Med advocates oppose expanding vet access I Boston media smurfs I Rev Clinics hearing
For some "medical cannabis advocates" everything is for sale
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First up, reps of the leading Massachusetts patients group, the MPAA, the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance, are opposing a Beacon Hill bill that would expand veteran access to medical cannabis. And they are not alone, a Medical Doctor who derives income from writing cannabis recommendations also joined them.
Next, we’ll take a look at Boston media smurfing it up with see through fear-mongering about non-existent cannabis re-sales and what Cannabis Control Commissioner, Shaleen Title had to tell us about it.
Also in this dispatch: Big cannabis-Revolution Clinics expected to face opposition in Cambridge, Horace Small for Mass Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), and to wrap it up, we’ll share how happy we are about our four NECANN award nominations.
MASS MEDICAL “ADVOCATES” OPPOSE EXPANDING VET ACCESS
After Stephen Mandile was injured in Iraq in 2005, he was prescribed over 50 medications, which led to an opioid addiction, and thoughts of suicide. Until his wife suggested medical cannabis, then everything changed. Mandile credits medical cannabis with saving his life. Today he’s a newly elected Selectmen in the town of Uxbridge, pushing to expand medical cannabis access for veterans with a bill at the Massachusetts State House, HB4274.
At the hearing for HB4274, veterans and Commissioner Title testified in support. But surprisingly a few others, self described “medical cannabis advocates” were submitting testimony against the bill.
Among them, Dr. Jordan Tishler, M.D. who told masslive in 2016 that he had recommended medical cannabis to more than four hundred patients. His inhaleMD practice lists a $349 annual cost for patients to receive an annual recommendation which means Tishler’s practice is earning more than six figures a year. Dr. Tischler never acknowledges the financial self interest of disabled vets paying him for recommendations. Instead Tishler submitted written testimony claiming that the bill sidesteps medical supervision (it would also sidestep his $349 annual toll on patients) and that a “VA determination of disability is a financial decision made by an administrator and not a clinician”. Meaning the good doctor, the medical cannabis advocate wants to continue to charge disabled veterans annually.
Sadly, Tishler wasn’t the only one knocking 4274.
Naomi Martin, Boston Globe reported on twitter, “Medical marijuana patient Frank Shaw” testified against the bill stating that, “all disabled patients should be given easier access to medical cannabis, ‘not just those that have organized groups’ like veterans”.
Which is beyond strange as Frank Shaw this week was announcing “the Frank's Friends Initiative! I developed this initiative to create partnerships with medical dispensaries in order to impact the lives of low-income HIV/AIDS patients.” a discount program which is not for “all disabled patients”.
Shaw is also a supporter of the MPAA and their developmental director, Michael Latulippe who also spoke against expanding veteran access.
Recent MPAA history:
April 2017, I reported The MPAA dry-snitching on caregivers and traditional delivery services to the Globe and the DPH which effectively decreased patient access. While the MPAA collected money from legal dispensaries and medical cannabis doctor offices.
In July 2019, Dan Adams, Boston Globe reported, the same MPAA patient advocates had rented themselves out to big cannabis in Cambridge, “To prove the point, the dispensaries and, um, “allied” advocacy groups bused in dozens of supporters wearing shirts with the word “PATIENT” emblazoned on the front to Thursday’s hearing on the dueling proposals. One after another, they testified that the two-year delay would be unfair to the dispensaries and made them fear losing access to needed medicine. Some appeared to be dispensary workers, or said they were “affiliated” with the dispensaries.”
Most never disclosed their financial interests.
The Young Jurks interview with Stephen Mandile, Support H-4274 for Veterans
BOSTON MEDIA SMURFS
The most ridiculous stories of the week: Pot shop warned to watch out for “smurfs” and “loopers” from the Boston Herald and Marijuana stores on the lookout for Smurfs from WBZ Radio hyped that authorities with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office and the Massachusetts CCC were warning dispensaries about customers purchasing legal cannabis from dispensaries in a smurfing, looping scheme that makes no financial sense. Who buys cannabis at $400 an ounce at a dispensary to sell it on the street for half that price? Commissioner Title shared, “I’ve heard no reports of this happening in Massachusetts” and had this to say about it on twitter, “Um, “did you just completely make this up out of nowhere? I don’t think you’re allowed to do that.”
Not exactly out of nowhere, the reporters seemed to have reprinted a press release from a Smurf firm that hopes to sell the CCC cannabis sales tracking software.
BIG CANNABIS: REV CLINICS CAMBRIDGE & SOMERVILLE HEARINGS
Revolutionary Clinics has a hearing on their Cambridge special permit set for February 11th another in Somerville on March 11th. Expect heat from economic empowerment applicants and the Massachusetts Recreational Consumer Council who posted, ‘Rev Clinics recently filed a lawsuit ruling no economic empowerment priority periods shall be recognized on any Massachusetts municipality going forward.
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HORACE SMALL FOR CCC?
Sunday, 5pm, live The Young Jurks with guest, Horace Small, watch on twitter and facebook @theyoungjurks, we’ll be discussing the campaign that Ed DeSousa started to get Small appointed to the CCC.
NECANN NOMINATIONS FOR THE YOUNG JURKS!
We got nominated four times for this year’s New England Cannabis Convention
Community Awards which will be held at the Hynes Convention Center in March, two nominations for The Young Jurks “best podcast” & “best news source” and I’m (Mike Crawford) also nominated for “best cannabis activist in Massachusetts” as well as for a “lifetime achievement” award! Even more exciting is how many of our past guests, writers, and community that we write about in DigBoston & midnightmass are also nominated! Please go vote for us and them! Thank you Ellen Brown for this graphic!