weedfreak2001

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Please distribute this memo widely. Forward to family and friends
who live in North Carolina, or send them to http://www.mpp.org/NC
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TO: North Carolina residents

FROM: Kat DeBurgh, MPP legislative analyst

DATE: Wednesday, April 11, 2001

SUBJECT: Medical marijuana bill introduced in North Carolina

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North Carolina residents used MPP's Web site to send their legislators
over 150 letters supportive of medical marijuana -- and now, for the
first time in two decades, a medical marijuana bill has been
introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly.

Representative Paul Luebke (D-Durham) filed the measure today -- the
last day for bills to be introduced -- in the hopes of building a
consensus for medical marijuana in the next legislative session.

Members of the House of Representatives have until 12:00 p.m. on
Thursday to become co-sponsors of the bill, HB 1240. Please e-mail or
call your representative AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, encouraging him or her
to show early support for this important issue. To automatically send
an e-mail to your representative and to find his or her phone number,
visit http://www.mpp.org/NC today.

A large number of co-sponsors increases a bill's chance of survival.
Please encourage your representative to become a co-sponsor even if
you have already contacted him or her about the issue.

Rep. Luebke's bill would remove criminal penalties for patients who
use, possess, or grow their own marijuana with the approval of their
physicians.

North Carolina enacted a different kind of medical marijuana law in
1979, which gave physicians the legal authority to possess, dispense,
or administer marijuana-related products. In 1987, the legislature
rewrote the law to say that physicians may only administer THC, the
primary active ingredient in marijuana, which was approved by the
federal Food and Drug Administration as a prescription medicine in
1985. For many patients, smoked marijuana is a better medicine because
it does not have to be swallowed or digested before it takes effect.

Please contact your representative and explain to him or her that
patients and their caregivers should not face criminal penalties for
possessing marijuana with a doctor's recommendation.

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HOW TO SUPPORT THE MARIJUANA POLICY PROJECT

MPP's state legislative monitoring service is funded entirely by the
donations of MPP allies and members nationwide. In order to continue
with this service in your state in 2002, MPP needs to raise $1,000 or
more from your state this year. Please see:
http://www.mpp.org/MoneyForStates/states.html

If you find MPP's legislative monitoring service helpful, please
consider making a donation at: http://www.mpp.org/MoneyForStates

Because MPP devotes 100% of its efforts toward influencing public
policy, contributions are not tax-deductible. However, the above link
also provides a way to make a tax-deductible donation.

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