ASA CA Weekly Alert 7-26-07

ASA California Weekly Alert: July 26, 2007
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*Weekly Round-Up*
1. a. Los Angeles Update: L.A. City Council Endorses Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment While
DEA Raids 8 Hollywood Dispensaries
b. Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment Defeated
c. Claremont City Council Approves Dispensary Ordinance
d. Ukiah City Council Amends Punishment for Medical Cannabis Regulation Violators
*Take Action
** *2. Friday: Protest the DEA's Attack on Patients Statewide!

*ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings*
3. Thursday, August 2, Santa Rosa: Sonoma ASA Meeting
4. Tuesday, August 7, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting

*City and County Hearings*
5. Wednesday, August 1, Pleasanton: Human Services Commission Meeting to Assess Need for
Medical Cannabis Access
*
Court Support*
6. Monday, July 30, Sacramento: Dr. Phillip Denney's Federal Motion to Dismiss Hearing
7. Monday, July 30, Fresno: Discovery Hearing for Bill Connelly
8. Tuesday, July 31, Sacramento: Federal Trial for Dr. Mollie Fry & Dale Schafer
9. Monday, July 30, Sacramento: State Sentencing Hearing for John Berchielli
10. Wednesday, August 8, Modesto: State Criminal Sentencing Hearing for Jesse Kiryakoz
11. Thursday, August 9 Sacramento: Federal Status Conference for David Davidson

*Special Events*
12. Tuesday, July 31, San Francisco: Virginia Resner's Memorial Service
13. Saturday, August 11, Fresno: Safe Access Now and Hemp Shack to Host Fresno Organizing
Meeting

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Weekly Round-Up CA Icon

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*1. a. **Los Angeles Update: L.A. City Council Endorses Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment
While DEA Raids 8 Hollywood Dispensaries*
* b. **Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment Defeated*
* c. Claremont City Council Approves Dispensary Ordinance d. Ukiah City Council
Amends Punishment for Medical Cannabis Regulation Violators

*/
//a. Los Angeles Update: L.A. City Council Endorses Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment While
DEA Raids 8 Hollywood Dispensaries
A Message from ASA's Southern California Coordinator, Don Duncan

/There were between eight and ten DEA raids at medical cannabis facilities in Hollywood
yesterday. We have not yet determined how many arrests were made citywide. This is bad
news for patients and providers, but let's don't forget how the day started. Yesterday's
DEA sweep was timed to coincide with two landmark votes in Los Angeles and one in
Washington, DC.

Yesterday morning, City Councilmember Dennis Zine, a former Los Angeles Police Officer,
held an unprecedented press conference with Americans for Safe Access (ASA) to present a
letter calling on the DEA to abandon its latest attack on landlords who rent to medical
cannabis dispensaries and allow the City Council to move forward with regulations without
further federal interference. City Council President Eric Garcetti joined patients and
dispensary operators to support Zine's courageous stance. Then, the City Council
unanimously approved the first reading of a moratorium on new collectives that marks the
first step towards sensible guidelines and greater legitimacy for collectives in the
city. Those two things alone would have been a big step forward, but the City Council was
not finished! One Councilmember after another stood up to join Councilmember Zine in
signing the letter to the DEA and announcing their support for medical cannabis in Los
Angeles. Finally, the Council unanimously approved a motion endorsing the
Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment in the US House, adding their considerable clout to the
call to legalize medical cannabis at the federal level.

The LA City Council's endorsement was not enough to secure a victory for patients in
Congress, but it was a shot across the bow of the DEA and the Bush Administration. The
outcome of today's Los Angeles City Council meeting was abundantly clear for everyone to
see -- Los Angeles has turned a corner on medical cannabis and the endgame is now in
sight! We are headed inexorably towards sensible guidelines and fully-sanctioned safe
access in the state's largest metropolis. Never doubt the significance of what has
happened. As goes Los Angeles, so goes the country. We are making history and changing
everything for patients all over the United States.

The DEA and the LAPD do not want us to succeed, so they have staged another sweep of
local collectives in Los Angeles. At least eight locations were raided by the DEA and
LAPD yesterday. In an obscene and cynical twist, these raids were timed to coincide with
the City Council vote to support legal medical cannabis in Congress! I spent all day
protesting the raid at CPG and cleaning up the aftermath. I want to ensure you that CPG
will continue to defend safe access and stop these unconscionable attacks on patients'
access. A handful of protesters at CPG decided to blockade the DEA and LAPD perpetrators
and secure the freedom of staff, patients, and protesters. I can not express how
impressed I was with the brave protestors who put their bodies ion the line. The
demonstration was intense, and patients faced intimidation and violence at the hands of
the LAPD. They behaved with bravery grace under pressure. I want to thank every one of
them from the bottom of my heart.

On Friday, July 27, ASA is calling on medical cannabis supporters to protest the DEA
raids at federal buildings nationwide. Please read the Take Action alert below for
details. Please bring signs, banners, and friends to the federal building and make you
voice heard. This is a crisis moment in our community, and we need to stand up in record
numbers.

Thank you again for your support. Do not be discouraged... We are winning and yesterday's
trouble is the DEA and LAPD's last desperate attempt to stop us. Let's finish this work
together and make safe access a reality in Los Angeles!

/b. Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment Defeated

/The final vote for the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment was 165 "Ayes", 262 "Noes," and 10
abstained from voting on this important amendment. The Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment to
the Commerce-Justice-State appropriations bill would have cut funding to the DEA for
federal raids against state-licensed patients and caregivers. Those opposing this
amendment focused all of their arguments on attacking a national medicinal cannabis
policy, basing claims on selected science that has been debunked by the federal Institute
of Medicine, and disrespecting the thousands of Americans who find relief from medicinal
cannabis. Opponents refused to focus on what the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment was
actually proposing.

All of the calls, e-mails, letters, and faxes had a significant impact on getting the
165 votes in favor of the amendment. Your work helped recruit 6 new medical marijuana
supporters and has opened the door to communicating with the fence sitters and newly
elected representatives about medical cannabis issues.

Thanks again to all of our supporters for your hard work! Educating your representatives
on medical cannabis issues not only helps protect patients and providers, it strengthens
our democracy. Please be sure to look for ASA's national alert with more details on the
vote.

For more information, contact Sonnet: Sonnet [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org
/
c. Claremont City Council Approves Dispensary Ordinance

/This past Tuesday, the Claremont City Council voted 3-2 in favor of lifting the
temporary ban on dispensaries and allowing a dispensary to open within the city limits.
Details on the dispensary's location in the city, the operator, and specific restrictions
will be determined in the upcoming months. This vote has paved the way for the City
Council to begin adopting dispensary regulations. Claremont City Council will present a
timeline for developing dispensary regulations at their September 11 meeting. This
decision makes Claremont one of the first cities in the Inland Valley to have dispensary
regulations. Thank you to all the activists in the Claremont area for your hard work.
Your efforts have made an important impact!

For more information, contact Sonnet: Sonnet [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org.


/d. Ukiah City Council Amends Punishment for Medical Cannabis Regulation Violators

/The Ukiah City Council voted 4-0 earlier this week to amend the city's medical marijuana
ordinance. The amendment calls for law enforcement to use a civil nuisance abatement
procedure for violators of the city's cultivation regulations. With the new amendment,
violators are visited by city inspectors and given time to fix the complaint. Prior to
this amendment, violators were charged with a misdemeanor and would have faced up to 6
months in jail. The amendment also gives the city the flexibility to eventually press
charges against continual non-compliant violators.

To read more about the City Council's decision and the timeframe for the nuisance
abatement procedure, read the Ukiah Daily Journal article
on the amendment.

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Take Action! raid icon
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*2.* *Protest DEA's Attack on Patients and Providers Statewide!*
When: Friday, July 27th
Where: Los Angeles, Buellton, Humboldt, Oakland, Lakeport, Riverside, Sacramento, San
Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara

On Wednesday, at least 8 dispensaries in Hollywood were raided by the DEA. After hundreds
of patients and advocates blockaded one of the dispensaries, California Patients' Group,
the DEA and LAPD released those who were being detained inside. ASA would like to thank
all of the patients, providers, and advocates who rushed down to CPG to show solidarity.

These raids came on the heels of the Los Angeles City Council moving towards dispensary
regulations and calling on the DEA to stop attacking patients and providers in Los
Angeles. For more information about the raids and the actions of the council, please see
ASA's press release .

ASA chapters and affiliates throughout California will be holding protests and marches in
solidarity with Los Angeles patients and providers this Friday. Please show your support
for medical cannabis and protest the DEA's contemptible actions!

Below is a list of confirmed protests and demonstrations. If you do not see one listed
for your area and you'd like to organize an action, please contact Sonnet at
Sonnet [at] SafeAccessNow.org or 510-251-1856.
*
Los Angeles ASA*
When: Friday, July 27th at 9:00am
Where: Starting at the Federal Building at 255 East Temple St. in downtown LA for the
protest and then marching to City Hall at 200 N Spring St. in downtown LA.
For more information, contact Sonnet: Sonnet [at] safeaccessnow.org
Download LA ASA's Protest Flyer and Distribute

*
Buellton ASA
*When: Friday, July 27th at 2:00pm
Where: 2nd St. and Avenue of the Flags in Buellton
For more information, contact Matt: 805-693-5790
*
**East Bay ASA in Oakland*
When: Friday, July 27th at 12:00pm
Where: Oakland Federal Building, 1301 Clay Street, Downtown Oakland
Contact: Sean at seanluse [at] hotmail.com or 510-395-5988
*
Humboldt County ASA*
When: Friday, July 27th at 5:00pm
Where: Arcata City Hall, 736 F St, Arcata
For more information, contact: HumbodltASA [at] gmail.com
*
Lake County ASA in Lakeport*
When: Friday, July 27th at 12:00pm
Where: County Courthouse at 255 North Forbes Street in Lakeport
For more information, contact Donna at:707-245-6630 or e-mail at LakeCoASA [at] msn.com
*Riverside, sponsored by **Patient Advocacy Network *
When: Friday, July 27th at 10:00am
Where: Riverside Offices of the DEA at 4470 Olivewood Ave in Riverside
For more information, call Ryan Michaels at 909-996-1197 or 951-785-0670
*
Sacramento ASA*
When: Friday, July 27th at 9:00am
Where: State Capitol Building, 1500 11th St. Sacramento
For more information, call: 916-925-8837
Download SAC ASA's Protest Flyer and Distribute

*
San Diego ASA*
When: Friday, July 27th at 12:00pm
Where: Federal Building, 880 Front Street, San Diego
For more information, contact Dion: 4cccp [at] cox.net

*San Francisco ASA*
When: Friday, July 27th at 9:00am
Where: San Francisco Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate, San Francisco
For more information, contact: aaafranco [at] yahoo.com
Download SF ASA's Protest Flyer and Distribute


*Santa Barbara ASA*
When: Friday, July 27th at 10:00am
Where: Santa Barbara Courthouse, 1100 Anacapa St # 2, Santa Barbara
For more information, contact: jenniferln [at] gmail.com; (805) 637-5365

We are calling on all medical cannabis supporters, patients, and providers to come out
and protest DEA's blatant attack on patients and providers in Los Angeles! Please bring
signs in support of medical cannabis and safe access.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Sonnet:
Sonnet [at] SafeAccessNow.org. * *
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ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings Activist Icon*
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*3. Thursday, August 2, Santa Rosa: Sonoma ASA Meeting

*Join us at the August Sonoma ASA meeting. We will be going over updates, court dates,
and urgent local organizing issues.
*
*When: Thursday, August 2 at 7:00pm
Where: Department of Public Health
625 5th St., Santa Rosa, CA*
*
For more information, contact Terri: 707-332-6556*
*
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*4. **Tuesday, August 7, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting

*There has been increasing activity in California around dispensary regulations, ID card
programs, court support needed, and overall access for patients. Come to the Sacramento
ASA meetings this month to work on important medical cannabis issues facing Sacramento.
We will also be giving updates on SAC ASA's court support for Dr. Mollie Fry and Dale
Schafer, ASA's lawsuit with the DQA, and other California issues. Come join us!

When: Tuesday, August 7th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Crusaders Hall
320 Harris Avenue, Suite H
Sacramento, CA

For more information, contact Lanette: cannacare [at] earthlink.net

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City and County Hearings City and County Hearings Icon
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*5. Wednesday, August 1, Pleasanton: Human Services Commission Meeting to Assess Need for
Medical Cannabis Access
*
The City Council has referred the question of community need for medical marijuana access
to the Human Services Commission. The commission will determine whether there is a need
for medical cannabis access at this meeting. Please come out to the Commission meeting
and show your support for medical cannabis. Download ASA talking points
on dispensary regulations, moratoriums
and bans.*

*When: August 1 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: City Council Chambers, 200 Old Bernal Avenue. in Pleansanton

For more information, contact Sonnet: Sonnet [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org
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Court Support Court Support Icon
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*6. Monday, July 30, Sacramento: Dr. Phillip Denney's Federal Motion to Dismiss Hearing*

In February 2006, Dr. Denney, a physician in practice for over 30 years, received
documents revealing that an undercover agent of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and
Firearms (ATF) visited Dr. Denney's Redding, CA office and obtained a recommendation
using false information and under false pretenses. The government was allegedly
investigating a local dispensary that was subsequently shut down. In November 2006, Dr.
Denney filed a lawsuit in federal court naming the ATF, DEA, and various local law
enforcement agencies, which alleges that his constitutional rights have been violated,
and that the actions of law enforcement have had a chilling effect on his relationships
patients. The lawsuit seeks to enjoin (prevent) law enforcement not only from
investigating Dr. Denney, but also from using him in an investigation.

When: Monday, July 30th at 10:00am
Where: Judge Lawrence Karlton in U.S. District Court 15th Floor
501 "I" Street in Sacramento

For more information, contact Sonnet at sonnet [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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*7. Monday, July 30, Fresno: Discovery Hearing for Bill Connelly*

Medical marijuana patient Bill Connelly, who operated the Seven Seas collective, was
raided on June 12, 2007, and the DEA confiscated approximate 40 mature and 40 immature
plants but did not arrest him. Later in June, the DEA returned and arrested him and at
least four others and charged them with conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

When: Monday, July 30 at 9:00am
Where: Judge Anthony Ishii Courtroom
U.S. District Court (E.D., CA), 8th Floor
2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA

For more information, contact Sonnet: sonnet [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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*8. Monday, July 30, Sacramento: State Sentencing Hearing for John Berchielli

*In Sacramento Superior Court last month, patient, caregiver, and activist, John
Berchielli, was convicted on five counts relating to his medical marijuana garden.
Berchielli was a supplier of clones to the Sacramento dispensary Alternative Specialties,
which was shut down by a multi-agency raid in July 2005 and whose owner is currently
being prosecuted in federal court. This closure, which occurred shortly before the
action against Berchielli, prevented the defendant from being able to present adequate
evidence of his caregiver status during trial. This made his grow of over 1000 marijuana
clones very difficult to defend. When interviewed after giving their verdict, jurors
reported that the lack of patient lists and testimony heavily influenced their decision.

To read a full account of the trial of John Berchielli, visit
http://www.medicalmarijuanaofamerica.com/content/category/1/56/109/

If Berchielli is sentenced heavily, it could mean that we will lose the work of a very
valuable activist. Please come to the sentencing hearing to show your support for this
asset to our community.

When: July 30 at 9:00am
Where: Dept. 47 (6th Floor) of 720 9th Street in Sacramento, California

For more information, contact Sonnet: Sonnet [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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*9. Tuesday, July 31, Sacramento: Federal Trial for Dr. Mollie Fry & Dale Schafer*

El Dorado County medical marijuana physician Mollie Fry and her husband, attorney Dale
Schafer, were arrested as a result of a September 28, 2001 raid on their clinic in Cool,
California, in which patient records were seized. After the Raich decision, on June 22,
2005, Fry and Schafer were indicted for marijuana found on the premises during the raid.
Fry is also facing a separate action by the DEA to revoke her license to practice
medicine.

When: Tuesday, July 31, Time, TBD
Where: Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr.
U.S. District Court (E.D., CA), 15th Floor
501 "I" Street in Sacramento

For more information, contact Sonnet: sonnet [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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*10. Wednesday, August 8, Modesto: State Criminal Sentencing Hearing for Jesse Kiryakoz*

Next Wednesday there will be state criminal sentencing Hearing at 8:30am before Judge
Ricardo Cordova. The Modesto Police Department raided his private patient collective
cultivation site and arrested 32-year old chronic back pain patient Jesse Kiryakoz.
Kiryakoz was convicted of cultivation and possession with intent to sell 11 oz. of
medicine and less than 100 plants. Please come out to Jesse's sentencing hearing to show
the judge that he is part of our community and we stand behind him, but please call (209)
558-6000 to confirm that the hearing is on schedule.

When: August 8th at 8:30am
Where: Judge Ricardo Cordova's courtroom
Stanislaus County Superior Court, Dept. 8, 1st Floor,
800 11th St., Modesto, CA.

Click here for a map to the Courthouse.

For more information, contact Sonnet: Sonnet [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org
*
*
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*11. Thursday, August 9 Sacramento: Federal Status conference for David Davidson
*
Medical marijuana patients David Davidson & Cynthia Blake were raided in 2003 by Tehama
County Sheriffs and were arrested on federal charges in January 2004. Davidson is now
facing manufacturing and conspiracy to manufacture more than 1,000 plants and is
currently incarcerated in Sacramento.

When: Thursday, August 9th at 9am before Judge Morrison England, Jr.
U.S. District Court (E.D., CA), 15th Floor
501 "I" Street in Sacramento.

Please come out and show your support!
For more information, contact Sonnet: Sonnet [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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Special Events Special Events Icon
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*12. Tuesday, July 31, San Francisco: Virginia Resner's Memorial Service*
From Mikki Norris

A memorial service for our dear friend and colleague, Virginia Resner (who passed away
earlier this week), will be held on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 1:00 PM at Temple Emanu-El,
Martin Meyer Sanctuary, at 2 Lake Street (located on the corner of Lake and Arguello
Streets), San Francisco, CA 94118.

Her family requests that donations in Virginia Resner's name to be made to Coming Home
Hospice, Green Aid: Medical Marijuana Education and Legal Defense Fund, Inc., and to
programs at Temple Emanu-El.

A second gathering to celebrate Virginia's life is being planned for Sunday, September
30, 2007. Details to come.

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*13. Saturday, August 11, Fresno: Safe Access Now and Hemp Shack to Host Fresno
Organizing Meeting*

On Saturday, August 11, Safe Access Now and the Hemp Shack will be hosting a meeting to
help local medical cannabis patients effectively advocate their local government.

Fresno County is not working to implement state law by implementing California's medical
marijuana ID card program and, due to a lack of medical cannabis dispensaries in the
area, many local patients are forced into the black market to obtain their medicine.
Please attend this important meeting to learn how you can help turn Fresno County around
and protect local patients from arrest.

When: Saturday, August 11, 4:00-6:00 PM
Where: Round Table Pizza (private meeting room)
5040 N. West Avenue (@ Shaw)
Fresno, CA
93711-2901

Map: http://tinyurl.com/yohf85

Pizza and soft drinks will be provided. For more information, contact Aaron Smith at Safe
Access Now: (707) 575-9870 or safeaccessnow [at] gmail.com
--

Sonnet Seeborg Gabbard
Field Coordinator
Americans for Safe Access
AmericansForSafeAccess.org

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national member-based organization of
patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and
legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.

Join us today... AmericansforSafeAccess.org

Headquarters
1322 Webster St Suite 402
Oakland, CA 94612
P: 510-251-1856 ext. 321 F: 510-251-2036