Message sent to ACMM regarding fee reductions

[Sequoiacrone]

Today I utilized the ACMM contact information (stickied in this thread) to ask for fee reductions for OMMP participants.
There is at this time a surplus that can and probably WILL be taken from the OMMP program and sucked into the Oregon budget somewhere.

This money is to manage our program. At the last financial info that was released it was over $300K.

I feel that is a substantial amount and we should LOWER the fees instead of allowing the state to just take it from us.
In the future when the overage is a lot lower, and times are not as hard for many, the fees could be adjusted up again. BUT for now it would be a welcome relief to many of us on fixed incomes.

Blessings

Sequoia

[Madfingers]

As a member of the ACMM, I agree if there is any possibility that lowering the fees can be done it should. I do know that by Statue this is one of the things that is the charge of the ACMM, in advise in this matter on a yearly basis. I'm not exactly sure when that calendar year comes, hopefully with
SC notice, that will at least be discussed at the up coming meeting on the
15th........ 2 weeks from now...

:spaceman:

Madfingers

[CroNiX]

I thought this was discussed at the last ACMM meeting? Didn't the head OMMP bean counter say that there isn't as much coming into the program because over 20% of people paying the fees are now paying at the lowered rate and so a reduction would likely not be feasible? He also mentioned that they need to move the OMMP office (because of the growth) and that would cost a lot of the money in 'surplus'. I could be off, but thats my recollection.

[Sequoiacrone]

Thank you Madfingers :wub_anim:

I hope other OMMP patients will chime in and send a message to the ACMM committee here:
OHD.ACMM@state.or.us (OHD.ACMM@state.or.us)

Email Grant too! grant.k.higginson@state.or.us

and also suggest lowering the fees.

Sequoia :)

[Madfingers]

I thought this was discussed at the last ACMM meeting? Didn't the head OMMP bean counter say that there isn't as much coming into the program because over 20% of people paying the fees are now paying at the lowered rate and so a reduction would likely not be feasible? He also mentioned that they need to move the OMMP office (because of the growth) and that would cost a lot of the money in 'surplus'. I could be off, but thats my recollection.

It was but only as a feeler for where the program stands financially, I hope
we can find out when the ACMM clock (annual) is. Chris Groud the bean counter I believe has alway been very fair and program concerned, if you look at the financial handouts at the meetings you have to read carefully what
are presented because much of it is 'projections'.... Fees is also one thing that the committee has always been on the same page on, making sure the lowest fees and considerations of the indigent are paramount.

Madfingers

[Sequoiacrone]

I sent a message to the ACMM on NOV 26th, but so far no one I have contacted on the committee has seen it.
So here it is again.

I respectfully submit for your consideration a change in the fees for OMMP participants. We are in hard times and it is a great hardship for many of the Cardholders.

The state budget is in crisis and I feel that they can and will TAKE it at will, ignoring the needs of patients anyway, so we might as well allow that overage in the OMMP budget to drop down to about a third of what it is now.
As much as the program is growing I do not think it will cause any real problems and you can always make adjustments if it drops too low.

I would also ask Dr Higginson to lend his support to the changes proposed in the plant definitions that the sub committee I was part of worked on. This is vital to patients who are having problems keeping certain strains going that they are in desperate need of. Trying to keep a cutting/clone/seedling under 12 inches for two months while the adult you took it off matures, makes absolutely no sense. We are losing valuable and healing strains in our community due to this ruling.

A terrible mistake was made with the 12 inch ruling there. A plant, to us as patients, has NO medicinal value if it is not a) female and b) is flowering.

Senator Morrisette said to present this issue to the ACMM in June 2007 at a DHS/OMMP hearing and this is the result of that conversation with him at that time. HE said this rule can be changed by administrative rule and the proper defining of mature plants and I will believe in that.

Thank you kindly for listening, and as always I appreciate all of you.
Dr Higginson thank you and the OMMP staff too for all that you do in support of the OMMP.

(Sequoia)
OMMP patient, grower and caregiver

[Sequoiacrone]

Dr Higginson's email addy is posted in the RAC thread in here.

I sent it to both. Email Grant too! grant.k.higginson@state.or.us (grant.k.higginson@state.or.us)

Now if any of sumbguns out there have a bitch about the 12 inch rule...its TIME to get off yer arses and send a message to these PEOPLE.....

I cannot attend the next ACMM meeting and to be honest with you, IT's time to step up or shut up.

All I am saying is to send em a note....Krikey mates the addie is all over this thread....and in a sticky at the top of this forum index.

Appeciate your time and trouble to MAKE change happen. POSITIVE change that can and will affect the supply of meds for OMMP patients in our STATE.

loves ya anyways, no matter what ya decide, but loves ya MORE if you send em a message.

:D

[TizLiz]

Can I get a pat on the back or Atta Girl cuz I just emailed the ACCM. It took me a whole 5 minutes. It's the very least one can do for OGF, after all how many years did someone fight for my rights and your rights to be able to use MMJ? Thank you SC for bringing this to my attention so I could help the cause.

[Sequoiacrone]

Can I get a pat on the back or Atta Girl cuz I just emailed the ACCM. It took me a whole 5 minutes. It's the very least one can do for OGF, after all how many years did someone fight for my rights and your rights to be able to use MMJ? Thank you SC for bringing this to my attention so I could help the cause.

Blessed TizLiz....love ya GF!! Good work and thanks for the follow up. Everyone on here could also take that 5 minutes....and if they want to they can even copy the text I put up here. Feel free to steal it, change it, SEND IT off to the Committee!!

IMHO it will help all OMMP participants.

loves ya

:)

[CroNiX]

Can I get a pat on the back or Atta Girl cuz I just emailed the ACCM. It took me a whole 5 minutes. It's the very least one can do for OGF, after all how many years did someone fight for my rights and your rights to be able to use MMJ? Thank you SC for bringing this to my attention so I could help the cause.
Thank you for taking the time to do this. Just a note about your comment about doing this for OGF: you are helping the 22,000 Oregonians who are on the OMMP (and more who are joining all the time) and not just us here on OGF. We all thank you.

[David J]

About the fee. Well, apparently 80% of OMM patients are paying full fare, including me in a few days. $100 is a lot of money to me and I'd like to know what is being done with it.

I'm relatively new to Oregon OMMP, only a year so far. Please tell me about the ACMM. Whatever it is I'd like to know so I can provide some input.

[Sequoiacrone]

475.303 Advisory Committee on Medical Marijuana. (1) There is created the Advisory Committee on Medical Marijuana in the Department of Human Services, consisting of 11 members appointed by the Director of Human Services.
(2) The director shall appoint members of the committee from persons who possess registry identification cards, designated primary caregivers of persons who possess registry identification cards and advocates of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act.
(3) The committee shall advise the director on the administrative aspects of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, review current and proposed administrative rules of the program and provide annual input on the fee structure of the program.
(4) The committee shall meet at least four times per year, at times and places specified by the director.
(5) The department shall provide staff support to the committee.
(6) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, are directed to assist the committee in the performance of its duties and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish information and advice that the members of the committee consider necessary to perform their duties. [2005 c.822 §7]

http://oregon.gov/DHS/ph/ommp/acmm.shtml

The web link will take you to the state web site for more information.

I just got a note back from the ACMM chair, Sandee Burbank and she let me know the price reduction will be on the agenda at the NEXT meeting, be there if you can to press the point.....with all due respect of course.

I would also hope to see the 12 x12 rule addressed as the language was already presented and been under discussion by the RAC (Rules Advisory Committee) too.

If you are in PDX you should try to attend the next ACMM. See the forum for the announcement.

Sequoia :)

[CroNiX]

The next ACMM meeting:

December 15, 2008: 10:00 am to 2:30 pm

Portland State Office Building
800 NE Oregon Street
Room 1-D
Portland, OR 97232

Click for Google Map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=800+NE+Oregon+St.,+Portland,+OR&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=52.285401,101.513672&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=16&g=800+NE+Oregon+St.,+Portland,+OR&iwloc=addr)