OPNews September 2004

September 2004 Edition

Organizational News:

State News:

National News:

International News:

Regular Features:

OPNews Disclaimer

You Are Invited to OPN Meetings

Help the OPN Support Patients

How to Get Your Information in OPNews

How to be Removed from the OPNews List

How to Contact Your State Representative and Senator

Organizational News Items:

The annual membership meeting in Columbus Ohio was a complete success. Great weather and a good turnout contributed to a positive and productive meeting. The minutes of the meeting are included below for those who were unable to attend the event.

Minutes of the Ohio Patient Network Annual Meeting

Meeting Called to order at 3:30 pm September 18, 2004
Jim White appointed Sergeant at Arms
There were sixteen (16) members present

General Election of board members, those elected to office are:

President: John Precup
Vice President: K.R. �Doc� Miller
Treasurer: Mary Jane Borden
Director Of Public Health: Norman Jentner
Director of Patient Advocacy: Deidre �Dee Dee� Zoretic
Director of development: Doug Vaughn
Secretary: Robert Ryan

The newly elected board created the Chair of Information Specialist/Librarian committee and appointed Mike Miles as Chair.
Created the position of Membership Liaison and appointed Rev. Mary Spears
Jim White will assume control of the electronic membership lists
Mary Spears will represent the Ohio Patient at the Americans for Safe Access march in Washington D.C. October 4 & 5 2004
Mary Spears donated artwork to the OPN for future use.
Committee reports:
- Treasure reported bank account balance of $11, 026.46
- Speakers Bureau reported 14 engagements in 2004; Vice President will assume marketing of Speakers availability to organizations.
- Public Health reported a slight change in government research and dissemination of conflicting/biased information regarding medical marijuana use.
- Development report, OPN now has 1016 members statewide. Expressed Intent to increase number of events attended by OPN staff.
- Patient Advocacy reports the OMMA has stalled, and announced a switch to local initiatives as a means of gathering support and education for the OMMA.\

The entirety of the meeting contained much discussion regarding strategic planning and future operations, fund raising, membership growth, database management and general discussion. Discussions will continue at the next regular board meeting on Paltalk on Thursday September 23, at 8:00 pm
Meeting adjourned at 6:00 pm.

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State News:

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National News:

STANFORD STUDY FINDS CELLS CREATE POT-LIKE CHEMICALS

How Brain Produces A 'High' Mother Nature created a way to ``tune in, turn on'' long before pot-smokers rolled their first joint, Stanford scientists have found. Eavesdropping on the conversations between brain cells, the research team found that neurons make their own marijuana-like chemicals called cannabinoids, which indirectly alter the way information is received and filtered.

MARY GENNOY, MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACTIVIST, DIES AT 53

Mary Elaine Gennoy, a San Francisco resident who used a diminutive body shaped by birth defects to become a passionate medical marijuana activist, has died at age 53, according to close friends. Gennoy, a longtime resident of the city's Castro district, died Sept. 5 after suffering complications from throat surgery she had undergone for cancer of the larynx, said Dennis Peron, a neighbor and friend who co-sponsored the California law allowing qualified patients to use medical marijuana.

MARIJUANA CASE RULING OVERTURNED

A Federal Judge Says Freightliner Acted Legally in Firing a Worker Who's Registered to Use the Drug, Upsetting an Arbitrator's Decision Unionized workers who want to use marijuana to treat pain without running afoul of their employers may have a harder time under a federal judge's new ruling.

MEDICAL POT BACKERS ISSUE CALL FOR ACTION

Threatening lawsuits for what they called a violation of state law, medical marijuana advocates blasted local law enforcement agencies and pleaded with the Merced City Council on Monday to establish a medical marijuana ordinance.

POT AND PROSECUTION

Prosser Finds Relief--What About the Rest? Robin Prosser is Missoula's poster child for legalizing the medicinal use of marijuana. Two years ago, she sustained a 60-day hunger strike to call attention to the need for legally prescribed marijuana. In May, Prosser, who suffers from severe pain and nausea caused by an immunosuppressive disorder, could no longer endure the chronic pain. She attempted suicide. Police helped her psychologist enter her apartment in order to save her.

MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA

Sensible Legalizing the medical use of marijuana is not really a liberal issue or a conservative issue. It's an issue about injecting some compassion - - and rationality - into the nation's emotionally and politically charged war on drugs.

POT QUESTION ON FALL BALLOT IN PARTS OF EAST ARLINGTON

Voters in Anne Paulsen's legislative district will have their say on medical marijuana in November. The advisory question would ask the district's legislators to support legislation to allow marijuana use for chronically ill patients, asking should the senator or representative "vote in favor of legislation that would allow seriously ill patients, with their doctor's written recommendation, to possess and grow small amounts of marijuana for their personal medical use."

POT MEASURE STEAMS DRUG CZAR

A measure on Oregon's Nov. 2 ballot to expand the medical use of marijuana is drawing fire from state district attorneys and the White House drug czar, who says it would turn the state into a "safe haven for drug trafficking."

U.S.-STATE POT FIGHT SNAGS AREA GROWER

Sacramento Bee The Court Appeal of Two Ailing Women May Tip the Scales. Richard Marino says he did everything right. From the day he opened his retail establishment in an 80-year-old building in Old Roseville, he says, he scrupulously screened his customers to make sure no one who was unqualified was able to buy his product. He established meticulous business procedures and even joined the Chamber of Commerce.

THUMBS DOWN ON MARIJUANA, SAIF MEASURES

Don't eliminate SAIF Corp. and don't activate state-regulated marijuana dispensaries. To follow that advice, vote against Measure 38 and Measure 33 in November.

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International News:

CANADA POST TO INVESTIGATE POSTAL POT SERVICE

Canada Post has said it will investigate a Vancouver-based marijuana mail-order business that provides "fast, discreet" service to those declaring they suffer from one of a host of medical ailments. Canada Post spokesman John Caines said it would be up to police to say whether the postal pot operation, called Bud Buddy, was breaking the law. But the Crown corporation will probe its use of the national mail service. "I'll bring it up to our legal people and they'll advise us on what we're going to do then," John Caines said from Ottawa. "We're going to look into it."

LEGALIZED MARIJUANA ADVOCATE INVITED TO SPEAK AT BOSTON CONFERENCE

Burlington resident with multiple sclerosis asked to address International Association of Women Police Medical marijuana crusader Alison Myrden plans to speak at an upcoming police conference in Boston -- if she's able to cross the border.

COPS SHOULD BUTT OUT

"Hey, they're busting nuns, man. Man that's cold blooded." Chong to Cheech, as the cops roust the Sisters QUESTION: How many Hammer cops does it take to arrest an elderly woman having a toot in the Up In Smoke cafe? ANSWER: Evidently, in this grim and loathing town, at least three.

HOME INVASION AT LEGAL GROW-OP

A Chilliwack man with a license to grow medical marijuana says he's never going to grow it again, after he was tortured and almost killed in a violent home invasion early Wednesday. Brian Carlisle told The Progress he was bound with his own bed sheet, beaten with a rod, pepper-sprayed and hit with a stun gun repeatedly, after at least five people broke into his residence looking for a mature marijuana garden that didn't exist.

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Regular Features:

OPNews DISCLAIMER

OPNews, a publication of Ohio Patient Network (OPN), provides medical cannabis news that affects Ohio patients, caregivers, and health professionals.

All articles are intended for educational purposes and do not reflect an official position, either positive or negative, by the OPN or its Board of Directors.

Ohio Patient Network does not endorse any candidates running for office. The reports of campaign-related activities are for educational purposes only.

For more information, contact editor@ohiopatient.net .

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YOU ARE INVITED TO OPN MEETINGS

The OPN Board of Directors invites you to participate in OPN patient forums, which are held at 8:00 p.m. (eastern time) the last Thursday of each month. You are also welcome to attend the weekly OPN business meetings.

These electronic voice/text meetings are held at the OPN chatroom in PalTalk http://www.paltalk.com/ for further information, including instructions for the PalTalk meeting room, visit: http://ohiopatient.net/join/index.htm#meetingscontact or contact info@ohiopatient.net .

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HELP THE OPN SUPPORT PATIENTS

The Ohio Patient Network's goal is to provide a voice for Ohio's medicinal cannabis patients and create an environment where this vital medicine becomes an accepted and legitimate therapy. To do this, we need your help.

We'd like you to personally become involved in OPN by donating your time. Please check out our various committees and activities at http://ohiopatient.net/donate/index.htm#volunteers . Respond with your interest to our Membership Coordinator, Doc Miller, at KRMiller@OhioPatient.net.

If you'd prefer, you can also support medicinal cannabis and what we are doing by contributing monetarily to OPN. Please note that the Ohio Patient Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in the State of Ohio. Donations to OPN are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.

Please visit our donations page at http://ohiopatient.net/donate/index.htm to make a contribution using your credit card. Please note that these donations will be processed through Paypal.

If you would prefer to donate by check or money order, please make them payable to the "Ohio Patient Network" and mail to P.O. Box 26353, Columbus, OH 43216.

Thank you for supporting the Ohio Patient Network.

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HOW TO GET YOUR INFORMATION IN OPNews

OPNews is published monthly. To have your information considered for publication, submit your story to editor@ohiopatient.net .

PLEASE DO NOT SEND ATTACHMENTS. Please do not boldface or italicize text. Include a contact name with a phone number and/or e-mail address with submissions.

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HOW TO BE REMOVED FROM THE OPNews LIST

You may sign off this list at any time by using the web form at http://ohiopatient.net/join/index.htm#disclist .

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HOW TO CONTACT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR

Find your Representative in the Ohio House at http://www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/Representatives.jsp .

Find your Ohio Senator at http://www.senate.state.oh.us/senators/ .

Write to your officials care of their district office, or send your letter to their Columbus office at:

The Honorable (name)

Ohio House of Representatives

77 South High Street

Columbus, Ohio 43266-0603

-or-

The Honorable (name)

Ohio Senate Building

Columbus, Ohio 43215

Telephone calls and emails are also persuasive, especially when the constituent contacts the district office.

� A publication of the Ohio Patient Network (OPN) Contact editor@ohiopatient.net

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Ohio Patient Network - P.O. Box 26353 - Columbus, Ohio 43226-0353

1-888-OH-Patient (1-888-647-2843) info@ohiopatient.net