HB 2160 Sent "To Study"
On Tuesday, March 16, the Joint Committee on Public Health sent HB 2160, medical marijuana legislation, "to study." Although we were hoping the committee would pass HB 2160 out of committee with a favorable recommendation, we are still working to support this compassionate reform. We continue to reach out to committee and House leadership emphasizing not only the importance of this bill but the public support of it as well.
Although we are disappointed that leadership failed to allow HB 2160 out of committee, we understand that sometimes it takes time to convince legislators of the importance of medical marijuana legislation. We will continue to work with legislators to see that the sick and debilitated in Massachusetts are eventually protected from arrest and prosecution for using a doctor-recommended treatment option.
Please take a moment to contact Speaker DeLeo and your representative to politely and respectfully let them know that you hope HB 2160 will be pulled out of study and given a vote.
Poll Shows Incredible Support for Allowing Medical Marijuana
On September 23, 2009, Suffolk University released the results of a poll showing that 81% of Massachusetts residents support allowing "seriously ill patients to use, grow, and purchase marijuana for medical purposes if they have the approval of their physicians." The poll found strong support in every demographic, including support from 86% of senior citizens and 70% of Republicans. Mirroring local support for legal access to medical marijuana are the results found by an ABC News/Washington Post poll released on January 18, 2010. This nationwide poll also found 81% support for legal access to medical marijuana.
Lawmakers are often under the mistaken impression that medical marijuana is a controversial issue that their constituents won't support. While this poll will help, it's up to you to show them their constituents care about patients. Please use our free and automated system to write your legislators in support of Massachusetts' medical marijuana bill, House Bill 2160. Let them know that Massachusetts' seriously ill patients have waited far too long for relief and that the time to act is now.
Endorsements Still Pouring In
Two more high-profile organizations that represent the interests of seriously ill patients have endorsed HB 2160. The Massachusetts Nurses Association and the Massachusetts Public Health Association join the Massachusetts chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Massachusetts American Civil Liberty Union, the AIDS Action Committee, the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, Cambridge Cares about AIDS, the Teen AIDS Peer Corps, and the Massachusetts Hepatitis Patient Empowerment Project in calling for the state to protect seriously ill patients.
In addition to the endorsements from organizations representing the interests of patients, HB 2160 has also been endorsed by groups representing the legal protections of all Massachusetts’ residents. The Massachusetts Bar Association recently issued their endorsement of HB 2160 saying, in part, “the MBA supports this legislation because it affirms the rights of patients to be treated with medical marijuana — a drug with proven efficacy — while including important regulations to deter improper use.” Along with the Massachusetts Bar Association, four local sheriffs in Massachusetts also support legal access to medical marijuana for seriously ill Bay Staters. Sheriffs Carmen Massimiano (Berkshire County), Robert Garvey (Hampshire County), Richard Bretschneider (Nantucket County), and Andrea Cabral (Suffolk County) have all publicly supported passage of HB 2160. Please write your legislators and ask them to join all these learned organizations and individuals in supporting HB 2160.
If you are a member of an organization that might endorse the medical marijuana bill, please contact Matt Allen to see how you can help. And if you are a patient or medical professional interested in speaking out, please click here to tell us your story.