Posts made in October, 2014

2014 PA Senate Voting Guide

Posted by on Oct 21, 2014 in Blog

If any candidates position on medical marijuana is known it is indicated. Keep in mind that a ‘Yes’ on MMJ alone is not enough for us to endorse someone, unless we know their opponent is against it. Nor does a ‘yes’ on MMJ mean that we know their position on decrim or full legalization. In general the candidates we endorse support MMJ, hemp, decrim and are at least open to full legalization.

We urge everyone to take a moment and see if there is a race in your district and comment with what you know on the candidates’ positions so this can be updated and we can all help each other be informed voters.

If you are unsure which district you are in you can find it here.

DistrictCandidateCandidate
District 2
Christine Tartaglione (D)
Supports MMJ
John Jenkins (R)
Unknown
District 4Art Haywood (D)
Unknown
Robin Gilchrist (R)
Unknown

Ines Reyes (I)
Unknown
District 6Kimberly Yeager-Rose (D)
Unknown


Robert Tomlinson (R)
Supports MMJ
District 10Steve Cickay (D)
Unknown
Charles McIlhinney (R)
Supports MMJ
District 12

Ruth S. Damsker (D)
Unknown
Stewart Greenleaf (R)
Supports MMJ
District 16Walter Felton Jr. (D)
Unknown
Pat Browne (R)
Supports MMJ
District 22


John Blake (D)
Supports MMJ
Joe Albert (R)
Unknown
District 24
Jack Hansen (D)
Unknown
Bob Mensch (R)
Supports MMJ
District 26


John Kane Sr. (D)
Unknown
Thomas McGarrigle (R)
Unknown
District 28
Linda E. Small (D)
Supports MMJ
Scott Wagner (R)
Supports MMJ
District 32


Deberah Kula (D)
Unknown
Patrick Stefanor (R)
Unknown
District 36


Gary Schreckengost (D)
ENDORSED
Ryan Aument r (R)
Unknown
District 40

Mark Aurand (D)
Unknown
Mario Scavello (R)
Unknown
District 44Kathleen Cozzone (D)
ENDORSED
John Rafferty (R)
Supports MMJ
District 46

Timothy Solobay (D)
Supports MMJ
Camera Bartolotta (R)
Unknown
District 50

Michael Muha (D)
Unknown
Michele Brooks (R)
Unknown
Read More »

2014 PA House Voting Guide

Posted by on Oct 20, 2014 in Blog

If any candidates position on medical marijuana is known it is indicated. Keep in mind that a ‘Yes’ on MMJ alone is not enough for us to endorse someone, unless we know their opponent is against it. Nor does a ‘yes’ on MMJ mean that we know their position on decrim or full legalization. In general the candidates we endorse support MMJ, hemp, decrim and are at least open to full legalization.

We urge everyone to take a moment and see if there is a race in your district and comment with what you know on the candidates’ positions so this can be updated and we can all help each other be informed voters.

If you are unsure which district you are in you can find it here.

DistrictCandidateCandidate
District 3
Ryan Bizzarro (D)
Supports MMJ
Luke Lofgrem (R)
Unknown
District 4Curt Smith (D)
Supports MMJ
Curtis Sonney (R)
Opposes MMJ
District 5Frederick Sheeler (D)
Supports MMJ

Barry J. Jozwiak (R)
Supports MMJ
District 6Juanita Shutsa (D)
Unknown
Bradley Roae (R)
Supports MMJ
District 9

Chris Sainato (D)
Supports MMJ
Gary Cangey (R)
Unknown
District 12Lisa Zucco (D)
Unknown
Daryl Metcalfe (R)
Unknown
District 13


Ann V.S. Schott (D)
Unknown
John Lawrence (R)
Unknown
District 15
Paul Cain (D)
Unknown
Jim Christiana (R)
Supports MMJ
District 17


Wayne Hanson (D)
Unknown
Parke Wentling (R)
Unknown
District 20


Adam Ravenstahl (D)Tom Fodi (R)
ENDORSED
District 22


Peter Schweyer (D)UnknownSteven Santos (R)
Unknown
District 25


Joseph Markosek (D)
Unknown
John Ritter (R)
Unknown
District 31

Steve Santarsiero (D)
Supports MMJ
David Gibbon (R)
Unknown
District 33

Frank Dermody (D)
Supports MMJ
Sean Watson (R)
Unknown
District 35

Marc Gergel (D)
Supports MMJ
Kenneth Peoples (R)
Unknown
District 37

Brian Kresge (D)
Unknown
Mindy Fee (R)
Opposes MMJ
District 39

Lisa Stout-Bashioum (D)
Supports MMJ
Rick Saccone (R)
Supports MMJ
District 41

Alice Yoder (D)
Supports MMJ
Brett Miller (R)
Unknown
District 43
Stephen Stone (D)
ENDORSED
Keith Greiner (R)
Opposes MMJ
District 45


Nick Kotik (D)
Unknown
Benjamin Gross (R)
Supports FULL Legalization
District 46

Jesse White (D)
Supports MMJ
Jason Ortitay (R)
Unknown
District 48

Brandon Neuman (D)
Supports MMJ
Sonia Stopperich (R)
Unknown
District 49

Peter Daley, III (D)
Supports MMJ
Bud Cook (R)
Unknown
District 52Andrew Boni (D)
Unknown
Ryan Warner (R)
Supports MMJ
District 53

Dottie Miller (D)
Unknown
Robert Godshall (R)
Supports MMJ
District 54


Patrick Leyland (D)
Unknown
Eli Evankovich (R)
Unknown
District 55


Joseph Petrarca (D)
Supports MMJ
Brian Panichelle (R)
Unknown
District 57

Donna McClelland (D)
Supports MMJ
Tim Krieger (R)
Unknown
District 58

R. Ted Harhai (D)
Supports MMJ
Thomas Logan (R)
Unknown
District 61
Suzan Leonard (D)
Unknown
Catherine Harper (R)
Supports MMJ
District 62
Kevin Freeberg (D)
Unknown

Dave Reed (R)
Supports MMJ
District 65

Toby Anderson (D)
ENDORSED
Kathy Rapp (R)
District 66

Robert Toby Santik (D)
Unknown
Cris Dush (R)
Opposes MMJ
District 68
Jon Ruth (D)
ENDORSED
Matt Baker (R)
Opposes MMJ
District 71

Bryan Barbin (D)
Unknown
Jim Rigby (R)
Unknown
District 72


Frank Burns (D)
Unknown
Philip Rice (R)
Unknown
District 74

Joshua Maxwell (D)
Supports MMJ
Harry Lewis, Jr. (R)
Supports MMJ
District 75
Jack Donahue (D)
Unknown
Matt Gabler (R)
Supports MMJ
District 77
H. Scott Conklin (D)
Supports MMJ
Charles T. Martin (L)
Unknown
District 81


Richard Irvin (D)
Opposes MMJ
Michael Fleck (R)
Supports MMJ
District 83
Richard Mirabito (D)
Supports MMJ
Jeff Wheeland (R)
Unknown
District 84

Kristen Hayes (D)
ENDORSED
Garth Everett (R)
District 85
Michael Sundberg (D)
Unknown
Fred Keller (R)
Supports MMJ
District 94


David Colon (D)
Unknown
Stanley Saylor (R)
Unknown

District 97
Charles Hample (D)
ENDORSED
Steven Mentzer (R)
Opposes
District 98



Tony Crocamo (D)
Supports MMJ, decrim
David Hickernell (R)
Unknown

Ryan Hazel (G)
Unknown
District 99


Bryan Sanguinito (D) ENDORSEDDavid Zimmerman (R)
Opposes MMJ
District 101


Patricia Stephens (D)
Unknown
Mauree Gingrich (R)
Unknown
District 102
Jake Long (D)
Unknown
Russell Diamond (R)
Supports MMJ

Robert McAteer (I)
Unknown
District 104

Eugene Stilp (D)
ENDORSED
Susan Helm (R)
Unknown
District 105


Kelly Jean McEntee (D) ENDORSEDRonald Marsico (R)
Unknown
District 107

Kurt Masser (R)
Supports MMJ
John Burd (L)
ENDORSED
District 111


John Heptig (D)
Unknown
Sandra Major (R)
Unknown
District 113
Martin Flynn (D)
Supports MMJ
Marcel Lisi (R)
Unknown
District 114


Sid Michaels Kavulich (D)
Unknown
Melanie Madeira (R)
Unknown
District 115


Maureen Madden (D)
Unknown
David C. Parker (R)
Unknown
District 117


Laura Dickson (D)
Unknown
Karen Boback (R)
Unknown
District 120


Eileen Cipriani (D)
Unknown
Aaron Kaufer (R)
Supports MMJ
District 121

Eddie Day Pashinski (D)
Supports MMJ
Betsy Summers (L)
Unknown
District 122

Patricia Dawn Borger (D)
Unknown
Doyle Heffley (R)
Opposes MMJ
District 130


David Kessler (D)
ENDORSED
David Maloney (R)
Unknown
District 131


Michael Beyer (D)
Unknown
Justin Simmons (R)
Unknown
District 133

Daniel McNeill (D)
Supports MMJ
David Molony (R)
Unknown
District 138


Leslie Altieri (D)
Unknown
Marcia Hahn (R)
Unknown
District 141


Tina Davis (D)
Supports MMJ
Joseph Lippolis (R)
Unknown
District 142
Regina Kiley (D)
Unknown
Frank Farry (R)
Supports MMJ
District 145


Karen Chellew (D)
Supports MMJ
Craig Staats (R)
Supports MMJ
District 146Mark Painter (D)
Supports MMJ
Thomas Quigley (R)
Unknown
District 148
Mary Jo Daley (D)
Supports MMJ
Ed Flocco (R)
Unknown
District 150David McKenzie (D)
Unknown
Mike Vereb (R)
Supports MMJ
District 154
Steve McCarter (D)
Supports MMJ
Robert Gillies, Jr. (R)
Unknown
District 155
James Burns (D)
Unknown
Becky Corbin (R)
Opposes MMJ
District 156


Sandra Snyder (D)
Unknown
Dan Truitt (R)
Unknown
District 157Marian Moskowitz (D)
Unknown
Warren Kampf (R)
Supports MMJ
District 158Susan Rzucidlo (D)
Supports MMJ
Chris Ross (R)
Opposes MMJ
District 159
Thaddeus Kirkland (D)
Supports MMJ
Michael Ciach (R)
Unknown
District 160Whitney Hoffman (D)
Unknown
Stephen Barrar (R)
Supports MMJ
District 161


Leanne Krueger-Braneky (D)
Unknown
Joe Hackett (R)
Unknown
District 163


Vincent Rongione (D)
Unknown
Jamie Santora (R)
Unknown
District 164

Margo Davidson (D)
Unknown
Saud Siddiqui (R)
Unknown
District 165Charles Hadley (D)
Unknown
William Adolph, Jr. (R)
Supports MMJ
District 166
Gregory Vitali (D)
Supports MMJ
Sarah Armstrong (R)
Unknown
District 167
Anne Crowley (D)
Unknown
Duane Milne (R)
Unknown
District 173


Michael Driscoll (D)
Unknown
Michael Tomlinson (R)
Unknown
District 176

Hope Smith (D)
Unknown
Jack Rader, Jr. (R)
Unknown
District 183



Terri Powell (D)
Unknown
Julie Harhart (R)
Unknown

Michael Molovinsky (I)
Unknown
District 188

James Roebuck, Jr. (D)
Supports MMJ
Ernest Adkins (D)
Unknown
District 189


Elizabeth Forrest (D)
Unknown
Rosemary Brown (R)
Unknown
District 190

Vanessa Lowery Brown (D)
Supports MMJ
Glenn Davis (G)
Unknown
District 193Paul Bart (D)
Supports CBD Only
Will Tallman (R)
Supports MMJ
District 194

Pamela Delissio (D)
Supports MMJ
William Pounds (R)
Unknown
District 199
Jill Sunday Bartoli (D)
Unknown
Stephen Bloom (R)
Unknown
Read More »

Passionate speech from KCC Executive Director, Les Stark

Posted by on Oct 9, 2014 in Blog

I have been told that it takes five years to pass a bill in the General Assembly in Harrisburg. Five years. Does anyone know how long it has been since the first bill for medical cannabis was introduced in Pennsylvania? It was introduced in 1979. That means it is 35 years that the citizens of Pennsylvania have been waiting – 35 years!
That bill died in committee of course but after a lull of 30 years Pennsylvania finally had a medical cannabis bill re-introduced five years ago. The current bill was introduced nearly a year ago. How long are the people of Pennsylvania supposed to wait? Would you have us wait another 35 years perhaps?

Most of those who needed it 35 years ago are dead. Of what use was it to deny them their medicine? Some of those who needed it five years ago are dead too and their suffering still lingers in our minds. Sadly, some who needed it one year ago have also died. Some people are dying right now. Will you let them die to without relief?

My uncle Butch Kilhefner served as a Marine Corps Infantryman in Viet Nam. After he came home and got out of the Marines he signed up for the Navy and went back to Viet Nam. I was a kid when he was in the war but I remember watching the news, hearing the stories and then greeting him when he came back from his second tour in Viet Nam again.

He was a hero to me. It was his inspiration that led me to join the Marine Corps and serve as a Tank Crewman on the M60A1 Tank and his inspiration caused my brother Jim Stark to join the Navy where he served in the first Gulf War in WWII, serving on board what was to become the most badly damaged American warship since 1991 – the USS Princeton- after it suffered the blast from three surface and underwater sea mines.
A bit over a year ago, I visited my uncle Butch in the hospital. He had lifelong complications from Agent Orange. His liver was failing. For three weeks before he died he suffered from constant and severe nausea. He could not keep food down and had to be fed intravenously. None of the medication they gave him could combat his nausea.

Medical cannabis would not have saved my uncle Butch’s life. Agent Orange had been dogging him all his life and what he had could not be beaten. However, during the last few weeks of his life, his suffering could have been alleviated and could have at least had a break from the dreadful nausea. My uncle Butch hated cannabis and never used it, not even in Viet Nam. He would have used it though when he needed it.
I am almost 49 years old. The older you get of course the more people you see suffer and then die, the more loved ones leave us. It is always tragic and heartbreaking. Who would deny a cancer patient that is going through chemo therapy right now the opportunity to use cannabis to ease their suffering? Who would let them die and do nothing to allow them to ease their suffering with cannabis? Who would tell them, “I’m sorry, there is an election coming up and frankly, we don’t have enough time?”

Would our Representatives in the State Legislature tell them that? Would Tom Corbbett tell them that?
Make no mistake, the 85% support for medical cannabis does not all come from people who need it for themselves. I do not need it. There is nothing wrong with me. Medical cannabis will not benefit me one bit. I am motivated out of compassion, moved by not only my own experiences of watching loved ones suffer who could have benefited from medical cannabis, but because of my involvement in this movement I have come to know the advocates who we have come to know as the Mama Bears. I see the travails they are going through, the hardships they must overcome and there constant, relentless vigil over their seizing children. Any one of those seizures could result in death. My heart breaks for them, for how they and so many others are denied a natural medicine that is not only non-toxic but can produce in many instances miraculous changes and amazingly positive health outcomes.

My organization, Keystone Cannabis Coalition is disappointed in the amended version of SB 1182. We believe that whole plant cannabis must be allowed and the list of conditions should be expanded. Still, we are equally dismayed that even this meager offering to the public is being spurned by some in the House leadership and vehemently opposed by Governor Corbett.

This bill will go to Tom Corbett and get signed because the people are demanding the legislature to act now. If it does not, then Tom Corbett will watch from the sidelines as our next Governor Tom Wolf signs a medical cannabis bill into law.
The nearly 3,000 signatures collected by Derek Rosenzwieg in the last two weeks is representative of the millions of Pennsylvanians who support medical cannabis in this state. The people of Pennsylvania have waited long enough! Do not make us wait another 35 years. Do not make us wait another five years! Do not make us wait one more year!

We urge the House leadership and the Pa. House of Representatives to do the right thing. Allow SB 1182 to come to a vote. Do not say to our loved ones, “I’m sorry but there was not enough time”.

Read More »