The Firece Females of Cannabis Politics

By: Jamie Solis

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etween Hilary Clinton cracking a cannabis joke last month to the apparent connection between Democratic Governor John Kitzhaber’s wife and a giant field of cannabis sativa, there has been quite a buzz lately in the mainstream media about Democratic women and their relationships with cannabis. While we are also guilty-as-charged for following these jaw-dropping and dramatic stories, the real headlines about Democratic women should highlight the female politicians who openly support pro-cannabis legislation and are actively doing something about it.

Some of the most badass, game-changing and influential leaders behind the policies and legislation for cannabis are in fact women. These senators, congresswomen, governors and activists are foraging the path towards reforming legislation, so it’s about time they get more recognition than women who just talk about it. Let’s take a look at current and future female politicians who are making a difference in our community.

Pro-Cannabis Women Who Hold High-Ranking Office

Some of the esteemed politicians who deserve recognition for their unprecedented support to our cause are Barbara Lee, Elizabeth Warren, Maggie Hassan and Diane Savino. These four prominent female politicians have all openly supported a person’s right to safe access of medical cannabis.

Barbara Lee is a Democratic Congresswoman for California. Not only has Lee gained popularity among cannabis activists, but she also works feverishly to help elect more women into American politics. The Barbara Lee Family Foundation and The Barbara Lee Political Office are two organizations that have helped each elected female Democratic governor or senator gain their seat.

Aside from her passion to gain gender-equality in politics, Lee is passionate about helping the governments realize and recognize the rights of California voters. She gained the support of cannabis activists everywhere when she took a stand for business owners and patients who were getting screwed by raids back in 2012. The U.S. News & World Report published her statement, “We should be protecting and implementing the will of voters, not undermining our democracy by prosecuting small business owners who pay taxes and comply with the laws of their states in providing medicine to patients in need.” If there is one politician who truly gets it, it’s this one.

There are many other women who are making an impact on cannabis laws in their states. Massachusetts is happy to call Elizabeth Warren its Democratic Senator. Having a personal experience with how a patient may need medical cannabis has developed somewhat of a soft spot in Warren’s heart for MMJ patients and their families. The Governor of New Hampshire, Maggie Hassan, was also instrumental in her state’s legalization of medical cannabis, because she too believes in a patient’s right to safe access, and she believes it should be regulated by the State of New Hampshire.

Senator Diane Savino from New York is another powerful woman who understands the medical need for cannabis, even by the youngest patients. She is a supporter of the famous strain “Charlotte’s Web,” which is known for being low in THC and therefore not being highly psychoactive for its patients who are children. This strain is high in CBD, so it is able to deliver therapeutic effects to help prevent seizures in patients young and old.

The Coalition Continues to Grow Into 2015

On top of the many women who have already made an impact in MMJ, we are happy to celebrate a couple female politicians who were just elected early November to continue this fight in 2015. These are the women to look out for in the upcoming year!

Last month, Democratic Representative Dianne Russell won another term in the Maine House of Representatives, and her supporters couldn’t be more excited. She absolutely swept the competition with her honest values that include responsible legislation for cannabis, marriage equality and more. Russell has taken it as her personal mission to reform the prohibition of cannabis in the state of Maine, and so far she undoubtedly been moving mountains in making a huge impact on Maine’s cannabis laws.

Bonnie Watson Coleman is a Democrat who just was elected as a Member of Congress for New Jersey. On top of her accomplishment of being her state’s first African American woman to ever serve in Congress, she is also the first woman to represent New Jersey in Congress in over a decade. On top of these great victories, Coleman has already dedicated her professional endeavors to issues that include reforming New Jersey’s cannabis legislation and regulation. She has shown her support in the past in many ways, which included co-sponsoring a measure to decriminalize possession of Cannabis in New Jersey.

Women have had some powerful and influential roles within the rapidly changing world of cannabis. It is clear that there is no cap to where this growing entity of womanpower will suffice. When dedicated female politicians forcibly change an American industry that often still objectifies women, it brings a hopeful spirit to this female writer.

LOCAL LADIES

Heroes come in all forms, and there are plenty of local heroes that are helping aid in the fight for legalizing cannabis in your own neighborhood. Wanda James is an activist and businesswoman who is making a global difference following her successes on a national level. She first gained widespread popularity for her contribution in developing the regulation and sustained growth and development of the cannabis industry in Colorado.

Dr. Amanda Reiman is a researcher and professor who also serves as the Policy Manager for the Marijuana Law and Policy unit of the Drug Policy Alliance. She is also the first woman to serve as a chairwoman on the Medical Cannabis Commission for the City of Berkeley, and she is part of the Cannabis Regulatory Commission for the City of Oakland. In all of her titles, she keeps a passionate goal of furthering our industry towards legalization and regulation. The medical and recreational cannabis communities are grateful to the dedication of these great women. 


Originally published by Culture Magazine on Dec. 4, 2014: http://ireadculture.com/article-4854-the-fierce-females-of-cannabis-politics.html

Young Man Diagnosed with Autism is Saving Lives Alongside His Mother

By: Jamie Solis

Joey’s story aired on Good Morning America five years ago, making him one of the first children to represent adolescent medical cannabis patients, who had been otherwise faceless in the mainstream media. Audiences were instantly captivated by Joey, a young boy from Orange County who is diagnosed with having Autism Spectrum Disorder and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. As Joey got older, his symptoms grew more and more severe. Doctors tried what they knew, prescribing him up to 13 medications at one point. At nine years old, Joey weighed only 42 pounds, and his mother was afraid she was going to lose him. After doing some research, Joey’s mom introduced medical cannabis oil infused brownies into Joey’s diet. He immediately gained an appetite, slept easier and started foraging his path to an overall happier life.

It took Joey trying around 15 different strains over the course of numerous years to finally find the best match to alleviate his symptoms. The strain, now called “Joey’s Strain,” comes from Kushman Genetics, and is available at Buds & Roses in Los Angeles. The information regarding the genetics and cannabinoid levels of Joey’s Strain are not available yet. However, we speculate that it may be an indica-dominant strain, because indica-dominants are often prescribed to aid with symptoms of autism, ADD and insomnia. Joey’s mother, Mieko Hester-Perez, has worked with hundreds of families, and each family has found success with cannabis treatment when using Joey’s Strain.

The Woman Behind the Hero

Mieko Hester-Perez, Joey’s mom, is the co-founder of The Unconventional Foundation for Autism (UF4A), and she has been working professionally as a legal secretary since she was 20. Mieko has appeared on countless media outlets, educating the world on how her son’s quality of life has improved with medical cannabis, which in turn has bettered her family’s quality of life as well. This mother of three lives by a motto of paying-it-forward by connecting with families across the country as a consultant who helps them navigate through medical cannabis treatment for their children. Each family receives confidential guidance that is tailored to their child’s needs, and her goal is to protect the families by aiding them in safely moving forward with the treatment while still abiding by laws and regulations.

Since medical cannabis is missing an informational sheet explaining recommended dosages and possible side-effects, Mieko is typically asked by parents how to approach starting a regime of cannabis for their children. She explains some of the type of help she offers, “I teach parents how to introduce new foods when placing their child on cannabis, because most of these children are, like most children, picky eaters.” Kids who are living with autism can be extremely finicky eaters, so Mieko shares how easy it is to offer organic fruits and vegetables to these children utilizing cannabis, “One of the joys of the treatment is when the child does have cannabis, within 10 or 15 minutes you can introduce fruits.”

Mieko often looks around and wonders how she got to this point in her life, where she is now considered an expert in the intersecting worlds of cannabis, special needs, law and legislation. She is extremely grateful for all of the supporters she has met along the way, with one of her fondest memories being the time she and Joey were invited as VIPs to speak at Cypress Hill Smokeout. This was Joey’s first concert, so Mieko holds the memory of this outing especially close to her heart. Sitting backstage before the show, these musical artists were interested in hearing Joey and Mieko’s story. After listening to a little about Joey’s life, B-Real of Cypress Hill were extremely receptive to the cause. Mieko shares, “I thought that these guys, B-Real, gets it. This new generation gets what I’m doing.”

Mieko shares that due to Joey’s fatal muscular dystrophy, he may not be with us for too much longer. This devastating reality along with all the positive support Mieko has gained along the way keeps her motivated to pay-it-forward to other families. When praised for her commitment to helping others, Mieko is very humble in saying, “I feel like Joey has helped more people today than most people help in a lifetime, and I’m very privileged to be a part of it.”

Originally Published by Culture Magazine on Oct. 2, 2014:  http://ireadculture.com/article-4574-young-man-diagnosed-with-autism-is-saving-lives-alongside-his-mother.html

Looking Ahead in Santa Ana, Will the Raids Finally End?

BY: Jamie Solis

Two ordinances intent on making the rules

Collectives have continued operating in Santa Ana for the past seven years, despite the city’s ban on Medical Cannabis and Cooperatives. With an unstructured MMJ scene that resembles the “Wild West,” the city council decided to once again take matters into their own hands by instructing the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) to raid 24 targeted dispensaries throughout the city. On July 31, 68 patients, volunteers, employees and owners were detained and transported in an overcrowded, overheating paddy wagon to the Santa Ana City Jail.

Some men and women were sent home that evening after being cited, while others were forced to spend the night in jail before receiving their fines. According to Kandice Hawes, the leader of the OC’s cannabis community, the city was unapologetic for their unjust actions in which many detainees’ rights were violated. It may be a surprise that while the city is instructing massive raids in an attempt to get a handle on the situation, a permanent solution to the problem is just around the corner. 

Santa Ana is on the brink of becoming the first city in Orange County to adopt California’s Compassionate Use Act of 1996. There are two initiatives on the city’s ballot that are competing to enact provisions for medical cannabis collectives, and the deciding vote will take place on November 4. The first measure is entitled the City of Santa Ana Council-Referred Medical Marijuana Ordinance. It is publicly supported by many city council members, as well as the Mayor Pro Tem Sal Tinajero. Battling against this initiative is the citizen-drafted ordinance, the Santa Ana Medical Cannabis Restriction and Limitation Ordinance. These guidelines were written by Kandice Hawes and her team of activists. 

At the front lines of Santa Ana’s MMJ court cases and legal battles since 2007, Hawes and a group of patients, dispensary owners and other citizens formed the Committee to Support Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative with hopes of drafting reasonable regulations and taxes on medical cannabis collectives. Hawes is now the Principal Officer of this committee. She is also the Director of Orange County NORML and the President of CSUF Students for Sensible Drug Policy. Hawes is campaigning hard to secure the popular vote, because she believes the citizens’ guidelines are superior to the city’s.

One of These Bills is Not Like the Other

Patients and employees should be concerned about their privacy if the city ordinance passes. According to Hawes, “They have a requirement that the collective will have to keep a list printed out and in their safe of patient’s names, addresses, phone numbers and government IDs.” Not only are records of patients at-risk, as Hawes pointed out, “They have to disclose all employees and volunteers and what their duties are in the collective, which is a fifth amendment violation.” 

Another issue with the city-sponsored measure is that it requires patients to be 21 and over. Hawes explained how this will discriminate against young adults who suffer from PTSD, “Santa Ana has a huge population of veterans, people just returning from the war that are probably between 18 and 21 years old. And those patients aren’t going to be able to access medical marijuana under city law.” 

Problems with the city measure that are unique to the dispensaries include zoning issues, restrictions on operating hours and more. According to Hawes, the city-approved locations have already been purchased, largely by non-local and foreign investors. This leaves many businesses at a loss if the city’s initiative gains the majority vote. 

The greatest concern with the city ordinance is that it would give the city council sole authority in amending or repealing the bill. In Hawes’ words, “Usually a council ordinance would still have to be amended by a vote of the citizens, but they reserved this special unique power to change it, so they can change anything about the whole bill at a city council meeting.” Allowing the council this ultimate power could potentially undo the years of hard work it has taken to finally regulate Santa Ana’s medical cannabis collectives. 

If you’re interested in aiding the Committee to Support Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative, visit www.santaanamj.com.

Originally Published by Culture Magazine on Sept. 9, 2014: http://ireadculture.com/article-4408-looking-ahead-in-santa-ana-will-the-raids-finally-end-.html