ASA CA Weekly Alert

*Weekly Roundup*

1) ASA Regional Town Halls, Ed Rosenthal Re-indicted, and San Diego Update
*
ASA Chapter Meetings*

2) Thursday, October 19th, Fullerton: Orange County ASA Meeting
3) Thursday, October 19th, Guerneville: Sonoma ASA Meeting
4) Saturday, October 21st, Hollywood: Los Angeles ASA Meeting
5) Tuesday, October 24th, San Francisco: SF ASA Meeting
6) ***Wednesday, October 26th, Oakland: ASA Staff Hold "State of the
State" Medical Marijuana Town Hall***
@ East Bay
ASA Meeting
7) Thursday, October 26th, Sacramento: Sac ASA Meeting

*City & County Hearings*

8) Wednesday, October 18th, Studio City: Neighborhood Council to Vote on
Dispensary Regulations Resolution
9) Thursday, October 19th, San Francisco: HopeNet Planning Commission
Hearing
10) Thursday, October 25th, San Francisco: The Green Cross Appeals Hearing

*Court Support
*
11) Monday, October 16th, San Francisco: Arraignment of Ed Rosenthal
12) Monday, October 16th, Modesto: Hearing for Luke Scarmazzo and
Richard Montes, California Health Care Collective
13) Monday, October 16th, Santa Cruz: Trial of Roger Mench from the
Hemporium

*Special Events*

14) Saturday, October 14th, Santa Barbara: Roots Reggae ASA Benefit
15) Friday, October 27th, San Diego: "Thrive to Survive" San Diego ASA
Benefit
16) Sat-Sun, October 28th-29th, San Francisco: Wonders of Cannabis Festival
17) Tuesday, October 31st, Hollywood: Spooky Train Halloween Party ASA
Benefit

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*Weekly Roundup*
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* 1) ASA Regional Town Halls, Ed Rosenthal Re-indicted, and San Diego
Update*

/ Announcing ASA Regional Town Halls Presenting State of the State/

As the medical marijuana community faces an increase in federal and
local attacks in California, it is crucial that the grassroots efforts
across the state are well informed and plugged into the California
Campaign for Safe Access. For this reason, ASA and ASA Chapters will be
co-hosting Regional Town Halls Presenting the State of the State, to
prepare for the/ AMERICANS FOR SAFE ACCESS STATE CONFERENCE:
Implementation = Victory : Preparing for the Next Ten Years. /ASA legal
and campaign staff will be presenting on the panel, followed by a
question and answer session.

This will be in preparation for the State Conference, at which activists
will be divided by regions in order to work on local strategies in the
context of state laws and federal escalation tactics.

Here are some of the dates for the upcoming town halls:
Oakland: October 25th (please scroll down for further details)
Sonoma: November 16th
San Diego: November 17th
Los Angeles: November 18th

We are also seeking to co-host Regional Town Halls in Sacramento and the
Central Valley. More details will be available next week.
/
San Francisco, Federal Crackdown Continues;New indictments & charges in
Ed Rosenthal Case/

This Thursday, a San Francisco federal grand jury re-indicted Ed
Rosenthal and two of his original co-defendants Rick Watts and Ken
Hayes on new marijuana charges related to a 2002 raid. His arraignment
will be on Monday - please scroll down for further hearing details./

//San Diego Council Woman Atkins Publicly Calls for Time line on Amicus
Brief in San Diego Suit Against the State: //ABC News Interviews Patients /
/ /
This Tuesday, the fight for safe access in San Diego and statewide
gained another victory, after patients, one of which was longtime
activist Barbara MacKenzie who read Attorney General Bill Lockyer,
addressed the city council, Council Woman Tony Atkins stood up from her
seat. Crediting the tenacity and conviction the medical marijuana has
shown since the closures, Atkins addressed City Attorney Dennis Herrera.
Citing the city's previous intent in filling an amicus brief to oppose
the San Diego County's law suit against the implementation of
California's State Identification Card Program, she asked for a specific
time line and status report from City Attorney Herrera. A thunderous
roar spread through the crowd as patients saw this as significant marker
for the return of safe access. Council President Scott Peters responded
to her query, asserting he will work with the city attorney to produce
an opinion as quickly as possible.

Atkins and Peters had made a formal request for the District Attorney
and the City Attorney to submit legal opinions on medical cannabis
dispensaries, as well as future operational guidelines. While the
District Attorney has taken a firm stance against dispensaries, the City
Attorney is ultimately the official counsel of the City Council.
/
/Afterwards, patients Tori Mauricio, Craig McClain and Wendy Christakes
were interviewed outside the city council chambers by ABC News. The
patients effectively communicated the direct impact of the crackdown on
medical marijuana collectives, and addressed the fundamental caveat in
personal cultivation--the terror caused by the threat of a federal raid
in your home.

For more information on the San Diego Campaign for Safe Access, click
here. <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=3673>

To email the Mayor and City Council, click here.
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/asa/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=5365>

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*ASA Chapter Meetings*
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*
2) Thursday, October 19th, Fullerton: Orange County ASA Meeting*

Please come to discuss local law enforcement problems and campaigns to
address this and other issues!

7:00 p.m. @ 1520 W Commonwealth Ave, in Fullerton
For more info, please call Adam: (949) 246-9395 or email
adamwithasa [at] gmail.com

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*3) Thursday, October 19th, 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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*
4) Saturday, October 21st, Hollywood: Los Angeles ASA Meeting*

1pm - 3pm @ California Patients Group
6208 Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90038

For more info, please call LA ASA: (323) 464-7719

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*5) Tuesday, October 24th, San Francisco: SF ASA Meeting*

California Marijuana Party "Activist Resource Center"

7:00pm
223a 9th St. @ Howard
San Francisco, CA. 94103

Come show your support at this critical time in medical cannabis history.

Tony Bowles
ASA-SF Chapter Contact: 415-283-7404

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*6) Wednesday, October 26th, Oakland: ASA Staff Hold "State of the
State" Medical Marijuana Town Hall
@ East Bay
ASA Meeting*

As the medical marijuana community faces an increase in federal and
local attacks in California, it is crucial that the grassroots efforts
across the state are well informed and plugged into the California
Campaign for Safe Access. For this reason, ASA and ASA Chapters will be
co-hosting Regional Town Halls: Presenting the State of the State, to
prepare for the AMERICANS FOR SAFE ACCESS STATE CONFERENCE:
Implementation = Victory : Preparing for the Next Ten Years. ASA legal
and campaign staff will be presenting on the panel, followed by a
question and answer session.

This will be in preparation for the State Conference, at which activists
will be divided by regions in order to work on local strategies in the
context of state laws and federal escalation tactics.

Please join ASA staff and East Bay ASA at for the first "state of the
state" town hall!

* Wednesday, October 25th @ 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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*
7) Thursday, October 26th, 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.
!Pura Vida! (next to the Capitol Wellness Collective)
2400 14th Street, Sacramento

All 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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*
8) Wednesday, October 18th, Studio City: Neighborhood Council to Vote on
Dispensary Regulations Resolution*

LA is heating up for patients!

LAPD is preparing to begin what they are referring to as "enforcement!"
LA City Council is moving a moratorium through committee!

Come support ASA and defend Safe Access at the Studio City Neighborhood
Council on Wednesday October 18th!

In August, LAPD officers began closing medical cannabis collectives in
the North Hollywood area. The officers used dubious code violations and
and intimidation to close at least two collectives. When one officer
went to the Mid Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council looking for
support, LA ASA members attended the Neighborhood Council Meeting and
presented a cohesive message to the fence-sitting council, resulting in
a positive step forward for the patient community in the city of Los
Angeles.

On September 13th The Mid-Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council
approved a resolution calling on the City Council to adopt regulations
for Medical cannabis collectives expeditiously when only one meeting
earlier LAPD officers were trying to work the Council into a hysteria
about collectives in their neighborhood. The overwhelming support of the
community for safe access to medical marijuana forced the LAPD to put a
temporary stop their efforts to keep patients from their medicine.

The LA City Council has also begun pushing a moratorium on new
dispensaries through committee. While it appears that regulations may be
in sight, there is a select group arguing for extreme measures like a
ban. Their scare tactics may work if we don't counter them!

The Studio City Neighborhood Council has placed medical marijuana on
their October 18th agenda, and ASA and the community will be there to
discuss it. Patients need to SPEAK UP and tell the Council they are not
criminals! We need to be the face of medical marijuana and show how we
contribute to the community.

WHO: Patients and Supporters Who Care About Safe Access in LA
WHAT: Meeting of the Studio City Neighborhood Council
WHEN: Wednesday October 18th at 7 PM
WHERE: CBS Studio Center; Annex 1 Meeting Room; 4024 Radford Ave; Studio
City, CA 91604

Anyone who wishes to speak at the Council meeting, and has not spoken
publicly with ASA before, is asked to attend one of two 30 minute ASA
trainings on public speaking. There will be one on Sunday October 15th
at 3 PM in the LA ASA office at 6210 Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood.
There will be another one 30 minutes before the start of the October
18th Council Meeting. Anyone who plans on attending the Public Speaking
Trainings should contact Chris at LA ASA at 323 464 7719. Even if you
don't speak, just being present shows support.

It is important to understand that using angry and combative language is
how our opposition behaves, not us. When speaking to elected officials,
we should be calm and composed and show them why patients and the
community are on the same team.

PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT ASA AND SAFE ACCESS IN LA!!!
Please contact LA ASA if you have any further questions.

Thanks,

Chris Fusco
ASA LA County Field Coordinator
323 464 7719

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*
9) Thursday, October 19th, San Francisco: HopeNet Planning Commission
Hearing*

WHERE: City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place San Francisco, Room 400
WHEN: Thursday @ 1:30 p.m.
WHY: HopeNet is longstanding provider in the local medical marijuana
community. They give back to the community in the way of services,
community space and a warm, welcoming environment. Last year, the DEA
paid the collective an unwelcome visit, causing over 60 patients to put
their bodies in front of their door. Please come show support for your
local medical cannabis dispensary. We cannot allow San Francisco to lose
a single collective who offers the kind of community support that the
HopeNet provides!

For more information, please contact Cathy at 510-919-0300.

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*
10) Thursday, October 25th, San Francisco: The Green Cross Appeals Hearing*

WHERE: City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place San Francisco Room 416
WHEN: Thursday @ 5 p.m.
WHY: The Green Cross was a collective that offered low cost medicine,
community services, and worked with city officials to navigate through
the complex set of regulations we have in the city. The local
neighborhood council, chock full of "not in my back yard" wealthy
homeowners, successfully launched a witch hunt against the collective,
resulting in the eventual displacement of their lower Mission location
and, more recently, the media sensationalism around their new location
near the waterfront. Please come show your support and help turn the
tide in favor of safe access in San Francisco.

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*Court Support
*
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*11) Monday, October 16th, San Francisco: Arraignment of Ed Rosenthal*

A federal grand jury issued superseding indictments on October 12, 2006,
against medical marijuana author and activist Ed Rosenthal, Rick Watts
and Ken Hayes. The three sustained additional charges in the new
indictments, than what they were originally charged with in 2002.
According to the Oakland Tribune, "Rosenthal faces 14 counts including
conspiracy, use of a place to manufacture marijuana for distribution,
manufacturing marijuana for distribution, laundering money from
marijuana sales, and filing false tax returns."

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Rosenthal's conviction in
April and sent the case back to federal district court, providing the
government with the option of retrying him. Watts was supposed to be
tried with Rosenthal in the original trial, but was unable to stand
trial due to injuries sustained from an auto accident. Watts is now
being tried with additional charges. These indictments come after a
federal grand jury had subpoenaed at least four people over the past
couple of months, most of whom refused to testify.

Please attend Ed's arraignment to show your support!

Monday, Oct 16 9:30 am
Federal Building in San Francisco
450 Golden Gate Avenue with Judge Elizabeth Laporte
Courtroom E 15 Floor

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*12) Monday, October 16th, Modesto: Hearing for Luke Scarmazzo and
Richard Montes, California Health Care Collective*

Four people have been indicted on federal charges of distribution of
marijuana and conspiracy to distribute. All four defendants had been
granted bail by the Fresno federal court. Two defendants, Jose Malagon,
33, and Antonio Malagon, 28, have now been released pending trial. The
two other defendants, Luke Scarmazzo and Ricardo Montes, both 26, have
not yet been released due to a federal government appeal of their bail.

There is a hearing on the bail appeal for Luke and Richard this Monday.
All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please review the following
details.

*What:* Hearing on the government's appeal of bail granted to Luke
Scarmazzo and Richard Montes:
*When: *Monday, October 16 at 11am
*Where:* Fresno federal court, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, 6th Floor,
Courtroom #8
*Why: *Because your support is critical to the release of these medical
marijuana providers

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*13) Monday, October 16th, Santa Cruz: Trial of Roger Mench from the
Hemporium*

Roger Mench is the manager of the Hemporium, LLC a professional
caregiving service and collective in Santa Cruz CA. Mench is being
charged with possession, sales and cultivation and will face trial on
the 16th.

Please attend and show your support!

9:00 a.m.
Dept 6
701 Ocean St. Santa Cruz CA.

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*Special Events*
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*
14) Saturday, October 14th, Santa Barbara: Roots Reggae ASA Benefit*

On Saturday 10/14 there will be a benefit for ASA in Santa Barbara. The
event will take place in Santa Barbara at Soho Restaurant & Music Club.
There will be live performances by legendary reggae artist Don Carlos,
straight from Jamaica, as well as San Diego's own Kush & the Bloodfiyah
Angels. All proceeds go to benefit ASA. Tickets are $20 in advance and
$25 at the door. Event starts at 9pm. Ages 21 and Up.

A Benefit for ASA
Featuring: Don Carlos. Supported by Kush & the Bloodfiyah Angels
Soho Restaurant & Music Club
1221 State St. Suite 205
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805)962-7776
Tickets $20 in advance/ $25 Door
Tickets available @ http://www.sohosb.com <http://www.sohosb.com>
or @ Hempwise in Isla Vista, CA
(805)685-9383
*
*
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*
**15) Friday, October 27th, San Diego: "Thrive to Survive" San Diego ASA
Benefit*

San Diego ASA is hosting "Thrive to Survive" a benefit for the local
Campaign for Safe Access at the Rhythm Lounge, 3048 Midway drive.
Playing Reggae, Rock and Southern Blues.Sponsored by Green Therapy, a
comical support group for medical cannabis http://www.greentherapy.com. MC of
the night will be Howard Dover.

8pm-2am
21 and over, please.

For more info, call (619) 723-6572

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*
16) Sat-Sun, October 28th-29th, San Francisco: Wonders of Cannabis Festival*

San Francisco- Halloween weekend, Golden Gate Park's Hall of Flowers
will be the scene of the second annual Wonders of Cannabis Festival.
Join host and international marijuana guru Ed Rosenthal as he showcases
cannabis culture and celebrates the marijuana/hemp plant from 11 AM to 7
PM on Saturday and Sunday, October 28 - 29, 2006.

This indoor/outdoor, two-stage San Francisco trick-or-treat will be
overflowing with live music, DJs, dancers, comedians, speakers, drum
circles, slam poetry, auctions and contests. The giant exhibit hall
features demonstrations, films, food, graffiti, magicians, medical
consultants, massage, and more!

All Wonders of Cannabis proceeds benefit the local non-profit groups
Cannabis Action Network (CAN) and Green Aid. For over a decade, CAN has
educated cannabis consumers about their constitutional rights. Green Aid
is a medical marijuana legal defense and education fund dedicated to
protecting patients.

Tickets are $20 and weekend passes, group rates and sponsorship packages
are available. Must be 18 years old to attend.

For more information, please visit http://www.wondersofcannabis.com

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*
17) Tuesday, October 31st, Hollywood: Spooky Train Halloween Party ASA
Benefit*

Festivities include....
Live music by spooky train DJs
Ring Master Ngaio
Tarot readings
Illusionist
Carnival games
Prizes
Snacks
Drinks
Costume prizes

9:00 p.m. @ California Patients Group
6208 Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90038

$30 or $50 for duo. Patients only!

For more info, please call LA ASA: (323) 464-7719

Tickets sold at:

LAPCG: (323) 882-6033
CPG: (323) 464-7052
The Higher Path: (213) 484-1001
Earth Collective: (323) 668-7633
CCSC: (818) 506-7207

--
Alex Franco
California Campaign Coordinator
Americans for Safe Access
Phone: 510-251-1856 x321
Fax: 510-251-2036
Email: alex [at] SafeAccessNow.org