The movement for patients' rights is growing

* September 7, 2006
ASA Needs Your Support

Dear Friend,

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is at it again. This time, through
intimidation and raids, the DEA successfully closed all medical cannabis
dispensaries in San Diego. Americans for Safe Access (ASA)
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org> activists are on the ground right now. We are
working to restore access to patients by responding to the myths of the
illegality of dispensing collectives and building the political support to pass
regulations protecting access to medical marijuana. (Read our press release
about San Diego <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=3545>).

I put my time, energy, and money in to Americans for Safe Access because I know
what it is like to resort to the illicit market for medicine. I understand what
it is like to live in fear of my government. And I refuse to let the federal
government trample the rights of medical marijuana patients in San Diego -- or
anywhere else.

We are embarking on an aggressive proactive campaign to change federal policy
and advance the rights of patients. Our success will protect patients from
dealing with another situation like San Diego. Please read about our strategy
below. If you support the work we are doing, please take a moment to join ASA
today <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/donate>.


ASA LAUNCHES LEGAL CHALLENGES ON STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL

On the state level, ASA is defending patients' right to work by taking an
employment case to the California Supreme Court. In /Ross v. Ragingwire
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/section.php?id=104#rossvragingwire>/, ASA is
representing a patient who was fired for using medical cannabis. This
ground-breaking case will help establish employment rights for patients in
California.


On the federal level, ASA is directly confronting the government's denial of
the scientific evidence about cannabis's medical efficacy. The government
classifies cannabis as a highly dangerous substance with no recognized medical
use, despite hundreds of scientific, peer-reviewed articles that say otherwise,
including the government's own report from the prestigious Institute of
Medicine (IOM). ASA has filed a legal challenge under a little-known law that
requires federal agencies to rely on sound science when making regulations and
disseminating information.

If we prevail, the government will have to publicly admit that cannabis is
routinely used for medical treatment, a critical first step toward doctors
being able to prescribe it just like other medications. Make this happen by
joining ASA today <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/donate>!


ASA EXPANDS TO D.C. WITH NEW NATIONAL OFFICE AND MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC
ADVISORY BOARD

ASA's new office in Washington, D.C. means that patients now have a voice in
our nation's Capitol as never before. As the first advocacy group in D.C.
working solely on medical marijuana, we are already lobbying members of
Congress to show compassion for patients.

ASA is also reaching out to the medical and scientific communities. Barbara
Roberts, Ph.D., is ASA's new D.C.-based Director of National Medical and
Scientific Affairs and President of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board.
Formerly a director for the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Dr. Roberts
helped commission the IOM study on medical cannabis, which found that cannabis
has medical value and deserves further research. Dr. Roberts is holding
roundtable discussions with prominent scientific and medical professionals to
integrate medical cannabis into mainstream health discussions.


ASA PROVIDES INVALUABLE PATIENT SERVICES AND ACTIVIST RESOURCES

We're expanding services to the medical cannabis community. We've updated our
website <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/>, adding more information and more ways
to get involved than ever before. Each week, we answer hundreds of legal
questions from patients and caregivers through our toll-free hotline
(1-888-929-4367). ASA also continues to provide training and information to
tens of thousands of advocates, patients, doctors, and attorneys through our
education programs and specialized trainings.

*Americans for Safe Access is fighting in court, lobbying congress, and working
in the field to protect the legal rights of medicinal cannabis patients and
their doctors. By joining ASA, you help us intensify our fight to provide safe
and legal access to medical cannabis. Please give generously today
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/donate>!*


*Steph Sherer, Executive Director*

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/*Americans for Safe Access *is the nation's largest organization of patients,
medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and
legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research./

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

* Special Membership Offer! *

Join today for $35 and receive your ASA Lapel
pin!<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/donate>

Make a gift of $50 or more and receive your new ASA
T-shirt<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/donate>

Click Here to request more information about ASA
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/requestinfo>


On the Web:
* Join ASA <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/donate>
* Legal Info <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/section.php?id=100>
* Join ASA Email Lists <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/emaillists>
* Take Action <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/takeaction>
* Condition-Based Booklets <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/conditionbooklets>
* Join a Patients Union <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/section.php?id=80>
* Medical Marijuana News Summaries
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/section.php?id=122>
* ASA's Campaigns <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/campaigns>
* ASA's Mission <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/section.php?id=129>


Americans for Safe Access
1322 Webster Street, Ste. 402
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: 510-251-1856
Fax: 510-251-2036
Email us! <mailto:info [at] safeaccessnow.org>