Veterans from across the nation are joining forces to change cannabis policies and they are launching the initiative from the Florida Space Coast. On November 5, 2013, members of the 100KStrong.net Project will begin a whistle-stop tour of Florida VA Centers and hospitals. The group is seeking to partner with VA Medical Centers to provide a forum for veterans to discuss the implications of adding cannabis to their current therapies.
Mike Krawitz, the co-founder of Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access is joining the tour. Mr. Krawitz, a veteran from Virginia was instrumental in the creation of the current VHA policy on medical use of cannabis. The VHA Directive 2011-004 states, “…patients participating in State marijuana programs must not be denied VHA services.” Mr. Krawitz says, “The current policy effectively denies patients in 30 states the same quality of care as veterans in the 20 states with legal cannabis programs. If that isn’t illegal, it certainly is immoral.”
Joining the tour In addition to Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access members are local veterans cannabis advocacy committees. Bob (Whitey) Jordan of Bradenton, and Frank Dougherty of Sarasota, will represent the Florida Cannabis Action Network’s Veterans’ Committee. NORML of Florida’s Veterans Committee will be represented by their Chairman, Joe Sisco of Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
During the seven-day tour the group is hosting forums at the VA Centers, partnering with local groups and activists along the route for evening meetings, hosting a rally at the Capitol, a moment of remembrance at the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Tallahassee, a picnic in Niceville and plan to participate in the Veteran’s Day Parade in Crestview, Florida as the final stop on the tour.
Florida plays a key role in national veteran’s affairs. U.S. Representatives Jeff Miller (FL-1, Pensacola) and Gus Bilirakis (FL-12, New Port Richey) are the Chair and Vice-Chair of the U.S. House Veteran’s Affairs Committee. Jodi James, Executive Director of the Florida Cannabis Action Network said, “Florida’s 1.6 million veterans are being denied a proven effective treatment option. When the collective influence of our veterans is pointed towards righting this wrong, national policy will change. “
Showing posts with label Tallahassee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tallahassee. Show all posts
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Cathy and Bob Jordan work on Florida Cannabis Bills HB 1139 and SB 1250
Join Cathy and Bob Jordan as they travel to the Capitol to encourage support for HB 1139 and SB 1250. This is actually the fourth day of session.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
I’m Just a Party Guy
Day 11
Remaining Committees 7
Remaining Days to hear the bill 36
Remaining funding 19
Most of the time when you hear that you think “Let the good times roll.” Not in the Capital. Here, a party guy means until the majority of his or her peers are on board, no matter what the individual thinks, they won’t vote their conscience.
That has to be the most frustrating part of the work up here. In those one on one meeting you learn lots of things. I now know three Representatives that behind closed doors admit to having used cannabis. Regardless, they are not going to buck the leadership.
Last night I was just too exhausted to post a blog entry. All day at the Capital, dinner with a trusted advisor and several hours of research and prep work later, there was simply no more energy left.
Yesterday was a good day. Nearly 500 people reached out to their lawmakers. Florida lawmakers spent yesterday bragging about making Florida the premiere state for Veterans. We will welcome you with open arms as long as the medicine you use to treat your phantom limb pain or PTSD isn’t cannabis. Never fear, if you break the law by smoking cannabis for your PTSD we’ve got a program for that too.
As a movement we have got to get the Republican leadership involved in our cause. We have to get the Cancer Society, the Alzheimer’s Society and other important stakeholder on our side. We aren’t done in Tallahassee, but neither is the real work of getting support groups, researchers and medical associations to sign off.
Remaining Committees 7
Remaining Days to hear the bill 36
Remaining funding 19
Most of the time when you hear that you think “Let the good times roll.” Not in the Capital. Here, a party guy means until the majority of his or her peers are on board, no matter what the individual thinks, they won’t vote their conscience.
That has to be the most frustrating part of the work up here. In those one on one meeting you learn lots of things. I now know three Representatives that behind closed doors admit to having used cannabis. Regardless, they are not going to buck the leadership.
Last night I was just too exhausted to post a blog entry. All day at the Capital, dinner with a trusted advisor and several hours of research and prep work later, there was simply no more energy left.
Yesterday was a good day. Nearly 500 people reached out to their lawmakers. Florida lawmakers spent yesterday bragging about making Florida the premiere state for Veterans. We will welcome you with open arms as long as the medicine you use to treat your phantom limb pain or PTSD isn’t cannabis. Never fear, if you break the law by smoking cannabis for your PTSD we’ve got a program for that too.
As a movement we have got to get the Republican leadership involved in our cause. We have to get the Cancer Society, the Alzheimer’s Society and other important stakeholder on our side. We aren’t done in Tallahassee, but neither is the real work of getting support groups, researchers and medical associations to sign off.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Are we having fun yet?
Day 10
Remaining Committees – 7
Remaining Days to be heard 37
Remaining funding – 20 days
The experience here in Tallahassee is hard to beat if you like this sort of thing. One of our board members asked me last week if I was having fun. Hhmmm, if you like working 15 hours a day with a couple breaks for meals and sleeping in a hotel, then yes. If you think talking to decision makers about creating policy is cool; then, we are definitely having fun.
I mentioned earlier that session is sixty days. The countdown doesn’t pause for weekends, so it is quite disturbing to me lawmakers work a 3-4 day work week. The House of Representatives didn’t even meet today; the Senate in its defense handled some big stuff today. Privatization of prisons in Florida was a major area of debate today.
Two thoughts come to mind as I contemplate the 3-4 day work week are lawmakers are enjoying as the days of session count down.
First, I used today to make appointments to meet with the lawmakers on our committee schedule. Yesterday, I diligently researched 19 lawmakers, standing ready to make appointments today for the remainder of the week. Imagine my surprise when I was told in some offices, the member has no more appointments available through the end of session. We are forty-six days to the end of session and of those days lawmakers will only work in Tallahassee 29 based on what we have seen. No wonder they don’t have time to meet with constituents.
And then there is the idea the Senate handled important business today. The House members didn’t even come back until today. If people are use to the House and Senate not doing business on Friday’s and Monday’s is this a way to reduce civic participation?
Since today was quite at the Capital, I spent the day building strategies with People United of Medical Marijuana, Robert Platshorn and his Silver Tour, SSDP and the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy. We are calling all supporters together to push the legislators to educate themselves about this plant.
Remaining Committees – 7
Remaining Days to be heard 37
Remaining funding – 20 days
The experience here in Tallahassee is hard to beat if you like this sort of thing. One of our board members asked me last week if I was having fun. Hhmmm, if you like working 15 hours a day with a couple breaks for meals and sleeping in a hotel, then yes. If you think talking to decision makers about creating policy is cool; then, we are definitely having fun.
I mentioned earlier that session is sixty days. The countdown doesn’t pause for weekends, so it is quite disturbing to me lawmakers work a 3-4 day work week. The House of Representatives didn’t even meet today; the Senate in its defense handled some big stuff today. Privatization of prisons in Florida was a major area of debate today.
Two thoughts come to mind as I contemplate the 3-4 day work week are lawmakers are enjoying as the days of session count down.
First, I used today to make appointments to meet with the lawmakers on our committee schedule. Yesterday, I diligently researched 19 lawmakers, standing ready to make appointments today for the remainder of the week. Imagine my surprise when I was told in some offices, the member has no more appointments available through the end of session. We are forty-six days to the end of session and of those days lawmakers will only work in Tallahassee 29 based on what we have seen. No wonder they don’t have time to meet with constituents.
And then there is the idea the Senate handled important business today. The House members didn’t even come back until today. If people are use to the House and Senate not doing business on Friday’s and Monday’s is this a way to reduce civic participation?
Since today was quite at the Capital, I spent the day building strategies with People United of Medical Marijuana, Robert Platshorn and his Silver Tour, SSDP and the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy. We are calling all supporters together to push the legislators to educate themselves about this plant.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
When The Choir Sings
Day 9
Remaining Committees – 7
Remaining Days to be heard – 38
Remaining funding – 21 days
I’ve worked with a number of wonderful people in the drug reform movement who say they don’t like to speak at hemp festivals and pot rallies. They feel as though they are just “speaking to the choir” at those events. Over the years, as the number of people supporting safe, legal access to cannabis increases, it seems, more people qualify as converts.
So, in a fellowship you have converts, but it is the choir singing that will often move you as much, if not more, than the spoken message.
The choir of supporters in Florida have begun to sing. Nearly 1000 people sent e-mail messages to key members in the House and the Senate. Those voices moved two lawmakers who agree we should let the voters decide.
I feel pretty blessed to be here, seeing the lawmakers come to understand what it is we know about this plant. Being away from home is hard, even when the work is this important. I stayed in Tallahassee to make some strategic meetings making me more than a little homesick.
Each week we have identified select targets for educational efforts. This week we’ve adopted a pretty ambitious agenda. From our target list of Senators and House members, we’ve identified 600 supporters from their districts. If we can move our choir to share their story with their own personal representative and invite their neighbors to do the same, we will create the avalanche of support we need to pass a medical protection bill this year.
My job, as I go door-to-door meeting with these lawmakers is to listen for their hidden fears and find a way to move them. We already know the greatest misperception we have to overcome is the idea Floridians don’t support safe, legal access to cannabis medicine.
On the average, when we send out a “request for action”, a narrow percentage of people actually open the e-mail and take action. If only 1 in 20 of the people we asked to contact their lawmaker takes action, only 30 letters will be sent.
Do you believe the voice of 30 people is enough to move lawmaker in a state with nearly 18 million people? Surely, the walls of Jericho fell with just the blast of a trumpet and in this world of infinite possibilities nothing is impossible, but I believe we need more people to join the chorus.
Sometimes the choir sings, sometimes we all sing along.
Today, we need to all sing along. What are you waiting for? When will you talk to your neighbor about writing a letter, your barber, the stock boy and cashier? When will you call upon your congregation and office friends? If you wait for someone else to carry the message, we will be waiting another year for safe access for our patients.
Every day I wear a couple cannabis leaf lapel pins on my suit jacket. In the halls, in the elevators, in line at the cafeteria in the Capital, I am constantly asked about them. Last night, I went to a college bar with a former NORML board member. No one seemed to notice the embroidered pot leaf on my shirt. In the bars, in the streets, among the people this is not an issue, people already agree with you.
It takes a lot of courage to contact those lawmakers each day. It took a lot of strength for Cathy to come here with her caregiver to go door-to-door among scoffers. It is hard being here, away from a family I adore, dogs that always miss me and a home I love.
Yes, it is hard, it is a little scary to come out of the closet and show your true colors, but for now, we need you to join the choir and sing along! Don’t be afraid, it is the right thing to do.
Remaining Committees – 7
Remaining Days to be heard – 38
Remaining funding – 21 days
I’ve worked with a number of wonderful people in the drug reform movement who say they don’t like to speak at hemp festivals and pot rallies. They feel as though they are just “speaking to the choir” at those events. Over the years, as the number of people supporting safe, legal access to cannabis increases, it seems, more people qualify as converts.
So, in a fellowship you have converts, but it is the choir singing that will often move you as much, if not more, than the spoken message.
The choir of supporters in Florida have begun to sing. Nearly 1000 people sent e-mail messages to key members in the House and the Senate. Those voices moved two lawmakers who agree we should let the voters decide.
I feel pretty blessed to be here, seeing the lawmakers come to understand what it is we know about this plant. Being away from home is hard, even when the work is this important. I stayed in Tallahassee to make some strategic meetings making me more than a little homesick.
Each week we have identified select targets for educational efforts. This week we’ve adopted a pretty ambitious agenda. From our target list of Senators and House members, we’ve identified 600 supporters from their districts. If we can move our choir to share their story with their own personal representative and invite their neighbors to do the same, we will create the avalanche of support we need to pass a medical protection bill this year.
My job, as I go door-to-door meeting with these lawmakers is to listen for their hidden fears and find a way to move them. We already know the greatest misperception we have to overcome is the idea Floridians don’t support safe, legal access to cannabis medicine.
On the average, when we send out a “request for action”, a narrow percentage of people actually open the e-mail and take action. If only 1 in 20 of the people we asked to contact their lawmaker takes action, only 30 letters will be sent.
Do you believe the voice of 30 people is enough to move lawmaker in a state with nearly 18 million people? Surely, the walls of Jericho fell with just the blast of a trumpet and in this world of infinite possibilities nothing is impossible, but I believe we need more people to join the chorus.
Sometimes the choir sings, sometimes we all sing along.
Today, we need to all sing along. What are you waiting for? When will you talk to your neighbor about writing a letter, your barber, the stock boy and cashier? When will you call upon your congregation and office friends? If you wait for someone else to carry the message, we will be waiting another year for safe access for our patients.
Every day I wear a couple cannabis leaf lapel pins on my suit jacket. In the halls, in the elevators, in line at the cafeteria in the Capital, I am constantly asked about them. Last night, I went to a college bar with a former NORML board member. No one seemed to notice the embroidered pot leaf on my shirt. In the bars, in the streets, among the people this is not an issue, people already agree with you.
It takes a lot of courage to contact those lawmakers each day. It took a lot of strength for Cathy to come here with her caregiver to go door-to-door among scoffers. It is hard being here, away from a family I adore, dogs that always miss me and a home I love.
Yes, it is hard, it is a little scary to come out of the closet and show your true colors, but for now, we need you to join the choir and sing along! Don’t be afraid, it is the right thing to do.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Perception is Reality
Day 7
Remaining Committees – 7
Remaining Days to be heard – 40
Remaining funding – 23
There is an old saying about never eating sausage after you’ve seen how they make it. Tallahassee is a bit like that.
Today was spent playing catch up. The House was consumed with redistricting and only a few committees had business in the Senate. Our constitution set the 60 days legislative session, apparently that is consecutive days, so while lawmakers are nowhere to be found, the countdown to the end of sessions proceeds.
Lawmakers are home for a long weekend, little to no business on Monday either; but our work continues.
The theme for the week was: in Tallahassee perception is reality. I’ve spent quite a bit of time exploring the idea, meditating on its meaning and trying to see through the mystery.
Perception is reality. For now, the perception is the public in Florida doesn’t care about medical cannabis. When the CNN Money special runs early in February showing Robert Platshorn’s Silver Tour meeting at a synagogue in Boca, when they get overwhelming calls and letters of support, or when they are faced with a life threatening illness of their own they will reconsider.
In my down time today, I did some research on the 1978 Controlled Substance Therapeutic Research Program. This bill, introduced by Representative Lee Moffitt had an interesting history. Like our bills, the 1978 bill was assigned to numerous committees. After a month of languishing it was sent to a subcommittee – never a good sign.
Then something changed. Suddenly, the research act was withdrawn from its committees and within days was calendared for a vote on the House floor. The Senate picked up the bill, withdrew it from all of the committees in the Senate and again it passed with little opposition.
Perception is reality. Had we been on the outside watching the 1978 bill, we would have been convinced it didn’t have a chance.
Representative Moffitt is best known these days for his work with the Lee Moffitt Cancer Research Center. I sought him out this week when I knew he was in the Capital. He agreed to meet with me next week to share with me what happened. Why did those 1978 lawmakers suddenly change their perception of the bill?
With your e-mails, calls and letters, we are changing the perception lawmakers have about cannabis. They are beginning to see the light.
Remaining Committees – 7
Remaining Days to be heard – 40
Remaining funding – 23
There is an old saying about never eating sausage after you’ve seen how they make it. Tallahassee is a bit like that.
Today was spent playing catch up. The House was consumed with redistricting and only a few committees had business in the Senate. Our constitution set the 60 days legislative session, apparently that is consecutive days, so while lawmakers are nowhere to be found, the countdown to the end of sessions proceeds.
Lawmakers are home for a long weekend, little to no business on Monday either; but our work continues.
The theme for the week was: in Tallahassee perception is reality. I’ve spent quite a bit of time exploring the idea, meditating on its meaning and trying to see through the mystery.
Perception is reality. For now, the perception is the public in Florida doesn’t care about medical cannabis. When the CNN Money special runs early in February showing Robert Platshorn’s Silver Tour meeting at a synagogue in Boca, when they get overwhelming calls and letters of support, or when they are faced with a life threatening illness of their own they will reconsider.
In my down time today, I did some research on the 1978 Controlled Substance Therapeutic Research Program. This bill, introduced by Representative Lee Moffitt had an interesting history. Like our bills, the 1978 bill was assigned to numerous committees. After a month of languishing it was sent to a subcommittee – never a good sign.
Then something changed. Suddenly, the research act was withdrawn from its committees and within days was calendared for a vote on the House floor. The Senate picked up the bill, withdrew it from all of the committees in the Senate and again it passed with little opposition.
Perception is reality. Had we been on the outside watching the 1978 bill, we would have been convinced it didn’t have a chance.
Representative Moffitt is best known these days for his work with the Lee Moffitt Cancer Research Center. I sought him out this week when I knew he was in the Capital. He agreed to meet with me next week to share with me what happened. Why did those 1978 lawmakers suddenly change their perception of the bill?
With your e-mails, calls and letters, we are changing the perception lawmakers have about cannabis. They are beginning to see the light.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
A Day in the Life of a Bill
January 18, 2012
Day 5
Remaining Committees 7
Remaining days to be heard 41
Remaining funding 25 days
Yesterday, I promised to talk more about the committee process. Most of our government business at all levels of Government takes place at the committee level. State Government works on a tight schedule and with the sheer volume of bills they consider each year, committees run tightly.
The only thing the legislature is required to do annually (according to the Constitution) is pass a balanced budget. Every ten years, the legislative session starts early in order to accommodate the other mandate required of them, redistricting.
Because of redistricting our session started early this year. A typical session begins in February and runs for 60 days. Despite the early start, our regular session lasts 60 days. If lawmakers fail to pass a budget and redefine the legislative boundaries during the regular session a special session must be called.
Members may begin filing bills in the fall prior to the legislative session. For weeks prior to the regular session legislators attend “committee weeks”. Many of the bills that were pre-filed made their way through committees prior to the beginning of session.
House members are limited to six bills each, while Senators have an unlimited number of bills they can file. With 120 members in the House, over 600 bills jockey to be heard each session. The role I’ve been sent to accomplish is vital to the passage of a bill. Bills require someone who can shepherd them from committee to committee.
The Speaker or President of the Senate appoints committee chairs. Chair appointments bring a lot of power and attention. I’ve written before about how important it is to get leadership on board. If the leadership doesn’t believe in a bill, the Chair will ignore it.
So far this week I’ve been talking members of the Criminal Justice committee in the House. There are 15 people on the Criminal Justice Committee, 10 Republicans and 5 Democrats. Since the bill sponsor is a Democrat, my work this week was assuring we’ll get all the Democratic votes in the committee. With five votes in our pocket, we simply need to find 3 Republicans to support the bill in order for it to pass the first committee.
The big hurdle is getting the Chair to hear the bill. Perception is reality in Tallahassee. Lawmakers perceive their constituents don’t support medical access. The other perception is if a Chair hears a bill, they support the bill.
Our work is bearing fruit. Today I met with a Democrat who said, “If you had asked me about this bill two weeks ago, I’d have said no. Since then I’ve had a number of calls and e-mails asking me to support it. I did the research and now believe this is an issue that has merit and I support the bill.” The nearly 1000 e-mails generated through www.FLDecides.org is making a difference.
For this legislation to pass this year, we need an avalanche of support- lucky for us avalanches do happen. Perhaps since we’re in Florida, its more appropriate to look for the perfect storm. Either way, without the calls and letters you’ve generated, success would not be possible.
Day 5
Remaining Committees 7
Remaining days to be heard 41
Remaining funding 25 days
Yesterday, I promised to talk more about the committee process. Most of our government business at all levels of Government takes place at the committee level. State Government works on a tight schedule and with the sheer volume of bills they consider each year, committees run tightly.
The only thing the legislature is required to do annually (according to the Constitution) is pass a balanced budget. Every ten years, the legislative session starts early in order to accommodate the other mandate required of them, redistricting.
Because of redistricting our session started early this year. A typical session begins in February and runs for 60 days. Despite the early start, our regular session lasts 60 days. If lawmakers fail to pass a budget and redefine the legislative boundaries during the regular session a special session must be called.
Members may begin filing bills in the fall prior to the legislative session. For weeks prior to the regular session legislators attend “committee weeks”. Many of the bills that were pre-filed made their way through committees prior to the beginning of session.
House members are limited to six bills each, while Senators have an unlimited number of bills they can file. With 120 members in the House, over 600 bills jockey to be heard each session. The role I’ve been sent to accomplish is vital to the passage of a bill. Bills require someone who can shepherd them from committee to committee.
The Speaker or President of the Senate appoints committee chairs. Chair appointments bring a lot of power and attention. I’ve written before about how important it is to get leadership on board. If the leadership doesn’t believe in a bill, the Chair will ignore it.
So far this week I’ve been talking members of the Criminal Justice committee in the House. There are 15 people on the Criminal Justice Committee, 10 Republicans and 5 Democrats. Since the bill sponsor is a Democrat, my work this week was assuring we’ll get all the Democratic votes in the committee. With five votes in our pocket, we simply need to find 3 Republicans to support the bill in order for it to pass the first committee.
The big hurdle is getting the Chair to hear the bill. Perception is reality in Tallahassee. Lawmakers perceive their constituents don’t support medical access. The other perception is if a Chair hears a bill, they support the bill.
Our work is bearing fruit. Today I met with a Democrat who said, “If you had asked me about this bill two weeks ago, I’d have said no. Since then I’ve had a number of calls and e-mails asking me to support it. I did the research and now believe this is an issue that has merit and I support the bill.” The nearly 1000 e-mails generated through www.FLDecides.org is making a difference.
For this legislation to pass this year, we need an avalanche of support- lucky for us avalanches do happen. Perhaps since we’re in Florida, its more appropriate to look for the perfect storm. Either way, without the calls and letters you’ve generated, success would not be possible.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)