cannabisnews.com: Students, Doctors, Patients Gather To Support MMJ Students, Doctors, Patients Gather To Support MMJ Posted by CN Staff on April 07, 2003 at 12:44:11 PT By Xiyun Yang Source: Brown Daily Herald Students, patients and doctors gathered at a Brown symposium last weekend to support the legalization of medical marijuana. Drawing activists from all over southern New England, the Medical Marijuana Symposium facilitated discussion and education about the regulation and therapeutic value of the illegal drug.Sponsored by the Brown Students for Sensible Drug Policy, the three-day event, held in Carmichael Auditorium, included lectures, documentaries, discussions and a press conference. While maintaining a focus on education, the purpose of the event was to rally for change in current medical marijuana policy, especially in states such as Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut, which have pending legislation, said Ben Kintisch '02.5, the event's spokesperson.Legislative reform is a slow and tedious process, he said. Despite one recent change in the regulation of medical marijuana in Maryland, Kintisch said reform tends to die in committee in Rhode Island and other New England states. "We're all in it for the long haul," he said.Citing Canadian legislation on medical marijuana and medical research in Great Britain on a marijuana chemical concentrate, Nathaniel Lepp '06, one of the event organizers, called this a "pivotal year" for advocating the legalization of medical marijuana.The press conference included a brief speech by Anne McCormick, who said her son, who used marijuana during treatment for cancer, is currently serving a five-year federal sentence. "The marijuana allowed his body to fight the disease on an even playing field," McCormick said. "The patients and their loved ones have kept our mouths shut long enough," she said. Due to the lack of consensus among states, it is nearly impossible to pressure the federal government for legislative change, said Bruce Mirken, a longtime health journalist. As a result, reform must begin on a state by state basis, he said.T.J. Scaramellino, of Harvard's SSDP chapter, spoke out in particular against federal legislation that revokes financial aid for students with prior drug convictions. This legislation "caters to the fears of the middle class," he said, and has caused "the institutions of democracy to falter."All the individuals who spoke emphasized the importance of awareness, education and advocacy in the fight for more effective and rational drug policies.Complete Title: Students, Doctors, Patients Gather in Support of Medicinal Marijuana Source: Brown Daily Herald, The (RI Edu)Author: Xiyun Yang Published: Monday, April 7, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Brown Daily HeraldContact: letters browndailyherald.comWebsite: http://www.browndailyherald.com/SSDPhttp://www.ssdp.orgMarijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by afterburner on April 07, 2003 at 18:34:18 PT: State of Spiritual Cannabis Acceptance in Canada Reverend Ethier released on bail by Reverend Damuzi (06 Apr, 2003) Charged with supplying sacrament to a church member http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/2908.html Reverend Michael `Tarzan` Ethier pix http://www.cannabisculture.com/library/images/uploads/2908-Tarzan.jpgOn February 20, 2003 Reverend Mike (Tarzan) Ethier was arrested for allegedly selling cannabis to a church member in Ontario. Reverend Ethier is clergy for the Church of the Universe, which holds that marijuana is the Tree of Life.Spiritual health, mental health, physical health: the healing benefits of cannabis.ego destruction or ego transcendence, that it the question. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by mayan on April 07, 2003 at 17:47:28 PT OPPOSE THE RAVE ACT!!! Thanks, Druid! It is sickening that they are trying to sneak it through on the amber alert bill. Let's get busy!Urgent Action Needed on RAVE Act... http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=1574 [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on April 07, 2003 at 15:44:28 PT Phil Yes one did unfortunately.http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15807.shtml#2 [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by phil_debowl on April 07, 2003 at 15:42:17 PT Looks like one state slipped through our fingers Oklahoma City (AP) - Possession of marijuana will remain a felony in Oklahoma.The state House voted 84-to-13 today against a bill to make possession of small amounts of marijuana a misdemeanor.Opponents say marijuana is a gateway drug, leading users to more dangerous narcotics. Critics of the bill also say they don't want to be soft on crime.Supporters say the bill would reduce the backlog of cases in courts and leave police free to investigate more serious crime.The Oklahoma Sentencing Commission also has recommended making the possession of small amounts of marijuana a misdemeanor.Officials say it would reduce overcrowding in the state's and prison system. House Rejects Making Marijuana Possession A Misdemeanor [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by druid on April 07, 2003 at 15:21:21 PT Emergency Action - RAVE Act Moving ============================================================SUPPORT DRUG POLICY REFORM!!! FORWARD THIS ALERT TO YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND COLLEAGUES ============================================================*** EMERGENCY - JOE BIDEN TRYING TO SNEAK RAVE ACT INTO S151 Conference *** CALL YOUR SENATOR NOWSenator Joe Biden (D-DE) is at this very moment attempting to sneak the RAVE Act into conference committee on the National AMBER Alert Network Act of 2003 (S151). S151 is a popular bill about child abduction and has nothing to do with drug issues. S151 has already been passed by the Senate and House and is now in Conference. In contrast, the RAVE Act has not passed even one single committee this year. It did pass a committee last year, but was so controversial two Senators withdrew their sponsorship after the vote. This means that if the RAVE Act passes the conference committee, it is likely to become law without ever having a hearing, a debate or a vote. Drug Policy Alliance has been told that Senator Biden has told other conference committee members, incorrectly, that the ACLU is no longer in opposition to the action. He also has told conferees that nightclub owners now support him (on the basis of one group that switched sides). If the act makes it into the conference language it is likely to become law. It must be stopped now.PHONE YOUR SENATORS and Conference Committee Members (Background information below). DO IT NOW. If you do not respond to this alert, the controversial RAVE Act is likely to become law and it will be much harder to fix. ACTIONS TO TAKE:1. The following Members of Congress are on the conference committee. They need to hear from you IF AND ONLY IF you live in their district. Please be polite. Just tell them that you oppose the RAVE Act, that it is controversial and it should not be included in the conference language of S151. Don't stay on the phone long. Ask as many people as you can to call them.HOUSE: James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) - 202/225-5101 Howard Coble (R-NC) - 202/225-3065 Lamar Smith (R-TX) - 202/225-4236 Mark Green (R-WI)- 202/225-5665 Melissa Hart (R-PA)- 202/225-2565 John Conyers (D-MI) - 202/225-5126 Bobby Scott (D-VA) - - 202/225-8351SENATE: Orrin Hatch (R-UT) - 202/224-5251 Charles Grassley (R-IA) - 202/224-3744 Jeff Sessions (R-AL) - 202/224-4124 Lindsey Graham (R-SC) - 202/224-5972 Patrick Leahy (D-VT) - 202/224-4242 Ted Kennedy (D-MA) - 202/224-4543 Joseph Biden (D-DE) - 202/224-50422. Everyone in the U.S. - You have two Senators who can weigh in on this issue with the conferees. A list of your Senators by state can be found at http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm. Please call your Senators at the Capitol Switchboard at 202/224-3121 - please tell them that the RAVE Act is very controversial. Senator Biden is holding up the AMBER Act by placing controversial bill in conference. Urge them to oppose the RAVE Act by contacting the Senate conferees and asking them to leave it off the measure so that there will at least be a hearing on this issue. BACKGROUND INFORMATIONCongress is considering two pieces of legislation that could create disincentives for club owners to have water, ambulances and paramedics available at large dance events. The bills might also threaten live music and dancing. If enacted, either bill could prevent you from hearing your favorite band or DJ live. Every musical style would be affected, including rock and roll, Hip Hop, country, and electronic music. The proposed laws could also shut down hemp festivals, circuit parties, and other events government officials don't like. Both bills would allow overzealous prosecutors to send innocent people to jail for the crimes of others. The two bills are the RAVE Act (H.R. 718) and the CLEAN-UP Act (H.R. 834). The RAVE Act was first introduced last year in the Senate by Senator Joe Biden (D-DE). A House version was introduced by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX). Thanks to the support of thousands of voters like you, Drug Policy Alliance and a coalition of friends and activists around the country was able to stop both bills last year. Unfortunately, supporters of the RAVE Act are even more determined to pass it this year. Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC) is sponsoring a new RAVE Act in the House. Additionally, Senator Biden has introduced a Senate version entitled the Illicit Drugs Anti-Proliferation Act.If enacted, the RAVE Act would make it easier for the federal government to punish property owners for any drug offense that their customers commit - even if they work hard to stop such offenses. If enacted, nightclub and stadium owners would likely stop holding events - such as rock or Hip Hop concerts - in which even one person might use drugs. The CLEAN-UP Act was also first introduced last year, but it failed to make it out of committee. This year's bill has over 60 co-sponsors and could become law without your help. Sponsored by Rep. Doug Ose (R- CA), the Clean, Learn, Educate, Abolish, and Undermine Production (CLEAN-UP) of Methamphetamines Act is largely an innocuous bill that provides more money and training for the clean up of illegal methamphetamine lab. Hidden within the bill, however, is a draconian section that could make dancing and live music federal crimes.Section 305 of the CLEAN-UP Act stipulates that: `Whoever, for a commercial purpose, knowingly promotes any rave, dance, music, or other entertainment event, that takes place under circumstances where the promoter knows or reasonably ought to know that a controlled substance will be used or distributed in violation of Federal law or the law of the place where the event is held, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 9 years, or both.'This provision will allow any concert promoter, event organizer, nightclub owner and arena or stadium owner to be fined and jailed, since a reasonable person would know some people use drugs at musical events. Under both the RAVE Act and the CLEAN-UP Act, it doesn't matter if the event promoter and property owner try to prevent people from using drugs. Nor does it matter if the vast majority of people attending the event are law-abiding citizens that want to listen to music not do drugs. If enacted, either bill could be used to shut down raves, circuit parties, marijuana rallies, unpopular music concerts, and any other event federal officials don't like. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 07, 2003 at 13:54:42 PT SSDP I'm so glad that the younger generation is getting involved. It does my heart good to see them getting behind medical marijuana issues. Caring for the rights of the sick is such a worthy cause. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment