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Medical Marijuana

MAPS/WAMM Day @ Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing

Join MAPS (http://www.maps.org/) and WAMM (http://www.wamm.org/) at the Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing (http://www.santacruzmountainbrewing.com/).

SCMB will be donating $1 for every beer sold to our organizations, so this is a great way to enjoy a local, organic beer while supporting two great organizations at the same time!

Meet your favorite staff members!
...
Come for the beer, stay for the good feeling of helping. Don't forget to tell your friends and bring them along too!

Sacramento cannabis kumbaya: Marijuana shops get reprieve

Good news for Sacramento's patients! After long tumultuous debate, the Sacramento City Council voted to pursue the most liberal of three options for permitting and governing dispensaries. In the end, all 39 dispensaries that registered with the city by last summer have a chance to obtain special permits to stay in operation.
Steve Deangelo and James Anthony, Oakland City Council Meeting
Steve Deangelo and James Anthony, Oakland City Council Meeting

Oakland Okays Indoor Medical Marijuana Mega-Farms (FEATURE)

The city of Oakland is about to take medical marijuana production to a new level. It just passed an ordinance that will allow for four city-permitted industrial-scale cultivation operations. Small- and medium-scale growers have not been included in the scheme yet, and while council members have said they will address that, the community is concerned and speaking out about it.

Press Release: Rhode Island to Hold Hearings on Medical Marijuana Compassion Center Applications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                                 

JUNE 28, 2010

Rhode Island to Hold Hearings on Medical Marijuana Compassion Center Applications

Rhode Island Moves to Expand Patient Access Through Non-Profit Distribution Centers, While Patients in Nearby States Continue to Suffer Without Effective Relief

CONTACT: Mike Meno, MPP director of communications …………… 202-905-2030 or [email protected]

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND — Rhode Island’s department of health will hold public hearings tomorrow to review and receive comments on 15 applicants to open the state’s first medical marijuana compassion centers, which will operate as nonprofit entities to safely and securely distribute medical marijuana to qualified patients in the state. According to recently released figures, Rhode Island has 1,562 medical marijuana patients who are currently required to grow their own medicine or have caregivers grow it for them. State officials plan to open up to three compassion centers to dispense medicine to qualified patients and improve their access.   

         WHAT: Public hearings on applicants to operate compassion centers in Rhode Island

         WHEN: Tuesday, June 29, at 10 a.m.

         WHERE: Department of Health auditorium, 3 Capitol Hill, Providence, Rhode Island

         If necessary, a continuation hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 30, at the same time and location. Any applicants who are granted a compassion center license will be required to pay a $2,500 licensing fee. The health department is expected to announce the first grant recipients in about a month. Once applicants are approved, Rhode Island will join New Mexico and Colorado as medical marijuana states that have state-licensed dispensary systems. Similar regulated dispensary programs are planned to be implemented soon in Maine, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.  A bill that would create a dispensary system in Vermont passed through three committees this legislative session, but didn’t receive a floor vote.

         Since 1996, 14 states and the District of Columbia passed medical marijuana laws. New medical marijuana legislation was introduced in more than a dozen additional states this year, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maryland, and Delaware. 

            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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Press Release: Colorado Petitioners Seek Medical Marijuana Access for PTSD Patients

MEDIA ADVISORY                                                                                                                                               

JULY 6, 2010

Colorado Petitioners Seek Medical Marijuana Access for PTSD Patients

At Rally Tomorrow, Veterans Will Submit Petition to Colorado Health Officials to Add PTSD to State’s Medical Marijuana Law

CONTACT: Brian Vicente, Sensible Colorado: 720-280-4067 or [email protected]; or Mike Meno, MPP director of communications: 202-905-2030 or [email protected]

 

SOUTH DENVER, COLORADO — Tomorrow, Wednesday, July 7, the medical marijuana advocacy group Sensible Colorado and local veterans will hold a press conference and rally to coincide with the official submission of a petition to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment that would add post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, to the list of conditions eligible for medical marijuana recommendations in Colorado. The petition is being filed on behalf of Denver resident Kevin Grimsinger, a retired Army sergeant who served in Kosovo, Operation Desert Storm and Afghanistan. As detailed in a recent Denver Post article, Grimsinger suffers from PTSD related to stepping on a landmine in Afghanistan. Numerous studies, including a 2007 study in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, have found that marijuana can be an effective treatment for severe PTSD symptoms—a condition suffered by 20 percent of soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, according to 2008 RAND Corporation study.

         Despite such findings, earlier this year, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment actively lobbied members of the state legislature to oppose an amendment that would have allowed individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder to have access to medical marijuana, if they have a recommendation from a psychiatrist. In 2009, the New Mexico Department of Health added PTSD to the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana patients in that state after a recommendation of approval from an advisory board of eight medical practitioners, who examined the evidence and determined that the use of marijuana by patients with PTSD could be a beneficial treatment option, if used in accordance with a recommendation from a psychiatrist.

         WHAT: Press conference and rally to support medical marijuana access for PTSD patients

         WHEN: Wednesday, July 7, at 11 a.m.

         WHERE: 4300 Cherry Creek Drive, South Denver (CO Dept. of Public Health and Environment)

         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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Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc.: July 2010 Agenda & June Minutes



Monthly Public Meeting Agenda
Lawrence Twp. Library (Mercer County) Room #3
Tuesday, July 13, 2010; 7:00 PM -- 9:00 PM

7:00 PM:  Call meeting to order.   Approve May 2010 minutes.  Discuss:

NJ Senate and Assembly approved a 90-day delay in implementing the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, which was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2010.  CMMNJ held a rally & press conference to oppose the delay on 6/17 in Jersey City.  More amendments to come? See NBC coverage of the issue.  Send a pre-written letter to your NJ legislator today opposing any more changes to the law.   CMMNJ received a reply from DHSS.

Report from Jahan Marcu, a cannabinoid researcher from Temple U. School of Medicine.

Cures Not Wars press conference at Manhattan City Hall steps, Thurs., 7/8, from 10-11 AM.

Upcoming CMMNJ events: MS Patients Support Group in Livingston, NJ, 7/12/10 @ 7 pm;  Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ, 7/31/10, 8pm--12 MN;  Rittenhouse Square Concert Series 8/6, 8/13 & 8/20; Stakeholders Meeting with ASA's Steph Sherer 8/21 10-4PM; NJ League of Municipalities, 11/15-18/10.  Volunteers needed for upcoming events.

Treasury report: Checking: $4,387.71; PayPal: $2,017.43.  Tax-deductible donations to CMMNJ, a 501(c)(3) public charity may be made through Paypal on our web site, or send a check made out to "CMMNJ" to the address below.  Get a free t-shirt for a donation above $15—specify size.  (100 new t-shirts received--$700; 500 magnets ordered--$170.)
  
CMMNJ's scheduled meetings are the second Tuesday of each month at the Lawrence Twp. Library from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM.  All are welcome.  Snacks are served.  The library is at 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Twp., Tel. #609.882.9246.   (Meeting at the library does not imply their endorsement of our issue.)  For more info, contact:

Ken Wolski, RN, MPA
Executive Director, Coalition for Medical Marijuana—New Jersey, Inc. www.cmmnj.org
219 Woodside Ave.
Trenton, NJ 08618    
(609) 394-2137 [email protected]



 
 
Monthly Public Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, June 8 2010; 7:00 PM -- 9:00 PM
Lawrence Twp. Library, Mercer County, NJ

7:00 PM:  Call meeting to order.   May 2010 minutes approved.   Discussion:

The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act is scheduled to take effect in July 2010.  Gov. Christie asks for 6 -- 12 month delay.  CMMNJ held a press conference June 4, 2010 on the State House steps in Trenton to say "no" to the delay.  Chris Goldstein gave a review of the media coverage. 

CMMNJ's supporters are asked to tell NJ state officials to implement the law as written.  Contact Governor Christie: http://www.nj.gov/governor/contact/
Contact DHSS Commissioner Alaigh: http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/dhss/contact/contact.pl?page=marijuana  CMMNJ is sending another letter to DHSS. 

NORML will be asked to provide a Capwiz letter to send to legislators.  (Request to have a Roll Call of legislative supporters on web site.)  Steve C.
detailed how he suffers from Crohn's Disease without access to marijuana while paying exorbitant prices for less effective pharmaceuticals.  Several LTE's already published.  Diane Forrnbacher is coordinating Patients Advisory Group.  Svet Milic, Peter Rosenfeld & Frank Fulbrook are coordinating the ATC Advisory Board.

Events:  New Jersey State Nurses Assn. "Medical Marijuana Breakfast" was postponed.  Excellent front page article in the May/June 2010 edition of The American Nurse, "Exploring the science of medical marijuana."  Report of successful Gay Pride Parade on 6/6/10 in Asbury Park.  

Upcoming CMMNJ events:; Jersey City Press Conference, 6/17/10 at City Hall, 1:00 PM; Southern Shore Music Festival, 6/19/10, Bridgeton, NJ, noon to 8 PM; Project Freedom Wellness Fair, Lawrence Twp., 6/22/10 3 pm to 7 pm; MS Patients Support Group in Livingston, NJ, 7/12/10 @ 7 pm;  Dingbatz in
Clifton, NJ, 7/31/10, 8pm--12 MN;  NJ League of Municipalities, Atlantic City, 11/15-18/10.  Board to discuss Rittenhouse Sq. Concert series.

Treasury report: Checking: $2,789.79; PayPal: $2640.34. More magnets & t-shirts ordered. 

CMMNJ's scheduled meetings are the second Tuesday of each month at the Lawrence Twp. Library from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM.  All are welcome.  Snacks are served.  The library is at 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Twp., Tel. #609.882.9246.   (Meeting at the library does not imply their endorsement of our issue.)  For more info, contact: Ken Wolski, RN, MPA, 219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618     (609) 394-2137 [email protected] www.cmmnj.org

Help Vets: Reform Events THIS WEEK

Get Active! 

Marijuana Reform Events this Week.

 

 

Help our Veterans

 

(1) Press Conference and Rally to Support Medical Marijuana Access for PTSD Victims

 

 WHAT:  Sensible Colorado and local veterans have teamed up to submit an official petition to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to add Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, known as PTSD, to the list of conditions eligible for medical marijuana recommendations.  On submission day we will be holding a rally and press conference to support this important cause!

WHEN: Wednesday July 7, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: 4300 Cherry Creek Drive, South, Denver, CO (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)

HOW YOU CAN HELP:  Attend the Rally!  Tell your friends!  Forward this email! 

 

(2)  Sensible Colorado Fundraiser at Quixote's in Denver

 WHAT:  Music, Legal and Educational Seminars, BBQ and more!  Proceeds to benefit Sensible Colorado and event organized by Denver Relief.  Click for more info HERE

WHEN:  Sunday, July 11 from 2:00pm to Midnight (legal seminars begin at 6:00pm)

WHERE:  Quixote's True Blue, 2151 Lawrence St., Denver 80205

 

(3) Medical Marijuana Update: 

 Please note that the Health Department has developed new "patient application forms" which are available HERE.  We suggest that all new patients and renewals begin using these forms immediately.

 

 

 

Press Release: ACLU Sues Wal-Mart on Behalf of Cancer Patient Fired for Legally Using Medical Marijuana

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2010 CONTACT: (212) 549-2666, [email protected] ACLU Sues Wal-Mart On Behalf Of Cancer Patient Fired For Legally Using Medical Marijuana Michigan State Law Passed In 2008 Protects Employees Who Use Marijuana To Treat Debilitating Diseases BATTLE CREEK, MI - The American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Michigan, in partnership with the law firm of Daniel W. Grow, PLLC, filed a lawsuit today against Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the manager of its Battle Creek store for wrongfully firing an employee for using medicinal marijuana in accordance with state law to treat the painful symptoms of an inoperable brain tumor and cancer. The lawsuit charges that Joseph Casias, 30, the Battle Creek Wal-Mart's 2008 Associate of the Year, was fired from his job at the store after testing positive for marijuana, despite being legally registered to use the drug under Michigan's medical marijuana law. In accordance with state law, Casias never ingested marijuana while at work and never worked while under the influence of marijuana. "Medical marijuana has had a life-changing positive effect for Joseph, but Wal-Mart made him pay a stiff and unfair price for his medicine," said Scott Michelman, staff attorney with the ACLU. "No patient should be forced to choose between adequate pain relief and gainful employment, and no employer should be allowed to intrude upon private medical choices made by employees in consultation with their doctors." Casias has suffered for more than a decade from sinus cancer and a brain tumor in the back of his head and neck that was the size of a softball when it was first diagnosed. His condition has forced him to endure extensive treatment and chemotherapy, interferes with his ability to speak and is a source of severe and constant pain. Nonetheless, he had been successfully employed for more than five years by Wal-Mart in Battle Creek, where he began as an entry-level grocery stocker in 2004 and worked his way up to inventory control manager. "For some people, working at Wal-Mart is just a job, but for me, it was a way of life," said Joseph. "I came to Wal-Mart for a better opportunity for my family and I worked hard and proved myself. I just want the opportunity to continue my work." In 2008, Michigan voters enacted the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, which provides protection for the medical use of the drug under state law. The pain medication Casias' oncologist had previously prescribed for him provided only minimal relief and as a side effect caused Casias to suffer from severe nausea. After the law was enacted, Joseph's oncologist recommended that he try marijuana as permitted by state law, and so Casias obtained the appropriate registry card from the Michigan Department of Community Health. The results were immediate and profound: his pain decreased dramatically, the new medicine did not induce nausea and Casias was able to gain back some of the weight he had lost during treatment. "Joseph is exactly the kind of person whom Michigan voters had in mind when they passed the state's medical marijuana law," said Daniel W. Grow, a St. Joseph, Michigan-based attorney. "Medical marijuana is legal in this state because voters recognized its ability to alleviate the pain, nausea and other symptoms associated with debilitating medical conditions, and no corporation doing business in Michigan should be permitted to flout state law." Michigan's medical marijuana law protects patients registered with the state of Michigan from "arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner" for the use of medicinal marijuana as prescribed by a doctor and also protects employees from being disciplined for their use of medical marijuana in accordance with the law. The law does not require employers to accommodate the ingestion of marijuana in the workplace and does not protect employees who work under the influence of the drug. The outcome of today's lawsuit, filed in Calhoun County Circuit Court, could have ramifications beyond Michigan. "Today, 14 states and the District of Columbia provide protections for patients who use marijuana as recommended by a doctor," said Kary L. Moss, Executive Director of the ACLU of Michigan. "This case will be closely watched by patients across the country who rely on this medicine for pain relief and on their state laws for protection against unscrupulous employers." Lawyers on the case include Grow, Michelman, Moss and Dan Korobkin and Michael J. Steinberg of the ACLU of Michigan. A copy of the today's complaint is available online at: www.aclu.org/drug-law-reform/casias-v-wal-mart-complaint Additional information about the ACLU's work to reform drug laws is available online at: www.aclu.org/drug-law-reform Additional information about the ACLU of Michigan is available online at: www.aclumich.org.
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