Current Temp:
80°F
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Medical Marijuana The fight for MMJ patients' rights
Posted by Bryce Crawford on Wed, Sep 1, 2010 at 5:27 PM
Patients' rights has been something of a sore spot among those who hold a red card. Multiple comments on our website reveal a distaste for our current system.
Here's user Gurudori, commenting on our story, "You say 'patient,' I say 'caregiver'."
"Whomever is making up these regulations obviously is not a MMJ patient! Why are they making this application process even harder? What does it matter if I'm a patient and a caretaker?" Gurudori writes. "How could this possibly be a conflict when many caretakers stated out as a MMJ patients, and we just want to help others? I think they are trying to make it so difficult to be a MMJ patient that people will just give up."
Audrey Hatfield has similar concerns, and it's why she started the group Coloradans 4 Cannabis Patient Rights. While only a Facebook page at the moment, Hatfield says in an e-mail that she plans on "updating [a new] website a few times a week once it's finished and ready to go," and would like to make it an official nonprofit.
Comments (2)
Showing 1-2 of 2
Yes, I am Gurudobi, but I can’t write with my legal name because I WILL BE FIRED FOR JUST BEING AN MMJ PATIENT even though I never use my medicine before or during work hours. I will keep writing comments about how we need a patient’s Bill of Rights to be added to Amendment 20 until I am heard by the government board overseeing the MMJ program in Colorado. (You would have thought they would have figured this out by now, but the powers that be seem to be only interested in making the process harder not better, so here are my suggestions, if they dare to listen: )
MMJ BILL OF RIGHTS
1.) All MMJ patients have the right to maintain their employment if they are in compliance with the requirements of their job duties and responsibilities and are NOT found to be using on the job, under a DUI suspension, or in conflict with their job duties as per operation of machinery and equipment under current employment legal requirements. JUST BECAUSE WE ARE A MMJ PATIENTS DOESN’T MAKE US DRUG ADDICTS WHO FALL UNDER THE “DRUG FREE ZONE” CHARTER DESIGNATION. WE SHOULD NOT BE DRUG TESTED IF WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR EMPLOYMENT!
2.) MMJ patients should have the right to also be a MMJ Caretaker as previously designated. (Even a doctor gets sick and has to see a doctor, so why can’t I be a patient and a caretaker?)
3.) MMJ patients have the right to legally purchase, possess and use their medicine in the confines of their own home.
4.) MMJ patients have the right to grow their own medicine as long as we comply with the State laws and follow fire & safety regulations. (One of my disagreements with the number of plants we are allowed to grow is that it doesn’t take into account how long it takes to go from seed or clone to harvest, which can very in time from 5 to 8 months in duration. If I am only allowed 6 plants, I will only be able to get 1 or 2 plants to harvest each month with a yield of less than 2 ounces (organic/ dirt grown). That is less than my allowable amount of medicine I am allowed to have each month, so why can’t we grow a few more plants. After harvesting a plant, it may yield ¼ or less than its original weight because you can use the whole plant as stated in the law. A one pound plant does not yield one pound of medicine after it is cleaned and dried properly. )
5.) MMJ patients have the right to purchase our medicine legally, so in turn, we have the right to purchase our medicine at legal MMJ dispensaries in ALL counties of Colorado. This will also have a positive outcome in our communities by decreasing illegal drug crimes, not supporting drug cartels and organized crime, and will generate much tax revenues.
I can only hope someone is listening out there and will do the right thing to support our MMJ patient program in Colorado state and make it better for the patients who need it.
like
dislike
Posted by
gurudori
on 09/02/2010 at 11:09 AM
POSTED TODAY ON YAHOO.COM- "THINGS YOUR EMPLOYER CAN'T ASK YOU."
Do you take drugs, smoke or drink?
Concerns about drug, alcohol or nicotine addictions are valid as they can impact an employee's quality of work and the rates of a company's health insurance coverage. However, an employer might find themselves in legal trouble if they don't frame questions about these potential problems in a careful manner. They are allowed to ask if you have ever been disciplined for violating company policies about the use of alcohol and tobacco products. They can also ask directly if you use illegal drugs, but an employer can't inquire about your use of prescription medications.
Notice: MMJ currently doesn't fall under the exemption of prescription medications or a medical condition, so technically, yes, we would have to admit to "illegal drug useage" under the current employment laws.
THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE: WE ARE MEDICAL PATIENTS AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE EXEMPT EMPLOYMENT DESIGNATION AS SUCH!
Posted by
gurudori
on 09/09/2010 at 7:58 AM
