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July, 2001 Edition
A publication of Ohio Patient Network (OPN). Contact Jean Taddie, Editor (editor@ohiopatient.net). |
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July, 2001 Edition
A publication of Ohio Patient Network (OPN). Contact Jean Taddie, Editor (editor@ohiopatient.net). |
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The following new items are included in
this month's OPNews:
* CANNABIS CRUSADE IN COLUMBUS CONTINUES DESPITE DEBACLE * OPN PRESIDENT FEATURED IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA ARTICLE * MARINOL(R) STICKER SHOCK * OPN WEBSITE GETS A NEW IMAGE * SHARE YOUR NEWS The following items are included in every OPNews:
* YOU ARE INVITED TO OPN MEETINGS
* HOW TO GET YOUR INFORMATION IN OPNews * HOW TO BE REMOVED FROM THE OPNews LIST * HOW TO CONTACT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR *********************************** ***********************************
CANNABIS CRUSADE IN COLUMBUS CONTINUES
DESPITE DEBACLE
On July 3, the group For a Better Ohio filed 10,679 signatures with
the Columbus City Clerk to place a marijuana decriminalization issue on
that city’s November ballot. Only 7,213 signatures from Columbus
registered voters are required, and advocates are certain that they have
enough - despite news to the contrary. Board of Election officials claim
that petitioners came up 1,858 signatures short.
"The count was sloppy and inaccurate," says leader
Kenneth Schweickart. "They rushed through the count because they
were moving building locations, and had a skeleton crew due to the 4th
of July holiday." Schweickart claims that he found hundreds of
signatures that are valid that were marked as invalid. "Many voter
registration forms were not processed into the computer system in time
for the count. Those signatures are valid." After 2 weeks of
double-checking the count at the Board's public access terminal,
Schweickart is asking officials to conduct a recount based on the
preliminary evidence of inaccuracy.
Throughout the campaign, now a Florida style debacle, media
coverage about marijuana decriminalization reached an all-time high in
central Ohio. "We are not reorganizing our strategy until an
accurate count is complete and we know for sure whether or not we have
sufficient signatures," states the incredulous Schweickart, who is
also the OPN’s Development Director.
If successful, the initiative will remove criminal sanctions for
marijuana misdemeanors and related paraphernalia.
A WBNS poll indicated 76% of respondents were in favor of the
proposition. After airing an interview with OPN member and medical
marijuana patient Ralph Ring, the WBNS poll showed 96% in favor. The
polls were not scientific, but do influence future media coverage.
"The media knows the public support is there. The days of showing a
person smoking a joint next to a heroin user in an alley are over in
Columbus, and we would like to take credit for that."
The initiative will also protect patients who reside in Columbus
and send a message to lawmakers everywhere, encouraging them to enact
laws that are compassionate and reduce harm.
If officials fail to order a recount, activists will keep counting,
even if it takes until Christmas time.
Schweickart is planning a fundraising event in September to keep
momentum going. It is a weekend event with beautiful music, Sept. 14-16.
All patients registered with OPN get in free, to extend networking and
accomplishment of OPN goals. To get on the guest list, e-mail forabetterohio@hotmail.com.
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OPN PRESIDENT FEATURED IN MEDICAL
MARIJUANA ARTICLE
OPN President John Precup was featured in the June 28 Columbus
Alive article on the medical uses of marijuana. The article,
entitled “The Campaign to Decriminalize Pot,” was packed with
information about research findings and state and federal legislative
action.
Reporter Jamie Pietras really did his research. He not only
found the exact source of the “Thanksgiving turkey” quote, he also
investigated the amount spent by the State of Ohio on the synthetic THC
pill Marinol(R), which was an astonishing $51,063 during the month of
April.
View the entire article at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1174/a08.html?3821.
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MARINOL(R) STICKER SHOCK
By Jean Taddie
As John wheeled his chair away from the pharmacy counter, he looked
down at the tag on the Marinol(R) prescription and froze. I
interpreted his wide-eyed expression to be stun. He was in sticker
shock. “It’s four figures,” he said.
Even though Ohio’s Medicaid policy reduced the prescription from
130 to 100, this “25-day supply” of the 5-mg. gels cost Ohio
taxpayers a staggering $1,008.
We both tried to visualize $1,000 worth of cannabis and the
therapeutic value that it could provide. The medicinal value of
the 100 Marinol(R) gels paled in comparison.
Besides being outrageously expensive, the pills always stay the
same. Unlike cannabis plants, which have thousands of strains that
can be cultivated to alleviate different symptoms, Marinol(R) provides
the same synthetic chemical dose after dose. Since the pill never
changes, patients build up a tolerance very quickly.
Sadly, state officials claim that marijuana has no medicinal value,
while they are willing to foot the bill for a costly synthetic pill that
imitates only one (1) of marijuana’s active compounds (THC).
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OPN WEBSITE GETS A NEW IMAGE
Visit the OPN website at www.ohiopatient.net and you’ll find a whole new look. This new design provides members, patients, health care professionals, media representatives, and concerned citizens a tool to use for research and a means to get more involved with the OPN. The first change you'll notice is a home page with a lot more options. In addition, membership via our newslists ("Become an OPN Member" - http://www.ohiopatient.net/lists/Become an OPN member.htm) has been redefined.
A "Links and Facts" option (http://www.ohiopatient.net/OPN
Links and Facts.htm) has been added and will link you first to our
Medical Marijuana Fact Sheet. You can look at it online, and within the
next couple of weeks, you will be able to view and print a formatted .PDF
version.
Click on "Web Links" (http://www.ohiopatient.net/OPN
Links.htm) and you will find a large list of links to websites that
support the compassionate use of cannabis. Want to know exactly what the
Institute of Medicine report said? You'll find a direct link to it here.
Interested in the scientific research behind the therapeutic actions of
cannabis? Check out our Medically-Related Information site list.
Our website still features links to two services provided courtesy of DrugSense: a listing of Ohio medical marijuana news articles and an Ohio media list. You can also find a collection of our press releases and letters-to-the-editor under "Ohio Media." We plan, of course, to expand and improve the site. Additions will include .PDF files of ads and flyers that members can print and pass out at meetings or post at stores, libraries, or other locations that allow advertising. We also plan to include more photos of OPN members and activates under "About OPN." As our legislative efforts heat up, expect to see updates under "Ohio Legislative Initiatives." Special thanks go to our Treasurer, Mary Jane Borden, A.P.R. who used her graphic design and public relations expertise to enhance our web image and content. As always, the OPN thanks the DrugSense/Media Awareness Project (MAP) for sponsoring our website and Jo-D Dunbar for all of her efforts maintaining it.
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SHARE YOUR NEWS
Do you have important news that needs to reach medical marijuana
patients, caregivers, and activists in Ohio and around the world?
Share your news and information in the OPNews electronic
newsletter.
Currently, OPNews is distributed to more than 90
addresses, some of which are newslists that reach hundreds more people.
In addition to this base membership, each newsletter is posted on our
website, which gives you the potential to reach thousands.
OPNews is published during the last week of each
month. Stories submitted by the 20th will be considered for the
current month’s issue. For further details, see “HOW TO GET
YOUR INFORMATION IN OPNews” below.
*************************************************** *************************************************** The following items are included in every OPNews: *************************************************** OPNews DISCLAIMER OPNews, a publication of Ohio Patient Network (OPN), provides medical cannabis news that affects Ohio patients, caregivers, and health professionals. Articles are intended for information purposes and do not reflect an official position by OPN or the OPN Board of Directors. For more information, contact Jean Taddie, Editor (editor@ohiopatient.net). *************************************************** YOU ARE INVITED TO OPN MEETINGS The OPN Board of Directors invites you to participate in the OPN planning meetings. Electronic voice/text meetings are held at the OPN chatroom in PalTalk. To receive PalTalk and meeting room instructions, as well as date and time information, contact info@ohiopatient.net. *************************************************** HOW TO GET YOUR INFORMATION IN OPNews OPNews is published monthly. To have your information considered for publication, submit your story to editor@ohiopatient.net. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ATTACHMENTS. Please do not boldface or italicize text. Include a contact name with a phone number and/or e-mail address with submissions. *************************************************** HOW TO BE REMOVED FROM THE OPNews LIST You may sign off this list at any time by using the webform at www.ohiopatient.net. *************************************************** HOW TO CONTACT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR Find your Representative in the Ohio House at http://www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/Representatives.jsp Find your Ohio Senator at http://www.senate.state.oh.us/senators/ Write to your officials care of their district office, or send your letter to their Columbus office at: The Honorable (name) Ohio House of Representatives 77 South High Street Columbus, Ohio 43266-0603 -or- The Honorable (name) Ohio Senate Building Columbus, Ohio 43215 Telephone calls and emails are also persuasive, especially when the constituent contacts the district office.
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Ohio Patient Network - P.O. Box 26353 - Columbus, Ohio 43226-0353 - (614) 265-8683
