Category Archives: MCAP – Medfeild Cares About Prevention

State’s medical marijuana regs

Posted on May 9, 2013 | Comments Off on State’s medical marijuana regs

Information on the recently issued state regulations on medical marijuana, courtesy of an email from Rep. Denise Garlick –

Subject: Final Medical Marijuana regs approved

Dear Colleagues,

Today, the Public Health Council of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health unanimously approved final regulations to implement the commonwealth’s voter approved medical marijuana law, which will take effect on May 24, 2013. These regulations are the result of an unprecedented and in depth process of soliciting input, collecting data and information from other medical marijuana states, and undergoing research to understand and implement best practices in filling out the framework that was established through the voter initiative. Doctors, patients, caretakers, law enforcement officials, lawmakers, parents, substance abuse councilors, entrepreneurs and others offered comments, testimony and information to DPH and each issue that arose was considered and addressed to the best of the Department’s ability. After draft regulations were released, the public was offered yet another opportunity to comment and recommend changes, and the final regulations were subject to the scrutiny of the Public Health Council.

This effort has not been taken lightly by DPH and as a result we can expect a program in place that can serve as a model to the rest of the country as more and more states look to legalize medical marijuana. While the voter initiative created the framework for the law, the regulations crafted by DPH filled out the program in a way consistent with the will of the voters, who entrusted the agency to address the missing components. These comprehensive regulations balance the very real need of many patients in our state suffering from debilitating conditions and the safety and protection of the general public, including our young people.

Among the many issues of concern addressed through these regulations are:

  • ·         Ensuring legitimacy of patient certification and registration through a bona-fide relationship between patient and MA licensed physician
  • ·         Continuing education requirements for certifying physicians
  • ·         Ongoing monitoring and treatment of any medical marijuana patient by recommending doctor
  • ·         Laboratory testing of medical marijuana products
  • ·         Limiting access to patients under 18 years of age to those with life limiting illnesses, parental consent, and recommendation from 2 physicians (one of which is a pediatrician)
  • ·         Stringent rules and restrictions around advertising and marketing of medical marijuana
  • ·         Further clarification regarding the definition of a qualifying “debilitating condition” while preserving the rights of doctors and their patients to determine appropriate use
  • ·         An appropriate and reasonable limit of allowable possession by patients
  • ·         A limited number of highly secured and monitored dispensaries across the state, subject to inspection and “seed to sale” monitoring of product
  • ·         Tight restrictions, qualifying criteria and alternative options for low income and disabled patients to drastically limit the allowance of hardship cultivation
  • ·         A comprehensive application process for dispensaries, including provisions to require non-profit documentation, adequate resources to operate, no criminal background of dispensary agents, an analysis of projected patient population, plans for operation and security and an emphasis on local engagement from within proposed community

In addition, the new law does not:

  • ·         Supersede Massachusetts laws prohibiting possession, cultivation, transport, distribution or sale of marijuana for non-medical purposes
  • ·         Allow the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana
  • ·         Require a health care profession to recommend, or an insurer to cover, the use of medical marijuana
  • ·         Require accommodation of medical marijuana use in schools, workplaces, or correctional facilities
  • ·         Require the smoking of marijuana in any public place
  • ·         Supersede the existing rights of landlords

The final regulations will be posted for review by the end of the day at ww.mass.gov/medicalmarijuana. I have been actively engaged with DPH throughout this process, and I am happy to remain a resource to you and your constituents as the program moves forward.  

Sincerely,

Frank I. Smizik

15th Norfolk

Comments Off on State’s medical marijuana regs

Posted in Marijuana, MCAP - Medfeild Cares About Prevention, Safety

Medfield Marijuana

Posted on April 30, 2013 | Comments Off on Medfield Marijuana

Carol Read of Medfield is working in Needham as their federally funded substance abuse coordinator, seeking to reduce substance abuse amongst Needham youth, and she also volunteers with Medfield Cares About Prevention (MCAP) (www.MedfieldCares.org).  Carol also works on the state level with the Massachusetts Prevention Alliance (MAPA), which became active during the recent ballot initiative.  Carol and her MAPA colleagues invited me to attend a kick off dinner last Friday evening for a group called Project SAM, Smart Approaches to Marijuana in Massachusetts.

Project SAM is headlined by

  • former Congressman Patrick Kennedy,
  • a child psychiatrist from Colorado who has studied the increased problems his patients have had because of marijuana, and
  • a former drug adviser to recent U.S. presidents.

Friday evening the Project Sam members shared the data developed in places like Colorado, that has had medical marijuana for a while.  The facts I took home were that

  • the brains of young people are not fully developed until their mid-20’s, making them more susceptible to substances
  • marijuana use by our young people puts them at increased risk for mental health hospitalizations and substance abuse problems in later life (both statistically rise with marijuana use by young people),
  • fairly low levels of marijuana use (2-3 times a week for 2-3 years) were shown by a New Zealand study to reduce IQ by up to 8 points.

If these facts are correct, it is not responsible for we as parents, as adults, as a town, and as a society to allow our young people to injure themselves by means of marijuana use, without giving them all the facts.  The data I heard on Friday evening really scares me for the risks that our youth are taking with the marijuana use that we know is happening in Medfield.  Our youth need to get these complete facts, so they can at least make an informed decision.

Comments Off on Medfield Marijuana

Posted in MCAP - Medfeild Cares About Prevention, Teens

Wayland’s MCAP equivalent presents a program

Posted on March 15, 2013 | Comments Off on Wayland’s MCAP equivalent presents a program

This from the WaylandCares flyer –

What does medical marijuana mean to you?
How could it impact our youth and our community?

Medical marijuana is now legal in Massachusetts. What does this mean for communities?  What’s in the law? What’s not in the law? What are the implications for our youth? And what’s the best conversation to have with our children about marijuana to prevent teen use?

Learn from the experts:
 Yasmin Mashhoon, Ph.D., Neuroscientist at the Behavioral Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory of McClean Hospital and Instructor at Harvard Medical School will discuss 21st-century pot, its components, its harms, and its impact on youth. Dr.  Mashhoon will explain the effects on the adolescent brain, and related health issues such as addiction, mental health and latest research on physical and cognitive functioning

 John Sofis Scheft, Esq., Principal of Law Enforcement Dimensions, will explain what the medical marijuana law does and does not include: for what conditions can marijuana be  recommended? Who can use it as medicine? Who can provide a recommendation? Who can grow marijuana in their home? Atty. Scheft will also address best municipal practices to protect local public health and safety.
 James Broadhurst, M.D., a family physician also trained in sports and addiction medicine and delegate of Massachusetts Medical Society, will discuss the medical community’s perspective on medical marijuana. What do people need to know in considering marijuana as a medical treatment?
 Local authorities will explain initiatives in Wayland that address public health and safety related to marijuana.

This program is for the entire Wayland community.

Sponsored by WaylandCares and the Wayland High School Guidance Department Tuesday, March 19, 2013, 7:30 pm Wayland High School Auditorium

Comments Off on Wayland’s MCAP equivalent presents a program

Posted in MCAP - Medfeild Cares About Prevention, Teens

Needham’s marijuana moritorium article

Posted on January 31, 2013 | Comments Off on Needham’s marijuana moritorium article

The following is Needham’s warrant article for its annual town meeting (ATM), seeking to impose a moritorium on marijuana growing and clinics until 3/1/14, to give them time to plan –

ARTICLE 1 :   AMEND ZONING BY-LA W- INTERIM REGULATIONS FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA USES

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning By-Law, as follows:
(a) By adding a new Section 8, Interim Regulations for Medical Marijuana Uses, to read as follows:

“8 Interim Regulations for Medical Marijuana Uses
8.1 Purpose
This section is intended to provide restrictions that will allow the Town adequate time to consider whether to allow facilities associated with the medical use of marijuana, to the extent that such facilities are pennitted under state laws and regulations, and, if so, where and under what conditions. Given that a law permitting the medical use of marijuana in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
shall be in effect beginning January I, 2013, and that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has yet to promulgate the regulations by which facilities that produce or dispense medical marijuana shall be registered and administered, a restriction on the establishment of such facilities in Needham shall provide the opportunity to study their potential impacts on adjacent uses and on
general public health, safety and welfare, and to develop zoning and other applicable regulations that appropriately address these considerations consistent with statewide regulations and permitting procedures.

8.2 Definition
A Medical Marijuana Treatment Center shall mean any medical marijuana treatment center, as defined under state law as a Massachusetts not-for-profit entity that acquires, cultivates, possesses, processes (including development of related products such as food, tinctures, aerosols, oils or ointments), transfers, transports, sells, distributes, dispenses, or administers marijuana, products containing marijuana, related supplies, or educational materials to qualifying patients or their personal caregivers, which is properly licensed and registered by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health pursuant to all applicable state laws and regulations.

8.3 Exclusion of other Marijuana Uses
Any establishment that acquires, cultivates, possesses, processes (including development of related products such as food, tinctures, aerosols, oils or ointments), transfers, transports, sells, distributes, dispenses, or administers marijuana, products containing marijuana, related supplies, or educational materials to qualifying patients or their personal caregivers shall not be permitted if such establishment has not been properly registered and licensed in accordance with applicable state and local laws and regulations, or is not operated as a notfor-profit entity, or otherwise fails to meet the definition of a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center.

8.4 Exclusion of Accessory Uses.
In no case shall the acquisition, cultivation, possession, processing, transference, transportation, sale, distribution, dispensing, or administration of marijuana, products containing or derived from marijuana, or related products be considered accessory to any use.

8.5 Interim Restriction
8.5.1 Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers shall not be permitted in any zoning district in Needham so long as this Section 8 is effective, as set forth in Section 8.6 below.

8.5.2 The cultivation, processing, sale, distribution and distribution of marijuana, products containing or derived from marijuana or related products shall not be permitted in any zoning district in Needham so long as this Section 8 is effective, as set forth in Section 8.6 below.

8.6 Expiration
This Section 8 shall be effective through March ], 20] 4.
(b) Amend the Table of Contents to add Section 8, Interim Regulations for Medical Marijuana Uses.

Or take any action relative thereto.

Comments Off on Needham’s marijuana moritorium article

Posted in MCAP - Medfeild Cares About Prevention

Parents more influential than schools on substance abuse

Posted on December 10, 2012 | Comments Off on Parents more influential than schools on substance abuse

This from the Medfield Youth Outreach office –

A new study concludes that parental involvement is more important than the school environment in preventing or limiting children’s use of alcohol or marijuana.

Researchers evaluated data from more than 10,000 students, parents, teachers and school administrators. They looked at “family social capital”—bonds between parents and children—as well as “school social capital”—a school’s ability to provide a positive environment for learning, Science Daily<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121204145553.htm> reports.

Measures of family social capital include trust, open communication and active engagement in a child’s life, while school social capital includes student involvement in extracurricular activities, teacher morale and the teachers’ ability to address student needs.

“Parents play an important role in shaping the decisions their children make when it comes to alcohol and marijuana,” study co-author Dr. Toby Parcel of North Carolina State University said in a news release<http://news.ncsu.edu/releases/wms-parcel-alcohol/>. “To be clear, school programs that address alcohol and marijuana use are definitely valuable, but the bonds parents form with their children are more important. Ideally, we can have both.”

The researchers found students with high levels of family social capital and low school social capital levels were less likely to have used either marijuana or alcohol, or to have used them less frequently, compared with students with high levels of school social capital and low family social capital.

The study appears in Journal of Drug Issues<http://jod.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/11/08/0022042612462220>.

Medfield Youth Outreach
459 Main St.
Medfield, MA 02052
508-359-7121

Comments Off on Parents more influential than schools on substance abuse

Posted in MCAP - Medfeild Cares About Prevention, Safety, Schools, Teens

Medical marijuana ballot issue

Posted on September 17, 2012 | 1 comment
Massachusetts has a November citizen petition ballot question about legalizing medical marijuana, that has basically been totally paid for personally by the CEO of Progressive Insurance.  He contributed $990,000 of the $996,000 the vote “Yes” effort has raised.
According to Marilyn G. Belmonte, Executive Director of Healthy Outcomes, Inc.,P. O. Box 1290,Burlington, MA 01803 (781-572-1478) http://www.gethealthyoutcomes.org/  many people are concerned by the data showing that legalizing medical marijuana will likely increase marijuana use by our young people, which statistically increases their likelihood of disrupted brain development.   Her group has put out the following materials to oppose the ballot question –
=====================

In November, voters will have the opportunity to vote on Ballot Question 3, Medical Use of Marijuana.

 We are opposed to Question 3 because the language of this proposed law will cause problems for our young people.

As a community coalition working to prevent youth substance abuse, an essential priority is to reduce teen marijuana use through environmental strategies that decrease access to marijuana and increase perception of harm of the drug.  Current research shows:

  • There is a direct correlation between “medical” marijuana initiatives and decreases in perception of harm and social disapproval. States that have “medical” marijuana programs have among the lowest perceptions of harm among youth in the nation.[1]  The 2011 Monitoring the Future Survey reports that 22.7 percent of U.S. high school seniors thought that there was a great risk of harm from smoking marijuana occasionally, down from 26.6 percent in 2003.[2]  Efforts to pass “medical” marijuana initiatives further normalize marijuana use among youth and thereby lessen the perceptions of its dangers and negative effects, which will result in increases in youth
    marijuana use.
  • State that have legalized marijuana as medicine are experiencing widespread use and abuse of marijuana.  States with “medical” marijuana laws have higher marijuana abuse and dependence rates almost twice as high than states without such laws.[3]
  • Medical marijuana is being diverted to youth through increased supply and easy access.  The 2008-2009 State Estimates of Drug Abuse show that four of the top five states, and 14 of the 18 states with the highest percentage of past month marijuana users ages 12-17 are states with “medical marijuana” programs.[4]  A 2012 study shows that among adoles­cents in substance abuse treatment in Denver, Colorado, 74% had used someone else’s medical marijuana a median of 50 times.[5]
  • Marijuana is addictive. The National Institutes of Health found that the earlier marijuana use is initiated, the higher the risk for drug abuse and dependence. Those who begin using the drug in their teens have approximately a one-in-six chance of developing marijuana dependence.[6] In fact, children and teens are six times likelier to be in treatment for marijuana than for all other illegal drugs combined.[7] Addiction rates among 12-17 year olds are among the highest levels nationally in states that have “medical marijuana” programs.[8]
  • Marijuana use negatively impacts adolescent brain development. A study by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the National Institute on Mental Health, found that adolescents and young adults who are heavy users of marijuana are more likely than non-users to have disrupted brain development. Researchers found abnormalities in areas of the brain that interconnect brain regions involved in memory, attention, decision-making,

language and executive functioning skills.  A new, 2012 study indicates an average eight-point drop in IQ among teens who use marijuana.[9]

  • Marijuana Use Negatively Impacts Academic Achievement.  Youth with an average grade of D or below were more than four times as likely to have used marijuana in the past year than youth with an average grade of A.[10] The more a student uses drugs such as marijuana, the lower their grade point average is likely to be and the more likely they are to drop out of school.[11]
  • Marijuana use negatively impacts employability.  More than 6,000 companies nationwide and scores of industries and professions require a pre-employment drug test, according to The Definitive List of Companies that Drug Test (available at www.testclear.com). 6.6% of high school seniors already smoke marijuana on a daily basis would fail any required pre-employment drug test at the more than 6,000 companies that require it. “Medical” marijuana initiatives would exacerbate this problem.
  • States that have approved “medical marijuana” use have experienced costly highway safety issues. 20% of crashes in the U.S. are caused by drugged driving.[12] Marijuana is the most prevalent illegal drug detected in impaired drivers, fatally injured drivers, and motor vehicle crash victims. The Colorado Department of Transportation found that after passing “medical marijuana” legislation in the state, drivers who tested positive for marijuana in fatal car crashes DOUBLED between 2006 and 2010.  In 2010, six cities in California conducted nighttime weekend voluntary roadside surveys and found that the percentage of drivers who tested positive for marijuana (8.4%) was greater than the percentage that were using alcohol (7.6%).[13]

Massachusetts’ youth already smoke marijuana at a rate 30% higher than the national average, where one in three high school students currently smoke marijuana.  Our local youth marijuana use rates reflect the state numbers.  Ballot Question 3 to legalize marijuana as medicine would increase both access to marijuana, and social acceptability of the drug – and the research clearly shows that these two variables have direct causal link to increased teen marijuana use.

WaylandCares cannot support legislation that has the strong, likely potential to increase youth marijuana use.  Further,

, opposes the legalization of medicinal marijuana and cannot support legislation t

This experiment is failing in other states.

We know from other states that have passed “medical” marijua­na laws, that this is a failed public health and safety experiment. Marijuana is illegal under federal law. Let’s not join the states that are now spending enormous resources to address the legal conflicts, addiction and exploitation that Question 3 would promote. Real compassion means real medicine determined through scientific process. Drugs should not circumvent the rigorous study, clinical trials and research that determines what true medicine is, and they should be dispensed properly through our pharmaceutical system. Anything less puts our public at risk and results in unforeseen, unintended consequences that are harmful to people and the communities in which they live.

For the health and welfare of our youth and neighborhoods____________ opposes Ballot Question 3 and its system for dispensing marijuana in communities across the Commonwealth.

[1] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), State Estimates from the 2008- 2009 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health

[2] Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E. (December 14, 2011). University of Michigan, 2011 Monitoring the Future Study

[3] Cerda, M. et al. (2011). Medical marijuana laws in 50 states: investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use, abuse and dependence. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Found at http://www.columbia.edu/~dsh2/pdf/MedicalMarijuana.pdf; and Wall, M. et al (2011). Adolescent Marijuana Use from 2002 to 2008: Higher in States with Medical Marijuana Laws, Cause Still Unclear, Annals of epidemiology, Vol 21 issue 9 Pages 714-716

[4] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), State Estimates from the 2008- 2009 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health

[5] Salomonsen-Sautel, S. et al (2012).  Medical Marijuana Use Among Adolescents in Substance Abuse Treatment, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Vol 51, Issue 7, pages 694-702

[6] Wagner, F.A. & Anthony, J.C. (2002). From first drug use to drug dependence; developmental periods of risk for dependence upon marijuana, cocaine, and alcohol. Neuropsychopharmacology, 26, 479-488.

[7] The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. CASA white paper, Non-Medical Marijuana II: Rite Of Passage Or Russian Roulette? 2008.

[8] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), State Estimates from the 2008- 2009 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health

[9] Mieir, Madeline, H., et al (2012). Persistent Cannabis Users Show Neuropsychological Decline from Childhood to Midlife.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.  Published on line at http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/08/22/1206820109.abstract.

[10] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA), 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

[11]Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E.. University of Michigan, 2011. Monitoring the Future Study

[12]  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2010.

[13] Office of Traffic Safety, California, 2010. Press Release: “Drug Use Rises in California Fatal Crashes”.External link, please review our disclaimer.

==============================

The Commonwealth will be voting on Question 3 in November. If passed, Question 3 would set up an extensive system of marijuana storefronts in our state, allow people to grow marijuana in their homes and apartments, and provide a defense to those carrying hundreds of joints under the guise of medicine. This is not about the terminally ill – it is about widespread marijuana abuse.

Specifically, the law would:

Set up 35 marijuana retail stores throughout Massachusetts
This number could increase in future years. These stores would be owned and operated by anyone 21 years old or older and would sell marijuana ice cream, candy, cookies, joints, and other items. There is no requirement in the law to have a physician or licensed pharmacist on site.

Allow people to grow marijuana in their home
Your neighbor could grow marijuana plants in their backyard, on their veranda, in their window flower boxes. Your children’s friends could have marijuana growing in their home study, bathroom or garage.
Allow people to carry up to a 60-day (2 month) supply of marijuana on their person
A daily dose is undefined in the law. If a daily dose is two joints (most likely it will be more like three to five joints, or 3 marijuana infused brownies), this means a person could have as many as 120 joints (or brownies) on their person or transport this amount of marijuana in their vehicle. Large amounts of marijuana could be issued, possessed and protected under the guise of “medicine.”

Allow virtually anyone to obtain marijuana
The proposed legislation lists a few specific conditions for which marijuana can be obtained, but then opens it up to “other conditions as determined in writing by a qualifying patient’s physician.” This is the loophole that is promoting widespread pot use in other states that have passed this type of law – the chronically ill are not the people using existing state programs. In fact, in these programs, less than 5% of people list cancer, HIV/AIDS, or glaucoma as reasons for obtaining marijuana.

Increase Marijuana Use Among Youth
Since decriminalization passed in 2008, Massachusetts has seen a considerable rise in youth marijuana use; rates are now 30% higher than that of the nation.1 Currently, one in three teenagers use marijuana regularly in the Commonwealth. Major studies by researchers at Columbia University and elsewhere have found that states with “medical” marijuana had marijuana abuse/dependence rates almost twice as high than states without such laws.2,3

Other Massachusetts organizations who have joined in opposing Question 3.
Massachusetts Medical Society, Worcester District Medical Society, Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse, Research at Children’s Hospital – Boston, Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery, Massachusetts Prevention Alliance, Massachusetts Major City Police Chiefs Association, Massachusetts Family Institute, Healthy Outcomes Incorporated

Other associations that do NOT support the use of marijuana as medicine, include:
American Medical Association, American Society for Addiction Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, The American Glaucoma Society, The American Academy of Ophthamology, The American Cancer Society

We know from other states that have passed “medical” marijuana laws, that this is a failed public health and safety experiment. Let’s not join the states that are now spending enormous resources to address the crime, addiction and exploitation that Question 3 would promote. Real compassion means real medicine determined through scientific process. Drugs should not circumvent the rigorous study, clinical trial and research process that determines what true medicine is through a public voting process. And they should be dispensed properly through our pharmaceutical system. Anything less puts our public at risk and bears unforeseen, unintended consequences that are harmful to people and the communities in which they live.

1. CDC, Youth Online, High School YRBSS, http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/Default.aspx
2. Cerda, M. et al. (in press). Medical marijuana laws in 50 states: investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use, abuse and dependence. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Found at http://www.columbia.edu/~dsh2/pdf/MedicalMarijuana.pdf
3. Wall, M. et al (2011). Adolescent Marijuana Use from 2002 to 2008: Higher in States with Medical Marijuana Laws, Cause Still Unclear, Annals of epidemiology, Vol 21 issue 9 Pages 714-716.

Enhanced by Zemanta

1 Comment

Posted in MCAP - Medfeild Cares About Prevention, Teens

Needham’s work on youth substance abuse

Posted on June 7, 2012 | Comments Off on Needham’s work on youth substance abuse

Needham already got the Federal youth substance abuse grant that MCAP just applied to get, and the link below is to Needham’s overview of its program, and shows what they are doing.  Needham’s program is run by Medfield resident Carol Read.

https://medfield02052.blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/needham-ncysap-dfc-overview-8-2011.pdf

Comments Off on Needham’s work on youth substance abuse

Posted in MCAP - Medfeild Cares About Prevention, Teens

On being a selectman

Posted on May 29, 2012 | 1 comment

The Memorail Day events are one of my favorite things I do as a selectman.  We are remembering the right people, as we honor our veterans who gave their lives for our country.  Medfield’s speeches and programs are both delivered and presented in a properly respectful way.  Plus we all get in a good walk, before an excellent lunch provided by the Legion.  Yesterday Lt. Col. Todd Caruso returned to his hometown to deliver wonderful remarks and to make a gift to the town and the Legion of framed flags that he flew over Afganistan on 9/11/11.

I saw the fringe tree at the Medfield State Hospital while jogging on Sunday morning, and it was past peak, but still pretty.  The leaves had overgrown the flowers, and the flowers had started to fade.  It peaked a little over a week ago, as it was spectacular the Sunday before.

This morning I went to the MCAP meeting, to learn that the grant is still being processed by the feds and that  plans continue for the MCAP website.

1 Comment

Posted in Events, MCAP - Medfeild Cares About Prevention, On being a selectman

MCAP meeting this morning

Posted on March 14, 2012 | Comments Off on MCAP meeting this morning

Inspiring long meeting this morning with Medfield Care About Prevention (MCAP), about finalizing the $625,000 grant application.  Lots of work had been done by Medfeild Youth Outreach’s Dawn Alcott and volunteer, Dr. Susan Andersen, to put the grant application together, so it can be presented to town administrator Mike Sullivan this week.  This morning the group brainstormed the remaining details Dawn and Sue needed, especially for the Environmental Changes and Strategy section.

Superintendent Maguire made the suggestion that even if Medfeild did not get one of the thirty grants being issued nationwide, that our already coalesced group should continue the discussions of how the town can best assist our youth in being safer.  Two major themes discussed were creating a culture of safety and parlaying on the strengths of the town’s education system to effect change.  I also especially liked Chris Potts’ suggestion of  mentoring as a promising strategy for changing behaviors.

Comments Off on MCAP meeting this morning

Posted in MCAP - Medfeild Cares About Prevention, Teens