DCMJ National ‘Bring It Home’ Legalization Civil Demonstrations
WASHINGTON – On Monday, April 2, DCMJ, a leading cannabis advocacy and education organization that worked to successfully legalize cannabis in the District of Columbia (D.C.), will hold two consecutive days of ‘Bring It Home’ civil demonstrations and free cannabis giveaways in D.C. at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Monday, 4/2), the D.C. Housing Authority (Monday, 4/2), and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (Tuesday, 4/3) to raise awareness of current cannabis prohibition policies that prevent veterans, the disabled and economically challenged from having cannabis in their own homes. On Wednesday, April 4th, DCMJ will also fire-up an online ‘Tweet Storm,’ highlighting U.S. Department of Education policies that prevent on-campus students from using cannabis, even for medicinal purposes.
Cannabis is a plant scientifically proven less harmful than alcohol and tobacco (two legal substances under federal law). Today, the plant currently resides under a Schedule I classification under the Controlled Substances Act (the same classification as heroin). However, numerous scientific studies show that in states with comprehensive cannabis programs, U.S. hospitals treat far fewer opioid users, and according to another study, cannabis use was associated with a [64% decrease in opioid use](https://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(16%2900567-8/abstract) in patients with chronic pain.
“No sense in sugarcoating it—cannabis prohibition places big-prison revenues first and Americans last,” said DCMJ Co-founder Adam Eidinger. “The federal government is decimating the rights of U.S. veterans, students, the disabled, and our nation’s economically struggling. The home should be a safe place, where you can make decisions to improve your quality of life. People shouldn’t be persecuted, imprisoned or kicked out of their home for using cannabis, a plant less harmful than a six-pack.”
DCMJ’s Bring It Home campaign will work to better educate the public on cannabis prohibition policies that trample on the rights of Americans. Even when veterans, the disabled, economically challenged and on-campus students live in locations where cannabis is legal, many are prevented from having cannabis in their home. DCMJ’s demonstrations are the first to highlight how cannabis prohibition policies deny entire groups of people the choice to access to safer medical and health and wellness treatments.
“Treating these individuals like second-class citizens is unconscionable,” said DCMJ Co-founder Nikolas Schiller. “If you ask yourself who benefits from cannabis prohibition, it won’t be veterans, the disabled, students or people living in public housing. Lining the pockets of big-prison-fat-cats while individuals, families and communities are denied the ability to make informed decisions is a dangerous policy that Americans want overturned. It’s time politicians listened.”
***DCMJ BRING IT HOME MEDIA ADVISORY***
WHO: DCMJ, patients, activists, community leaders
WHAT: DCMJ ‘Bring It Home at HUD Civil Demonstration and Free Cannabis Giveaway
WHEN: Monday, April, 2, 2018
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. EST
WHERE: Department of Housing and Urban Development
The U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development’s controversial “one-strike” regulation,C.F.R. 966.4, empowers local public housing authorities (“PHAs”) to terminate a resident’s tenancy for “any criminal activity that threatens the health, safety, or quiet enjoyment of the PHAs … premises … or (B) any substance -related criminal activity on or near the premises.” Section 966.4 extends far beyond evicting individuals for their own criminal actions; it creates a cause for termination of tenancy where a “tenant, any member of the household, a guest, or another person under the tenant’s control,” engages in criminal activity. As long as cannabis is unfairly treated as a Schedule I substance under federal law, millions of Americans are at risk for eviction. This needs to end. DCMJ is calling all cannabis crusaders to join us on Monday, April 2 organize rallies at your nearest public housing authority buildings to demand change.
WHO: DCMJ, patients, activists, community leaders
WHAT: DCMJ ‘Bring It Home at VA – Civil Demonstration and Free Cannabis Giveaway
WHEN: Tuesday, April, 3, 2018
12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET
WHERE: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC
Veterans who valiantly served in the United States military are denied the right to obtain a recommendation for cannabis from any VA doctor. Although 29 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have legalized some form of cannabis, as long as the federal government classifies cannabis as Schedule I substance, veterans cannot use, possess, or grow cannabis at any VA building.
WHO: DCMJ
WHAT: DCMJ ‘Bring It Home at Department of Education
Online Tweet Storm
WHEN: Wednesday, April, 4, 2018
12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST
Students in states with legalized cannabis can be kicked out of their dorms for possessing or using cannabis. Worse, at many universities students have already paid for calendar year’s housing and if they are caught with cannabis they must find housing off-campus and do not get their money back from the university. Although 29 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have legalized some form of cannabis, as long as the federal government classifies cannabis as Schedule I substance, students cannot use, possess, or grow cannabis at any and could be ruin their educational prospects if they Bring It Home.For more information, please visit www.dcmj.org or .Media Contacts:Ellen M. MellodyCell: 570-209-2947Email: [email protected]Adam Eidinger202-744-2671[email protected]Nikolas Schiller202-460-0032[email protected]
