RIPAC E-News
January 2010 Edition
RI Patient Advocacy Coalition
January 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.
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In this issue:
1. WELCOME RIPAC'S NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JOANNE LEPPANEN
2. HOLIDAY GIVING TO PATIENTS IN NEED
3. RIPAC TO OFFER GROWING CLASSES
4. COMPASSION CENTER UPDATE
5. RIPAC OFFERS PATIENT AND CAREGIVER ORIENTATIONS
6. JANUARY MEETINGS: COMMUNITY, PATIENT, REGIONALS
7. REMEMBER YOUR CARD!
1. WELCOME RIPAC'S NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JOANNE LEPPANEN
- RIPAC has a new executive director, JoAnne Leppanen. JoAnne has been the associate director of RIPAC for more than two years, has a long history of advocacy and practiced health care law for more than thirteen years. In response to our economic challenges, RIPAC has been forced to downsize. We thank Stephen Hogan for all his leadership and wish him the very best in his future endeavors, and his farewell letter can be read here. Rest assured that RIPAC remains committed to the medical marijuana patients of Rhode Island and ensuring that safe, affordable medicine is available to qualified patients.
- This would be a great time to show your support for RIPAC with a financial contribution, if you haven't already done so. You can help with your gift, which is tax-deductible, and you can conveniently give by clicking here. We are grateful for every contribution regardless of the amount.
- Since June 2009, it has been legal for any licensed RI patient or caregiver to give medical marijuana to another licensed patient or caregiver, provided no payment is taken and the gift does not put the recipient over their legal possession limits.
- RIPAC sends a heartfelt thank you to the patients and caregivers who demonstrated considerable generosity over the holidays by providing for patients in need. This spirit of charity makes the RIPAC community a source of comfort for patients and a source of pride for all of us.
- RIPAC will be hosting its first class on growing medical marijuana in February. This is an opportunity for patients to learn more about their medicine and the basics of growing their own.
- Unfortunately, the enthusiasm for the class was so great that the first one filled up before we could even announce it. However, we are in the process of developing and offering new classes, and we will keep you posted when they are scheduled.
- A formal public hearing will be held Tuesday February 2, 2024 at 2pm in the auditorium of the Cannon Building, 3 Capitol Hill (lower level) on the regulations governing compassion centers.
- Click here to read the updated proposed regulations.
- The Department of Health has also released a draft for the application of Compassion Centers. Click here to read the working draft.
- 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.
- Community Meeting: 6:30-8:00pm Tuesday, January 12th 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).
- Patient Meeting: 7:00-8:30pm Tuesday, January 26th 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: 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, January 21st; call us for directions at 861-1601.
- If you have medicine in your possession, you must also have your medical marijuana license (card) with you. We have had reports of patients who were detained by police because they forgot to bring their cards with them while transporting medicine. If you don't have your card, you may be subject to arrest, so remember: keep your card with you at all times!
We would like to thank all volunteers who have rallied to help out with RIPAC activities at the office. Thank you all for your support, whether in the form of kind emails, phone messages, or financial contributions.
Wishing you all the best of health for the New Year,
RIPAC
www.RIpatients.org
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