Vermont medical marijuana improvement bill hearings this week
The House Committee on Human Services will hear testimony from medical marijuana patients and experts this week on S.7. This legislation to improve Vermont's current medical marijuana law easily passed the Senate with an overwhelming, bipartisan voice vote several weeks ago.
It's vital for state legislators to see examples of the widespread, statewide support this sensible legislation enjoys. Please take a moment to write a letter to the editor of your local paper. We have provided you with some basic talking points, but please take a moment to personalize your letter. You can also use some material from our library in your letter.
After sending a letter to the editor, please take a moment to call the members of the House Committee on Human Services and urge them to follow the lead of their colleagues in the Senate. You can call the Vermont State House switchboard operator at (802) 828-2228, but only between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., and ask to speak to the committee members listed below. Your call will be especially important if you live in the district of one of the representatives on the committee. If you don't know who your representative is, you can click here to find out.
The committee members are:
Rep. Ann Pugh (D-S. Burlington), chair
Rep. Michael Fisher (D-Lincoln), vice chair
Rep. Anne Donahue (R-Northfield)
Rep. Margaret Andrews (D-Rutland City)
Rep. William Frank (D-Underhill)
Rep. Patsy French (D-Randolph), clerk
Rep. Sandy Haas (P-Rochester)
Rep. Norman McAllister (R-Highgate)
Rep. Mary Morrissey (R-Bennington)
Rep. Michael Mrowicki (D-Putney)
Rep. Scott Orr (D-Charlotte)
When talking to the representative or staff member, remember to be polite and respectful, even if the representative disagrees with you. Your message to the representatives can be simple: "Please vote in favor of S.7, the bill to improve our medical marijuana law. This bill will help many seriously ill residents in our state. Thank you."
Vermont's law is currently very restrictive, both in terms of qualifying conditions and amount of medical marijuana plants patients can cultivate. S.7 will improve Vermont's current medical marijuana law by adding serious conditions that cause severe or chronic pain, nausea, wasting, or seizures. It will also increase the number of plants that registered patients are allowed to grow to four mature plants and 10 immature plants. Please take action today and urge your legislators to pass S.7.
Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. Please pass this message along to your friends and family in Vermont so that others can stand up for the state's most vulnerable residents. |
