Meeting 2009-10-05
From Cannabis Defense Coalition
Present: Pam, Stitch, Jeff, Jesse, Greg, Ben, Holly, Lisa, Kathy, Aaron, Richard, Brian, Nick, Ra (pronounced Na), Ric.
Contents |
Little Nickel Ad
We are running an ad in the Little Nickel, for $126/week, advertising our "free medical marijuana guide." Running in all Washington zones, with front page placement in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason and Thurston counties. At $126/week we can't run the ad indefinitely without donations to cover it. Jeff suggested offering the guides on eBay. Stitch suggested running it every other week to save money. The CoC needs to be available online in printable PDF form. Perhaps we should add "for doctors and patients" to the ad. If we could afford display advertising, we would make the ad look exactly like the State Patrol's "report a grow" ad.
Insurance - GCL, D&O
Lisa contacted an insurance broker and has a $940/year quote on General Commercial Liability insurance, and a $3300/year quote for Directors and Officers coverage. Ben suggests just getting renter's insurance. Ask around -- who does the Olympia Patient Resource Center use? CIA? Kathy had insurance for the Emerald Cross and will report back who she used.
CRC - updates, signs, cafe
Event space will be for rent on a sliding scale w/ top of the scale around $500. We hope to open the cafe for breakfast, with the remaining part of the day open for kitchen rentals. We need a Public Health kitchen license and food permits. Kathy wants to rent kitchen for classes. King County DDES says walls going up need a permit, so patient retail area is on hold. The old County Line signs must go, Jesse will bring graffiti artist friends over soon for bid on work. Find a sign shop to replace the lit sign.
Committees
Outreach Committee to take on contacting South Park community organizations. Neighborhood Association meeting is on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Pam working on contacting South Park Arts to let them know the County Line has been resurrected and is excited about participating in the art community. Cafe committee now has Kathy and Nick. We should have at least one representative at every community meeting. Nick & Ra (pronounced Na) are locals of South Park and have many visionary artist friends who would like to help out. We aim to have art exhibits on our opening night along w/ raffles.
Case updates, calendar
We need a procedure guide for how to track cases so vollies can do the work. We need to email our list to ask who would like to be on our phone calling tree for alerts of cases in their area.
Mower/Reed case - the court allowed their mmj defense which most think now it will be dismissed.
Medical Marijuana Reclamation Project
Aaron reports the Zugsberger case was weird and quick, he had his briefs and case law in order submitted to the Judge who responded, "I think this needs to be handled between the patient and the police," after which she made the ruling to return the medicine to Matt. WDA asked Aaron for a brief of the case. Dena Alo-Colbeck wrote most of the brief and deserves kudos along side Aaron. He has two other reclamation cases with extenuating circumstances not likely to win back medicine, and one on which he's proceeding forward. Each case costs $200 filing fee, and Aaron does the work pro-bono.
Aaron reports a LEO stated to him that in Grant county they're still going to arrest patients and let the court sort it out, as they're going after a prosecution of the doctors authorizing the patients.
DoH requests
Our public disclosure request to DoH for all medical-marijuana-related complaints about doctors was filed long ago. They replied they have the information for us, and may get it to us in a month or two. Ben says we will be informing them that this will be an annual public disclosure request, so it may behoove them to come up with a tracking method that reduces their workload. As we understand it, some law enforcement agencies and/or personnel are using the Department of Health complaint process to harass doctors who sign medical marijuana recommendations. In our opinion, the US Supreme Court case of Conant v. Walters shall prevail, and law enforcement should stop harassing doctors.
Decrim bill - Ezra
Megan's friend Ezra is a business lobbyist in Olympia, and wants to work on passing the marijuana decrim bill in the legislature. He has a good deal of political, campaign and field experience, and thinks it winnable with some effort. He will speak at our next monthly session.
Can filter distro project
After Advance Nutrients flew a banner Hempfest, a rogue DEA agent has been threatening grow stores to not sell their products, or charcoal can filters. Ric reports it's as far as Okanogan. Ben suggests the CDC/CRC should sell these products. Stitch is concerned about a federal raid, and Ben rebutts w/ upholding Attorney General Eric Holder's position on medical marijuana. Stitch suggests selling rebuild kits as well. Challenge DEA on the issue using public media. Follow up with Advance Nutrients about getting some products. Find a can filter wholesaler.
Volunteer management
We need a procedure guide for drop ins, and a calling tree. Ben is setting up online shift scheduling software.
DPA Conference
November 11-14 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Seriously good conference, CDC has an exhibitor package, we still need airfare and hotel. Phil and Jesse likely candidates to represent. Do we need to ship stuff to their hotel for the tabling? Or can they carry it all on the plane?
