Monthly Public Meeting Agenda
Lawrence Township Library, Room #2
Tuesday, November 13, 2012; 7:00 PM -- 9:00 PM
7:00 PM: Call meeting to order. Approve October 2012 minutes. Discuss:
Election 2012: Massachusetts becomes 18th medical marijuana state. Colorado & Washington state voters pass marijuana legalization laws. (Sky has yet to fall.)
NJ’s Medicinal Marijuana Program (MMP) is still not functioning—not a single patient has yet gotten any. About 300 patient ID cards have been issued. Dir. O’Brien issues final permit to Greenleaf ATC; says supply of medical marijuana was not damaged by Hurricane Sandy. The lawsuit against DOH for failure to implement the state’s MMP is progressing and it asks the court to appoint CMMNJ monitor of the program.
Sen. Scutari’s S1977 (to decriminalize 50 grams of marijuana) is not yet scheduled for a committee hearing. (NJ Assembly passed A1465--decrim for 15 grams--on 6/25/12.)
Ed (NJWeedman) Forchion’s retrial for distribution charge: “not guilty” by a Burlington County jury of his peers, despite the fact that he admitted possessing a pound of marijuana.
Recent events: NJ State Nurses Assn. gave Ken Wolski, RN “Don Award” for his medical marijuana advocacy, Atlantic City, 10/24/12. ASA v. DEA oral arguments in federal court 10/16 & ASA’s 10-year benefit dinner in D.C. (CMMNJ’s 10th anniversary upcoming in March 2013.)
Treasury report: Checking: $3255; PayPal: $3353.
Schedule of CMMNJ 2013 meetings: Lawrence Library not available Feb. & Nov. 2013. CMMNJ meetings are the second Tuesday of each month from 7 - 9 PM at the Lawrence Twp.
Library, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Twp., Tel. #609.882.9246. All are welcome. (Meeting at the library does not imply their endorsement of our issue.) For more info, contact:
Ken Wolski, RN, MPA, Executive Director, Coalition for Medical Marijuana—New Jersey, Inc.
219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618 (609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com www.cmmnj.org
CMMNJ, a 501(c)(3) public charity, is a non-profit educational organization.
Monthly Public Meeting Minutes
Lawrence Library
October 9, 2012
7:00 PM: Meeting called to order. September 2012 minutes approved. Discussion:
So far, 239 patients have registered for ID cards with DOH; in addition to other fees, patients must pay $65 for background checks for caregivers. Problems with doctors continue.
ATC update: More delays; promised September opening of Montclair ATC did not occur—final inspection of facility several weeks away. No ATCs open yet. The lawsuit against DOH for failure to implement the state’s MMP is progressing. Suggestions include demonstrations at DOH with tombstones of dead NJ patients.
Adding qualifying conditions to NJ’s medical marijuana law—Board members’ efforts.
NJ Senator Nick Scutari introduced S1977 to decriminalize 50 grams of marijuana. Fall committee hearing upcoming? (NJ Assembly passed A1465--decrim for 15 grams--on 6/25/12.)
Ed (NJWeedman) Forchion: Retrial for hung jury on distribution charge starts 10/16/12 at 8am.
Upcoming events: NJ State Nurses Assn. “Don Award” to Ken Wolski, RN for medical marijuana advocacy in Atlantic City on 10/24/12. NORML NJ meeting October 15th & November 12th at 7pm at the Ale House, New Brunswick, NJ. Ewing Community Fest 10/6/12, thanks to Larry & Ed. Lawrence Community Day 10/7/12 canceled due to weather. ASA v. DEA oral arguments in federal court 10/16 followed by ASA’s 10th Anniversary benefit dinner in D.C. NORML Conference, Los Angeles, 10/4-6/12, Ken was a speaker. CMMNJ’s 10th anniversary upcoming
in March 2013.
Treasury report: Checking: $3163; PayPal: $3353.
CMMNJ meetings are the second Tuesday of each month from 7 - 9 PM at the Lawrence Library
(Meeting at the library does not imply their endorsement of our issue.) For more info:
Ken Wolski, RN, MPA, Executive Director, Coalition for Medical Marijuana—New Jersey, Inc.
219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618 (609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com www.cmmnj.org
CMMNJ, a 501(c)(3) public charity, is a non-profit educational organization.
Recent Media Coverage and Blogs:
‘The Fight Over Medical Marijuana’http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/opinion/the-fight-over-medical-marijuana.html
New Jersey medical marijuana supply safe after Superstorm Sandy
http://www.freedomisgreen.com/new-jersey-medical-marijuana-supply-safe-after-superstorm-sandy/
Q&A with New Jersey Medicinal Marijuana Program Director
http://www.freedomisgreen.com/qa-with-new-jersey-medicinal-marijuana-program-director/
NJ medical marijuana: Tough road for patients to first ATC
http://www.freedomisgreen.com/nj-medical-marijuana-tough-road-for-patients-to-first-atc/
On medical marijuana, state laws matter
http://blog.nj.com/ledgerletters/2012/10/on_medical_marijuana_state_law.html
N.J. issues first medical marijuana license
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57532753/n.j-issues-first-medical-marijuana-license/
Department of Health Issues Permit to Operate to Greenleaf Compassion Center
http://www.nj.gov/health/medicalmarijuana/documents/greenleaf_comp_ctr.pdf
Empowering Women Dual-Project
http://www.indiegogo.com/nelsonproject
Medical marijuana center in Montclair to open before new year
http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/healthquest/medical-marijuana-center-in-montclair-to-open-before-new-year
Montclair Pot Dispensary: New Jersey's First Marijuana Storefront Lands Pot License
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/24/montclair-pot-dispensary-_n_2011678.html
WHERE WE STAND: Stop the stalling on medical marijuana
Nearly three years past the law's passage, all six dispensaries should be approved.
http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20121017/OPINION03/310170002/Stop-stalling-medical-marijuana
PTSD Patient Challenges New Jersey Marijuana Laws
http://www.theweedblog.com/ptsd-patient-challenges-new-jersey-marijuana-laws/
Extra:
Colorado, Washington first states to legalize recreational pothttp://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/07/us-usa-marijuana-legalization-idUSBRE8A602D20121107
‘Weedman’ acquitted after using medical marijuana argument as his defense
http://www.channel6newsonline.com/2012/10/weedman-acquitted-after-using-medical-marijuana-argument-as-his-defense/
Jury Nullification Keeps NJ Weedman Out of Jail; DEA Comes Calling
http://reason.com/blog/2012/10/24/jury-nullification-keeps-nj-weedman-out
Bridging the Knowledge Gap: Nurses in Support of Medical Cannabis
http://www.medicalcannabisart.com/MedicalCannabisNews/TY%20ACNA%202012.pdf
Opinion: Marijuana ballot initiatives in other states could provide N.J. with direction
http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2012/10/opinion_marijuana_ballot_initi.html
Obama, What About "Free and Open Scientific Inquiry" for Medical Marijuana?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-john-schwarz/medical-marijuana_b_2050358.html
Should Grandma Smoke Pot? Final Cut - Legalize Marijuana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juVwqdNJlpU&feature=youtu.be
Medical Marijuana: No longer a pipe dream
http://watch.njtvonline.org/video/2287878729
Department of Health Issues Permit to Operate to Greenleaf Compassion Center
(10/16/12)
Greenleaf Compassion Center was issued a permit today by the Department of Health to operate as an Alternative Treatment Center (ATCs) and dispense medicinal marijuana. The permit was issued after a final Department inspection of its Montclair facility. Montclair officials also recently granted a certificate of occupancy to Greenleaf, clearing the way for the Department to grant its permit."This permit marks a significant step forward in the implementation of New Jersey's Medicinal Marijuana Program and allows Greenleaf Compassion Center to begin dispensing medicinal marijuana to qualified patients," said New Jersey Health Commissioner Mary E. O'Dowd. "The Department is working with all ATCs to ensure the program serves patients safely and securely."
Patients and caregivers will receive identification cards this week from the Medicinal Marijuana Program (MMP). Greenleaf will contact patients to schedule an appointment in the order in which patients registered. Patients and caregivers must bring their MMP identification card with them to the appointment.
Approximately 320 patients have either registered with the program or are in the process of completing registration, while more than 175 physicians have registered.
"This is a new product. Patients may want to make a limited purchase initially until they know which of the three available varieties best meets their needs," Commissioner O'Dowd said. ATCs can also provide guidance to patients on ways to use the product without the harmful effects of smoking.
The other five Alternative Treatment Centers are in various stages of finalizing locations or background examinations of the principals of their organizations.
The Department opened the patient registry in August. The registration process is available on the Department's Medicinal Marijuana webpage, which includes a checklist on how to register, answers to frequently asked questions and an option to submit questions via the website to customer services representatives.
Patients interested in registering should ask their doctor if he or she has signed up or would be willing to participate. If their physician is not interested-patients can check on the Department's Medicinal Marijuana webpage for physicians who have registered. The webpage provides a physician listing by county.
A Customer Service Unit is available to assist patients, caregivers and physicians in the registration process. The customer service line, (609) 292-0424, is open from 8 am to 5pm Monday through Friday.
For answers to frequently asked questions, please visit
http://www.state.nj.us/health/medicalmarijuana/faqs.shtml
http://www.nj.gov/health/medicalmarijuana/documents/greenleaf_comp_ctr.pdf
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