[CannaPatientRecover]

Welcome, everyone. If you would like a copy of this proposal in MSWord, please send an email request to CPR_420@yahoo.com

I know I've been procrastinating on this.. I appreciate your patience. The meetings will be starting very soon at CCCN. Here is the proposal. Feel free to offer constructive criticism. It's a work-in-progress and subject to change. Co-ops and patients who wish to get involved need to email me at CPR_420@yahoo.com

Here we go... I'll post it in segments..

~Leosyn

[CannaPatientRecover]

PART 1
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Proposal For
Weekly CPR Support Group Meetings
by Dustin L. (Leosyndicate)

C.annabis P.atients in R.ecovery
CPR_420@yahoo.com
12/12/06

Introduction:
Cannabis Patients in Recovery (herein known as CPR) is a newly formed support group comprised of Medical Marijuana Patients (MMP) and their Caregivers as defined by California state laws, Proposition 215 and SB-420, under the valid recommendation of a qualified medical professional. Members of this group are typically former or current members of 12-step programs and other Recovery Movement efforts, though such status is not a requirement.

We have assembled in order to support each other and find solace in the support we receive. Each of us has, has had, or is personally involved with someone who is exhibiting one or more particular vice, compulsive behavior, addiction, or other self-perpetuated obstacle from which we/they are actively trying to recover. Each of us regularly medicates with medical marijuana for various purposes and we intend to continue doing so.

Other recovery groups do not cater to the MMP. Most often we are marginalized, ostracized, sometimes even banned because these other groups do not advocate the use of medical cannabis. In the cases where we just keep it quiet, through no fault of those groups, we may privately feel that because we are consumers of marijuana, we no longer belong.

We understand and respect the positions of these other groups and their members. For this reason, rather than trying to convince them otherwise, we have formed our own support group dedicated to the MMP. We may borrow ideas from other groups, but our principles, traditions, approach, and guidelines will be distinctly of our own making.

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[CannaPatientRecover]

PART 2
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Who is eligible to attend and/or become a Member:

Closed meetings are those held at Cannabis Co-Ops in rooms where only verified patients may enter. Open meetings are held outside of Co-Ops or in Co-Op rooms that do not enforce restricted entry.

Only pre-verified Medical Marijuana Patients as recognized by the state of California under Prop 215 and SB-420 under recommendation from a qualified medical professional may attend closed meetings.

Anyone who observes our guidelines and respects our members is welcome to attend an open meeting.

We suggest that a person only seek CPR membership if sufficient motive exists for that person to participate in the meetings and/or in development of the group as a whole, however curiosity as reason enough, alone, is acceptable.

As a group we intend to conduct a fair mix of Open and Closed meetings. Not everyone who attends either type of meeting is a member by default. To be a member, one need not attend meetings.

[CannaPatientRecover]

PART 3
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Membership Requirements:

All that is materially required for membership is a first name and an email address. To attend closed meetings, be on the restricted portion of the mailing list, or be identified as an MMP member, one must present a documented medical marijuana recommendation and have it verified by the co-op where the meeting is held. A good qualification for membership, though it is completely unverifiable, is a desire to Recover. What it is that one seeks to recover from is his/her own business, though we encourage everyone to engage each other and the group as a whole in discussing their personal Recovery journeys and in what way Medical Cannabis plays a part. Other items a person is invited to submit for membership, but which are entirely optional, include the following: Online Identity, Phone Number, List of Symptoms, Volunteer Availability, Personal History/Profile, Willingness to Assume Service Commitments, etc.

Please send your membership submissions to CPR_420@yahoo.com or in the form of a private message to Weedtracker user-ids: ‘CannaPatientRecover’ and/or ‘Leosyndicate’ for processing.

As mentioned earlier, membership is not a requirement in order to attend meetings. Becoming a member grants you the ability to solicit other locations on behalf of CPR as potential meeting sites. It is necessary to have a CPR member present in order to have a CPR sanctioned meeting. Membership puts you on the mailing list. Becoming a member allows you to suggest changes to the format of the CPR charter and Meetings. By becoming a member, you declare your support for and approval of the CPR concept and approach and you agree to represent its mission and scope accurately to others, to the best of your ability. Membership is free.

[CannaPatientRecover]

The Meetings:

Meetings are scheduled gatherings at designated locations. One or more members must be present for the meeting to be recognized by CPR. Meetings are held for members and non-members to share their stories and get to know each other. Meetings are designed around Patients helping Patients.

Members who have committed to particular meetings may assume commitments such as opening/closing, setup & cleanup, coffeemaker, secretary, treasurer, representative, location scout, and other positions yet to be determined.

Meeting Leaders hold the position for the duration of each meeting. Leaders are appointed at the beginning of each meeting by the secretary or a designated stand-in. It will be the leader’s job to read (or assign the reading to others) the CPR Preamble and other approved literature. It will be the leaders job to call upon others to share while the sharing portion of the meeting is in session. The leader may share as well, at his/her option. It is up to the leader to determine, each time the meeting is held, whether to call on each sharer himself, go around the circle one-by-one, or let each sharer designate the following sharer. It will be the leader’s job to watch the clock and end the sharing at the proper time. Leaders need not be members—that will be left up to the Secretary.


Commitments will rotate. Within each meeting a core group will form naturally. Meetings are by and large self-governing. It will be up to the core group in any given meeting to determine the parameters of assigned commitments and how and when they are re-assigned.

As most CPR members have had experiences in other support groups, the content and flow of our meetings ought to develop and flow naturally. The primary goal of any CPR Meeting is to provide solace, guidance and compassion for its attendees. We are not here to tell anyone how to live. We wish to lead by example, but not necessarily by advice. It has been found that one of the best ways to heal from a difficult life experience or condition is to interact and relate with a like-minded peer who is going through the same thing. This simple concept is the basis for why CPR has meetings.

We come from all walks of life. We’ve all experienced lows in our lives that were largely self-inflicted. We want to break those patterns and not let them mend. We want to move forward, to progress, to improve. We want to find purpose, achieve balance, take part in something we believe in, enjoy the company of others whose experiences and perspective complement our own, give and receive emotional support and reassurance, and learn about life through each other. We are bouncing back from past mistakes. We are drawn together by our common reverence for a controversial plant that has been involved in human history since long before the earliest times of archived record. These are the reasons why we gather. These are the intersections where we Meet.

[CannaPatientRecover]

Scope of this Proposal:

This document will be a work-in-progress for some time to come. I wish for it to be used as a basic introduction to CPR and as an invitation to Cannabis Co-Ops and Patients for their participation. We are looking for locations to hold our meetings. We are building our membership roster. We want to grow and serve the needs of the MMP community. We hope to accomplish great things and become a vital asset to patients across California.

If you are a Co-Op who wants to host a meeting:

Please send an email to CPR_420@yahoo.com or a PM to CannaPatientRecover with the following information:

Contact Name: ___________________________

Co-Op Name: ___________________________

Address: ___________________________

Phone: ___________________________

Days/Hours of Operation: __________________________

Days/Hours of Availability for Meetings: ___________________________

Length of Time in Business: ___________________________

Meeting Room Specifications (see below)
~Size of Room ___________________________
~Attendee Capacity (How many Patients can it hold?) ___________________________
~Vapor Lounge in Room? Yes/No
~Restricted Access? (Patients Only) Yes/No
~Private Entrance? Yes/No
~Special Guidelines we must observe (if any, please describe)

…And any other relevant info you feel we should know.

If you are a Patient who wants to be a Member:

Please send your membership submissions to CPR_420@yahoo.com or in the form of a private message to Weedtracker user-ids: ‘CannaPatientRecover’ and/or ‘Leosyndicate’ for processing. Please see the section titled, ‘Membership Requirements’ for more information on what to submit.

[CannaPatientRecover]

Elasticity of Agreements:

This document constitutes a general description of intent rather than a definitive format that must be adhered to. Thus, all of the foregoing is subject to change. Any member or co-op is free to re-evaluate their position at any time if the parameters of CPR and its practices become more or less favorable. All agreements for hosted meetings and/or membership can be revoked or opted out of for any reason. In cases when a co-op chooses to opt out of an agreement, we defer to that co-op. We understand that CPR is a guest and must operate accordingly and with respect. We only want to be where we are welcome. On the other hand, if a membership is revoked for any reason, that member is given the privilege to appeal the decision. If the majority of members, by vote, deem it appropriate, membership can be restored. Membership is not something that costs money or work to obtain, but it can be taken away if not handled respectfully. For applicable guidelines on respect and decency, please look up the Golden Rule.



Donations (optional, but highly encouraged):

CPR wishes to be not only self-supporting, but to contribute what we can to the movement and our communities. In the spirit of this we will pass the hat at each meeting. Donations are entirely voluntary and not expected. All of the money will go to support the co-op who is hosting the meeting, ASA, and other MMP advocacy entities. Scheduling and proportions of said donations will be arranged between the co-op and meeting Secretary or Treasurer, on a case by case basis. It is not necessary for every meeting to pass the hat and contribute, initially. We realize many patients cannot afford their meds, let alone financial donations. So we are setting the following as a flexible goal to strive for: By the time a meeting has been in existence for six months, it should be able to contribute, on top of covering its own expenses, approximately $1 per month, per actively attending member, to the facility in which it is held. Monies above and beyond that amount should be donated to the co-op, ASA, or local charitable causes in a manner that best suits the Meeting’s members.

[CannaPatientRecover]

~END OF PROPOSAL~





Questions, comments, complaints? Excited to finally be getting this started up. Been talking about it way too long now.. It's happening, people!

[Leosyndicate]

ATTENTION EVERYBODY: There has been a delay in starting the meetings at CCCN. The original date announced, 1/14, will not work because there is an ASA conference that weekend. The proprietors are attending the conference and I might go as well, so we are postponing the CPR Recovery Meetings to begin Sunday 1/21 instead.. Same time, 2pm. Hope to see you all there.