Wednesday, February 26, 2014

CMMNJ February 2014 Public Meeting Minutes


Monthly Public Meeting Minutes 
February 11, 2014

CMMNJ‘s Op Ed endorses legalization of marijuana in NJ to best meet patients’ needs.  State Sen. Scutari to introduce marijuana legalization legislation. CMMNJ wants the bill to include Home Cultivation, specific workplace protection, and making DUI’s a function of Field Sobriety Tests—with videotape--and not some arbitrary blood or urine limit.

Medical refugees fleeing the state--Wilsons, Fornbachers, others.

Press Conference in support of medical marijuana will be held on Thursday, 2/27/14 at 11 am in the Trenton Statehouse, Assembly Room 109.  CMMNJ urges supporters to attend.

Appellate Court: DOH must produce MMP reports within 45 days (2/27/14). The Court rejected tort claims and complaints re: regulations.

S1220/A765: (allows organ transplants for medical marijuana patients), & A4537: (OK’s OOS ID cards and medical marijuana) must be reintroduced in the new legislative session.

Upcoming Events:
-NORML NJ mtng. at Joe’s Mill Hill Saloon, Trenton, 3/10/14 at 7 pm.
-Sentencing of Don DeZarn 3/26/14: guilty in federal court of marijuana possession.
-Joys of Hemp Expo, Embassy Suites Piscataway, NJ, 4/4 – 4/6/14. CMMNJ has table & talk.
-4/20 Rally at the Trenton Statehouse at 4:20 pm (following march from the Train Station).
-ASA’s National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference, April 5 – 7th, Mayflower Hotel in D.C.
-Patients Out of Time Conference, May 8 – 10, Portland, Oregon.
-Celebration of 11th Anniversary of CMMNJ in March 2014?

Recent events: Gov. Cuomo endorses medical marijuana in NY. British TV meets CMMNJ.
Legislative hearing in Harrisburg, PA on medical marijuana bill, S1182 on 1/28/14.

Treasury report: Checking: $3694; PayPal: $3707. CMMNJ Hoodies for sale--$25.  CMMNJ renewed Meetup.com at $72/6 months.

Facebook: Friends of CMMNJ: https://www.facebook.com/groups/62462971150/?fref=ts

Next open, public meeting will be on March 11, 2014 at 7pm at the Mercer County Library, Lawrence Twp., 2751 Brunswick Pike (Business Rt. 1) 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
Executive Director
Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey, Inc.
www.cmmnj.org
ohamkrw@aol.com
609.394.2137


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

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

CMMNJ Public Meeting Agenda February 2014




Monthly Public Meeting Agenda 
Lawrence Township Library, Room #3
Tuesday, February 11, 2014, 7:00 PM -- 9:00 PM 

Approve January 2014 minutes.  Discuss:

CMMNJ‘s Op Ed endorses legalization of marijuana in NJ to best meet patients’ needs.  State Senator Nicholas Scutari says he’ll introduce marijuana legalization legislation.

Appellate Court: DOH must produce MMP reports within 45 days (from 1/13/14). The Court rejected tort claims and complaints re: regulations.

S1220/A765: (medical marijuana equivalent to any other medicine; allows organ transplants) Passed Senate and Assembly; 1/21/2014 Pocket Veto – Bill died when not Acted on by Gov. Christie at end of Legislative Session.  A4537: (OOS ID cards and medical marijuana) Passed Assembly; Gov. Christie’s threatened veto stopped Senate hearing. Bills must be
reintroduced.

Upcoming Events: NORML NJ mtng. at Joe’s Mill Hill Saloon, Trenton, 2/10/14 at 7 pm.
Sentencing of Chris Goldstein & Don DeZarn: guilty in federal court of marijuana possession.
Joys of Hemp Expo, Embassy Suites Piscataway, NJ, 4/4 – 4/6.
ASA’s National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference, April 5 – 7th, Mayflower Hotel in D.C.
Patients Out of Time Conference, May 8 – 10, Portland, Oregon.

Recent events: Gov. Cuomo endorses medical marijuana in NY.
British TV meets CMMNJ.
Legislative hearing in Harrisburg, PA on medical marijuana bill, S 1182, on 1/28/14.

Treasury report: Checking: $3694; PayPal: $3707. Billboard campaign continues--Super Bowl?

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, 
January 14, 2013

CMMNJ Board has endorsed legalization of marijuana in NJ due to dysfunction of MMP. Op Ed, Press Conference and possible March to DOH planned.

Jim Miller confronted Gov. Christie before the State of the State speech, letting him know we were NOT done expanding the Medicinal Marijuana Program, as the governor insists.  (The gov. was characterized as having a “pea brain clouded by fat in his head.”)

NJ’s Medicinal Marijuana Program: Marijuana is selling for about $400 an ounce at the ATC’s.  Quality problems persist from CCF in Egg Harbor.  The Appellate Court said on 1/13/14 that the DOH must produce the MMP reports required by the law. Other issues were rejected.

John Wilson nears the end of 2-years probation (inc. forced attendance at Narcotics Anonymous Mtngs.) following his incarceration, for treating his MS with home-grown marijuana.

Colleen Begley faces 5 years of probation for providing medical marijuana to patients.

Mike Whiter, veteran with PTSD, pled guilty to marijuana possession in federal court; fined.

The federal marijuana possession cases of Chris Goldstein and Don DeZarn are upcoming.

Await governor’s action on S1220: (medical marijuana is the equivalent of any other prescribed medication).  A4537: Gov. Christie threatens veto of A4537 which will permit NJ patients to possess medical marijuana obtained from other jurisdictions and recognize OOS ID cards.  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.

Since CMMNJ's web site has greatly improved with regular updates from Jim Price, we should take every opportunity to promote our web site on all our posts. Great job, Jim.

“Joys of Hemp” Expo April 4-6, Piscataway.  Volunteers needed for CMMNJ booth.

NORMLNJ mtngs. resume 2nd Mon. of each month at Joe’s Mill Hill Saloon, Trenton, 7 pm.

Patients Out of Time Conference, May 8 – 10, Portland, Oregon.

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

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.


Recent Media Coverage and Blogs:

Opinion: N.J. should legalize, tax and regulate marijuana
http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2014/01/opinion_nj_should_legalize_tax.html

New Jersey Senator Announces Legislation to Legalize Cannabis
http://thejointblog.com/new-jersey-senator-announces-legislation-legalize-cannabis/

Poll: More in NJ want pot than online gambling
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/24615710/poll-more-in-nj-want-pot-than-online-gambling?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

The case for legalizing recreational pot in NJ
http://www.msnbc.com/craig-melvin/watch/the-case-for-legal-recreational-pot-133768771740

Legally Medicating With Cannabis Around The SuperBowl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFNXwGgFfV0&feature=share

How New Jersey Treats Patients: A Tragedy, in One Act, and One Scene
http://www.ladybud.com/2014/01/14/how-new-jersey-treats-patients-a-tragedy-in-one-act-and-one-scene/

Pa. nurses group backs medical marijuana
http://articles.philly.com/2014-01-25/news/46567440_1_nurses-group-compassionate-use-medical-marijuana

Local debate over legalizing medical marijuana
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news%2Fspecial_reports&id=9418414

Medical marijuana hearing was historic for Pennsylvania Legislature
http://articles.mcall.com/2014-01-30/news/mc-pc-medical-marijuana-hearing-20140130_1_medical-use-marijuana-seizure

Legalized pot: NJ lawmaker says he will introduce bill
http://www.nj.com/union/index.ssf/2014/01/sen_scutari_wants_pot_legalized_in_nj.html#incart_river_default

Opinion: How America went to pot
http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2014/02/opinion_how_america_went_to_po.html

Retired Police Captain demolishes the War on Drugs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8yYJ_oV6xk&feature=youtu.be

New York set to legalise cannabis for medical use
http://www.itv.com/news/2014-01-08/new-york-set-to-legalise-cannabis-for-medicinal-use/

N.J. health department must produce progress report on medical marijuana program, court says
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/nj_health_department_must_produce_report_on_medical_marijuana_programs_progress_court_says.html

Amick: Medical marijuana pushes Gov. Chris Christie's most sensitive right-wing buttons
http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2014/01/amick_medical_marijuana_pushes.html

Cuomo and Marijuana
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/14/opinion/cuomo-and-marijuana.html?emc=edit_tnt_20140113&tntemail0=y&_r=0

Status Report on N.J. Pot Dispensaries Demanded
http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/01/14/64523.htm

PA Senate Law and Justice Committee schedules medical marijuana hearing
http://www.phillynorml.org/2014/01/16/pa-senate-law-justice-committee-schedules-medical-marijuana-hearing/

Reid Indicates His Support for Medical Marijuana
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/17/us/politics/reid-indicates-his-support-for-medical-marijuana.html?emc=edit_tnt_20140117&tntemail0=y

Legal impairment limit for marijuana not expected any time soon in New Jersey, Pennsylvania
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2014/01/legal_impairment_limit_for_mar.html

Dr. Jeffrey S. Pollack / Medical-marijuana program still suffering in N.J.
http://m.pressofatlanticcity.com/opinion/commentary/dr-jeffrey-s-pollack-medical-marijuana-program-still-suffering-in/article_1567a81e-730f-563f-8e5d-8df74fb92b85.html?mode=jqm

NJ’S MEDICINAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM FINALLY MOVING FORWARD
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/01/20/nj-s-medicinal-marijuana-program-finally-moving-forward/

Legal Marijuana Businesses Should Have Access to Banks, Holder Says
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/24/us/legal-marijuana-businesses-should-have-access-to-banks-holder-says.html?mc=edit_tnt_20140123&tntemail0=y

Grandfather becomes a protester for medical marijuana
http://articles.philly.com/2014-01-25/news/46567405_1_christie-legalization-vivian-wilson

NJ man in jail for marijuana allowed to leave once a month to go smoke
http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/Blog/2014/01/27/NJ-man-in-jail-for-marijuana-allowed-to-leave-once-a-month-to-go-smoke/9731390839670/#ixzz2sTiJOuu1

These 5 pro-marijuana billboards will surround the Super Bowl
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/01/super-bowl-billboards-advocating-marijuana/

NJ Weedman released from jail after judge reconsiders his sentence
http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2014/01/nj_weedman_released_from_jail_after_judge_reconsiders_his_sentence.html

Medical Marijuana: A Patient-Driven Initiative
http://nurseinsider.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/news-ss.pdf

Pennsylvania, New Jersey mothers frustrated with medical marijuana options
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2014/02/hope_township_mother_frustrate.html

Now's the time to tax, regulate and legalize marijuana for personal use in New Jersey
http://www.politickernj.com/jrlassiter/71251/nows-time-tax-regulate-and-legalize-marijuana-personal-use-new-jersey

Poll: Four in 10 Support Legalizing Marijuana in NJ [AUDIO] |
http://nj1015.com/poll-four-in-10-support-legalizing-marijuana-in-nj-audio/?trackback=tsmclip

A medical marijuana growth industry? Niagara greenhouse hopes bumper crop is at end of Albany maze
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/niagara-county/a-medical-marijuana-growth-industry-niagara-greenhouse-hopes-bumper-crop-is-at-end-of-albany-maze-20140203

Editorial: Don't let Weedman marijuana possession lessons go up in smoke
http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2014/02/editorial_dont_let_weedman_mar.html

Mixed Signals: The Administration’s Policy on Marijuana
http://oversight.house.gov/hearing/mixed-signals-administrations-policy-marijuana/