ALABAMA MEDICAL MARIJUANA AWARENESS RALLY
On Feb. 13, 2010 beginning at 1 p.m. members of Alabamians for Compassionate Care/Alabama NORML will kick off International Medical Marijuana Awareness Week with a celebration in Birmingham, Alabama with a pot luck dinner, fellowship, speakers and a short demonstration. If you plan to attend please bring a dish (preferred dishes: Finger Foods/Munchies) to share with other attendees; drinks will be provided. Later on we plan to have individual patients tell their stories about why they use medical marijuana, what they have to endure to get their medicine and how such obstacles have negatively impacted their lives. We will conclude our event by marching from 2330 Highland Ave. down to the fountain at 5 Points South and the back to the Hwy 280 overpass. Please make and bring signs about medical marijuana. Possible slogans include:
I am a PATIENT not a criminal
My other medicine is addictive
STOP ARRESTING PATIENTS
MAKE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LEGAL
Please feel free to make up your own sign slogans so long as they have to do with medical marijuana.
The address of our celebration is:
2330 Highland Ave. South (on Southside), Birmingham, AL 35205
This location is right next to Caldwell Park. Should our group become too large for the location we have selected we can and will spill over into the park, weather permitting.
Load your cars and trucks up with as many people as you can find and we look forward to seeing you there.
If you have questions or need further information please feel free to email me at lorettanall@gmail.com.
You can also contact our Outreach coordinator Christie O'Brien at 205-907-6131/ alabamacompcare@yahoo.com or by contacting our Web Coordinator Penny Vaughan at luvlavndr@yahoo.com.
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Medical Marijuana Valuable Tool -Editorial by Penny Vaughan
Medical marijuana valuable tool
Medical marijuana is a popular issue. A recent ABC/Washington Post poll shows that 81 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana for medical use, and state medical marijuana initiatives have been repeatedly endorsed by voters.Studies have shown that marijuana relieves debilitating symptoms including nausea, appetite loss and severe pain. I have been a chronic pain patient since 2002, following a failed back surgery.
In my case the doctors prescribed fentynal and hydrocodone, both of which are very addictive opiates that have serious adverse side effects and may even cause death. Many otherwise illegal substances, such as Oxycontin and morphine, can legally be prescribed by doctors. The same should be true for marijuana, which is less dangerous and addictive than any of these substances.
Medical marijuana would be a wonderful alternative for someone like me. However, since it is not yet legal in my home state of Alabama, I must become a criminal if I choose to use cannabis to alleviate my symptoms.
I strongly believe the decision of what medicine is best for an illness should be left up to the patient and the doctor, not to police and prosecutors. Our state should use tax money to prosecute violent crime, not punish medical marijuana users.
The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act is set to go before the House of Representatives this session. This bill will protect physicians who recommend medical marijuana (cannabis) for their patients, and protect patients who use it.Penny Vaughan
Lineville
Couple discusses medical marijuana - VIDEO
Cullman Couple Discusses Medical Marijuana
Chris & D.J. Butts of Cullman, discuss medical marijuana on WAFF news Huntsville!
Chris & D.J. Butts of Cullman, discuss medical marijuana on WAFF news Huntsville!
Safer alternative for pain sufferers - Editorial by Chris Butts
Safer alternative for pain sufferers
A medical marijuana bill (HB 207) is before the Alabama Legislature. Each year, it seems we have a bill introduced that could drastically transform Alabama patients' lives. It gets moved to a committee, where it sits ignored throughout the legislative session and dies.... See More
Almost 30 percent of the country has adopted medical marijuana legislation giving residents the option of using marijuana as medicine under their doctor's care.
People hear the word "marijuana" and immediately get images in their heads of a group of hippies dancing in a circle smoking pot. That is not what this bill is about.
As a chronic pain sufferer, I am prescribed the legal equivalent of heroin (OxyContin). This product is very addictive and comes with a multitude of possible side effects, including death. Marijuana has proved to be a safe and useful alternative to my prescribed medications.
Wherever you stand on the issue of drugs, it makes no sense to allow Alabamians who could benefit from this medicine to suffer or become addicted to the narcotic pain prescriptions being handed out freely.
Chris Butts
Cullman
A medical marijuana bill (HB 207) is before the Alabama Legislature. Each year, it seems we have a bill introduced that could drastically transform Alabama patients' lives. It gets moved to a committee, where it sits ignored throughout the legislative session and dies.... See More
Almost 30 percent of the country has adopted medical marijuana legislation giving residents the option of using marijuana as medicine under their doctor's care.
People hear the word "marijuana" and immediately get images in their heads of a group of hippies dancing in a circle smoking pot. That is not what this bill is about.
As a chronic pain sufferer, I am prescribed the legal equivalent of heroin (OxyContin). This product is very addictive and comes with a multitude of possible side effects, including death. Marijuana has proved to be a safe and useful alternative to my prescribed medications.
Wherever you stand on the issue of drugs, it makes no sense to allow Alabamians who could benefit from this medicine to suffer or become addicted to the narcotic pain prescriptions being handed out freely.
Chris Butts
Cullman
Sunday, January 24, 2010
National Survey shows drug war failing Alabama teens
January 24, 2010, 5:33AM
By Loretta NallAccording to a recent Pride Survey, Alabama teens are more likely than teens in the rest of the country to have recently used drugs, especially marijuana. These survey results expose a truth that's becoming harder to hide: Alabama's war on drugs is failing our youths and our communities.
Our current approach to drug policy is a distortion of our priorities: We invest more to incarcerate people for nonviolent drug offenses than we invest to educate our children. Every year, our elected officials spend $132 million just to warehouse drug users in our prison system. That's $15,223 in tax money spent for every drug prisoner. However, we spend only about $9,000 per pupil for education. The disastrous consequences of this policy are evident as Alabama continually ranks near the bottom nationally in education.
But we rank at the top of the class in prison overcrowding and a broken criminal justice system. Alabama has the harshest punishments in the country for minor marijuana offenses, paralyzing our courts with a flood of marijuana offenders. Our prison system is notoriously overcrowded, in large part because of incarcerating people for nonviolent drug offenses. According to the Alabama Sentencing Commission, nearly 30 percent of our prison population is behind bars because of low-level drug offenses.
And yet, none of these disastrous drug policies are keeping drugs out of the hands of young people. In fact, Alabama teens are using more marijuana than teens who live in states where medical marijuana is legal and in states where the penalties for marijuana are much less severe. That's because prohibition makes it easier for any child who wants to experiment with drugs to acquire them.
Some argue that if we legalize marijuana, then kids everywhere will be able to get it. But that is the current reality in the illegal, unregulated market. On the black market, any kid who wants to experiment with drugs can obtain them. There are no well-lit storefronts with clerks to check ID, and drug dealers don't ask for ID. The very policies we enforce are putting our children in greater peril. As a parent, that deeply concerns me.
Even when Alabama's drug policies improve, we, as parents, will always want effective strategies to keep our kids safe. Unfortunately, the "Just say no" approach is not enough -- we've used that approach for nearly 30 years, and even today drug use by teens is on the rise.
One alternative approach, employed by parent-teacher organizations in other parts of the United States, is Safety 1st, a comprehensive, reality-based approach to teen drug use that encourages abstinence while acknowledging the fact that not all kids will listen to or follow the abstinence-based approach.
No parent wants her child to use drugs. We, as parents, want our kids to grow up safe, but they often experiment and do dumb things. When they do, we need them to be honest with us so we can keep them safe. It's OK to tell children to not do drugs, but we should also tell them: If you do, please don't drive home; call me so I can get you, or, if you use drugs, let's talk about it first so you can be as safe as possible.
That may sound crazy until one considers what happens to teens who use drugs in an unsafe manner. They die. That's why Safety 1st and other models that emphasize honesty are so important. (For more information on the Safety 1st model, please visit www.safety1st.org.)
It doesn't matter whether you love drugs, hate drugs or don't care about drugs at all, the drug war is a failure. It's time to take a new approach to drug policy in Alabama. Through educational campaigns, alcohol and tobacco consumption rates have declined among teens in Alabama without resorting to locking up everyone who uses alcohol or tobacco. We need an approach that focuses on health and safety and not on incarceration.
Marijuana needs to be legalized to better keep it out of the hands of children. The $132 million we spend annually to lock up nonviolent drug offenders, even though it does not prevent others from using drugs, could be redirected to education, where it is desperately needed. Some of the tax revenues generated from the sale of marijuana to adults could also be earmarked for education.
Marijuana will never be eradicated, no matter how many people we lock up or how many millions of dollars we waste year after year in pursuit of that unobtainable goal. Staying the course on this clearly failed policy can no longer be justified at the very high cost of our children's education and, sometimes, their lives.
Loretta Nall is an Alabama parent and director of Alabamians for Compassionate Care. E-mail: lorettanall@gmail.com
Loretta Nall
Executive Director
Alabamians for Compassionate Care
lorettanall@gmail.com
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Letter from Loretta Nall
I just spoke with a member of the House Judiciary Committee and I was informed that HB214 the bill that would allow those who have drug convictions to eligible for food stamps and TANF passed overwhelmingly out of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. This is EXCELLENT news and a huge step in the right direction. Many, many thanks to all of you who wrote, called or visited the committee and urged them to pass this bill. GOOD JOB FOLKS!!
Also, Rep. Mac Gipson's bill HB194'>http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/searchableinstruments/2010rs/bills/hb194.htm">HB194 which would allow the county sheriff in any Alabama county to stand down the feds at the county line also passed out of Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Again, thanks to those of you who wrote, called or visited on behalf of this bill.
I have to say that the House Judiciary Committee is off to a great start this session. Here's hoping they keep it up throughout the session.
Loretta Nall
Executive Director
Alabamians for Compassionate Care
lorettanall@gmail.com
Also, Rep. Mac Gipson's bill HB194'>http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/searchableinstruments/2010rs/bills/hb194.htm">HB194 which would allow the county sheriff in any Alabama county to stand down the feds at the county line also passed out of Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Again, thanks to those of you who wrote, called or visited on behalf of this bill.
I have to say that the House Judiciary Committee is off to a great start this session. Here's hoping they keep it up throughout the session.
Loretta Nall
Executive Director
Alabamians for Compassionate Care
lorettanall@gmail.com
Friday, January 22, 2010
Medical marijuana in Alabama
Jan 22, 2010 - ANNISTON STAR
Again this year, a medical marijuana bill (HB 207) is before the Alabama Legislature. Year in and year out, it seems we have a bill introduced that could drastically transform Alabama patients' lives.
That bill, in turn, usually gets moved to committee, where it sits ignored throughout the session and dies. There are now 14 states, as well as the District of Columbia (near 30 percent of the country), that have adopted medical marijuana legislation and given their residents the option of using marijuana as medicine under their doctor's care.
People hear the word "marijuana" and immediately get images in their head of poorly groomed individuals wearing tie-dyed T-shirts dancing in a circle and smoking pot. Let me assure you that is not what this bill is about.
As a chronic pain sufferer, I am prescribed the legal equivalent of heroin (Oxycontin). This product is evil and very addictive and comes with a multitude of possible side effects, including death. Marijuana has proven to be a safe and useful alternative to my prescribed medications, and the side effects are getting hungry, a dry mouth, feeling well and sometimes getting a little sleepy. Those are side effects I can live with.
No matter where you stand on the issue of "drugs," it makes no sense to allow Alabamians who could benefit from this medicine to suffer. Suffer or become addicted to the narcotic pain prescriptions being handed out freely.
Chris Butts
Cullman
Again this year, a medical marijuana bill (HB 207) is before the Alabama Legislature. Year in and year out, it seems we have a bill introduced that could drastically transform Alabama patients' lives.
That bill, in turn, usually gets moved to committee, where it sits ignored throughout the session and dies. There are now 14 states, as well as the District of Columbia (near 30 percent of the country), that have adopted medical marijuana legislation and given their residents the option of using marijuana as medicine under their doctor's care.
People hear the word "marijuana" and immediately get images in their head of poorly groomed individuals wearing tie-dyed T-shirts dancing in a circle and smoking pot. Let me assure you that is not what this bill is about.
As a chronic pain sufferer, I am prescribed the legal equivalent of heroin (Oxycontin). This product is evil and very addictive and comes with a multitude of possible side effects, including death. Marijuana has proven to be a safe and useful alternative to my prescribed medications, and the side effects are getting hungry, a dry mouth, feeling well and sometimes getting a little sleepy. Those are side effects I can live with.
No matter where you stand on the issue of "drugs," it makes no sense to allow Alabamians who could benefit from this medicine to suffer. Suffer or become addicted to the narcotic pain prescriptions being handed out freely.
Chris Butts
Cullman
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
High Support for Medical Marijuana
ABC News has a new poll out which shows that 81% of those surveyed support medical marijuana and nearly 50% support decrim.
READ IT HERE and then send it to your elected officials in Montgomery.
READ IT HERE and then send it to your elected officials in Montgomery.
Monday, January 18, 2010
CONTACT JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON HB214
I've just sent the following letter to the members of the House Judiciary Committee regarding HB214, a bill that would allow those convicted of drug felonies to be eligible for food stamps and TANF when they get out of prison. Please take a moment and send one of you own or, copy and paste mine if you like. Email addresses are below the letter. This bill is coming up in the Judiciary Committee tomorrow (Wednesday) so please write TODAY!
Dear Member of the House Judiciary Committee,
I am writing today to ask for your support of HB214, which would allow those convicted of felony drug charges, who have served their time in prison, to be eligible for food stamps and TANF. Currently, under federal law, those convicted of drug offenses are the only persons denied food assistance. Child molesters, murderers and rapists are eligible for food assistance upon release from prison but not someone whose crime involved taking a substance and not harming anyone else in the process.
When the laws keep people starving it raises the chances that they will resort to crime to in order to simply survive. If that happens they will go back to prison where it will cost taxpayers far more to house them for one year than it would have if we had enabled them to eat to begin with. This law also adversely affects children. Children have no control over what their parents might do, but under current law, they too, are denied food if their parents can't get state assistance while they struggle with reentry and readjustment to society after spending time in prison.
Please do the compassionate, humane, Christian thing and pass this bill.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
Loretta Nall
camjulward@aol.com
cengland1@hotmail.com,
jamie.ison@alhouse.org,
howard.sanderford@alhouse.org,
yusuf.salaam@alhouse.org,
spencer.collier@alhouse.org,
marcel.black@alhouse.org,
laura.hall@alhouse.org,
paul.demarco@alhouse.org,
priscilla.dunn@alhouse.org,
Tammy.Irons@alhouse.org,
marc.keahey@alhouse.org,
steve.mcmillan@alhouse.org,
charles.newton@alhouse.org,
john.robinson@alhouse.org
--
Loretta Nall
Executive Director
Alabamians for Compassionate Care
251-650-2271
lorettanall@gmail.com
Dear Member of the House Judiciary Committee,
I am writing today to ask for your support of HB214, which would allow those convicted of felony drug charges, who have served their time in prison, to be eligible for food stamps and TANF. Currently, under federal law, those convicted of drug offenses are the only persons denied food assistance. Child molesters, murderers and rapists are eligible for food assistance upon release from prison but not someone whose crime involved taking a substance and not harming anyone else in the process.
When the laws keep people starving it raises the chances that they will resort to crime to in order to simply survive. If that happens they will go back to prison where it will cost taxpayers far more to house them for one year than it would have if we had enabled them to eat to begin with. This law also adversely affects children. Children have no control over what their parents might do, but under current law, they too, are denied food if their parents can't get state assistance while they struggle with reentry and readjustment to society after spending time in prison.
Please do the compassionate, humane, Christian thing and pass this bill.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
Loretta Nall
camjulward@aol.com
cengland1@hotmail.com,
jamie.ison@alhouse.org,
howard.sanderford@alhouse.
yusuf.salaam@alhouse.org,
spencer.collier@alhouse.or
marcel.black@alhouse.org,
laura.hall@alhouse.org,
paul.demarco@alhouse.org,
priscilla.dunn@alhouse.org
Tammy.Irons@alhouse.org,
marc.keahey@alhouse.org,
steve.mcmillan@alhouse.org
charles.newton@alhouse.org
john.robinson@alhouse.org
--
Loretta Nall
Executive Director
Alabamians for Compassionate Care
251-650-2271
lorettanall@gmail.com
Please Contact Your Representative
IMPORTANT NOTE: HB207 will have a different bill number when our bill is dropped. In the meantime...you can refer legislators to HB207 because it is virtually identical to the bill that will be dropped in mid-February.
Dear ACC Members,
The 2010 Alabama Legislative Session officially began on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010. Now it is time for us to get busy making contact and asking our elected officials to support our legislation that will protect patients and doctors from prosecution under state law for using or recommending medical marijuana. At this time we would like all of you in Alabama to find your state representative and call them, and if possible, set up a face to face meeting with them to ask for their support. If you don't know who your elected member in the House is please go here , look on the left side of the page and enter your zip code. That will bring up the page of your elected official which will contain their phone numbers. Some also have email addresses listed and they all have alhouse.gov email accounts. Emails are too easy to dismiss out of hand without ever reading. My advice to you is to pick up the phone and call, tell your story and make an appointment to site down face to face with your elected official. The more they see your face the more real this issue becomes for them and the harder it gets for them to label you a pot head.
A script you might want to use follows.
Hello Rep. _________ My Name is _________and I am a ______(insert illness or condition here) patient who uses medical marijuana to ease my suffering. This year a medical marijuana bill will be making its way through the Alabama House and I would like your support. Where do you stand on this issue?
Try to engage them in discussion. Ask them if you can send them some information about this issue. Ask for a time to meet them face to face either in Montgomery or in their home district.
Important things to remember:
No matter how angry a Rep's answer might make you ALWAYS REMAIN POLITE
Never lie. If you don't know the answer to a question tell them you aren't sure but will get back to them after you find out.
Always address them as Rep. or Representative (ie Rep. Todd or Representative Todd)
Thank them for their time even if you feel the meeting or phone call was unproductive.
After you talk with or visit your rep in person please do a write up and send it to lorettanall@gmail.com so that I will be able to better track where legislators responses and know where we are in terms of who supports this bill and who doesn't.
Do not call the members of the House Judiciary Committee yet. We will make contact with them as it gets closer to time to drop the bill.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
--
Loretta Nall
Executive Director
Alabamians for Compassionate Care
251-650-2271
lorettanall@gmail.com
Christie O'Brien
Outreach Coordinator
Alabamians for Compassionate Care
205-907-6131
christie.reeder@gmail.com
Dear ACC Members,
The 2010 Alabama Legislative Session officially began on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010. Now it is time for us to get busy making contact and asking our elected officials to support our legislation that will protect patients and doctors from prosecution under state law for using or recommending medical marijuana. At this time we would like all of you in Alabama to find your state representative and call them, and if possible, set up a face to face meeting with them to ask for their support. If you don't know who your elected member in the House is please go here , look on the left side of the page and enter your zip code. That will bring up the page of your elected official which will contain their phone numbers. Some also have email addresses listed and they all have alhouse.gov email accounts. Emails are too easy to dismiss out of hand without ever reading. My advice to you is to pick up the phone and call, tell your story and make an appointment to site down face to face with your elected official. The more they see your face the more real this issue becomes for them and the harder it gets for them to label you a pot head.
A script you might want to use follows.
Hello Rep. _________ My Name is _________and I am a ______(insert illness or condition here) patient who uses medical marijuana to ease my suffering. This year a medical marijuana bill will be making its way through the Alabama House and I would like your support. Where do you stand on this issue?
Try to engage them in discussion. Ask them if you can send them some information about this issue. Ask for a time to meet them face to face either in Montgomery or in their home district.
Important things to remember:
No matter how angry a Rep's answer might make you ALWAYS REMAIN POLITE
Never lie. If you don't know the answer to a question tell them you aren't sure but will get back to them after you find out.
Always address them as Rep. or Representative (ie Rep. Todd or Representative Todd)
Thank them for their time even if you feel the meeting or phone call was unproductive.
After you talk with or visit your rep in person please do a write up and send it to lorettanall@gmail.com so that I will be able to better track where legislators responses and know where we are in terms of who supports this bill and who doesn't.
Do not call the members of the House Judiciary Committee yet. We will make contact with them as it gets closer to time to drop the bill.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
--
Loretta Nall
Executive Director
Alabamians for Compassionate Care
251-650-2271
lorettanall@gmail.com
Christie O'Brien
Outreach Coordinator
Alabamians for Compassionate Care
205-907-6131
christie.reeder@gmail.com
Friday, October 30, 2009
Compassionate Care Meeting Nov. 7
On November 7th, 2009 Alabamians for Compassionate Care will hold a meeting in Birmingham to prepare for the upcoming legislative session in 2010. The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act will again be sponsored by Rep. Patricia Todd of Birmingham. Rep. Todd will also be in attendance our meeting to tell everyone what to expect and what things they should be doing to help get this bill passed.
This meeting will take place from 2 - 4 p.m. at the Libertarian Party Headquarters located at 2330 Highland Ave. South (on Southside...not in Irondale). Refreshments will be served. So, load up your car with people who are interested and meet us there!!
If you plan to be there please RSVP to this post or to lorettanall@gmail.com so that we can properly prepare and have enough refreshments for everyone.
This meeting will take place from 2 - 4 p.m. at the Libertarian Party Headquarters located at 2330 Highland Ave. South (on Southside...not in Irondale). Refreshments will be served. So, load up your car with people who are interested and meet us there!!
If you plan to be there please RSVP to this post or to lorettanall@gmail.com so that we can properly prepare and have enough refreshments for everyone.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
What happened to HB434 The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act?
Folks,
I have been getting a number of emails and phone calls inquiring about the status of HB434. It seems that when I pulled the bill back in April I let the folks who were actively involved with ACC know, but forgot to post about it to my larger reading audience. Sorry about that. Here is what I can tell y'all about what happened.
Our bill, HB434, was slated to come up in judiciary committee on April 1. On the day before, our sponsor Rep. Patricia Todd, informed me she was ill and would not be in the legislature all week so she couldn't be in committee to talk about her bill. Rep. Laura Hall, who was the original bill sponsor, was conveniently absent from the committee that day and had indicated to our consultant that she would not be there the day it was voted on....whichever day that might happen to be. HB434 was then carried over til April 8.
Now, before the bill was to come up in committee I and another member of ACC contacted every member of the judiciary committee to determine if we had the votes to get the bill passed out of committee as written. WE DID! But, with Rep. Hall saying she wouldn't be there to vote on it (because she is running for Senate and didn't want that on her record) we didn't have the votes. It would have been a tie.
However, on April 7 Rep. Todd contacted me and said that the committee had sent word to her that they would NOT pass HB434 but would pass the version introduced in 2006. That was UNACCEPTABLE.
The 2006 bill was written by a certain lobby firm, who shall not be named, and not by the patients who actually need the marijuana as medicine. This lobby firm bill stipulated that medical marijuana could only be dispensed through an FDA licensed pharmacy. That pretty much killed the whole bill because marijuana is not an FDA approved drug and therefore cannot be dispensed by a pharmacy. That bill left patients with no safe, legal way to get their medication.
Since I refuse to drag very ill people from all corners of the state to fight for a bill that won't do a damn thing to protect them in acquiring their medication I pulled the bill this year when Rep. Todd told me what had happened. I saw no need to keep spending our meager resources when the outcome would have been far less than desirable.
So, what happens next?
I've spoken to our sponsor Rep. Todd about what comes next. She has voiced her willingness to help us craft a new bill for the next session during the break between sessions and to be the sponsor again next year. I want everyone reading this to know that we could not possibly have a better sponsor than Rep. Todd. Her plate was full this year and she took the medical marijuana bill as a favor. Next year she has indicated that it will be one of her priorities and when she sets her mind to something it has a way of actually happening. Rep. Todd knows all about medical marijuana. She was the executive director of AIDS Alabama for many years and had to resign that position in order to sponsor this bill. That, my friends, is dedication. None of what happened this year was her fault and she is deserving of our praise and thanks for taking the bill to begin with. Please email (reptodd@gmail.com) her and tell her how much you appreciate her help and how much you love her for having the courage to take on this highly controversial and politically charged issue.
Over the break between sessions we will be meeting with Rep. Todd and crafting another bill for the next legislative session. If you are a patient, physician, nurse or member of the clergy who would like to have some say in what goes in the bill then you need to email me at lorettanall@gmail.com so I can let you know when and where we plan to meet.
Additionally, if you would like regular updates then you can join our Yahoo discussion group by clicking this link.
I have been getting a number of emails and phone calls inquiring about the status of HB434. It seems that when I pulled the bill back in April I let the folks who were actively involved with ACC know, but forgot to post about it to my larger reading audience. Sorry about that. Here is what I can tell y'all about what happened.
Our bill, HB434, was slated to come up in judiciary committee on April 1. On the day before, our sponsor Rep. Patricia Todd, informed me she was ill and would not be in the legislature all week so she couldn't be in committee to talk about her bill. Rep. Laura Hall, who was the original bill sponsor, was conveniently absent from the committee that day and had indicated to our consultant that she would not be there the day it was voted on....whichever day that might happen to be. HB434 was then carried over til April 8.
Now, before the bill was to come up in committee I and another member of ACC contacted every member of the judiciary committee to determine if we had the votes to get the bill passed out of committee as written. WE DID! But, with Rep. Hall saying she wouldn't be there to vote on it (because she is running for Senate and didn't want that on her record) we didn't have the votes. It would have been a tie.
However, on April 7 Rep. Todd contacted me and said that the committee had sent word to her that they would NOT pass HB434 but would pass the version introduced in 2006. That was UNACCEPTABLE.
The 2006 bill was written by a certain lobby firm, who shall not be named, and not by the patients who actually need the marijuana as medicine. This lobby firm bill stipulated that medical marijuana could only be dispensed through an FDA licensed pharmacy. That pretty much killed the whole bill because marijuana is not an FDA approved drug and therefore cannot be dispensed by a pharmacy. That bill left patients with no safe, legal way to get their medication.
Since I refuse to drag very ill people from all corners of the state to fight for a bill that won't do a damn thing to protect them in acquiring their medication I pulled the bill this year when Rep. Todd told me what had happened. I saw no need to keep spending our meager resources when the outcome would have been far less than desirable.
So, what happens next?
I've spoken to our sponsor Rep. Todd about what comes next. She has voiced her willingness to help us craft a new bill for the next session during the break between sessions and to be the sponsor again next year. I want everyone reading this to know that we could not possibly have a better sponsor than Rep. Todd. Her plate was full this year and she took the medical marijuana bill as a favor. Next year she has indicated that it will be one of her priorities and when she sets her mind to something it has a way of actually happening. Rep. Todd knows all about medical marijuana. She was the executive director of AIDS Alabama for many years and had to resign that position in order to sponsor this bill. That, my friends, is dedication. None of what happened this year was her fault and she is deserving of our praise and thanks for taking the bill to begin with. Please email (reptodd@gmail.com) her and tell her how much you appreciate her help and how much you love her for having the courage to take on this highly controversial and politically charged issue.
Over the break between sessions we will be meeting with Rep. Todd and crafting another bill for the next legislative session. If you are a patient, physician, nurse or member of the clergy who would like to have some say in what goes in the bill then you need to email me at lorettanall@gmail.com so I can let you know when and where we plan to meet.
Additionally, if you would like regular updates then you can join our Yahoo discussion group by clicking this link.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
HB434 The Micheal Phillips Compassionate Care Act in Committee April 8
I just got the following note from Rep. Patricia Todd.
We have another delay with the bill. It seems that the Leg Ref Ser gave me a version of the bill that is NOT the same as the version passed by Judicary in 07. I will have to get LRS to draft a substitute bill that is the same so the committee will be able to pass it.
This means another week delay.....
Representative Patricia Todd
1320 58th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35222
205.599.2856 Home
205.567.9419 Cell
reptodd@gmail.com
www.patriciatodd.com
DO NOT SHOW UP IN MONTGOMERY TOMORROW!
All,
Our bill, HB434 The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act
will be in the judiciary committee THIS Wednesday (tomorrow) April 8.
Needless to say I am very excited and I know all of you are too.
I need to know today who all is definitely coming to Montgomery on Wednesday.
Get that information to me as soon as you read this email.
Here is the plan.
We will all meet up in front of the State House located at 11 South Union St. in
Montgomery around 8:15 AM. It is critical that you be there early because the
meeting room is small and we want to get all the seats if we can. Once the room
is full the door is closed and no one is allowed in. If you want a seat then be
there on time. If you are late and we are not standing outside then proceed to
the elevator, go down to the first floor and take a right until you come to room
123. That is where the committee meeting will be held.
There will be no testimony by patients or opponents on Wednesday. Our plan all
year has been to get this bill out of committee on a voice vote so that it
doesn't get hung up or assigned to sub-committee. We still expect it to pass on
a voice vote.
During the committee hearing we will not talk. We will not roll our eyes at each
other over some of the undoubtedly borderline insane things some of the
committee members might say. We will not show anger. I do however give my
blessing to an eruption of applause and cheers when the bill passes on a voice
vote.
Dress appropriately. Dress like you are going to church. Wear comfortable shoes
though because we might pay visits to your individual representatives after the
committee meeting is over. The dress protocol is so very important. If you have
a green ribbon or something similar that you would like to wear that will be
fine. I wish I had some "STOP ARRESTING PATIENTS" buttons but I don't. No pot
leaves anywhere. No anything that confuses this issue with outright
legalization.
You have to go through a metal detector to enter the State House. Please leave
things like pocket knives and such in your cars. If you forget they will take it
at the door and you can get it on the way out.
If any of you need to talk to me via phone please call me at 1-877-528-5647.
My cell phone number is 256-625-9599. You will need it for Wednesday.
I hope to see all of you on Wednesday. If there was ever a day to pack out your
car with supporters and make the trek to Montgomery Wednesday will be the day.
The more people who show up the more legislators will understand that we are
serious and want this bill passed.
Loretta Nall
We have another delay with the bill. It seems that the Leg Ref Ser gave me a version of the bill that is NOT the same as the version passed by Judicary in 07. I will have to get LRS to draft a substitute bill that is the same so the committee will be able to pass it.
This means another week delay.....
Representative Patricia Todd
1320 58th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35222
205.599.2856 Home
205.567.9419 Cell
reptodd@gmail.com
www.patriciatodd.com
DO NOT SHOW UP IN MONTGOMERY TOMORROW!
All,
Our bill, HB434 The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act
will be in the judiciary committee THIS Wednesday (tomorrow) April 8.
Needless to say I am very excited and I know all of you are too.
I need to know today who all is definitely coming to Montgomery on Wednesday.
Get that information to me as soon as you read this email.
Here is the plan.
We will all meet up in front of the State House located at 11 South Union St. in
Montgomery around 8:15 AM. It is critical that you be there early because the
meeting room is small and we want to get all the seats if we can. Once the room
is full the door is closed and no one is allowed in. If you want a seat then be
there on time. If you are late and we are not standing outside then proceed to
the elevator, go down to the first floor and take a right until you come to room
123. That is where the committee meeting will be held.
There will be no testimony by patients or opponents on Wednesday. Our plan all
year has been to get this bill out of committee on a voice vote so that it
doesn't get hung up or assigned to sub-committee. We still expect it to pass on
a voice vote.
During the committee hearing we will not talk. We will not roll our eyes at each
other over some of the undoubtedly borderline insane things some of the
committee members might say. We will not show anger. I do however give my
blessing to an eruption of applause and cheers when the bill passes on a voice
vote.
Dress appropriately. Dress like you are going to church. Wear comfortable shoes
though because we might pay visits to your individual representatives after the
committee meeting is over. The dress protocol is so very important. If you have
a green ribbon or something similar that you would like to wear that will be
fine. I wish I had some "STOP ARRESTING PATIENTS" buttons but I don't. No pot
leaves anywhere. No anything that confuses this issue with outright
legalization.
You have to go through a metal detector to enter the State House. Please leave
things like pocket knives and such in your cars. If you forget they will take it
at the door and you can get it on the way out.
If any of you need to talk to me via phone please call me at 1-877-528-5647.
My cell phone number is 256-625-9599. You will need it for Wednesday.
I hope to see all of you on Wednesday. If there was ever a day to pack out your
car with supporters and make the trek to Montgomery Wednesday will be the day.
The more people who show up the more legislators will understand that we are
serious and want this bill passed.
Loretta Nall
Friday, April 03, 2009
Sen. Larry Dixon Implies Medical Marijuana Makes You Lesbian
At least I guess that is the point Senator Larry Dixon and the hosts of Morris/Montiel were trying to make this morning on WACV 107.9 FM in Montgomery.
I got an email from a friend of mine who called in and asked Senator Dixon how come he never responded to repeated requests for his position on HB434 The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act. Senator Dixon's response was that he would never support it and that the sponsor of the bill was none other than Lesbian Patricia Todd.
Y'all reckon that pissed me off?
So, I called in and asked the following questions of Senator Dixon.
The first question was "Since you don't support medical marijuana does that mean that you support locking up cancer patients in prison?"
The second question was, "Why did you find it necessary to bring up Rep. Todd's sexuality in reference to this bill as it has absolutely nothing to do with medical marijuana?"
He answered the second question first and said, "Well, she is a lesbian, and she ran her campaign on being a lesbian and she advertises it at the State House you know she does she advertises it at the state house...that she is a lesbian. She is a lesbian and she advertises it and I was just letting people know who she is. I'm older now and more accepting of people that ain't like me you know and I like Rep. Todd just fine...we get along just fine...but she is a lesbian."
One of the hosts pointed out that Rep. Todd is a 'liberal democrat' and that the medical marijuana bill is a liberal bill. I wonder if he thinks that cancer, HIV/AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Alzheimer's, chronic pain, glaucoma, epilepsy and illness of that nature are liberal illnesses that only attack those bad liberal people who just beg to be attacked?
They of course never answered why they thought it was important to discuss Rep. Todd's sexuality in the context of the conversation about HB434. I guess maybe they were trying to imply that smoking medical marijuana for cancer might turn you into a lesbian. I suppose if Ms. Laura Hall had still been sponsoring the bill they would have implied that smoking medical marijuana would turn you black.
How can people be so deliberately ignorant and willfully stupid? Are the listeners of that show equally ignorant and willfully stupid? I hope not. I know at least two that do not fit that description and that would be the friend who emailed me about Senator Larry Dixon being on the show and a gentleman named Andrew who called in after me, identified himself as a conservative and said he supported medical marijuana and the right of people to be gay as long as no one was being hurt. I'd say Andrew is a TRUE CONSERVATIVE.
Back to the first question which was, "Since you don't support medical marijuana does that mean you support locking cancer patients in prison?"
Sen. Dixon, "No, No I don't support locking cancer patients in prison. There are no cancer patients in prison. I have just as much experience with cancer as you do (and how much would that be and how much experience do you reckon he thinks I have with cancer?) and there are oncologists studying this thing and"
At this point one of the hosts jumps in and says "Yeah and there's pain doctors"
Sen. Dixon, "Yes pain doctors and Marinol which is Tetra-Hydra-Cannabinol (boy he sure knows a lot about marijuana if he knows the scientific name for THC and how to say it for someone who does not support the bill) in pill form that can be prescribed. There's just no way to enforce such a law about who can smoke it and who can't."
Unfortunately they control the phones at the station and cut you off as soon as you ask your question so I didn't get a chance to respond. I did record it but messed up the file because I didn't have the audio turned up loud enough so it can barely be heard. If anyone out there knows how to boost the audio on a WMA file please let me know.
If I had gotten the chance to respond I would have pointed out the obvious, which is that Marinol isn't covered by most insurance companies and costs about $700 a month for 30 pills. Plus the fact that cancer patients often have trouble taking pills because they cannot keep anything down due to nausea and vomiting caused by the chemo/radiation. Not to mention that the government has no business interfering in the doctor/patient relationship and as 'conservatives' who oppose 'large government' in general (yuk yuk) and socialized medicine (on the grounds that it will put the government between you and your doctor) they sure aren't acting 'conservative' on this issue.
It's amazing how two radio hosts and one Senator think their uninformed opinions mean more than what a doctor says regarding medical marijuana. I'd wager that none of them have ever been to medical school. I'd also wager that if anyone in their family is ever stricken with a terrible ailment that medical marijuana can help they will go and find some.
This is also not a partisan issue. As I stated earlier disease and terminal illness and chronic pain don't discriminate between liberals, conservatives, libertarians, independents, black, white, straight or gay, so how can medical marijuana be a 'Liberal' issue?
For those of you who would like to tell the show what you think you can do so by signing up on their forum here. Also feel free to let Senator Dixon know what you think.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
HB434 Hearing Rescheduled
All,
I just got word from our sponsor Rep. Patricia Todd that our bill HB434 has been carried over until next Wednesday, April 8 2009. Rep., Todd is sick and cannot make it to Montgomery to handle the bill.
DO NOT SHOW UP IN MONTGOMERY TOMORROW!
Please pass this along to everyone you know who was planning to be there.
Loretta
I just got word from our sponsor Rep. Patricia Todd that our bill HB434 has been carried over until next Wednesday, April 8 2009. Rep., Todd is sick and cannot make it to Montgomery to handle the bill.
DO NOT SHOW UP IN MONTGOMERY TOMORROW!
Please pass this along to everyone you know who was planning to be there.
Loretta
HB434 in Committee Tomorrow April 1
URGENT UPDATE:
All,
I just got word from our sponsor Rep. Patricia Todd that our bill HB434 has been carried over until next Wednesday, April 8 2009. Rep., Todd is sick and cannot make it to Montgomery to handle the bill.
DO NOT SHOW UP IN MONTGOMERY TOMORROW!
Please pass this along to everyone you know who was planning to be there.
#################################
Just a reminder that HB434 The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act will be heard in judiciary committee tomorrow, April 1 at 9 a.m.
If you plan to attend we will be meeting up on the steps of the State House at 8:15 a.m. The State House is located at 11 South Union St. in Montgomery and the judiciary committee meets in room 123. If there is any way possible that you can be there we would love to have you.
If you can't be there please take a moment today to call the following members of the judiciary committee and ask them to vote yes on HB434 tomorrow. Currently these members plan to vote NO and they really need to hear from a huge number of people today about this bill. 76% of Alabamians support medical marijuana and their NO vote indicates a complete disregard for the will of the people. Please take a moment and give them a call.
Spencer Collier - (334) 242-7719 spencer.collier@alhouse.org
Paul DeMarco -(334) 242-7740 paul.demarco@alhouse.org
Jamie Ison -(334) 242-7711 jamie.ison@alhouse.org
Yusuf Salaam - 334-242-7746
Steve McMillan - 334-242-7723 steve.mcmillan@alhouse.org
Howard Sanderford - 334-242-4368 howard.sanderford@alhouse.org
I hope to see you at the State House tomorrow.
All,
I just got word from our sponsor Rep. Patricia Todd that our bill HB434 has been carried over until next Wednesday, April 8 2009. Rep., Todd is sick and cannot make it to Montgomery to handle the bill.
DO NOT SHOW UP IN MONTGOMERY TOMORROW!
Please pass this along to everyone you know who was planning to be there.
#################################
Just a reminder that HB434 The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act will be heard in judiciary committee tomorrow, April 1 at 9 a.m.
If you plan to attend we will be meeting up on the steps of the State House at 8:15 a.m. The State House is located at 11 South Union St. in Montgomery and the judiciary committee meets in room 123. If there is any way possible that you can be there we would love to have you.
If you can't be there please take a moment today to call the following members of the judiciary committee and ask them to vote yes on HB434 tomorrow. Currently these members plan to vote NO and they really need to hear from a huge number of people today about this bill. 76% of Alabamians support medical marijuana and their NO vote indicates a complete disregard for the will of the people. Please take a moment and give them a call.
Spencer Collier - (334) 242-7719 spencer.collier@alhouse.org
Paul DeMarco -(334) 242-7740 paul.demarco@alhouse.org
Jamie Ison -(334) 242-7711 jamie.ison@alhouse.org
Yusuf Salaam - 334-242-7746
Steve McMillan - 334-242-7723 steve.mcmillan@alhouse.org
Howard Sanderford - 334-242-4368 howard.sanderford@alhouse.org
I hope to see you at the State House tomorrow.
Friday, March 27, 2009
HB434 in Committee April 1, 2009
Folks,
HB434 The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act bill is finally scheduled for next Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 9 am in room 123 at the Alabama State House located at 11 South Union Street in Montgomery.
I WANT YOU TO HELP ME PACK THAT ROOM OUT!
We will not be giving any testimony on that day. We do expect this bill to pass on a voice vote. If you plan to come then here are the rules.
1. Dress like you are going to church. No t-shirts and jeans please. No pot leaf insignias ANYWHERE. No tye dyes. No Bob Marley. You get the idea. Suits and ties for the men or upscale dress casual (polo's khakis). For the ladies wear a dress, skirt or business suit. Sweaters and dress casual pants are fine too.
2. Be polite
3. Don't say a word during the meeting
4. Be prepared to talk to reporters after the meeting is over. We will talk about what to say at tomorrows meeting in Birmingham.
Our last meeting before this bill comes up in Committee will take place from 1-3 pm at 2330 Highland Ave. South (on Southside beside Caldwell Park) TOMORROW (Saturday March 28, 2009). BE THERE!
HB434 The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act bill is finally scheduled for next Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 9 am in room 123 at the Alabama State House located at 11 South Union Street in Montgomery.
I WANT YOU TO HELP ME PACK THAT ROOM OUT!
We will not be giving any testimony on that day. We do expect this bill to pass on a voice vote. If you plan to come then here are the rules.
1. Dress like you are going to church. No t-shirts and jeans please. No pot leaf insignias ANYWHERE. No tye dyes. No Bob Marley. You get the idea. Suits and ties for the men or upscale dress casual (polo's khakis). For the ladies wear a dress, skirt or business suit. Sweaters and dress casual pants are fine too.
2. Be polite
3. Don't say a word during the meeting
4. Be prepared to talk to reporters after the meeting is over. We will talk about what to say at tomorrows meeting in Birmingham.
Our last meeting before this bill comes up in Committee will take place from 1-3 pm at 2330 Highland Ave. South (on Southside beside Caldwell Park) TOMORROW (Saturday March 28, 2009). BE THERE!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Medical Marijuana Letters Published on Sunday
Birmingham News
Bill protects medical users
I write today concerning House Bill 434, which would provide protection for physicians who recommend and patients who use medical marijuana in Alabama.
I am a patient who suffers from constant chronic pain resulting from a near-fatal motor vehicle accident nearly 22 years ago. In 2005, I became unable to work and began taking morphine, which was prescribed by a pain-management doctor. This medicine was horribly addictive and completely destroyed my quality of life.
Medical marijuana is a natural alternative to narcotic pain medicine. It is a plant that has many medicinal purposes and very few side effects, none of which is as bad as the stuff constantly advertised on TV.
In 13 other states, medical marijuana is a legal option for people who are suffering from chronic pain and terminal illnesses. In Alabama, however, those of us who choose to use medical marijuana are considered criminals and face dangerous circumstances to acquire it and prison if we are arrested for using it.
I am not a criminal. I am a patient. Does Alabama really want to continue the practice of arresting and prosecuting people with terminal illness and chronic pain? Only barbarians would engage in such a practice.
Please contact your representative in Montgomery and ask him to support HB 434, the Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act, when it comes before the House of Representatives for a vote.
Christie O'Brien
Hoover
Improves quality of life
I was Ms. Wheelchair Alabama 1996, and I carried the Olympic torch through Birmingham. I am a wife, mother, grandmother and medical marijuana user. I have suffered from multiple sclerosis since 1982.
Medical marijuana reduces muscle spasms so I can get good, restful sleep instead of being awakened often throughout the night. I can wake up aware of the world and not with a doped-up feeling that legal medications give me. Medical marijuana gives me a quality of life so I can enjoy my grandchildren while they are little.
Acquiring marijuana puts my family at risk. If one of my family members were arrested and jailed for buying my medicine, my whole family would be devastated. What if they were killed trying to get medicine for me? Who would care for me then? My doctors know I use it but cannot recommend it for fear of losing their medical licenses.
A bill in the Alabama House of Representatives would provide protection under the law for physicians who recommend medical marijuana and protect the patients from arrest and prosecution.
Please call the members of the committee and ask them to support the bill when it comes before them for a vote.
Margaret Ann Newman
Homewood
Bill protects medical users
I write today concerning House Bill 434, which would provide protection for physicians who recommend and patients who use medical marijuana in Alabama.
I am a patient who suffers from constant chronic pain resulting from a near-fatal motor vehicle accident nearly 22 years ago. In 2005, I became unable to work and began taking morphine, which was prescribed by a pain-management doctor. This medicine was horribly addictive and completely destroyed my quality of life.
Medical marijuana is a natural alternative to narcotic pain medicine. It is a plant that has many medicinal purposes and very few side effects, none of which is as bad as the stuff constantly advertised on TV.
In 13 other states, medical marijuana is a legal option for people who are suffering from chronic pain and terminal illnesses. In Alabama, however, those of us who choose to use medical marijuana are considered criminals and face dangerous circumstances to acquire it and prison if we are arrested for using it.
I am not a criminal. I am a patient. Does Alabama really want to continue the practice of arresting and prosecuting people with terminal illness and chronic pain? Only barbarians would engage in such a practice.
Please contact your representative in Montgomery and ask him to support HB 434, the Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act, when it comes before the House of Representatives for a vote.
Christie O'Brien
Hoover
Improves quality of life
I was Ms. Wheelchair Alabama 1996, and I carried the Olympic torch through Birmingham. I am a wife, mother, grandmother and medical marijuana user. I have suffered from multiple sclerosis since 1982.
Medical marijuana reduces muscle spasms so I can get good, restful sleep instead of being awakened often throughout the night. I can wake up aware of the world and not with a doped-up feeling that legal medications give me. Medical marijuana gives me a quality of life so I can enjoy my grandchildren while they are little.
Acquiring marijuana puts my family at risk. If one of my family members were arrested and jailed for buying my medicine, my whole family would be devastated. What if they were killed trying to get medicine for me? Who would care for me then? My doctors know I use it but cannot recommend it for fear of losing their medical licenses.
A bill in the Alabama House of Representatives would provide protection under the law for physicians who recommend medical marijuana and protect the patients from arrest and prosecution.
Please call the members of the committee and ask them to support the bill when it comes before them for a vote.
Margaret Ann Newman
Homewood
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Medical Marijuana Letters Published This Week
Last week Alabamians for Compassionate Care started a letter writing campaign to newspapers across Alabama informing voters about HB434, The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act. So far two letters have been published. One has been published twice.
Author: Don Seibold
Medical Marijuana Bill Should Pass (Montgomery Advertiser)
Please Support Medical Marijuana Bill (Tuscaloosa News)
Author: Gil Joiner
Medical Marijuana (Anniston Star)
Many other letters have been written by the patients and family members who make up the membership of ACC. Mrs. Margaret Ann Newman, who was Miss Wheel Chair Alabama in 1996, carried the Olympic torch through Birmingham that year, is a wife, mother, grandmother, multiple sclerosis patient and medical marijuana user wrote a very moving letter, as did Christie Reeder, who is a chronic pain patient who survived a horrific auto accident 22 years ago. Another letter writer is the son of a woman who was recently diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He had a gun put to his head recently while trying to acquire medical marijuana for his mother. We are hoping that many of the letters that have been written but not yet published will appear in papers across Alabama in tomorrows Sunday editions.
If others have written letters that have been published please send them to me so that I can post them here.
Author: Don Seibold
Medical Marijuana Bill Should Pass (Montgomery Advertiser)
Please Support Medical Marijuana Bill (Tuscaloosa News)
Author: Gil Joiner
Medical Marijuana (Anniston Star)
Many other letters have been written by the patients and family members who make up the membership of ACC. Mrs. Margaret Ann Newman, who was Miss Wheel Chair Alabama in 1996, carried the Olympic torch through Birmingham that year, is a wife, mother, grandmother, multiple sclerosis patient and medical marijuana user wrote a very moving letter, as did Christie Reeder, who is a chronic pain patient who survived a horrific auto accident 22 years ago. Another letter writer is the son of a woman who was recently diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He had a gun put to his head recently while trying to acquire medical marijuana for his mother. We are hoping that many of the letters that have been written but not yet published will appear in papers across Alabama in tomorrows Sunday editions.
If others have written letters that have been published please send them to me so that I can post them here.
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