Unanimous Vote Signals Growing Acceptance of Medical Marijuana

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a unanimous vote, the Assembly of the American Psychiatric Association has approved a strongly worded statement supporting legal protection for patients using medical marijuana with their doctor's recommendation.

Denver Judge slaps state health department; rules medical marijuana patients can appoint provider of their choice.

DENVER -- Sensible Colorado will hold a press conference on Monday, Nov. 19, in front of the Denver City and County Building, to announce the issuance of an order by Chief Denver District Court Judge Larry J. Naves permanently overturning the Colorado Health Department's "Five Patient Policy." Adopted by the Health Department in a closed meeting in 2004, this policy limited the number of patients to which a caregiver can provide marijuana for medical purposes.

Oct. 28, 2007 -- Washington, DC: US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) chief Karen Tandy announced this week that she will be stepping down as the agency’s first female director.

This year's annual meeting brought unity to the efforts of the medical cannabis patients in Ohio. The first portion of the meeting was a lively discussion on medical marijuana legislation and strategy led by lobbyist Penny Tipps of State Street Consultants. The second portion of the meeting included the annual elections. The vote was conducted by a show of hands from those present and proxy votes submitted by email were counted.

A 501(c)(3) educational non-profit organization, the Ohio Patient Network (OPN) was founded in 2001 to provide networking, education, and support for patients who use cannabis therapeutically in the State of Ohio. The group established its sister Ohio Patient Action Network (OPAN) in 2005 as a 501(c)(4) to promote medical marijuana legislation. Together, the groups achieved the following milestones in 2007.

Online meetings represent one of the primary ways OPN and OPAN conduct business. It's a great feeling to speak with like-minded people from all over Ohio in real time and, in the process, plan how we're going to make a big difference in this state.

Now you can make your voice heard in Ohio's medical marijuana debate while helping to fund a great cause. OPN is rolling out paid memberships. We have two introductory membership levels: Individual ($15) and family ($25). We're temporarily keeping these fees as low as possible so that everyone who can afford to join or wants to join can do so. Membership is good for one year. You will be notified as your membership is due to expire.

More than 30 states passed medical marijuana bills in the 1970s and '80s, including Wisconsin, but all of those left the responsibility of supplying the marijuana up to the federal government.

(modified from the www.compassionatecanadians.com "Virtual Medical Marijuana March on Ottawa" website)

This Medical Cannabis Patients Bill of Rights was designed to outline the basic rights of critically and chronically ill medical cannabis patients, and to urge the federal government to protect these individuals from stigma, arrest and prosecution.

a. I should not be a criminal; I am a person living with a medical condition and use cannabis to alleviate my suffering; I am capable of making fundamental decisions about my health.

b. I should have the right to live free of unnecessary suffering, social stigma and interference from the state, and should not have to chose between my personal liberty and my health.

c. I should have the right to produce my own medicine if I am willing and able to do so, or to access it from a safe source without fear of arrest and persecution.

d. It is the federal government's moral, legal and constitutional obligation to defend these basic and inalienable human rights, and to ensure that no organization or individual unduly interferes with them.