RIPAC E-News
April 2007 Edition
RI Patient Advocacy Coalition
April 2007 Edition
RI Patient Advocacy Coalition
Welcome to the newsletter of the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC)! Visit our website, www.RIpatients.org ...
In this issue:
1. HOUSE OF REPS WILL VOTE ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA WEDS 5/2
2. CME SEMINAR FOR DOCTORS AND NURSES ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA
3. GREAT NEWS COVERAGE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN RI
4. MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT PASSED BY HOUSE&SENATE COMMITTEES
5. NEW MEXICO IS 12th MEDICAL MARIJUANA STATE
6. PATIENT/CAREGIVER AFFINITY GROUP IS MEETING
1. HOUSE OF REPS WILL VOTE ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA WEDS 5/2
- This Wednesday, May 2, around 4pm, the RI House of Representatives will vote on the 2007 Medical Marijuana Act at the State House. You're welcome to watch the floor speeches and the vote from the House gallery!
- If the bill passes the House, the Senate will vote and it will reach the Governor's desk. Call Governor Carcieri's office at 401-222-2080 and ask to leave him a message: "Governor Carcieri, I live in Rhode Island, please do not veto the Medical Marijuana Act!"
- At Brown University on Thursday, May 3, from 6-9pm, RIPAC will hold "Medical Marijuana: Research and Clinical Perspectives," a free Continuing Medical Education (CME) seminar. Physicians and nurses may attend, and physicians will receive 2.5 CME credits through RI Hospital.
- Physicians and nurses must register here to attend. For more information on the 3 scheduled presenters, see http://ripatients.org/medical/cme. Call your doctor to invite her/him, or email this flyer!
- On Wednesday, April 25, WRNI public radio ran a great story on medical marijuana, now available free online at WRNI's website. WRNI interviewed two patients for this story!
- This month an editorial by a patient was published in the Pawtucket Times and widely circulated on the Internet. For more RI medical marijuana news, visit ripatients.org/news!
- 4/11/07: S791, the Medical Marijuana Act sponsored by Senator Rhoda Perry, passed the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services 6-0! On March 28, the bill had a very successful hearing, thanks to the 5 patients and 3 doctors who testified, as well as the Academy for Family Physicians, the Medical Society, the State Nurses Association, the ACLU, and AIDS Project RI.
- 4/10/07: H6005, the House of Representatives version of the Medical Marijuana Act, sponsored by Rep. Tom Slater, passed the House Health, Education, and Welfare Committee 10-3! The bill's March 21 hearing was very successful, as legislators were very receptive to the five patients and five experts who testified in favor of the bill.
- New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a Democratic presidential candidate, signed the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act into law on Monday, April 2, 2007!
- For more information, visit the Drug Policy Alliance, who has been working on this issue in New Mexico for several years.
- RIPAC regularly hosts a group of medical marijuana patients and caregivers to network, share information and stories, and provide mutual support--you are not alone!
- If you are a patient or caregiver, or know a patient or caregiver, who would be interested in meeting other patients, please contact RIPAC!
RIPAC
www.RIpatients.org