CMMNJ October 2013 Meeting Minutes

Monthly Public Meeting Minutes, 

October 8, 2013; 7:00 PM -- 9:00 PM; 

There will be no November 2013 meeting due to a scheduling conflict with the library.

The next CMMNJ meeting is December 10, 2013, 7 - 9 PM at the Lawrence Twp. Library. 

The Oct 8 meeting covered all the agenda items listed.  

Oral arguments in the lawsuit against DOH were heard in Appellate Court, Mt. Holly, 9/18/13. NORML NJ lawyers asked the court: to continue the tort claims against the DOH; to force the DOH to do what the law requires; to declare certain regulations ultra vires (beyond the law); and, to appoint CMMNJ a monitor for the MMP.  The 3-judge panel may decide as early as November.

Ed Hannaman advocated for CMMNJ to have an ambitious 5-year plan to gather evidence and support so we are ready to move forward to establish an actual Medical Marijuana Program in the next gubernatorial administration.

We had a discussion on improving CMMNJ's web site.

Short discussion of the Oct 24th U.S. Court hearing stemming from Smoke Down Prohibition IX, the Philadelphia event at which former CMMNJ Board member Chris Goldstein was cited. Goldstein faces six months in prison and a $1000 fine for possession of a single joint.

Greenleaf ATC reopened with limited access.  Egg Harbor's CCF ATC was scheduled to open in September, but never did. (It opened Oct. 28, 2013.) Woodbridge ATC (CCCofA) given grow permit by DOH.  It was reported that Breakwater ATC has no location at the present time. 

The group discussed changing current law to allow edibles for adults, eliminate the physician registry, and film hospice patients to dramatize their cause, and get another physician (whom a board member knows) to support med MJ.  

Voter Registration Drive: “Chris Christie Plays Politics with the Law. Sick patients suffer. Sometimes worse.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZSPusqlxDs 

New matter: There were concerns raised over the costs to produce this video.  An idea was vetted to produce a video of patients with several people volunteering to help on the project.

NJ.COM/Inside Jersey: Medical marijuana—one of the greatest medical stories of the past 5 yrs. 

Recent Events: Ewing Community Fest:  Sat., $85 collected.

Lawrence Community Day, 10/6/13, $91 collected.

"Medical Marijuana: Legislation + Education = Blueprint for Change" New Jersey State Nurses

Association Convention, Atlantic City, 10/9. (Well received by the nurses.)  

Boston Freedom Rally, 9/14 & 15, Boston Commons, $149 collected.

Martin Lee, discussion and book signing of “Smoke Signals” at Hamilton Barnes & Noble 9/30/13; Dinner and discussion of “Project CBD” at Bonnie Waltz’s home 9/29/13.

Discussion about another Med MJ patient on trial hoping to use the med necessity defense: Amy Doherty, Medford Court, 11/6/13, 4pm, medical marijuana possession case.

Treasury report: Checking: $4297; PayPal: $3537. Billboard campaign continues.

More info: Ed Hannaman, Esq. 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.