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Golden Oldies: Newly-rediscovered stories worth repeating by Bob Weeks on March 20, 2010 |
08.27.12: Medical Marijuana Bill Introduced in Kentucky 08.25.12: Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative Polling Well 08.17.12: Can Pot Treat Cancer Without The Devastating Effects of Chemotherapy? 08.06.12: ND likely to debate medical marijuana proposal 08.03.12: Congresswoman Sponsors Legislation to End Federal Crackdown on Medical Marijuana 07.24.12: Oakland to President Obama: Change Your Ways! 07.17.12: Federal Medical Marijuana "Truth in Trials Act" Reintroduced 07.11.12: Pelosi Suggests Movement Post-Election on Medical Marijuana 07.05.12: Medical Marijuana Without the High 07.05.12: Medical Marijuana Update from StoptheDrugWar.org 07.03.12: Government-Sponsored Study Destroys DEA's Classification of Marijuana as 'Medically Useless' 06.20.12: Medical Cannabis Helps ALS Patient Outlive her Own Doctors 06.20.12: Medical Marijuana Legalization Not Accompanied By Increases in Teen Cannabis Use 06.18.12: LA Hospital Denies Life-Saving Organ Transplant to Medical Pot User (Again) 06.11.12: What's the Matter With (Some) Kansas Cops? 05.16.12: Medical Marijuana Update from StoptheDrugWar.org 05.16.12: Poll Finds Medical Marijuana Laws For States Supported By More Than 2/3 Of Republicans 05.15.12: Drug Sentencing Reform Bill Passes in Kansas 05.09.12: House of Representatives Votes Down Defunding Medical Marijuana Raids 05.02.12: Medical Marijuana Update from StoptheDrugWar.org 04.25.12: NH Republicans Pass Medical Marijuana in Spite of Democrat Governor’s Veto Threat 04.25.12: Medical Marijuana Update from StoptheDrugWar.org 04.18.12: Two Years After Medical Marijuana Law, New Jersey Finally Grants Its First Growing Permit 04.18.12: Medical Marijuana Update from StoptheDrugWar.org 04.11.12: Oregon's Medical Marijuana Program: Still Smokin' but Drawing Fire 04.11.12: Medical Marijuana Update from StoptheDrugWar.org
04.04.12: Medical Marijuana Update from StoptheDrugWar.org
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Kansas Voters Deserve the TRUTH About Medical Marijuana The 2012 Kansas Legislative Session is over, once again without passing or even taking a serious look at medical cannabis (MC) legislation, although the Kansas House Health and Human Services Committee did grant the issue an "informational hearing." The redistricting debaucle, followed by a general election this fall, means that when the 2013 session of the Kansas Legislature convenes early next year it's pretty much anyone's guess as to who will comprise our new legislative body.
This means that NOW is the perfect time to make our case via letters to editors (LTEs) around the state. There's no better way to get a message publicized. The opinion pages are the most-read section of any newspaper. BONUS: It's an election year and many more voters will be paying attention to candidates and public forums. Medical cannabis is the topic of discussion more often than ever. This is a perfect chance to inform likely Kansas voters about the benefits of medicinal cannabis. They need to know that medical marijuana has made its way into the mainstream, is here to stay, and it's okay to talk about it--even in Kansas.
Just When You Think It Can't Get Any Worse... We were recently contacted by a Colorado medical cannabis patient who was traveling through Kansas on vacation. This innocent patient was snagged by the I-70 Drug Task Force near Salina and ended up being charged with distribution, possession, absent tax stamp, and his/her Colorado Medical Cannabis ID card and medical-grade cannabis were confiscated as 'evidence.' The victim's first court date is in August. Meanwhile, s/he will not have access to her/his medicine except through the black market. Until we can get enough people motivated to work with us to change Kansas law, this scenario is likely to be repeated indefinitely--while good people continue to suffer without the medicine that would likely significantly improve the quality of their lives. If you think this is outrageous and would like to help end such practices please call or write to your state representatives, tell them about this incident and urge them to change the law to protect patients. At last, a presidential candidate we can support! 12/22/2011: Former GOP presidential candidate Gary Johnson, also former two-term governor of New Mexico, has announced plans to pursue the presidency as a Libertarian. Johnson was a popular governor who was instrumental in getting NM's medical marijuana measure passed. Read more here and please support Johnson in his bid for the presidency. This country needs him badly! Enlightening Elephants 7/21/11: On July 15, Dr Jon Hauxwell spoke to the Wichita Pachyderm Club about medical cannabis. This was a BIG gig! For those who aren't familiar with the Pachyderm Club, it is an association of ultra-conservative movers and shakers around Wichita. We were prepared for a frosty reception from club members, but they surprised us with a warm welcome, most attendees seemed to be quite interested in the subject matter and several had good, thoughtful questions. Dr H's presentation was perfect for this crowd--thank you, Doc, for a job very well done. Remember, your group can engage Dr H or one of our other qualified speakers; just get in touch with our speaker booker, Tom Ballard and he will be happy to assist you in setting up your engagement. Feds Turn Up Heat 5/11/2011: Evidently feeling threatened by so many states considering medical cannabis legislation, the Obama administration has reneged on its October 2009 promise not to waste precious resources on raiding MC clinics, dispensaries and grow operations in states which have legalized cannabis for medical use. Several recent raids have been conducted by DEA agents in California, Oregon, Washington and other states which have enacted medical cannabis ordinances. Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-morgan/obama-medical-marijuana_b_857852.html or http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/05/04/exclusive-doj-plan-to-arrest-state-licensers-tax-dispensaries-could-doom-medical-marijuana-industry/ Please contact your representatives in Washington and tell them to stop this outrageous activity immediately. What Now for Kansas? Message from Acting Director As Acting Director of the Kansas Medical Cannabis Network (medcankan), I see the upcoming lull in political activity in Topeka as the perfect opportunity to further raise awareness of the medical cannabis/marijuana issue among Kansas voters. We have a span of several months--basically over the summer and on through the November election--to enlighten and inform as many Kansas voters as we possibly can. Fortunately, we know how to do that. We have knowledgeable speakers ready and willing to get out and talk to groups of likely voters around the state. (This is how the highly-respected advocacy group, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition [LEAP] built itself into the powerful force it is today. I know this because as a volunteer during their formative years my primary task was to research and compile contact data for organizations that might be willing to listen to LEAP's controversial message. (continue) Progress Report 9/9/11: It's time to clear up the confusion: the Kansas Medical Cannabis Network IS "medcankan." At a recent "reorganizational meeting" of KMC Network's inner circle, members decided that our nickname, medcankan, should represent our web presence and our longer, more formal, name will continue to be featured on handouts and other printed materials.
During the meeting we discussed and reaffirmed our focus on cannabis for medical use only. We discussed changing roles within the group but made no changes at this time.
This is quite a laundry list. Obviously, we'll need a lot of help. At this time, our core membership stands at seven. I wonder how long it would take the seven of us to achieve these goals? Can you help? We have many crucial tasks that can be done anonymously, if that's what is stopping you from volunteering with us. Please think about it. Thank you.
While some of these organizations might advocate a broader relaxation of Kansas cannabis/marijuana laws than this network actually does, the bottom line is that if/when these groups are successful who benefits the most? The people who have been suffering needlessly for so long---chronically ill Kansas residents.
This is why we, along with
Wichita Area Citizens for Medical Marijuana and Johnson County NORML (JoCoNORML) extend a warm welcome to these groups as we unite and work together for seriously ill Kansas patients and those who love and care for them.
If you would like to get involved, please contact any of these groups, and thank you very much for supporting our work.
We can't all expect to get results like this, of course, but the tide is turning and it's thanks to efforts like this one, carried out by one desperate but law-abiding patient who had recently been told he's on his last legs--literally. This one brave man went to bat for every patient in the state. He deserves our undying gratitude---and our help. Now let's see what the rest of us can do!
We are targeting civic clubs (Lions, Rotary clubs), senior citizen groups, hospices, medical groups, cancer and MS support groups, etc., and any others we might convince to listen to us. We're beginning to get the engagements, but to be really effective we need more people willing to get out and tell their stories in person to the people of their own and nearby communities.
If you are a patient or caregiver with a medical cannabis story to tell, please let us know right away and we'll do our best to keep you as busy as you want to be.
As Dr H began to speak, several attendees tried to appear disinterested, but as he continued to speak they appeared to become interested in his words in spite of themselves.
Several good questions were asked and answered, and a few folks with more questions stayed to speak with the doc afterward. The club has even invited him to talk to them again one of these days.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Doc.
If you would like Dr H or another of our speakers to talk to your group, please contact us and we'll see what we can do.
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