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Medical Marijuana

Pennsylvania Dept. Of Health Asking for Patient Input on Medical Marijuana Regulations

Dec 08, 2016 Becky Dansky

Department of Health, dispensary, PA, patients, Pennsylvania, permits, processor, survey

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has asked patients and caregivers to complete a brief survey to help gauge public interest in the medical marijuana program. The responses will be considered as part of the process of drafting medical marijuana regulations relating to patients and doctors.
The patient survey takes less than five minutes to complete and asks just 12 questions, including where you live in Pennsylvania,255px-flag_of_pennsylvania-svg what condition you seek to treat, and the types of treatments in which you are interested. You can also submit comments about the implementation process.
The Department of Health is also seeking public input from individuals interested in applying for a grower/ processor and/or dispensary permit — that survey is available here. The department is seeking to engage the community to determine both the level of interest in seeking these permits and where potential applicants intend to open these types of facilities.
Your answers to these surveys will be considered in the drafting of regulations related to doctors and patients.
MPP will continue to advocate for the strongest possible medical marijuana program for patients, but we need your help. Make sure Pennsylvania’s program includes you and your loved ones by completing the patient survey by December 14.

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Tax and Regulate

Delaware Activist Training Event in Wilmington on Dec. 10

Dec 08, 2016 Maggie Ellinger-Locke

DE, Delaware, Delaware Cannabis Policy Coalition, Wilmington, Wilmington Public Library

When the Delaware Legislature’s 2017 session begins on January 10, reformers expect lawmakers to take a serious look at ending cannabis prohibition. In order to move this important issue forward, we need to grow our team of effective advocates. That’s where you come in!dcpc_logo_348
Please join the Marijuana Policy Project on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 1 – 5 p.m. at the Wilmington Public Library for an activist training to sharpen your citizen lobbying skills! RSVPs are not required, but they are appreciated — you can do so here.
We have lots to talk about, including the contents of the proposed legislation and how the legislative process works. We will also discuss messaging and offer tips on communicating with your lawmakers. Come and sharpen your skills as an organizer.
The library is located in downtown Wilmington. Please join us this Saturday at:
Wilmington Public Library
DuPont Room (Second Floor)
10 E 10th Street
Wilmington, DE 19801

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Medical Marijuana

Comprehensive Medical Marijuana Bill Introduced in Texas

Dec 08, 2016 Heather Fazio

Arkansas, Compassionate Use Act, Jose MenŽndez, Montana, North Dakota, SB 269, Texas, THC, TX

On Dec. 6, Texas Senator Menéndez (D-San Antonio) pre-filed SB 269, a comprehensive medical cannabis bill. If passed, this legislation will bring safe and legal access to Texas patients with debilitating medical conditions like cancer, PTSD, chronic pain, and Crohn’s disease, among others.txas-map-flag
Last year, Texas passed the Compassionate Use Act, which was intended to allow access to low-THC cannabis for those with intractable epilepsy. Sen. Menéndez’s bill will make several improvements, including fixing a fatal flaw in the bill, allowing cannabis with any amount of THC, and expanding the law to include other qualifying conditions. As Senator Menéndez says, "Compassion should not be exclusive. Twenty-eight states have recognized the medical benefit of cannabis, including conservative states like Arkansas, Montana, and North Dakota ... It is time Texas steps up to the plate on behalf of our sickest patients."
Legislators need to hear from you. If you are a Texas resident, please take a moment to send an email to the lawmakers who represent you. If you have a personal story to share or medical experience that has led you to support medical cannabis, please personalize your letter. Your representative and senator cannot properly represent you if they don’t know you.

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Medical Marijuana

New York Closer to Allowing Medical Marijuana for Chronic Pain

Dec 05, 2016 Kate Bell

chronic pain, Department of Health, New York, NY, opioids

On Dec. 1, the New York Department of Health announced that it will add chronic pain as a qualifying condition for the medical marijuana program. It will publish proposed rules, “which will include language specifying the chronic pain conditions that would qualify for medical marijuana.”2000px-flag_of_new_york_city-svg
Under current law, patients only qualify if their pain is caused by one of a few qualifying conditions. Allowing medical cannabis for patients with chronic pain will vastly expand the number of seriously ill patients who can enroll in the program. Medical cannabis can reduce patients’ reliance on dangerous opioids and lead to a statewide reduction in opioid overdoes.
Once the Department of Health publishes its proposed rules, the public will have the opportunity to comment before they become final. Stay tuned for more information about how you can submit your comments, and please pass the good news on to other compassionate New Yorkers.

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Medical Marijuana

Minnesota Adds PTSD to Qualifying Conditions

Dec 05, 2016 Maggie Ellinger-Locke

Dr. Ed Ehlinger, Minnesota, Minnesota Commissioner of Health, MN, PTSD, topical

In a press conference last week, Dr. Ed Ehlinger, the Minnesota Commissioner of Health, announced the department will add post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis. Patients who suffer from PTSD and have their doctor’s certification will be eligible to sign up for a medical cannabis card beginning August 2017.flag_of_minnesota-svg
Dr. Ehlinger also announced that the department will expand the program by allowing medical cannabis topicals, including patches, lotions, creams, gels, and ointments. Topicals have been shown to be a safe form of administering medical cannabis.
Last year, intractable pain was added to the Minnesota program, significantly increasing patient participation. The program — one of the most limited in the nation — had suffered from a lack of patient participation due to few qualifying conditions. The Commissioner reviewed a total of nine petitions requesting program expansion. While MPP wishes they had all been adopted, adding PTSD will help many hundreds of patients and is a significant victory.

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Prohibition

Dec. 13 Event in Baltimore to Explore How Legalization Would Impact Racial Justice in the City

Dec 05, 2016 Kate Bell

Baltimore, Baltimore War Memorial Assembly Hall, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, LEAP, Maryland, Maryland Cannabis Policy Coalition, Neill Franklin

Did you know that African Americans in Baltimore are five times more likely to be arrested for drug possession than people of other races, and marijuana is the most common drug possessed? To learn more and help be part of the solution, don’t miss this upcoming special event entitled Legalizing Marijuana: The Impact on Racial Justice in Baltimore City, organized by the Maryland Cannabis Policy Coalition.

When: Tuesday, December 13
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Baltimore War Memorial Assembly Hall
101 N. Gay Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

 

It’s free and open to the public, but RSVPs are appreciated.

[caption id="attachment_10183" align="alignright" width="200"]neill Major Neill Franklin[/caption]

The keynote speaker will be Neill Franklin, who is the Executive Director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition and a former Baltimore City Police officer. Major Franklin now works to help end marijuana prohibition, and he will discuss how this would impact racial justice generally and Baltimore specifically.

We hope that you can join us for this informative event! Please pass this message along to any friends or family members who might be interested in attending and share our event on Facebook.

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Prohibition

MPP to Host Delaware Activist Training on Dec. 10

Nov 22, 2016 Maggie Ellinger-Locke

advocacy, Delaware, Wilmington, Wilmington Public Library

The Delaware Legislature’s 2017 session begins on January 10. While advocates expect ending cannabis prohibition to be taken up, to move this important issue forward, we need to grow our team of effective activists. That’s where you come in!flag_of_delaware-svg
Please join the Marijuana Policy Project on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 1 – 5 p.m. at the Wilmington Public Library for a training to sharpen your citizen lobbying skills! You can RSVP here.
We’ll discuss the legislative process and how to get involved, the contents of the proposed bill to regulate cannabis like alcohol, and we’ll strategize on ensuring a successful legislative session. This training will have a special emphasis on messaging and communication strategies. It should be a fun, educational event featuring role-playing.
Join us to build your skills as an organizer on December 10 at 1 p.m.:
DuPont Room
Wilmington, DE 19801
Please join me next month at the library, and be sure to spread the word on social media and by forwarding this message. We want as many people as possible to get involved in reshaping Delaware’s cannabis policies!

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Prohibition

University of Vermont to Host Public Forum on Marijuana Policy

Nov 17, 2016 Matt Simon

Burlington, Dick Sears, Dudley K. Davis Student Center, Heady Vermont, Matt Simon, Maxine Grad, SAM VT, Senate Judiciary Committee, University of Vermont, Vermont

Legislative leaders in Montpelier are describing last week’s victory in Massachusetts as a “game changer” for Vermont. This week, Sen. Dick Sears, chairman of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, told a VPR reporter, “For me, that’s a game-changer, that Massachusetts has voted to legalize.” Rep. Maxine Grad, chair of the equally powerful House Judiciary Committee, agreed and said she thought the House would be much more amenable to ending marijuana prohibition now that legalization is definitely coming to a neighboring state.university_of_vermont
It is critical that we continue building momentum for legalization and regulation. We had a very successful event this week, and we’re looking forward to another great event called “Cannabis on Campus” on Thursday, Dec. 1, at the University of Vermont. Here are the details:
WHAT: Cannabis on Campus: The Implications of Reform in Vermont and Beyond
(This event is free and open to the public.)
WHO: Hosted by the Community Development and Applied Economics Department at UVM in partnership with Heady Vermont. Program includes presentations on medical cannabis and hemp, and a debate between MPP’s Matt Simon and SAM-VT’s Margo Austin about legalization and regulation for adult use.
WHEN: Thursday, December 1
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Dudley H. Davis Student Center
University of Vermont
590 Main St.
Burlington, VT 05405
Please forward this message to your friends and family. If you use Facebook, please RSVP and share the event page.

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Uncategorized

What Does a Trump Presidency Mean for Marijuana Policy?

Nov 17, 2016 Morgan Fox

Congress, Department of Justice, Donald Trump, Federal, gallup, Pew Research Center, president, Trump, U.S. Attorneys

On the same night that voters in eight states were approving marijuana policy reform initiatives, Donald Trump was on his way to being elected the next President of the United States. the_white_house_in_washington_dcWhile this divisive election has left some people jubilant and others outraged, many are wondering what a Trump presidency will mean for the future of marijuana policy reform efforts as well as the progress we have made so far.

While it is difficult to tell what will happen in the next administration, MPP is hopeful that the current federal policy of not targeting people and businesses in compliance with state marijuana laws will continue in the next administration.

Some things to consider:

-A clear majority of Americans think marijuana should be legal for adults, according to recent Pew Research Center and Gallup polls. Additionally, a clear majority of Americans think the federal government “should not” enforce federal marijuana laws in states that allow legal adult use, according to a March, 2015, Pew poll.

-Roughly 21% of the population now live in states where marijuana is legal for adults, and 62% live in states with effective medical marijuana laws.

-More people voted for marijuana initiatives than voted for Trump and other prominent politicians in several states.

-Even if Trump appoints someone who is against marijuana policy reform to head the Department of Justice, it would cost significant resources for federal law enforcement to start targeting state-legal marijuana businesses.

-U.S. Attorneys have significant discretion regarding how they prioritize enforcement of federal laws.

-The political consequences of ripping the marijuana market away from legitimate, tax-paying businesses and handing it right back to dangerous criminals would be severe.

-The number of Members of Congress who represent states with medical or adult-use marijuana laws is about to drastically increase, bringing us closer to Congressional support for ending federal prohibition regardless of the administration's position.

-During the campaign, Trump made several statements in support of medical marijuana and allowing states to determine their own marijuana policies, even though he does not support regulating marijuana for adult use.

No matter what happens, MPP and our allies will continue to work diligently toward changing both state and federal marijuana laws. Please make sure to contact your lawmakers and ask them to help us end the government's war on marijuana.

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General

MPP Receives Award for Community Activism at the 2016 Cannabist Awards

Nov 17, 2016

Cannabis Business Conference and Expo, Cannabist, community activism, Las Vegas, Matt Schweich, Nevada

MPP received the Award for Community Activism at the 2016 Cannabist Awards last night during the Cannabis Business Conference and Expo in Las Vegas. Fittingly, the award was accepted by our director of state campaigns, Matthew Schweich, who oversaw MPP's highly successful initiative efforts in 2016.

Thank you to everyone who voted for us, and an even bigger thank you to all of the volunteers and supporters who help us do the work we do.

[caption id="attachment_10172" align="aligncenter" width="470"]matt-schweich-accepting-cannabist-2016-community-activism-award Matthew Schweich, Director of State Campaigns[/caption]

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