{"id":2803,"date":"2021-12-05T00:43:37","date_gmt":"2021-12-05T00:43:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CBMiXGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNvbmNvcmRtb25pdG9yLmNvbS9Hcm93aW5nLXByb2JsZW1zLWluZmlsdHJhdGUtbWVkaWNhbC1tYXJpanVhbmEtc3lzdGVtLTQzODIyNzk50gEA"},"modified":"2021-12-05T00:43:37","modified_gmt":"2021-12-05T00:43:37","slug":"patients-providers-and-the-public-met-to-update-laws-and-thinking-attached-to-medical-marijuana-concord-monitor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=2803","title":{"rendered":"Patients, providers and the public met to update laws \u2013and thinking \u2013 attached to medical marijuana &#8211; Concord Monitor"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><title> Patients, providers and the public met to update laws \u2013and thinking \u2013&nbsp;attached to medical marijuana&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/title>           <!-- Favicons --><\/p>\n<p> <!-- Bootstrap -->  <!-- 2018 NNE-CM Overrides-->  <!-- jQuery (necessary for Bootstrap's JavaScript plugins) --> <!-- Bootstrap JS --> <!--include jQuery cookie for remembering close action --> <!-- Open Sans for meta info-->  <!--Adriane font from Adobe-->  <!--Bootstrap Glyphicons-->  <!--Font Awesome for social icons-->  <!-- Tecnavia Paywall --> <!-- Start DFP jQuery invocation script -->  <!--admiral--> <!--admiral--> <!--begin canonical url --><\/p>\n<p><!--end canonical url --> <!--begin Facebook meta tags --><\/p>\n<p><!-- end Facebook meta tags--><br \/>\n<!-- begin twitter cards --><\/p>\n<p><!--end twitter cards--><br \/>\n<!-- set paywall criteria --> <!-- end paywall criteria --><!-- Connatix Story Article Player Head --> <!-- End Connatix Story Article Player Head -->   <!-- Google Tag Manager --><br \/>\n <!-- End Google Tag Manager --><\/p>\n<div class=\"container\"> <!--Begin 2018 header--> <\/p>\n<div class=\"row\" id=\"nnenav2018\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-12\">\n<div class=\"col-sm-12 col-lg-6\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.concordmonitor.com\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/patients-providers-and-the-public-met-to-update-laws-and-thinking-attached-to-medical-marijuana-concord-monitor.jpg\" id=\"navbarLogo\" alt=\"Concord Monitor logo\"><\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!--end 2018 header --> <!--begin alert --> <!--end alert--> <\/p>\n<div class=\"container\"> <!--begin expander--> <!--Begin donate prompt--><\/p>\n<div class=\"col-xs-12\">\n<hr class=\"sectiondividerlight\">\n<p><strong>OUR ENVIRONMENT NEEDS MORE LOCAL REPORTING<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Concord Monitor is launching its Environmental Reporting Lab, a long-term effort to better inform the community about the New Hampshire environment. To launch phase 1 of this effort, we need your help. The money raised will go toward hiring a full-time environmental reporter.<\/p>\n<p>Please consider donating to this effort.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!--End donate prompt--> <\/div>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-lg-8 col-md-8 col-sm-12 col-xs-12\">\n<div class=\"head-content\">\n<h5 class=\"breadcrumbs\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.concordmonitor.com\/News\/State\/\">News<span class=\"breadcrumb_sep\"> &gt; <\/span>State<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-content\">\n<div id=\"slider\" class=\"flexslider\">\n<ul class=\"slides\">\n<li class=\"slideimage\" data-src=\"\/getattachment\/4844b7c2-c434-49fa-900a-2b306fd08723\/Weed-cm-120421-ph02\" data-sub-html=\"Matt Simon is director of public and government relations for Prime ATC of New Hampshire, which operates the Chichester dispensary. Even he believes medical marijuana patients should be allowed to grow their own plants. Monitor file Test\">&lt;span class=&quot;lightgalleryimg&quot; data-src=&quot;\/getattachment\/4844b7c2-c434-49fa-900a-2b306fd08723\/Weed-cm-120421-ph02&quot; data-sub-html=&quot;Matt Simon is director of public and government relations for Prime ATC of New Hampshire, which operates the Chichester dispensary. Even he believes medical marijuana patients should be allowed to grow their own plants. Monitor file Testing <span id='buylinkLBWeed-cm-120421,ph02'><\/span>&#8220;&gt;<img decoding=\"async\" alt src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/patients-providers-and-the-public-met-to-update-laws-and-thinking-attached-to-medical-marijuana-concord-monitor-1.jpg\"><\/span>\n<p class=\"flex-caption caption0\">\n<span class=\"photocaption\">Matt Simon is director of public and government relations for Prime ATC of New Hampshire, which operates the Chichester dispensary. Even he believes medical marijuana patients should be allowed to grow their own plants.<\/span> <span class=\"photocredit\">Monitor file<\/span><span id=\"buylinkWeed-cm-120421,ph02\"><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"slideimage\" data-src=\"\/getattachment\/24846252-ee12-4e93-8c9e-cf94ec617aea\/Weed-cm-120421-ph01\" data-sub-html=\" Test\">&lt;span class=&quot;lightgalleryimg&quot; data-src=&quot;\/getattachment\/24846252-ee12-4e93-8c9e-cf94ec617aea\/Weed-cm-120421-ph01&quot; data-sub-html=&quot; Testing <span id='buylinkLBWeed-cm-120421,ph01'><\/span>&#8220;&gt;<img decoding=\"async\" alt src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/patients-providers-and-the-public-met-to-update-laws-and-thinking-attached-to-medical-marijuana-concord-monitor-2.jpg\"><\/span> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"carousel\" class=\"flexslider\">\n<ul class=\"slides\" id=\"navthumb\">\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" alt src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/patients-providers-and-the-public-met-to-update-laws-and-thinking-attached-to-medical-marijuana-concord-monitor-1.jpg\"><\/li>\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" alt src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/patients-providers-and-the-public-met-to-update-laws-and-thinking-attached-to-medical-marijuana-concord-monitor-2.jpg\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row borderbottom\" id=\"articleInfo\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-6\">\n<p>Monitor columnist<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-6\">\n<p>Published: 12\/4\/2021 7:40:07 PM<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"articlebody\">\n<p>Rep. Jerry Knirk of Freedom recently emailed a press release to his 399 colleagues at the State House, asking them to publicize what the Therapeutic Cannabis Medical Oversight Board called a Listening Session.<\/p>\n<p>The session\u2019s purpose? Through a coordinated question-and-answer forum, open to all, review the pot policies in the Granite State, which legalized medical marijuana eight years ago.<\/p>\n<p>Patients say they love the long-overdue compassion. But obstacles remain.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI got one kind of nasty response,\u201d Knirk, on Zoom, told participants, \u201cthat cannabis is a terrible thing that destroys life.\u201d He wouldn\u2019t reveal the lawmaker\u2019s name who reached out to him directly, but you can bet that the two-dozen or so individuals who tossed around ideas and concerns Wednesday night disagreed wholeheartedly with the words in that response.<\/p>\n<p>The two-hour meeting \u2013 held officially at the Department of Health and Human Services \u2013 had a wide audience via Zoom that included patients, caregivers, providers and members of the public.<\/p>\n<p>Concerns expressed<\/p>\n<p>Patients want to grow their own pot, and several other patients complained that the list of ailments needed to qualify for a card here is too short, ignoring conditions such as anxiety, insomnia and depression. Those ailments get you a medical card in surrounding states.<\/p>\n<p>Not here, though.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHeadaches are not on the application,\u201d said Rep. Suzanne Vail of Nashua. \u201cI\u2019d love to see what we can do to decrease the stigma as we work through this legislative process on bills we have in there. We have room to really do some good stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Individuals like Nadine Hottat of Peterborough, an advanced practice registered nurse, have seen the reactions from patients after breaking the bad news to them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have been running into patients who have moved to a state where anxiety was a qualifying condition,\u201d Hottat said. \u201cAnd they\u2019ve been using cannabis successfully to help with anxiety and depression. I have to tell them that I cannot qualify you for anxiety, and it\u2019s quite an unsettling experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>New Hampshire,the nerd state<\/p>\n<p>One participant, a bearded man identified only as Caleb, said New Hampshire was viewed as \u201cuncool\u201d in New England, both for limiting the number of illnesses that qualify for medicinal marijuana use, and its curious ban on patients growing pot. Medicine, the patients call it. Medicine they need, badly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need the ability to produce our own medicine,\u201d Caleb said. \u201cI\u2019m hearing that the majority of the issues from this program could be solved by home growing. It\u2019s that simple.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Growing your own is cheaper. Many staffers at the seven Prime Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs) of New Hampshire smoke pot legally themselves, for pain and comfort management.<\/p>\n<p>They empathize with patients who are not mobile. They say that there\u2019s plenty of customers to go around, that patients should have a choice of buying from an ATC or home-growing, if they can master that complex process.<\/p>\n<p>For people with cancer and so many other illnesses, a home supply would be close during an emergency, to soothe pain, erase nausea, stimulate appetite, or induce sleep.<\/p>\n<p>Compare these archaic laws, supporters say, to those of Maine, Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts. You can grow there legally if your ailment is on the list. A list wider than New Hampshire\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, adults can smoke there legally, illness or not. But that\u2019s a debate \u2013 legalization \u2013 for another day.<\/p>\n<p>Strange bedfellows<\/p>\n<p>Right now, advocates for the benefits offered by pot continue to shake the walls of the State House, hoping that the Granite State will adopt the mindset possessed by its neighbors.<\/p>\n<p>Even Matt Simon believes patients should be permitted to grow their own, and he\u2019s the director of public and government relations for Prime Alternative Treatment Centers of New Hampshire.<\/p>\n<p>He promotes the Chichester dispensary and another in Merrimack, among the seven total in the state.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s part of the state\u2019s legal distribution system now, offering what he says are great products and hoping sales are brisk. But his roots run elsewhere, deep like a pot plant\u2019s, lifting him into a visible role in the fight to rewrite the pot laws here.<\/p>\n<p>He started speaking out in 2009, four years before Gov. Maggie Hassan finally signed the bill making medicinal marijuana legal. He lobbied the House for change.<\/p>\n<p>Ask him for comment on his seemingly conflicting roles \u2013 promoting his ATC outlets, while supporting the value of growing at home \u2013 and Simon comes down hard on one side, with no hesitation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDoes it help our bottom line?\u201d he asked. \u201cOkay, but we are about service to patients and we are a nonprofit. (Home growers) should be able to do it, and if they can do it better than we can, go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Living in the Stone Age<\/p>\n<p>The laws in place, Simon noted, are archaic and draconian, the penalties too steep for ill people searching for relief at home.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s seen patients move to other states, unhappy with the policies here. They\u2019ve sent him photos of their new gardens. They\u2019ve said they feel free, finally, explaining the joy to an individual who lives in the \u201cLive Free or Die\u201d state.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen it comes to therapeutic dispensaries, the mission is to serve patients,\u201d Simon says, \u201cand those patients are not served well by felony penalties. Patients having to live in fear of law enforcement has been fundamental to this issue, and it should never be a crime for patients who try to take care of their medical needs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Simon has seen it all, the arduous process by which New Hampshire has tried to fall into line with its New England neighbors and other states around the country.<\/p>\n<p>Former and current governors John Lynch and then Chris Sununu vetoed legislation that would have legalized home growing. Elsewhere, the Senate has killed the bill, or, in 2009 and \u201813, used an amendment to remove the home-grown clause, before the bill had even reached the governor\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n<p>Is a relaxed system nearing? One that allows residents to grow their own medicinal pot, or expands the list of qualifying illnesses, or \u2013 wait for it \u2013legalizes personal use by adults in the comforts of their homes?<\/p>\n<p>Representatives from the state\u2019s three Alternative Treatment Centers testified in support of HB 350 \u2013making it legal to grow at home &#8211; last spring. Bedford Police Chief John Bryfonski disapproved and the measure was tabled in the Senate by a 15-9 vote, essentially removing it from consideration.<\/p>\n<p>Pot people argue that some ideas are antiquated, that the old propaganda delivered by such movies as the cult classic \u201cReefer Madness\u201d looks silly today, with its depiction of pot smokers who go insane and murder and hallucinate.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, the 1936 film, so serious and so crazy in its presentation of the effects pot has on users, is a satirizing counter punch these days to individuals who remain fearful of the long-term impact pot has on people.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe specter of Reefer Madness still sits out there,\u201d Knirk said. \u201cSo we will take this issue to heart.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As for that response he received from a House member, the one that said pot \u201cdestroys life,\u201d Knirk refused to name a name, saying, \u201cIt was a private email to me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Instead, Knirk recalled his thoughts when he read the message, saying to himself, \u201cWe\u2019re talking about <em>therapeutic<\/em> cannabis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI did try to educate that particular person,\u201d Knirk said. \u201cI\u2019m not sure I got through. He never responded.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- Connatix Story Article Player Body --> <!-- End Connatix Story Article Player Body --> <\/p>\n<div class=\"row authorBio\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-2\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/patients-providers-and-the-public-met-to-update-laws-and-thinking-attached-to-medical-marijuana-concord-monitor-3.jpg\" alt=\"Ray Duckler bio photo\" class=\"img-responsive\"> <\/div>\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-10\">\n<p><strong>Ray Duckler<\/strong>, our intrepid columnist, focuses on the Suncook Valley. He floats from topic to topic, searching for the humor or sadness or humanity in each subject. A native New Yorker, he loves the Yankees and Giants. The Red Sox and Patriots? Not so much.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-teasers nocontent\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-12\" id=\"bottomTeasers\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-6 homebox-small\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-3\">\n<div class=\"row\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.concordmonitor.com\/nh-coronavirus-covid-43676620\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive center-block\" alt src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/patients-providers-and-the-public-met-to-update-laws-and-thinking-attached-to-medical-marijuana-concord-monitor-4.jpg\"> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-xs-9\">\n<p> Evolution is an amazing process but when it comes to COVID-19, I wish it would slow down a bit.The imminent arrival of the Omicron variant while&#8230; <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-6 homebox-small\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-3\">\n<div class=\"row\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.concordmonitor.com\/Study-Those-eligible-for-food-stamps-may-not-be-using-program-due-to-lack-of-state-outreach-43843042\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive center-block\" alt src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/patients-providers-and-the-public-met-to-update-laws-and-thinking-attached-to-medical-marijuana-concord-monitor-5.jpg\"> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-xs-9\">\n<p> New Hampshire hasn\u2019t had an outreach plan for its food stamp program in more than four years \u2013 and an analysis of recent years shows that people&#8230; <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-6 homebox-small\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-3\">\n<div class=\"row\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.concordmonitor.com\/Growing-problems-infiltrate-medical-marijuana-system-43822799\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive center-block\" alt src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/patients-providers-and-the-public-met-to-update-laws-and-thinking-attached-to-medical-marijuana-concord-monitor-6.jpg\"> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-xs-9\">\n<p> Rep. Jerry Knirk of Freedom recently emailed a press release to his 399 colleagues at the State House, asking them to publicize what the&#8230; <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-6 homebox-small\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-3\">\n<div class=\"row\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.concordmonitor.com\/Concord-cemetery-to-be-part-of-Wreaths-Across-America-43859653\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive center-block\" alt src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/patients-providers-and-the-public-met-to-update-laws-and-thinking-attached-to-medical-marijuana-concord-monitor-7.jpg\"> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-xs-9\">\n<p> Two hundred veterans in a Concord cemetery will be among those honored as part of the Wreaths Across America event on Dec. 18.The Old North&#8230; <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- Facebook SDK -->  &lt;!&#8211;  &#8211;&gt;<br \/>\n&lt;!&#8211;  &#8211;&gt;  If Javascript is disabled in your browser, to place orders please visit the page where I <a href=\"https:\/\/my.fotomoto.com\/store\/4436cd2b6a1681b558cba8c52a12c05743a4e5a2\">sell my photos<\/a>, powered by <a href=\"https:\/\/my.fotomoto.com\/\">Fotomoto<\/a>. <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<hr>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!--Begin Footer--> <!--End Footer--> <!-- \/container --> <!-- Begin Nav More Modal --> <!-- End Nav more Modal --><br \/>\n<!-- Tecnavia Paywall Script at End of Page --> <!-- CM DFP Invocation Script--> <!-- Chartbeat --> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Patients, providers and the public met to update laws \u2013and thinking \u2013&nbsp;attached to medical marijuana&nbsp; OUR ENVIRONMENT NEEDS MORE LOCAL REPORTING The Concord Monitor is launching its Environmental Reporting Lab, a long-term effort to better inform the community about the New Hampshire environment. To launch phase 1 of this effort, we need your help. The money raised will go toward hiring a full-time environmental reporter. Please consider donating to this effort. News &gt; State &lt;span class=&quot;lightgalleryimg&quot; data-src=&quot;\/getattachment\/4844b7c2-c434-49fa-900a-2b306fd08723\/Weed-cm-120421-ph02&quot; data-sub-html=&quot;Matt Simon is director of public and government relations for Prime ATC of New Hampshire, which operates the Chichester dispensary. Even he believes&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/patients-providers-and-the-public-met-to-update-laws-and-thinking-attached-to-medical-marijuana-concord-monitor.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2803"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2803\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}