The Oklahoma Legislature is back in session February 6, 2012.
The Drug Policy Reform Network of Oklahoma has changed
plans for a rally at the Capitol.
Instead, we are planning to combine the medical
marijuana day with a full drug policy reform/end prohibition rally. We believe
a rally outside and a lobbying day inside will get the most participation and
coverage. You can “roar” with the crowd
outside and/or just quietly visit your legislators inside the capitol. This event is scheduled for April 20, 2012
(a.k.a. 4:20)
That doesn’t mean we aren’t going to be busy before
April 20. Starting Feb. 6, you (yes, you) need to contact your state senator
and ask them to support Senator Constance Johnson’s Senate Bill 573 (The
Compassionate Use Act of 2011). This is
a basic medical marijuana bill, allowing medical marijuana with a doctor’s
recommendation. The bill is currently
assigned to the Health and Human Services Committee. Please contact the Chairman of the committee
as well.
To indentify your state senator, call your
local "Board of Election/Election Board", or the State Election Board
(405) 521-2391. You can also find
this information online at www.lsb.state.ok.us
Health and Human Services Committee Chairman, Senator
Brian Crain: (405)
521-5620, crain@oksenate.gov
We are still going to the Oklahoma Capitol! It is time to tell our elected officials that
we want medical marijuana to be available right here, right now! We did it
in 2010 and had a great lobbying day at the Capitol. Patients and medical marijuana supporters
visited their elected officials and presented them with medical marijuana
information. OETA and News 4 did great
television news stories on the event. View the News 4 story at http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-news-medical-marijuana-story,0,4726019.story
On Friday, April 20, 2012, 1pm-4:20pm, we are going to
do it again!
We will meet at the capitol steps, to have a brief
discussion, before visiting our senators and representatives. If it is raining, we will meet on the second
floor rotunda. There will always be a volunteer at one location or the
other to give you directions. We will be
presenting our legislators with written information about medical marijuana and
requesting their support for medical marijuana legislation. Any loud chanting or guest speakers will be
outside at the rally.
It doesn't matter if you are a potential medical
marijuana patient or just someone who wants to see medical marijuana available
in Oklahoma; we need you to attend this event.
Please attempt to arrange a meeting with your state
senator and representative by calling their office. Arrange the meeting between 1:00-3:00 p.m., April 20.
It isn't a problem if you can't arrange a
meeting with your elected official. We are going to visit their office anyway.
If we can't speak directly to our elected officials,
we will leave the information with their staff.
No one will have to visit their legislators
alone. Our volunteers will gladly go along to support you. We will
stick together to demonstrate that many good people support medical marijuana
in Oklahoma.
If you can't make it to the Capitol that day, please
contact your legislators anyway. Please call,
email, fax and/or write letters today! Let them know that they can meet
actual medical marijuana patients during our visit to the capitol.
It is important to include the
following information when contacting your representative and senator:
1.) If calling, politely ask for
the legislator and ask to leave a message if he/she is not available (almost
always).
2.) Ask the person’s name that you are leaving a message with. Repeat their name to indicate that you might be
2.) Ask the person’s name that you are leaving a message with. Repeat their name to indicate that you might be
writing it down. This encourages them to actually deliver your
message.
3.) Give your name and address listed on your voter registration. Make it clear that you are an active voter.
3.) Give your name and address listed on your voter registration. Make it clear that you are an active voter.
4.) Ask them to deliver the following
message to your senator or representative:
“Please cosponsor the Compassionate Use Act of 2012”
“Please cosponsor the Compassionate Use Act of 2012”
5.) If they say, “What legislation?”
or otherwise try to disregard your request, say:
“I want legislation that allows
patients to use medical marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation,
and establishes
cultivation and distribution regulations.”
6.) Ask them to repeat your message (read it back).
6.) Ask them to repeat your message (read it back).
7.) Ask them: “If the legislator is too busy, will you please contact me with his/her
response?”
8.) Using their name again, thank
them.
Please make contact with your senators and
the Chair of the committee as soon as the session begins. We must put the pressure on these people, so
they realize that Oklahomans want medical marijuana too.
To learn more about our campaign for
medical marijuana go to: www.OKmedicalmarijuana.org
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