CMMNJ: January 2014

Monthly Public Meeting Agenda,
Lawrence Township Library, Room #3
Tuesday, January 14, 2014, 7:00 PM -- 9:00 PM

Approve October 2013 minutes—no meetings in Nov. & Dec. (snow day) 2013. Discuss:

NJ’s Medicinal Marijuana Program: Dec. 6, 2013 was the first anniversary of legal sales of marijuana in NJ. Jan. 18, 2014 is the 4th anniversary of the Compassionate Use Act becoming law. CCF, the ATC in Egg Harbor Twp. opened Oct. 28, 2013, but there have been concerns about the quality of the marijuana available. The ATC in Woodbridge, NJ, Garden State Dispensary, opened on Dec. 4, 2013, and high quality marijuana has been available there.

There is still no Appellate Court decision on the lawsuit against DOH’s MMP re: tort claims and ultra vires (beyond the law) Regulations.

S1220: NJ Senate vote is scheduled on S1220 on 1/9/14 at 2pm. S1220 passed the Assembly in May, 67 – 2. It says medical marijuana is the equivalent of any other prescribed medication & not an illicit substance that disqualifies a patient from medical care, inc. organ transplants.

A4537: Gov. Christie said he will not sign A4537 which will permit NJ patients to possess medical marijuana obtained from other jurisdictions and recognize out-of-state ID cards. A4537 passed the Assembly (50-23-7) on 12/19/13, but the identical Senate bill, S3108 is not scheduled for committee hearing yet.

Sabina Rose Joana died on Dec 2, 2013, a 15 month old NJ resident with Dravet Syndrome as her parents could not obtain high CBD medical marijuana for her.

Upcoming Events: Chris Goldstein & Don DeZarn’s federal marijuana possession cases are scheduled for 1/23/14 at 10:30 am at 601 Market St., Philadelphia, PA.
NORML NJ mtngs. will resume monthly at Joe’s Mill Hill Saloon, Trenton 1/13/14 at 7 pm.
Patients Out of Time Conference, May 8 – 10, Portland, Oregon

Recent events: “The Future of Marijuana” A panel discussion 11/7/13, Rutgers/Livingston.
Smoke Down Prohibition XII, Liberty Bell, Philadelphia, 12/21/13, 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

Treasury report: Checking: $3789; PayPal: $3707. Billboard campaign continues.

CMMNJ's 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 Mercer County’s endorsement of our issue.)

More info:

Ken Wolski, RN
(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.

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. I 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 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 Dr. registry, and film hospice patients to dramatize their cause and get another Dr. (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.

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 Nov.

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.