[MadRiverTurtle]

More potential ‘compassion centers’ suppliers than law allows
By Michael Caprio
PBN Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC), a nonprofit medical marijuana advocacy group, is scheduled to host a forum next Thursday for those interested in applying for “compassion center” licenses to grow and distribute medicinal cannabis under the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act that went into effect last month over the veto of Gov. Donald L. Carcieri. And so far, there is interest in growing the plant well beyond what is mandated in state law.

Stephen Hogan, executive director of RIPAC, said there have been approximately 40 parties thus far who have expressed interest to RIPAC in applying for a compassion center license, despite the fact that the law allows for three compassion centers to be licensed within two years, one next year and then two in 2011. “Those are only the people who have approached us. There might be more,” Hogan said.

Although the R.I. Department of Health holds license distribution power, many individuals have sought help from RIPAC due to the organization’s position as a leader in advocating medical marijuana legalization. “We have gotten calls from established nonprofit organizations, as well as up and coming nonprofits, and some individuals who would like to grow medical marijuana under a nonprofit designation,” Hogan said. Applications for the 2010 license are expected to be available in the fall.

This forum is one of a series of informational meetings that RIPAC has held for several months directed to patients and other interested parties. The meeting will be held at Brown University’s Foxboro Auditorium at 6 p.m. and will allow potential applicants to “become informed of the needs and requests of Rhode Island medical marijuana patients in regards to the expectations of what the compassion center will be able to provide for them,” according to the RIPAC Web site.

Admission to the forum is $50 per person, and it is open to the public.

For more information about the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition, go to ripatients.org.


http://www.pbn.com/detail/43521.html

[RIcaregiver]

Here ia a little info about me as I'm looking to become a RI Caregiver of a different sort:
My job as a Rhode Island Volunteer Caregiver is to assist patients to become self-sufficient. I assist in creating a growspace (whether a closet or stealth dresser, or a non-toxic growtent) in their residence (I live in Massachusetts about 5 miles over the border of RI) utilizing LED lighting (cost-effective for self-sufficiency)90 watts with maybe some cfls on the sides. I make self-watering Earthboxes (I'm in the process of adding aquarium earthstones to the reservoirs attached out side to a 20 dollar aquarium air pump to allow the root extra air) using 3 - 5 gallon buckets and utilizing primo soil (1 expense that can't be omitted) like fox farm. I hope to utilize seeds / clones that are almost mistake-free to begin with. I check their water supply for PH and have them leave 4-5 open 1 gallon containers full of their water left out at room temp for days before usage adjusted for PH (leave them some up/down solution and a "dripper" to add. Then I check in on them periodically in person and continually via email (if they have a digital camera, then pix help)


and now about my MMJ politics:


Although there will be inevitable abusers of a lax system like in Calififornia the opposite is true here in Rhode Island where one CANNOT find a Doctor to even RECOMMEND MMJ !!!
So, unless the system here is changed (and I don't think that any of the doctors here will be changing their minds !! my opinion, but prove me wrong, lol !!) Then new doctors more MMJ minded will have to be utilized and that has been my Goal since becoming a RI MMJ Activist !! I saw the problem with the law and its current limitations and tried to find solutions sometimes thinking outside the box which RIPAC and their like WILL NOT DO !! Like convincing a NON-PROFIT (www.thc-foundation.org) organization of physicians to get licensed here or maybe they can find local doctors willing to be open-minded (good luck there !!) to set up an office here to alleviate the obvious FLAW in the current RI MMJ law.
Now, I don't believe that every Tom, Dick, and Harry should get a MMJ Recommendation (ala CA) but we activists all know dozens of people with LEGITIMATE illnesses covered under RI MMJ law who CANNOT FIND A "COOL" DOCTOR and this is a disgusting travesty and INHUMANE !! So, unless the legislature finds a different path to fixing this flaw (which I don't believe they are even aware of due to mainly IGNORANCE !! (my opinion once again)) then we are on a path now to getting closer to California style MMJ and that is bad for the whole MMJ movement.

I am now calling out the RI legislature to either rectify the problem facing these people with LEGITIMATE MMJ LAW Illnesses or the system will FIX ITSELF !!!!!!





Peace and Compassion,

Bill

[Medicaluser99]

The Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC), a nonprofit medical marijuana advocacy group, ........ Admission to the forum is $50 per person, and it is open to the public.


Kind of confused...how can a "non profit" charge money???

old fart:

[RIcaregiver]

To do anything costs money (wages, space to operate, ...) thus to break even they must charge a minimal amount to recoup these expenses !!

Peace Out,
Bill