RIPAC E-News
February 2009 Edition
RI Patient Advocacy Coalition
February 2009 Edition
RI Patient Advocacy Coalition
Welcome to the monthly newsletter of the RI Patient Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC), the medical marijuana community of Rhode Island! Visit our website, www.RIpatients.org.
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In this issue:
1. RIPAC IS HIRING A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - PLEASE HELP!
2. COMPASSION CENTER BILL TO BE INTRODUCED THIS MONTH
3. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RELEASES 2009 MMP REPORT
4. PATIENTS SHOULD MAKE SURE TO PAY CORRECT RENEWAL FEES
5. NEW MEXICO NOW LICENSES PRODUCERS OF MMJ - RI NEXT?
6. FEBRUARY PATIENT-ONLY MEETING AND REGULAR MEETINGS
1. RIPAC IS HIRING A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - PLEASE HELP!
- Calling all patient advocates: we're looking to hire a new executive director! If you've got what it takes to become RIPAC's new full-time leader, visit RIpatients.org/jobs to view the posting and learn how to apply.
- Please pass along the link RIpatients.org/jobs to friends, colleagues, and anyone who'd be interested. We're especially seeking community organizers with background experience in law, law enforcement, and medicine.
- This month twin bills will be introduced to have the Department of Health regulate the distribution of medical marijuana by licensing non-profit Compassion Centers.
- For more information on how the medical marijuana will be regulated, please read this new page with details.
- The Rhode Island Department of Health's Office of Health Professionals Regulations, which administers the Medical Marijuana Program, is required to issue a report on the MMP in January of every odd-numbered year.
- That's now! The report is available here. By the way, we think the most important sentence is, "The most frequent request to the Department is for information regarding the purchase of marijuana."
- Patients who are eligible to pay $10 instead of $75 for a medical marijuana license because they are on SSI, SSDI, or Medicaid should be sure to pay the correct amount when submitting renewal forms.
- The Department of Health will not notify if you have become eligible for the discounted rate since you received your medical marijuana license - the renewal form will still ask for $75 - so make sure you don't pay extra.
- The New Mexico Department of Health's Medical Cannabis Program has begun accepting applications to license non-profit organizations as producers of medical marijuana. You can read the rules here.
- New Mexico is now the first state to regulate and license the distribution of medical marijuana. Will Rhode Island become the second this year?!
- Patient-Only Meeting: 6:00-7:30pm Tuesday, February 3 will be our first Patient-Only Meeting for 2009. Patients will discuss a new Patient Bill of Rights document to establish standard expectations for medical marijuana-related interactions. If you're a patient and haven't heard more yet, please contact RIPAC right away.
- Community Meeting: 6:30-8:00pm Tuesday, February 10 will be our open Community Meeting for patients, caregivers, advocates, and anyone else interested in learning more about medical marijuana. Please come to the conference room of Family Service RI (55 Hope Street, Providence 02906). Contact RIPAC for more information.
- Patient Meeting: 7:00-8:30pm Tuesday, February 24 will be our Patient Meeting for licensed patients and their caregivers. Caregivers are welcome at the invitation of their patients; patients should call to inform us if their caregivers are invited. Call us at 861-1601 or contact RIPAC here.
Have a healthy day,
RIPAC
www.RIpatients.org