What’s Happening

in Oregon state and NorthWest, and beyond – 2010

see below for details

------- Action -------

* COME TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT CANNABIS * Meet up in front of the Medford Mail Tribune office on WEDNESDAY, AUG. 4 AT 4:20 TO PROTEST this callous display of ignorance and educate our community. This Editorial ( http://mercycenters.org/news/2010/Another_Dance.html#editorial ), originally printed in the Oregonian, and now re-printed in the Mail Tribune - 111 N. Fir St., Medford, OR 97501  - shows tremendous ignorance about patients' suffering and the benefits of medical marijuana, and the public needs to be educated. 40,000 OMMP patients, most of whom are so disabled they cannot leave their homes, need YOU to stand up for them. Call 541-210-8790 for more information. Make signs: Tell the Truth! We need to respond to this in a big way. They aren't just attacking I 28 - they are attacking the whole OMMA program and all the patients who qualify to treat their severe pain. We need to respond with Letters to the editor, with calls complaining about belittling pain patients, and with a protest at their office. We need patients to come out and voice their opinions on this. Visit  > http://mercycenters.org/news/2010/Another_Dance.html#action < for more.  More Action Items, below.

* SSDP Action Alert - Stop Congress from Doubling Penalties for Pot Brownies; Tell the Senate:  Stop S. 258!  | The Senate is awaiting a vote on a bill that would double penalties for any edible products combined with medical marijuana in California and other states that provide relief for patients.  S. 258, the Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act, was introduced by Sen. Diane Feinstein and is using a media scare about "candy flavored methamphetamine" to attack medical marijuana patients and providers. Some medical marijuana users are so sick that they are unable to smoke their medicine and must eat it in baked goods or lozenges. They are already breaking federal law and risking prosecution but if S. 258 passes, the penalties they face would double.   Please write your United States Senators today and urge them to defeat this heartless bill.   Click here >  [ http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1259/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4458 ]  < and page down .

Yes, you read that correctly. A bill has just reached the floor of the U.S. Senate that would double penalties for any edible products combined with medical marijuana in California and other states that provide relief for patients. The worst part is that the bill was written and sponsored by a Democratic senator from California!!!  The bill is currently awaiting a vote.  That's why we need you to contact your United States congress critters during the August recess to vote NO on this in the House.  Click here >  [ http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1259/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4458 ]  < and page down  to do so.

As you probably know, many patients prefer to eat - rather than smoke or vaporize -  medical marijuana. To illustrate how inhumane this bill is, consider this scenario.  The bill would double the federal prison sentence if a college student home to help care for his brother undergoing chemotherapy baked marijuana brownies for him to eat, even if it was recommended by his doctor!!!  Please write the Senate now to defeat this heartless bill.  Act now! Contact - Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) at  1623 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20009, or by Phone: (202) 293-4414, or Fax: (202) 293-8344, or visit - [ http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1259/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4458 ].  Thanx!  And, while you’re at it, Urge the Department of Education to Respect Students Medical Marijuana Rights, click >  here  <  for more.

------- Resources -------

* Need a Doctor to sign for you? > The Doctor is In ... Salem ... Soon! On August 6th * MERCY will continue hosting Medical Cannabis Consultations in Salem, Oregon to help folks get their card when their regular care physician won't sign for them. Call 503-363-4588 or visit - http://mercycenters.org/Clinic.html - to begin the process of transferring records and setting an appointment.  Know of Other Clinic Resources > Patients > Doctors > Clinics (Specialists)  >  Then Let everybody else know.  For Oregon, visit:  http://www.mercycenters.org/orgs/Clinics.html  and Post It!  For elsewhere in the USA, visit - http://www.mercycenters.org/usa/

* Looking for a Doctor to Sign for you or someone you care about in Salem? Need Medicine?  Want to Network?  WELCOME to The Club!  * The MERCY Club * The folks at MERCY – the Medical Cannabis Resource Center are hosting The Mercy Club - a Medical Cannabis Network - to help people get their cards, network patients to medicine and other resources to help with the issues faced by the community * Call  503.363-4588  or visit - http://mercycenters.org/Club.html - for more details.

* Mon - Fri, Noon – 5PM * MERCY Office Hours * The folks at MERCY – the Medical Cannabis Resource Center hosting the MERCY Medical Consultations and HelpDesk.  It is at – 1469 Capital Street NE, Suite #100, Salem, 97301  -  and will be open to help people get their cards, network patients to medicine and other resources to help with the issues faced by the community * Call  503.363-4588  or visit - http://mercycenters.org/Office.html - for more details.

* Voter Power Patient Resource Days - are held every Wednesday from 5PM - 7PM and on Thursdays from 4PM - 6PM at 687 River Ave., Eugene, 97404-2513.  Also, every Wednesday, Friday, Sunday from 4PM - 8PM in Portland - 6701 SE Foster Rd, Suite D - and on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:20PM - 6PM at 1708 W. Main St., Medford.  Cardholders only (yes, bring your Card and ID) $10 donation, medicine for all.

* Mon - Fri, 10AM – 6PM * SO-NORML Cannabis Information and Resource Center open daily, 332 W. 6th St. in Medford.  Located right next door to the Federal Courthouse.  For info, visit www.so-norml.org or call 541-779-1448.

* Forums.  A means to communicate and network on medical cannabis in Portland across Oregon and around the world.  A list of Forums, Chat Rooms, Bulletin Boards and other Online Resources for the Medical Cannabis Patient, CareGiver, Family Member, Patient-to-Be and Other Interested Parties.  *  Resources > Patients (plus) > Online > Forums  *  Know any?  Let everybody else know!  Visit:  http://www.mercycenters.org/orgs/Forums.html   and Post It!

------- Events -------

* Monday, August 2nd, 7pm * and Every 1st Monday of the month * Public Meet Up of Sweet.Net, a Medical Cannabis Resource NetWork for Patients as well as CardHolders-to-be.  In Sweet Home (OR) * Call   503.363-4588  –or- visit: 

http://www.mercycenters.org/events/Meet_PUB_Sweet.htm

* August 3rd,  2 PM - Every 1st Tuesday of the month, Beginning Growing Class...for those that have an interest in learning how to grow Medical Marijuana.  No knowledge needed.  SO-NORML Resource Center, 332 W. 6th St., Medford, OR.  For info, visit www.so-norml.org or call 541-779-1448.

* Every Wednesday  (except Holidays), next is August 4th  * 7:00pm to 9:00pm * The Mercy Club, a CardHolders MeetUp hosted by MERCY at the Almost Home restaurant in Salem.  Located at 3310 Market St NE, Salem, OR, 97301. And HEY! The owner is allowing an enclosed tent to be set up in/on the Smokers Patio outside and Clone Exchanges and the like in a Private Room. NOTE: PLEASE bring the Clones and other Medical Cannabis Resources into and thru the Restaurant in non-transparent containers so they will NOT be in "public view". People failing to do so will NOT be in compliance with OMMA and are assuming their own responsibility, as well as messing with the bizness, and that's a heck of a reward for allowing all this.* for more info,  call MERCY at:  503.363-4588  –or- visit: 

http://mercycenters.org/events/Meet_AlmostHome.htm

* Wednesday, August 4th, 7pm * and 1st Wed of every month * an Oregon Green Free (OGF - PDX) meeting, at Stark Street Pizza, in Portland, Oregon * Social meeting, Open to public.  Visit - http://www.oregongreenfree.org  for more on OGF.

* Saturday, August 7th (maybe!), 2pm * OGF SOUTH CHAPTER in Medford holds regular monthly meetings and classes for medical marijuana cardholders to learn how to become self-sufficient on the first Saturday of every month from 2pm to 4pm at the SO-NORML Resource Center, 332 W. 6th St in downtown Medford at Ivy & 6th.  Visit -  http://www.oregongreenfree.org  - or call - 541-210-8790 - for more information.

* Every other Tuesday, next is August 10th * all at 7pm * Eugene’s Cannabis T.V. Show filming in Eugene * If you're interested in helping produce a weekly half-hour cable access TV show in the Studios of Community Television 29 in Eugene, Oregon educating the public on Cannabis issues come on by.   Eugene Cannabis TV Weekly Production  happens every Tuesday from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm at:   Community TV 29 Studio behind Sheldon High School  *  Contact Dan Koozer, Producer – ECTV   at   541.517-0957  or visit:   http://w-v-norml.org

*  Thursday, August 12th at Noon * SO-NORML General Membership meeting at SO-NORML Resource Center, 332 W. 6th St., Medford, OR.  For info, visit www.so-norml.org or call 541-779-1448.

* Saturday, August 14th, 11am – 2pm * Oregon NORML Cardholders Meeting  *  Oregon NORML holds twice-monthly meetings for their members who are Oregon Medical Marijuana Program cardholders. The meetings are held at a location TBA. You must be in line for the meeting and inside before Noon - the doors lock at Noon and no one is admitted after Noon.  Click > here < for more or call - 503-239-6110.

*  Saturday, August 14th * and Every 2nd Saturday of the month * at DHS building, 1607 Gekeler Lane, in LaGrande at Noon * hosted by OGF East *  General Meet-Up, open to the public.  Visit - http://www.oregongreenfree.org  for more on OGF.

* (every 3rd) Tuesday, (next is) August 17th,  2 PM *  Growing 2 - Advanced Growing Class * for those that have a basic knowledge of how to grow Medical Marijuana, and are interested in learning much more.  At the SO-NORML Resource Center, 332 W. 6th St., Medford, OR.  For info, visit www.so-norml.org or call 541-779-1448.

* Saturday, August 21st * 12:30pm * at the Tigard Town Hall (Tigard) * OGF-PDX-West * Meeting, open to the public. Happens every 3rd Sat. of the month.  Visit - http://www.oregongreenfree.org  for more on OGF

*  Sat. - Sun., August 21^st - 22^nd, (third weekend in Aug.) 2010 * Seattle HempFest in Seattle, from 10 to  8.  Admission is still FREE, and still at Myrtle Edwards Park, Pier 70 on the third weekend of August. Hempfest is a work-party. They want you to come to relax and enjoy their event, but they also want you to learn. When people learn the facts about Cannabis they inevitably come to our side. They want to offer the latest educational resources to help you learn about domestic production of industrial hemp, medical marijuana, pot law, and even addiction and abuse. They want to contribute to you being as informed, educated and prepared as you can be to participate in our culture and movement. Take this year's program guide home with you and study it. The brightest minds they can find have contributed to their program this year. It is a user's manual so please use it. Find more information at: http://seattlehempfest.com/ 

*  Thursday, August 26th * 7:00pm to 9:00pm * TV Show filming and Patient MeetUp hosted by MERCY-TV at CCTV in Salem, at Capital Community Television,  575 Trade St SE, Salem, Oregon, 97301 – Monthly Filming and Meeting.  Usually (!) every last Thursday of the Month, start setting up at 6:30PM * call:  503.363-4588  or visit - http://mercycenters.org/tv/  - for more.

*  Sat.- Sun., August 28th – 29th, 2010 (4^th week-end in August) * Oly HempFest in Olympia. The Olympia Hempfest is held at Heritage Park, Olympia, Washington on the fourth weekend of August and last year happened; from 11AM – 8PM on Sat. & from 11AM – 6PM on SUN. Admission is FREE, tho they suggest a $5 donation.  Heritage Park is a 24-acre state-owned property adjacent to Capitol Lake and downtown Olympia, WA. It is the northern extension of the Washington state capitol campus.  Oly Hempfest 2008 will feature 16+ musical acts that are made up of regional touring bands and Olympia’s most prominent up coming artists performing. In addition there will be a disc golf course for your enjoyment.  Contact: by phone: 360.456-3517 -or- Find more information at: http://www.olyhempfest.com/

* (4th) August 28th, 11am – 2pm * Oregon NORML Cardholders Meeting  *  Oregon NORML holds twice-monthly meetings for their members who are Oregon Medical Marijuana Program cardholders. The meeting will be held at a location TBA. You must be in line for the meeting and inside before Noon - the doors lock at Noon and no one is admitted after Noon.  Click > here < for more or call - 503-239-6110.

*  Saturday, August 28th at Noon (maybe!) * in the Westlake Restaurant in Seaside * OGF-North-Coast *  Meeting. Open to the public. (usually!) Happens every 4th Sat. of the month.

* Saturday, August 28th, 2pm * Willamette Valley NORML Member / Public meeting * Normally happens every 4th Sat. of the month and is held at Herbs Toasted Subs, 1210 Willamette, in Eugene *  Note:  due to no pressing members-only business we will combining Member and Public meetings this month.  For more info call:  541.517-0957  –or-  visit:  http://w-v-norml.org/meeting.html

*  Saturday, August 28th at 2 pm (maybe!) * at Big Blue, the Oregon Green Free (OGF) Patient Resource Center 2375 SE 174th Ave., Portland * OGF-PDX-East * Meeting, open to the public.  Happens every 4th Sat. of the month.  Visit - http://www.oregongreenfree.org  for more on OGF

*  September 7th  * 10:00 am to 2:30 pm  *  ACMM / Quarterly (OMMP) Meeting *   location:  TBA  *  The Quarterly Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Medical Marijuana (ACMM) is hosted by the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) – click here > http://mercycenters.org/events/Meet_OMMP.htm < for more info.  * Also, you can Contact the Program at   971.673-1226   or by visiting the OMMP website at: http://oregon.gov/DHS/ph/ommp/ 

*  NORML's 39th National Annual Conference Convenes In Portland, Oregon  *  At the busiest and most productive time in the cannabis law reform movement's history, there has never been a better time to attend a  national NORML conference!  The 39th annual national NORML conference will be held September 9-11, 2010 at the historic landmark Governor Hotel in downtown Portland, Oregon.  This year's annual conference is expected to be a quick sell-out because there are a limited number of rooms at the host hotel and conference registrations available than previous national conferences in San Francisco, Berkeley and Los Angeles.  So (1) Save the dates on your calendar and (2)  Reserve your room(s) at the beautiful and centrally located Governor Hotel (all rooms have balconies and allow smoking),  NORML has negotiated excellent room rates at this historic registry hotel:  (a)  Superior Room ($147/night);  (b)  Deluxe Double or King Size bed ($157/night);  (c)  Junior Parlor Suite ($166/night).  Reserve your room right now for NORML 2010 in Portland by calling 503-241-2109, and please indicate 'NORML 2010 Annual Conference' to receive the discount.  Visit - http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=8125 - for more.

Procrastination will not pay! If you snooze, you lose! First come, first served!  Thanks in advance for all your help and support reforming America's antiquated cannabis laws, NORML's staff look forward to seeing longtime  supporters, along with new ones, at the organization's 39th annual national conference in beautiful, progressive and cannabis-friendly Portland, Oregon this September.  Double Bonus: Hempstalk, <http://www.hempstalk.org/> the largest pro-cannabis rally in Oregon, which is held at a beautiful state park at the confluence of the mighty  Columbia and Willamette Rivers, is the same weekend as NORML's national conference!

* Saturday, September 11^th, 10AM to 10PM – Sunday, September 12^th, 10AM to 7PM - 2010 * HempStalk happens in Portland, Oregon. *  at Kelley Point Park  *  The reason marijuana is illegal has very little to do with drugs, and is really about money and the continued centralization of economic and political control. Hemp seed oil is biodiesel and is three times more productive than any other seed oil crop, and hemp seed oil will run any diesel engine today with no modification. Hemp oil is the reason the petrochemical industry made up the "reefer madness" myth. They renamed hemp, using racist propaganda, calling it marijuana, and lied to make it illegal. There is a truth that must be heard! That's what the Hempstalk Festival is all about.  To find out more about HempStalk, visit:   http://hempstalk.org/  *  or Contact HempStalk organizers:  The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation (THCf), by phone:  1-800-723-0188  -or- visiting:   http://thc-foundation.org/ 

* Saturday, September 18th, 2010 at Noon * HEALING OREGON - Strains for Pain Competition.  Join OMCU as they bring some of the best medical cannabis in the state to the patients of Oregon. They will be evaluating strains for different ailments in a double blind study. Trophies will be awarded for the best strain.

All entrants must sign a participant contract and abide by the event rules. All entrants and participants must be valid OMMP cardholders. Application & rules packages are available at OMCU. (Oregon Medical Cannabis University), visit - http://www.oregonmedicalcannabisuniversity.com/ - for more on OMCU.  Special accommodations available for those of you not in the immediate area. Please call 503-649-2999 for details. Limited space available. Judges tickets & general admission tickets are already on sale! Event details will be provided upon ticket purchase. More info to be announced as they go. If you are interested in being an entrant, sponsor or participant please call for details. Or send them an email at info@omcu.net

* Next Eugene Cannabis Cup, TBA.  Last was * Saturday, May 22^nd, 2010 at 11:30am – 5pm *  at Voter Power Office, 687 River Ave., Eugene, 97404-2513 .  Vendors, Speakers, Cannabis Awards, Information Booths.  All proceeds will go to I-28 for Patients Rights to Safe Access to their Medicine.  Contact:  Jim Greig, 541-844-1220  -or-  jimgreigads@yahoo.com