10/5: Phone/ Fax Slam to Tommy Thompson, Secretary of Health & Human Services

Phone/ Fax Slam to Tommy Thompson, Secretary of Health & Human Services - Tuesday,
Oct 5

As you know, Oct. 5, ASA is imploring HHS to do the right thing, and allow for the
rescheduling of marijuana. For those of you who cannot attend the Washington DC
event, you can still join us by sending a fax and calling HHS On Tuesday, Oct. 5!

Send a free Fax or Email from the ASA online action center on Tuesday.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/
Follow up with a toll-free phone call to 877 696 6775. Tell Tommy Thomson, the head
of HHS:
- Marijuana does have a currently accepted use in medical treatment.
- Please remember that the health and safety of people who
benefit from the medical use of marijuana is in your hands.

WHY HHS? To ensure safe access for ALL patients, marijuana must be rescheduled, and
its medicinal value recognized on the federal level. Health and Human Services (HHS)
has the power to make this change. If HSS allows that marijuana has medical value,
the DEA must recommend rescheduling. However, in 2001, HHS ruled that marijuana had,
"No currently accepted medical use in treatment." They did not address the mountain
of data recognizing cannabis as a useful treatment. This allowed the DEA to reject
rescheduling and gave them implicit permission to raid patients.

Six months later, the DEA started raiding and closing California dispensaries. Our
highest health officials can stop this abuse simply by doing their job and applying
sound science to this policy debate. Reschedule marijuana now!