RIPAC E-News
January 2009 Edition
RI Patient Advocacy Coalition
January 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.
Click here and join!
In this issue:
1. ELECTIONS ARE OVER - GET TO KNOW YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS
2. NEW MEXICO TO LICENSE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PRODUCTION
3. RIPAC TRAINED RI DEPT OF HEALTH EMPLOYEES IN DECEMBER
4. FEATURED LINK: ASA VIDEOS, AmericansForSafeAccess.ORG
5. JANUARY COMMUNITY MEETING AND PATIENT MEETING
1. ELECTIONS ARE OVER - GET TO KNOW YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS
- Do you know who your state legislators are? On January 6, 16 new state representatives and seven new state senators will be sworn-in and inaugurated. Here's a list. Regardless of whether you have brand-new legislators, RIGHT NOW is a great time to build relationships.
- How can they represent you unless you tell them what you want? Contact your own representative and senator, make an appointment, and share your views on medical marijuana. Call us at 861-1601 for help, or find their contact info here.
- Last month the New Mexico Department of Health's Medical Cannabis Program published final rules in the New Mexico Register for licensing producers of medical marijuana, and they will become law this month. You can read the rules here.
- New Mexico will start licensing medical marijuana distributors in 2009, and we hope Rhode Island will, too. Stay tuned to RIpatients.org for details on this year's legislation to license non-profit Compassion Centers to grow and distribute medical marijuana for patients.
- Last month RIPAC staff led a training presentation for RI Department of Health employees who administer the Medical Marijuana Program. Attendees learned about RIPAC's roles and patients' perspectives.
- In December RIPAC also trained medical staff at Thundermist Health Center in Woonsocket on medical marijuana and the legal protections of the Medical Marijuana Act.
- If you are part of, or know of, any group that would benefit from a training on medical marijuana, please contact RIPAC.
- Americans for Safe Access has posted a great series of YouTube video testimonials from medical marijuana patients, check them out.
- Americans for Safe Access is a leading national organization advocating for safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research, with chapters and affiliates in more than 40 states.
- Community Meeting: 7:00-8:30pm Tuesday, January 20 will be our open Community Meeting for patients, caregivers, advocates, and anyone else interested in learning more about medical marijuana. Please come to Petteruti Lounge in Faunce House at Brown University (75 Waterman Street, Providence 02906). Contact RIPAC for more information.
- Patient Meeting: 7:00-8:30pm Tuesday, January 27 will be our Patient Meeting for licensed patients and their caregivers. Caregivers are expected to attend with their patients, or else have their patients contact us in advance. Call us at 861-1601 or contact RIPAC here.
Happy new year,
RIPAC
www.RIpatients.org