ORGANIZATION NEWS:

*OPN Board Members Lobby Ohio Gubernatorial Candidate Tim Hagan

*15 Minute Mission of the Month

*The Final Piece of the Poll Analysis Puzzle

STATE NEWS:

*Political Posturing Begins in Campaign to Change Drug Laws

NATIONAL NEWS:

*Medical Marijuana Takes Center Stage on Capitol Hill

*First Federal Medical Marijuana Conviction

*Unitarians Approve Anti-Drug War Platform

*Cannabis Constituents Dramatically Reduce Sleep Apnea, Study Says

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

*Scotland, U.K. Hospitals To Prescribe Medical Marijuana Spray In Patients Trials

The following items are included in every OPNews:

* OPNews Disclaimer

* 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

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OPN BOARD MEMBERS LOBBY OHIO GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE TIM HAGAN

(Columbus and Cleveland, OH) OPN Director of Public Relations Mary Jane Borden and Director of Legislative Affairs Dee Dee Zoretic both spoke with the Democrat candidate for Ohio governor, Tim Hagan, as well as other key Democrats. As stated in the reports below, they asked Hagan to make medical marijuana a campaign issue and provided him with our poll analysis in support of our cause.

Mary Jane Borden reports:

On July 2, shortly before 9:00 a.m., a crowd began forming on the south side of the Statehouse to officially kick-off Tim Hagan's campaign for governor of Ohio. I walked over to greet OPN's Ken Schweickart (Democratic candidate for the Ohio House District 22) as he assembled with other Democrats on the Statehouse steps.

At the prescribed time, the rally began with Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman introducing all of the Democratic candidates for state office, including Ken. Tim Hagan next stepped to the podium to begin, as Democrats termed it, Ohio's liberation from one party (Republican) rule. The entire event lasted no more than twenty minutes, curtailed slightly by the 90 degree heat.

Seeing my opportunity, I inched my way among dignitaries to Tim Hagan. I handed him a copy of our new report, "The People Have Spoken: Medical Marijuana Polling 1996-2002," and said these exact words. "Mr. Hagan, I composed this just for you. Would you please read it on your bus tour?" I also gave copies to his running mate Charleta Tavares and to Michael Coleman. I handed my last copy to Senator Mark Mallory from Cincinnati.

When I got home, I called Dee Dee Zoretic in Cleveland, leaving a message to let her know what happened and suggest she do the same at Hagan's Cleveland rally the next day.

Dee Dee Zoretic reports:

On July 3, the Democratic party bus was in Cleveland, Ohio. I went downtown to listen to the speeches and talk to people. What a success!!! The night before, party members on the bus had looked thru and discussed the Poll Analysis that Mary Jane had given them!!!

I searched out and approached Hagan right away. At first, I spoke with him for only a moment when he excused himself for an interview. I really thought that I was getting "the blow-off". A few minutes later, however, he returned and we spoke. His Aide had taken notes along with my name and number, but Mr. Hagan said that HE wanted to speak with me.

We had a really nice discussion in which I explained my disease (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy), how I have exhausted all known medical options, how marijuana helped, and how I became a felon because of it. There did seem to be genuine concern from him at the injustice of being denied the right to fight my disease. He stated that he wanted to help.

As the conversation was winding down, I was approached by a gentleman wanting my name and phone number. He had heard part of my story and wanted to hear more. He then introduced himself as Federal Representative Sherrod Brown. I have since spoken with his office, and Rep. Brown is going to vote for and support HR 2592 "State Rights to Medical Marijuana Act". As the senior democrat on the Federal House Health Committee, this is an important ally to have.

The last bit of news is that I also spoke with Cleveland City Councilman Jay Westbrook. Mr. Westbrook has promised to write and present a resolution to the Cleveland City Council seeking endorsement of State Medical Marijuana. There will also be a provision asking for the discontinuation of patient arrests, and further research and study into the medical benefits of Marijuana. We hoped to pass this resolution in September when the City Council reconvenes.

Please know how important it is to tell elected officials your stories. People don't realize how great the need for medical marijuana is, unless they know someone personally. Most of our elected officials don't want us to suffer needlessly. They just have blinders on to the fact that this is happening.

(NOTE: For the latest developments on the poll analysis, see "The Final Piece of the Poll Analysis Puzzle" below.)

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15 MINUTE MISSION OF THE MONTH

By Deirdre "Dee Dee" Zoretic

About a year and a half ago, I was sitting in my home feeling completely enraged and completely helpless.  My court case was finally over, but the issue wasn't done for me.  This couldn't be all of it.  I couldn't just accept the death sentence that my government had given me.  Life without my medicine is a death sentence.  Though, the electric chair is much more compassionate.  I had to do something.  I had to fight, but who am I fighting?  How do I fight?  Where is square one?

Luckily, I found someone to guide me, eventually.  The first battle was just finding out how to help the cause.  Most people who feel this way about the medical marijuana effort are never given the opportunity to help.  Excitement about the movement quickly turns to aggravation when no outlet is provided.  I hope to furnish that vehicle with this new monthly column.

Every month, I will give you a "Mission of the Month".  This assignment should only take you about 15 minutes (or less) to complete.  It is a great way to get involved and doesn't take long to complete.

Your first 15 minute mission is to call your candidate running for governor (whoever - whatever party) and ask what their stand is on medical marijuana.  Tell them that this will influence your vote.  Urge them to PUBLICLY endorse this issue in our state.  If you want, mail your responses back to me (Dzoretic@ohiopatient.net), and I'll tell you about the most interesting replies next month.

Thank you so much for giving a few minutes of your time.  You may feel like you are doing this for selfish reasons, but you are helping to save my life, too. Thank You!

NOTE: you can learn more about Ohio’s gubernatorial candidates, including ways to reach them, at the websites listed below.

*DEMOCRAT: Tim Hagan http://www.timhaganforgovernor.com/ (includes campaign calendar)

*REPUBLICAN: Bob Taft http://www.governortaft.com/index.asp

*LIBERTARIAN: Steven Linnabary and Ben Lyons http://www.lp.org/organization/OH/#candidate

*NATURAL LAW: John Eastman http://www.ohionlp.org/

*GREEN PARTY: Although the Greens are not running a candidate for Ohio governor this year, you can connect with them about other Green candidates at: http://www.ohiogreens.org/

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THE FINAL PIECE OF THE POLL ANALYSIS PUZZLE

By Mary Jane Borden

While most of the mission for OPN's analysis of medical marijuana polling was completed upon its presentation to the Hagan campaign, one key element remained undone until just a few days ago.

Many organizations compose "white papers" that detail an issue, in our case, for lawmakers. Hopefully, by reading "The People Have Spoken: Medical Marijuana Polling 1996-2002," politicians will understand and support this issue. The remaining piece that makes our "white paper" complete is its transformation into a printable format that is both attractive and easily available.

Portable Document Files (PDFs) solve this puzzle. PDFs look exactly like their originals, complete with fonts and graphics. All parts of our analysis are now available as PDFs at http://www.ohiopatient.net/Poll_Analysis.htm. You can download the entire report with narrative, sources, and data tables, or just selected parts like, say, Appendix I (Migration to the Democratic Party Based on Endorsement of Medical Marijuana and Strength of Voter Support). With the addition of the PDFs and the presentation to Hagan, I can proudly declare without reservation, "Mission accomplished!" Check it out for yourself!

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POLITICAL POSTURING BEGINS IN CAMPAIGN TO CHANGE DRUG LAWS

Source: The Canton Repository, July 16, 2002. Copyright: 2002 The Repository (http://www.cantonrep.com/). The entire article is archived at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1332/a07.html?1428

By: Andrew Welsh-Huggins, AP Statehouse Correspondent

(Columbus, OH - AP) - Ohio's highest profile political campaign this fall may not involve a candidate directly but rather an issue: how to deal with illegal drug use.

Supporters and opponents of a ballot initiative to require treatment for nonviolent first- and second-time offenders signaled last week that the campaign won't be a gentle one.

"If the governor is going to make our initiative the focus of his negative re-election campaign, then we are going to make the governor the focus of our campaign, and we're going to take it to him just like we are today," said Ed Orlett, a spokesman for the Ohio Campaign for New Drug Policies, speaking after a news conference last week blasting the drug initiative.

The campaign wants a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution on the Nov. 5 ballot. It's backed by a trio of billionaires trying to change the country's approach to dealing with illegal drug use.

Gov. Bob Taft, first lady Hope Taft and a host of other political leaders, including some Democrats, oppose the plan.

They say it will weaken Ohio's current system, which involves a combination of mandatory treatment and the threat of jail time to help drug users overcome addiction.

Taft is helping raise money for Ohioans Against Unsafe Drug Laws, a nonpartisan campaign committee fighting the initiative. Toledo Mayor Jack Ford, a Democrat and former House minority leader, is a campaign co-chairman.

"We are just making it very clear that we think it's dangerous, we think it's unsafe, we think it undermines our current treatment system," Taft said at the news conference. "So we're going to fight it with everything within our power, and we're going to defeat it."

Billionaires John Sperling - founder of the University of Phoenix - New York philanthropist George Soros and Ohio insurance executive Peter Lewis have spent millions backing ballot initiatives that they say collectively amount to a referendum on the drug war.

Taft's own re-election campaign has yet to heat up, as the governor maintains a wide lead over Democratic challenger Tim Hagan.

Earlier this month, the Ohio Poll, sponsored and conducted by the University of Cincinnati, found that Ohio voters gave 55 percent of their support to Taft, who is seeking a second four-year term on Nov. 5, while 32 percent gave their support to Hagan in his first run for statewide office.

Political analyst Melanie Blumberg said she believes voters are far more interested in the economy and education issues this fall than the drug issue.

She pointed out that Taft is defying common political wisdom by taking a prominent stand on an issue when he could easily sit back and do nothing because of his high poll numbers.

[Snip]

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MEDICAL MARIJUANA TAKES CENTER STAGE ON CAPITOL HILL: NORML Joins Members of Congress, Patients at Historic H.R. 2592 Press Conference

Source: NORML E-Zine, Volume 5, Issue 28, July 24, 2002. Text of archived stories is available at http://www.norml.org/news/archives/index2002.shtml

(Washington, DC)  Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA), Ron Paul (R-TX), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) joined former Ronald Reagan presidential aide Lyn Nofziger and seriously ill patients today in a first-ever Capitol Hill press conference calling on Congress to allow the state-sanctioned use of medicinal marijuana.

"As a physician, I of course support the right of doctors and patients to decide for themselves what treatments are appropriate, without interference from the federal government," said Rep. Paul, co-sponsor of H.R. 2592, the "States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act," which seeks to amend federal law so that states wishing to legalize and distribute medicinal marijuana may do so without running afoul of federal law.  "The idea that [the federal government] is attacking sick people and the doctor-patient relationship is criminal.  It's a criminal act."

Former Reagan aide Lyn Nofziger offered his support for H.R. 2592 after explaining how marijuana helped alleviate the suffering of his daughter while she underwent cancer chemotherapy.  "Because of this [experience,] I have become an avid supporter of efforts to legalize marijuana's use for medicinal purposes," he said.  "An administration that claims to be compassionate and conservative should enthusiastically support legislation that is truly compassionate and that also would return rights to the states that the 10th Amendment theoretically guarantees them."

The legalization of medical marijuana is "an issue on which people around the country are ahead of the politicians," Rep. Frank said, adding that his proposal is "a common sense idea that will give some people who are suffering a measure of relief."

House Bill 2592 currently has 36 co-sponsors.

Keith Stroup, Executive Director of NORML - which organized the press conference - said that today's event should show elected officials that they must no longer ignore the medical marijuana issue.

"Congress must no longer ignore the will of the American people and the needs of seriously ill patients," he said.

Two such patients, Gary Storck of Wisconsin - who suffers from glaucoma and chronic pain - and Cheryl Miller of New Jersey - who suffers from the advanced stages of multiple sclerosis - explained how marijuana provides symptomatic relief of their conditions.  Cheryl's husband Jim demanded Congress act on H.R. 2592, noting that it may be "too late for Cheryl, but there's lots of Cheryls left" who would benefit from the legal use of medical marijuana.

"The alleviation of human suffering must no longer be held hostage to politics," Stroup concluded.  "Congress needs to approve H.R. 2592 and allow states to implement their own medical marijuana policies unimpeded by the federal government."

Photos from the conference are available online at http://www.norml.org.

NOTE: MAP has archived the transcript for this press conference in two parts at: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02.n1401.a04.html and http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02.n1401.a06.html

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FIRST FEDERAL MEDICAL MARIJUANA CONVICTION: Medical Provider Faces 10 Year Mandatory Minimum Sentence

Source: Safe Access Now press release, July 12, 2002 http://www.safeaccessnow.org/pressrelease.php?id=8

(Sacramento, CA) In the first-ever federal conviction of a medical marijuana provider, the jury in a Sacramento court found Chico resident Bryan Epis guilty on criminal conspiracy and drug manufacturing charges. Even as some of America's closest allies have moved to decriminalize recreational use of the drug and despite a six year old state law that allows access to medical marijuana for seriously ill patients acting on their doctor's advice, federal laws mandate that Epis spend at least 10 years behind bars.

Jurors for the trial were instructed by Judge Frank C. Damrell Jr. not to consider any argument regarding Epis' chronic pain, his doctor's prescription for medical marijuana or the state law that allows access to medical marijuana for patients in his position. Jurors were also not instructed on the mandatory minimum sentence that he now faces as a result of their decision. "This trial is an emblem of injustice," said Steph Sherer, Executive Director of Americans for Safe Access, a national network of medical marijuana patients and providers, "California doesn't want Bryan Epis to spend his next ten years behind bars - we decided that six years ago."

The turbulent trial highlights a severe division between state and federal law enforcement officials over how to handle medical marijuana. Over the vehement objections of local health and public safety officials, the Drug Enforcement Administration has dramatically stepped up their crackdown on medical marijuana in California, arresting more than a dozen patients and providers since September. Citing federal forfeiture laws designed to break up criminal racketeering operations; the DEA has also moved to seize hundreds of thousands of dollars in property associated with the dispensaries including commercial real estate and residential homes.

Epis' conviction confirms fears among many patients here that the federal government is targeting medical marijuana providers and patients rather than black market dealers. "When compassionate providers are jailed because they work to improve the lives of desperately sick people, we have a real crisis in our democracy" says Sherer, "this decision illustrates just how out of touch federal drug policy has become with the American public."

[Snip]

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UNITARIANS APPROVE ANTI-DRUG WAR PLATFORM

Source: The Week Online with DRCNet, Issue #243 - June 28, 2002. A Publication of the Drug Reform Coordination Network http://www.drcnet.org/.

Last week DRCNet reported that the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association was considering an "Alternatives to the War on Drugs" Statement of Conscience supported by the affiliated group Unitarian Universalists for Drug Policy Reform. On Saturday, June 22, the statement was approved at the UUA gathering in Quebec City. Key planks of the new UUA platform including the following:

"Establish a legal, regulated, and taxed market for marijuana. Treat marijuana as we treat alcohol."

"Remove criminal penalties for possession and use of currently illegal drugs, with drug abusers subject to arrest and imprisonment only if they commit an actual crime (e.g., assault, burglary, impaired driving, vandalism)."

"Drug use, drug abuse, and drug addiction are distinct from one another. Using a drug does not necessarily mean abusing the drug, much less addiction to it. Drug abuse issues are essentially matters for medical attention. We do not believe that drug use should be considered criminal behavior."

"Make all drugs legally available with a prescription by a licensed physician, subject to professional oversight. End the practice of punishing an individual for obtaining, possessing, or using an otherwise illegal substance to treat a medical condition," and allow "medically administered drug maintenance" as a treatment option for drug addiction.

Further information, including the full text of the statement, is available at http://www.uudpr.org online.

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CANNABIS CONSTITUENTS DRAMATICALLY REDUCE SLEEP APNEA, STUDY SAYS

NORML E-Zine, Volume 5, Issue 24, June 27, 2002. Text of archived stories is available at http://www.norml.org/news/archives/index2002.shtml.

(Chicago, IL)  Marijuana-based medicines may someday play a role in treating sleeping disorders, including sleep apnea, according to the findings published this month in Sleep, the journal of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.  Sleep apnea is a medical disorder characterized by frequent interruptions in breathing during sleep.  It's associated with numerous serious medical conditions, including headaches, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack and stroke.

Researchers at the Center for Sleep and Ventilatory Disorders at the University of Illinois in Chicago found that the administration of THC and the endogenous cannabinoid oleamide dramatically suppressed sleep-related apnea in rats.  Authors concluded that the findings suggest an "important role" for cannabinoids in maintaining autonomic stability during sleep.

Marijuana and its constituents have a long history as sleep-inducing agents, including previous studies linking THC to melatonin production and the use of the cannabinoid CBD (cannabidiol) to effectively treat insomnia.

Abstracts of the Sleep report are available online at http://www.journalsleep.org/citation/sleepdata.asp?citationid=2104.

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SCOTLAND, U.K. HOSPITALS TO PRESCRIBE MEDICAL MARIJUANA SPRAY IN PATIENTS TRIALS

Source: NORML E-Zine, Volume 5, Issue 25, July 3, 2002.  Text of archived stories is available at http://www.norml.org/news/archives/index2002.shtml.

(Glasgow, Scotland)  Doctors in Scotland's largest hospital and eight others around Britain will begin offering seriously ill patients medical marijuana.

Patients suffering from multiple sclerosis and other illnesses associated with chronic pain will be able to receive the non-synthetic medicinal marijuana extracts for the first time ever as part of an expansive Phase III trial of the drug by the London-based company, GW Pharmaceuticals. Approximately 1,000 patients are expected to participate in the trial, according to a news report in The Scotsman newspaper.

Patients in the trial will not smoke cannabis, but will instead administer the extracts sublingually.  Patients will also have the option to use the synthesized oral pill form of the drug known as Dronabinol.

In previous Phase II trials performed by GW, nearly 80 percent of patients sustained "clinically significant therapeutic benefit" from medicinal cannabis extracts - including relief from pain, bladder-related symptoms and tremor, as well as a 50 percent average reduction in their use of opiates.

Speaking in May at the Second National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics, GW Pharmaceuticals President Geoffrey Guy speculated that cannabis-based medicines could receive British regulatory approval by as early as fall 2003.

Additional information on GW Pharmaceuticals’ clinical patient trials is available at http://www.gwpharm.com.

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The following items are included in every OPNews:

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.