Import Temp

Connecticut Poised to Become 13th State to Legalize Use of Medical Marijuana

Compassionate Use Bill Passes Legislature by Wide Margins, Heads to Governor

HARTFORD, CT--Connecticut is on the verge of becoming the thirteenth state to allow the use of medical marijuana. The Connecticut State Senate passed HB 6715, the Compassionate Use Act late last Friday. The bill passed by a 23-13 margin after clearing the House of Representatives by an 89-58 margin weeks earlier. The bill now goes to Gov. M. Jodi Rell for her signature. If Rell neither signs nor vetoes the bill, it will automatically become law.

Thousands of Connecticut residents live with crippling pain, are suffering with cancer and HIV/AIDS, or other debilitating ailments.

Lorenzo Jones at (860) 270-9586 or Gabriel Sayegh at (646) 335-2264

Rep. Tiahrt (R-Kan.) Continues to Make Uninformed Statements that Discount the Proven Effectiveness of Needle Exchange Programs

Advocates to Deliver Mountain of Evidence to Tiahrt

Despite Washington, D.C. having one of the worst HIV infection rates in the country, Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) continues to ignore the mountain of scientific evidence backing the effectiveness of syringe exchange programs at reducing the transmission of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and other infectious diseases.

Bill Piper at (202) 669-6430 or Naomi Long at (202)669-6071

Rockefeller Drug Law Reform Advocates to Throw a Surprise Birthday Party on Friday at Noon for Gov. Eliot Spitzer

Real Reform New York Coalition and Others to Deliver Birthday Cake and Card to Spitzer Asking Him to Keep His Campaign Promise to Reform Draconian Drug Laws

New York, NY--The Real Reform New York Coalition will join with many others on Friday, June 8 at noon to throw a surprise birthday party for Gov. Eliot Spitzer outside of his New York City office.

Gabriel Sayegh at 646-335-2264 or Tony Newman at 646-335-5384

New

Research Published in Britain

A "landmark" study published today in the British journal, The Lancet, reports that alcohol and tobacco are more dangerous than some illegal drugs like marijuana and MDMA ("Ecstasy").

Tony Newman at (646)335-5384

New Mexico Governor Expected to Sign Medical Marijuana Bill Monday

Richardson Poised to Become First Presidential Candidate to Sign a Medical Marijuana Law; New Mexico on the Verge of Becoming 12th State to Legalize Use of Medical Cannabis

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is expected to sign a medical marijuana bill into law on during a signing ceremony on Monday, April 2, according to a statement released by his office.

The bill would allow qualified patients suffering from certain illnesses, such as cancer, HIV/AIDS and epilepsy, to use medical cannabis for relief of their symptoms.

Reena Szczepanski at (505) 699-0798 or Tommy McDonald at (646) 335-2242

New Mexico Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Bill into Law

Today New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson signed a medical marijuana bill into law making New Mexico the 12th state to legalize the use of medical cannabis.

The new law will allow qualified patients suffering from certain illnesses, such as cancer, HIV/AIDS and epilepsy, to use medical cannabis for relief of their symptoms.

Richardson has consistently voiced his strong support for the bill and was a major proponent in ensuring its passage.

"By signing this bill, Gov.

Reena Szczepanski at (505) 699-0798 or Tommy McDonald at (646) 335-2242

New Mexico Becomes 12th State to Allow Access to Medical Marijuana

New Jersey Legislators and Advocates Applaud Governor Richardson for Signing Legislation; Hopeful Momentum Will Help Pass Compassionate Use Legislation to Provide Relief for the Seriously Ill in New Jersey

Trenton -- New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson signed a medical marijuana bill into law yesterday, making New Mexico the twelfth state to allow access to medical marijuana.

Roseanne Scotti at 609-610-8243 or Tony Newman at 646-335-5384

Supreme Court of New Mexico Strikes Down State

Leading Physicians, Scientific Researchers, and Medical, Public Health, and Child Welfare Organizations Applaud Court

On May 11, the Supreme Court of the State of New Mexico turned back the state's attempt to expand the criminal child abuse laws to apply to pregnant women and fetuses. In 2003, Ms. Cynthia Martinez was charged with felony child abuse "for permitting a child under 18 years of age to be placed in a situation that may endanger the child's life or health. .

Reena Szczepanski at 505-983-3277 or Nancy Goldstein at 347-563-1647

Gov.

Prop. 36 Has Graduated Over 70,000 and Saved $1.7 Billion
Program Needs $109 Million More to Provide Adequate Services

SACRAMENTO, May 14 -- In response to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's revised state budget proposal released today, drug treatment advocates noted the under funding of California's voter-approved, treatment-instead-of-incarceration law.

The May revise left intact the governor's January proposal, which proposes slashing Prop.

Margaret Dooley at (858) 336-3685 or Dave Fratello at (310) 394-2952

Prominent Pain Specialist, Dr. William Hurwitz, to Begin Re-Trial in Virginia Federal Court for Prescribing Pain Medication

After Unanimous Reversal in Court of Appeals, Government Seeks Again to Convict Dr. Hurwitz as Major Drug Dealer Even Though He Never Profited from Prescriptions
DPA Calls Government Prosecution of Pain Physician Harmful; Likely to Dissuade Doctors from Providing Effective Pain Management Care

On Monday, Dr. William Hurwitz will begin a second trial on 50 counts of unlawful prescribing of opioid pain medication as prosecutors seek to hold him responsible for the misdeeds of a small number of his patients, some of whom secretly sold or misused the pills they were prescribed. The government is charging Dr. Hurwitz as a drug kingpin, though it has never claimed that Dr. Hurwitz made a dime from these sales. In August of last year, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously reversed Dr.

Tony Newman at (646) 335-5384
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