Read some of Rick’s more quotable media appearances from the year 2013

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JANUARY

Marijuana Policy In Michigan Saw A Lot Happen In 2012

Marijuana Policy In Michigan Saw A Lot Happen In 2012

January 5, 2013

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The United States of Amerijuana

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/bp–the-united-states-of-amerijuana

January 23, 2013

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Federal Court Rejects Marijuana Rescheduling; ASA Responds

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/bp–federal-court-rejects-marijuana-rescheduling-asa-responds

January 25, 2013

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FEBRUARY

Medical pot sellers disappointed by ban on dispensaries

http://archive.freep.com/article/20130209/NEWS06/302090123/Medical-pot-sellers-disappointed-by-ban-on-dispensaries#

Feb 9, 2013

In 2011, some began closing their doors when the state Appeals Court decided against dispensaries, ruling on the same Isabella County case whose final decision came Friday from the state Supreme Court, said medical marijuana advocate Rick Thompson of Flint.

Friday’s decision “will probably cause another wave of closings, but I don’t think this is the end of dispensaries in Michigan,” said Thompson, editor of the online magazine Compassion Chronicles, aimed at Michigan’s medical marijuana users.

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A Ruling of Unintended Consequences

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/bp–a-ruling-of-unintended-consequences

February 9, 2013

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Michigan Doctor arrested, charged for recommending

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/bp–michigan-doctor-arrested-charged-for-recommending

February 14, 2013

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New Dispensary Bill To Be Introduced Tuesday

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/bp–new-dispensary-bill-to-be-introduced-tuesday

Feb. 18, 2013

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Provisioning Centers Gain Bipartisan Support

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/bp–provisioning-centers-gain-bipartisan-support

February 20

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MARCH

“There’s a lot of confusion about medical cannabis in Michigan because of recent changes in the law and court rulings,” said Rick Thompson, editor of Compassion Chronicles, an online magazine.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/22/expo-to-educate-about-medical-marijuana/2011777/

“There’s a lot of confusion about medical cannabis in Michigan because of recent changes in the law and court rulings,” said Rick Thompson, editor of Compassion Chronicles, an online magazine.

The Expo will help to educate state-registered caregivers and patients about tighter restrictions going into effect April 1 for transporting medical marijuana and for getting a doctor’s approval to use it, Thompson said.

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Cannabis Oil And Cancer: Searching For The High Ground

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/bp–cannabis-oil-and-cancer-searching-for-the-high-ground

March 16, 2013

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Federally-Recognized 501c3 in Michigan Advocates for Cannabis Issues

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/bp–federally-recognized-501c3-in-michigan-advocates-46868143e7

March 27, 2013

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Macomb Doctor Sentenced For Selling Marijuana Recommendations

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/bp–macomb-doctor-sentenced-for-selling-marijuana-reca9e905a636

March 5, 2013

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Undated articles:

http://www.mydesert.com/article/C4/20130323/NEWS05/130322114/T-H-C-Expo-for-marijuana-backers?nclick_check=1

http://www.wltx.com/news/watercooler/article/228752/363/Detroit-Expo-to-Educate-About-Medical-Marijuana

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013130322114

APRIL

Doctors approve marijuana for PTSD, Parkinson’s

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/bp–doctors-approve-marijuana-for-ptsd-parkinsons

April 8, 2013

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Minus Sinclair, Hash Bash still rolls on

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/bp–minus-sinclair-hash-bash-still-rolls-on

April 9, 2013

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Senate Robs Medical Marihuana Fund To Pay Police

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/bp–senate-robs-medical-marihuana-fund-to-pay-police

April 25, 2013

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Governor Tries to End Marijuana Reporting in Michigan

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/bp–governor-tries-to-end-marijuana-reporting-in-michigan

April 26

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Landmark Michigan Marijuana Ruling Is Appealed; State Law Threatened

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/bp–landmark-michigan-marijuana-ruling-is-appealed-stf67bcda853

April 4

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MAY

Michigan Supreme Court Rules MMMA Supersedes Zero Tolerance Driving Policy

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/bp–michigan-supreme-court-rules-mmma-supersedes-zero82b032794d

May 23, 2013

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FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HAVE NEW OPTION TO SUPPORT MARIJUANA LAW REFORM CHARITY

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/bp–federal-employees-have-new-option-to-support-mari5734fb2492

May 28, 2013

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JUNE

LEAP speaker joins State Rep in Rochester to discuss failed drug war

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/leap-speaker-joins-state-rep-in-rochester-to-discuss-failed-drug-war

June 10, 2013

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Schuette gets to argue Mike Cox’s casino case in US Supreme Court

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/schuette-gets-to-argue-mike-coxs-casino-case-in-us-supreme-court_b1116bba

June 25, 2013

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MERCY IN MICHIGAN

Mercy in Michigan

O’Shaughnessy’s, June 26, 2013

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The Power of the Cannabis Economy

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/the-power-of-the-cannabis-economy_3133c3cc

June 27, 2013

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Michigan man wheelchairs from Detroit to DC to raise awareness of marijuana, cancer

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/michigan-man-wheelchairs-from-detroit-to-dc-to-raise-awareness-of-marijuana-cancer_383285f5

June 27, 2013

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Irv Rosenfeld and president of US Marijuana Party clash with D.C. police over marijuana candy, joints

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/irv-rosenfeld-and-president-of-us-marijuana-party-clash-with-dc-police-over-marijuana-candy-joints

June 19

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Michigan Charity Receives Google Grant for Medical Cannabis Advocacy, Moves Offices

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/michigan-charity-receives-google-grant-for-medical-cannabis-advocacy-moves-offices

June 19

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Michigan government steals discounts from the disabled

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/michigan-government-steals-discounts-from-the-disabled

June 12

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JULY

Groups want $2 bills to send message on marijuana

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/07/13/groups-want-2-bills-to-send-message-on-marijuana/

July 13, 2013

“We want this $2 drive to spark conversations in chambers of commerce and during business lunches of shop owners,” said Rick Thompson, editor of the Flint-based Compassion Chronicles website. “They’re going to start to realize they shouldn’t just dismiss this big segment of Michigan’s economy.”

Thompson also hopes to reach marijuana opponents who have not been swayed by other arguments for widening marijuana legalization.

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Petitions Being Submitted in 2 Cities for Marijuana Decriminalization Vote

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/petitions-being-submitted-in-2-cities-for-marijuana-decriminalization-vote

July 26, 2013

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AUGUST

Leader of Marijuana Court Support Organization Under Siege

http://patch.com/michigan/newbaltimore/leader-of-marijuana-court-support-organization-under-seige

August 8, 2013

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NOVEMBER

Bill would allow pharmacies to dispense medical marijuana

Rick Thompson, a magazine publisher with the Michigan chapter of Americans For Safe Access, said allegations of tainted medical marijuana leading to sickness are “a smoke screen” for an attempt to undermine the patient-caregiver system that allows certified residents to grow their own.
“Cannabis never killed anyone in Michigan, and we’ve had the law for five years,” Thompson said. “There’s been no testing, but yet there have been no illnesses.”

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/bill-would-allow-pharmacies-to-dispense-medical-marijuana

Nov 6 2013

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Michigan Senate looks to move medical marijuana into pharmacies, licensed manufacturing facilities

http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/11/michigan_senate_looks_to_move.html

November 5, 2013

Rick Thompson, a magazine publisher with the Michigan chapter of Americans For Safe Access, said allegations of tainted medical marijuana leading to sickness are “a smoke screen” for an attempt to undermine the patient-caregiver system that allows certified residents to grow their own.

“Cannabis never killed anyone in Michigan, and we’ve had the law for five years,” Thompson said. “There’s been no testing, but yet there have been no illnesses.”

Under the newly-proposed system, the Michigan Department of Community Health would be tasked with licensing, registering and inspecting pharmaceutical-grade marijuana manufacturing facilities.

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Mich. legislators propose pharmacy marijuana sales

http://www.macombdaily.com/government-and-politics/20131110/mich-legislators-propose-pharmacy-marijuana-sales

November 10

“If you’re able to grow in your basement there’s no reason to go to Walmart,” said Rick Thompson, spokesman for advocacy group Americans for Safe Access-Michigan, which fears future court rulings could effectively negate the current law and force people into the new system. “You have to eliminate home-based competition in order to get a large gross to be financially solvent. … That’s not what we voted for in 2008.”

Legislators need only a regular majority to send the bill to Gov. Rick Snyder instead of three-fourths support in both the House and Senate to amend the 2008 law, he said.

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Big Pharma Eyes Michigan Medical Marijuana Market

Big Pharma Eyes Michigan Medical Marijuana Market

November 12

Speaking with the Associated Press, Rick Thompson, spokesman for the ASA’s Michigan chapter, said the group fears that passage of legislation such as Senate Bill 660 may force medical marijuana patients in the future to buy their medicine and not grow it themselves.

“If you’re able to grow in your basement there’s no reason to go to Walmart,” Thompson said. “You have to eliminate home-based competition in order to get a large gross to be financially solvent….That’s not what we voted for in 2008.”…

“Unregulated cannabis has never killed anyone. There are no illnesses,” Thompson said. “Those issues are smoke screens.”

also at:

http://www.themorningsun.com/article/MS/20131110/NEWS/131119976

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DECEMBER

Charges dismissed in Oakland County medical marijuana case

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20131217/charges-dismissed-in-oakland-county-medical-marijuana-case

alternate link: http://www.macombdaily.com/health/20131218/charges-dismissed-in-oakland-county-medical-marijuana-case

December 17 2013

Rick Thompson, editor of The Compassion Chronicles, said of the decision represented progress.

“Patients in Oakland County have been under a crushing weight for years — more than in any other Michigan county. Many cases involve individuals and small businesses who were acting under the impression that they were following the law,” he said.

“If this decision changes law enforcement’s behavior — and the days of unreasonable searches and entrapment techniques are behind us — perhaps we have turned a corner on this issue.”

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