Chronicling his experience, Carl Matthews wrote: "Yes, for the first time in my entire life I felt empowered. I voted to make better lives for myself and others. I have never voted anywhere in these United States. Today was my day. And what a great start to a new life!" Tayna Fogle, who voted for the first time after the state revoked her voting rights in 2004, joined her 26-year-old son who registered this year. "I was the 11th person in line at 6am," she stated. " ... All the way up until I saw my name on the list, I was afraid that they'd turn me away for some reason, and I can't explain why. My heart was beating fast and I got a little teary-eyed." International: Government is Warned that Inmate Voting Must Be Allowed The British government must take action in reforming legislation which will allow the country's 84,000 incarcerated individuals to vote in the next election, the Guardian reported. Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights warned the government that the next election will pose a "constitutional crisis" that needs to be addressed immediately. The challenge comes in response to a 2005 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that a blanket denial of voting rights to people in prison is unlawful. The Ministry of Justice stated that: "A legislative solution can and should be introduced during the next parliamentary session. If the government fails to meet this timetable, there is a significant risk that the next general election will take place in a way that fails to comply with the convention and at least part of the prison population will be unlawfully disenfranchised. Commenting on the legislation delay, the Prison Reform Trust, which campaigns on behalf of prisoners, stated, 'This mean-minded, foot-dragging approach... calls into question the government's commitment to social inclusion, citizenship and human rights." Florida: Voting for the First time in at Least 30 Years Before this month, Florida resident Joe Walker last voted 30 years ago. He was sent to prison for two years in 1979 and lost his voting rights, the Fernandina Beach News Leader reported. Now 71, Walker was able to participate in the election this year due to Florida's recent change allowing citizens with non-violent offenses to vote. National: Familial Disenfranchisement Voter disenfranchisement was featured in an article entitled the "Barriers of Democracy," highlighted on the Evangelicals for Social Action Web site. The article stated that many formerly incarcerated citizens are raising families and working and deserve a chance to cast their vote. "Like most parents, they want to be able to vote to improve schools, infrastructure, and government. The myriad and complex disenfranchisement laws make this impossible for many. Imagine what generational effect this has on a convict's children when they see their father or mother excluded from voting." - - - - - - Help The Sentencing Project continue to bring you news and updates on disenfranchisement! Make a contribution today. Contact Information -- e-mail: [email protected], web: http://www.sentencingproject.org

[Courtesy of Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) and Sensible Colorado] For Immediate Release: November 13, 2008 More Than 250 Citizens From Across Colorado to Attend "Marijuana Boot Camp" at Regis University in Denver This Saturday (11/15) Current and future activists from every region -- Durango to Greeley, Gunnison to Aurora -- expected to converge on "Ground Zero for Marijuana Policy Reform" for massive grassroots training Denver groups coordinating the event to offer panels featuring elected officials, policy wonks, journalists, and professional advocates DENVER -- This Saturday, November 15, hundreds of current and future marijuana activists from across Colorado will gather in the Main Dining Hall of the Regis University Student Center for a first-of-its-kind "Marijuana Boot Camp." The free daylong training event is open to the public and will serve as a launching pad for citizen activism and reform efforts throughout the state in 2009. Denver-based groups Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) and Sensible Colorado are co-hosting the event -- officially titled the "2008 Colorado Marijuana Reform Seminar & Activist Boot Camp" -- and will provide attendees with grassroots training and materials they can take home and implement in their communities. Sessions and panels will focus on strategy, communications, citizen lobbying, grassroots outreach, the media, and the nature of state and local marijuana laws. Panelists from around Colorado will include state and local elected officials, policy analysts from "left-" and "right-wing" organizations, print and on-line journalists, advocacy and communications professionals, and a biology professor/researcher. "The 2008 campaign season only just ended for most people," said SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert. "But for the growing number of Coloradans committed to reforming state and local marijuana laws, the 2009 campaign season has already begun. Our first goal -- to disprove the myth that marijuana makes people less motivated -- has clearly already been accomplished." The event will build on the 630,000-plus Colorado voters who supported a 2006 initiative to remove all state penalties for private adult marijuana possession, as well as the growing majorities that approved two similar initiatives in the state's capitol. Several Colorado organizations have also become more vocal in their support for reform, and some -- such as the ACLU of Colorado -- are participating in Saturday's Marijuana Boot Camp. "A coalition of Colorado citizens, organizations, businesses, and elected officials has begun to emerge," Tvert said, "and an army of supporters is forming around the state. Its mission: educate Colorado communities about the fact that marijuana is safer than alcohol, and build support for laws that reflect that fact." "Colorado is already far ahead of the national curve when it comes to our citizens' attitudes and efforts surrounding marijuana law reform," Tvert said. "This event will expand on those positive attitudes, fuel even more efforts across the state, and quicken the pace toward safer, more sensible marijuana laws in Colorado and beyond." WHAT: 2008 Colorado Marijuana Reform Seminar & Activist Boot Camp WHEN: This Saturday, November 15, official welcome at 9:45 a.m., culmination at 5 p.m. WHERE: The Main Dining Hall in the Student Center, Regis University, 3333 Regis Blvd., Denver (Student Center is on west edge of campus -- See Building "N" at: http://www.regis.edu/regis.asp?sctn=loc&p1=lc&p2=parking ) WHO: More than 250 current and future activists from across Colorado have registered to attend