RIPAC: Medical Marijuana in Rhode Island

RIPAC E-News
March 2008 Edition
RI Patient Advocacy Coalition

Welcome to the monthly newsletter of the RI Patient Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC), Rhode Island's medical marijuana community! Visit our website, www.RIpatients.org.

In this issue:
1. MEDICAL MARIJUANA COMPASSION CENTER BILLS INTRODUCED IN RI
2. RIPAC IN THE NEWS: PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, PROVIDENCE PHOENIX
3. NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA ENDORSEMENTS, NATIONAL & STATEWIDE
4. RIPAC EDUCATING RI LAWYERS ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA
5. MARCH COMMUNITY MEETING AND CARDHOLDER MEETING
6. COMPASSION CENTER IN RHODE ISLAND? WE NEED MONTHLY DONORS!

1. MEDICAL MARIJUANA COMPASSION CENTER BILLS INTRODUCED IN RI

Last Tuesday, 2/26, twin bills were introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly that would regulate distribution of medical marijuana by allowing a non-profit Compassion Center, an independent state-regulated facility, to distribute medical marijuana to Rhode Island's licensed patients.
In the House, Representative Tom Slater introduced H7888, and in the Senate, Senator Rhoda Perry introduced S2693. Click here to read its text.

2. RIPAC IN THE NEWS: PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, PROVIDENCE PHOENIX

In a great editorial this month, "Marijuana Quandary," the Providence Journal asked, "How are medical users to legally acquire marijuana?"
The Providence Phoenix printed RIPAC's answer to this question, a Compassion Center, in their story "Advocates push for a legal source in RI." You can always catch our news at RIpatients.org/news.

3. NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA ENDORSEMENTS, NATIONAL & STATEWIDE

The American College of Physicians, our nation's second-largest group of doctors with a membership of 124,000 physicians, has endorsed medical marijuana! Check out their twelve-page position paper here or our summary here.
Here in Rhode Island, RIPAC is proud to announce that our state's chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has endorsed our mission. Read a similar resolution from the national Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

4. RIPAC EDUCATING RI LAWYERS ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Today, March 7, we held a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminar on medical marijuana science, politics, and law designed for lawyers to earn professional credits by learning about the context and applications of the RI Medical Marijuana Act.
This well-attended, well-received CLE program was co-sponsored by the Rhode Island Office of the Public Defender and the Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers -- thank you!

5. MARCH COMMUNITY MEETING AND CARDHOLDER MEETING

RIPAC's next open Community Meeting for patients, caregivers, advocates, and anyone else interested in learning more about medical marijuana will be 7:00pm, Tuesday, March 18, at AIDS Project RI (232 West Exchange St, Providence). Contact RIPAC for more information.
Our next Cardholder Meeting, only for licensed patients and caregivers in the RI Medical Marijuana Program, will be 7pm, Tuesday, March 25. If you are a licensed patient or caregiver and would like to attend, contact RIPAC here for the location.

6. COMPASSION CENTER IN RHODE ISLAND? WE NEED MONTHLY DONORS!

RIPAC believes that patients should have a regulated way to get their medical marijuana. Now that H7888 has been introduced, we'll be supporting this bill to create a Compassion Center, but we need your help!
Please consider becoming a monthly sustainer of RIPAC by signing up for monthly tax-deductible donations to support our efforts and programs; learn how at RIpatients.org/donate or by calling 401-861-1601.

Have a healthy day,
RIPAC
www.RIpatients.org

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