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Thu Dec 21 2006 (Updated 02/11/07)
ASA Statewide Conference on January 13th
Americans for Safe Access held the 2nd Annual State Conference on January 13th and 14th at the Pickwick Gardens Conference Center in Burbank, California. ASA staff planned workshops and seminars that are designed to "give activists the skills they need to achieve effective statewide campaigns while providing a vehicle for local campaigns to flourish." imc_pdf.gif PDF of Conference Materials
The Local Patients' Cooperative in Hayward was raided by DEA and IRS agents on Tuesday, December 12th. The LPC had been preparing to close at the end of December. The Patients Resource Center, half a block down the street, was not affected by the raid.
Mon Nov 13 2006 (Updated 11/14/06)
10th Anniversary of Prop. 215
November 5th was the tenth anniversary of the passage of California's medical marijuana initiative, Proposition 215, which was approved by 56% of the voters in 1996. Since then, acceptance and use of cannabis as medicine have advanced in California and worldwide. The federal government continues to prosecute people for growing and distributing cannabis to patients, while it also blocks studies into the medicinal properties of the herb. Meanwhile, cities and counties that recognize the validity of cannabis dispensaries have profited from taxing and regulating dispensaries. Dale Gieringer of California NORML writes, "the shockwave of Prop. 215 is still spreading."
Thu Oct 26 2006 (Updated 10/27/06)
Judge Dismisses Three Charges Against Richard Watts
On October 25th, Judge Charles Breyer dismissed three counts involving marijuana cultivation against Richard Watts, ruling that the U.S. Attorney's Office had violated the Speedy Trial Act. Judge Breyer, who sentenced Ed Rosenthal to one day in jail after the previous trial, openly challenged Assistant U.S. Attorney George Bevan several times about the federal government's justification for retrying Mr. Rosenthal and Mr. Watts. Attorneys have to submit several documents before a December 6th appearance about how to proceed with the case.
Fri Oct 20 2006 (Updated 10/21/06)
Medical Marijuana Conviction Overturned
On October 18, the California Sixth District Court of Appeals reversed the March 2005 conviction of medical marijuana caregiver and patient, Roger Mentch, for cultivation and possession of marijuana intended for sale. The court recognized the legitimacy of Mentch's caregiver defense under the 1996 Compassionate Care Act, which was forbidden during his first trial.
Wed Oct 4 2006 (Updated 10/16/06)
DEA Raids Eight Bay Area Locations
At a hearing on Tuesday morning, October 17th, a judge will determine whether Sparky Rose, the executive director of New Remedies, can post bail or not.

On Tuesday, October 3rd, eight Bay Area locations associated with New Remedies Cooperative and Potent Employment Solutions were raided by federal agents. Those arrested were allegedly growing, prescribing, and dispensing medical marijuana. A march was held from City Hall to the Federal Building on Wednesday, the day of the arraignment. imc_photo.gif Photos from Raid
Update: Four people have been indicted on federal charges of distribution of marijuana and conspiracy to distribute, and they were all granted bail. Two of them, Luke Scarmazzo and Ricardo Montes, both 26, have not yet been released due to a federal government appeal of their bail. There is a hearing on the bail appeal for Luke and Richard on Monday, October 16th, at 11am in the Fresno Federal Court.

The California Healthcare Collective (CHC) in Modesto was raided on the morning of Wednesday, September 27th by local and federal agents. The city had last year banned dispensaries, except for those that are nonprofits. In mid-September, the Modesto City Council voted to repeal the non-profit provision, thus making the CHC "illegal," and setting the scene for the raid. Medical marijuana supporters in California say that they will not stand for these continued attacks on medical cannabis patients.
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