Medical Marijuana

You Can Make a Difference

Dear friends,

We’re making amazing progress toward ending the war on marijuana, but a major obstacle stands in our way — Michele Leonhart.  The DEA’s acting administrator is a Bush holdover who’s blocked scientific research and overseen dozens of medical marijuana raids.

Now sick and disabled veterans are suffering because of her hardline stance against medical marijuana patients.  We can’t tolerate a DEA administrator with such backwards ideas. 

Under Michele Leonhart’s direction, the DEA is advising the Veterans Administration (VA) to prohibit its doctors from recommending medical marijuana to their patients, even in states where it’s legal.

A Bush holdover is standing in the way of reform, and we need to stop her.  The Senate will soon consider whether to confirm her as the permanent administrator of the DEA.  Urge the Senate to block her nomination.

VA doctors are barred from recommending medical marijuana even though many veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain and other ailments have found that it’s the best medicine for their symptoms.

Veterans who survived the wars abroad have returned home only to become victims of the war on drugs.  Urge the Senate to demand a new DEA administrator.

Sincerely,

Bill Piper
Director, Office of National Affairs
Drug Policy Alliance Network

 

Marijuana Policy Project Alert

May 5, 2010

 

FINALLY: District Council unanimously approves medical marijuana legislation

Passage of bill implements medical marijuana program 11 years in the making.

Dear friends:

In yet another sign of the growing acceptance and support of medical marijuana, the Council of the District of Columbia yesterday gave unanimous, final approval to legislation that would place our nation’s capital alongside 14 other states in allowing doctors to recommend medical marijuana for seriously ill residents suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and other debilitating illnesses. The measure would also create a government-regulated distribution system to provide marijuana to qualifying patients though 5-8 dispensaries located throughout the District. The bill now goes to the mayor’s office for approval and, once signed, will be transmitted to Congress for a mandatory 30-legislative-day review period. If approved as expected, the effective date for the legislation would be mid-July.

Not only did the Council give its approval to the bill, but the amount of marijuana patients can purchase could also be raised. Previously, the maximum potential amount was 2.5 ounces. Under an amendment offered by Councilmember Phil Mendelson, the mayor will now be able to raise that limit to 4 ounces. Unfortunately, several other amendments offered by Councilmember Jim Graham that would have improved upon the bill by allowing Virginia and Maryland physicians to make recommendations and providing for civil discrimination protections for patients were defeated with Councilmember Mendelson and Councilmember David Catania leading the opposition.

Nonetheless, yesterday’s vote represents a victory 11 years in the making. District voters approved Initiative 59 with nearly 70% support in 1998, but Congress quickly put the measure on hold by including a rider preventing the initiative from taking effect in the appropriations bill that provides funding to the District. MPP succeeded in removing the "Barr amendment" (after then-Rep. Bob Barr) late last year, and immediately went to work lobbying the Council to implement the initiative.

Now that members of Congress from around the country will have an opportunity to see a properly regulated medical marijuana program in person, perhaps we’re closer than ever to seeing federal legislation to protect medical marijuana patients. MPP would like to express appreciation to Teresa Skipper, the D.C. Patients Advocacy Coalition, and countless other patients and activists who help make this day possible. Congratulations to D.C. voters and patients who’ve been waiting 11 years for this victory, and, as always, thank you for your continued support of the Marijuana Policy Project.

Sincerely,

Dan Riffle
Legislative Analyst
Marijuana Policy Project

 

We are required by federal law to tell you that any donations you make to MPP may be used for political purposes, such as supporting or opposing candidates for federal office.

 

 

Dear friends:

 

Today, in a historic win, the D.C. Council has approved medical marijuana in the District!

Nearly twelve years after 69 percent of voters passed a medical marijuana initiative, federal obstructions have been lifted and the D.C. Council has passed legislation that will protect patients in Washington, D.C.

We need your help to take this law from a win to a major success!  Please consider donating $10 or more to our campaign to convince the mayor's office and the Department of Health to improve this law!

Though a win for patients in the District, the new law leaves many critical details to the discretion of both the mayor's office and the Department of Health.  Issues such as limits on the number of grow houses, qualifying medical conditions, and patient access can still be improved before this law goes into effect!  We need to raise upwards of $7,500 to have a chance to effectively lobby for these improved provisions.

Additionally, bringing an effective medical marijuana law to our nation's capital creates an amazing opportunity to advance federal legislation in a way that's never been done before.

Please, take a moment right now and help us make sure that Washington, D.C. improves this new law while there is still time.

Together, we can end marijuana prohibition in the United States once and for all.

Sincerely,

Rob Kampia

Executive Director
Marijuana Policy Project
Washington, D.C.

 

Marijuana Policy Project Alert

April 28, 2010

 

Last chance to act: D.C. medical marijuana law likely to be finalized Tuesday

Please contact your councilmembers and ask them to offer needed amendments to the bill

Dear friends:

The wait is nearly over. Eleven years after D.C. voters demanded it, medical marijuana is finally coming to the District. And while we’re all excited to see the program finally approved, the bill now being considered includes a few areas of concern for patients who could benefit from medical marijuana and voters who approved a program now being altered by the Council. Please get in touch with your councilmembers and urge them to offer an amendment to address one or more of these potential pitfalls:

• Unlike patients who use more dangerous medicines like Oxycontin, medical marijuana patients will only be allowed to medicate in their homes or approved medical facilities. A simple ban on public smoking would be a better alternative.
• Patients can only use marijuana or paraphernalia obtained from a licensed dispensary. Since no one can predict when, or even if, the program will be able to produce enough medical marijuana to meet demand, patients should not be criminalized for acquiring marijuana through a caregiver or other means. Further, there’s no rational reason to force patients who already own a vaporizer or other working device to purchase a new, unnecessary one from a dispensary.
• Cultivation centers are limited to 95 plants. This limitation has been a proven policy failure in New Mexico, where patients continue to report an inability to procure medicine at a reasonable price, if at all. This limitation will discourage responsible investors while simultaneously creating a need for dozens of cultivation centers in order to meet demand.
• Severe and/or chronic pain is not a qualified medical condition. All but one of the 14 existing and functional medical marijuana laws covers severe and/or chronic pain. The consensus among the scientific community is that marijuana can be effective in pain treatment, so there’s no reason to criminalize patients who need marijuana to treat severe, chronic pain.
• The original "Initiative 59" also allowed patients to cultivate their own medicine, but under this bill home cultivation won’t be allowed until at least 2012, if at all.

It will only take you a minute to use our simple automated program to send a message to your councilmembers, but please don’t stop there. Call their offices and have a conversation – you can even request a meeting to discuss the bill in person. There are only a few days left for you to make a difference, so please take the time to get in touch with your councilmembers. At-large members Kwame Brown, David Catania, Phil Mendelson, Michael Brown, and Chairman Vincent Gray represent all D.C. residents. You can find your ward-specific member here.

We expect the Council to take a final vote on the measure Tuesday, May 4. That means you have less than one week to make a difference. We have to get this right. A medical marijuana program in our nation’s capital will influence the future of medical marijuana around the country. Legislators from all 36 states yet to enact an effective medical marijuana law will likely point to elements of D.C.’s program when considering legislation in their home states.
Thanks for your time and all your support. After you’ve talked with your councilmembers, forward this e-mail to friends in the District and ask them to do the same.

Thanks again,

Dan Riffle
Legislative Analyst
Marijuana Policy Project

We are required by federal law to tell you that any donations you make to MPP may be used for political purposes, such as supporting or opposing candidates for federal office.