Patients, Families, Doctors Host Educational Medical Marijuana Forum Tonight in Mineola, Long Island

Long Island – Tonight, patients, families, advocates, and doctors will host an educational forum in Mineola, Long Island. The public forum is part of the March for Compassion — a month-long series of actions and events across the state to educate New Yorkers about medical cannabis and build support for New York’s comprehensive medical marijuana proposal – the Compassionate Care Act (A.6357-A -Gottfried) / S.4406-A -Savino).

Speakers will include Geri Barish, President of 1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition, Richard Carlton, MD, NY Physicians for Compassionate Care, Missy Miller, Parent and Caregiver, and gabriel sayegh, Compassionate Care NY.

WHAT:
A MATTER OF COMPASSION: Medical Marijuana in New York State

WHEN:
Thursday, March 13th, 2014
Check in 5:30 PM
Program at 6:00 PM

WHERE:
Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW
1505 Kellum Place
Mineola, New York 11501

RSVP:  http://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-matter-of-compassion-medical-marijuana-in-new-york-free-tickets-10639899225

Yesterday, New York’s comprehensive medical marijuana proposal was included in the State Assembly’s one-house budget proposal, for the first time ever. Building off of yesterday’s successful day in Albany, tonight’s forum is the next in a series of educational forums and actions, called March for Compassion, pressuring the State Senate to pass the Compassionate Care Act. A forum in Buffalo on Monday was attended by over 120 people. Next week patients and advocates will continue to garner support from around the state, holding forums in Latham, Brooklyn and Syracuse.

In the last few weeks, Republican support for the bill has continued to grow with four Republican State Senators publicly supporting the Compassionate Care Act, including Senator George Maziarz (R – Newfane), Senator Mark Grisanti (R, IP – Buffalo), Senator Joe Robach (R, C, IP – Rochester) and Senator Tim O’Mara (R, C – Big Flats, Elmira). According to a recent Quinnipiac poll, nearly 90% of New Yorker voters support comprehensive medical marijuana legislation.