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RIPAC E-News
JUNE 2010 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.

In this issue:
1. HOUSE BILL 7275 IS DEAD!  PATIENT AND CAREGIVER GROWING RIGHTS ARE SAFE!!!!!!
2.PHYSICIAN CONFIDENTIALITY BILL PASSED BY LEGISLATURE!
3. COMPASSION CENTER APPLICATIONS ARE ON LINE NOW!
4. OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON COMPASSION CENTER APPLICATIONS - JUNE 29
5. TIPS FOR PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS
6. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS ! RIPAC OFFERS PATIENT AND CAREGIVER ORIENTATIONS
7. UPCOMING  PATIENT, COMMUNITY, AND REGIONAL MEETINGS

1. PATIENT AND CAREGIVER RIGHTS TO GROW ARE SAFE.  HOUSE BILL 7275 IS OFFICIALLY DEAD.

• The bill which would have ended legal growing rights for patients and their caregivers as of January 2012, died Friday morning when the General Assembly ended its 2010 session. The bill never left its first stop at the House Judiciary Committee. The Committee never voted on the bill.

2. THE RI LEGISLATURE REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO CONFIDENTIALITY FOR PHYSICIANS WHO SIGN PATIENT APPLICATIONS  

• Early Friday morning the General Assembly voted to bar the Department of Health from releasing the names of medical practitioners who sign Medical Marijuana applications for their patients. This legislation reinforces and solidifies the original legislative intent. The bill will be sent to the governor.  If the governor signs the bill, it will become law. If he doesn’t sign, the General Assembly will have to convene to override his veto.

3. FIFTEEN NONPROFITS HAVE SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS FOR COMPASSION CENTER LICENSES. APPLICATIONS ARE ONLINE!

• You can find the applications submitted by the Compassion Center applicants by clicking here http://www.health.ri.gov/programs/medicalmarijuana/index.php  Click on “Compassion Center applicants” to find the list of applicants. If you click on the names of the individual applicants, you will find their applications.

4. PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON COMPASSION CENTER APPLICATIONS – JUNE 29

• There will be a public hearing in the auditorium at the Department of Health at 10 AM on June 29.  If needed, the Department will hold an additional hearing on June 30 at 10AM.  For more info click here http://www.health.ri.gov/news/temp/mmp/052010NoticeOfPublicHearingOnCompassionCenterApplicants.pdf 

5. TIPS FOR PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS

• The Department of Health will be issuing up to three Compassion Center licenses. In the future, patients will be able to appoint Compassion Center(s) as their caregiver(s) if they wish. Take the time to read the applications if you can. The Department of Health requests that comments and questions be submitted in writing even if you are attending the hearing and verbalizing your comments.
• The Department of Health is currently short staffed, so it may take the Department longer than usual to process applications and renewals. Please submit renewals as soon as possible to avoid lapses in protection.

6. RIPAC OFFERS PATIENT AND CAREGIVER ORIENTATIONS

• Are you a newly licensed medical marijuana 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.     

7. RIPAC  MEETINGS: COMMUNITY, PATIENT, REGIONALS

• Community Meeting: The second Tuesday of every month 6:30-8:00pm at 55 Hope Street in Providence. The next Community will be on Tuesday, July 6^th. Community Meetings are open to all those interested in learning about the RI Medical Marijuana Program.
• Patient Meeting: 7:00-8:30pm Tuesday, June 29 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.
• Regional Meetings: For patients only. Caregivers are welcome at the invitation of their patients. Please call us at 861-1601 for meeting locations. Only patients living in South County are welcome at the South County Regional Meeting on the third Thursday of the month from 7:00-8:30pm. Next meeting will be Thursday, July 15.  The Newport County Regional Meetings are in Middletown on the first Tuesday of the month from 6:30 to 8:30pm. The next one will be held on July 6. Patients from Tiverton and Little Compton are also invited. Call us for directions at 861-1601. The East Bay Regional Meetings will be starting again in July. Details will soon be available. Please call 861-1601 if interested.