July 20, 2007
PUT DOWN THAT JOINT...
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Help bring medical marijuana out of the shadows |
Have you ever toked up to treat a serious illness? Do you wish you could smoke pot to manage a serious illness or side effects from medications—but you're afraid of getting arrested? If you answered yes to either question, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) needs your help! Although using marijuana medicinally is (ridiculously) still a crime in New York, it doesn't have to be.
Last month, New York's medical marijuana legislation (A.4867, Gottfried) nearly became law. While the bill passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly, it stalled in the Senate. Gov. Eliot Spitzer has said he is open to signing such legislation, and Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno supports making marijuana available for medical purposes. There is a very real chance that New York can become the next state to legalize medical marijuana. The Senate needs to act, and to help make that happen patient voices must be heard.
"In every state we've worked on medical marijuana legislation, it makes a huge difference to legislators to see how their constituents are affected," said Karen O'Keefe, Assistant Director of State Policies at MPP.
MPP is looking for folks who are seriously ill or who have recovered from a serious illness to get involved with efforts to pass A.4867. Your role can be as big or small as you like: Activities range from writing or calling legislators to submitting letters to the editor to talking to reporters.
To join forces with MPP, e-mail O'Keefe at Karen@mpp.org. Include your name, phone number, address and ZIP code so MPP can identify your state senator.