Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
Two new posts on the ASA blog:
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Colorado Victory for Patients is Emblematic of Move by States to Address Distribution of Medical Marijuana
“Nearly 200 supporters of safe access to medical marijuana testified Monday at a 12-hour hearing before the Colorado State Board of Health to oppose a proposal aimed at curtailing the centralized distribution of medical marijuana. Fortunately, the Board of Health took heed of the overwhelming objection and voted 5-4 to table a proposal that would limit caregivers to 5 patients. The proposal also required caregivers to assist patients in ways that would be impractical for many medical marijuana providers. The decision, which paves the way for increased access to medical marijuana through safe and affordable distribution, was cheered by the roomful of hundreds of supporters…”
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Drug Czar Gets it Wrong — “Medicinal Benefit” of Marijuana is Clear
“Gil Kerlikowske, the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the country’s new Drug Czar was in Fresno, California this week for Operation S.O.S. (Save Our Sierras). The multi-agency effort to eradicate marijuana in eastern Fresno County has nothing to do with medical marijuana. However, that did not stop Kerlikowske from declaring (erroneously) to the Fresno Bee that marijuana ‘has no medicinal benefit’…”
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Friday, May 22nd, 2009
I am in Denver this weekend speaking at the five-year anniversary celebration for Sensible Colorado, a grassroots organization founded by Colorado professionals and parents to research, educate, and advocate for effective drug policy. Sensible Colorado has been instrumental in implementing the state’s medical cannabis law since voters adopted Amendment 20 in 2000.
Patients, advocates, and lawmakers there are grappling with many of the same issues that we have encountered here in California – how best to distribute medicine, prevent abuse, and enforce the law. In response to pressure from Sensible Colorado and other advocates, the Board of Health recently postponed a vote that would have limited primary caregivers to supplying medicine to only five patients each. That would have been a stumbling block for the state’s nascent dispensary system, which has grown tremendously in recent years.
I was encouraged to see thousands of people marching for cannabis and medical cannabis law reform when I last visited Denver for the Democratic National Convention in 2008. This kind of grassroots organizing bodes well for patients in the state. I encourage those in Colorado and across the nation to support Sensible Colorado and the important work they are doing.
Readers in Colorado are welcome to join us for the anniversary celebration at the Atlantis Community Center located at 201 S. Cherokee St., Denver 80223. The celebration will be on Saturday, May 23, from 6-9:00 PM, with an awards ceremony at 7:00 PM. Light hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served. This is a free non-smoking event.
You can also visit Sensible Colorado online or call (720) 890-4247 for more information
Posted in Medical Marijuana Information | 1 Comment »
