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In this issue:
1. BECOME A MEMBER OF OUR "ADVOCACY CIRCLE" TO HELP RIPAC CONTINUE OUR MISSION
2. MAINE BECOMES 5TH STATE TO ALLOW MMJ DISPENSARIES
3. AMA WANTS TO CHANGE "SCHEDULE" OF MARIJUANA
4. CLICK TO HELP RIPAC RECEIVE $25,000 FROM CHASE
5. RIPAC OFFERS PATIENT AND CAREGIVER ORIENTATIONS
6. DECEMBER MEETINGS: COMMUNITY, PATIENT, REGIONALS

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1. BECOME A MEMBER OF OUR "ADVOCACY CIRCLE" TO HELP RIPAC CONTINUE OUR MISSION

• In this season of giving, founding executive director Jesse Stout and current executive director Stephen Hogan Jr. ask you to become a member of our "Advocacy Circle" with a monthly donation of $100, $50, $25 or whatever you can afford. Click here to start!
• Or make a one time contribution of $50, $100, $250 today with a credit card or check made payable to RIPAC and mailed to 145 Wayland Ave, Providence, RI 02906.
• As a very small nonprofit, RIPAC relies heavily on private donors like you. With your generous support we can continue educating medical professionals with our clinical conference on cannabis in April 2010, educate law enforcement personnel to protect patients, and make sure that the compassion centers have the patients' best interests in mind. Your contribution, of any size, is crucial for us to continue our work to advocate for patients, help educate them to navigate the program and help them retain a better quality of life.
• Our goal is to raise $30,000! You can help with your gift, which is tax-deductible, and you can conveniently give by clicking here.
  

2. MAINE BECOMES 5TH STATE TO ALLOW MMJ DISPENSARIES

• On November 3, 2009, with a citizens ballot initiative, Maine became the fifth state in the nation to allow dispensaries where medical marijuana would be available to patients with certain medical conditions.
• Under the law, the state will oversee and license those dispensaries, much like RI.
• Click here to read coverage of this event.
  

3. AMA WANTS TO CHANGE "SCHEDULE" OF MARIJUANA

• The American Medical Association (AMA) voted to reverse its long-held position that marijuana be retained as a Schedule I substance with no medical value on November 10th.
• Schedule I status makes it difficult to conduct legal medical testing. Heroin, ecstasy and LSD are other Schedule I controlled substances.
  
• The report entitled, "Use of Cannabis for Medicinal Purposes," affirmed the therapeutic benefits of marijuana and called for further research.

4. CLICK TO HELP RIPAC RECEIVE $25,000 FROM CHASE

• CHASE Community Giving is awarding $25,000 to 100 small non-profits like RIPAC, that get the most votes on Facebook by Friday, December 11th.
• Click here to vote and enter RIPAC where it says "Enter your charity."
• Tell your friends and help make a difference. This could really help out RIPAC in this economy.

5. RIPAC OFFERS PATIENT AND CAREGIVER ORIENTATIONS

• Are you a newly licensed medical marijuana patient or caregiver? Are you looking for information about becoming a licensed patient or caregiver? Schedule a RIPAC Orientation.
  
• A RIPAC Patient Orientation is a one-on-one meeting with a RIPAC staff member or volunteer to explain the Medical Marijuana Act and answer questions. Patients get advice on choosing and interviewing caregivers. Contact RIPAC and request a Patient Orientation.
  
• A RIPAC Caregiver Orientation is a one-on-one meeting with a RIPAC staff member or volunteer to explain the Medical Marijuana Act and answer questions. We encourage patients to ask would-be caregivers whether they've attended an orientation. Contact RIPAC and request a Caregiver Orientation.     

6. DECEMBER MEETINGS: COMMUNITY, PATIENT, REGIONALS

• Community Meeting: 6:30-8:00pm Tuesday, December 8th 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, December 29th will be our Patient Meeting for licensed patients and their caregivers only. 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. 
• Regional Meetings: The East Bay Regional Meeting will be discontinued temporarily for 2-3 months while the East Prov Public Library is renovated.  Only patients/caregivers living in South County are welcome at the South County Regional Meeting from 7:00-8:30pm Thursday, December 17th; write to us for the location. Are the Regional Meetings not in your area? Contact RIPAC if you are interested in starting one.

To sustain our efforts to organize patients and educate our state, please donate to RIPAC at RIpatients.org/donate or by calling us at 401-861-1601.

Have a healthy day and Happy Holidays,
RIPAC
www.RIpatients.org