$
Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition
RIPAC E-News
August 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. CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA RESEARCH
2. 
BOSTON FREEDOM RALLY COMING SOON TO BOSTON COMMONS 9/15
3.
VISIT US AT CENTRAL FALLS CLASSIC CAR SHOW 9/16
4.
RIPAC IN HIGH TIMES "FREEDOM FIGHTER" COLUMN
5. 
NEXT COMMUNITY MEETING AND CARDHOLDER MEETING


1. CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA RESEARCH
  • On May 16, U.S. Representatives John Olver (D-MA) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) sent a "Dear Colleague" letter to all Members of the House of Representatives seeking co-signatures on a letter to DEA Administrator Karen Tandy, urging acceptance of DEA Judge Bittner's February 2007 Opinion and Recommended Ruling in support of the UMass-Amherst Medical Marijuana Research Production Facility.  
  • Please call 202-224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative's office (you only need to know your zip code).  After the switchboard operator connects you, tell your rep's office:

    "Hello, my name is (YOUR NAME) and I live in (YOUR CITY and STATE). I am calling today to ask Representative (YOUR CONGRESSPERSON'S LAST NAME) to co-sign the Olver/Rohrabacher letter to DEA Administrator, Karen Tandy, urging her agency to follow the recommendation of Administrative Law Judge Mary Ellen Bittner and grant a license to Prof. Lyle Craker of UMass Amherst to grow marijuana exclusively for federally-approved research. To join the letter, contact Brendan Boundy in Rep. Olver's office at 202-225-5335. Please let me know what you plan on doing. Thank you."

2. BOSTON FREEDOM RALLY COMING SOON TO BOSTON COMMONS 9/15
  • Saturday, September 15, MassCann, the MA Cannabis Reform Coalition, will host the annual Boston Freedom Rally, aka Boston Hempfest! Come to Parkman Bandstand on the Common from 12-6pm for speakers, live music, and vendors.
  • RIPAC will have a table there this year, so stop by to say hello! Visit masscann.org for more information.

3. VISIT US AT CENTRAL FALLS CLASSIC CAR SHOW 9/16
  • Sunday September 16 is the City of Central Falls Custom & Classic Car Show 2007 from 9am-4pm. Entertainment along Dexter Street will include custom and classic automobiles.
  • RIPAC will have a booth at Best Storage at 817 Dexter Street, so come on over to check out the cars!  
4. RIPAC IN HIGH TIMES "FREEDOM FIGHTER" COLUMN
  • RIPAC Executive Director Jesse Stout is High Times magazine's "Freedom Fighter of the Month" for this month, August 2007.
  • Click here to read the short article.
5. NEXT COMMUNITY MEETING AND CARDHOLDER MEETING
  • RIPAC's next medical marijuana Community Meeting for patients, caregivers, advocates, and anyone else interested in learning more will be 7pm, Tuesday, September 11. 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, September 25. If you are a licensed patient or caregiver and would like to attend, contact RIPAC here.
Have a healthy day,
RIPAC
www.RIpatients.org

P.S.: If you like what we're doing, please donate to RIPAC either online with PayPal or by check to "RI Patient Advocacy Coalition" at PO Box 2731, Providence, RI 02906.