ASA CA Weekly Alert from 7/7

*Raid Update*

1) Thursday's DEA Raids on Numerous San Diego Dispensaries
**
ASA Chapter Meetings
**
2) Tuesday, July 11th, San Diego: SD ASA Meeting
3) Tuesday, July 11th, San Francisco: SF ASA Meeting
4) Thursday, July 13th, Fullerton: Orange County ASA Meeting
5) Thursday, July 13th, Sacramento: Sac ASA Meeting
6) Thursday, July 20th, Guerneville: Sonoma ASA Meeting
**
City & County Hearings
**
7) Tuesday, July 11th, San Diego: Patient Community to Demand Dispensary
Regulations from City Council!
8) Tuesday, July 11th, Bakersfield: Kern County Board of Supervisors to
Vote on Dispensary Regulations
9) Tuesday, July 11th, Fremont: City Council to Vote on Banning Dispensaries
10) Monday, July 17th, El Cerrito: City Council to Vote on Banning
Dispensaries
11) Tuesday, July 18th, Redondo Beach: City Council to Vote on Extending
Dispensary Moratorium
**
Court Support
**
12) Monday, July 17th, Sacramento: Court Support for Bryan Epis

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*Raid Update
*
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1) Thursday's DEA Raids on Numerous San Diego Dispensaries*

Yesterday, the DEA raided numerous medical marijuana dispensaries in San
Diego. This DEA action in San Diego followed similar raids on 13 area
dispensaries last December. The San Diego Union Tribune last evening
reported that the District Attorney's office is also filing state
charges, though the indictments are federal. Those charged by the state
will be able to argue their activities are protected under California's
law that makes legal the use and possession of medical marijuana.
However, those charged federally will have no way to defend themselves.

San Diego ASA & National ASA staff were quick to respond to the raids.
Last night, San Diego ASA held an emergency meeting to create a plan of
action. At this meeting, they decided to:

- Rally at the federal building today (Friday). This rally was covered
by several major media outlets.
- March from the federal building to the District Attorney's office to
deliver a letter calling on the city to create dispensary regulations
and to halt federal raids immediately.
- Gather and speak at the San Diego City Council meeting next Tuesday,
July 11th to call for dispensary regulations. (Please see the City &
County Hearings section of this newsletter to find out details.)

Please look for further updates this weekend on the ASA website, in our
Medical Marijuana News Summaries section
<http://safeaccessnow.org/article.php?list=type&type=122>.
**
**
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*ASA Chapter Meetings*
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2) Tuesday, July 11th, San Diego: SD ASA Meeting*

Our San Diego chapter of ASA has been busy lately and needs you to get
involved. It is time to get involved and protect safe access!

For more info about the chapter, please visit their site:
http://sdasa.4mg.com/index.html

Twiggs Coffee House
4590 Park Blvd.
In the Green Room
7:00-8:00 p.m.

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*3) Tuesday, July 11th, San Francisco: SF ASA Meeting*

It's more important than ever that San Francisco patients join together
to ensure regulations that protect patients' access, rights and privacy.
Join SF ASA to plan for the future of medical cannabis in San Francisco.

7:00 p.m
San Francisco Woman's Building
3543 18th Street #8
Room B

For more info, call Alex: 415-794-1543

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*4) Thursday, July 13th, Fullerton: Orange County ASA Meeting*

Orange County ASA is beginning to meet again and we need your support!
Please come to discuss local law enforcement problems and campaigns to
address this and other issues.

Thursday, June 15th @ 7 p.m.
1520 Commonwealth Avenue
Fullerton (next to tattoo shop)

For info, contact Adam: adamgingras [at] gmail.com or 949 246 9395

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*5) Thursday, July 13th, Sacramento: Sac ASA Meeting*

Sacramento ASA has begun meeting again and they're busy strategizing on
ways to effect local, state and national policies.

The Sacramento medical marijuana community was once extremely active
with Americans for Safe Access. Sac ASA met regularly, organized a huge
rally for Bryan Epis at the Capitol, and did all they could to protect
patients' rights.

Patients and advocates in the Sacramento area are coming together again
to reinvigorate ASA. Please join them at their bi-weekly meetings:

Thursday @ 6:00 p.m.
Capitol Wellness Collective
2400 14th Street, Sacramento

Patients and non-patients are welcome. This is a great opportunity to
get involved with ASA and to work on both local and national campaigns.

For more information, please call 916-325-9000.

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*6) Thursday, July 20th, Guerneville: Sonoma ASA Meeting*

When: Thursday at 7:30pm
Where: Marvin's Gardens 15025 River Road (towards Guerneville)

Come check out Sonoma's chapter of American's for Safe Access. We've got
a lot to go over this month, dispensary regulations and plant guidelines
are being discussed county wide. Patients, supporters, caregivers and
friends are welcome to come share their opinions on what should happen
locally. More info 707-332-6556

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**City & County Hearings**
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*7) Tuesday, July 11th, San Diego: Patient Community to Demand
Dispensary Regulations from City Council!*

On Tuesday, San Diego ASA and the patient community will be gathering to
demand dispensary regulations and an end to the DEA raids. This council
meeting is especially timely, since it follows numerous DEA raids on San
Diego dispensaries and falls on the anniversary of Steve McWilliam's
death <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2398>. Please join us
to call on the city to take action!

Gather @ 9:30 a.m. in front of City Hall, 220 C Street, San Diego
Speak to the council @ 10:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers.

Please look for San Diego ASA members who will be in front of City Hall
distributing talking points.

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*8) Tuesday, July 11th, Bakersfield: Kern County Board of Supervisors to
Vote on Dispensary Regulations*

The Kern County Board of Supervisors will be voting on an ordinance
regulating medical cannabis dispensing collectives in unincorporated
Kern County. The original proposed ordinance included dangerous
provisions allowing the Sheriff's Department free access to patient and
financial records. ASA has won important concessions since this hearing,
and overall, the proposed ordinance is one of the more progressive
ordinances in the state. The new positive provisions include:

-- No caps on the number of dispensaries
-- An allowance for on-site consumption
-- Only visual access to dispensary records, without a warrant
-- An allowance for on-site cultivation

There are still concerns about law enforcement's ability to access
patient records. Please attend the next hearing to speak in support of
dispensaries and ask for the protection of patient confidentiality.

Tuesday, July 11th at 9:00am
Kern County Administration Center
1115 Truxtun Avenue in Bakersfield

Call (661) 873-1703 for more information

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*
9) Tuesday, July 11th, Fremont: City Council to Vote on Banning
Dispensaries*

The City of Fremont currently has a moratorium on dispensaries. Last
week, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to permanently ban
dispensaries, and on the 11th, the full Council will vote on the issue.

Patients & advocates are encouraged to speak to the City Council. Tell
them how important dispensaries are to patients!

Please download ASA talking points
<http://safeaccessnow.org/article.php?list=type&type=212> on dispensary
regulations, moratoriums & bans.

7:00p.m Council Champers,
3300 Capitol Avenue Fremont

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*
10) Monday, July 17th, El Cerrito: City Council to Vote on Banning
Dispensaries*

El Cerrito currently has a moratorium on new dispensaries but recently
voted to ban dispensaries. They will be having a second vote on the
issue and need to hear from their constituents. Please show your support
and express how important dispensaries are to patients!

7:30p.m Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane.

Please download ASA talking points
<http://safeaccessnow.org/article.php?list=type&type=212> on dispensary
regulations, moratoriums & bans.

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*11) Tuesday, July 18th, Redondo Beach: City Council to Vote on
Extending Dispensary Moratorium*

The Redondo Beach City Council has enacted a moratorium and will be
voting to extend it.

If you are a patient or advocate in the area, please go to speak out
against the extension of this moratorium. For talking points, click
here: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/moratorium.talking.points.pdf

Please join us in protecting safe access!

5:00p.m. Redondo Beach City Council Chambers 415 Diamond St

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*Court Support*
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*12) Monday, July 17th, Sacramento: Court Support for Bryan Epis*

Status hearing at 9:30am before Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr. in U.S.
District Court, 15th Floor at 501 "I" Street in Sacramento. Bryan was
the first medical marijuana patient convicted in federal court after the
passage of California's Proposition 215. Bryan was arrested June 25,
1997, after Butte County sheriff's officers discovered marijuana plants
growing in the basement of his home in Chico. Bryan was released on bail
August 9, 2004, pending his appeal. He currently awaits resentencing by
the District Court.*
*

--
Rebecca Saltzman
Field Coordinator
Americans for Safe Access
p (510) 251-1856 x 308
f (510) 251-2036
http://www.safeaccessnow.org