OPN Speakers Bureau Bolstered --May 8, 2006 (Columbus, OH) At the Thursday, May 4th, annual meeting of the Columbus Community Festival (Comfest), the Ohio Patient Network was awarded a $500 grant from its Community Festival Grants Process http://www.comfest.com/grants.htm.

This grant will be used to bolster the Ohio Patient Network's Speakers Bureau, OPNSpeak, which provides expert speakers concerning the medicinal use of marijuana. OPNSpeak members have all successfully completed a six-week speakers training course created by a professional speaking instructor and coach.

The issue of the medicinal use of cannabis encompasses many current and controversial topics that may be of interest to those who are planning meetings or events. Possible themes could include:

· State vs. Federal law and what has happened as a result of their collision over medical marijuana.

· The growing interest in and use of herbal remedies.

· Medical liberty. When should the government exercise control over the medications we take?

· Why, in the context of current regulatory environment, medical marijuana isn't yet legal.

· What happens when public opinion and public policy oppose one another?

· Religion, medicine, and marijuana: Are they really distinct from one another?

Clubs, associations, groups, or congregations looking for speakers should contact the Ohio Patient Network at JPrecup@ohiopatient.net.

The Community Festival is a not-for-profit public festival that guided by its Principles. The Principles are statements of what the members believe is basically important. They are:

· We think people ought to work for the collective good of all people rather than for personal gain. We support cooperation and collective activity rather than competition and individual profit.

· The basic necessities of life are a right, not a privilege. People have the collective right to control the conditions of their lives.

· People should strive to conduct their lives in harmony with the environment

· We recognize that there are primary attitudes, which divide and oppress people. These attitudes are usually shown by prejudice against people on the basis of age, class, ability, income, race, sex, and sexual preference/orientation. We seek to eliminate these attitudes.

The Ohio Patient Network (OPN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit coalition of patients, caregivers, medical professionals, concerned citizens, and organizations who support the compassionate use of cannabis for various medicinal purposes. Information about OPN can be found at http://www.ohiopatient.net.