ASA CA Weekly Alert

**Take Action!

**1) National - Help ASA Stop the DEA Raids: Urge Congress to Pass the
Hinchey Resolution!
2) State - Vote on June 6th! Read the Drug Policy Forum of California's
Election Guide
**
ASA Chapter Meetings
**
1) Wednesday, May 31st, Oakland: East Bay ASA Meeting!
2) Thursday, June 1st, Guerneville: Sonoma ASA Meeting
3) Saturday, June 3rd, Yuba City: Yuba-Sutter ASA Meeting
4) Sunday, June 4th, Chico: Butte County ASA Meeting
5) Thursday, June 8th, Sacramento: Sac ASA Meeting
**
City & County Hearings

**1) Thursday, June 1st, Seaside: City Council to Vote on Extending
Dispensary Moratorium
2) Tuesday, June 6th, Marina: City Council to Vote on Extending
Dispensary Moratorium
**
Court Support
**
1) Monday, June 5th, Fresno: Court Support for Dustin Costa

*Special Events*

1) Friday, June 2, Radio & Internet: The 420 Report Hosted by Ed Rosenthal
2) Friday-Sunday, June 2-4, Marysville: Music that Matters Festival -
Benefit for ASA!
**
**
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*Take Action!*
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*
1) National - Help ASA Stop the DEA Raids: Urge Congress to Pass the
Hinchey Resolution!*

At the end of June, Congress will once again be voting on the Hinchey
medical marijuana resolution. Now is the time to make your voice heard
on this issue! Each week, until the hearing, I will be issuing an action
item that you can take part in. Please participate and pass these
messages on to friends, co-workers and relatives! Please visit the ASA
website for the full action alert
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=3430> and explanation of
ASA's strategy to pass the Hinchey resolution.

/* This Week's Action Item*: Pass City and County Resolutions
Supporting the Hinchey Amendment!**/**

Last year, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/SFResolution-05.pdf> urging
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to support the Hinchey amendment and
to rally Democratic votes. We are calling on activists nationwide to
secure similar resolutions from local government officials. Please
download template resolutions for medical marijuana states
<http://safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=3435> or non-medical marijuana
states <http://safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=3436>.

Please contact Rebecca at ASA to tell us if you're working on passing a
local resolution: Rebecca [at] SafeAccessNow.org
<mailto:Rebecca [at] SafeAccessNow.org> or 510-251-1856 x 308.

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*2) State - Vote on June 6th! Read the Drug Policy Forum of California's
Election Guide*

Remember to vote on June 6th! If you don't know your polling place,
please visit the California Secretary of State's website
<http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_ppl.htm>.

If you're unsure about candidates' views on medical marijuana, please
read the Drug Policy Forum of California's 2006 Primary Election Guide
<http://www.drugsense.org/dpfca/elect2006.06.html>.

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*ASA Chapter Meetings*
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*1) Wednesday, May 31st, Oakland: East Bay ASA Meeting!*

/*East Bay Americans for Safe Access Reunites!*/

Please join us for our first meeting in more than 2 years!

We will be discussing and planning local, state, and national campaigns
to protect safe access to medical marijuana. Help us form our agenda,
and make your voice heard! Refreshments will be served.

*Wednesday, May 31st @ 7 pm*

Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative
1734 Telegraph (back entrance), Downtown Oakland
Just a couple blocks from the 19th Street BART station!

For more information or to get involved, contact Rebecca:
Rebecca [at] SafeAccessNow.org or 510-251-1856 x 308

Please spread the word and pass this on to your East Bay neighbors!

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*2) Thursday, June 1st, Guerneville: Sonoma ASA Meeting*

When: Thursday at 7:30pm
Where: Marvin's Gardens 15025 River Road (towards Guerneville)

Come check out Sonoma's chapter of American's for Safe Access. We've got
a lot to go over this month, dispensary regulations and plant guidelines
are being discussed county wide. Patients, supporters, caregivers and
friends are welcome to come share their opinions on what should happen
locally. More info 707-332-6556
********
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**3) Saturday, June 3rd, Yuba City: Yuba-Sutter ASA Meeting

**Our regular Yuba-Sutter ASA Meetings will now be held at Clark Avenue
Coffees of Yuba City. The ASA meetings will be held on the back patio
area. Plenty of parking too! (Weather permitting, the meetings may be
moved inside due to heat or cold)

Our regular, ongoing meetings will now be held on the first and third
Saturday of each month. The meetings will begin at 2:15 PM and end at
4:20 PM. The address is 101 Clark Avenue, Yuba City, CA 95991

For further information please call: 530-531-5592 or email us at:
cannabisadvocate [at] gmail.com

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*4) Sunday, June 4th, Chico: Butte County ASA Meeting*

Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the largest political, medical, legal
support organization in the U.S. upholding medical marijuana laws and
patient rights, now has a local chapter in Butte County! We meet on the
first Sunday of every month at Mountain Mike's Pizza Parlor on the
corner of 5th St. and and Walnut in Chico at 2:15. This meeting is
largely social and informational.

Find out how you can make a difference in our county, state, country,
and world via peaceful, yet vital, activism on the part of legitimate,
seriously ill patients and their caregivers. There are flyers, info
booklets, and local satellite meetings are being formed to help patients
better deal with their disabilities and improve the quality of their
lives with medical marijuana.

Please join us in our efforts toward safe access. Together we can make
a difference!

Contact: Eileen: nannienan2 [at] peoplepc.com
<mailto:nannienan2 [at] peoplepc.com>
****
****
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**
5) Thursday, June 8th, Sacramento: Sac ASA Meeting

**Sacramento ASA has begun meeting again and they're busy strategizing
on ways to effect local, state and national policies.

The Sacramento medical marijuana community was once extremely active
with Americans for Safe Access. Sac ASA met regularly, organized a huge
rally for Bryan Epis at the Capitol, and did all they could to protect
patients' rights.

Patients and advocates in the Sacramento area are coming together again
to reinvigorate ASA. Please join them at their bi-weekly meetings:

Thursday @ 6:00 p.m.
Capitol Wellness Collective
2400 14th Street, Sacramento

Patients and non-patients are welcome. This is a great opportunity to
get involved with ASA and to work on both local and national campaigns.

For more information, please call 916-325-9000.

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**City & County Hearings**
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*1) Thursday, June 1st, Seaside: City Council to Vote on Extending
Dispensary Moratorium*

The Seaside City Council has enacted a moratorium and will be voting to
extend it.

If you are a patient or advocate in the area, please go to speak out
against the extension of this moratorium. For talking points, click
here: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/moratorium.talking.points.pdf

Please join us in protecting safe access!

7:00p.m. City Hall located at 440 Harcourt Ave. Seaside, Ca 93955

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*
2) Tuesday, June 6th, Marina: City Council to Vote on Extending
Dispensary Moratorium*
*
* The Marina City Council has enacted a moratorium and will be voting to
extend it.

If you are a patient or advocate in the area, please go to speak out
against the extension of this moratorium. For talking points, click
here: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/moratorium.talking.points.pdf

Please join us in protecting safe access!

6:30p.m. City Hall, 211 Hillcrest Ave.Marina CA 93933

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*Court Support*
****
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***
1) Monday, June 5th, Fresno: Court Support for Dustin Costa*

Motions hearing at 9am before Judge Anthony W. Ishii in U.S. District
Court, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA. Medical marijuana patient and
caregiver Dustin Costa (a.k.a. "DC Greenhouse"), 58, who is president of
the Merced Patients Group, was being prosecuted on state charges
stemming from a March 2004 cultivation arrest by Merced County Sheriffs,
when the state decided to turn his case over to the U.S. Attorney for
federal prosecution. After being re-arrested by federal agents on August
10, 2005, Costa is facing federal charges of cultivation, possession
with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm. Costa is
currently incarcerated in Fresno.

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*Special Events*
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*
1) Friday, June 2, Radio & Internet: The 420 Report Hosted by Ed Rosenthal*

The 420 Report airs on KPFA - 94.1 FM Noon --1:00pm the last Friday of
the month.

The show features cannabis news, interviews with activists and policy
makers, and musical insights from Ed Rosenthal. Call in comments are
welcomed.

For anyone who cannot tune in on Friday, you can still hear the show
online at kpfa.org. Also the show will be archived at http://www.kpfa.org under
Livingroom, June 2, 2006

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*
2) Friday-Sunday, June 2-4, Marysville: Music that Matters Festival -
Benefit for ASA!*

Leon Russell, Elvin Bishop, Lydia Pense + 25 bands play community
festival supporting CA NORML, Americans for Safe Access and The Dr.
Stephen Banister Legal Defense Fund; June 2-3-4th

Marysville, CA: The 4th Annual California Music That Matters Festival
held June 2-3-4th 2006, is a 3-day family music and camping festival on
the confluence of the Yuba and Feather Rivers at the Mervyns Riverfront
Pavilion in Marysville and features 28 bands, a Health Fair and
Education forum, Community Tent, Special Kids Entertainment Arena,
International Arts and Crafts Vendors, Food Vendors and special guest
speakers.

The robust 2006 Entertainment line-up headlines Leon Russell, Elvin
Bishop, Particle, guitar great Leo Nocentelli and a total of 28 bands
spanning a variety of decades and musical genres offering something for
everyone. This year's festival will also present a special midnight
showing of the highly acclaimed documentary film "AKA Tommy Chong."

Guest Speakers include California Physician Dr. Stephen Banister, Dale
Gieringer of CA NORML, Medical Marijuana Defense Attorney Zenia Gilg,
and other experts seeking to define responsible practices, policies and
legislation surrounding medical marijuana issues in California since the
voter approved Prop. 215 The Compassionate Use Act of 1996.

Proceeds from the 4th Annual California Music That Matters Festival
benefit California N.O.R.M.L. (National Organization to Reform Marijuana
Laws) Americans For Safe Access, and The Dr. Stephen Banister Legal
Defense Fund.

The California Music That Matters Festival is a volunteer driven event
dedicated to insuring a safe, friendly, family event offering music,
entertainment, kid's entertainment and education in a relaxed
environment. Media Headlines of last year's event reported "Atmosphere
Could Not Be Better".

Glass, Alcohol, and Dogs will NOT be allowed within the festival site.
Dogs will not be permitted to stay in cars or at the
campground. The beautiful Mervyn's Riverfront Pavilion is located in
Marysville California about 45 minutes north of Sacramento

Ticket: $60/3 Days Includes Camping. $30/One Day with no camping. . For
festival information and ticket outlets, visit
http://www.camusicthatmatters.org or telephone. 530/346-2763

--
Rebecca Saltzman
Field Coordinator
Americans for Safe Access
p (510) 251-1856 x 308
f (510) 251-2036
http://www.safeaccessnow.org