cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Lobby Spends at Record Pace Medical Marijuana Lobby Spends at Record Pace Posted by CN Staff on July 27, 2004 at 08:51:50 PT By John Zicconi, Vermont Press Bureau Source: Rutland Herald Montpelier -- A Washington, D.C., lobbying organization that played a major role in Vermont becoming the ninth state to adopt a medical marijuana law appears to be on a record-setting spending spree. The Medical Marijuana Policy Project on Monday declared that it spent nearly $218,000 during the first half of 2004. That amount approaches the highest known complete-year spending total in Vermont lobbying history. Lobbyists for the Policy Project were constant visitors to the Vermont State House this past winter. Their efforts bore fruit in May when the Legislature legalized the use and possession of marijuana by people suffering from AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis. Gov. James Douglas opposes the medical use of marijuana, but allowed the initiative to become law without his signature. The Policy Project, which has a $7 million 2004 lobbying war chest, spent money locally on a combination full-court press with lawmakers and a statewide media campaign to educate voters. It receives money from its 15,000 members nationwide and from others sources. "We understand it was a significant amount of money, but it was worth it" said Nancy Lynch, spokeswoman for the Policy Project's Vermont office. The local law "is landmark legislation. Vermont's is only the second Legislature in the country to pass a medical marijuana bill." Although nine states have laws that decriminalize marijuana for medical purposes, seven were adopted because of voter initiatives. Vermont and Hawaii are the only two states where lawmakers drove the process. The Policy Project has now spent $426,349 lobbying in Vermont since 2002. Lobbying organizations annually spend more than $5 million in Vermont. Lobbying groups by law must file spending information with the Vermont secretary of state three times each year. The Policy Project spent $77,970 during January and February, and another $139,722 between March and June of this year.The $217,692 total is about $7,000 shy of the $224,588 spent in all of 2003 by the Vermont Hospital and Health System Association, which is believed to be the largest single-year lobbying total on record at the Secretary of State's office. The state, however, only publishes records dating back to 2000. A spokesperson for the Secretary of State said it is possible that an organization spent more, but that could not be known unless someone manually went through back paper records. No one who works in the office is aware of a higher total, she said. Lynch said the Policy Project's state operation will continue even though Vermont has now passed a medical marijuana law. The organization now will focus on making sure the new law, which takes effect in November, is implemented properly. How much that will cost and add to the group's 2004 local spending total is unknown, she said. "We do have very deep pockets," Lynch said. "We are very committed to Vermont, so we will spend what it takes to be successful here." Vermont can also expect future lobbying efforts to expand medical marijuana use beyond the three diseases now sanctioned by Vermont law, Lynch said. The group would also like people suffering from Lou Gehrig's Disease, epilepsy and severe chronic pain to be able to legally use marijuana, she said. Maria Thompson, chairwoman of Common Cause Vermont, a lobbying watchdog group, said she was surprised to learn what the Policy Project spent in just six months. "That is an awful lot of money," Thompson said. "It's too bad that our system requires people to raise such sums of money. ... The whole thing is completely out of hand. This is a good example of why we need public financing of campaigns because there is not much difference between campaign contributions and lobbying contributions. They go hand in hand." Complete Title: Medical Marijuana Lobby Spends at Record Pace in VtSource: Rutland Herald (VT)Author: John Zicconi, Vermont Press Bureau Published: July 27, 2004Copyright: 2004 Rutland HeraldContact: info rutlandherald.comWebsite: http://www.rutlandherald.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmMedical Marijuana Bill Will Become Law http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18878.shtmlDouglas Behind Effort To Pass Restrictive Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18869.shtmlHouse: Very Sick Can Use Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18856.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #32 posted by FoM on July 28, 2004 at 09:30:23 PT Hope I am thanks! I have been lucky that long time Neil fans have helped me figure out what are the best albums and so far I must say the music is great. I'll wait til later to watch the movie. I mute the TV but I see Kerry is on the news so I want to watch the TV and listen to music for the time being. I know Kerry would be better then Bush because he ponders issues and seems open to what people are interested in. [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by Hope on July 28, 2004 at 09:23:28 PT FoM Congratulations!Relish the joy.I know you will. [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by FoM on July 28, 2004 at 08:59:22 PT Hope and freedom23 Thank you and everyone did ruffle his hair. He had a beautiful head of hair. I always figured some children are hard to handle and my son was a doll. Even though his life was short it was full and he touched many people in that short time. In the end that's what's important I believe.freedom23 please post what you've written here or on another thread. The comments are extensions of the article and very important.PS: Hope I'm happy today! I got Greendale the movie and Freedom and After The Goldrush. I'm having a Neil Day I call it! LOL! Music does wonders for me! [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by Hope on July 28, 2004 at 07:59:07 PT FoM I can see that he was a joy to his mother. He probably hated it when people tousled his hair and yet...they couldn't resist it.I rejoice with you that you had him any amount of time.Thank you for sharing his picture with us. [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by Hope on July 28, 2004 at 07:48:36 PT FoM Couldn't freedom23 post excerpts from his essays here in the comments section...especially when they are relevant to an article? [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by freedom23 on July 28, 2004 at 06:44:01 PT FoM I understand and that's cool. Thanks again for all you do here. CN does what it does quite well thanks to you.I'm very sorry for the lost of your son. Anything I could say would be trite except I am truly sorry for your loss. As a father you are living out my worse nightmare. I'm sorry. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by FoM on July 27, 2004 at 22:52:41 PT CorvallisEric I thought that too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by CorvallisEric on July 27, 2004 at 22:39:37 PT Arkansas - comment #6 Backers of the proposed law needed 64,456 signatures of registered voters to get on the November 2nd ballot. The group had 29,974 valid names of 66,282 that were submitted.That calculates to 45.22% valid signatures. Something went very badly wrong. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by FoM on July 27, 2004 at 21:38:33 PT siege I did a quick look at the comments and do you think they are trying to keep it in line with the convention rather then specific issues? [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by FoM on July 27, 2004 at 21:35:28 PT siege Why do you think they took it down? [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by siege on July 27, 2004 at 21:31:42 PT FoM yes here http://blog.johnkerry.com/blog/archives/002245.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by FoM on July 27, 2004 at 21:26:25 PT Thank You Ron He was beautiful. I'm very lucky he was my son. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by FoM on July 27, 2004 at 21:24:50 PT Thanks BGreen I found the current stats. How many people have HIV and AIDS? Worldwide: UNAIDS estimates that as of December 2000, there were an estimated 36.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS (34.7 million adults and 1.4 million children under 15). Since the epidemic began, an estimated 21.8 million people have died of AIDS (17.5 million adults and 4.3 million children under 15). An estimated 5.3 million new HIV infections occurred in 2000. During 2000, HIV- and AIDS-associated illnesses caused deaths of an estimated 3 million people, including 500,000 children under the age of 15. In the United States: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are between 800,000 and 900,000 people living with HIV. Through December 2000, a total of 774,467 cases of AIDS have been reported to the CDC; of this number, 448,060 persons (representing 58% of cases) have died. (Source: Centers for Disease Control - CDC) [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by ron on July 27, 2004 at 21:23:05 PT Your son looks beautiful, FoM I'm sorry for your loss. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on July 27, 2004 at 21:22:46 PT siege Do you mean on the message board at Kerry's site? Is that the blog you are talking about. I haven't ever posted there so I don't know how it works. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by BGreen on July 27, 2004 at 21:20:04 PT Thanks, FoM, for sharing your son with us That was exactly my point. I know your son is looking down upon you with such pride.Everybody is somebody's son or daughter.The Reverend Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by siege on July 27, 2004 at 21:11:38 PT john kerry blog john kerry blog .important issue medical marijuana took down my post of today, try to get in put. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on July 27, 2004 at 21:03:06 PT BGreen I only have one picture of my son on line. I hesitate to post it but I will. He was 15 in this picture. When he died in 96 the death toll had climbed to over 300,000. I don't know how many have HIV or AIDS now but it is alot more then this number. When we turn our back on people because we don't care we will suffer because of it. We need to care for everyone. My Son [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by BGreen on July 27, 2004 at 20:52:00 PT One very important issue comes to mind "We have an important issue but they don't care. If they don't care about our issue how many issues are pushed aside as insignificant?"The HIV/Aids epidemic was ignored and treated as some sort of "divine retribution for the sinners."How many thousands of beautiful humans lost their lives because of that ignorance?The Reverend Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Hope on July 27, 2004 at 20:37:41 PT FoM "We have an important issue but they don't care. If they don't care about our issue how many issues are pushed aside as insignificant?"I shudder to think, FoM. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on July 27, 2004 at 19:55:20 PT Hope Thank you. I am being more cautious while I'm not feeling well because stress does make us sick. I'll be glad when the election is over and we get on with working to change bad laws. I will vote this year because I don't want Bush but I probably won't ever vote again after this year. It's not worth it to me to be stressed out about politics. I am watching Teresa Kerry and I like her. I like Ron Reagan. I like some of the people that are political but very few impress me. I like to see actions not words. Words mean nothing. Action means everything. We have an important issue but they don't care. If they don't care about our issue how many issue are pushed aside as insignificant? [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Hope on July 27, 2004 at 19:26:55 PT FoM Don't watch it! Read about it on Drudge or somewhere. We can't have you being made sick.The last Nevada election that included our issue and it failed made me very sick. Or perhaps more exactly it caused the last drop of acid that finally ate through my stomach lining. That night, reading the sorry election returns, a long ordeal started that I still am dealing with. Short time later I had a two month case of bronchitus...which I had never ever had before and thankfully have not had since. It's a weakness that irritates me no end. If I keep my face from breaking out, my stomach hurts. If I protect my stomach, my hair falls out and my teeth get loose. And migraines...make that Migraines. Aaarggh. It's all too much about my body going "sympathetic" with problems...or something. I fight it and try to control it but it's a powerful reflex or something that some of us are born with. I hate it and I know you do too. When the going gets rough...I get a migraine or start puking. If I don't face the meanies...I get sick and feel ashamed for not helping. If I do...I get sick. So, of the two, I choose the first. Obviously, you do, too.Hang in there, Kiddo...good things coming. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on July 27, 2004 at 17:18:17 PT Hope I haven't felt well since the convention started. I'm watching it but it reminds me of when I was young and was being taught how to set a table formally. You put this fork next to that fork and the knife and spoon here and the glass there. I never understood why a person couldn't have their knife, fork and spoon where they wanted it. Politics remind me of formalities that really don't mean anything but just are the thing to do. LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Hope on July 27, 2004 at 16:55:11 PT FoM, politics being sickening It affects me that way, too. Literally. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on July 27, 2004 at 16:03:07 PT Hope Yes I agree. I've decided why I don't pay attention to politics. Politics makes me feel sick. I mean sick not just upset. Where's the heart and soul of politics? I don't sense they have them. Greendale didn't show up today or I'd be in a better mood. They just announced the Book called Greendale by Neil Young and James Mazzeo will be released in December. I am not a book reader but I'll read that one. While Gore and Clinton were talking last night I updated this page. I seem to mentally go off in another world when politics get to deep for me to handle. Neil Young - - Greendale [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Hope on July 27, 2004 at 15:55:55 PT Narc Party That Narc Party article is informative. Sickeningly so. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on July 27, 2004 at 15:17:50 PT News Brief from KATV - Channel 7 Medical Marijuana Group Misses on Signature Drive Tuesday, July 27, 2004 Little Rock (AP) - The secretary of state's office says a group sponsoring a proposed ballot item to legalize marijuana for medical use has not gotten enough signatures.Backers of the proposed law needed 64,456 signatures of registered voters to get on the November 2nd ballot. The group had 29,974 valid names of 66,282 that were submitted.The primary group backing the measure has withdrawn support so it can concentrate on states where ballot placement is assured.Local supporters have said they will try to collect the signatures they need to make up the difference and still try to get the item on the ballot. http://www.katv.com/news/stories/0704/162025.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on July 27, 2004 at 12:16:51 PT Kerry is Slipping in The Polls They just said that Kerry is slipping in the polls because he is too liberal. I couldn't believe they said that. He isn't liberal. We very well might have Bush for 4 more years. I'm trying to accept that as I type this. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 27, 2004 at 12:14:14 PT Off Topic: A Different Kind of Article NARC PARTY This is your convention on drugs http://www.nypress.com/17/30/news&columns/MattTaibbi.cfm [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on July 27, 2004 at 12:06:28 PT freedom23 I wanted to try to explain why I don't do unpublished articles other the AP or Reuters. I am concerned that if I do one article I would have to do other people's articles. I would be so sidetracked and since I don't have anyway to expand CNews and I'm the only one who does the news it could easily overwhelm me. It really is best for CNews at this point in time to stay close to the way we are going. In the future who knows what could happen but for now I think I need to say I really shouldn't. I hope you understand. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by freedom23 on July 27, 2004 at 11:52:23 PT It's FUD These numbers are meaningless unless they can be compared to other lobbyist groups from the same time frame, like from the Vermont's dairy, alcohol or timber industries. This article is simply irresponsible journalism or purposely misleading propaganda..It's kinda like the “cheese kills” theory. Since everyone born in 1850 that ate cheese is dead then ergo cheese kills. This is an example of how statistics can be manipulated to show anything.Since the State of Vermont doesn't make lobbyist expenditures available on the web an honest comparison would be difficult..FoM: Would you consider publishing an original article written for CN like you do for news clippings? I have a few things I've written that might be of interest. Add the fact that the copyright would be under the “GNU Free Documentation License” (which allows others to reprint without changes) and would include a tag about CN, it could be a draw to the site. And the price is right: free. =) Just an idea.BTW, Thanks for your excellent work here. I believe this site is helping make a change for good. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 27, 2004 at 10:24:51 PT Just a Comment I sure hope with all the money MPP gets that we can get the laws changed soon. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment