Marijuana is Mainstream
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Announcement
DPA Conference: Early Registration Closes in One Week
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Stars of âFrom Prison to the Stageâ at Kennedy Center return to Connecticut
[Courtesy of The Safe Streets Arts Foundation]
We are pleased to report that the Judy Dworin Performance Project, which was a big hit at our "From Prison to the Stage" show at the Kennedy Center on Sept. 5, has returned safely to its home in Hartford, Connecticut.
The Judy Dworin Performance Project (JDPP) was founded in 1989 as a nonprofit organization to provide support for individual artists, particularly the silent and silenced. Over the past 20 years, JDPP has provided innovative, inspiring, educational and collaborative art rooted in the belief that the arts can be a powerful agent for change.
Upcoming events of JDPP:
⢠October 30, 6:30pm - Excerpts from the award winning The Witching Hour at the Old State House in downtown Hartford
⢠Nov 5, 6 & 7, 7:30pm - Premiere of What I Want to Say at Charter Oak Cultural Center, an evening that celebrates past pieces and debuts from the Judy Dworin Performance Ensemble.
⢠Feb 2 - Dreamings, a piece created at York Correctional Institution (women's state prison), as further developed by formerly incarcerated women and family members of the incarcerated, at Kinsella Performing Arts Magnet School.
Upcoming residencies:
The Moving Matters! Residency program of JDPP brings movement-based multi-arts residencies into schools, prisons and community centers through collaborative multi-arts projects.
⢠A 5th year in residence at York Correctional Institution, with workshops in dance, song, storytelling, poetry and personal testimony on the theme of "Bridging the Divides" to culminate in July
⢠A further development of the York Moms & Kids program bridging the divide between incarcerated mothers and their children.
For further information about JDPP, its performance or residency work or DVDs of work listed here, please visit www.judydworin.org or contact [email protected] or 860.527.9800.
Prison Tattoo Art Contest Winners
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Hello everyone, We have the winners for the 2009 Prison Tattoo Art Contest. Go to our web site and check them out. We received so much astonishing art that it was difficult to choose the winners, but as usual, we have. We have also selected other artists to be displayed in "Prison Ink" the tabletop tattoo art book that will be released sometime in 2010. Watch our web site for changes and other announcements regarding "Prison Ink". If you have not been notified regarding the contest you are not a winner. Winners have already been notified. Artists selected to be in the book will be receiving their notification within the next few weeks. Please do not contact us about your status we will send out all notifications by US mail. We would also like to apologize for our late beginning for the second short story contest. The delay is due to limited funds. We will be holding the contest real soon - our priority is paying the winners of the art contest. Thank you for you patience and understanding in this matter. Remember our stories can change the world,
Theresa M. Huggins CEO, Shot Caller Press, LLC 503-890-1027
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Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc. September Agenda
Monthly Public Meeting Agenda
Held at the Lawrence Township Library
Tuesday, September 8, 2009; 7:00 PM â 9:00 PM
7:00 PM:  Call meeting to order. Approve minutes. Discuss:
àSee photos and video of the August 21 court house rally to support multiple sclerosis (MS) patient John Wilson, who faces 20 years in prison for growing marijuana to treat his disease. Wilson was forbidden by the judge to even mention his medical condition during the upcoming trial. This trial is drawing national attention. Tell the National MS Society; answer their survey. Will Wilson be the last NJ casualty of this inhumane policy?Â
ÃÂ Seton Hall Position Paper and Philadelphia Weekly article support NJâs Compassionate Use Act (S119).Â
ÃÂ CMMNJ is scheduled to appear at the following upcoming events:
·        Sun., 9/13, 10 AM - 4 PM; Hamilton Septemberfest, Veteranâs Park, Hamilton Twp., NJ;
·        Sat., 9/19, High Noon; Boston Freedom Rally, Boston Common, Boston, Mass.;
·        Thurs. â Sat., 9/24-26, National NORML Conference, San Francisco, CA.;
·        Sun., 10/4 12:30 PM â 4 PM, Lawrence Community Day, Village Park, Lawrence Twp., NJ;
·        Sat., 10/10, 10 AM â 5 PM, Ewing Community Fest, The College of New Jersey, Ewing Twp., NJ.
àThe New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, which was approved by the state senate in February, is due for a vote by the Assembly this fall, after the November elections. The Assembly Health Committee made significant, very restrictive changes to the bill. Tell your legislators that you want the Senate version of the bill that does not contain these restrictions, to pass into law. See CMMNJâs recent blog for talking pointsâbut tell your story in your own words. Donât let a possibly unworkable bill pass into law.
àCMMNJ is now a cause on Facebook! See Kenâs birthday wish. See NORML NJâs new web site.
àTreasury report: Current account balances: Checking: $4168.21; PayPal: $191.02. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to CMMNJ, a 501(c)(3) organization. All funds received go towards public education about medical marijuana. Donations may be made securely through Paypal or checks made out to âCMMNJâ and sent to corporate headquarters at the address below. Get a free t-shirt for a donation above $15âspecify size. Thank you for your support.
Scheduled meetings are Sept. 8, Oct. 13, & Nov. 10, 2009. CMMNJ meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month at the Lawrence Twp. Library from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM. All are welcome. Snacks are served. The library is at 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Twp., Tel. #609.882.9246.   (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
MS Patients to Speak at Pharmacy Board Medical Marijuana Hearing Weds. in Mason City
MEDIA ADVISORYÂ Â Â Â
SEPTEMBER 1, 2009
Â
MS Patients to Speak Out at Pharmacy Board Medical Marijuana Hearing Wednesday in Mason City
 CONTACT: Bruce Mirken, MPP director of communications ............... 415-585-6404 or 202-215-4205
 MASON CITY, IOWA -- Iowa multiple sclerosis patients who have benefited from medical marijuana, including one of four patients currently receiving medical marijuana from the U.S. government, will provide testimony Wednesday in Mason City at the second Iowa Board of Pharmacy hearing to examine the medical value of marijuana.
    WHAT: Iowa Board of Pharmacy hearing on medical marijuana.
    WHO: Patients providing testimony will include:
    Barbara Douglass of Storm Lake, one of four patients still receiving medical marijuana from the U.S. government in a program closed to new enrollment in 1992. As Douglass is too ill from multiple sclerosis to attend in person, her statement will be read by Jim Morrison. She will be available for phone interviews from 8 a.m. till noon on Wednesday, at 712-732-2919.
    Ray Lakers of Des Moines, MS patient who found relief from medical marijuana and was jailed for possession of less than a gram of marijuana in 2005.
    Ladd Huffman of Calumet, Vietnam veteran with MS who was approved for the federal medical marijuana program just as it was shut down, barring him from receiving medication. His statement will be read by Jim Morrison as Huffman is also too ill to attend, but he will be available for phone interviews from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, at 712-446-2463.
    WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 2, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    WHERE: The Music Man Square (Reunion Hall), 308 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City.
    With more than 27,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit http://MarijuanaPolicy.org.
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Sentencing Project Recommendations to U.S. Sentencing Commission
Dear Friend,
Today the United States Sentencing Commission will be meeting in Washington, D.C. to establish its priorities for the 2009-2010 program year. In preparation for this meeting, the Commission has invited interested parties to recommend areas of focus on federal sentencing policy. On August 5, The Sentencing Project submitted a letter to the Commission highlighting four areas of attention. Our recommended issue areas are the following:
1. Prepare a Report for Congress on the Impact of Federal Mandatory Minimum Sentences - The last substantial report produced on mandatory sentencing is now nearly 20 years old. We recommend a fresh examination of these issues, including the impact of mandatory sentencing on public safety and racial disparity, and the utility of the federal "safety valve" sentencing provision.
2. Continue Recent Activity in the Area of Cocaine Sentencing Policy - The Commission should continue to play an active role in Congressional deliberations regarding changes in the penalty structure for crack and powder cocaine sentencing.
3. Prepare a Report for Congress on Alternatives to Incarceration - Building on evidence that alternatives are underutilized in the federal system, particularly for drug offenses, the Commission should examine options for expansion of alternatives and guidelines restrictions that need to be reconsidered.
4. Examine the Impact of Time Served in Prison on Crime, Costs, and Disparity - Between 1993 and 2006 time served in prison for federal offenses increased by 44%. The Commission should examine these changes to assess their value and cost regarding public safety outcomes.
We hope you find these recommendations useful in your work, and we will keep you posted regarding the priorities established by the U.S. Sentencing Commission.
-The Sentencing Project
Reform Events in Denver, Grand Junction, and more
[Courtesy of Sensible Colorado]
Please join Sensible Colorado staff and allies at these upcoming marijuana reform events!
Statewide: The Great Marijuana Book Bomb
The highly acclaimed book co-authored by SAFER's Mason Tvert, Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink?, is now available. A book about marijuana has never hit #1 on Amazon.com, but with your help that could change. Please join hundreds of other marijuana reform supporters in purchasing the book on Amazon TOMORROW, Thursday, August 20. Amazon re-ranks book sales on an hourly basis, so Marijuana is Safer doesn't need to be the bestselling book for the past month; it just needs to generate a lot of sales on the day of the Book Bomb. If everyone acts tomorrow, it will reach the top. For more information visit http://www.MarijuanaBookBomb.com
Denver: SAFER Book Launch in Denver
This Sunday, August 23, from 2-5 p.m., SAFER is hosting a party at 8 Rivers LoDo in Denver (1550 Blake St.) to celebrate the launch of Marijuana Is Safer. The event will include appetizers and an auction, and all proceeds from book sales will benefit SAFER. Copies of the book will be available for just $20 -- or for $30, get a copy and have one sent to a Colorado legislator! -- and SAFER's Mason Tvert will be on hand to discuss the book and sign copies.
Grand Junction:
On Sunday, August 30, Sensible Colorado will present a free seminar on Colorado's medical marijuana law. This 90 minute training will cover all aspects of Amendment 20 and will include a "Know Your Rights" portion-- teaching patients and others their rights when dealing with police. Event starts at 2pm at 571 32 rd., Units D and E, Clifton, CO 81520.
Breckenridge:
Sensible Breckenridge, an off-shoot of Sensible Colorado, has successfully qualified a marijuana reform measure for the November 2009 ballot. To get active in this campaign please contact [email protected].
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