New York Benefit to Celebrate Recent Medical Marijuana Successes

New York Benefit to Celebrate Recent Medical Marijuana Successes

A Night of Music & Comedy to Help Push Campaign to Victory May 14, 2008 - Highline Ballroom

Spring Soiree to Benefit Effort to Protect Seriously Ill New York Patients Who Use Medical Marijuana

NEW YORK, May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP.org) will host a spring soiree, a night of comedy and music to benefit MPP's efforts to protect seriously ill New Yorkers from arrest and jail if they use medical marijuana with their doctor's recommendation. Patient advocate Joel Peacock will be honored and Sony/BMG artist Nicole Atkins & The Sea and others will perform.

MPP is leading the fight to gain medical marijuana access for seriously ill New Yorkers who have the approval of their physicians. All funds raised will be used to pass a bill to make New York the 13th medical marijuana state in the country.

The Host Committee for the event and those attending include: Joshua Baer, John Perry Barlow, Paul Bennett, Lewis Black, State Senator Joseph Bruno's Director of Public Affairs in New York City Lisa Black, Richard Brookhiser, Tucker Carlson, Jason Flom, Savion Glover, Leslie Lansman, David C. Leven, Peter Lewis, Kurt Loder, Fred Newton, Medeski Martin and Wood, Michelle Phillips, ABC's John Stossel, Ben Taylor, Montel Williams and Robert W. Wilson.

Last year -- for the first time ever -- the New York Assembly passed MPP's medical marijuana bill by a 95-52 vote, sending the bill over to the Senate. This was the result of a four-year lobbying effort that we commenced in 2003.

MPP.org's lobbyist in Albany built an impressive coalition of institutional support, including the state physicians association, state nurses association, state public health association, and the city councils of Albany, Buffalo, and New York.

New York Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno is supportive of allowing medical marijuana, but has not brought the issue to a vote.

With the Republicans facing a tough election this November, when they could very well lose control of the Senate, we're hoping they'll pay attention to the public opinion polling that indicates 76% of New York voters -- and even 55% of Conservative Party voters in the state -- support legal protection for medical marijuana patients.

Highline Ballroom, 431 W 16th Street (212) 414-5994. Tickets for $250 in advance -- $300 at the door (mostly tax-deductible) available (202) 462-5747 Ext. 104 www.mpp.org/highline

Media Contacts:
Gail Parenteau
Parenteau Guidance
212-532-3934
gail@parenteauguidance.com

Source: MPP.org

CONTACT: Gail Parenteau, Parenteau Guidance, +1-212-532-3934,
gail@parenteauguidance.com

Web site:

http://www.mpp.org/highline

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