Coalition for Medical Marijuana -- New Jersey, Inc.: March Minutes and Press Release

Monthly Public Meeting Minutes

Lawrence Township Library

Tuesday, March 10, 2009; 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

7:20 PM:  Meeting called to order.  February 2009 minutes approved.  Discussion:

Ø  CMMNJ supporters are urged to contact your assembly representative now to show your support for A804, “The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.”  The final steps to passing this bill into law will be the votes the New Jersey Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee and in the full assembly.  When will the NJ Assembly act on this Senate-approved bill that Gov. Corzine said he will sign into law when it gets to his desk?  There are no more assembly health committee hearings scheduled until May and June 2009.   The legislature then breaks for the summer and returns in the fall.  Let’s stop arresting patients and stop needless suffering as soon as possible.     

Ø  Chris Goldstein and CMMNJ gave a medical marijuana seminar at Rutgers University/Camden Law School on 2/18/09.  (CMMNJ plans to return to R.U./Camden for Law Day on 4/4/09 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM.)  Other medical marijuana seminars are planned for Collingswood Public Library on 3/21/09 from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM, and the PhillyNORML meeting on 3/19/09 at 7:30 PM.  Follow Goldstein’s blogs about medical marijuana in New Jersey at salon.com.  Jim Miller appeared on My9New York’s TV show, “New Jersey Now” on 3/8/09 at 12 noon.  You may listen to the live senate debate from 2/23/09 and hear CMMNJ’s comments on MyFoxPhillyChannel 29.  CMMNJ appeared on WIFI 1460 AM Talk Radio in Burlington County, NJ on 2/12/09 and plans to appear again on 3/12/09 at 4:00 PM.  CMMNJ has possible appearances scheduled for 4/18, 4/20, and 5/2/09.  Letters requesting support were sent to the national and NJ Elks (BPOE) and Communications Workers of America (CWA).      

Ø  The Drug Policy Alliance, Patients Out of Time  & NORML NJ  are actively supporting A804.  CMMNJ has new photos, etc. on Facebook and Facebook Friends of CMMNJ.

Ø  Treasury report: Checking account - $2,039.45; PayPal account - $640.15.  Help us raise funds by buying Wristbands/$2, T-shirts/$15, Lapel Pins and DVDs/$10 each. Also, consider a tax-deductible donation to CMMNJ, an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) organization.  Donations may be made securely through Paypal or checks made out to “CMMNJ” and sent to corporate headquarters at the address below.  At the March 10, 2009 meeting, CMMNJ received $136 in donations.  Thank you.   

9:00 PM Adjourn meeting.

Upcoming CMMNJ meetings are: April 14, 2009, May 12, 2009, & June 9, 2009.  CMMNJ meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM at the Lawrence Twp. Library, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Twp., NJ (Tel. #609.882.9246).  All are welcome.  Snacks are served.  (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

844 Spruce St., Trenton, NJ 08648

(609) 394-2137 [email protected]