Americans for Safe Access
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My personal Christmas present to the American Taxpayer......
Hello I wrote this essay, and I have been posting it anywhere I think
someone might care.
Why have I heard nothing in this new health care plan about medical
marijuana? The government is saving a ton of money due to the growth
in the medical marijuana industry, but no one is talking about it in a
real way. I have decided that I may have a unique perspective on this
issue and have decided to throw my two cents in on the topic. I have
decided that my joining the Medical Marijuana Registry was my
Christmas Present to the American Taxpayer.
First of all, I am a female under 40 with severe and debilitating
Fibromyalgia, the kind that forces doctors to shake their heads and
prescribe one ineffective man made medicine on top of another while I
waste away and my quality of life diminishes.
My sole health insurance is provided to me is under medicare/medicaid.
This is because I am completely disabled and the doctors do not allow
me to work, or even to attend school (for the time being... I am
getting stronger all the time!). So I was forced to be on government
programs like Social Security Disability and Social Security Income
(SSD/SSI) at a young age (I was in middle school when I was put on
SSD/SSI for the first time). Being on the program at a young age, I
did not accumulate much in the way of work money in my SSI account, so
that is why my amounts are so low. Also did you know the government
actually Penalized people for getting married if you are both on
disability? They treat you as one person and give you one person's
pay!
Before I was placed on the Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry in June
2009, I would have to visit a doctors office several times a month,
sometimes several times a week, sometimes with several appointments
booked the same day with specialists and tests, physical therapy,
etc., and there were to many trips to the emergency room to count.
I went to the ER out of sheer desperation, I went just so I could get
comfortable enough to have a bit of sleep after a week or more of
lingering in a painful place that seemed to be located in deep within
the realm of a narcotic distorted pain haze, a no-where-land that
seemed to be somewhere between life and death. The docs treated me as
though I was an addict, and not a pain patient, AND I WAS MISERABLE!
Since I was approved for the medical marijuana registry I haven't
needed near the amount of services from the medicaid/medicare program.
In fact, aside from bit of dental work, a doctor visit and medications
for a bad cold, I haven't seen a doctor at all. I haven't needed to.
Before I was on the MMJ registry, I was on so many medications that I
felt like I was taking a pill every 2 minutes.... Number of
traditional prescriptions I take daily now - ZERO.
Now the government was paying for all those meds through
medicare/medicaid, plus all the doctor visits to get, maintain, and
change dosing on those prescriptions right? Some of those meds by
themselves cost the government thousands of dollars a month!
I always felt guilty about my personal burden on the American
Taxpayers. But this year I don't have to feel guilty cause I have a
Christmas present to the American Taxpayer. I got on the MMJ registry.
Now I do not go to the mainstream doc unless I need antibiotics, am
off all prescriptions, and have even quit tobacco (been struggling to
do that for more than a decade!).
The government is saving many thousands of dollars a month on me
alone, and yet I have to struggle to obtain this money saver for the
American taxpayer. That much cut in government spending on the part of
an individual is mentionable.
Merry Christmas American Taxpayer!
How many others are there like me? Meanwhile, the price of my medicine
increases as the MMJ movement grows. My family and I are stuck having
to make really hard decisions like, do we pawn our wedding and
engagement rings to get my medicine? Or do we pawn them and buy some
food? (I ended up pawning the rings, having nothing else of value to
pawn, and buying both medicine and food.) We promised ourselves we
would get them back, but I ended up crying my eyes out when I realized
I can't afford to get them out of hock. I live in a 1968 Winnebago and
am almost starving to death as it is. Now don't get me wrong, my life
has been profoundly changed by this medicine, and any hardship I may
have to endure is truly worth the benefits of this plant!
Each year, the government gives people on SSI/SSD a cost of living
increase. I have had a cost of living increase of up to $200 per month
in past years. This is supposed to be based upon the economy and how
much it actually costs to survive, but this year our cost of living
increase for my entire household is less than $5 a month for 2010. I
won't disclose what that is an increase from, but I will say have no
trouble qualifying as well below the federal poverty guidelines.The
government actually told me in writing that the cost of living had not
increased any this year!
Now the other side of the coin. The people who are inside the movement
are making money on it too. If you are low income and can't afford
your “mainstream pharmacy” medicine, you can go to various
organizations and they will help you to buy your medicine, sometimes
even on a regular basis if they are necessary and not covered by
insurance, but that doesn't include mmj. If your medicine is MMJ no
one is willing to help you unless you happen to be lucky enough to
find a care giver who actually gives a care if you have medicine or
not!
There is no fund or organization to help people like me get my
medicine when I can't afford it. There is no way for a person who
wants to help to donate money to people in a position similar to mine.
"So what," you say? Well let's look at this... The high price can
force a person in my position to go back to buying their medicine off
the street where it is less expensive, but also less potent, less
safe, FAR more dangerous to obtain, and the process of obtaining it
can be a risk to your health with long periods in the cold and
encounters with strange germs. I personally counted avoiding
purchasing on the street as one of the largest pluses to getting on
the registry, and yet I see people like me being forced back there.
I can't understand why the dispensary owners of various states haven't
formed a fund for low income people independently or as a group. It
would be a great promotional tool as well as an activism push, etc.
There are many benefits if they will only drop the green of greed from
their eyes and pick up the true spirit of the green herb.
I have no problems paying some for my meds... that is only fair. But I
wanna know the money I spend helps others like me or the movement in
general. I also don't need to be paying 50% of my income to stay
barely comfortable. I'd like to be able to pay a reasonable percentage
of my income and have all the medicine my body requires. I know that
may seem a little unrealistic, but a girl in pain can dream. lol
Here in Colorado it is the wild wild west right now. If I happen to
have to go somewhere other than my primary caregiver, my $$$ will
probably end up in a growing bank account of some green gold rush eyed
caregiver who could really care less if I have effective meds or not.
Also in the profit and non-profit models there is room for patients to
preform services for compensation in medicine. The Patient works at
the dispensary/caregivers location or internet work from home
according to the patients abilities and the dispensary/caregivers
needs. My caregiver is for profit (there seem to be no NON profit
dispensaries near me), but regularly trades my services in
clerical/computer work either from home or in his office for meds when
I am strapped for cash.
So the government ignores the money it saves, and many of the
dispensaries in the area seem to have little social conscience about
the price a person like me can pay to have their medicine. It costs me
a minimum of 5% of my combined household monthly income for 3 days
medicine, for 30 days, that's 50% of my household income - and that is
using a bare minimum dosing. Someone needed to say something on this.
I decided, I was as good a voice as any.
A Big social Problem, and a plan to begin to solve it... the lack - $$$
When your total family income is less than $1100 a month due to
SSD/SSI, you can absolutely be forced back on the streets to get your
medicine.
My medical condition requires a minimum of 1/8 oz of smokeable every 3
days to just to keep me off narcotics, not crying, and not be stuck in
bed. I have NEVER had the pleasure of having enough medicine on hand
to decide on what a good "comfortable" dosing schedule would be, even
though I do have a relatively compassionate caregiver.
What I am trying to say is that there is something fundamentally very
wrong with the fact that there are people who are to poor to even know
what the appropriate dosage of medication for their amount of pain,
yet the government is saving a bunch of cash and the MMj industry is
getting the "lion's share" of the rest of their income. It is
frustrating to feel like you and others are falling through the cracks
even further. It is frustrating to see others get wealthy while your
tier of society starves. Sometimes I feel invisible, and I know for a
fact I am not the only one out there feeling this.
My dream is to be able to get some land and set up an initial grow op
with an all environmentally friendly building/management philosophy
that would end up growing into a Nonprofit MMj
retreat/community/caregiver for patients like me to be able to get
their medicine and/or live in a more affordable and kind setting,
using their personal talents to benefit the community.
While I have the heart and the ability to do this work (given time and
medication), I unfortunately have no capital for such a venture and am
praying the universe will see fit to make it happen.
I have researched many aspects of this and it is very feasible,
however getting investment in such a venture is not my forte. This
kind of setting would be great tool for a "for profit" dispensary to
use. It would be publicity, demonstrate social conscience, and you
could also offer my nonprofit meds cheap to their own low income
patients. inquire further BY pm.
I live in an RV and am willing to set up shop in any state with a registry.
Is there someone, anyone out there who hears my plea and wants to help
me actually do something other than sit in online forums and complain
about the problem and hope someone does something? I have plans, just
need some help bringing them to fruition.
I have this planned out so that if I were able to obtain some land, I
could be self sufficient (NO MORE SSI/SSD and I could actually
contribute to charities instead of needing help from them!) and never
have to worry about being hungry or without my necessary medicine as
well. In time, many others could be helped with food and medicine
grown on the land. I could be fulfilling needs rather than begging to
have my needs filled.
Now that I'm off my rant for the morning. I just wanna say Thanks to
all the people out there helping to make it possible for people who
need this medicine to have it. Whatever you celebrate this season, may
it be meaningful and may Blessings come to you all!
I would like to find out how I can help in my area, santa barbara county, santa maria area, anyone know? I am disabled so my help would be through computer and phone and occasional rallies etc.
Hello ~ My name is Tommy Hawkins Jr. and I am Community Liaison for ASA Fresno Chapter. Please visit our website at: www.ASAFresno.org
We are in strong support for safe access for American's. Join the cause everyone!
Thanks ASA for two great meetings SF & Oakland. I learned a lot and look forward to doing what I can to help ASA and all medical cannabis efforts.
In the back of a recent West Coast Cannabis magazine, there's a list
of 20 San Diego delivery services. No brick and mortar storefront
dispensaries seem to exist in the county. And it appears that the
delivery services are now fighting for their existence.
Out of twenty numbers that I called, I spoke to one live person. He
was understandably very busy. Other than that:
2 numbers had already become other people's phone numbers.
4 numbers are disconnected.
8 numbers are either not receiving calls or are temporarily disconnected.
1 number had a message about being targeted by the Escondido Police.
4 numbers I was able to leave a message, but again, understandably,
they may be quite busy either with San Diego's patients or protecting
themselves from local authorities.
San Diego medical marijuana is under siege in the state of California
and our friends and patients south are being targeted and denied. It
is very important to encourage anyone you know in San Diego to show
their support. The Medical Marijuana Comedy Show ExtravaGANJA is a
great way to San Diegoan's to come together for well deserved night
laughing and meeting people--wonderful people like Eddy Lepp, who
really knows about putting up a fight for Californian's rights.
Please tell your favorite San Diegoans to get to the La Jolla Comedy
Store. Meet Eddy Lepp and Howard Dover. Enjoy this interview too :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-bD9B...
Medical Marijuana Comedy Show ExtravaGANJA
featuring comedy by Jeff Richards of SNL and MADtv and music by Los Marijuanos!
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 9PM (doors open at 8)
La Jolla Comedy Store
916 Pearl St. 92037
This show is a benefit for Americans for Safe Access and their San Diego chapter.
for more info: www.howarddover.com
Hello, LA-ASA. The Los Angeles City Council will vote to extend the Interim Control Ordinance (ICO) establishing a moratorium on new collectives or cooperatives at their meeting in Van Nuys on Friday, March 6. This is the final six-month extension allowed, so this vote means the clock is ticking on the ICO. This is a great opportunity for LA-ASA members and others to encourage the City Council to reject the City Attorney’s draft ordinance regulating collective cultivation, and insist on an ordinance based on the working group’s input. We also need to tell them to hurry. Six months is not a long time to introduce a bill, pass it through committee, and get it adopted by the full City Council.
What: LA City Council Meeting in Van Nuys
When: 10:00 AM * Friday, March 6, 2009
Where: Van Nuys City Hall, 14410 Sylvan Street, Van Nuys, CA 91401
Public Transit Info: http://www.mta.net/riding_metro/defau...
Please come early to complete a public speaker’s card for agenda item number 31. Your comments will be limited to 3 minutes. Business attire is desirable.
You can find the advocates report on the City Attorney’s ordinance online at http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org...
Suggested talking points include:
1. The City Council and Planning and Land Use Management Committee should reject the City Attorney’s flawed ordinance, and instruct him to write a new version based on the existing ordinance in Los Angeles County and incorporating the input of the working group convened by the Planning Department in 2007.
2. The City Council and City Attorney must move quickly to adopt sensible regulations before the Interim Control Ordinance expires.
3. The California Attorney General published guidelines in August of last year that state that a storefront facility maintained by a legal patients’ collective to provide medicine to its own members may be legal. The City Attorney has ignored this position, and treats all storefronts as illegal.
4. Sensible regulations will allow for legal concentrates of cannabis and edible preparations, which are essential to patients who can not or will not smoke cannabis.
5. City staff should enforce the terms of the ICO to prevent the proliferation of unregistered storefront collectives, which may cause undue alarm in some neighborhoods.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don Duncan
ASA California Campaign Director
Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.
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what would anybody's guess be as to, how much you think it may cost for the State of Cali to bring charges against 3 defendants, in 5 seperate cases... all taking over 4 years to prosecute...pricetag? Marijuana for Medical Use, is NOT ILLEGAL in Cali.
please I need someones help I have been denied a job due to my status as a medical marijuana patient and I don't know what to do I was told that I can not be hired due to there policy's I have heard about job discrimination against medical patient but I don't believe its fair what so ever due to the fact that if I was on vicodin or or heavy narcotics they would probably just look that over and hire me its not fair it is a double standard to let one person work on a certain prescription and not the other I really need some advise I have looked into filing a complaint with the fair housing and employment act but am not really sure how to go by it PLEASE PLEASE someone help!! All i want to do is be a productive member of society and work for what i want and not live off the states money. Im in chronic pain due to two car accidents and medical marijuana helps relive that pain before medical marijuana I was taking somas 3-4 times a dat vicodins 4-5 times a day Ibuprofen 800mg 4 times a day xanax .5mg 4 times a day and they even put me on antidepressants because they said it would help with my anxity after being on all those meds i became suicidal and then when I lost it I looked into the alternative medical marijuana . Since I have been on there I have be able to cut all those pills out and can control my pain. Now im stuck without a job because of it does that seem fair?? I think not. Im a college grad determined to make my life work for me and have a good steady job. PLEASE ONCE AGAIN HELP ME OUT ON WHAT I CAN DO!