In The Maine News

Morning Sentinel

Saturday, November 5th, 2011
Lepage: Drug Test Welfare Recipients

Group says similar programs found to be unconstitutional

By Susan M. Cover [email protected]
MaineToday Media State House Writer


JAY -- Gov. Paul LePage said Friday he wants to require random drug testing for welfare recipients.


"I'm going to ask the Legislature to allow us to do what every truck driver in the United States of America has to do, take a random test," he said. "I think if we're going to take our own limited resources, we ought to be able to test 'em on occasion."
The comments came at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast in Jay, where LePage gave an overview of accomplishments from the last legislative session and previewed some of his goals for the new year.
With regard to drug testing, the Legislature added new provisions in the budget this year that allow the state to test those who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families money if they have a prior felony drug conviction. LePage said he wants to take it a step farther and explained that he believes people go "benefit shopping" when deciding where to live.
As proof, he talked about an email he received recently when a woman asked him if Maine provides benefits that are better than New Hampshire.

"I found that very insulting," he said. "I responded by saying 'ask not what the state of Maine can do for you, but what you can do for the state of Maine. Have a nice life.'"
Robyn Merrill of Maine Equal Justice, which provides legal services for the poor, said random drug testing programs in other states have been found unconstitutional. She said that's why a bill that would have required random drug testing did not pass earlier this year.
"Random drug testing is very questionable legally with respect to constitutional issues," she said. "If the government has the right to drug-test people based on receipt of aid from public assistance programs, what is to stop the government from requiring drug testing for anyone who receives a student loan or any other government benefit. This law would create a very slippery slope with respect to infringement on peoples' right to privacy."
In Florida, Gov. Rick Scott urged the Legislature to adopt a drug testing initiative for welfare recipients earlier this year. A story in the Tampa Tribune published in late August showed that 2 percent had tested positive since the program began July 1. In Florida, those who get cash welfare benefits have to pay for their own test, but get reimbursed by the state if they pass, the newspaper reported.

The savings to the state could reach nearly $100,000 a year in Florida, although the cost of staff time and money spent to implement the program had not yet been calculated, according to the Tribune. The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida has since sued the state, which is appealing an injunction that has stopped the practice.
More than two dozen states have proposed drug testing for those who get welfare benefits or other assistance, but Florida was the first to enact such a law in more than a decade, the Associated Press reported.
While he is continuing to focus on welfare reform, LePage said he will also look to make changes in the areas of education, the economy and energy.
He encouraged people not to sign a petition that is likely to be found at polling places on Tuesday that would require Maine's utilities to get 20 percent of their power from renewable energy sources by 2020. The current requirement is 10 percent by 2017.
"There's a movement on to have petitions signed that say we want to go to renewable clean energy and we want to get away from oil," he said. "Don't be fooled. This is a bad deal."
He said the push for wind and solar power will require state subsidies and will drive up the cost of energy for Mainers.
However, Maine Citizens for Clean Energy member Dylan Voorhees said it's important to reduce the state's dependence on foreign oil.
"It paves the way for more clean energy and energy independence for Maine," he said. "This petition just puts the question on the ballot. We think the will of the people is important to listen to on this."

I cannot believe that someone sent our beloved gov Paul an email, and asked if Maine had better benefits than our sister state NH !! I too would find that very appalling to say the very least, but I guess that now a days, anything goes (53 year old here). I did like Paul's answer where he did a spoof off of JFK's speech, and then added salt to the wound by saying "Have a nice Life".

Perhaps this woman would be better off to live in the "Live Free or Die" State of New Hampshire rather than in Maine's "Vactionland "!!

i doubt it even happened, like the mural letter, or all the other annon letters his office has gotten.. and even if it did anecdotal evidence is the name to a one time event. the truth is, most poor people are zip code tied and will never have the opp. to leave the zip code they were born in. Also, he's against wind and solar? wtf? we have the largest tidal flow on the planet, and he doesntt want to use it? Drug testing welfare reciepants is class warefare it its purest. someone with health insurance can get RX's for their pain, depression, inability to sleep but if you don't have access to that and you resort to black market meds your not worth being a citizen.. its BS. Paul Lepage is a pai puppet of the Koche brothers, why do you think he supports no one 1? change a law that has worked for mainers for the last 50 years? why? because its a neo-con national agenda..
paul is not good for our state

just my .02

I agree on several fronts ... poor people will never move out, (We cannot) ... and Paul is not good for our State,... and that Maine, as well as our neighbor to the north, have the biggest power potential in the world at our hands ... Like the "Old Sow" off Lubec, Maine is at a whirlpool at the present ... It is time for change, but we need to get a lot of the Koche brothers out of here first.

Thanks Cerberus for your .02 (Especially in this economy !)

Sunday, November 6th, 2011

Morning Sentinel / Kennebec Journal:

Medical marijuana users turn out for Civic Center event

By Keith Edwards [email protected]
Staff Writer


AUGUSTA -- Medical marijuana users shared hits off a vaporizer and compared buds of their home-grown efforts Saturday, separated by just the thin vinyl wall of a tent and several feet of Augusta Civic Center parking lot from Augusta Police Sgt. Christopher Shaw.

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HIGH TECH MACHINE: Jake McClure, of the Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine, talks about indoor growing equipment in the Maine Hydroponics Supply booth during the Home Grown Maine trade show Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center. Staff photo by Joe Phelan

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VAPORIZER AT WORK: Chris Kenoyer uses a Happy Vappy vaporizer to inhale marijuana in a tent in the parking lot during the Medical Marijuana Caregivers’ Home Grown Maine trade show Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center. Staff photo by Joe Phelan


The marijuana use taking place inside the tent was not why Shaw was there.

Police, Civic Center staff, the District Attorney's Office and organizers of the first Home Grown Maine -- the Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine's first ever trade show and festival -- had agreed beforehand medicinal users with the proper legal documentation could use marijuana inside the tent erected in a parking lot of the city-owned Augusta Civic Center.

The event, and the designated spot on public property where marijuana could be used, in full view of passing law enforcement through the doorless entrance of the tent, and others, were firsts.
"This is the first time we've had permission to medicate in public, the first time," said Chris Kenoyer, of Portland, a patients' advocate and activist who uses marijuana for severe and chronic back pain caused by a degenerative spinal injury. "That's a step forward for all Maine patients."
Shaw was there for the mundane task of telling a food vendor, who was selling fried food from his trailer parked just behind the tent, he couldn't sell food on the property without prior arrangements with the Civic Center.

Later Saturday afternoon, Shaw said that was about the only problem at the medical marijuana event.

Dana Colwill, director of the Civic Center, agreed things were running smoothly considering the unusual nature of the event, and the request of organizers to have a place where medical marijuana patients could legally use.
"This is really new ground," Colwill said, following a brief discussion with organizers in which he reminded Ron Norton, of the Maine Green Cross patient caregiver organization, who was overseeing the vaporizer tent, that anyone entering the tent had to first show legal documentation indicating they were a medical marijuana patient. "The first thing I did was contact Augusta police, so I knew what (medical marijuana patients) can do or not do."

Colwill said Saturday as the two-day event got started representatives of Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine, a patient and caregiver trade organization, had been great to work with and careful about following the rules.

Paul McCarrier, legislative liaison for the group, expected 500 to 700 people Saturday. He praised city officials for working with the group "and accommodating patients who need their medicine."
While attendees of the show didn't have to prove they are medical marijuana users or caregivers to enter the Civic Center, McCarrier said the event was not targeted at recreational pot smokers.
"This is not an appropriate place for recreational use," McCarrier said.

Hilary Maitland, of Augusta, who uses marijuana to manage the pain caused by multiple injuries she suffered in a car accident, including arthritis in her spine, was appreciative of the event as a way to learn how to grow better medication and support the community.
She said she was not worried about the potential of federal agents busting medical marijuana users at the event. Marijuana use is still illegal under federal law.
"I figure as long as I'm doing everything by the rules, that I'll be OK," she said. "I'm not affecting anybody but myself. You'd think there are bigger things (for the federal government) to worry about."

Inside the Civic Center auditorium, business appeared to be relatively slow for vendors hawking grow lights, clothing, organic compost, buttons and bumper stickers, crafts, jewelry and other items.

Josh Woodbury, a founder of the Lakes Region-based Alternative Botanicals caregivers, sat at a table filled with plastic bowls containing marijuana buds with names like purple kush and strawberry cough written on tags made of duct tape, as well as brownies, lotions and liquids. He said his group often works with patients who are looking for ways other than smoking to medicate themselves with marijuana.
He said edibles are a growing method, with the potential to use marijuana to make chili, spaghetti sauce, whoopie pies and other foods.

Jake McClure, a founder and board member of Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine, manned the Jefferson-based Maine Hydroponics Supply booth, for whom he consults on grow rooms, showing off devices meant to help people clone and grow plants.
Presenters at the event included Hallowell-based osteopathic Dr. Dustin Sulak, a nationally recognized expert on medical marijuana; Alysia Melnick, public policy counsel for the Maine Civil Liberties Union and, remotely by Skype, Dr. Lester Grinspoon, associate professor emeritus of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, author of books and websites on medical marijuana.

The event, which was scheduled to continue until midnight Saturday and resume Sunday morning, also featured bands and other entertainment.

I was at the event on Sunday for 2-3 hours - it was indeed very surprising to see the vaporizer tent, and even more surprising to not see law enforcement hanging around waiting to hassle people! I have had my consultation at Dr. Sulak's office, but have not gotten my recommendation yet. I hope I do get it - I am getting very tired of these crap pills I keep getting from my 'traditional' doctor

I THINK this was the first year for this event - I hope that going forward it gets more attendance than I saw present - I was there in the earlier part of the day and it seemed pretty slow. Unfortunately I had to leave before Dr. Sulak was due to speak - was hoping to actually meet him. It would be good to see more vendors there as well. I am sure that with future events this will happen. I did speak to some of the vendors and it seems that it was more busy on Saturday which is not surprising.

All in all - I am glad I went ( had a 6 hour round-trip drive). I will definitely plan on attending next year as a show of support!

Hi 420 and thanks for the post

Unfortuntatly for me I could not get off the couch those 2 days of the event.

It is great that "We the People, For The People" had the vape tent at the event. I am also glad that you reporterd that the PoPo were leaving us alone, and doing their thing at the local donut shops I hope and pray that this is only the beginning, and that it becomes greater than just having it at 420 events. Why cannot we have the same thing at a hospital for one. Surly there must be a "spare room" where a patient can go while admitted, instead of getting the pharma meds. Yes, we have to start somewhere and this is just the beginning ...

Good Luck with obtaining from Dr. Sulak. I know that the "crap" pills are just that ....

Hopefully, The event will gain in popularity and be more attended in upcoming years. As with everything, We must crawl before we can can run ....

Hope to see you at the show in April of 2012 ...

Thanks maineyankee

Agreed - this is just the beginning and things WILL get better. Hope to see you next year!

maineyankee said:

Why cannot we have the same thing at a hospital for one. Surly there must be a "spare room" where a patient can go while admitted, instead of getting the pharma meds.

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No medical facility that receives federal funds (i.e. MediCare and MedicAid) can recommend, facilitate, or allow use of medical cannabis without risking future funds. Having said that - i had a friend who was hospitalized for a few weeks for Crohn's and he smoked out of a one-hitter in his bathroom the whole time he was there.

LMAO Maine Brookies "Where there is a will, there is a way!" I am just wondering really if they knew about the bathroom and would not say anything? I know that there are other ways on getting "My Meds" onboard while I am admitted such as edibles. I do not know if I would bring in a one-hitter such as your friend did, but I am glad that he did.

I understand the Federal laws and how they would loose funding, and all of the ramifications that it would cause. But what I am saying is that it should be Federal Law in all 50 States when it comes to MMJ. The time is ripe for change and the other states have to get onboard. Once that happens (if it ever will) then we can partake in a bone while being hospitized (perhaps).

Peace and Love to All

It will change. MMJ is nearing what is seen as the tipping point in public support - the recent Gallup poll that showed 50% for full legalization also found 75% support for MMJ; 80% is seen as the tipping point where it becomes feasible for politicians to "see the light".

Maine Brookies said:

It will change. MMJ is nearing what is seen as the tipping point in public support - the recent Gallup poll that showed 50% for full legalization also found 75% support for MMJ; 80% is seen as the tipping point where it becomes feasible for politicians to "see the light".

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I was looking back at a recent article in High Times and like the author stated, although there is a more than 60% of Americans that favor the legalization of MJ or MMJ, they can only muster a 30% favorable vote in Congress at this time. The tipping point would be around 30 States, and I believe we are at 16 as of this writing.

I have not done my homework lately, but does anyone know how many more States have legislation pending that looks like it will hit the voters in 2012? I know that Maine, as well as others have many tweeks to make.

I am just glad that I live in a State that allows me (no matter if I agree or disagree with some points), that allows me to grow and smoke within the law of LD 1296

Ohio is pretty close to becoming medical, I believe......

I believe MMJ will be on the ballot in a couple southern states in 2012 - i want to say North Carolina and Alabama. If we can get a southern state to go medical it's all downhill from there, IMO. Just as when one state finally legallzes completely it will open the floodgates for the rest of the nation. Let's hope Colorado's MMJ community is a bit less self-absorbed than California's was.

massachusetts is also very close which would mean the entirety of new england had some sort of medical mj access... that's a big block of good old america, no???

I would say that if those (4) States that are forementioned; (Ohio, North Carolina, Alabama, and Massachusettes) all passed legislation in 2012, then the tide would surly go our way. All of these States are very important on the political edge, especially Ohio.

I would say that if MA did pass NL, that would look good on any map, as all of New England would be colored a different shade for legislation passage of MMJ in some form or another.

The only problem that I can forsee at the moment is the carnage that is happening now in California. The Feds have to stop brow beating that State and leave things to work out for themselves. We cannot loose that State (Nor any other for that matter) until the entire 50 States become legal. Hopefully in my lifetime I will see such a thing

"We the People; For The People"

Perhaps I am naive but I am not too concerned with what is going on in CA. As I understand it, they are going after large, blatantly illegal commercial ops. People got greedy, the state has been complacent and things got out of hand.

I'm not so optimistic. This country has been very close to full legalization in the past just to have it pulled away. That historical knowledge coupled with the turbulent and blatantly hostile political atmosphere, makes the idea that such a progressive thought (the legal right to grow a plant..) still uncertain. With the most politically progressive state coming under fire, it could mean like you (tet) said, just the feds dealing with greed or a good foot step into putting the reins back down on the whole movement. If they can quelcht Cali, it will be easy to end it in michigan and momentum is how politics work.. I waited to see what LePage was going to do with the last bill before I fully move into this market, all it takes is one social neocon in a power position to wreck this whole thing..

stay safe

tet1953 said:

Perhaps I am naive but I am not too concerned with what is going on in CA. As I understand it, they are going after large, blatantly illegal commercial ops.

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That's the spin, but if the dispensaries were engaged in illegal behavior then California already has measures in place to curtail the problem. I haven't done a ton of research on this but from what i have read, the dispensaries that received Cease and Desist orders were in areas where local LEO was opposed to the situation but had no legal grounds to intercede.

If i were running a dispensary in Maine i would be more than a little concerned. If a Republican wins the next election and appoints an anti-MMJ crusader as the next federal prosecutor then dispensary operators are going to have a lot of exposure.

Dang....

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/11/16/news/police-beat/four-arrested-in-waldo-county-marijuana-bust/?ref=polbeat