“Help, Inappropriate Use of Power!” A Letter Sent for Patients, not Big Money Marijuana

Below is a letter sent to the Washington State House of Representatives Healthcare and Wellness Committee. The letter was in response to the medical cannabis community being largely over looked in favor of high powered lobbyist from the newly created recreational marijuana market, at a recent Healthcare and Wellness Committee hearing on the Cannabis Patient Pain and Suffering Act, 5052. Surprisingly, the committee chair did not feel it was necessary to call to testify anyone from Americans for Safe Access, the nation’s largest medical cannabis activist network, which was well represented at the hearing. In addition, the committee refused to call representatives from other well established medical cannabis activist groups.  However, what was most disturbing was the fact some of these recreational marijuana lobbyist represented deep pocketed special interest that gave money directly to members sitting on the committee. This gave the appearance of a “pay to play” mentality on the Healthgcare and Wellness committee, which resulted in Allison Bigelow, a constant advocate for cannabis patien rights in Washington State, writing the following letter. The article mentions the co-founder of the Medical Marijuana Coalition of Washington State, Lukas Barfield, so we have decided to post it on our Blog in the hopes the word will get out that medical cannabis is under attack in Washington State. Big money lobbyist representing a for profit system designed for those who want to get “High” are coming together with pay to play politicians to break a world class non-profit medical cannabis system that was designed by and for people with debilitating conditions. In other words, the full force of the Washington State Government is coming down on sick people in favor of money.       “-------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: Please help, inappropriate use of power Date: Fri, 06 Mar 2015 13:53:19 -0800 From: Allison Bigelow <b1luv2@gmail.com> To: Jim.Moeller@leg.wa.gov, Jay.Rodne@leg.wa.gov, Richard.Debolt@leg.wa.gov, Norm.Johnson@leg.wa.gov, Cary.Condotta@leg.wa.gov, Shelly.Short@leg.wa.gov, Steve.Tharinger@leg.wa.gov, Michelle.Caldier@leg.wa.gov, Judy.Clibborn@leg.wa.gov, June.Robinson@leg.wa.gov, Kevin.VanDeWege@leg.wa.gov, Marcus.Riccelli@leg.wa.gov, Joe.Schmick@leg.wa.gov, Paul.Harris@leg.wa.gov, Laurie.Jinkins@leg.wa.gov, Eileen.Cody@leg.wa.gov Dear House Health Care and Wellness Committee, I'm unsure how to proceed with these words, because I am pleading for help. I am not trying to start trouble. I really need your help. Yesterday I left my house in Mount Vernon at 3am to drive to Olympia to testify for the hearing on Medical marijuana. I stopped on my way down to pick up Lukas Barfield, a Precinct Committee person in his district in South Tacoma, and a medical cannabis patient who happens to be blind and must use a cane to navigate.  Lukas and I arrived at 6:45am and stood near the front of the line for about 45 minutes until staff had people sign in. We put our names on a sheet with the number 1 at the top. There were multitudes of people that were behind us waiting to sign in. when it became apparent that neither of us would be given an opportunity to testify, I mentioned our plight to staff who promised to pass along our testimony. Lukas, angry (edit-upset) with the injustice, gave staff 15 voter registration forms, one for each member, with one of his business cards attached, hoping they would get the message that he is active in the political arena and was not happy. I sent my testimony in an email to Lucinda Duvall, the very nice person who apologized for the lost opportunity to testify. When I got home last night I was shocked to read in a Seattle Times article that your committee's chairperson, Representative Cody, had been one of several political candidates to receive a contribution from the Washington Cannabusiness Association, which had 6 out of 42 members who testified before you yesterday. “Recipients of WACA money — $26,000 in all — included contributions to both major parties’ spending committees and to Republicans in leadership positions, such as Sen. Andy Hill, R-Redmond; Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville; and House Republican Leader Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish. Included among the Democrats were Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, who sponsored her own bill, and Rep. Eileen Cody, D-West Seattle. Cody chairs the House Health Care and Wellness Committee, where SB 5052 will be heard Thursday.” I hope you can understand why I am beginning to think Representative Cody refused to hear our testimony on purpose. Instead of hearing from the patients who traveled a long way to be heard, she allowed 6 WACA members to testify at the hearing. None of these 6 were in front of me in line. That is just not right. I sent my testimony to you yesterday, and I hope you have had a chance to read it. I've attached it here for you just in case, along with the Seattle Times article which details some of the biggest concerns from the patient community. I hope you will please help me make sure that the voices of seriously ill patients do not continue to be silenced by business owners with an obvious financial incentive and the lobbyists who represent them. Sincerely, Allison Bigelow” How to Speak Out Against the Injustice Call the Committee to tel them to vote “No” on The Cannabis Patient Pain and Suffering Act, 5052 Click Here to send an email supporting substitute bill, HB 2058, which is awating a hearing. Send lawmakers a Tweet urging them to vote “No” on 5052 Email lawmakers to tell them to vote “No” on The Cannabis Patient Pain and Suffering Act, 5052 Contact the Governor via Social Media and ask him to use his “Veto” if needed to protect patients in Washington State. For more information, and to follow the progress of these bills, “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mjismedicine