Families urge Gov. Christie to improve access to medical marijuana

                   

WHO: Medical marijuana patients, families and advocates
WHAT: Deliver mail to the Governor
WHEN:     Thursday, August 1, 2013, 2:00 pm
WHERE:    NJ Statehouse, Room 109, and the Governor’s office
WHY:       To urge Gov. Christie to sign S2842 and improve access to medical marijuana

Friends of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey will gather at the Trenton Statehouse in Room 109 at 2:00 pm Thursday, August 1, 2013, to deliver several thousand letters to Governor Chris Christie, urging him to sign S2842, a bill that will improve access to medical marijuana.

Brian and Meghan Wilson’s two-year-old daughter, Vivian, is a registered medical marijuana patient who suffers from Dravet Syndrome, a seizure disorder that does not respond to traditional medical treatment. New Jersey’s Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was passed in part to treat this very type of disorder. However, Vivian has not been able to access the type of marijuana that she needs, in a form that is appropriate for a toddler, because of New Jersey’s overly restrictive regulations.  The Wilsons are coordinating this event along with Jennie Stormes, the mother of 14-year-old Jackson Stormes who also suffers from Dravet Syndrome. The families have been asking the public to tell the governor to sign the bill through the web site: http://lettersforvivian.org/

S2842 will eliminate the current limit of only three strains of marijuana that are permitted to be sold in New Jersey and allow a type of marijuana that is specifically grown to control seizures without the psychotropic, or “high” effect.  S2842 will also allow for medicated edible products, such as tincture, oil or butter, which is a more appropriate drug delivery method for a minor, or for those who prefer not to smoke. Additionally, S2842 will simplify access to medical marijuana for New Jersey minors who have qualifying conditions by only requiring a single licensed physician to recommend marijuana, instead of the three (3) physicians who are required under the current regulations.

 S2842 was fast-tracked through the Senate and Assembly in a single month, June 2013, and is now on Governor Christie’s desk awaiting action by him within 45 days (by Aug. 8, 2013).

For further information, contact:

Ken Wolski, RN: 609-394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com
Brian Wilson: 201-577-2513, Emperorwilson@yahoo.com
Jennie Stormes: 209-327-3366, jennie@afnna.com

CMMNJ, a 501(c)(3) public charity, provides education about the benefits medical marijuana.
More at: www.cmmnj.org or,
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/62462971150/

CMMNJ July 2013 Meeting Minutes

Monthly Public Meeting Minutes 
Tuesday, July 9, 2013

7:00 PM:  Meeting called to order.   June 2013 minutes approved.  Discussion:

S2842/A4241 a bill to simplify access to medical marijuana for NJ minors who have qualifying conditions, eliminate the three strain limit, and allow for edible products to be sold at ATCs, is now on Gov. Christie’s desk awaiting action by him within 45 days (by Aug. 8, 2013.).  Tell Gov. Christie to sign this important bill into law. 
Send the governor a fax at: http://lettersforvivian.org/ 
or, send an email:
DPA: https://secure2.convio.net/dpa/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=991
NORML: http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/51046/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=11449
Tweet him @GovChristie, 
or write/phone at: 
Office of the Governor
PO Box 001, Trenton, NJ 
08625
(609) 292-6000

NJ’s Medicinal Marijuana Program: Greenleaf ATC in Montclair has been shut down most of June; some patients report getting no marijuana there since March 2013.  No word from DOH on when Greenleaf will reopen.  About 1000 NJ patients with ID cards are on a waiting list.  Total program failure.
The lawsuit against DOH for failure to implement the MMP is expected in court in September. 
The lawsuit against the Camden Zoning Board for rejecting an ATC is also delayed until September.

Upcoming Events: Lenny Frieling, LEAP speaker, in Millburn, NJ on 7/23/13 at 7 pm. Also, live stream available. For details, see: http://mmjnj.org/html/liveinvite.html
"Kickin' Up Dust Summer 2013" Slightly Stoopid Tour at the Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ, August 9, 2013,  https://www.facebook.com/events/431582343597002/
"Medical Marijuana: Legislation + Education = Blueprint for Change" New Jersey State Nurses Association Convention http://www.njsna.org/, 10/9/13, Bally, Atlantic City. CEUs.  

Recent events: CMMNJ fundraiser, 6/12/13, The Pop Shop, Collingswood. $420 was raised! 
Grandma Lobbies for Medical Marijuana in Washington, D.C. The Silver Tour, 6/17/13.

Treasury report: Checking account: $4558; PayPal account: $3444.  Billboard campaign on Facebook. http://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/5w32/medical-marijuana-billboard-in-trenton

CMMNJ meetings:  Next meeting will be August 13, 2013 at 7 pm - 9pm.  Meetings are at the Lawrence Twp. Library, 2751 Brunswick Pike, 08648. (Meeting at the library does not imply their endorsement of our issue.)  

More info:  Ken Wolski, RN, MPA, (609) 394-2137 ohamkrw@aol.com   http://www.cmmnj.org 
Facebook: Friends of CMMNJ: https://www.facebook.com/groups/62462971150/?fref=ts

CMMNJ, a 501(c)(3) public charity, is a non-profit educational organization.