ASA CA Weekly Alert, Corrected Date: 8-31-07

ASA California Weekly Alert August 31, 2007*
*

**

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*Make Sure We Stay On Top of It: *If you wish to have a medical
cannabis event, meeting, federal trial, and/or city or county hearing
listed in the ASA CA Weekly Alert, please send information to
Sonnet [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org no later than Thursdays by 3:00pm. *
*

*Weekly Round-Up
**1. * a. DEA Attacks Safe Access in San Mateo
b. Dozens of Activists Drop-in Calling for Research!
c. Patient Files Summons and Complaints Against Riverside Law
Enforcement and Federal Agents
d. Merced to Fight Patient's Victory

*Take Action
*2. Write a Letter to the Editor Urging Your City Council to Fight
Federal Raids

*ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings**
*3. Tuesday, September 4, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting
4. Thursday, September 6, Santa Rosa: Sonoma County ASA Meeting
5. Sunday, September 9, Birds Landing: Solano Patients' Group Meeting
6. Saturday, September 8, Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara ASA Meeting
7. Tuesday September 11, San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting
8. Tuesday September 11, San Diego: San Diego ASA Meeting
9. Thursday, September 13, Lakeport: Lake County ASA Meeting

***City and County Hearings
*
11. Tuesday, September 11, Huntington Beach: City Planning Commission to
Discuss Dispensary Ban

*Court Support*
11. Thursday, September 6, Indio: Preliminary Hearing for Gary Silva
12. Monday, September 10, Sacramento: ***Rescheduled Federal
Resentencing Hearing for Bryan Epis***

*Special Events
*13. Saturday, September 8, Arroyo Grande: Yard Sale to Support Charles
C. Lynch

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Weekly Round-Up california


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*1. a. DEA Attacks Safe Access in San Mateo
b. Dozens of Activists Drop-in Calling for Research!
c. Patient Files Summons and Complaints Against Riverside Law
Enforcement and Federal Agents
d. Merced to Fight Patient's Victory*
*
*/a. //DEA Attacks Safe Access in San Mateo/*
*
This Wednesday, DEA agents raided three medical cannabis dispensaries in
San Mateo. Patients Choice Resource Cooperative, Peninsula Patients
Local Option, and MHT, were all raided. The remaining dispensary in
San Mateo, Holistic Solutions, voluntarily closed the day of the
raids.This attack on patients and providers was instigated by the city
district attorney's office. Read the Report on the Raids Published in
the Oakland Tribune Yesterday.


The District Attorney's office reported the dispensaries to the DEA
after one of the dispensaries legally contested a "cease and desist"
order. Rather than going to the state court, which recognizes medical
cannabis collectives, the DA chose, instead, to turn it over to the
federal government, which resulted in the raids. Deputy District
Attorney went so far as to justify his actions in an interview with the
Oakland Tribune, saying, "We could have sat here and spent a great deal
of taxpayer money in San Mateo County, prosecuting and going through the appeals, or we could bring the case
to the attention of the federal government..." Read the full story in
the Oakland Tribune on the District Attorney's Actions against patients
.


*
*In response to this blatant attack on safe access and states' rights in
San Mateo, patients, organizers, providers, and concerned citizens are
calling on San Mateo City Council to pass a non-compliance resolution.
Medical cannabis supporters will be attending the City Council Hearing
this Tuesday urging the City Council to take a stand for patients and
protect them from future attacks by the DEA. Please read the City and
County Hearings section for more details on the meeting.

Medical cannabis supporters are also calling on all San Mateo residents
to write letters to the City Council calling for a non-cooperation
resolution. Below is a contact list for the San Mateo Mayor, Deputy
Mayor, and City Council. Please take a minute to write your City Council
member to ask patient and provider protection.

Mailing Address for all Council Members:
330 West 20th Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94403

Mayor, Jack Matthews
Phone: (650) 522-7048
Fax: (650) 522-7041
Email: jmatthews [at] cityofsanmateo.org

Deputy Mayor, Carole Groom
Phone: (650) 522-7049
Fax: (650) 522-7041
Email: cgroom [at] cityofsanmateo.org

Council Members:

Jan Epstein
Phone: (650) 522-7049
Fax: (650) 522-7041
Email: jepstein [at] cityofsanmateo.org

Brandt Grotte
Phone: (650) 522-7049
Fax: (650) 522-7041
Email: bgrotte [at] cityofsanmateo.org

John Lee
Phone: (650) 522-7049
Fax: (650) 522-7041
Email: jlee [at] cityofsanmateo.org

For more information, contact Sonnet: Sonnet [at] AmericansforsafeAccess.org.
/
//b. Dozens of Activists Drop-in Calling for Research!
/
This Wednesday, dozens of activists throughout California and the U.S.
dropped by their Member of Congress' district office urging them to
co-sign a letter to DEA Administrator, Karen Tandy. The letter calls on
Administrator Tandy to follow the recommendation of Administrative Law
Judge Mary Ellen Bittner and grant a license to Prof. Lyle Craker of
UMass Amherst to grow marijuana exclusively for federally-approved
research. Activists throughout California, from Humboldt County all the
way down to San Diego, and all over the U.S. took time out of their busy
day to strengthen democracy and take action for medical cannabis
research. ASA would like to thank the chapter and affiliate organizers
for creating this day of action and all of those who took action on
Wednesday. Great work!

If you have not yet taken action for medical cannabis research, visit:
http://www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/Sign-onLetter, for more background on the
campaign and to take action today!
/
/
/b. Patient Files Summons and Complaints Against Riverside Law
Enforcement and Federal Agents/*
*/From Ryan Michaels of Inland Empire Patient Advocates/*

*"I am proud to announce that today the County of Riverside Board of
Supervisors, Riverside County Sheriff's Department, and a number of
members of the DEA were served with summons and complaints regarding the
personal injury of Garry Silva, the Sky Valley resident and qualified
medicinal cannabis patient who was raided March 14, 2006 by the DEA
regarding his cultivation of his medicinal cannabis.

This is an amazing step towards holding these individuals accountable
for their actions.

Garry was injured severely in the raid, his shoulder was broken and
dislocated and his original spinal damage was greatly exacerbated. I
took little pleasure in personally delivering these summons. These
individuals make a habit and lifestlye out of intimidating through force
anyone brave enough to do something they personally disagree with.

I met with Frank Pepper, the lead officer in the investigation, and a
member of the local branch of the Drug Enforcement Administration. I
only hope that this effort to hold these individuals accountable will
demonstrate a greater need at every level for the attention to the
patients involved in this movement. It needs to be brought to public
attention that the DEA makes no judgment between raiding a dispensary
and raiding a 53-year-old spinal stenosis patient.

Please be sure to stay on top of Garry Silva's case, as you may or may
not know he is also facing state charges for cultivation, although the
DEA ultimately headed the investigation it is the state who picked up
the evidence and decided to file charges against a qualified patient and
caregiver acting in accordance with State Medicinal Cannabis laws."

Please view the Court Support section for information on Gary Silva's
hearing. For more information on Gary Silva's hearing, contact Lanny:
(760) 799-2055.


/d./ /Merced to Fight Patient's Victory

/Two weeks ago, ASA reported a story about a Merced medical cannabis
patient's victory in his return of property case against the city. The
city was ordered by Judge Armando Rodriguez to pay Sam Matthews
$1,700.00 for pain and suffering stemming from an October 2006 incident
when he was cited by Merced police for possessing $300 in marijuana.

The city of Merced filed an appeal this week against the decision. Read
more about the appeal in the Merced Sun article
.

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Take Action raid

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*2. Write a Letter to the Editor Urging Your City Council to Fight
Federal Raids

*With the recent DEA raids in San Mateo and Southern California, it is
time to bring these attacks to light in your community! Write a letter
to the editor in your local paper calling on City Councils to take
measures to protect patients.

Write a letter mentioning the following points:

* In the past month, the DEA has raided over 15 medical cannabis
dispensaries throughout California, leaving hundreds of sick
patients without medicine.
* Patients need to be protected by their elected officials.
* City Councils throughout the state of California need to pass a
non-compliance resolution, stating they will not take actions to
aid the federal government in raiding patients and providers.

Visit ASA's tips on writing a letter to the editor
for a how-to guide
along with contact information for your local news source.

For more questions about writing a letter to the editor, contact Sonnet:
Sonnet [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org.

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ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings activist

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***3. Tuesday, September 4, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting

*Thank you to those who have come out to show your court support over
the past several weeks. Please join us at our Sacramento ASA meeting to
discuss pressing national, state, and local issues. There are some very
exciting medical marijuana events coming up, so we need as many members
as possible to make it out to the next meeting.

When: Tuesday, September 4th 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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*4. **Thursday, September 6, Santa Rosa: Sonoma County ASA Meeting
*
Join us at the Sonoma County September ASA meeting. We will be
discussing the recent DEA attacks on California, upcoming court dates,
and going over other local updates. Please be sure to attend the meeting
as it is the only scheduled September meeting. We hope to see you there!*

*When: Thursday, September 6th, at 5:00-7:00pm
Where: South City View Room
Department of Public Health
625 5th St., Santa Rosa, CA (Between Humboldt and
Mendocino)*
*
For more information, contact Terri: (707) 332-6556.

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*5. Saturday, September 8, Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara ASA Meeting*

Safe access is under attack! Please come to the Santa Barbara ASA
chapter meeting to discuss California's response, local issues, and hear
a report on national issues.

When: 3pm-5pm
Where: Antioch University
801 Garden St. Room #203 Santa Barbara

For more information, contact Jennifer: (805) 637-5365

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*6. Sunday, September 9, Birds Landing: Solano Patients' Group Meeting
***
Join Solano Patients' Group next Sunday to discuss the recent attacks on
safe access in California and other pressing local issues.

When: September 9th at 3:00 pm
Where: 2145 Collinsville Road in Birds Landing

For more information, contact: (707) 635-3752

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*7. Tuesday, September 11, San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting
*Join SF ASA to discuss and plan for local, state and national issues.
Get active locally to protect safe access!

When: Tuesday, September 11 at 7:30pm
Where: Bowzer's Pizza, 371 11th St in San Francisco

For more information, contact Alex: aaafranco [at] yahoo.com.


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*8. Tuesday, September 11, San Diego: San Diego ASA Meeting*
Our San Diego chapter of ASA has been busy lately and needs you to get
involved. It is time to get involved and protect safe access!

When: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Twiggs Coffee House in the Green Room
4590 Park Blvd, San Diego

For more information, contact: sdasa420 [at] yahoo.com.


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*9. Thursday, September 13, Lakeport: Lake County ASA Meeting*

Lakeport and Lake County Medical Cannabis Patients and Caregivers are
gathering to discuss their most recent protests, letters to the editor,
and other exciting activism. Please join us!

When: September 13th at 6:00pm
Where: Clover Hydrophonics, 2626 South Main St. Lakeport

For more information, contact Donna: lakecoasa [at] msn.com

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City and County Hearings City Council Hearings

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*10. **Tuesday, September 4, San Mateo: Join Medical Cannabis Patients
and Providers Testify During the City Council Meeting

*Join San Mateo patients and providers as they call on the San Mateo
City Council to protect patients and pass a non-cooperation resolution.
San Mateo medical cannabis supporters will be testifying during public
comment to call on the City Council to stand up for patients' protections.

When: Tuesday, September 4, meet at 6:30pm
Where: Meet Outside of City Hall on 20th St.
330 W 20th Ave
San Mateo, CA

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

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***11. Tuesday, September 11, Huntington Beach: City Planning Commission
to Discuss Dispensary Ban*
*
*Please come out and show your support for safe access in Huntington
Beach. On September 11, the Huntington Beach City Planning Commission
will be discussing a resolution, which will ban dispensaries in the
city. The Huntington Beach City Planning Commission needs to know about
the importance of safe access. Please attend the hearing.

Download ASA talking points
on dispensary
regulations, moratoriums and bans.

When: Tuesday, September 11th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: City Council Chambers
City Hall, 2000 Main St
Huntington Beach, CA 92648

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

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Court Support patients rights

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*12. Thursday, September 6, Indio: Preliminary Hearing for Gary Silva

*This is a preliminary hearing for Gary Silva. Silva's lawyers are
expected to move for complete dismissal of all criminal charges.

When: Thursday, September 6 at 8:30am
Where: Larson Justice Center
46200 Oasis St. Indio, CA

For more information, contact Lanny: (760) 799-2055

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*13. Monday, September 10, Sacramento: ***Rescheduled Federal
Resentencing Hearing for Bryan Epis***

*_Please note the date change for Bryan Epis' resentencing hearing from
Friday, August 24th, to Monday, September 10th. _

Bryan Epis was the first medical marijuana patient convicted in federal
court after the passage of California's Proposition 215. Epis was
arrested June 25, 1997, after Butte County sheriff's officers discovered
marijuana plants growing in the basement of his home in Chico. Epis was
released on bail August 9, 2004, pending his appeal, and is currently
awaiting his re-sentencing by the District Court. See Vanessa Nelson's
article
for more info.
When: Monday, September 10th at 10:00am
Where: Courtroom of Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr.
U.S. District Court (E.D., CA), 15th Floor
501 "I" Street, Sacramento, CA

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


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Special Events activist

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*14. Saturday, September 8, Arroyo Grande: Yard Sale to Support Charles
C. Lynch*
/From Gina Armstrong/

We are now pleased to announce our first event to support and raise
funds for Charles C. Lynch. We will be having a yard sale on Saturday,
September 8th in Arroyo Grande, California. We encourage you to bring
out your unwanted items or we can pick up any donations you may want to
contribute. We will be having it at 589 Rosemary Lane in Arroyo
Grande. All the proceeds will go to the defense fund for Charles to
help him fight this battle. If you need directions or want to be
involved please feel free to contact me anytime. The Friends of Charles
C. Lynch would like to thank everyone for all of there continued help
and encouragement.

For more information, contact Gina: ginamariearmstrong [at] yahoo.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