IF YOU HVE BEEN HIDING WHILE YOU TREAT YOURSELF AND HOPING Y OU DON'T GET CAUGHT, JOIN US AS WE MAKE IT LEGAL AND HONORABLE IN  NORTH CAROLINA! WE ARE NOT CRIMINALS!!!

TO: Rep Kelly Alexander, FROM: Electronic Bill Filing, sent Jan 16, 2013..Your draft of Enact Medical Cannabis Act (DRH50006-MGf-17) has been prepared and is ready to be filed in the House Principal Clerk's office. (I also have in my greasy hands, a complete copy of the proposed bill)

Also this week, all "permits" to lobby and serve lunch have been secured. We will meet on the Halifax Mall at 9AM and will meet in the legislative auditorium for an educational program at 11 AM. We have been graciously joined by the NC Nurses Association for their lobbying day also. Please dress like you are going to church. We hope to identify volunteers with orange shirts or vests who can help direct you to your legislators office.

"YOU HAVE TWO CRITICAL INPUTS" at this point.

First, call your legislators (House and Senate) and ask for a short meeting on Feb 12th 2013. Sample letters have been provided by Liz if you want to be really elegant. Also, in your request, ask them to mark their calendar for the 11:00 AM presentation in the legislative auditorium by Dr. Kevin Baiko. He will give a brief overview of his practice in Hawaii and outline how the program could work in NC. Also on the panel will be Lee Porter (NP with Substance Abuse experience), Ben Scales, author of the bill. We have invited legislators who sponsored the last bill to make any comments also.

When you call, the person answering the phone is ususally the LA (Legislative Assistant). They are "very important" contacts. They keep the legislator on point every day..remind him/her about important meetings..LIKE THE ONE ON FEB 12 AT 11 AM IN THE AUDITORIUM! Write their name down and thank them for their help.

We have over 800 people who have RSVP'd on FB. Of course, not all will show up..but, if "ALL" were to request a meeting on Feb 12th with their legislators, that alone will generate news. It will also likely cause him/her to attend the session in the Auditorium.

You will note that I asked for both Reps and Senators to be invited. This is totally new, but when I visited the Speakers office Wednesday, I was asked: "Are you going to introduce in the Senate as well?", Otherwise, it would be difficult to get a new law in one year. Bills are usually introduced into the House OR Senate, and if successful, you start in the other body. With little time, anyone who has ideas, speak up on the comments below.

The best way to confirm your meeting is email. All legislators have the same email address: First name, period, last name @ncleg.net, ie. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it If you go to the NC General Assembly webpage, their are links to all house and senate members. PLEASE DO IT NOW!

If you are really ambitious, call the Speaker (Thom Tillis) at 919.733.3451. Tell them this is an important issue to YOU.

There are several parking decks and lots. The main parking lot is convenient to the Halifax Mall. The address is 300 Salisbury Street. On that corner, you will note outdoor stairs leading up to the Mall. Hopefully, by 9 AM, you will begin to see a LARGE crowd going up the stairs. The meeting area is outside, if we have inclement weather, we will go up the stairs and move inside the LB (Legislative Building).

If you need transportation or can provide transportation, go to the forum and see about coordinating rides. More updates at least weekly. Spread the word, North Carolina is Serious this time.