RIPAC E-News
January 2008 Edition
RI Patient Advocacy Coalition
January 2008 Edition
RI Patient Advocacy Coalition
Welcome to the newsletter of the RI Patient Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC), Rhode Island's medical marijuana community! Visit our website, www.RIpatients.org.
In this issue:
1. RIPAC: NEW STAFF MEMBER, NEW OFFICE, NEW PHONE
2. MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL HEARING
3. NEW MEXICO TO ALLOW MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISTRIBUTION
4. NEXT COMMUNITY MEETING AND CARDHOLDER MEETING
5. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
1. RIPAC: NEW STAFF MEMBER, NEW OFFICE, NEW PHONE
2. MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL HEARING
3. NEW MEXICO TO ALLOW MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISTRIBUTION
4. NEXT COMMUNITY MEETING AND CARDHOLDER MEETING
5. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
1. RIPAC: NEW STAFF MEMBER, NEW OFFICE, NEW PHONE
- RIPAC is pleased to welcome our new Associate Director JoAnne Leppanen! JoAnne is highly experienced in social justice activism, particularly in healthcare issues, including advocating for foster children and low-income families.
- RIPAC has opened a brand-new office in Providence! This means we have a new phone number: you can reach us at 401-861-1601.
- On December 12, the Massachusetts legislature's Joint Committee on Public Health heard testimony on proposed medical marijuana legislation. Here's the text. Over a dozen people spoke in favor, and no one spoke against.
- RIPAC Executive Director Jesse Stout testified in favor on behalf of Rhode Island patients. Click here to see YouTube coverage of the last minute of Jesse's testimony, as well as that of two Massachusetts patients.
- Here in Rhode Island, RIPAC will be working in 2008 to organize community support for allowing Compassion Centers, non-profit medical marijuana distribution facilities to be licensed and regulated by the RI Department of Health.
- RIPAC's next open Community Meeting for patients, caregivers, advocates, and anyone else interested in learning more about medical marijuana will be 7pm, Tuesday, January 15. 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, January 29. If you are a licensed patient or caregiver and would like to attend, contact RIPAC here.
- RIPAC has grown in 2007 and would like to do even more in 2008 for the medical marijuana community, including our work in favor of Compassion Centers. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support our services and programs. Donations can be made either online with Google Checkout or by check to "RI Patient Advocacy Coalition" at 145 Wayland Avenue, Providence, RI 02906.