Friends, we gave them one heck of a ringing in their ears yesterday (4-12-10)! Unfortunately, we didn't get that last second touchdown. But we DID place ourselves and this issue firmly in the minds of these legislators -- and right as they enter campaign season to fight for their jobs.

Over the next several weeks we'll be gathering intel and forming a strategy for the election season ahead, and, as always, meeting new people, going new places, and growing this movement.

I want to thank everyone for helping spread the word this year. We wouldn't have made this remarkable progress without you. Please keep sharing MD Safe Access with your friends, family, and colleagues as we continue the fight for medical science, compassion, and justice.

With Love and Admiration,
Damien Nichols
MD Safe Access

P.S. In order to make the most of the election cycle (every state AND federal elected official is up for re-election!), we're going to need to keep growing - and fast!

So here's our Facebook link, post it EVERYWHERE! http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/group.php?gid=153079671496&ref=ts

LESS THAN 24 HOURS TO PASS MEDICAL MARIJUANA THIS YEAR! (4/12/10)

Friends,

The Maryland Senate passed SB627 on Friday - with no debate - 35-12! That's a HUGE sign of support from Maryland's upper chamber. Now we've only got until midnight tonight (Monday, April 12th) to get the House to pass the same bill. We know we've got the votes, we just need the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee to pass it to the floor for a full vote. This is a hail mary to be sure, but by no means unheard of.

Our best chance is for everybody to bombard the general assembly with (respectful) phone calls. SO PLEASE CALL YOUR DELEGATES RIGHT NOW TO STRONGLY URGE PASSAGE OF SB627!
 

You can figure out who your delegates are at www.mdelect.net/electedofficials

 

REACH OUT TO HOUSE JUDICIARY CHAIRMAN JOE VALLARIO - THE SINGLE BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO MEDICAL MJ IN MARYLAND!

 

The Public Health Medical Marijuana Bill (HB 712) will not succeed unless the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee allows the bill to come to a vote.

Chairman Vallario is worried about passing a state law that conflicts with federal law. Meanwhile, patients are losing the fight for health, safety, and freedom on multiple fronts: by dealing with the dangerous black market for medicine of inconsistent quantity and quality, by facing arrest and prosecution from state law enforcement, and/or by being stuck on pharmaceutical death cocktails.

Call or e-mail Chairman Vallario TODAY and tell him patients and caregivers are already in grave danger: LET US WORRY ABOUT THE FEDS!

Chairman Vallario's contact info:

Phone: (410) 841-3488
E-mail: joseph.vallario@house.state.md.us

After you've made the call or sent an e-mail, pass this message/link on to EVERYONE in Maryland (use facebook, phone calls, smoke signals... whatever is at your disposal). Especially reach out to people in Chairman Vallario's district (constituents always have the most impact). Here's a city breakdown of Vallario's district:

District 27A
ZIP City County
20601 WALDORF CHARLES
20607 ACCOKEEK PRINCE GEORGES
20608 AQUASCO PRINCE GEORGES
20613 BRANDYWINE PRINCE GEORGES
20623 CHELTENHAM PRINCE GEORGES
20689 SUNDERLAND CALVERT
20735 CLINTON PRINCE GEORGES
20744 FORT WASHINGTON PRINCE GEORGES
20754 DUNKIRK CALVERT
20758 FRIENDSHIP ANNE ARUNDEL
20772 UPPER MARLBORO PRINCE GEORGES
20773 UPPER MARLBORO PRINCE GEORGES
20792 UPPER MARLBORO PRINCE GEORGES

PROJECT VALLARIO: NEXT STEPS

Street Action: Collect signatures and identify activists in district 27A

Team A – Sunday afternoon (March 7) we'll be in Vallario's district with clipboards, posters and postcards. This will be repeated six days later by Teams A & B the following Saturday (March 13)
Please add your name to the list for either or both events by emailing 2rad4m@gmail.com if you are able to participate.

CALL YOUR STATE DELEGATES AND SENATORS TODAY AND TELL THEM YOU WANT TO SEE MEDICAL MARIJUANA REFORM IN MARYLAND THIS YEAR!

 

You can find your elected officials and their contact information at: http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/

Just enter your address and your elected officials will appear on the left (you have to scroll down for your senator). These calls only take a minute each, and you'll be surprised how accomplished you feel after making one. When they answer the phone you'll say something like: "Hi, I'm a voter in Delegate/Senator ____'s district and I want him/her to to know that Maryland needs medical marijuana reform this year! Also, effective reform requires the right for patient cultivation to ensure safe, consistent, AFFORDABLE supply." Then they'll likely ask your name and zipcode -- and you're done. So simple!

This kind of outreach has already produced verifiable results. Without your calls, we would not have secured a (promised) amendment to HB 712 to allow for patient cultivation! Without you outreach, we wouldn't be in a position to expand the arbitrary 2oz. monthly limit on medicine. In short, these calls work!

So what's up right now?

 

There was a joint hearing in the House Judiciary and Health & Government Operations committees on Friday, February 26th. It went very well. There was no organized vocal opposition. The police associations took no position for the first time in Maryland history, and the nurses, senior citizems, and substance abuse professionals all came out in favor of medical marijuana reform!

We're waiting to see what they do next -- likely a working group in committee to consider amendments. As these events unfold, we'll have specific action alerts for you. Most likely, we'll need you to call your elected officials with specific messages based on what is going on. If they threaten to keep patient cultivation out the bill, we will make enough noise to show them that is unacceptable. If we identify specific opposition, we'll ask you to help us identify members of their district to apply the appropriate pressure.

Our advocacy is nothing without your voice.

Thank you for your support.