My correspondence with a senator.

Okay guys, this is proof that if you contact your legislator's they WILL listen. You may have to bug some of them again and again, but they will.:thumbsup: bear with me on the long post

Sent to him 1/16

Senator, you remember the conversation we had a few weeks ago? I thought I'd take you up on that offer. I've been told that our legislative sessions are two year, and that this bill is still alive, I would greatly appreciate your support of this, Mr. Justice. You seem to be a very intelligent individual who holds his constituents in high regard. This bill isn't full of loopholes, it's not expensive to pass, and it could be very promising to many individuals in this state, sir. Marijuana is legal for medical use, at the doctor's discretion in 12 states. The federal government distributes 300 marijuana cigarettes to 7 individuals throughout America every month, those individuals who were grandfathered into the federal IND program that was started in the late seventies and shut down in the early nineties. However, oklahoma law says you can't even raise a medical marijuana defense as grounds for acquital..Our laws are ignorant of fact when it comes to marijuana's medical benefits. It doesn't make sense to say that here, I'm a criminal if I use marijuana to treat my back pain, because it has no medical benefit and two or three hundred miles away in colorado I can smoke it after seeing my doctor and getting a state ID card, and its effects are beneficial merely because of legislation?

This bill would establish a legislative task force to study and make recommendations regarding the medical use of marijuana here in oklahoma. Sir, myself having used marijuana to mitigate my back pain throughout the past 2 years or so, with the only notable effect being stimulation of my appetite. However when I first started having the problems, which came a few months after a car accident, I consulted friends who were more knowledgable than me about pain management. I was told to try things such as lortab, darvocet, and oxycontin. In finding those, I also found vomitting, constipation, and extreme diziness and basically neutralization of my motor function..Marijuana is nothing like that. A mere couple of puffs and my pain dicipates as I feel the slight effects come over my body. The numbness and pain are eliminated and replaced with a euphoric effect. I smoke marijuana a couple of times a week or so when my back pain comes about, usually from excessive physical activity. In doing so I have simultaneously managed to acquire a couple of nationally recognized certificates in the field of computers and technology, as well as several state certifications. I've since graduated high school and am now employed as a part time cook at the Noble House in . I recently was suspended from vo-tech because of a small amount of marijuana I had acquired on a sunday evening in december, it was about a gram, enough to last me a week or two. Unfortunately, I neglected to remove it before attending vo-tech the next morning. Thinking nothing about it, the drug dog came and it was found in a small flashlight keychain on my keys. I was arrested, and am awaiting arraignment at court tomorrow for my action. Sir, if we had medical marijuana legislation in this state, it's likely I would've avoided this entire life changing situation, because I would have legally been able to use what's most effective in treating my pain, and doesn't come along with undesirable side effects. I've attached the bill in rich text format to this email to allow you to look it over. I hope to hear from you, I would love to speak with you again about this. Once again, you can reach me on my cell phone at. Thank you very much for your time, Senator, I look forward to hearing from you again.

Sincerely,

Marcus

received 1/17

Marcus

I have not seen the bill yet. Today was the deadline for filing the bills. I will be glad to visit with you after I see the proposed legislation. Thanks Ron

sent 1/18

Here's the bills text, sir.

STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 51st Legislature (2007)

SENATE BILL 875 By: Johnson (Constance)

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to public health and safety; creating certain task force; setting expiration date; stating purpose; directing membership; specifying duty of appointing authority; setting quorum; directing appointment of cochairs; providing for staff support; directing travel reimbursement; requiring certain report; providing for codification; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-2606 of Title 63, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

A. There is hereby created, to continue until July 1, 2008, a task force to study the medicinal uses of Delta-9-Tetra-Hydrocannabinol.

B. The purpose of the task force shall be to study and make recommendations on the feasibility of legalizing Delta-9-Tetra-Hydrocannabinol for medicinal purposes in the State of Oklahoma.

C. The task force shall consist of nine (9) members as follows:

1. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint three members as follows:

a. one member representing the Senate,

b. one member representing the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and

c. one member representing the Oklahoma State Medical Association;

2. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three members as follows:

a. one member representing the House of Representatives,

b. one member representing the State Department of Health, and

c. one member representing the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association; and

3. The Governor shall appoint three members as follows:

a. one member representing a chapter in this state of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML),

b. one member representing the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, and

c. one member representing the Department of Corrections.

D. 1. Members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities. A vacancy on the task force shall be filled by the original appointing authority.

2. Appointments to the task force shall be made upon the effective date of this act.

3. A majority of the members of the task force shall constitute a quorum. A majority of the members present at a meeting may act for the task force.

4. The members representing the Senate and the House of Representatives shall serve as cochairs of the task force.

5. The cochairs of the task force shall convene the meetings of the task force and shall determine the schedule of meetings.

6. Proceedings of all meetings of the task force shall comply with the provisions of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.

E. Staff support for the task force shall be provided by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

F. Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their service, but shall receive travel reimbursement as follows:

1. Legislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the provisions of Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and

2. Nonlegislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed by their appointing authorities or respective agencies for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act.

G. The task force shall publish a report of its findings and any recommendations, including recommendations for any resulting legislation, to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Governor by July 1, 2008.

SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2007.

51-1-1554 JC 1/18/2007 6:28:34 PM

received 1/22

Marcus

Thanks. This bill is just to set up a task force to study the issues. I will watch it as it goes through the process. I would be glad to visit with you if you would like to call me at H-*removed* or O-521-5537 or if you prefer you may e-mail me your phone number and I will call you. Thanks Ron

This is proof that if you really get active you can do something. I'm waiting to speak with him a bit over the phone, but he seems to be in favor of supporting the bill, the first time I spoke with him over the phone he seemed weary once I started talking about marijuana, but he seems quite understanding towards the matter. Don't be afraid to speak out for this, these are the people who can make the changes for us.