Had my meeting today.

First off, please excuse me I've had a few (6) mini mmj muffins. So I'm feeling no pain and I'm starting to get a little tired.

Had that meeting today with my state senator today. He is a very likable man and I think he is a great politician. My 1/2 hour meeting went on for 2 hours.

I brought to the meeting a listing of the SB's that he will be seeing this year. We went over them bill by bill. And he explained his intent and I explained what it would do to people like me.

He agrees with dispensaries, but not 'clubs'. He doesn't want a Amsterdam atmosphere, having never been in one I couldn't say much. He claims to not have thought of putting them in industrial parks away from 'people'. I told him I thought that was a good solution as compared to completely outlawing them.

We went over the felon thing, I told him that I thought that non-violent, non-drug convicted felons should be able to get their caregivers card. After, maybe, 5 years of no further trouble.

We went over the right to privacy and giving the police the list of MMJ patients and providers. I told him that as soon as the 'thugs' figure out they can get the list by FOIA we would be sitting ducks, etc. I did not want to get into the police and them using it.

And about a transfer 1000 ft from a school and churches. I pointed out that it did not cover caregivers. He said he didn't know that churches were included and thought that wasn't right.

Not being able to sue the cities. He said they were trying to stop lawsuits blah, blah, blah. I told him that this was taking away a right given to us from our founding fathers and that it was just plain wrong.

The patient to doctor relationship thing. I explained that my gp doesn't agree with it, but my neuro doctor did. And he asked well, why not have him write the script. I explained that he feared for his license and that I didn't want my gp to know because of his attitude.

He does not support the 10 major growers idea.

And he doesn't expect much if anything to pass. He said that my husband and I are the poster childs for MMJ and the law was meant for people just like us. I told him to stop making people like us criminals.

I gave him an extra sheet of paper with facts and figures about the war on mmj. I told that 10-20 billion dollars annually was too much and too many people have paid the price and quite frankly, I was really worried about the other criminals not staying jail because of over crowding and that by leaving us mmj users alone that should fix that.


Btw, thank you to all that provided information and links-it made a difference.

Jamiesname, thank you I did use your outline and most of your responses.

Also, we talked about the Commerce bust. I explained about the sheriff busting first and then figuring out if a crime had been committed. He said, well you know it is still a fed crime.

I said, that too, will come to pass. That the sea of change was coming. That we (meaning my husband and myself) were not alone. That we are more in number that he thinks.

We really do look like what we are. Good, average people, that work, pay our taxes, don't get in trouble, raised our kids, etc. I think we were a good face for MMJ.

Edit-
He said something about wondering where they came up with the facts (like they were made up). I was able to point to the paper and show that the information came from the FBI. 'Oh', he said. lol

Now, it's your turn.

You're badass.

not my state, but way to do your part.

"It's still a federal crime" are you fucking serious? Since when does Oakland County work for the Feds? Bullshit.

couldn't agree more. I couldn't say exactly what I thought. But, I did say it in a nice manner. I don't believe anyone approached him like we did.

The tie-dye in your face attitude was not a good thing to do in Lansing last week. Impressions mean a lot and that hurt us.

stumpjumper said:

"It's still a federal crime" are you fucking serious? Since when does Oakland County work for the Feds? Bullshit.

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It is still your turn. Now go out and do something. Make some appointments. Talk to them calmly.

Winter Woman said:

The tie-dye in your face attitude was not a good thing to do in Lansing last week. Impressions mean a lot and that hurt us.

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I don't think it hurt us at all, they haven't been listening to us, they didn't have a choice last week. They better start listening and acting according to our law or they will be seeing more of what they saw last week. There wasn't THAT many people wearing tye-dye anyways

It's a diverse community all with equal rights.

I got to the rally late and some in the crowd looked rather sketchy, but they were the minority-agreed. You are right it shouldn't matter, but it does.

I am doing the only thing I know how to do and that is sell. Sell this idea about decriminalized or legalized MMJ. It needs to be packaged in a way that does not scare middle America. If they are behind it it will all change.

I do believe that when little Johnny and Janey get in trouble mom and dad will want things changed. And when enough of Johnny and Janey's get in trouble it will become a priority and I think we are almost there right now.

Should have seen his face when he realized the numbers were from the FBI.

Winter Woman said:

He said something about wondering where they came up with the facts (like they were made up). I was able to point to the paper and show that the information came from the FBI. 'Oh', he said. lol

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Lol, too funny.

I know you spent A LOT of time and effort perfecting your points, so thank you. I think that setting up meetings with our Representatives and Senators is the way to go. They receive hundreds of e-mails and letters per day so showing up in person really sends a powerful message. Squeaky wheel gets the oil and most times it doesn't matter if it's the majority or not. We just need to be louder than our opposition. In Winter Woman's case, I think taking up a quarter of her Senators work day really made an impression and her thoughts will be rolling through his head when it comes time to vote. Nothing is more important than making a good first impression.

Which reminds me, did he happen to mention when they're actually going to vote on this? Because I plan on setting up an appointment on the 17th, but will probably be a week or so after then before I get to visit my Senator.

No, but he gave me his personal email and I will write him and ask when it will be. Thanks again for your outline it made it so much easier.

Great job Winter. You did us all proud. The thing that really burns me up is everyone wants us to act like someone else. Like poor sick people don't matter. Well I am here to say fuck that. I look like I am. I am sick. I do not have money. I am me. And I will never change just so that someone can say Yea you look like a good sick upstanding citizen. I am the kindest person I know and will never pretend to be anyone else EVER. So to all you that say I should try to appear like they think I should , to hell with that.

Winter,
Wonderful job! Will work on getting an appt. w/ my Senator as well. Although the marijuana community runs from the poorest of poor, to the richest of rich, first impressions have tremendous impact! Although you might be far more comfortable in shaggy jeans and a tie dyed T-shirt, if you approach the non-MJ approving community looking like they picture a "pot head" to look, your impact will most likely be far less lasting then if had shown them that the majority of us are, like Winter said, average people with jobs or business's, kids, PTO meetings, church organizations, and every day lives. It will move forward but we have to do it tactfully, whether it agrees with us or not.

Good job wonder woman! You handle the political side, Ill handle the front lines . I do need help out here CGs. We are needed and we are few, but we can come together and be many. It's nose to the grind stone time. Michigans ingenuity is doing great things for our economy. Its people like us that support local businesses and schools and police firedep ect. We don't have enough care givers in this state to support the patients.

Whatever it takes we need to do. We ARE on the same side.

My Michigan State Congresswoman is up next. Let's see how Eileen Kowall responses. She hangs her hat with some of the most conservative.

I've met her before she is a chameleon, but I will nail her down. She knows I participate so... I might hint about running against her and see if she takes the bait.

And her husband is a politician too. So I might get a twofer.

Northern Lab said:

I commend you for taking the initiative and getting informed and involved, excellent job!

I do take issue with that last sentence, though. I think our rally scared the bejeezus out of Lansing and they realized that these people are sick and pissed off. That's not the kind of people politicians want to make their enemies. Coming together like that made them realize that we mean business and will not go quietly.

We need more of that and more of what you did. It has to be a two-pronged approach. Without the tie-dyed activist shouting slogans on the street, the activist in the congressman's office pleading her case cannot point out the window to the roaring crowd and say "these people are who you are hurting, and they will insure you meet serious consequences at the ballot box if you continue to hurt them". We need each other to be successful.

Anyway, good job WW, and keep up the good work!

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I'm with ozzrokk , I won't put on a face just so someone else feels I am an upstanding person. I
Work EVERYday (despite my sickness) and pay my taxes just like everyone one else. my grandfather is a new patient and how is he supposed to get his meds? Or start a grow?(without access to clones or seeds) these laws are straight bullshit. Something more needs to be done such an group meeting. If anyone would like to join I have a couple patients/Friends that are already willing to go plus myself, u can contact me through pm only for more info.

I could be wrong, but I don't think Stumpjumper and Winter Woman are specifically referring to HOW people look - unless you just celebrated your nine month anniversary of your new year's resolution to not step foot anywhere near a bath tub. Since I highly doubt that is the case, I'm going to say that it's not the tie dye shirts that cause people to think negative thoughts. It's the attitude and disposition associated with those that usually wear this type of clothing. Again this is yet another judgement and does not reflect the individual. Personally I could care less what people wear, or how they look, etc. Some people just need to be reminded that they are representing something larger than themselves. In a demonstration like this one everything from what you wear to how you act is a reflection of your cause.

I didn't say anything about what people wear.. I could care less how people dress, I don't judge.

stumpjumper said:

I didn't say anything about what people wear.. I could care less how people dress, I don't judge.

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You're right, I apologize. I read the post below out of context, but my point still stands. It's not the clothes people wear it's the attitude.

stumpjumper said:

I don't think it hurt us at all, they haven't been listening to us, they didn't have a choice last week. They better start listening and acting according to our law or they will be seeing more of what they saw last week. There wasn't THAT many people wearing tye-dye anyways

It's a diverse community all with equal rights.

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