RIPAC E-News
July 2008 Edition
RI Patient Advocacy Coalition
July 2008 Edition
RI Patient Advocacy Coalition
Welcome to the monthly newsletter of the RI Patient Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC), Rhode Island's medical marijuana community! Visit our website, www.RIpatients.org.
SPECIAL: June Providence Monthly article on medical marijuana!
SPECIAL: June Providence Monthly article on medical marijuana!
In this issue:
1. GOVERNOR VETOES COMPASSION CENTER STUDY COMMISSION
2. COMPASSION CENTER BILL TO BE RE-INTRODUCED IN 2009
3. ENTER RIPAC'S T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST AND WIN A FREE SHIRT
4. MEDICAL MARIJUANA TRAINING FOR RI POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION
5. RIPAC & MEDICAL MARIJUANA MEDIA ROUND-UP FOR 2008 SESSION
6. RIPAC STRAIN GUIDE UPDATED AND READY FOR COMMENTS
7. JULY REGIONAL, COMMUNITY, AND CARDHOLDER MEETINGS
1. GOVERNOR VETOES COMPASSION CENTER STUDY COMMISSION
2. COMPASSION CENTER BILL TO BE RE-INTRODUCED IN 2009
3. ENTER RIPAC'S T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST AND WIN A FREE SHIRT
4. MEDICAL MARIJUANA TRAINING FOR RI POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION
5. RIPAC & MEDICAL MARIJUANA MEDIA ROUND-UP FOR 2008 SESSION
6. RIPAC STRAIN GUIDE UPDATED AND READY FOR COMMENTS
7. JULY REGIONAL, COMMUNITY, AND CARDHOLDER MEETINGS
1. GOVERNOR VETOES COMPASSION CENTER STUDY COMMISSION
- This year the RI House and Senate passed a joint resolution establishing a study commission to produce a report by January 2009 on the feasibility of Compassion Centers, but Governor Carcieri vetoed it. RIPAC is now working to support an override of the Governor's veto or another solution to see this issue studied before the 2009 session.
- The 13-member study commission would include 3 representatives, 3 senators, 2 patients, 1 caregiver, 1 doctor, 1 nurse, 1 law enforcement professional, and 1 delegate from RIPAC.
- The study commission resolution was covered by newspapers The Providence Phoenix and The Woonsocket Call, blogs Not for Nothing and Rhode Island's Future, and the legislative press bureau.
- The study commission resolution was passed instead of the original bill which, if enacted, would have allowed a non-profit Compassion Center to grow and distribute medical marijuana for patients. This bill will be re-introduced in the House and Senate in 2009.
- The bill did not pass in 2008 because the House of Representatives did not vote on it, even after the Senate passed its version by an overwhelming margin of 29-6 and public opinion polling showed 69% support.
- RIPAC is going to make new t-shirts, and we want YOU to submit design ideas! Send us a t-shirt design by 7/29, and if yours is selected, we'll give you a free shirt.
- Submissions should be only 1 or 2 colors to keep costs down. Please send entries or any questions about this contest to [email protected] or 145 Wayland Ave, Prov, RI 02906.
- On June 17, RIPAC presented a training on the Medical Marijuana Act to the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association at their June monthly meeting.
- RIPAC has now delivered full training presentations to seven police organizations--Pawtucket, Woonsocket, Portsmouth, Jamestown, Municipal Police Academy, Law Enforcement Trainers Ass'n, Police Chiefs Ass'n--and we're planning more across the state.
- Check out our favorite medical marijuana magazine article of the legislative session, Providence Monthly's photo essay "Searching for Relief";
- Our favorite television coverage, NBC-10/WJAR's April 2 interview with 3 patients;
- Our favorite newspaper editorial, Newport Daily News's "Marijuana law needs to allow access to drug";
- Our favorite op-ed/LTE, RIPAC Executive Director Jesse Stout's Providence Journal piece "Robbed at Gunpoint: Help RI patients get marijuana safely";
- And our favorite radio spot was the advertisement featuring patient George DesRoches.
- Last month we announced the new "Strain Guide" page on RIpatients.org under Medical Info that lists details like growing time and medical indications for medical marijuana strains we've heard of here in Rhode Island.
- We've updated the Strain Guide with suggestions from the Comments form, so please check it out and send more additions.
- This month we'll have RIPAC Regional Meetings for patients and caregivers to meet others in their local areas. We've got South County (7/12), Woonsocket (7/16), and Cranston (7/22), and Warwick and East Bay next month. Contact RIPAC here if you are a Cardholder in one of these areas but haven't heard about your Regional Meeting.
- RIPAC's next open Community Meeting for patients, caregivers, advocates, and anyone else interested in learning more about medical marijuana will be 7:00pm, Tuesday, July 15, in Arnold Lounge of Keeney Quadrangle at Brown University (Benevolent St btwn Brown & Benefit, Providence 02906). Contact RIPAC for more information.
- Our next Cardholder Meeting for patients and caregivers licensed in the Medical Marijuana Program will be 7pm, Tuesday July 29. If you are a licensed patient or caregiver and can attend, contact us for more details.