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John,
I called the office a little while ago. For folks that DO end up calling, and as John suggests, be patient with the "rings"....It took me about 15 rings before the answering service came on.
I left a short, respectful, to the point message for Dr. Vigil requesting that he attend the 30th meeting for the MCP program.
PLEASE folks....take the time to request that Dr. Vigil attend.
Thanks for putting the number up John for folks that could not listen to the radio show!
Sandia:)
That folks at Dr. Virgils office are going to confirm he's been flooded with phone calls? Then when he has more "pressing business" and doesn't attend folks will rise up and say he's ignoring the needs of patients?
I'll say this again.
Pressure from the bottom is more effective, it always has been.
Call and write your local representatives, the ones that want your votes next time around.
The sad state of the HARM program funding is clearly signage that MM has a very very low priority here.
You can't badger the governor directly, you MUST work the bottom end of the food chain.
want to save the Whales?..save the plankton first.
Until there is funding to provide for inspections there aren't go to be any more approvals
Start here:
United States House of Representatives, 111th Congress, 2nd Session
find your rep by entering your zipcode on the upper left of the page
send a clearly written LETTER ( not an email) to your rep and explain your needs, if you like, send a copy of the letter to the DOH to show them that you are in contact with people that CAN make a difference
Patient4200,
I will start off in saying that you are 100% correct in starting from the "bottom up". It DOES work. However, bringing up issues when one has the opportunity to do so ALSO makes a difference. Calling Dr. Vigil's office is one step in that process.
Let me ask you a question....have you called Dr. Vigil's office?
Not being confrontational as that is not my nature or intent, but if people do not start somewhere, then NOTHING will happen.
Case in point, I was part of a grass roots program in my city/town to oppose something that I personally felt was "cramming" something down my neighbors' and family's throat.
After being part of something really small....as small as a neighborhood organization....we were able to get the attention of our legislators to cease the actions that were being thrust upon us. On THAT day, I realized that if people do not say anything...express their opinions respectfully/tactfully...then nothing will happen.
Long story short, it worked. ONLY because people voiced their concerns and opinions.
I have written my legislators, petitioned the DOH, called Dr. Vigil's office.....THAT is what I can do. New Mexico is one of a handful of states that allow medical cannabis for people. If individuals did NOT voice their opinions, no matter how small, then nothing would have/will get done.
I remember 10 to 15 short years ago, Medical Marijuana was not even on the minds of people. If everyone just sat back and did nothing, I doubt that anything would have been done.
Patient4200 makes some good points folks....take the time to write a letter AND make a phone call.
Respectfully,
Sandia:)
I agree w/ Sandia.I don't think it is that people aren't calling...we are on a need to know basis and frankly to them we don't need to know.
I have been waiting over 40 years for this and we need to make sure they do it right.
They need to be pushed.
It took 112 years to get health care and I cant wait that long for the NM MCP to run correctly.
No, I didn't bother with Dr. Virgil, I know better already..
Only _elected_ officials have the power to make changes...They have something to Lose. Anybody is is in an appointed position is not going to do anything to "rock the boat". It should be pretty clear by now that MM is not on Dr. Virgil's agenda. No doubt he'd like it all to "go away", same thing with the meth problems here.
Sure I can call that office and leave a message, that will be taken by a secretary of the voicemail. I wouldn't doubt that the direction is "ignore calls on MM issues, we're doing the best we can"
On the other hand, calling my favorite congressman's office always gains a positive and concerned response.
You think the bill to implement an excise tax on MM went away all by itself?
NOBODY wanted to vote for it..because everybody wants to be reelected next term. A thousand or two votes can make a difference in any New Mexico election. Remember what happened when everybody got the idea that Starbucks was against MM?
Nobody in government wants to be the one with the label "implemented MM", however, when it's the voice of the voters..well that's a different story
What we need is legislation that more or less states:
"The DOH will approve 10%< like to see it at 25% actually> of all dispensary applications that meet a FIXED set of standards, not the ambiguous documents that have both boards I'm on scratching their heads to try to figure out what needs to be in there to get approved next time around.
Or some cleverly worded legislation that assures a good ratio of patient to dispensor.
Funding is the real issue as I've mentioned numerous times..where does funding come from?....not from Dr. Virgil's budget requests...he has two guys running the MM and Needle exchange/hiv program in the state. Disgraceful at best.
The state has a so called hiring freeze on, but not really
<<ok here comes the soapbox..again>>
Unless the elected reps get a clear message that MM patients are going to vote against them next time, they are not inclined to introduce any legislation that is going to give patients in this state what they need.
Which is why I made the point of giving direction to folks who want to contact their reps.
Phone calls to the DOH are falling on deaf ears I'm afraid, they are too busy processing patient apps and no doubt Dr. Virgil ( who want to keep his job) is kowtowing to the vocal majority who don't want to see NM turn into the next Colorado or California.
I'll call Dr. Virgils office till my ear turns blue, but I'd bet three letters to my local reps will get far more attention
I don't understand why you consider going to the US Congress as "starting from the bottom"?It's still technically illegal at the federal level,so why not start here in NM,where MMJ is legal?Quote:
Originally Posted by patient4200
Pressure The Governor,he appoints these Secretaries.
That secretary lied to you. I've left 3 msgs. on their little voicemail thingy. And what someone said earlier was right. They don't pick up until around the 15th ring.
Cool-I'm surprised you don't grasp the structure of government. Did you forget the DOJ memo? STATE reps make up the federal government. Best read the constitution, but this isn't going to be political science 101. Figure out how California will eventually legalize possession when it's "illegal" at the federal level.
Senate and Congress are bottom of the food chain so to speak.
They have the Governor's ear, and if he just totally ignores them maybe he doesn't get the party's favor, and without that, he isn't on the ballot for us to vote for.
Wonder why Richardson vetoed the food tax?...wonder if he's going to run for another term? How many people were going to be really really really unhappy with a tax on food?
Writing the governor is similar to writing the president, maybe you'll get a nice letter back ( suitable for framing ) maybe. Maybe you just get a postcard.
On the other hand a dozen or more folks contacting the state senator and congressman is going to get a bit more attention leverage wise. It's very hard for a small group with no full time big buck lobbyist to get anything changed at the top. You can however put pressure at the bottom.
That's how big buildings are demolished..lots of little charges on the foundation, not a blockbuster dropped on from above.
bottom line is that a couple of thousand MM patients in NM can't make a big difference UNLESS they work from the bottom.
This ain't California or Colorado...it's better..
This is my last word on this topic....I got letters to print and mail today and guess what..NONE of them are going to the DOH.