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Steve Kubby, a medical cannabis patient, has been living with his family in Canada for the past five years. Kubby was convicted in 1999 of misdemeanor drug possession (for possessing minute quantities of mescaline and psilocin) stemming from a marijuana raid on his Placer County, California home. With permission of the court, Mr. Kubby and his family moved to Canada in 2001 where he became a legally registered medical cannabis patient with Health Canada to treat symptoms of a rare, life-threatening form of adrenal cancer. Kubby has managed his condition exclusively with cannabis since the 1980s, and is recognized as one of the longest living survivors of the disease.
While Kubby has been living in Canada, the Placer County prosecutor moved to have the misdemeanor conviction upgraded to a felony punishable by jail time. Immigration Canada is now trying to expel Kubby to the United States to serve his sentence, and the case is under consideration by a Canadian federal judge. If he is returned to the United States, Kubby would serve his sentence in Placer County, where he would most likely be denied access to medicinal cannabis.
Medicinal marijuana supporters are being asked to call and/or fax DA Fenocchio and Assistant DA Cattran to ask whether that they would provide medical cannabis to Mr. Kubby, who is an approved patient in the state of California, were he to serve his sentence in their county jail. The theory is that if these prosecutors receive enough calls in support of Mr. Kubby's case, they could be reluctant to imprison him, or become more likely to make sure he receives proper access to his medication. If they refuse to provide access to marijuana, the Canadian government might be reluctant to return Kubby to a country where he would not be given the medical treatment that he needs. Read more
http://www.kubby.com | Further Background | January 9th Statement from Michelle Kubby | NORML
Steve Kubby, a medical cannabis patient, has been living with his family in Canada for the past five years. Kubby was convicted in 1999 of misdemeanor drug possession (for possessing minute quantities of mescaline and psilocin) stemming from a marijuana raid on his Placer County, California home. With permission of the court, Mr. Kubby and his family moved to Canada in 2001 where he became a legally registered medical cannabis patient with Health Canada to treat symptoms of a rare, life-threatening form of adrenal cancer. Kubby has managed his condition exclusively with cannabis since the 1980s, and is recognized as one of the longest living survivors of the disease.
While Kubby has been living in Canada, the Placer County prosecutor moved to have the misdemeanor conviction upgraded to a felony punishable by jail time. Immigration Canada is now trying to expel Kubby to the United States to serve his sentence, and the case is under consideration by a Canadian federal judge. If he is returned to the United States, Kubby would serve his sentence in Placer County, where he would most likely be denied access to medicinal cannabis.
Medicinal marijuana supporters are being asked to call and/or fax DA Fenocchio and Assistant DA Cattran to ask whether that they would provide medical cannabis to Mr. Kubby, who is an approved patient in the state of California, were he to serve his sentence in their county jail. The theory is that if these prosecutors receive enough calls in support of Mr. Kubby's case, they could be reluctant to imprison him, or become more likely to make sure he receives proper access to his medication. If they refuse to provide access to marijuana, the Canadian government might be reluctant to return Kubby to a country where he would not be given the medical treatment that he needs. Read more
http://www.kubby.com | Further Background | January 9th Statement from Michelle Kubby | NORML
Wed Dec 28 2005
Dublin Marijuana Dispensary Raided by Police on December 26th
On December 26th at about 2:30pm, the Dublin Police
Department raided the Dublin Greene and the home of
the owner, Cindy. The police took 2 pounds of herbal medicine in storage jars and edibles,
hash, bud, merchandise (T-shirts), all the store and
patient records, and about $7,000 cash from the store
and staff. Patients were turned away by the police
as the investigation was being conducted. No arrests
were made.
The Dublin Police claimed that they were working from a tip that the Dublin Greene was conducting the "illegal sale of marijuana," and that the dispensary was not located in the correct zone. A staffmember explained that they were not selling, but were receiving donations and that they have not made a profit.
The Dublin Greene had been open since July of 2005- before the city of Dublin issued a moratorium on dispensaries on August 16th. This dispensary is known for being a clean, safe, cheerful, "mom and pop" shop that serves patients of the 580/680 corridor. The club has approximately 120 patients who are mostly residents of Dublin, Livermore, San Ramon and Danville. It has aimed to provide safe, quiet, local access for patients, and to fit into the neighborhood. The store has not turned a profit.
The Dublin Greene is asking that everbody who supports medical cannabis call, email, or fax the Dublin City Council and the Dublin Police and tell them, "We want the Dublin Greene Collective open today," and to return the patient records. The Dublin Greene will hold a rally and open house on December 29th, 2005 from 2-8pm at the Dublin Greene/Ducky's 6711B Sierra Court. There will likely be a protest at the Dublin City Council meeting, tentatively scheduled for January 3rd, at 7 PM.
The Dublin Police claimed that they were working from a tip that the Dublin Greene was conducting the "illegal sale of marijuana," and that the dispensary was not located in the correct zone. A staffmember explained that they were not selling, but were receiving donations and that they have not made a profit.
The Dublin Greene had been open since July of 2005- before the city of Dublin issued a moratorium on dispensaries on August 16th. This dispensary is known for being a clean, safe, cheerful, "mom and pop" shop that serves patients of the 580/680 corridor. The club has approximately 120 patients who are mostly residents of Dublin, Livermore, San Ramon and Danville. It has aimed to provide safe, quiet, local access for patients, and to fit into the neighborhood. The store has not turned a profit.
The Dublin Greene is asking that everbody who supports medical cannabis call, email, or fax the Dublin City Council and the Dublin Police and tell them, "We want the Dublin Greene Collective open today," and to return the patient records. The Dublin Greene will hold a rally and open house on December 29th, 2005 from 2-8pm at the Dublin Greene/Ducky's 6711B Sierra Court. There will likely be a protest at the Dublin City Council meeting, tentatively scheduled for January 3rd, at 7 PM.
Tue Dec 20 2005
Community Gathers to Defend Hope Net from DEA Agents
There will be a protest against this raid on Friday, December 23rd at 12pm at the Federal Courthouse in Sacramento.
On December 22nd, Hope Net reported that it had been burglarized and that a few items had been stolen.
Report and photos
Dec 20th, 2005: At 6:30 AM, DEA agents raided the house of the directors of Steve and Cathy Smith, the directors of the HopeNet medical marijuana dispensary. 122 plants were confiscated but there were no arrests. Later in the morning DEA vans parked in front of the dispensary itself, awaiting a search warrant. As the DEA waited, over 75 patients rallied in front of HopeNet. A press conference was held at 1:00pm, with speakers from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Hopenet Cooperative, Americans for Safe Access, and the San Francisco Patients' Union. Sup. Chris Daly addressed the crowd, remarking that HopeNet was one of the most highly regarded dispensaries in the city.
Press conference Photos | Report
DEA agents returned after dark and ransacked the HopeNet dispensary: Report
Hope Net is a highly regarded 1000-member collective that provides free medicine to over 40 seriously ill low-income patients on an ongoing basis. Hope Net supporters are asking for patients, caregivers, and supporters who do not have any outstanding warrants to don raingear and show up at Ninth and Howard Streets to act as witnesses to the raid.
Hemp Evolution news
On December 22nd, Hope Net reported that it had been burglarized and that a few items had been stolen.
Report and photos
Dec 20th, 2005: At 6:30 AM, DEA agents raided the house of the directors of Steve and Cathy Smith, the directors of the HopeNet medical marijuana dispensary. 122 plants were confiscated but there were no arrests. Later in the morning DEA vans parked in front of the dispensary itself, awaiting a search warrant. As the DEA waited, over 75 patients rallied in front of HopeNet. A press conference was held at 1:00pm, with speakers from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Hopenet Cooperative, Americans for Safe Access, and the San Francisco Patients' Union. Sup. Chris Daly addressed the crowd, remarking that HopeNet was one of the most highly regarded dispensaries in the city.
Press conference
Photos | Report
DEA agents returned after dark and ransacked the HopeNet dispensary: Report
Hope Net is a highly regarded 1000-member collective that provides free medicine to over 40 seriously ill low-income patients on an ongoing basis. Hope Net supporters are asking for patients, caregivers, and supporters who do not have any outstanding warrants to don raingear and show up at Ninth and Howard Streets to act as witnesses to the raid.
Hemp Evolution news
Mon Dec 12 2005
Thirteen Medical Cannabis Dispensaries Raided in San Diego
On Monday December 12th, federal agents raided thirteen medical cannabis
dispensaries in San Diego with the help of the local police and sheriff. A rally in opposition
to these raids was held at 12:00pm on Tuesday, December 13th in front of the San
Diego federal building, 880 Front Street, San Diego. Outside of the San Diego area, medical cannabis supporters rallied at 12:00pm on Wednesday, December 14th in front of local
federal buildings. In Northern California, there were rallies in San Francisco and Sacramento.. Read
more
List of dispensaries in San Diego | Americans for Safe Access
List of dispensaries in San Diego | Americans for Safe Access
In the wake of the U.S.
Supreme Court’s ruling in the
Raich case earlier this year, which
permits the federal government
to continue arresting and
prosecuting medical marijuana
patients and their caregivers--
even in states where medical
use of marijuana is permitted--
U.S. Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) and
his bipartisan co-sponsors have re-introduced
legislation to that would let
medical marijuana defendants have the right to tell the truth in court.
H.R 4272, officially dubbed “The Steve McWilliams Truth in Trials Act”, guarantees medical marijuana defendants the right to introduce evidence demonstrating that the marijuana-related activities for which they stand accused were performed in compliance with State law regarding the medical use of marijuana. In addition, the bill specifically limits the government’s ability to seize assets – including medical cannabis plants. Americans for Safe Access is encouraging people to contact their member of Congress to urge him or her to co-sponsor H.R. 4272. Read more
Steve McWilliams was a medical marijuana patient and activist who died earlier this year. He had apparently overdosed on the medications that he had been given in place of the marijuana that he had been denied since his 2002 arrest.
H.R 4272, officially dubbed “The Steve McWilliams Truth in Trials Act”, guarantees medical marijuana defendants the right to introduce evidence demonstrating that the marijuana-related activities for which they stand accused were performed in compliance with State law regarding the medical use of marijuana. In addition, the bill specifically limits the government’s ability to seize assets – including medical cannabis plants. Americans for Safe Access is encouraging people to contact their member of Congress to urge him or her to co-sponsor H.R. 4272. Read more
Steve McWilliams was a medical marijuana patient and activist who died earlier this year. He had apparently overdosed on the medications that he had been given in place of the marijuana that he had been denied since his 2002 arrest.
Mon Nov 7 2005
Overdose Deaths in San Francisco Decline
Recent reports state that drug overdoses have increased statewide in California, but fewer addicts
are dying in San Francisco since the city adopted a harm reduction
approach to overdose prevention. Health clinics and jail and treatment centers are giving IV drug users tools for saving their own lives, and those of people around them. Many opiate users are now taught how to
use mouth-to-mouth to resuscitate an overdose victim. Class participants
are given needles that contain naloxone, a drug that can revive a person who is overdosing. Many users have reported saving others with the treatment. The City also has an outreach program that suggests that people have a partner nearby when they are using, and tells them about the risks of overdosing. Other cities are using similar programs and are reportedly experiencing a drop in overdose deaths. The San Francisco Needle Exchange website includes overdose prevention tips.
Read more in a report from Join Together
Read more in a report from Join Together
On October 18th, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi's bill regulating Medical Cannabis Dispensaries (MCD's) was debated before the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. For three hours, various supervisors, including Maxwell, Alioto-Pier, Daly passed hostile amendments gutting the bill with zoning requirements which could effectively shut all or most dispensaries in the City (Supervisor Chris Daly won an amendment that adds large portions of South of
Market as a no-medical cannabis dispensary zone). Daly did plan to introduce an amendment that would "grandfather in" all existing SOMA dispensaries. Supervisor Daly's blog entry An additional issue of importance to medical marijuana patients is the threat of an amendment to kill the 99 plant/100 square foot plant canopy
provision. Flyer
The bill was continued over to this week's hearing, which was held on Tuesday, October 25th, 2005. This may have been the final vote on regulation of dispensing collectives in San Francisco. Medical marijuana advocates are encouraging people to voice their displeasure over this process and to show support for the City's MCDs. Organizations are also encouraged to write letters or make phone calls to the Board of Supervisors.
Hemp Evolution | San Francisco Board of Supervisors
The bill was continued over to this week's hearing, which was held on Tuesday, October 25th, 2005. This may have been the final vote on regulation of dispensing collectives in San Francisco. Medical marijuana advocates are encouraging people to voice their displeasure over this process and to show support for the City's MCDs. Organizations are also encouraged to write letters or make phone calls to the Board of Supervisors.
Hemp Evolution | San Francisco Board of Supervisors
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