tiny tokes

by niki smokes

[nikismokes]

Medical Marijuana Delays

Matthew Allen of the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance and Peter Hayashi, a patient who uses medical marijuana from the black market, join Jim Braude on Broadside to discuss the holdup in setting up dispensaries in the state. https://www.necn.com/news/politics/medical-marijuana-delays/88381/

NECN - Medical Marijuana Delays - Published October 7, 2014

[nikismokes]

https://www.facebook.com/events/422639321253830/ Next Tuesday, July 14th at 1pm in Room B-2 at the Massachusetts Statehouse in Boston is a hearing by the Joint Committee on Public Health for H.2065 "An Act to protect patients approved by physicians and certified by the Department of Public Health to access medical marijuana." We would love to have a great turnout of patients and community support for the bill. Bill H.2065 is a piece of legislation drafted by the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance to try and fix some of the problems with the Massachusetts medical cannabis law including the following: Allowing nurses, hospice providers, and caretakers over 21 years of age to become a personal caretaker to administer medicine without requiring them to obtain a registration card.60 day supply is amended to only include “usable” marijuana. Reciprocity; Allows out of state recommendations and registration cards to be valid for medical cannabis dispensaries and caregivers. Patients will no longer be allowed to be denied for a license or certification from a professional licensing agency, disqualifications for organ transplants or any other medical procedure, refusal for rent housing of grant a lease, and discrimination from schools or universities. Protection from discrimination in hiring, termination, or imposing any term of employment. Protection from actions by a child welfare agency or in juvenile or family court against a legal guardian who is a patient or caregiver that tests positive for cannabinoid components. Caregivers will be allowed to provide medicine for up to 10 patients. If you would like to give testimony during the hearing please email the Executive Director Nichole Snow at [email protected]. Please contact your legislator and tell them how important H.2065 is to patients: http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/MyElectionInfo.aspx Read H.2065 here: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H2065Please follow the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance on Facebook for more up to the minute information! Looking forward to a great turn out in support of H.2065 next Tuesday! Please continue to support Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance by making an online donation: http://bit.ly/1NYrygPOur work is made possible by supporters like you. Thank you! Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance http://www.compassionforpatients.com/

[nikismokes]

List of Marijuana, Cannabis, Marihuana Bills on the Hill..

Disclaimer: This list is incomplete and will be continuously updated.  HB1665 -  An Act affecting landlords’ rights regarding medical marijuana. HB.1666 - An Act clarifying municipal regulations regarding medical marijuana. HB1667 - An Act to affecting property owners and employers rights regarding medical marijuana. HB.1668 - An Act to affecting municipal rights regarding medical marijuana. HB.1502 - An Act relative to public possession of marijuana in a municipality. Driver issues:  HB.1219 - An Act to protect the citizens of the Commonwealth from drunk drivers. HB.2982 -  An Act relative to school bus safety HB.1414 -  An Act relative to repeat drunk driving offenders. HB.2935 - An Act relative to junior operator’s licenses. Taxing medical cannabis: H.3298 - An Act authorizing the town of Plymouth to impose a local excise tax on the cultivation, transfer and sale of medical marijuana, cannabis compounds and other cannabis-sourced products. Searching under “marihuana” I found a lot more... Recriminalizing for minors: S.1054 - An Act protecting minors from the harmful effects of marihuana This list is incomplete and I just started it.. Please be patient! I have uncovered a few with the help from the MPAA Patient Advisory Board.

[nikismokes]

A proud day for Salem..

Wow.. All my breaths were taken away at today’s swearing in of Salem Police Chief Mary Butler. I am so proud. Our new Chief was hired from within the department and her values and merits reflect the community and the force from which they were cultivated. Progress, innovation, compassion, and mercy.. big words were used to describe our little city of 42,000+ and they are so true.. Congratulations Chief Mary E. Butler in your new position as Chief! It was so wonderful to meet you! Thank you to Mayor Kim Driscoll, Representative Paul Tucker, and Chief Mary Butler for your open hearts and compassion <3  Special thank you to our Queen Gigi of Salem, MA <3 <3

[nikismokes]

“How would lifting of federal medical marijuana ban affect Massachusetts?” - MassLive Article

(Photo by Elaine Thompson / Associated Press [file]) Nichole Snow, deputy director of the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance, said in Massachusetts, U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz has not done anything to crack down on the state's medical marijuana business. But until Congress passed the 2014 law forbidding the Department of Justice from interceding, there was fear among patients, dispensary owners and some city zoning officials based on crackdowns in other states. The Boston Globe reported that some critics of medical marijuana dispensaries had urged Ortiz to shut down dispensaries that planned to open within 1,000 feet of a school, playground, or public housing, due to federal law. "This bill passing in Congress hopefully will alleviate those fears," Snow said.

Full Article: http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/03/how_would_lifting_of_federal_m.html

[nikismokes]

Famed Sports News Broadcaster Bob Lobel supports Medical Marijuana in MA

With an invitation from Mike Crawford, program director of the New England Cannabis Conventions and co-host of The Young Jurks on WEMF Radio, Nichole Snow, deputy director of Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance asks sports broadcaster Bob Lobel if he would support HD 1502 “An Act to protect patients approved by physicians and certified by the department of public health to access medical marijuana”

Before leaving he said, "See you at the State House."

Thank you Bob. Your support will help bring attention to these very important patient protections.

http://wemfradio.com/2015/02/28/the-young-jurks-2-28-15/ Correction: Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance - Haverhill Meeting is Saturday, March 14th at 2pm in the Haverhill Public Library

[nikismokes]

A look in the nonprofit mirror..

I love this video. I never thought I would be doing this kind of work one day, but here I am! I have said a lot of these things out loud to people and I never really think of what it looks like, but here it is! This was really inspiring and I totally relate! Lol!!

[michelleakin]

What I Got: Deadlines = Freedom! New vid 1.29.15

[nikismokes]

If you want it then you should put a deadline on it!

[michelleakin]

New Vlog!

[nikismokes]

I need to stop saying I'm afraid of things when I'm really not..

[nikismokes]

House Bill 625 Cosponsors - Filed: January 14, 2011

"An Act to regulate the medical use of marijuana by patients approved by physicians and certified by the department of public health.."

House Bill 625

Filed: January 14, 2011 Presented by: Frank Smizik

Cosponsors

Byron Rushing            617-722-2783    [email protected] D Boston (South End)       

Stephen Kulik             617-722-2380    [email protected] D Worthington Kay Khan                     617-722-2011    [email protected]

D Newton

John W. Scibak           617-722-2030    [email protected] D South Hadley

  Gloria L. Fox               617-722-2810    [email protected] D Roxbury

Tom Sannicandro       617-722-2013  [email protected] D Ashland

Denise Provost           617-722-2263     [email protected] D Somerville

Elizabeth A. Malia       617-722-2060     [email protected] D Jamaica Plain

Ruth B. Balser            617-722-2396     [email protected] D Newton

Jonathan Hecht          617-722-2140   [email protected]

D Watertown

Ellen Story                  617-722-2012    [email protected] D Amherst

Thomas M. Petrolati   617-722-2255  [email protected] D Ludlow

Steven A. Tolman John Keenan

Joyce A. Spiliotis

Rhonda Nyman

Cleon H. Turner

Cory Atkins

Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.

Stephen L. DiNatale

Alice K. Wolf

William N. Brownsberger

Cheryl A. Coakley-Rivera Anne M. Gobi 

Christine E. Canavan

James B. Eldridge

[nikismokes]

Patient Politics in Wonderland..

“There is a place, like no place on earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger. Some say, to survive it, you need to be as mad as a hatter. Which, luckily, I am.” ― Lewis Carroll

This week was just another barrage of new experiences in the world of "patient politics." I definitely feel a little bit of Alice in Wonderland at times. I am so deep in Tulgey Wood chasing that white rabbit through every tea party and happenstance I encounter. 

Every day I wake up there is no difficulty for me to go and be present for medical cannabis patients. As long as there is no safe access, there are no breaks.. only naps and snacks in between meetings, phone calls, emails, and events. “Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”  And still.. here I am viewing all of this happening through the looking glass..

“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?” Two definitions of one word that are utter nonsense.. (Webster's)

Patient pa·tient ˈpāSHənt adjective

1. able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.

noun

1. a person receiving or registered to receive medical treatment. ..but here in Wonderland, ill persons waiting for medicine are called "urgents." Every player and character on the path home is co-creating their role in leadership or absurdity. For that, even when I awake from this incredible dream, I will be grateful.. 

“But I don’t want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you can’t help that," said the Cat: "we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad." "How do you know I’m mad?" said Alice. "You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn’t have come here.” All quotes ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

[coralreefer420]

Thousands rally after father arrested for giving dying daughter cannabis oil http://nyp.st/1CHBd5C via @nypost #newsnug

It’s so frustrating that while the laws are slow to change parents have to take their own legal safety into consideration against their child’s comfort and chance at a happier life. This father from Australia chose to give his daughter cannabis oil and now he’s facing charges.

[nikismokes]

Living with Synovial Sarcoma - "Doctor Patient Phone Tag"

"I told him that I will do anything I can do to get him to do the surgery because I believe it's the only way to save his life." - Krista B Read Full Entry Here John is my friend. We met through having the same ideas about freedom. That no patient should ever have to suffer waiting for their medicine to become legal or safely accessible. John is fighting a tumor in his arm. One of the ways to treat it is by amputation. Sometimes, I feel like I am asking too much when I ask our legislators to take a look at the faces and families of the people that cannot wait any longer. Sometimes, I feel like I am asking for too little..

[nikismokes]

Why eateries should embrace the "eau de ganja"

The only time I ever get to smell skunk outside in the environment is when one of those smelly creatures walk by or someone is carrying a not-so-sealed ziplock baggie on their person. I'll admit it. I've done it. I have shown up at a parties where there are plenty of dignitaries walking around and realize I have a skunky nugget in my front corner pocket breezing in everyone's face. I can apologize for that. Though, I will never apologize for emerging from my work, hitting a bowl, and seeking out food. Food glorious food. It tastes so much better and looks a lot more reasonably priced when my tummy is screaming "order everything on the menu!" Ahhh, the munchies. I walk by each restaurant thinking.. "Will I be judged here?" As ridiculous as it sounds, I have actually been made fun of straight to my facial parameters leading me to carefully consider my meal time's atmosphere... deeply. (not good for business.) Some food stands in Salem outwardly express their support for my kind by allowing their workers to don garbs marketing our local glass art gallery. ..or by plastering Witch Dr stickers all over their walls. I feel comfortable there. A place where trippy local art hangs makes me feel cozy.

..but I wonder, will that swank pub sneer at my herbaceous aura? No. They won't.. because their bartenders smile when they see my glazed eyes pick off the menu to order, drink after drink, appetizer, entree, AND dessert. THAT was a good a meal and your hospitality deserves a fat tip. For the rest of you, my tip is this.. if you can smell us, it is a good idea to seat us. The end. (disclaimer: I am a very hungry registered mmj patient of MA.) "Niki Smokes is a patient advocate, cannabis reformer, and regular contributor to The Young Jurks on WEMF Radio as well as other random print publications, like digboston and The Globe"

[nikismokes]

The Young Jurks, New England Cannabis Convention, & Politics as usual..

Here's where I call in and rave about the New England Cannabis Convention and plug the Politics & Activism Panel I will be participating in on Sunday, February 1st!! Join us both days of the convention, Jan. 31-Feb. 1st! http://wemfradio.com/2015/01/17/the-young-jurks-episode-1-17-15/ Tune into The Young Jurks Saturdays @ 6pm only on WEMF Radio! Brought to you by: Healthy Headie Lifestyle & MA DUI Attorney John Seed

[nikismokes]

New England Cannabis Conventions

I can't even deal right now.. This is my first ever panel discussion and I'm up there with two heavy hitters, Cara Crabb-Burnham from MassCann/NORML and a long time favorite political activist that I am so excited to finally meet, N.A. Poe! Serious discussions will be had.. and of course, jokes will be made :)  Come check us out @ the New England Cannabis Convention on February 1st!! Join us both days at the Park Plaza, Boston, MA - BUY TICKETS 1pm Politics/Activism Panel Moderated by Mike Cann *N.A. Poe, Philly decrim, MassCann/NORML National Activist of Year *Cara Crabb-Burnham (MassCann/NORML President) *Nichole Snow, Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance, Deputy Director

[nikismokes]

THE FAMILY THAT GROWS TOGETHER … - By MIKE CANN

THE FAMILY THAT GROWS TOGETHER …

January 12, 2015 By MIKE CANN

"Donna Hackett is a vocal and compassionate medical marijuana patient and advocate. Ask her about it, and she’ll tell you it’s a family affair.

For Hackett it began in 2007, when she was diagnosed with Lyme disease. For help she turned to medical marijuana treatments in Rhode Island, a state in which she seemed to qualify for compassionate use. A Massachusetts native, Hackett experienced an even bigger health scare only a few months later, this time an aggressive Stage III breast cancer tumor that required surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. Upon hearing the news, she turned to her son Robert and said, “We are going to need better pot if I’m going to make it through this.” Read the Full Dig Article Here