Medical Marijuana in the News: 12/26

MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE NEWS
ASA’s Media Summary for 12/15-12/26/2007

FEDERAL: Threatening Letters Elicit Rebuke
ASA ACTION: New Tack in San Diego Suit
CALIFORNIA: Patient Rights Affirmed by Appellate Court
MICHIGAN: Medical Marijuana Initiative Going to Voters
COLORADO: Another Return of Property Case
NORTH CAROLINA: Patient Remains Defiant Despite Charges
DISPENSARIES: Local Communities Benefit from Regulations
CAMPAIGN ’08: Patients Make Safe Access an Election Issue
MONTANA: Memorial for Medical Marijuana Advocate
DOCUMENTARY: Medical Marijuana Film from Conservative Politco
ASA BLOG: Comments from ASA Staff and Guests
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FEDERAL: Threatening Letters Elicit Rebuke
Official outrage is spreading over the DEA’s new tactic of threatening
California property owners with forfeiture for renting space to patient
collectives. Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, who served in Congress for 27 years,
has denounced the tactic and asked his former colleagues on Capitol Hill to
investigate. The mayor’s action came thanks in part to the lobbying of a
coalition activists, including ASA, the Marijuana Policy Project and the Drug
Policy Alliance.

Dellums seeks probe of 'threats' to pot sites
by Kelly Rayburn, Bay Area News Group
Mayor Ron Dellums has asked a long-time former colleague, U.S. Rep. John
Conyers, D-Mich., to investigate the federal Drug Enforcement Administration's
use of "threatening letters" to target medical cannabis dispensaries throughout
California, including at least one in Oakland.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5351

DEA Focuses on Oakland Pot Clubs
KCBS - TV (San Francisco)
The mayor of Oakland is taking a stand against federal agents sending what he
says are threatening letters to landlords that rent property to
medical-marijuana clubs.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5362

A Federal Warning for Medical Marijuana Sellers
by Henry Mulak, KCBS - TV (San Francisco)
The Drug Enforcement Administration has sent out a new batch of warning letters
to Bay Area property owners who house medical marijuana dispensaries. Initially
the letters went out to clubs in San Francisco and Sacramento, but have now
also been distributed in the East Bay.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5363
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ASA ACTION: New Tack in San Diego Suit
The ASA legal team won the first round in the fight over local compliance with
California state law and is confident of prevailing in the appeal, particularly
now that additional precedent has been made. ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford has
filed a new brief citing the recent court decisions; all point to the
obligation of California counties to respect state law and implement the
medical marijuana ID card system the legislature has mandated.

New Brief in Medical Marijuana Challenge
Fox 6 News (San Diego)
A group of California medical marijuana patients Tuesday filed a legal brief
opposing San Diego County's attempt to overturn state law on the issue. The
patients' brief was filed today by Americans for Safe Access, a nationwide
medical marijuana advocacy organization.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5364
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CALIFORNIA: Patient Rights Affirmed by Appellate Court
Law enforcement officers typically say they have little difficulty identifying
qualified patients. But occasionally a patient will be wrongfully accused of
illegal possession or distribution. This appeals court ruling says tangible
evidence of dealing, not just an officer’s opinion, must be offered to gain a
conviction.

State court overturns medical pot user's conviction for dealing
by Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle
A person who carries a small amount of marijuana with a doctor's note allowing
medical use can't be convicted of dealing the drug just because police thought
he was a dealer, a state appeals court ruled Friday.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5352
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MICHIGAN: Medical Marijuana Initiative Going to Voters
Pressure on Michigan’s legislature has been building, with city after city
passing medical marijuana measures. Now voters statewide will have a chance to
force the issue on the state level. If approved, the current initiative will
require state lawmakers to consider a medical exception; if they fail to pass
one, the matter will return to the statewide ballot.

Michigan voters likely will decide whether to legalize medical marijuana in
November
Lansing State Journal (MI)
Lynn Allen is in a great deal of pain. And he thinks marijuana would ease it.
The 51-year-old Williamston man was born with hemophilia and was infected with
HIV and hepatitis C more than 20 years ago.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5350

Health Care, Medical Marijuana Proposals Advance
Associated Press
Michigan's November 2008 ballot could become a bit more crowded, possibly
including proposals to provide universal health care coverage and allow
marijuana use for medical purposes.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5359
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COLORADO: Another Return of Property Case
Now that Colorado courts have established that patients have a right to return
of marijuana wrongfully seized, more patients are sure to make use of the law.
One such patient, an injured veteran, is seeking return of his medical
marijuana, thanks to the precedent established in part by the legal work of
Brian Vicente, director of the Colorado Campaign for Safe Access, a joint
project of ASA and Sensible Colorado.

Dropped charges in medical pot case called 'huge victory'
by Julie Poppen, Rocky Mountain News (CO)
Chalk up another one for supporters of medical marijuana. Two weeks after a
judge in Fort Collins ordered that 39 pot plants seized from a couple be
returned to them, an Aurora man is banking on the same outcome.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5347

Ex-Marine Seeks Return of Seized Marijuana Plants
by Associated Press, Fox News
A former Marine is asking Colorado police to return 71 marijuana plants seized
at his home, saying the pot helps him deal with war injuries.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5346

Aurora Veteran Fights For Return Of Pot Plants
CBS 4 Denver (CO)
A former Marine from Aurora who argued that marijuana helps him deal with
injuries suffered during Operation Desert Storm planned to ask for the return
of his plants on Monday.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5361
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NORTH CAROLINA: Patient Remains Defiant Despite Charges
As well as many state and local medical marijuana programs are working, the
tragedies that befall patients who live in states that do not make medical
exceptions make clear the need for wholesale federal changes. This North
Carolina patient remains convinced that growing medicine for himself and other
seriously ill members of his community was the right thing to do. ASA’s new
chapter in North Carolina, started in November, has stepped in to help him.

Aiken: But why should I not be allowed to grow a plant?
by John Harbin , Hendersonville News-Times (NC)
When Todd Aiken was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2000, he decided to begin
growing marijuana to help him face his grueling treatment, he said. Aiken, 50,
and his wife, Sharon, 35, were arrested last week after Sheriff's deputies
discovered 146 marijuana plants. Aiken and his wife have received help from a
local chapter of the Americans for Safe Access, which promotes safe and legal
access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5356

Marijuana grower: ‘I wanted to help’
by Andre A. Rodriguez, Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
A man accused of running Henderson County’s largest and most sophisticated
marijuana growing operation says he did it out of compassion. Tod Aiken, of
Columbus, said Wednesday the marijuana that led to his arrest was being sold
for medicinal purposes.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5358
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DISPENSARIES: Local Communities Benefit from Regulations
Among the many benefits that accrue to communities that adopted regulatory
ordinances for medical marijuana dispensing collectives is the possibility of
significant tax revenue. Now that the California Board of Equalization has
ruled that dispensaries must collect sales tax, as well as payroll and other
taxes, the income they share with local governments can be significant. The
other benefits to communities are spelled out in ASA’s report at
http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/DispensaryReport.

Smoochin’ the Pooch
by Nick Welsh, Santa Barbara Independent (CA)
If audacious times call for audacious measures, then I’m sorry to report that
no one in City Hall is willing to put their money where my mouth is. After
watching the Santa Barbara City Council deliberate two weeks ago over a new
ordinance to regulate the how, where, and when of medical marijuana
dispensaries, I was struck more by what wasn’t said than by what was.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5349

City Council to revisit pot grow houses and clinics issue
Eureka Reporter (CA)
The issue of regulating marijuana grow houses and clinics returns to the Arcata
City Council tonight.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5360

Merced County supervisors ban medicinal marijuana dispensaries
by Corinne Reilly, Modesto Bee (CA)
Merced County officials passed an ordinance this week permanently banning
medical marijuana dispensaries across the unincorporated county.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5355

Merced County passes ban on medical marijuana dispensaries
Associated Press
A permanent ban on medical marijuana dispensaries throughout Merced County will
go into effect Jan. 17.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5353
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CAMPAIGN ’08: Patients Make Safe Access an Election Issue
Patients in the early primary states have made medical marijuana a Presidential
election issue as never before. YouTube broadcasts of Presidential candidates
answering patients’ questions on the issue – or ducking them entirely – have
put the issue before the public in a very human way. One such patient spoke at
length with the wife of Rep. Dennis Kucinich, describing the heartbreaking
problems created by the current federal policy.

NH: Liz Kucinich Talks Drug Reform With 22-Year-Old MD Patient
by Matt Simon, Columnist, Huffington Post
Clayton Holton was scheduled to receive a visit from Ohio Congressman Dennis
Kucinich Tuesday morning at his residence, the Riverside Rest Home in Dover,
NH. At 22, Clayton is the youngest person ever admitted into a retirement home
in New Hampshire, and Kucinich wanted to hear his story.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5354
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MONTANA: Memorial for Medical Marijuana Advocate
The Montana medical marijuana patient who was one of the state’s strongest
advocates was memorialized for her dedication to others. But there was also
deep anger at the federal authorities whose interference with her medical
marijuana supply contributed to her tragic death.

Advocate remembered for fight to legalize medical marijuana
by Michael Moore, The Missoulian (MT)
Robin Prosser is gone, dead at her own hand. But for the 30 or so people who
gathered at University Congregational Church to memorialize Prosser on
Wednesday, it's easy to see how her hand was forced. By pain. By depression. By
poverty. By her own government.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5357
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DOCUMENTARY: Medical Marijuana Film from Conservative Politco
Showing again that the issues around medical marijuana transcend political
divisions, a conservative Republican has produced a documentary on the issue in
hopes of improving safe and legal access for patients.

War on Drugs has unlikely foe
by Brent Hopkins, Los Angeles Daily News
As a friend of presidents and hobnobber with governors, David Fleming makes an
unlikely insurgent against the War on Drugs. Yet Fleming and his wife, Jean,
put thousands of dollars of their considerable personal fortune into producing
"Smoke Screen," a 90-minute docudrama promoting the medical marijuana movement.

http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5348
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ASA BLOG: Comments from ASA Staff and Guests
ASA's blog is helping keep activists informed on the issues and events
affecting medical marijuana patients and providers.

California Weekly Round Up
by Sonnet Seeborg Gabbard
ASA Files New Arguments in San Diego Case; DEA Raids Los Angeles Dispensary;
Special Announcement: Tom Kikuchi has Moved to a Different Facility
http://safeaccessnow.org/blog/?p=49

10 Questions: Presidential Candidates on Medical Marijuana
by Rebecca Saltzman
There’s a great online presidential forum that has asked 10 questions to each
of the presidential candidates. Question #3 asks the candidates how they feel
about medical marijuana, whether they would stop the DEA raids, and if they
would change the laws.
http://safeaccessnow.org/blog/?p=48

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MORE ABOUT AMERICANS FOR SAFE ACCESS
Find out about ASA at http://AmericansForSafeAccess.org. More medical
marijuana news summaries can be seen at
http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/News.