ACT NOW!
Support Medical Marijuana Bills in Congress
Washington, DC -- Three medical marijuana bills were introduced today in Congress with support from patient advocates. The most significant of the three bills is one introduced by Congressman Frank (D-MA), which reclassifies marijuana from its current status as a dangerous drug with no medical value.
Another bill, introduced by Congressman Polis (D-CO), will allow banks and other financial institutions to provide services to medical marijuana businesses without being subject to "suspicious activity" reporting requirements. The third bill, introduced by Congressman Stark(D-CA), changes the federal tax code "to allow a deduction for expenses in connection with the trade or business of selling marijuana intended for patients for medical purposes pursuant to State law."
"All of these bills will have a positive effect on hundreds of thousands of Americans and only a negligible impact to the rest of the country," said Steph Sherer, Executive Director of Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the country's largest medical marijuana advocacy group.
"This kind of policy shift is a no-brainer and should garner the bipartisan support of Congress." To shore up support for these and other local and state medical marijuana bills, ASA is launching a new advocacy program.
The introduction of Congressional legislation today comes as ASA is equipping patient advocates with new tools to lobby local, state and federal governments. ASA unveiled a new program today that establishes a "Medical Cannabis Think Tank" to provide activists the support they need to analyze pending or proposed legislation and to lobby for the best laws possible.
To support the lobbying effort, ASA also unveiled its new "Online Training Center," with more than 4 hours of educational streaming video and over 400 pages of instruction manuals and worksheets. ASA's program also includes an improved "Raid Response Center" to better prepare for aggressive federal interference.
As part of its "Sick and Tired" campaign, ASA and others filed a writ Monday in the DC Circuit to compel the federal government to answer a 9-year-old petition to reclassify cannabis. The Coalition for Rescheduling Cannabis (CRC) argued in the writ that the government has unreasonably delayed an answer to the petition in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act.
"The Drug Enforcement Administration has the opportunity right now to address the needs of patients across the country by reclassifying cannabis," continued Sherer. "However, since Congress can also reclassify cannabis, we are urging passage of the Frank bill in order to take advantage of all points of leverage."
If passed, the Frank bill would not only recognize marijuana's medical value, but also provide a medical necessity defense in federal court, a right not currently afforded to patients and caregivers who are in compliance with their local and state laws. The Frank bill would also usher forth greater research into the therapeutic properties of cannabis and create incentives for the development of new cannabis-based medication.
Advocates hope the Polis bill, if passed, will end the current ban on services for medical marijuana businesses by institutions like Wells Fargo, CitiCorp and Bank of America. The Stark bill has the potential to end dozens of audits by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) currently taking place, and settle once and for all whether the IRS can demand tax on gross or just net proceeds.
Visit - http://www.opposingviews.com/i/medical-marijuana-advocates-back-3-bills-in-congress - and Spread The Word!
Help End the International War on Medical Cannabis (Marijuana)
Experts all agree that the most sensible policy is to regulate, but
politicians are afraid to touch the issue. In days, a global
commission including former heads of state and foreign policy chiefs
of the UN, EU, US, Brazil, Mexico and more will break the taboo and
publicly call for new approaches including decriminalization and
regulation of drugs.
This could be a once-in-a-generation tipping-point moment -- if
enough of us call for an end to this madness. Politicians say they
understand that the war on drugs has failed, but claim the public
isn't ready for an alternative. Let's show them we not only accept a
sane and humane policy -- we demand it. Click below to sign the
petition and share with everyone --if we reach 1 million voices, it
will be personally delivered to world leaders by the global
commission -
>> Click here <<
- and Act Now! to End Medical Cannabis Prohibition around the World by Stopping the War on (Some of the People doing Some of the) Drugs. For 50 years current drug policies have failed everyone, everywhere
but public debate is stuck in the mud of fear and misinformation.
Everyone, even the UN Office on Drugs and Crime which is responsible
for enforcing this approach agrees -- deploying militaries and
police to burn drug farms, hunting down traffickers, and imprisoning
dealers and addicts - is an expensive mistake. And with massive
human cost -- from Afghanistan, to Mexico, to the USA the illegal
drug trade is destroying countries around the world, while
addiction, overdose deaths, and HIV/AIDS infections continue to rise.
Meanwhile, countries with less-harsh enforcement -- like
Switzerland, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Australia -- have not
seen the explosion in drug use that proponents of the drug war have
darkly predicted. Instead, they have seen significant reductions in
drug-related crime, addiction and deaths, and are able to focus
squarely on dismantling criminal empires.
Powerful lobbies still stand in the way of change, including
military, law enforcement, and prison departments whose budgets are
at stake. And politicians fear that voters will throw them out of
office if they support alternative approaches, as they will appear
weak on law and order. Many former drug Ministers and Heads of State
have come out in favour of reform since leaving office, and polls
show that citizens across the world know the current approach is a
catastrophe. Momentum is gathering towards new improved policies,
particularly in regions that are ravaged by the drug trade.
If we can create a worldwide outcry in the next few days to support
the bold calls of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, we can
overpower the stale excuses for the status quo. Our voices hold the
key to change -- Sign the petition and spread the word, visit -
>> Click here <<
- and Spread The Word! We have a chance to enter the closing chapter of this brutal 'war'
that has destroyed millions of lives.
Global public opinion will
determine if this catastrophic policy is stopped or if politicians
shy away from reform. Let's rally urgently to push our hesitating
leaders from doubt and fear, over the edge, and into reason.
Support the Avaaz community! We're entirely funded by donations and
receive no money from governments or corporations. Our dedicated
team ensures even the smallest contributions go a long way --
donate here.
Avaaz.org is an 8-million-person global campaign network that works
to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape
global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many
languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our
team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in
14 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns
Facebook or
Twitter.
To contact Avaaz, write
to us at www.avaaz.org/en/contact
or call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US).
With hope and determination,
Alice, Laura, Ricken, Maria Paz, Shibayan and the whole Avaaz team
SOURCES:
Reports that show the war on drugs has failed: http://idpc.net/publications/failure-regime-selected-publications
Reports that show alternative approaches of decriminalisation and
regulation are working:
http://idpc.net/publications/alternative-strategies-selected-publications
General report on drug law reform in practice:
http://www.tni.org/report/legislative-innovation-drug-policy
The Global Comission on Drug Policy that will call on the UN to end
the war on drugs
http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/Documents.aspx
Drug War by the Numbers
http://www.drugpolicy.org/facts/drug-war-numbers
Final Report of the Latin American Comission on Drugs and Democracy
http://www.drogasedemocracia.org/English/Destaques.asp?IdRegistro=8
HELP! People Needing Medical Cannabis Across America. TAKE ACTION NOW!
This is a chain e-mail you can't refuse. Unlike most, this will actually
help you - and a whole buncha others - just by passing it on.
Cannabis consumer or not - from the folks just trying to take care of themselves or a loved one to those who simply see the expensive, immoral waste of making war on the sick and dying - everyone is affected by this issue.
There are a number of medical cannabis (marijuana) bills in play in
states across the US. We need to get the word out and people contacting
reps and officials and get this legislation into law.
To accomplish this you need to click on the following links and send a
message to all the reps and media you can on the issue. Then get
everybody else to do the same.
To do this you need to tell everybody you know. And can confide in.
Then/or anonymously tell everybody you don't know - or can't confide in.
Yet.
Tell everybody you can by e-mailing a link to this website to them and/or printing off this info and
handing out where necessary. Also phone call and visit. Take literature
with you and approach businesses, organizations and even people on the
street while you're out and about. Wear your pot-leaf shirt and register
voters, as feasible.
Organize an event or action item to attract people in order to inform,
educate and activate. Don't forget to alert the media!
Tell everybody else by Letters-to-the-Editor, displaying signage at
street corners and over-passes (wear trenchcoat, fedora and sunglasses
if afraid of exposure), and/or anonymously leaving literature and
posting on-line at places where people are likely to find it.
Coffeeshops are good places to leave printed material and you can go to
the websites of the local newspapers to post items as well. More ideas
and supporting tools via the links below.
And we're sure you'll come up with more. Exchange notes at the websites provided.
Help medical cannabis in Alabama - click > here
Help medical cannabis in Connecticut - click > here
Help medical cannabis in Illinois - click > here
Help medical cannabis in Massachusetts - click > here
Help medical cannabis in Minnesota - click > here
Help medical cannabis in Missouri - click > here
Help medical cannabis in New Jersey - click > here
Help medical cannabis in New York - click > here
Help medical cannabis in New Hampshire - click > here
Help medical cannabis in North Carolina - click > here
Help medical cannabis in Ohio - click > here
Help medical cannabis in Pennsylvania - click > here
Help medical cannabis in South Dakota - click > here
Help medical cannabis in Tennessee - click > here
Help medical cannabis in Texas - click > here
This info and and more at NORML’s Legislative Action Alerts page, visit
- http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/
For more info on medical cannabis in America, visit -
http://www.mercycenters.org/usa
Thanx! and please give us feedback.
A Citizen's Guide to the Oregon Legislative Process, with stuff like How to Testify in Front of
Committee is at: www.leg.state.or.us/citizenguide/
* NOTE: You may call your
legislators by contacting the WATS operator. Within Salem, call 503-986-1187. Outside of
Salem, please call 1-800-332-2313.
Getting to the Capitol > 900 Court Street NE, Salem, Oregon 97301 * Hours: Monday-Friday:
8:00-5:30 ~ Saturday: Closed ~ Sunday: Closed * Visitor Services Phone: 503-986-1388 * For
more information on How to get to the Capitol, including things like Where to Park
visit: www.leg.state.or.us/capinfo/
Find Your Legislator www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/findset.htm online.
Visit: www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/home.htm and fill out the form
entering your home address. Then click on the "submit" button and you will then be given
your state and US legislators.
Write your legislator www.leg.state.or.us/writelegsltr/ online. To send a
message to your State Senator or State Representative please
visit: www.leg.state.or.us/writelegsltr/ and fill out the form.
By entering your information, you will be automatically matched to either your State
Senator or your State Representative. Click "submit" when you are ready to send your message.
See a List of OR St. House of Reps at: www.leg.state.or.us/house/ and a List of OR
St. Senate at: www.leg.state.or.us/house/ There is also the Senate and House
District Listing www.sos.state.or.us/elections/other.info/shlist.pdf from
Secretary of State, Elections Division which includes a table of Senators and the
two corresponding Representatives for all districts
see: www.sos.state.or.us/elections/other.info/shlist.pdf
Phoning Your Legislator. During a legislative session, you may call your legislators by
contacting the WATS operator. Within Salem, call 503-986-1187. Outside of Salem, please
call 1-800-332-2313.
Members Email Address formats
Senator's email address: sen.firstnamelastname@state.or.us
example: sen.ralphsmith@state.or.us
Representative's email address: rep.firstnamelastname@state.or.us
example: rep.betsyjones@state.or.us
To check up on bills; here is the link to the search bills page
www.leg.state.or.us/searchmeas.html
click on search for specific measure ...fill in the blanks on the page, hit enter and you will get the text of any bill. For example, try typing "marijuana" in the search engine for new bills. Also look for “cannabis” and we should not forget to mention “hemp” at some time.
Or … If one wants PDF with changes bolded one can also go here:
landru.leg.state.or.us/07reg/measures/
click on the directory like HB 2600's and find it in PDF instead of just HTML.
These web links tell you what committee a bill goes to. For senate
bills: www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/pubs/senmh.html
for house bills: www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/pubs/hsemh.html
If you need information regarding the legislative process, email the Legislative Liaison at
help.leg@state.or.us -or- call 503-986-1000 -or-
visit: www.leg.state.or.us/
* How about a Voter Registration Party? Come Together, Register and Make a Difference! Notes
For Votes - music by local bands. Tunes, Food, Fun and More. Elections 101: New Voters.
Thank you for your interest in voting in Oregon! Voting is how you can participate in
democracy and make your voice count.
Does my vote really count? Yes. In the 2002 election, in District 28 (southern Oregon), only
42 votes came between the two candidates. That means 22 votes would have changed the outcome,
and close elections like this are not unusual. Next time, the vote that changes the outcome
could be yours.
Just as with any other new activity, voting for the first time comes with questions and maybe
even a little anxiety. The following information should help answer any questions you may
have, ease the voting process, and empower you to become an active citizen.
If you have any questions please call our toll-free voter information line at 1-866-ORE-VOTE
(1-866-673-8683). The voter information line is available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm,
se habla Espanol. TTY services for the hearing impaired are available at
1-866-350-0596. Additional voting resources are also available online at the Elections
Division website;
visit: www.sos.state.or.us/elections/elechp.htm.
Read the Voting in Oregon Guide www.uhavavote.org/votingguide/index.html. get to the link and others by visiting: www.oregonvotes.org/elec101.htm
The basics of Oregon State Voter Registration
You may register to vote in Oregon if:
1. You are a resident of Oregon.
2. You are a United States citizen.
3. You will be 18 years old by Election Day.
To register to vote or update your current registration:
(1.> Complete the Voter Registration Form
(visit: www.sos.state.or.us/elections/votreg/sel500.pdf.
The form is in a fillable .pdf format. Open the form using the free
Adobe Acrobat© Reader
and complete it online by tabbing through the fields and typing in the requested
information.
(2.> Print the completed form and sign it. Mail the form to your
county elections office
or drop it off in person.
(3.> If you do not wish to complete the voter registration form online, you may print the form
and complete it using black ink.
Your county elections office will mail you a card to let you know that your registration was
received. If you are registering in Oregon for the first time, your completed voter registration
form must be postmarked by the 21st day before an election in order to vote in that election.
A voter who is unable, because of the disability, to sign their name should also complete the
Signature Stamp Attestation form. If
you have any questions, be sure to call your
county elections office.
Source: www.sos.state.or.us/elections/votreg/vreg.htm
Oregon Voter Registration Card. you may use this card to:. gregister to vote in Oregon.
The deadline to register to vote is the 21st day before an election.
Visit: www.sos.state.or.us/elections/votreg/sel500.pdf
a Voting in Oregon Guide :: registering to vote If this is your first time registering to vote
in Oregon, you must register at least 21 days before, and more.
Visit: www.uhavavote.org/votingguide/register.html
Related Links
A directory of Oregon candidates for Governor, State Cabinet, United State Senator and Congress
in the current election cycle ... state political parties ... the official state election
office ... and state news sources. Find out how to register to vote, read about issues, and
join the Jackson County, Oregon, Democratic Central Committee.
Visit: www.jcdemocrats.org
Voting In Oregon. The following are some important facts about voting in Oregon. With the
General election coming up in November, you will soon be hearing a lot about issues that will
affect your life. Registering to vote in Oregon is a very simple and quick process, and now
that Oregon has vote-by-mail, the whole process is even easier. Watch for the Voters Pamphlet
in the mail, and make a difference by voting!
Visit: www.osbar.org/public/vote/Voting.htm
A note from the League Of Women Voters Of Oregon. Voters should understand a new law, passed by
the Oregon Legislature in 2005, which prohibits participating in more than one nominating
process. A voter must choose whether to (1) participate in the nominating process for an
independent or third party candidate or (2) vote a partisan Primary Election ballot.
If registered Democrats or Republicans vote in the Primary, they can no longer participate in
the nominating process for independent candidates. If minor party members participate in their
party's nominating convention for a particular office, they can no longer sign a petition for
an independent candidate for that office.
If you are registered as a Republican or Democrat and wish to sign a nominating petition for an
independent candidate, LWVOR suggests
re-registering
by the April 25 deadline with your
county elections office
as "Not a Member of a Party." Re-registering would allow you to still vote the on the
nonpartisan offices and measures in the Primary Election; voters who are not registered as
Democrats or Republicans will receive ballots containing only these offices. After the
Primary, you can register again with your party of choice. If you do not want to re-register,
or have missed the deadline, the only way you can legally support the nomination of an
independent candidate is if you do not vote at all in the Primary Election. For more,
Visit: www.lwvor.org
Multnomah County Voter Information - Frequently Asked Questions. Visit by clicking
here.
Deschutes County Government, Oregon - Registering to Vote WHO MAY REGISTER TO VOTE? Anyone who
is: ? A resident of Oregon;. ? A United States citizen, and. ? At least 18 years of age by
Election Day. Click here.
Volunteer, read news, or register to vote on this site provided by the Democrats in Washington
County, Oregon. visit: www.washcodems.org
State Voter Registration Deadlines - U.S. Government Info/Resources. This table shows the last
day on which you can register to vote in each state,
visit: usgovinfo.about.com/blvrdeadline.htm
and State Voter Registration Requirements - U.S. Government Info/Resources
visit: usgovinfo.about.com/blvrbystate.htm
BallotMeasure.com - Register to Vote in Oregon You can download the registration form
from: ballotmeasure.com/others/registertovote.pdf
(in PDF format). If you need the Acrobat Reader to read this file, you can get it
here. Get your completed registration to your
local county clerk at the address shown below. The county elections office will mail you a
card to let you know that your registration was received. Please remember that for newly
registered voters, the card must be postmarked by the 21st day before an election in order
to vote in that election. If you have any questions, be sure to call your county elections
office. Click here for more.
Bizness Interests (Caveat Emptor!)
Voter Registration Service. They prepare your voter forms so you can legally vote in your
state. How does it work?
* They prepare all voter registration forms needed to register in your state - pre-filled with
your information you provide them.
* They then mail the voter registration documents to you thru US Mail (postage paid
Approx. 5 - 10 business days.). You must sign the documents you receive after carefully
reading over the information to be sure it is correct.
* Once you sign the legal document, you will place it in an envelope they provide you that is
pre-addressed to the correct state department that will process your form.
* You will receive a voter registration card in the mail from your state department within 4
to 6 weeks after mailing in your registration.
That is all there is to it. They ask for a small fee of $6.95 plus a $3.00 postage and handling
fee to conduct these services for you. This fee covers the cost of paperwork, postage,
technology, and material. No other fees will occur.
Visit: www.iwanttovote.com
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Marijuana-related legislation stalls in Salem - Last Update: December 20, 2011 |
Oregon’s biennial legislature has adjourned, and although numerous stand-alone bills seeking to change marijuana policy – both positively and negatively – were introduced, none passed the legislature. Unfortunately, an exorbitant fee increase for the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program was approved in the budget.
One of the better marijuana-related bills introduced this past session was HB 3046, sponsored by Rep. Mike Schaufler. This bill would have established a state-regulated medical marijuana dispensary system. Regulated dispensaries are important to any well-run medical marijuana program because they allow patients to safely, reliably, and immediately access their medicine. In addition, clear regulations would have allowed entrepreneurs across the state to clearly comply with state law, which would have decreased the likelihood that the federal government would interfere with their businesses. Delaying passage of a dispensary program keeps patients who cannot grow their medicine on their own in the same unfortunate scenario of having to find someone to grow it for them (not as easy as it sounds) or purchasing their medicine from the criminal market.
Alaska 