In the Legislature
March Monthly Meeting - Get Organized!
How to get better organized was one of the main topics at the last NORMLTN monthly meeting on March 3rd, 2013 at the Sunset Grill. That topic was prefaced by several others: President Doak Patton mentioned a voter registration and signature drive, Rev. Aaron announced an upcoming legislative advocacy day, we discussed the importance of re-branding the cannabis user, removing the ‘stupid stoner syndrome’ and watching legislation in Kentucky, Neal spoke about a comedy and music show for hemp on April 9 and 23rd at The End, and we went around the room to introduce ourselves and areas we’d be interested in.
Get a Dry Erase Board
Marilyn suggested we write up the minutes from the last meeting and ask members to read, correct, and approve the minutes in order to create continuity and accountability. Then print the minutes for all to see when they come in so new people can… Continue reading
State Lawmakers’ Advice on Promoting Medical Cannabis and Industrial Hemp in Tennessee.
The founder of Tennesseans for Medical Cannabis NOW, came to the NORMLTN monthly meeting inviting us to join a group meeting several TN legislators on Tuesday, March 5th, 2013 as part of Medical Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Advocacy Day.
Several NORMLTN members jumped at the opportunity and we learned as much as we shared during our 15-30 minute appointment with each legislator. What I learned, is it’s not that hard to make a face-to-face appointment with your representative, share info about medical marijuana (MMJ) and ask for advice on how to move the issue forward.
Some legislators were knowledgeable and also curious about laws and statistics from medical marijuana friendly states. Others were willing to hear our stories about extreme prison time for medical use and relief for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress and other medical disorders.
Most were willing to offer ideas for our cause but cautious about having… Continue reading
Key lawmaker says hemp bill regaining momentum in Kentucky House
By Janet Patton — [email protected]
The hemp bill is back on track.
House Agriculture and Small Business Committee Chairman Tom McKee said Monday that a proposal to regulate hemp farming in Kentucky is expected to win approval from his committee Wednesday.
“I anticipate a very strong vote. It could be a unanimous vote,” said McKee, D-Cynthiana.
His substitute bill, which would have scrapped a licensing framework for farmers and replaced it with a research project at the University of Kentucky, has been dropped, McKee said. He plans to file no amendments, signalling that the original version of Senate Bill 50 could get the up or down vote that supporters have sought.
McKee’s move came after bill sponsor Sen. Paul Hornback, R-Shelbyville, and Agriculture Commissioner James Comer held a news conference last week to accuse McKee of blocking the bill. His committee heard about two hours of testimony about… Continue reading
They Came to Change the Law: NORMLTN March Meeting at Sunset Grill
They Came to Change the Law: NORMLTN March Meeting at Sunset Grill
The March 2013 monthly meeting of NORMLTN featured about 30 new and returning activists willing to change the laws in TN. We heard from Rev. Aaron Colyer, founder of Tennesseans for Medical Canabis Now, who will visit several state legislators on Tuesday March 5th, MTSU student, Alex, working on showing the film, “Breaking the Taboo” at the college, and the comedian, Neal, who’s preparing a medical marijuana benefit show at The End April 9th and 23rd.
We also went around the room and heard from old and new members discussing why they’ve come. Answers ranged from vets who’d rather smoke for medical reasons than take pharmaceuticals with harmful side effects, to those who want the laws changed so they don’t have to fear persecution and risk losing job, house and freedom if they use marijuana.
We gathered suggestions for improvement,… Continue reading
How Would You Celebrate 4/20?
How would you celebrate 4/20? That was the topic at the NORMLTN weekly core meeting on Sunday February 24, 2013 at Nashville’s Sunset Grill as numerous ideas came forth from NORML activists very excited about the idea. The idea of using East Nashville’s Performance Artist Co-op with comedians, bands, and poets to celebrate the date, and mix in an educational component with the festivities peppered our discussion over the tables at the Sunset Grill. We hope you’ll advance the topic at our next meeting, Sunday March 3, 2013 at the same place, The Sunset Grill in Nashville at 2 p.m.
We also heard from Scott who met Rep. Sherry Jones about lobbying in the TN Legislature. Scott reports Jones, a medical marijuana advocate, said personal, handwritten letters will actually make it to the legislators’ desks. Kudos to Carla, who got us started on the process during the last meeting. Hopefully we’ll do… Continue reading
Bernie Ellis for MMJ on FoxNews 17
Published on Feb 11, 2013
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - It’s an illegal drug that many use to get high, but a group of patients across Tennessee says marijuana is also an important medicine. As more states continue to allow medical marijuana, Tennessee lawmakers wrestle with this issue. The prospects for changing the law in the Volunteer State remain low, but advocates aren’t giving up. In an isolated hollow in Maury County, Bernie Ellis is recovering from his most recent hip replacement. For now, tending his expansive garden is difficult.
I feel like I’m in my spiritual center when I’m in the garden, says Ellis.
For over 20 years, Ellis has lived with Degenerative Joint Disease and Fibromyalgia. It helps explain why his love of gardening developed into a new pursuit: growing medical marijuana on his property.
Being able to get a good night’s sleep, cannabis really helped with that, says Ellis.Ellis… Continue reading
Drug Film Big Success
Did you know that the U.S. has the highest prison rate per capita than any other nation in the world?
That half of the people in U.S. prisons are non-violent drug offenders? And that while African Americans are only 17 percent of the U.S. Population they make up 50 percent of those people in U.S. prisons today? According to one speaker in the film, In This House, The U.S. Drug War is a slow motion Holocaust and its victims are the poor.
There was a recent screening of this film on Saturday Feb 9th in Nashville, sponsored by the Federal Public Defender’s Office, which also hosted a panel with a Federal Dudge, Assistant District Attorney and Prosecutor after the film. Kudos to the organizers and those who attended.
The discussion was lively at the packed Looby Theater in Nashville that day. The message from those Federal panel members was to get out and… Continue reading
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