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Prop. 215 - Post Election Medical Information
by Carol Miller
Since election day there has been mixed information about how the State will implement this change in California's possession and cultivation laws. Our interpretation of the law, reinforced by the experience of current legal medical users, leads us to encourage patients to obtain written approval or recommendation of their physician on the doctor's letterhead and have the original and a copy notarized. Keep the original with your personal papers and carry the notarized copy with you. You may want to send a copy to your lawyer. DO NOT have your physician write his/her recommendation on a prescription pad, as the word from the Federal Government is that marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I Narcotic and may not be prescribed.
Dan Lundgren's office has sent a memo to all state law enforcement advising them as to appropriate behavior when dealing with patients (ed. note: see Brave New World, this page), but Janet Reno is insisting 215 violates federal law. We are paying a Constitutional lawyer to research these claims and setting up a meeting with public health and the Sheriff to help clarify these issues. Members of SAMM will be notified through the mail as details are worked out. We also hope to be able to make referrals to physicians who are informed in the appropriate use of Cannabis. We highly recommend patients, their families, and doctors read Dr. Grinspoon's MARIJUANA THE FORBIDDEN MEDICINE, available from SAMM for $18.00, and Tom Flowers' MARIJUANA HERBAL COOKBOOK for $15.00.
SAMM hopes to be able to provide patients and their caregivers with fertile medical grade seed in the near future, if law enforcement and public health tolerate our giveaway plans. It is still illegal to sell marijuana, by both state and federal law, so we are not administering a buyers coop. But patients believe sharing seeds with other patients should be legal, and are researching this question. High THC Indica is most appropriate where a strong anti-spasmodic is called for and in situations where patients must remain bedridden. Some chronic disorders, such as migraine headaches, severe depression, chronic back pain, respond well to a high THC Sativas, which allow patients to continue to work at nearly normal levels. Appetite may be better stimulated with lower THC cannabis. SAMM is working with a statewide network to collect field data from patients regarding effective alleviation of suffering. We welcome your stories!!
For cultivation information you can talk to your local garden supply store. Generally speaking, the indicas are smaller, shorter season plants and are more appropriate for indoor cultivation. The longer season sativas are better grown outdoors in the summer season, beginning indoors in March or April. Outside, the indicas are harvested in September and the sativas as late as November. For detailed growing information you may want to consult one of the following books: MARIJUANA GROWER'S GUIDE, by Ed Rosenthal, MARIJUANA GROWER'S INSIDER'S GUIDE, by Mel Frank, or GROW YOUR OWN STONE, By Dr. Sumach, available at local bookstores. SAMM will have more detailed grow information available soon and will notify members if patient coops develop.
In the years that SCRAP has been writing this column, we have often asked for financial help from our community. We have worked really hard to bring about change on this important civil rights issue often with great personal sacrifice and at some personal risk, as well. I speak with people from all over the US and Canada in my personal business, and this week my most enthusiastic support came from a customer in Toronto who believes we have made a huge break through here in California. The rest of the country is watching the progress here. Yet here in our own community I never cease to be amazed at the lack of financial support for this work!!! Please show your appreciation pf the work completed and support for the work ahead of us by making a donation, buying a book, or joining SAMM as a member and receiving meaningful news updates directly. You may also now purchase from SCRAP the new video release of THE HEMP REVOLUTION, Anthony Clark's outstanding feature length documentary. Half of the $17.50 price will donated to SAMM and half will be returned to the producers of this excellent film.
SAMM membership is $25.00. You may want to sponsor a patient membership for someone dear to you. Please make checks out to SCRAP and mail to Box 410, Cazadero, CA 95421, as we are banking for SAMM until another account is established. SAMM will be applying for non-profit status in the near future and we hope our service will help patients and physicians exercise their rights in an atmosphere of openness and freedom from fear.
SONOMA ALLIANCE FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA
c/o Sonoma Civil Rights Action Project, Box 410, Cazadero, CA 95421
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