40 acres presentation
TRANSCRIPT
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
The Patients Perspective
Presentation By:
OUR MISSIONA nonprofit organization formed to enhance and protect the
rights of all medical marijuana patients. To provide a safe and
comfortable environment that represents the unique needs of
our community while reaching out to all who are suffering and
in need.
TheForty Acres Medical Marijuana
Growers Collective(The FAMM)
State Recognized Non-Profit CorporationLocated In Berkeley, CAPatient & Community Based
In The Community
To provide education and resources about medical marijuana to our Community.
To advocate for the decriminalization of medical marijuana as it directly relates to our Community.
To ensure our Community is included in the benefits medically, socially, politically, and economically, of this budding industry.
To Get Our 40 Acres!
And A Mule Delivery Legal referral and fund $40 1/8 Various strains Community harm reduction
programs Pain management services Health management Growers Education and
Research Programs Community Programs Community Advocacy
PATIENT BASED
Goals Patient Services
Farmers settledOrganic GardeningCommunity GardeningGreen LivingMedical Marijuana
REMEMBER BERKELEY:A FARMING HISTORY
VICKI & SCOTT SMITH
Civil Rights Activists moved here to raise children in a racially progressive city. Scott Smith started the first Organic Farm in West Berkeley.
Was also a member of the Berkeley & Oakland Crack Task Force in the 80’s.
BERKELEY GROWN
Marijuana has been used medicinally in our Community before it was called “Medical Marijuana” for:Drug Addiction Rehabilitation: Ease withdrawal symptoms associated with Crack CocaineCommunity Violence PreventionPeople chose to provide medical marijuana instead ofdealing crack cocaine.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN BLACK AND LOW INCOME
COMMUNTIES
DISEASE CANCER:
Highest for African-American menDeath rate highest for African-American men and Women
5 year Cancer Survival rate is 15% lower for African-Americans than it is for whites.
The prevalence of Diabetes among African Americans is 70% higher than whites.
2007 BLACK AIDS CASES17,507THE HIGHEST !
CRIMINALIZATION
In Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, Tennessee, Arizona, Utah, New York, andCalifornia:
The arrest rate of African-Americans for marijuanaoffenses is 2.5 times HIGHER the arrest rate of whites.
Marijuana possession arrests of African-Americansare the highest!
Source:United States Marijuana Arrests 2000 Jon Gettman and the NORML Foundation
Of the 797,903 marijuana arrests in the United States 279, 419 were African American.
ACCESS TO PUBLIC COMMERCIAL SPACE To Reduce the adverse consequences of Racial Profiling a recognized and public location is necessary to create a safe space for patients.
WE MUST COLLECTIVIZE Low income people may not own property and residences are often too small and nonconducive for gardens.Low Income people are subjected to federal anti marijuana laws in Social Services and Housing Programs that restrict our ability to medicate and cultivate affordably with out potential risks to income and
housing.
ORGANIZE UNDER STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL GUIDELINES We need an easily recognizable legal system of accountability, that includes nonprofit incorporation status, remitting of sales tax, and verifiable membership processes .
LEGAL ADVOCACYAs the highest criminalized group of people we need consistent and stable legal representation for all members not just Leaders.
CITY SUPPORT City wide recognition and support of collectives reduces potential risks.
OUR PATIENTS NEEDSPROTECT ION
OUR PATIENTS NEEDS
Safe Cultivation Space With Wheelchair Accessibility
Unlimited Outdoor Space that is protected by Police is the most economically viable and eco-friendly cultivation process for our patients.
Unlimited Greenhouse Cultivation is also an economically and eco-friendly viable cultivation process for patients.
Commercial Space: To meet the needs of a growing membership and to ensure fire prevention safety we need commercial, multiuse, and industrial space ranging from 800-1500 feet.
Residential Space: To meet the needs of our patient individual grows and to ensure fire prevention safety we need 10x10 square foot space.
Ancillary Spaces: Regulated by Health Department, are necessary to provide and cook medicinal marijuana edibles, produce tinctures, and conduct research while also promoting entrepreneurship, healing and research aiding our community.
ACCESS TO QUALITY MEDICINE
OUR PATIENTS NEEDS
COMMUNITY WIDE EDUCATION & RESOURCES• Reduce Negative Stigma• Affordable Doctor Consultation• Affordable Health Care• Career Education programs
Cultural Preservation: Collective Space should represent the diverse needs of our culturally rich Community.
Conduct Medical Marijuana Research That Aids Our Community:• Drug and Alcohol Addiction rehabilitation • Incarceration Rehabilitation• Crime Prevention Studies
RESULTS
SAFE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE MEDICINE Provides medicine that is accessible and affordable to all patients in a safe and comfortable environment thus promoting health.
CRIME PREVENTION Education and Outreach will transform the marginalized and illicit market into a legal entity resulting in decriminalization of patients while enabling our community to deal with racial disparities and inequities.
WORKABILITY Creates a workforce that is respected by individuals and the community while creating an industry that employs the “unemployable”.
ACCURATE AND ACOUNTABLE TAX REVENUE Nonprofit Incorporation vs. for profit entities allows for a more democratic and transparent system of accountability that reduces potential incidences of diversion of funds and medicine.