We've won the first battle, but it's time to get back to work

They say that the early bird catches the worm.

With that in mind, less than one month after our watered-down medical marijuana bill was signed into law, MPP is coming back to finish the job.

Beginning October 1, Maryland's medical marijuana patients will be protected from jail; however, they will still be forced to live under the threat of arrest. These otherwise law-abiding citizens stricken with afflictions like AIDS, cancer, Crohn's disease, and multiple sclerosis will still have to cope with the fear of being dragged out of their homes in handcuffs. Maryland's medical marijuana patients deserve the same legal protections as patients in Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawai`i, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington—they too must be protected from arrest.

Will you please take two minutes to help MPP get the ball rolling for the 2004 legislative session?

Please visit Take Action now to send a pre-written letter to your legislators that asks them to work with MPP next year to improve upon the medical marijuana law. After you choose your favorite pre-written letter and type in your address, our site will automatically e-mail your letter to your senator and delegates … all with the click of a few buttons. The whole process takes less than two minutes, but it makes a world of difference.

As we approach October 1, the weaknesses of H.B. 702 are receiving greater attention. The media, specifically the Daily Times, is beginning to pick up on the fact that this bill is incomplete. Such media attention will undoubtedly help MPP expand H.B. 702's protections for medical marijuana patients (and their caregivers) in the 2004 legislative session.

You can help build on this media attention. If you haven't had the chance to take that extra step of activism and send a letter-to-the-editor, it's not too late. Please take three or four minutes of your day, click here, and we'll guide you through the process, step by step. (We even have pre-written letters-to-the-editor.) Legislators routinely read letters-to-the-editor in local papers in order to understand which issues concern voters the most. Submitting a letter is among the most powerful ways to show your concern for Maryland's medical marijuana patients.

Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. Please pass this on to other Marylanders so that even more people can call out for reform.