Events

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="153" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#003300 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 27 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="aboutus.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="cmmnj.org About Us"><U><IMG SRC="01191150.gif" border=0 width="145" height="21" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 28 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="cmmnj.org Mission"><U><IMG SRC="01091160.gif" border=0 width="145" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 27 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="resources.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="cmmnj.org Resources"><U><IMG SRC="00f91150.gif" border=0 width="145" height="21" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 27 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><IMG SRC="00e91150.gif" border=0 width="145" height="21" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 28 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jers"><U><IMG SRC="00d91160.gif" border=0 width="145" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 27 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact cmmnj.org"><U><IMG SRC="00c91150.gif" border=0 width="145" height="21" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 27 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="cmmnj.org patient letters"><U><IMG SRC="01c91150.gif" border=0 width="145" height="21" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 27 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Title 11"><U><IMG SRC="01a91150.gif" border=0 width="145" height="21" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 191 WIDTH="147"><div> <A HREF="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=5796098" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cm"><U><IMG SRC="08d7a2f0.gif" border=0 width="122" height="47" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> The Coalition for Medical </div> <div> Marijuana – New Jersey </div> <div> (CMM–NJ) was founded</div> <div> in May of 2003 to support the legalization of marijuana for use by patients under a doctor's supervision.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <A HREF="id9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jers"><U><B><IMG SRC="079a2720.jpg" border=0 width="162" height="114" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jers"><U><B>Get your own CMM-NJ T-shirt and wear it out! </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jers"><U><B>They're just a $15.00 donation</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Events</B></div> <div>     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New "><U><IMG SRC="006f8900.gif" border=0 width="760" height="144" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="815" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 6303 ><NOBR><bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="675" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 6262 WIDTH="671"><div> <B><IMG SRC="0a1ea5f0.jpg" border=0 width="234" height="351" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="3"></B></div> <div> <B>6-7-2009 Cheryl Miller Memorial - State House in Trenton </B><A HREF="#6_7_2009_cheryl_miller_memorial" TITLE="Events"><U><B>PHOTOS</B></U></A><B>           NEW!-   </B><A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/user/NJmedicalmarijuana" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.youtube.com/user/NJmedicalmar"><U><B>YouTube Videos</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>6-4-2009 Assembly Medical Marijuana Committee hearing </B><A HREF="#6_4_09_assembly_health_and_senior" TITLE="Events"><U><B>PHOTOS</B></U></A><B>           </B><B>NEW!-   </B><A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/user/NJmedicalmarijuana" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.youtube.com/user/NJmedicalmar"><U><B>YouTube Videos</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://open.salon.com/blog/freedomisgreen/2009/04/23/42009_norml_freedom_forum_philly-_wpics" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://open.salon.com/blog/freedomisgree"><U>CMMNJ Speaks </U></A>at the NORML Freedom Forum at the National Constitution Center</div> <bR> <div> <B>Ken Wolski </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id12_st_joesphs_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="cmmnj.org patient letters"><U><B><U>spoke</U></B></U></A></FONT><B> at </B><I><B>St. Joseph's University's Institute of Catholic Bioethics</B></I> in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 14, 2007 </div> <bR> <div> <B>CMM-NJ had a </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>booth</U></B></FONT><B> at </B><I><B>Ewing Community Fest</B></I><B> on the campus of TCNJ </B></div> <div> Sat. 10/7/06; 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM </div> <bR> <div> <B>CMM-NJ at Jim's Walk in Seaside, NJ</B></div> <div> Saturday & Sunday, May 20, 2007 </div> <div> <A HREF="#seaside" TITLE="Events"><U><U>Click here for details and pictures of the 5/20/07 event</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="#seaside" TITLE="Events"><U> </U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>CMM-NJ at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, Freehold Raceway</B></div> <div> Saturday & Sunday, June 18-19, 2005</div> <div> <A HREF="#___june_18_2005_at_the_american_cancer" TITLE="Events"><U><U>Click here for details and pictures of the 6/18/05 event</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>CMM-NJ on the State House Steps</B></div> <div> Thursday, June 9, 2005</div> <div> <A HREF="#___june_9_2005_at_the_state_house_in" TITLE="Events"><U><U>Click here for details and pictures of the 6/09/05 event</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Princeton Students for Sensible Drug Policy Hosts CMM-NJ Speakers</B></div> <div> Wednesday, April 20, 2005 5:30 - 7:00 pm</div> <div> Terrace Club, Washington Road</div> <div> Princeton, NJ</div> <div> <A HREF="#princeton_university_student_group" TITLE="Events"><U><U>Click here for details and pictures of the 4/20/05 event</U></U></A></div> <div> <U>Click here for press coverage of the 4/20/05 event</U></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#sean_mcgrath_memorial_" TITLE="Events"><U><B>Sean McGrath Memorial </B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="6_7_2009_cheryl_miller_memorial"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>6-7-2009 Cheryl Miller Memorial</B></div> <div> <B>State House in Trenton</B></div> <div> <B>all photos Copyright 2009 C. David Freitag</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0926c210.jpg" border=0 width="364" height="545" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0935c930.jpg" border=0 width="604" height="403" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0945c930.jpg" border=0 width="604" height="403" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0955c930.jpg" border=0 width="604" height="403" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="6_4_09_assembly_health_and_senior"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>6-4-09 Assembly Health and Senior Services committee hearing</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="09721940.jpg" border=0 width="545" height="404" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="09935a30.jpg" border=0 width="565" height="419" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="09b299f0.jpg" border=0 width="553" height="415" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="09da22d0.jpg" border=0 width="418" height="557" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="09f2e9e0.jpg" border=0 width="558" height="414" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="april_2009_philadelphia"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>April 2009 Philadelphia</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="06f87050.jpg" border=0 width="391" height="261" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://open.salon.com/blog/freedomisgreen/2009/04/23/42009_norml_freedom_forum_philly-_wpics" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://open.salon.com/blog/freedomisgree"><U>Photo Blog</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://open.salon.com/blog/freedomisgreen/2009/04/23/42009_norml_freedom_forum_philly-_wpics" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://open.salon.com/blog/freedomisgree"><U>CMMNJ Speaks </U></A>at the NORML Freedom Forum at the National Constitution Center</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sean_mcgrath_memorial_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></div> <div> <B>Sean McGrath Memorial </B></div> <div> Saturday, August 28, 2004 5:00 - 7:00 pm</div> <div> 900 Route 526</div> <div> Robbinsville, NJ</div> <div> For directions and further information, contact Chris or Jessica at (609) 208-2806.</div> <div> Download flyer <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>here</U></FONT>. (Microsoft Word Document)</div> <div> <U>Click here for pictures of the 8/28/04 event</U></div> <div> Robbinsville, N.J. – July 29, 2004 - The Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey (www.cmmnj.org) will hold its inaugural public forum, an awareness-raising event in Robbinsville, NJ, on Saturday, August 28 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. At the event, NJ Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Princeton Borough, will announce proposed legislation to be introduced in the New Jersey Assembly this fall to legalize the compassionate use of medical marijuana. </div> <bR> <div> The event is a tribute to Sean McGrath, a New Jersey musician who died in June at age 28, following a two-year struggle with cancer. In addition to offering testimonials from the caregivers of patients, like Sean, who suffered from conditions that benefit from medical marijuana, the forum will include speakers from the medical community. A short video, “The Case for Cheryl Miller,” will also be screened. </div> <bR> <div> Nine states have passed legislation in support of the compassionate use of marijuana, and several more (including New York) have it on their legislative agenda. </div> <div> “As the public becomes more aware of the benefits of medical marijuana, we’re confident they’ll make sure New Jersey is not the last state to adopt this safe, effective and natural alternative to what’s legally available today,” said Ken Wolski, a registered nurse and head of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey. “We applaud Assemblyman Gusciora for sponsoring the ‘New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.’” </div> <bR> <div> Marijuana has been shown to be an effective treatment for many patients suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, AIDS and other medical conditions. However, its current classification as a Schedule I Substance means that the Federal Government considers marijuana to have no currently accepted medical use, and a lack of accepted safety for use even under medical supervision. The Federal Government forbids doctors to prescribe marijuana. Patients must choose to rely on less effective and more costly (but legal) drugs for their conditions or acquire marijuana illegally and risk arrest and punishment. </div> <bR> <div> “No patient should be denied an effective form of treatment if there’s one that exists,” said Don McGrath, who is Sean’s father and the host of the event. “We hope concerned citizens will join us at this event to learn more and support the legislation.” Sean McGrath was a veteran of New Jersey’s music scene, having been with Saves The Day, Hands Tied, Mouthpiece, Foreign Exchange, Overseas and The Alps. He was diagnosed with biliary cancer in the spring of 2002, and died at his parents’ Robbinsville home in June. For information about Sean, please visit www.holdontoyourfriends.com. </div> <div> The “Sean McGrath Medical Marijuana Memorial Project” will be at held at 900 Route 526 in Robbinsville, just east of the Allentown/ Robbinsville exit off Rte 195. </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 885 WIDTH="809"><div>  <A NAME="septfest"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> The Coalition for Medical Marijuana-New Jersey will participate for the first time in this year's Hamilton Township's Septemberfest. For each of the past several years, the Septemberfest has been attended by over 100,000 visitors. This year the event is set for Sept 10th at Veteran's Park in the heart of the township with a rain date set for the following Sunday, Sept 17. CMM-NJ has been assigned a booth at W36. Anyone wishing to help staff the booth should call Ken at (609) 394-2137.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="02ddf580.jpg" border=0 width="479" height="344" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="02edf3e0.jpg" border=0 width="479" height="318" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 504 WIDTH="809"><div>  <A NAME="medical_freedom_com_hosted_a"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/K1_OyBuDzgU&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/K1_OyBuDzgU&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>  </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://medical-freedom.com/" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://medical-freedom.com/"><U><U>Medical-Freedom.com</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > Hosted a Candlelight Vigil for Patients of Medical Marijuana Prohibition on 11-1-08 at 8-PM in Philadelphia, PA. The annual candlelight vigil commemorated deceased and living patients, diagnosed with one of the conditions for which cannabis is a medically recognized palliative. Event organizers encouraged other interested parties to hold a simultaneous event that evening. These vigil raise awareness by informing the public of the medical value and benefits of medical marijuana, which is now legal in many states. Maine, Vermont, Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Rhode Island allow cannabis to be grown and used for medicinal purposes. On April 2, 2007 New Mexico became the 12th state to legalize medicinal cannabis. The US Supreme Court ruled June 6, 2005 that people who use cannabis with a doctor’s approval can still be prosecuted under federal drug laws but did not overturn any State Laws. For more information about last years’ successful vigil, </FONT><A HREF="http://www.universalarts.net/candl.html" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.universalarts.net/candl.html"><U><U>http://www.universalarts.net/candl.html</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.universalarts.net/candl.html" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.universalarts.net/candl.html"><U> </U></A></FONT></div> <div> Contact info William Haney 215.638.7840. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 1283 ><NOBR><div> 2007 seaside <A NAME="seaside"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="0562cd50.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="213" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="05850b30.jpg" border=0 width="592" height="435" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="05aebf20.jpg" border=0 width="747" height="498" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 1226 WIDTH="809"><div> <B> <A NAME="___june_18_2005_at_the_american_cancer"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>>> June 18, 2005 at the American Cancer Society's </B><I><B>Relay for Life </B></I><B>at Freehold Raceway >> </B></div> <div> Those who battle cancer at close range understand marijuana's legitimacy in treating nausea caused by chemotherapy. For patients who can't keep anything down (including Marinol pills), the risks of smoking are negligible when compared to imminent starvation. Likewise, people using marijuana as an adjunct therapy are better able to digest swallowed medications, thereby enhancing their effect.</div> <div> For these and other reasons, CMM-NJ was among many friends at the American Cancer Society's </div> <div> <I>Relay for Life</I> at the Freehold Raceway on June 18 and 19. We signed up forty new members, handed out information and talked to a whole lot of folks about medical marijuana, and we helped raise money for </div> <div> cancer research.</div> <div> Thanks to all the <I>Sean McGrath Medicinal Marijuana Relay Team</I> volunteers who ran the CMM-NJ booth from 10am Saturday to 7:30 am Sunday, and to all our new friends!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="060971f0.jpg" border=0 width="407" height="543" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="06180e00.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="480" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 1635 ><NOBR><div> <B> <A NAME="___june_9_2005_at_the_state_house_in"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>>> June 9, 2005 at the State House in Trenton >> </B></div> <div> To honor the memory of medical marijuana activists Cheryl Miller and Sean McGrath </div> <div> and to respond to the Supreme Court's Gonzales v. Raich decision, CMM-NJ took to </div> <div> the State House steps in Trenton:</div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="06200800.jpg" border=0 width="512" height="384" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="063e0800.jpg" border=0 width="480" height="640" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="06480e00.jpg" border=0 width="640" height="480" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 2379 WIDTH="809"><div>  <A NAME="princeton_university_student_group"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>Princeton University student group hosts medical marijuana forum</div> <div> Students for Sensible Drug Policy invites speakers from CMM-NJ</div> <bR> <div> WHAT: Panel at Princeton U. to speak on medical marijuana in New Jersey</div> <div> WHO: Students, healthcare professional and caregivers to medical marijuana patients</div> <div> WHEN: April 20, 2005 at 5:30pm</div> <div> WHERE: Terrace Club, 62 Washington Road, Princeton, NJ </div> <bR> <div> Princeton – Students for Sensible Drug Policy, a national group that launched a chapter at Princeton University in February, will host a panel discussion April 20 on the uses of marijuana as medicine and its proposed legalization in New Jersey.</div> <div> Speakers at the event at Terrace Club, which will be free and open to the public, will advocate the passage of the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act (S2200), a Senate bill sponsored by Nicholas Scutari, D-Linden. The bill was introduced in January.</div> <bR> <div> They will also discuss their experiences caring for loved ones who used marijuana to treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis and cancer chemotherapy, sharing insights on the positive effects of the medicine and the negative effects of its illegality.</div> <div> A historical perspective on medical marijuana and its recent prohibition will also be presented. Marijuana was a legal prescription drug in the United States well into the 20th century.</div> <bR> <div> After their remarks, the speakers will take audience questions.</div> <bR> <div> The panelists, all members of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana - New Jersey, will include Ken Wolski, the organization’s CEO and a registered nurse; Jim Miller, a longtime drug-policy reform activist and husband of late medical marijuana patient Cheryl Miller; and Don McGrath, who cared for his 28-year-old son, a medical marijuana patient, during his fatal struggle with stomach cancer.</div> <div> Students for Sensible Drug Policy has 133 chapters at colleges and universities across the United States. Its purpose is to question what it describes as an unwinnable drug war that has threatened the freedom, safety and health of the children it claims to protect.</div> <div> Since its founding at Princeton, the SSDP chapter has screened “Maria Full of Grace,” a recent award-winning film about a young woman drug courier, and “Busted,” an educational primer on dealing with police encounters featuring former ACLU Director Ira Glasser. The group has also hosted a talk by Tony Papa, who was imprisoned under New York’s draconian Rockefeller Drug Laws, and had his sentence commuted after earning two college degrees and becoming a renowned artist during his time behind bars.</div> <div> The Princeton SSDP chapter is led by Reona Kumagi, a third-year Princeton student and computer science major. “As members of the ‘DARE generation,’ we’re here to announce in clear terms that the drug war has failed, and that persecuting people who need medical marijuana is wrong-headed and mean,” said Kumagi, adding, “We hope the New Jersey legislature will do the right thing and pass the Compassionate Use Act.”</div> <bR> <div> The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act would make it legal for certified New Jersey patients to use marijuana as medicine under a doctor’s supervision. It would free patients from state criminal penalties if they were diagnosed with a debilitating condition, had a doctor’s recommendation for marijuana and were found eligible by a state review board.</div> <div> CMM-NJ (<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial Narrow" >www.cmmnj.com</FONT>) is a grassroots organization formed in 2003 to promote the legalization of marijuana for use by patients with a doctor’s recommendation.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="06500800.jpg" border=0 width="512" height="384" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="06600800.jpg" border=0 width="512" height="384" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="06700800.jpg" border=0 width="512" height="384" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="06800800.jpg" border=0 width="512" height="384" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>