Lobbying Training Webinar for Medical Cannabis Advocates, Part II

Part two of the Lobby Like A Pro training webinar will take place on Tuesday, September 23rd from 8:00-9:30 p.m. Jennifer Bevan-Dangel of Common Cause will share general lobbying guidance such as communication tools, strategies, and background about governments and how they work. Don't miss this great opportunity to learn effective strategies for engaging your elected officials.

For details on how to register please visit the event page.

If you missed part one notes from that session are stored on Google Drive.

Why a Chemist Mom Turned Medical Cannabis Advocate

Parents Coalition for Rescheduling Medical Cannabis co-founder, Gena Dalton of Alabama, was recently featured on the front page of The Huntsville Times.



Gena's daughter, Charlotte, who was eventually diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome, had her first status seizure at seven months old. It lasted thirty minutes. One month later, in March of 2013, the infant had another status seizure, this time for forty-five minutes.



The local hospital had no sense of urgency. Sometimes babies have seizures, Dalton was told, as Charlotte was sent home with an appointment for the following month. Not having it, Gena quickly got her baby into LeBonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis for extensive testing.  "Mid-May I get a call from a neurologist at LeBonheur: Charlotte had a sodium channel deletion (Dravet Syndrome). He told me whatever I do, don't read the internet. Of course, the first thing I do is read the internet."



Gena found an article in the Colorado Gazette about a little girl, also named Charlotte, who has Dravet Syndrome and experienced dramatic seizure reduction on cannabis oil. Though the medical details reminded Dalton of her own Charlotte, this straight-laced mother and chemist assumed it was just pro-marijuana propaganda. "Wouldn't researchers and the government already have a handle in this to help thousands of suffering children? Wouldn't something this simple already be considered?"



For Gena, what follows has the feel of destiny. "By late summer 2013 I went through a period of hard depression and grief. I never watch TV. Ever. But for some odd reason, in late August I turned it on. As fate would have it, CNN's documentary WEED aired that night." That's when she knew this was real.



Dalton was thrilled the help her daughter needed existed but heartbroken that it was inaccessible. Illegal even. Nevertheless, she was now a mom on a mission. Gena wrote dozens of letters to politicians sharing Charlotte's story and asking for help. The negative replies were piling up when one legislator, Mike Ball, asked for more information.



While Gena and her mother set about shoring up Mike Ball's support, police officer dad Dustin Chandler was forging a coalition across the state. "I went on a stalking mission to find Dustin. I knew if we worked together we would accomplish more together than separately."



Gena, Dustin, and other Alabama parents were crucial to the passage of Carly's Law, legislation that allows the University of Alabama to conduct a CBD oil trial for epilepsy, but their victory was hard won. "We were told, 'Can't you guys just wait until next year when we don't have to worry about reelection?' NO!, we said. Our children might not be alive next year." After many media appearances and trips to the state house in Montgomery, Carly's Law passed. Unanimously.



As fate would have it, Gena's work was far from over. "You know, everything has a place and a reason, though we may not be able to see it at the time. Back in March, my family, shoot, the entire state, was ecstatic." However, Gena's joy quickly transmuted to guilt and grief when the CBD bill in nearby Georgia failed to pass due to partisan politics.



"I literally cried when I found out Georgia's HB 885 had failed.", said Gena. "We live in America. How could one state support initiatives to help sick children and another a few miles away did not? I thought about the children in Georgia going without and the families feeling desperate and hopeless. It hurt my soul. I called Dustin nearly in tears saying, 'We have to do something!'. He put me in touch with Corey Lowe in Georgia and BAM!, you guys were born.", Dalton told fellow Parents Coalition members on our leadership organizing page. "Had HB 885 passed, we wouldn't be here on this thread tonight."



Parents across the country who, like Gena, helped pass medical cannabis legislation in home states hit roadblocks accessing these laws for their children due to federal restrictions. The Parents Coalition for Rescheduling Medical Cannabis advocates the removal of cannabis from Schedule 1 so research can happen in the United States and patients can have safe access. To join our efforts contact us at cbdoilky@gmail com or visit our Facebook page.

Lobby Like a Pro Training Notes for Medical Cannabis Advocates

If you missed part 1 of Gail Rand's citizen lobbyist training with Jennifer Bevan-Dangel of Common Cause Maryland never fear. The training notes are available here in Google Drive format. Don't miss this opportunity to learn effective citizen lobbying skills from a seasoned advocate. This segment includes general lobbying approaches not specific to medical cannabis, but useful to our efforts nevertheless.




Remember Part 2 of this training is September 23rd 2014 at 8:00 p.m. To sign up visit the event page.

Citizen Lobbyist Training Webinars for Medical Cannabis Advocates

Join Gail Rand of Maryland and Jennifer Bevan-Dangel of Common Cause will host online lobbying training webinars for parents and other advocates. Part I is scheduled for tonight, September 9th 2014 at 8:00 p.m. Though not specific to medical cannabis, this segment will cover basic citizen lobbying approaches essential to anyone advocating a cause.




Part II of this series, entitled Help for Parents with State Laws to Lobby Like a Pro, is scheduled for September 23rd 2014 at 8:00 p.m.




To pre-register for part I please visit the event page and click the Go to Meeting link.




To pre-register for part II please visit that event page and click the Go to Meeting link as well.

Parents Coalition Endorses the Charlotte's Web Medical Hemp Act (HR 5226)

The Parents Coalition for Rescheduling Medical Cannabis endorses the Charlotte's Web Medical Hemp Act (H.R. 5226) of 2014, which removes therapeutic hemp from the Controlled Substances Act.

This legislation resolves legal ambiguity, allowing the production of therapeutic hemp in the United States. This would increase supply, improving access and affordability.

While the Parents Coalition recommends all cannabis be rescheduled for medicinal purpose, H.R. 5226 would allow immediate access to therapeutic hemp for many with serious health conditions.

Where state laws permit, this bill would allow patients to cross state lines with their treatment, enabling families who moved across country for CBD oil to return home without risking prosecution.

Since the Parents Coalition represents families from across the country that helped pass legislation in home states, and some still trying, we understand laws change slowly and that progress is a gradual process. Though limited, this legislation is an important first step for improving access and quality of life. Our work continues until all cannabis strains are removed from Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act, so medical research flourishes in the United States and patients have compassionate access.

About the Parents Coalition for Rescheduling Medical Cannabis

We are parents of children with epilepsy, autism, and other serious conditions potentially treatable by therapeutic hemp and medical cannabis. Many of us helped legalize strains in home states only to have our children's access stymied by federal restrictions. In 2014 we joined forces nationally, urging the federal government to remove hemp and cannabis from its list of banned Schedule 1 substances. Rescheduling or other reclassification of these plants would foster patient access and hasten medical research.

 

Help From Parents on How to Change Medical Cannabis Laws in Your State

On Wednesday, August 13, 2014 from 8:00 - 9:00 p.m eastern time Shannon Moore of Maryland will host a Google Hangout training session for those planning to change medical cannabis laws in their states. Parents who have helped pass legislation will discuss what worked and what they wish they had done differently. Featured are Gail Rand of Maryland, Annette Maughan and Jennifer May of Utah, Stephen Carlin of North Carolina, Maria La France of Iowa and Gena Dalton of Alabama. To listen in connect though Google or You Tube. Also, visit the Facebook event page here. 

Medical Cannabis Parent Advocates Participate in Rare Disease In-District Lobbying Days

Rare Disease Legislative Advocates is hosting In-District Legislative Lobby Days from August 4th - September 5th 2014. The organization raises awareness about the unique needs of those living with rare disorders and seeks legislation on their behalf.


Many children of parents advocating for medical cannabis suffer from rare diseases such as Lennox Gestaut Syndrome, Dravet Syndrome, and other debilitating conditions. Those parents are participating in RDLA's Rare Disease In-District Lobby Days to raise awareness about these rare disorders and to inform legislators that some of these conditions are treatable by medical cannabis.


Shelley Gillen of Nebraska, whose son has Lennox Gestaut Syndrome, is a lead organizer with the Parents Coalition for Rescheduling Medical Cannabis. "As a result of registering with RDLA I almost immediately had appointments with my state's two senators and my district congress person.", said Gillen. "Also, RDLA was very accommodating about working around my schedule so I don't have to miss work. I tried in the past to set up appointments with my senators and legislator, but was discouraged and unsuccessful due to what seemed like inflexible scheduling on their part."


To participate in Rare Disease Legislative Advocates In-District Lobby Days visit their Facebook event page or the website. For tips on how to prepare for your meeting visit the RDLA's resources page.