Stop The Federal War On Patients Forever

[Guest guest]

STOP THE FEDERAL WAR ON PATIENTS FOREVER

MEDICAL MARIJUANA: HEALTHCARE, NOT POLITICS

 

HHS: OUR HEALTH IS IN YOUR HANDS!

 

October 5, 2004, Washington DC

 

WHAT: RALLY FOR RESCHEDULING MARIJUANA AS MEDICINE

WHERE: HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS), WASHINGTON DC

WHEN: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5 2004, 10 AM

WHO: PATIENTS, DOCTORS, MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS… & YOU!

 

WHAT IS IT? This rally of medical marijuana patients and medical associations

includes a press event to hand-deliver a sign-on letter to Tommy Thompson, head

of Health & Human Services, affirming that marijuana DOES have accepted medical

use, and to recommend its immediate rescheduling! It’s time that HHS accepts

that Our Health is in Their Hands, and does their job.

 

WHY HHS? To ensure safe access for ALL patients, marijuana must be

rescheduled, and its medicinal value recognized on the federal level. This will

allow the country to have the conversation that is needed about cannabis

therapies. We should be figuring out how to get this medicine to patients, not

still debating on whether or not marijuana is medicine. Health and Human

Services (HHS) has the power to make this change. If HSS allows that marijuana

has medical value, the DEA must recommend rescheduling. However, in 2001, HHS

ruled that marijuana had, “No currently accepted medical use in treatment.” They

did not address the mountain of data recognizing cannabis as a useful treatment,

by itself or as an adjunct to other therapies. This allowed the DEA to reject

rescheduling and gave them implicit permission to raid patients. Six months

later, the DEA started raiding and closing California dispensaries.

 

 

WHY OCTOBER?

A. This is an opportunity to educate the American public on Bush’s record before

the election. The Bush/Ashcroft attack on patients was so unpopular that they

have retreated in this election year. We will be there to remind those voters

with short memories about Bush’s war on patients.

 

B. The next Administration & Congress need to know there is a way to end the war

on patients outside of the legislature. There is a petition for rescheduling

cannabis in front of Health and Human Services right now. Marijuana can and

should be rescheduled by health officials, not politicians, and this is how it

can happen.

 

C. The Supreme Court will hear the Raich/Monson case after October. Whether it

wins or loses, we need to look ahead to the future of protecting ALL patients.

 

 

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

 

1. COME TO WASHINGTON DC: Drop an email to info or call

510.486.8083 and give us your name, address, your phone number, and your e-mail

address if you would like to join us. if you can't come, please contribute to

someone else that can!

 

2. GET YOUR MATERIALS: Download the Community Fundraising materials and action

flyers from http://www.safeaccessnow.org/.

 

 

3. START FUNDRAISING: You will be representing all the medical marijuana

patients from your area who will not be there. Ask the community for help in

sending you to DC! Personalize and send out the fundraising letter to everyone

in your address book. Track donations with the Pledge Form so you can thank

everyone later, and know when you’ve met your fundraising goal.

 

 

4. THROW A HOUSE PARTY: Invite over your friends, family, other patients and

others and explain why we need to have marijuana rescheduled. Ask for donations

to support your travel costs. Arrange for a report back after your return.

 

 

5. BRING A SHOW OF HANDS: Activists who can come to DC are asked to bring

handprints from supporters or other patients with their messages to HHS. We will

assemble them together to show our true numbers.

 

WHO ARE WE? Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national

grassroots coalition working to protect the rights of patients and doctors to

legally use marijuana for medical purposes. Our mission is to ensure safe, legal

access to marijuana for all who are helped by it. We provide legal training for

lawyers and patients, medical information for doctors and patients, media

support for court cases, activist training to grassroots organizers, and rapid

response to law enforcement encounters. We work with local, state and national

legislators to raise awareness of issues concerning medical marijuana patients.

For more information, call 510-486-8083 or visit www.safeaccessnow.org

 

 

 

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" It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument. " -- William G. McAdoo