Oklahoma Rep. Jadine Nollan re: Medical Marijuana

The following is an exchange I'd like to pass on. Please feel free to use my letter as an example of what you would write your representative. .. Now the response from Rep. Nollan isn't the worst I've seen it could be much better so feel free to write her to express your opinion.

Jadine Nollan	Sep 27
to me

Hi ProgressiveOkie,

Thank you for your thoughts regarding this subject. I will keep them under advisement.

Sincerely,

Rep. Jadine Nollan

Sent from my iPad

On Sep 26, 2013, at 3:41 PM,

>
> Sep 26, 2013
>
> Representative Jadine Nollan
> State Capitol Building, Room 329-A
> 2300 North Lincoln Boulevard
> Oklahoma City, OK 73105
>
> Dear Representative Nollan,
>
> A recent poll of voters in Oklahoma has shown that a clear majority
> supports a medical marijuana program for seriously ill patients who
> have the approval of a physician. Sen. Constance Johnson has introduced
> legislation that would establish a regulated program much like those of
> 20 other states and the District of Columbia. As your constituent, I am
> asking you to support her efforts on behalf of patients in our state.
>
> Some have argued that Marinol, a pharmaceutical medicine that contains
> only one of several active medicinal ingredients in marijuana, is an
> adequate substitute. Unfortunately though, many patients who benefit
> from medical marijuana would not benefit from Marinol because it lacks
> important active ingredients that have therapeutic effect for pain
> relief, seizure control, and other serious conditions. It is also
> difficult for nauseated patients to keep down and is more dangerous
> than natural marijuana, since it is pure, synthetic THC.
>
> Nearly three-quarters of Oklahomans want a medical marijuana program,
> and I hope you will take a stand to support the will of the voters.
> Patients who seek an alternative to narcotics should not be made into
> criminals for using a safer medication that for many patients is the
> only thing that works.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> ProgressiveOkie
AS

Oklahoma State Senator Constance Johnson introduced 3 Marijuana bills in 2013

Sen. Constance Johnson, who made headlines recently when she fought to get a hearing for medical marijuana in the Oklahoma Legislature, has filed legislation that calls upon the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision to establish a medical marijuana program in the Sooner State. Separately, she is also sponsoring legislation that would reduce the penalty for possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Sen. Johnson’s medical marijuana bill, SB 902, is short and to the point. Rather than spelling out all the details in the legislation, the bill simply directs the medical board to develop and adopt rules allowing patients to obtain permission from their doctors to use marijuana and to establish fees for the “licensing, production, distribution, and consumption” of medical marijuana.

Johnson’s other bill, SB 914, would lessen the penalty for possession of 1.5 ounces or less from a maximum of one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 to a maximum of 10 days in jail and a fine of up to $200.
We spend too much on wasteful laws aimed at non-violent other wise safe people.
Let us start the conversation with the support of these bills. 

A third bill has been introduced by Sen. Johnson, Senate Bill 710 would allow qualifying patients to use cannabis with a physician's recommendation. Patients would be permitted to possess up to eight ounces of marijuana and cultivate up to twelve marijuana plants. SB 710 would also allow the state to license marijuana dispensaries and cultivation centers.

If you're reading this and wonder what you can do to get the ball moving id urge you to speak out to our Oklahoma lawmakers and tell them you'd like a conversation on Marijuana law reform. 

Here's a link to my petition on change.org for SB 902 and SB 914...check back for an update and new 

petition for SB 710.  

Another national group working in Oklahoma is the Marijuana Policy Project or MPP

I would urge you to check out NORML and this link

***update*** Signon.org is a great platform from moveon.org here's a link to my petition there for Support of Constance Johnson's Marijuana law reform.

Jari Askins for Governor: Never Left (but is it enough?)

With Mary Fallin's spending and the RNC muscle in addition, I wonder if Askins late spending is enough. The polls show an alright lead for Mary, but as we've seen earlier this year polling hasn't been all too accurate in regards to Askins. I've seen google ads for Fallin, I wonder if Askins ads will begin, if ever, to show...

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Rahm Emanuel's Chicago Mayoral Campaign Takes Early Steps On YouTube (VIDEO)

Former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel announced Sunday that he's preparing to run for mayor of Chicago, a position widely known as being one he has long desired.

Donald Duck Meets Glenn Beck in Right Wing Radio Duck

haha so funny. Donald Duck was one of my favorite cartoons, and still really is..this is great!!

Labor Day message from Alan Grayson

Today is Labor Day. All across America, millions of people are discovering that the best way to celebrate Labor Day is by not working.

Do you live to work, or do you work to live?

If you are married, look at your wedding album; are there any pictures in there of you at work?

And on your tombstone, do you want it to say, "I wish that I could have spent more time at work"?

Here is what Robert Kennedy had to say about this, 42 years ago:

"Too much and too long, we seem to have surrendered community excellence and community values in the mere accumulation of material things. Our gross national product ... if we should judge America by that - counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors and the jails for those who break them. It counts the destruction of our redwoods and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl. It counts napalm and the cost of a nuclear warhead, and armored cars for police who fight riots in our streets. It counts Whitman's rifle and Speck's knife, and the television programs which glorify violence in order to sell toys to our children.

"Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages; the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage; neither our wisdom nor our learning; neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country; it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile. And it tells us everything about America except why we are proud that we are Americans."

When Robert Kennedy said these words, the unemployment rate in America was 3.7%. Today, it is almost three times as high. Too many of our working brothers and sisters are out of work, thanks to over a decade of economic mismanagement. 10% of us are unemployed, and the other 90% work like dogs to try to avoid joining them. Which is just what the bosses want.

But it doesn't have to be that way. I look forward to a Labor Day where every worker has a job, every worker has a pension, every worker has paid vacations, and every worker has the health care to enjoy life.

My opponents call that France. I call it America, an America that is Number One.

Not #1 in wasted military expenditures.

Not #1 in number of foreign countries occupied.

Number One in jobs. Number One in health. Number One in education. Number One in happiness.

As Robert Kennedy famously said, "I dream of things that never were, and ask 'why not?'" Why not? Let's make it happen.

And then all of us who are Americans, including the ones today who are jobless, homeless, sick and suffering, we all can then say, "I am proud to be an American."

Are you with me?

Truth,

Alan Grayson

The House Pass Health Care Reform

So excited the House passed health care reform!!!

Political Cartoons and other artwork of politics

Rachel Maddow Show - Elizabeth Edwards on the health care debate

Qualified Domestic Partners, letter from a nurse

A nurse friend of mine sent me this email, its an email about qualified domestic partnerships. This of course is that little crumb that Obama passed off to LGBT folk so we would continue supporting him. Hardly being a fierce advocate for gay rights. This email shows what very little was advanced via Obama's "memo" and notes only a few more "rights" some couples have over a minority.

-----Original Message-----
From: Announcements to all U.S. DHHS Employees on behalf of OS News, HHS (HHS/OS)
Sent: Mon 7/6/09 11:04
To: HHS-STAFF@LIST.NIH.GOV
Subject: A Message from the Office of Human Resources: Same Sex Domestic Partners' Benefits

On June 17, 2009, President Obama issued a memorandum requesting the
Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to extend benefits
to qualified same-sex domestic partners of Federal employees as
consistent with law. The purpose of this notice is to share available
information about same-sex domestic partners' eligibility for benefits
and leave.



FEDERAL LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE PROGRAM (FLTCIP)

OPM is currently updating regulations to add same-sex domestic partners
of Federal and U.S. Postal Service employees and annuitants as qualified
relatives eligible to apply for coverage under the Federal Long Term
Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP). Until the regulations are effective,
same-sex domestic partners cannot apply for coverage under the FLTCIP.

Proposed regulations will be published in the Federal Register this
summer, allowing a 30 day public comment period. OPM will review those
comments and issue final regulations as soon as possible thereafter.



LEAVE

OPM also plans to issue proposed regulations in the near future to
modify its definitions of "family member" and "immediate relative" for
purposes related to the use of sick leave, funeral leave, voluntary
leave transfer, voluntary leave bank, and emergency leave transfer.

Specifically, they are adding new definitions of "son and daughter",
"parent", and "domestic partner". This proposal will help ensure that
agencies are administering leave consistently for a diverse workforce
and providing the broadest support possible to help employees balance
their increasing work, personal, and family obligations.

The proposed regulations on leave will be published in the Federal
Register, allowing a 60 day public comment period. OPM will review
those comments and issue final regulations as soon as possible
thereafter.



FEHB, FEGLI, FEDVIP, FSAFEDS

Same-sex domestic partner coverage cannot be extended under the FEHB
(health insurance), FEGLI (life insurance), FEDVIP (dental and vision
insurance) or FSAFEDS (flexible spending account) programs without
legislation, therefore, the Presidential memorandum does not affect
those programs.

If you have any questions about the proposed regulations, please contact
your servicing Human Resources Center
http://intranet.hhs.gov/ohr/contacts.html for assistance.

End the Prohibition of Marijuana in the United States

or, Create a Petition

Change.org

The responsible use of alcohol was ended by the 18th Amendment on January 29, 1919. This amendment was repealed by the 21st Amendment on December 5, 1933 when the state of Utah ratified it. The reason for the repeal of the 18th Amendment was because the U.S. Government realized that prohibition only created more problems than it solved. Drinking rates grew higher, crime increased. Millions of dollars were made by bootleggers and moonshiners who didn't care if they were following the law or not. The most dangerous part about drinking was the criminal element involved with it's manufacture and/or sale.

Today we have a similar situation. In 1937 the U.S. passed the "Marihuana Tax Act of 1937". 'The Act did not itself criminalize the possession or usage of hemp, marijuana or cannabis, but levied a tax equaling roughly one dollar on anyone who dealt commercially in cannabis, hemp or marijuana. It did, however, include penalty provisions and a complex Regulation 1 codifying the elaborate rules of enforcement marijuana cannabis or hemp handlers were subject to. Violation of these procedures could result in a fine of up to $2000 and five years imprisonment. The net effect was to make it too risky for anyone to deal in the substance until World War II required the United States Department of Agriculture to make its 1942 movie "Hemp for Victory".' - from the Wikipedia Article Marihuana Tax Act of 1937.

This act was later deemed unconstitional by the Supreme Court in 1969 during the case Leary v. United States because it violated the 5th Amendment since a person would have to incriminate him or herself to obtain the tax stamp required by law.

The government then passed the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in 1970 and placed Marijuana on the List of Schedule I drugs. This means that it meets the following requirements:

(A) The drug or other substance has high potential for abuse.
(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

If this were true then why is Marinol, a synthetic version of THC, the main active ingredient in Marijuana, only on the List of Schedule III drugs? To be on that list it meets these requirements:

(A) The drug or other substance has a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in schedules I and II.
(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.

This list also includes drugs like Tylenol 3 and Anabolic Steroids. So why is Marijuana illegal because of THC and Marinol is legal even though it's synthetic THC?

End the Prohibition of Marijuana in the United States.