I attended the Eagle River Youth Coalition “How Do You Feel About the Impact of Medical Marijuana on Youth?” forum last night in Eagle Colorado (GORGEOUS DRIVE!) with Shan and Chaz Moore, James McVaney, Audrey Hatfield, Mark Slaugh, and Jason Lauve. For asking “How do you feel?” about something, the forum was NOT designed for 2-way communication regarding how folks felt. Questions were to be submitted on 3×5 cards and read by a moderator. Police were on hand, 2 Eagle Police Officers, and the School Sheriff reserve officer. The organizers were very gracious, and gave us space for materials to place to display and hand out.

Chaz, Shan and James all squashed into the lil ol Jeep Liberty I have on loan from the insurance company (great lil rig by the way….I want one!) and got there early and had opportunity to visit with the shop owners.

Sweetleaf Pioneer is the LONE dispensary in Eagle, and what a unique position they are in. They are the only MMD in the city of Eagle. They have had to go to great lengths to maintain their business in Eagle, and have worked diligently with the town council. Well…..Eagle has a population of about 4,000 – and population density wise – I felt like I was right back in Lincoln Montana. Small town, small town mentality.

Some new town council members were elected this past spring – and all hell broke loose for Sweetleaf. Suddenly, they are “evil” and must be banned, after jumping through ALL the hoops and spending all the money. Social ostracism is a huge problem for patients in Eagle, and supporting the MMD has been strong, but very down-played, as the patients do not want to suffer persecution.

Sure would be nice if we could get past all this “judging” stuff and just be who we are huh?

Anyways…….I understand the situation, being from itty-bitty-ville myself. It’s not one you go storming the barn on. If we woulda showed up there waving signs all over and raising a big stink, we would not have done Sweetleaf Pioneer or their patients ANY favors. Please folks, when you go do advocacy, get the feel of the situation before you open your mouth. Trust the folks you are helping with their feel for the community. What works in Denver or Colorado Springs will most certainly not always work in smaller communities. That’s why these folks live here……to get OUT of the city and big city ways.

So…..back on topic. We opted for NOT having a big scene outside – and groaned along with the audience. We had made contact previous to arriving – and pretty much stunned them with fact. They agreed to briefly introduce Chaz at the forum, as it had all been “scripted” before, and we felt lucky for that!

Guess what? You too – can groan along and yell at the screen. As soon as I get the videos uploaded, I will share. I may have to upload them to my MTConnectMagazine acct on YouTube as my CoConnectMe one isn’t approved for anything over 15 minutes yet. Be sure to like and follow them both on YouTube.

I hope you folks will take Southers to task – and do it PROFESSIONALLY. Calling somebody names and threatening them is not conducive to open dialogue.

I believe we all feel it went very well actually. After the hours of lies and mis-information, we were released, and went to the hall where the display tables were.

I have to tell each and every one of you out there – I am SO PROUD of Chaz Moore. That young man has come a long way – and Cannabis is serious medicine to him and he represents as well. The high school superintendant spent quite a bit of time questioning Chaz, and in the end said “I believe of all the people I have met using marijuana, you most certainly are a definite candidate I can support and get behind.”

That was the High School Superintendent. I was SO TICKLED! Chaz was phenomenal and has become a GREAT advocate to speak on patients rights. The youth there flocked to him after the session, and the two young men spent quite a bit of time questioning Chaz and his father. I spoke with them after they left Chaz and the Cheerleader cross country runner girls went to talk to Chaz and Shan. The young man I spoke to wants to be a pilot in his future, and was a VERY sharp young man.

His eyes were opened people. I simply reinforced it with “You’re bright – go check your facts. You can look up anything that was said here tonight on the internet. Go make your own decisions based on fact and knowlege.”

He already had…..after talking to Chaz. This is a young man who just talked about losing his peers to drugs. Not as in death, as in pals, and change of interests. Seeing and meeting Chaz was monumental to him, and witnessing one of Chaz’s seizures cinched it for those kids. I really enjoyed listening to them question Chaz and Shan. The girls were very concerned about what Shan goes through being Chaz’s parent….and asked GREAT questions!

SO SO PROUD OF YOU CHAZ! You were a ROCKSTAR last night!

Keep it up buddy!

Videos seem to be loading on the MTConnectMagazine Channel……More coming soon!

I hope you folks will pat Chaz on the back. That young man is going to do WONDERS for our community. He is coming a long way – and has more at stake here than MANY of us. If you ever see or witness one of Chaz’s attacks – you will never question him again. EVER.

It kind of bothers me that anybody would ever question treating children……with what the alternatives are out there. If we TRULY believe Cannabis is safe and effective, why would we not want our loved ones or most precious to have the benefit? Cashy Hyde is on my mind and in my heart every day with his brain cancer, please meet him at http://www.cashhydefoundation.com

He is my special boy….and so is Chaz. THEY are who will truly be our emissaries……as children will be who change our future.

Kids are NOT stupid……it’s about time we treated them with respect and give them knowledge and power to educate and win. Those kids from the DADS campaign last night convinced me of that. They’re eyes were opened……WIDELY.

Thank you Chaz……love ya buddy and proud to have you on board! If you folks don’t know Chaz – or need more info – please visit his site here: http://www.iambillsmith.com/

http://www.csindy.com/IndyBlog/archives/2011/02/04/school-reverses-course-student-told-to-stay-home-after-using-mmj

The Moore family plus a guy

Posted in Chaz, Children & Cannabis, Education, Hiedi, Spirit of Connect, Staff | 2 Comments »

November 12, 2011

‘Operation White Out’ takes out drug ring | The Coloradoan | coloradoan.com

‘Operation White Out’ takes out drug ring | The Coloradoan | coloradoan.com.

So……this was the driving force behind the opposition in Fort Collins. This is why the Sheriff in Larimer County was all wigged out. This is why Suthers is all twitchy and making the statements he does. 19 pounds of marijuana are involved, so of course that just HAD to come from our industry now didn’t it?

Going on for the past 18 months huh?

Look closely at the faces they display in their ring. Are any of those OUR people folks?

I’d say not….but we are equated with them in Fort Collins. Every time one of the prohibitionists looks at one of us – they will see and remember this story.

Patients? Yeah….right…..we’re all just part of the cartel drug ring in the prohibitionists eyes.

You know what just KILLS me here folks? Cannabis is CURING Cancer! I was just dancing around hugging Dr Bob Melamede yesterday in Colorado Springs at the iComply/CSMCC luncheon celebrating his discoveries.

www.complywithme.com for details and follow up to be posted soon…..

PLEASE visit www.cannabisscience.com and witness Dr. Bob’s research. You will be as excited – and I expect a full swath of Snoopy Dances across the state.

I’m Dancin!

Thank you Dr. Bob!

Saving Lives!

Proving it!

The Medical Cannabis Industry is a roller coaster of emotions. We celebrate our wins – our science – our successes. We mourn our losses – most painful are the loss of patients. We watch many die, just too sick or too late to help. We are compassionate people – wanting to do what’s right and good for people.

That’s what I see when I have the pleasure of meeting the people in this industry. We have some of the strongest – most passionate and compassionate folks you could ever meet in this world. Great hearts – hard workers. Dedicated and caring.

Pioneers in a new industry. We are pioneering a new industry folks. I have believed that for years now – and personally – I revel in it. I am EXCITED to see it. I am tickled to death every time I hear of a new success and discovery. A new product. A new patient helped.

I do Snoopy Dances all the time for you folks. For the patients. For the new people who finally see the science and learn.

This new industry is just as important to me as it is to many of you.

That’s why I do what I do. That’s why we have Irvin on board. NO other publication out there has a Federal Medical Marijuana patient on board to help us fight – help us have integrity and credibility. We HAVE to have integrity and credibility. We HAVE to fight them politically – and at the local level. We have to demand respect…..but we also have to PRESENT with respect to do that.

Colorado Connect is designed exactly for that folks. Not only will I be whacking prohibitionists in the noggin with it for years to come….but the “bad guys” in our industry too. My ban list has been developed – and there are folks I will NEVER advertise in our magazine. I have learned of many instances of deceitful behavior in Colorado – and in my own heart I cannot refer a patient to them. This industry is just TOO important and new to me and us to fool around.

I don’t go around advertising my ban list – you will never see that. That’s just tacky, disrepectful, and damaging to a new industry. You just won’t see them on our pages – or any of our staff in their shops. I maintained this principle in Montana – and have voided a $1000 check from one such advertiser.

Nobody can pay me to hurt a patient – or our industry. Not with my knowledge of it.

It’s also because of that principle that I have the contributing writers I do. They are safe in knowing they won’t be sharing the pages of a cannabis publication with anything that might embarrass them.

Patients Out of Time is a VERY important group to our industry – and they deserve respect. I confirmed Stan Garnett as a contributing writer this week. If you folks don’t know who Stan Garnett is – you have been under a rock politically. He is the Boulder County DA – and ran for Attorney General 2 years ago.

Having contributing writers such as the lineup I am developing is VERY important to me – as Colorado Connect will be distributed to EVERY senator and house rep in the state. Every town council I get an address for. These folks have GOT to get and have a credible message – a resource to learn. The newspapers are doing us NO favors – and the culture magazines? Well…they have their market – and their place.

The political arena is not one of them – not now – and not for medical.

I’m hoping to announce our new State Sales Manager next week – and I am so very excited to do so. We will also be presenting to Act4Co – MMIG – and CBA. Please see the book tour schedule on our site for dates and times.

Irvin & I hope to meet many more of you over the next week – and look forward to doing so. If you’re into the “Culture Club” thing and down for a party….well….you can come say hi – but don’t expect us to party with you. This is serious business – and we have work to do.

Our kind of fun is Advocacy and Education. We love meeting new people, hearing their stories, and seeing the exciting things you business folks are doing. We also love having a toe to toe with the opposition…..debate gets the blood pumping.

I hope you’ll join us – and I invite you to do so. Please feel free to call anytime – even if you have a problem. ESPECIALLY if you have a problem. We might be able to help. That’s what we do……we help people – and we CONNECT people.

Let’s win this fight. Let’s Connect!

Posted in Hiedi, Spirit of Connect | Leave a Comment »

November 11, 2011

Hello Colorado!!??!! We have a PROBLEM!!!

Anybody see this??

Panelists note rise in teen pot use

AG Suthers criticizes state medical marijuana policies

John Stroud
Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado

ENLARGE

Dr. Paul Salmen of Glenwood Springs, center, was one of three panelists at a forum Tuesday, “The Presence of Medical Marijuana and Our Kids,” held at the Glenwood Springs Community Center. The other two panelists were Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, left, and Glenwood Springs Police Chief Terry Wilson.

Kelley Cox Post Independent

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — Marijuana use among adolescents has been a concern for many decades, but never more so than since the advent of Colorado’s medical marijuana industry in recent years, according to a panel of speakers at a community forum Tuesday night.Debbie Wilde, executive director of YouthZone, which deals with at-risk youth from Aspen to Parachute, said 10 percent of their youth clients surveyed report using marijuana at least once a month.That’s 50 percent higher than for youth across the United States. Locally, the number of youth using marijuana daily has increased 50 percent in recent years, she said.And, by and large, she said they admit getting the drug from medical marijuana patients.“Medical marijuana has increased access for youth, and created a perception that it’s OK,” Wilde said.The informational forum on medical marijuana and its impact on youth was sponsored by YouthZone, local health and business organizations and the Roaring Fork School District.More than 200 people, including several parents who brought their children to hear the discussion, packed the Glenwood Springs Community Center meeting room.In addition to representatives from YouthZone and substance abuse programs, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers was invited to speak.Suthers offered harsh words for the state’s medical marijuana policies, which he believes has made the drug more accessible to youth.

“In my opinion, the medical marijuana regime in Colorado is nothing more than a state-sanctioned fraud on the part of several thousand patients and a few dozen doctors, in violation of federal law,” he said.

Of the roughly 130,000 authorized medical marijuana patients currently in Colorado, he said the vast majority are males in their 20s and 30s.

“Folks, that is precisely the demographic profile of recreational drug users in the state,” Suthers said.

“I’m tempted to support legalization in an effort to get away from the government hypocrisy,” he said. “But I won’t do that … because it would only increase the perception that there is no risk with this drug.”

Dr. Paul Salmen, a Glenwood Springs family physician and founder of the Youth Recovery Center at Valley View Hospital, said marijuana affects teens differently than adults.

“I’m not here to condemn medical marijuana as an evil substance,” Salmen said.

But, “marijuana in the brain of a teenager is a very different drug,” he said, noting that it affects the reward center of the brain at a time when the brain is still in a very formative stage.

“Teenagers are not using marijuana for chronic pain or for cancer, they’re using it for pleasure,” Salmen said.

Shelley Evans, who founded the Red Mountain Adolescent and Family Center in Glenwood Springs four years ago, said 100 percent of the program’s youth clients admit to marijuana use.

“Alcohol is still a problem among youth, but what we’re seeing is they’re drinking on the weekends but they’re smoking marijuana on a daily basis,” Evans said. One-fourth of the young people in the program also have parents who are medical marijuana patients, she said.

Glenwood Springs Police Chief Terry Wilson said marijuana arrests involving juveniles rose from 19 in 2008, before medical marijuana became prominent locally, to 48 last year and 31 through October this year.

Just in the last year, state and local regulations were put in place to enact controls on the medical marijuana industry, including safeguards to try to keep the drug out of the hands of teenagers and others not authorized to use it. No representatives from local dispensaries or industry associations spoke at the Glenwood Springs forum.

jstroud@postindependent.com

HELLO?!?!

Was ANYBODY from the Colorado Medical Cannabis Industry there? I’m not naming a group….I mean ANYBODY??

So – here in Glenwood Springs we have 200 people and the Colorado Attorney General TEARING our industry up – with absolutely no counter. No open debate – and no one in the audience brave enough to call bullshit when they see it.

THIS is the problem going on with this industry – and this is exactly why we are here – and trying to de what we do. By GOD if I had known this was going on – I would have been there in a FLASH with facts and science to counter all the lies.

We HAVE to be PROACTIVE folks! We HAVE TO get to these meetings and counter them! John Suthers should not be out campaigning against medical cannabis like he is – YOU pay HIM a salary! He represents YOU too! The laws here are the will of the voters……ALL of them – not the few he selects and chooses.

It is time to start holding your public officials accountable for their public actions.

Believe you me – Mr Suthers will be getting a phone call from Hiedi Handford. Sooner than he may know it.

You folks should all be dialing him up too……and holding him accountable. People DIE over these lies……

John Suthers – Colorado Attorney General – contact info

1525 Sherman St.
Denver, Colorado 80203
P: 303-866-4500
F: 303-866-5691
Attorney.General@state.co.us

Posted in Hiedi, Spirit of Connect, Trouble! | 10 Comments »

November 8, 2011

It’s time for Change

That’s what we’re trying to do here….isn’t it?

CHANGE

We want to change the world. We want to change laws. We want to change people’s view.

We want respect…..at least I do when it comes to the Medical Cannabis industry.

I don’t know about you…..but I’m tired of being labeled. I’m tired of being stereotyped. I’m tired of being expected to have injuries that are completely visible. I’m really tired of folks looking at medical cannabis folks as criminals.

I’m tired of “You don’t look sick”.

I have been tired of many of these things for many years. NOW? It’s even more important to me.

We are at a very important crux in our industry – not just in Colorado – but Nationally. I see it as a huge simmering steam cooker – and the pressure is building. That puppy is bouncing across the strove in a hot dance – and people’s lives are at stake.

Something has GOT to give.

That’s what Irvin Rosenfeld and I are trying to do here folks. Help change happen. Bring integrity and respect to you – and patients everywhere. That is exactly why we are publishing Colorado Connect – and maintaining the guidelines we do.

The “Culture Club” as I call them – has their place. In my opinion – that is NOT on Capitol hill, town council meetings, or in political offices or legislative session when it comes to medical cannabis.

Let me show you an example from my own experience. This is a video straight from Montana’s 62nd Legislative session. I had distributed Montana Connect to all 150 members of our session the previous Wednesday. This was a floor session hearing to repeal our medical marijuana law in Montana the following Saturday.

“This isn’t what the voters voted for…..” the specific part I’m talking about starts at 1:45 into the video.

I was very happy they didn’t use Montana Connect to beat us up. Why didn’t they? We had a CRAZY session full of prohibitionists looking for any and every reason to take away our law – and they never once used Connect Magazine as an example to get rid of it……because it IS representing what the voters wanted.

No matter how you or I feel about Cannabis – we have a fight – EVERY DAY. We have to represent EVERY DAY. We have to have respect – and educate them.

Business owners – your success DEPENDS on what happens politically. I ask you – do you want a publication you can hand out and educate politicians with? A publication you can be proud of handing to someone without having to explain culture?

Point in fact here is – we also need to reach outside our current market – and many professionals I speak to simply want nothing to do with the culture club. If we want to tap into that market – we need to represent respectfully – and responsibly.

That is what Connect Magazine will do for you. I’m also telling you folks – Connect magazine is not for everybody. There are some folks I will not allow to advertise under any circumstances. I have a list of banned advertisers – because after my own investigations I have determined they are detrimental and hurt us. There are certain individuals and businesses you will NEVER see on the pages of Connect Magazine. I will not lead a patient to them to be hurt. I have voided a $1000 check from one such individual in Montana for Montana Connect. I will hold the same guidelines in Colorado Connect.

We’re here to protect you and help you folks. Bring you respect and integrity.

720-326-6577 ~ CoConnectMe@gmail.com ~ @CoConectMe

I look forward to your feedback – and to you joining our team. Let’s build a GREAT industry, reach out and gather as many new customers and patients as we can, and effect CHANGE

It’s time…..dontcha think?

Colorado Connect is also looking for staff. Folks who believe as we do – and can perform in a professional setting. Represent in a professional setting. We need folks who eat, sleep, and breathe medical cannabis – and who truly want to effect change. Please contact Hiedi Handford at any of the contacts above and have a resume ready.

Posted in Hiedi, Spirit of Connect | 2 Comments »

November 7, 2011

Uncertain shutdown scenario looms for medical marijuana shops | The Coloradoan | coloradoan.com

Uncertain shutdown scenario looms for medical marijuana shops | The Coloradoan | coloradoan.com.

Prohibitionists rejoice in our pain and despair…..I saw it in this very same newspaper earlier this week. “Save the children! Save the children!”

What about the children? I happen to know some very sick ones. Very sick children who are helped by Cannabis. Would they deny the children? What if that was their own child? Would they “Just say No”?

Sickness and disease are not “picky”. They don’t care who they get – what your status in life is, how much money you make, who your family is. That doesn’t matter…..they are vicious predators.

On another note…..we cannot regulate good parenting. When we have to start enacting laws at a local level to assist in parenting – there are definitely “issues”. Parenting starts at home, and if you haven’t talked to you children by the 2nd grade about at least sex….well….better sign up for some parenting classes and learn how to communicate with your child. You have a LONNNNG road ahead of you if you don’t.

Why is everybody so afraid to talk to their kids about these issues? Our children are NOT stupid people…..far from it. You think your child doesn’t see you take a pill for a headache? Eat an opioid for pain? All of these can KILL a person…..wouldn’t it be logical to explain cannabis IS a medicine and the difference between legal and recreational use?

The kids would think so……..why don’t you ask them sometime?

Posted in Education, Hiedi, Trouble! | Leave a Comment »

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‘Operation White Out’ takes out drug ring | The Coloradoan | coloradoan.com

Hello Colorado!!??!! We have a PROBLEM!!!

Anybody see this??

Panelists note rise in teen pot use

AG Suthers criticizes state medical marijuana policies

HELLO?!?!

It’s time for Change

Uncertain shutdown scenario looms for medical marijuana shops | The Coloradoan | coloradoan.com

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