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Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC)

Description: RIPAC emerged in 2003 in order to tell the story of marijuana's role in health and medicine. By bringing ordinary citizens together and introducing them to medical, legal and political leadership RIPAC has helped amplify personal stories involving marijuana and medicine. RIPAC currently serves over 350 medical patients and their 350 caregivers who have a recommendation from a physician to use marijuana as a compliment to conventional treatments. RIPAC hosts community meetings in order to connect patients, caregivers and their families and in order to facilitate community-based advocacy and engagement. RIPAC also hosts professional education seminars for physicians, nurses and lawyers in order to guide the emerging use of medical marijuana in Rhode Island. Lastly, RIPAC supports policy-makers who endeavor to optimize state regulations that govern the possession and use of medical marijuana.

In The Press:

"Robbed at gunpoint: Help R.I. patients get marijuana safely," The Providence Journal, 6/2/08

"RI lawmakers consider allowing medical marijuana stores," Boston Globe, 4/8/08

"For more than 300 Rhode Islanders, marijuana provides legal relief," Providence Journal, 9/9/07

"Efficacy of medical marijuana seen first-hand," East Bay Newspapers, 7/16/07

From Nathaniel: When I first learned that the U.S. Congress does not officially recognize the medical utility of marijuana, I knew that some part of U.S. democratic institutions were failing. How could an ancient medicine with literally hundreds of applications be completely ignored by an open government? After attending a conference of national leaders in drug policy reform, I worked to organize sick patients and their families to tell the story of marijuana as a medicine. As patient after patient has told their story to the Rhode Island media and legislators, the RI government has consistently acted to produce regulations that enable sick patients to possess and use medical marijuana when a physician attests that the benefits outweigh the potential risks. As more American governments acknowledge the truth, marijuana will be researched and developed into the versatile therapeutic agent that thousands know it to be.