Lawsuit Against the CHP for Taking People's Medicine

Dear patients, caregivers & supporters,

ASA plans to file suit to change California Highway Patrol (CHP) policy
on medical marijuana and is looking for potential plaintiffs.

The CHP, in defiance of SB420 (allowing for the transportation of
medical marijuana), has a policy that instructs officers to seize
patient and caregiver medicine regardless of any documentation provided.
CHP General Law Enforcement Policy Manual states that, "[e]ven if
[medical marijuana patient status] is alleged, all marijuana SHALL be
confiscated and booked as evidence..." (emphasis added).

ASA intends to file a lawsuit which will challenge CHP policy
and demand changes to its procedures on medical marijuana patient
encounters (regarding arrest, prosecution, and property confiscation).

The lawsuit will NOT seek monetary damages--only policy changes. At the
same time, it will not interfere with one's ability to seek monetary
damages apart from this suit.

ASA hopes to file the suit mid- to late-January 2005.

We are now looking for potential plaintiffs for this effort. If you
satisfy the criteria below, please contact ASA Legal Coordinator Kris
Hermes at 510-486-8083 x307 or <kris [at] safeaccessnow.org> as soon as possible.

In order to be a plaintiff in the CHP lawsuit, you must have:

1. Been cited or arrested by CHP or had your medicine seized by CHP
without being charged
2. Had your case dismissed or acquitted at trial
3. Had medicinal cannabis confiscated
4. Neither been on probation or parole at the time of the encounter, nor
currently be on probation or parole
5. Had the encounter after January 1, 1997

Please help us challenge one of the worst violators of the Compassionate
Use Act and SB 420, and achieve sane police policies with regard to
medical marijuana.

Best,

Kris

--
Kris Hermes
Legal Support Coordinator
Americans for Safe Access
http://www.SafeAccessNow.org
1700 Shattuck Ave. #317
Berkeley, CA 94709
Phone: 510-486-8083 x307
Fax: 510-486-8090
Email: kris [at] SafeAccessNow.org