OPEN LETTER To the State Representatives and Senators in Ohio



To the State Representatives and Senators in Ohio



My name is Tonya Davis. I am a 43 years old female and I am a medical cannabis patient in your state. Id like to meet with you further on this issue. I can be reached at TonyaDavisis@hotmail.com



Yes... it is time to tackle the age old issue of whether or not to allow medical cannabis user's the same rights as five . Or at least protect us on a state level.



(Fact) There are five medical cannabis patients (scattered over the USA) allowed to utilize cannabis as a medicine and have, for over 25 years.



(Fact)There are 12 states now that allow the compassionate use of cannabis and I want Ohio to be the 13th.



(Fact) Ohio taxpayers just paid for the incarceration of Randy Brush who grew 4 plants for his medical needs... $150,000.00 for 11 months. His sentence was 3 years,5k fine and 3 years supervised probation. This is why we need this BILL. He did not have a criminal record before this.



(Fact) Simply put, I would be dead if it wasn't for this illegal plant. I would've been addicted to narcotics and no home because I wouldn't have been able to take care of myself so Id been homeless or in a nursing home… That would be a death sentence for me as well a burden to society paying for me to be there



I'd be dead because all those pills would shut all my organs down.



I require 78 pills a day to survive.



When I can have medical cannabis ... I can eliminate 30 right off the bat. Cannabis is the best anti inflammatory I have ever found... The best nerve and pain medicine as well.



To ignore our pleas for help is simply unacceptable. I am not a second class citizen and resent being treated as such! By this subject being ignored.



I suffer from back and spinal damage /injury where the pain is horrific at times. I am a domestic violence survivor



I also have some major debilitating diseases /conditions.



I have no criminal record.



I don't buy or sell drugs.



I realize that the biggest fear you have about allowing medical cannabis for the sick...

makes you think , all we all want is to legalize pot.



That simply is not true.



I am Anti drug and I simply want patients like myself ... who have the support of their doctors and quite frankly cannot for whatever reason use strong addictive medications for pain etc. use cannabis as a medicine. I want us protected and removed out of this drug war.



You worry about sending the wrong message to the kid's…What could be a greater message to send to our youth that there is a time and place for compassion? And Abuse of anything is wrong.



The Scripture in New Testament... 1Timothy Chapter 4 verses 1-5 says it all.

please read If you have moral and Christian issue on this



Please show us That you care about all Ohioans … even the ones who uses a therapy you may or may not understand.. but have to trust that their doctor or your doctors know what they are doing.



Most of you have tried cannabis and you know it is not dangerous like a lot of prescription drugs on the market today. Or like the lies being told.



Also take a peak at the Summary of the Ohio Compassionate Act which I have included.



Id like you to consider this bill for the house and the senate and a Republican /Democrat Sponsorship there of.



This bill would offer a defense to fight for my life in a court of law. If I ever God forbid needed to. Please remove me out of this drug war.



I love Ohio and I don't want to have to move away from here..





FOP says the they wont have a position on this type of legislation.

AFSCME also support the compassionate use of cannabis

Many Ohio Doctors support the compassionate use of cannabis.

Law enforcement has told me they could live with this legislation if enacted into law.



A Summary of the Ohio Compassionate Act



Medical Use of Cannabis: Exemptions

The following provisions are l based upon the 1999 Maine Medical Marijuana Initiative along with various amendments passed by Maine's state legislature.

The following provisions govern the medical use of cannabis:

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who is at least 18 years of age may lawfully possess a usable amount of cannabis for medical use if, at the time of that possession, the person has available an authenticated copy of a medical record or other written documentation from a physician, demonstrating:

(1) The person has been diagnosed by a physician as suffering from one or more of the following conditions:

(a) Persistent nausea, vomiting, wasting syndrome or loss of appetite as a result of: (i) acquired immune deficiency syndrome or the treatment thereof;

or Chemotherapy or radiation therapy used to treat cancer;

(b) Heightened intraocular pressure as a result of glaucoma

(c) Seizures associated with a chronic, debilitating disease, such as epilepsy; or

(d) Persistent muscle spasms associated with a chronic, debilitating disease, such as multiple sclerosis;

(e) Persistent or chronic pain associated with a debilitating disease

(2) A physician, in the context of a bona fide physician-patient relationship with the person;

(a) Has discussed with the person the possible health risks and therapeutic or palliative benefits of the medical use of cannabis to relieve pain or alleviate symptoms of the person's condition, based on information known to the physician, including, but not limited to, clinical studies or anecdotal evidence reported in medical literature or observations or information concerning the use of cannabis by other patients with the same or similar conditions;

(b) Has provided the person with the physician's professional opinion concerning the possible balance of risks and benefits of the medical use of cannabis to relieve pain or alleviate symptoms in the person's particular case; and

(c) Has advised the person, on the basis of the physician's knowledge of the person's medical history and condition, that the person might benefit from the medical use of cannabis to relieve pain or alleviate symptoms of the person's condition;

(3) The person has disclosed to the physician that person's medical use of cannabis; and

(4) The person is under the continuing care of the physician.

B. A person under the 18 years of age may lawfully possess a usable amount of cannabis for medical use if:

(1) The person meets the requirements of paragraph A, subparagraph's (1) to (4); and the person has available a signed written authorization from that person's parent or legal guardian consenting to that person's medical use of cannabis.

C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a designated care giver may lawfully possess a usable amount of cannabis for medical use by an eligible patient if the designated care giver is acting within the scope of the designated care giver's duties to the eligible patient.

D. The fact that a person produces documentation described in paragraph A does not constitute a waiver of the physician-patient privilege in any other respect.

E. A physician who, in the context of a bona fide physician-patient relationship, advises a patient that the patient might benefit from the medical use of cannabis may not be deemed to have violated any provision of the Ohio Revised Code or be held liable for the patient's medical use of cannabis.

F. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph A, medical use of cannabis by an eligible patient is not authorized by this section if such use occurs in a public place or in a workplace where such use is not permitted.

G. It is an affirmative defense to prosecution for possession, use or cultivation of a usable amount of

cannabis. H. It is an affirmative defense to prosecution for possession, possession with the intent to furnish,

Furnishing or cultivation of a usable amount of cannabis if the defendant was a designated care

Giver under this subsection if the person to whom the cannabis was to be furnished or for whom it

Was cultivated was an eligible patient. I. "Usable amount of cannabis for medical use" means 3 ounces or less of harvested cannabis and a

total of 7 plants, of which not more than 3 may be mature, flowering plants.

This bill would make the following changes to the laws governing the possession and use of cannabis.

1. It authorizes an eligible patient diagnosed with one or more specified debilitating conditions, including cancer and acquired immune deficiency syndrome, to use cannabis for medical purposes when a physician determines that a patient might benefit from cannabis use and when other requirements are met.

2. It limits the amount of cannabis that an eligible medical patient may possess without violating civil or criminal laws to no more then 3 ounces of harvested cannabis and 7 cannabis plants, of which not more than 3 may be mature flowering plants.

3. It allows a person who is legally designated to care for an eligible medical patient to assist that patient in using cannabis for medical purposes.

4. For a person under the age of 18, it authorizes medical use of cannabis only if both the listed medical eligibility requirements have been met and a parent or legal guardian had given written consent to this use or the person is entitled to consent to all health care services pursuant to existing law.

5. It prohibits medical use of cannabis by an eligible patient in a public place or in a workplace where this use is not permitted.





Respectfully
Tonya Davis



Founder and owner MMJ ACTION NETWORK
http://mmjactionnetwork.com Respectfully
Tonya Davis 

Journalist /pulished  Free Lance writer for TY magazine

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