October Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc. Meeting Minutes

Monthly Public Meeting Lawrence Township Library Tuesday, October 14, 2008; 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Minutes: Meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM and adjourned at 8:57 PM. The September 2008 minutes were approved. Correspondence was reviewed. Discussion included: Mike Miceli’s arrest on 9/4/08 for using marijuana for Crohn’s Disease: Mike spent nine days in the hospital following his arrest and now faces major abdominal surgery since he can no longer use marijuana. Also, efforts on behalf of MS patient John Wilson who was arrested for medical marijuana use in Somerset Co. CMMNJ sent a follow-up letter to Gov. Corzine re: Miceli and Wilson; proposed letter to Wilson’s prosecutor was discussed. Wilson faces 20 yrs. CMMNJ was at the Hamilton Twp., NJ “Septemberfest” 9/14/08. Over 200 people signed statements supporting medical marijuana and we made $370. Hamilton Twp. mayor's office complained that a 12-year-old brought home a troubling message after visiting our booth. Board discussion included draft guidelines for our volunteers when talking with Middle School children. The Lawrence Twp. 2008 “Community Day” was Sunday, 10/5/08 in Lawrenceville. We made $90 and collected 54 signatures. Jim & Cathi attended the 14th Annual NY State Harvest Festival and Rally. They also attended the MS Bike Ride on 9/28 in Ocean City, NJ and distributed literature and displayed the Cheryl Miller Memorial Wheel Chair. Upcoming events: Ewing Twp., NJ “CommunityFest” is 10/25/08 on the campus of TCNJ from 10 AM to 5 PM. Late entry: A Candlelight Vigil for Medical Marijuana Patients will be held at City Hall in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday, 11-1-08 at 8-PM. Volunteers needed for both. CMMNJ has new photos on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=502598656 AARP: “AARP has not taken a position on the medical use of marijuana.” Also, Sen. Lautenberg “sort of” replied to request for him to sponsor a senate companion bill to H.R. 5842. F/U needed to clarify issue. Americans for Safe Access (ASA) conference call was 9/25/08. Pre-written, customizable letters are available for NJ residents to urge their legislators to support the “NJ Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act” (S-119 & A-804) through NORML at: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=11059156 & through DPA at: https://secure2.convio.net/dpa/site/Advocacy?id=197&pagename=homepage Do it today! Treasury report: Checking account ($2356.72) plus Paypal account ($575.69). 501(c)(3): CMMNJ received its Sales Tax Exempt Certificate (Form ST-5) from the IRS. Progress of fund raising letter? CMMNJ submitted our 26-minute DVD, “Marijuana is Medicine” to the Garden State Film Festival & developed an advertising poster. Web site update: Gary Sage is keeping the web site (www.cmmnj.org) updated at $15/hr. Next Meeting: December 9, 2008 at the Lawrence Twp. Library, from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM. There will be no November meeting this year, due to the holiday on the 2nd Tues. of the month. 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, ohamkrw@aol.com