Meeting with Senator Susan Collins Office

[Rev. Kevin Loring]

My meeting today well very well. I met with Carol Woodcock, State Office Representative for Senator Susan Collins. Also on hand for this meeting was Intergovernmental Liaison for State Rep. Michael Michaud, Rosemary Winslow.

We spent the better part of 20 minutes just discussing the Federal and State CSA and the improper scheduling of Cannabis. They were shocked to find out that Cannabis was scheduled higher than Cocaine.  They seemed genuinly interested and were at the very least good listeners. Their main concern seemed to be that if cannabis were incorrectly scheduled that it may not be on any schedule at all. So in the very least I think they will take a look at it.

I also spoke about Maine's medical marijuana, which they both seemed to understand needs an overhual.

Lastly I broke into our equal protection and religious freedom information. I went over current exemptions and lack of administrative remedies and irreperable harm being done to our temple and members by a lack of clear protection like similarly situated churches.

All in all it seemed to be productive. Maybe I'll start getting through to some of them. I don't expect success overnight but its a start.

I sent them an email thanking them for their time.

Rev. Loring