Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
ASA CA Weekly Alert 1-11-08
lots, including opportunities to take action
ASA California Weekly Alert: January 11, 2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*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. California State Senator Carole Migden Takes a Stand for Safe Access
b. San Luis Obispo County to Open First Dispensing Collective
c. Mendocino Supervisors Vote to Limit Patients' Access and Revisit Measure G
d. El Dorado County Denies Dispensing Collective Permit
Take Action
2. Call Senators Feinstein and Boxer Today! Urge them to Support Medical
Cannabis Research
Chapter and Affiliate Meetings
3. Saturday, January 12, Willits: Mendocino County ASA Meeting
4. Monday, January 14, Fresno: Fresno ASA Meeting
5. Tuesday, January 15, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting
6. Thursday, January 17, Arcata: Humboldt County ASA Meeting
7. Saturday, January 19, Los Angeles: LA ASA Meeting
8. Tuesday, January 22, San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting
9. Wednesday, January 23, Oakland: East Bay ASA Meeting
Special Events
11. Save the Date: April 4-5, 2008: Patients Out of Time Fifth National Conference
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weekly Round Up
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. a. California State Senator Carole Migden Takes a Stand for Safe Access
b. San Luis Obispo County to Open First Dispensing Collective
c. Mendocino Supervisors Vote to Limit Patients' Access and Revisit
Measure G
d. El Dorado County Denies Dispensing Collective Permit
a. California State Senator Carole Migden Takes a Stand for Safe
Access
This week, State Senator Carole Migden introduced a resolution in the
California Senate calling on the federal government to end its attacks on
patients and providers in California and end the DEA raids. This is a huge
victory for patients, providers, supporters, and activists in the medical
marijuana movement. Senator Migden's statement comes as a response to the DEA's
recent escalation of tactics against medical cannabis providers by targeting
innocent third-party landlords, threatening to prosecute them and seize their
property for renting to collectives.
The resolution introduced yesterday makes a clear and strong statement about the
DEA's actions in California, saying:
"Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of California, jointly,
That the Legislature respectfully memorializes the Congress and President of the
United States to enact legislation to require the Drug Enforcement Agency and
all other federal agencies and departments to respect the compassionate use laws
of states, including returning any assets seized from medical marijuana
dispensaries and collectives to the states in which they are located…"/
Senator Migden's actions follow several recent statements from other California
elected officials. Senator Migden joins Los Angeles City Council Member Dennis
Zine ,
Orange County Supervisor Chris Norby, Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums
,
and others in opposing the DEA actions. ASA and an ad-hoc coalition of reform
organizations and activists have been reaching out to elected officials, calling
on them to stand up for patients and providers.
While Senator Migden's resolution is a significant win for the medical cannabis
community, we must continue to urge our elected officials to stand up for
patients and providers and call for an end to DEA raids in California.
To better protect the rights and interests of landlords, ASA has created a set
of answers to Frequently Asked Questions, which can be downloaded here
.
To find out how you can get involved in the campaign to end DEA raids in
California, contact Sonnet [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org
or your local California ASA chapter
and/or affiliate. Chapter and contact information for your local ASA chapter can
be found at: http://www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/CaliforniaContacts
b. San Luis Obispo County Approves the Opening of the First
Dispensing Collective
This week, the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission voted to approve the
permit for a dispensing collective in Templeton. This approval comes after 6
months of debate. With a narrow 3-2 victory, the collective will be the first
dispensary in San Luis Obispo County. This is a great victory for the hundreds
of patients living in the region who have so far been denied safe access. With
the permit approval, the dispensing collective can open in 30 days, pending no
appeal from the opposition.
Read more about the new collective on KSBY
and SanLuisObispo.com
c. Mendocino Supervisors Vote to Limit Patients' Access and Revisit
Measure G
This week, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors voted to restrict
patients' cultivation limits to only 25 plants per land parcel. This decision
means patient cultivation collectives and gardens are limited to only 25 plants,
regardless of the number of registered medical cannabis patients living on or
co-owning the parcel of land. This decision has the potential to unduly limit
the number of plants patients have the right to cultivate dictated by California
state law.
Following the vote, the board of supervisors also voted to revisit the 2000
initiative Measure G. The measure decriminalized personal use of cannabis, with
the intent to create safer access for medical cannabis patients. Measure G also
allowed patients to cultivate up to 25 plants for personal use.
The board's decision to put an initiative up for voters to revisit Measure G
this June could have a significant impact on patients’ access. If Mendocino
voters vote in favor of an initiative which opposes Measure G, this could be a
blow to patients' rights by limiting patients' cultivation. Activists in
Mendocino County, including Mendocino ASA are springing in to action as a result
of the Board of Supervisors’ recent votes.
To find out what you can do in Mendocino County, contact MendoBruce [at] yahoo.com
/
/Read more about the Board of Supervisors' votes in the Ukiah Daily Journal
.
d. El Dorado County Denies Dispensing Collective Permit
El Dorado County Board of Supervisors voted to not renew the business permit for
the medical cannabis collective, Medical Marijuana Caregivers Association of El
Dorado County. The board's decision will have a grave impact on safe access for
patients in El Dorado County. The collective, located in Cameron Park, applied
for a business license and in 2004. Following license approval by the county,
the collective opened its doors to patients in 2005. The decision to deny the
license and shut down access for patients cited the disharmony of the federal
and state medical marijuana laws.
In response to the Board's decision, the collective's operator, Matt Vaughn, has
decided to sue the county for violating California state law and the
Compassionate Use Act. ASA will keep you updated on the lawsuit and access in
El Dorado County as news comes in.
To read more about El Dorado County and the Medical Marijuana Caregivers
Association of El Dorado County, go to: http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/622253.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Take Action
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Call Senators Feinstein and Boxer Today! Urge them to Support Medical
Cannabis Research*
The federal government has created a gridlock by refusing to allow scientists to
conduct medical research using non-governmental cannabis. But the FDA and DEA
also claim there is not enough research on the medicinal value of marijuana.
This hypocrisy and gridlock must end now! Congress must force the DEA to end the
gridlock and allow scientists to conduct the necessary research on medical
cannabis.
What you can do: Call Senators Boxer and Feinstein today! Ask for their
co-signatures on the Kennedy/Kerry letter to Acting DEA Administrator Michele
Leonhart
SAMPLE PHONE SCRIPT
"Hello, my name is (YOUR NAME) and I live in (YOUR CITY and STATE). I am
calling today to ask Senator (YOUR SENATOR'S LAST NAME) to help end the gridlock
on medical marijuana research by co-signing the Kennedy/Kerry letter to Acting
DEA Administrator, Michele Leonhart. The letter urges her agency 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. To join the letter, contact Graham Shalgian in
Senator Kennedy's office at 617 565-3170. Please let me know what you plan on
doing. Thank you."/
Don't forget to leave your name and number!
Senator Barbara Boxer- (D - CA)
Phone: (202) 224-3553
Address:112 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
Web Contact: boxer.senate.gov/contact
Website:
Senator Dianne Feinstein- (D - CA)
Phone: (202) 224-3841
Address: 331 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
Website:
Visit AmericansforSafeAccess.org/ResearchCampaign for background on the campaign
and AmericansforSafeAccess.org/SenateResearchLetter for more ways to take action
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter and Affiliate Meetings
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Saturday, January 12, Willits: Mendocino County ASA Meeting
*There will be a meeting of the Mendocino Chapter of ASA on January 12th, 2007
at the Willits Ping Pong Club.
The meeting will begin at 2pm and we will discuss our plan for 2008. The
Willits Ping Pong Club is located at 475 E. Valley St. in Willits. Please come
and join us, everyone is welcome!
For more information, contact Suzee at: suzeking111 [at] yahoo.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Monday, January 14, Fresno: Fresno ASA Meeting
Our next meeting will be on Monday Jan the 14th at 6:00PM at the Fig Memorial
Library, Bullard Ave & Marks Ave in the shopping center.
We will be discussing the Mardi Gras Parade coming up in February, the recent
Board of Supervisors' meeting, and upcoming plans for safe access.
For more information about the upcoming meeting, contact
Sonnet [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Tuesday, January 15, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting
Join Sacramento ASA as we prepare for 2008 campaigns including, coalition
outreach, ID card program, and national campaigns.
When: Tuesday at 7:00pm
Where: Crusaders Hall
320 Harris Ave. Suite H in Sacramento
For more information, contact Lanette: cannacare [at] earthlink.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Thursday, January 17, Arcata: Humboldt County ASA Meeting
Join Humboldt County ASA as we begin planning for 2008. All medical marijuana
supporters are encouraged to join.
6:00pm @ Bayview Courtyard Complex at 550 Union St. in Arcata
For more info, contact: HumboldtASA [at] gmail.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Saturday, January 19, **Los Angeles**: LA ASA Meeting
Please join us for the first LA ASA meeting of the year. We will be talking
about the ongoing federal raids and intimidation, our emergency response, and
how the campaign to get elected officials on our side is going. This will also
be a strategic planning time for our local campaign, so make plans to attend.
What: LA-ASA Meeting
When: 1 PM * Saturday, January 19, 2008
Where: Patient ID Center, 470 S. San Vicente Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90048-4107
(Cross Street is Drexel, between Wilshire & 3rd St.)
For a map and public transit information – http://www.ASAaction.org
Go ahead and renew your ASA membership today...
http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/Join
For more information, contact Don [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Tuesday, January 22, **San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting
Join us for our San Francisco ASA meeting. We will be discussing medical
marijuana week along with several other activities.
When: Tuesday, January 22nd at 7:30pm
Where: Bowzer's Pizza, 371 11th St in San Francisco
For more info, contact Alex: aaafranco [at] yahoo.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Wednesday, January 23, Oakland: East Bay ASA Meeting
The 22nd marks the first East Bay meeting of the year! We will be following up
on our 2008 goals. Please attend this meeting as we will be prioritizing our
campaigns for 2008.
When: Wednesday, the 23rd at 7:00 pm
Where: ASA Headquarters Office
1322 Webster Street, Suite 402, Downtown Oakland
(Just 2 blocks from 12th St. Bart!)
For more information, contact Rebecca: 510-251-1856 x. 308
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Event
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Save the Date: **April 4-5, 2008**: Patients Out of Time Fifth National
Conference
Save the date for the Fifth National Patients Out of Time conference for April
4th and 5th. For more information visit http://www.MedicalCannabis.com
When: April 4-5, 2008
Where: The Alsimor Conference Center in Pacific Grove, CA
To Register for the conference go to:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*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. California State Senator Carole Migden Takes a Stand for Safe Access
b. San Luis Obispo County to Open First Dispensing Collective
c. Mendocino Supervisors Vote to Limit Patients' Access and Revisit Measure G
d. El Dorado County Denies Dispensing Collective Permit
Take Action
2. Call Senators Feinstein and Boxer Today! Urge them to Support Medical
Cannabis Research
Chapter and Affiliate Meetings
3. Saturday, January 12, Willits: Mendocino County ASA Meeting
4. Monday, January 14, Fresno: Fresno ASA Meeting
5. Tuesday, January 15, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting
6. Thursday, January 17, Arcata: Humboldt County ASA Meeting
7. Saturday, January 19, Los Angeles: LA ASA Meeting
8. Tuesday, January 22, San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting
9. Wednesday, January 23, Oakland: East Bay ASA Meeting
Special Events
11. Save the Date: April 4-5, 2008: Patients Out of Time Fifth National Conference
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weekly Round Up
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. a. California State Senator Carole Migden Takes a Stand for Safe Access
b. San Luis Obispo County to Open First Dispensing Collective
c. Mendocino Supervisors Vote to Limit Patients' Access and Revisit
Measure G
d. El Dorado County Denies Dispensing Collective Permit
a. California State Senator Carole Migden Takes a Stand for Safe
Access
This week, State Senator Carole Migden introduced a resolution in the
California Senate calling on the federal government to end its attacks on
patients and providers in California and end the DEA raids. This is a huge
victory for patients, providers, supporters, and activists in the medical
marijuana movement. Senator Migden's statement comes as a response to the DEA's
recent escalation of tactics against medical cannabis providers by targeting
innocent third-party landlords, threatening to prosecute them and seize their
property for renting to collectives.
The resolution introduced yesterday makes a clear and strong statement about the
DEA's actions in California, saying:
"Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of California, jointly,
That the Legislature respectfully memorializes the Congress and President of the
United States to enact legislation to require the Drug Enforcement Agency and
all other federal agencies and departments to respect the compassionate use laws
of states, including returning any assets seized from medical marijuana
dispensaries and collectives to the states in which they are located…"/
Senator Migden's actions follow several recent statements from other California
elected officials. Senator Migden joins Los Angeles City Council Member Dennis
Zine ,
Orange County Supervisor Chris Norby, Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums
,
and others in opposing the DEA actions. ASA and an ad-hoc coalition of reform
organizations and activists have been reaching out to elected officials, calling
on them to stand up for patients and providers.
While Senator Migden's resolution is a significant win for the medical cannabis
community, we must continue to urge our elected officials to stand up for
patients and providers and call for an end to DEA raids in California.
To better protect the rights and interests of landlords, ASA has created a set
of answers to Frequently Asked Questions, which can be downloaded here
.
To find out how you can get involved in the campaign to end DEA raids in
California, contact Sonnet [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org
or your local California ASA chapter
and/or affiliate. Chapter and contact information for your local ASA chapter can
be found at: http://www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/CaliforniaContacts
b. San Luis Obispo County Approves the Opening of the First
Dispensing Collective
This week, the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission voted to approve the
permit for a dispensing collective in Templeton. This approval comes after 6
months of debate. With a narrow 3-2 victory, the collective will be the first
dispensary in San Luis Obispo County. This is a great victory for the hundreds
of patients living in the region who have so far been denied safe access. With
the permit approval, the dispensing collective can open in 30 days, pending no
appeal from the opposition.
Read more about the new collective on KSBY
and SanLuisObispo.com
c. Mendocino Supervisors Vote to Limit Patients' Access and Revisit
Measure G
This week, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors voted to restrict
patients' cultivation limits to only 25 plants per land parcel. This decision
means patient cultivation collectives and gardens are limited to only 25 plants,
regardless of the number of registered medical cannabis patients living on or
co-owning the parcel of land. This decision has the potential to unduly limit
the number of plants patients have the right to cultivate dictated by California
state law.
Following the vote, the board of supervisors also voted to revisit the 2000
initiative Measure G. The measure decriminalized personal use of cannabis, with
the intent to create safer access for medical cannabis patients. Measure G also
allowed patients to cultivate up to 25 plants for personal use.
The board's decision to put an initiative up for voters to revisit Measure G
this June could have a significant impact on patients’ access. If Mendocino
voters vote in favor of an initiative which opposes Measure G, this could be a
blow to patients' rights by limiting patients' cultivation. Activists in
Mendocino County, including Mendocino ASA are springing in to action as a result
of the Board of Supervisors’ recent votes.
To find out what you can do in Mendocino County, contact MendoBruce [at] yahoo.com
/
/Read more about the Board of Supervisors' votes in the Ukiah Daily Journal
.
d. El Dorado County Denies Dispensing Collective Permit
El Dorado County Board of Supervisors voted to not renew the business permit for
the medical cannabis collective, Medical Marijuana Caregivers Association of El
Dorado County. The board's decision will have a grave impact on safe access for
patients in El Dorado County. The collective, located in Cameron Park, applied
for a business license and in 2004. Following license approval by the county,
the collective opened its doors to patients in 2005. The decision to deny the
license and shut down access for patients cited the disharmony of the federal
and state medical marijuana laws.
In response to the Board's decision, the collective's operator, Matt Vaughn, has
decided to sue the county for violating California state law and the
Compassionate Use Act. ASA will keep you updated on the lawsuit and access in
El Dorado County as news comes in.
To read more about El Dorado County and the Medical Marijuana Caregivers
Association of El Dorado County, go to: http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/622253.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Take Action
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Call Senators Feinstein and Boxer Today! Urge them to Support Medical
Cannabis Research*
The federal government has created a gridlock by refusing to allow scientists to
conduct medical research using non-governmental cannabis. But the FDA and DEA
also claim there is not enough research on the medicinal value of marijuana.
This hypocrisy and gridlock must end now! Congress must force the DEA to end the
gridlock and allow scientists to conduct the necessary research on medical
cannabis.
What you can do: Call Senators Boxer and Feinstein today! Ask for their
co-signatures on the Kennedy/Kerry letter to Acting DEA Administrator Michele
Leonhart
SAMPLE PHONE SCRIPT
"Hello, my name is (YOUR NAME) and I live in (YOUR CITY and STATE). I am
calling today to ask Senator (YOUR SENATOR'S LAST NAME) to help end the gridlock
on medical marijuana research by co-signing the Kennedy/Kerry letter to Acting
DEA Administrator, Michele Leonhart. The letter urges her agency 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. To join the letter, contact Graham Shalgian in
Senator Kennedy's office at 617 565-3170. Please let me know what you plan on
doing. Thank you."/
Don't forget to leave your name and number!
Senator Barbara Boxer- (D - CA)
Phone: (202) 224-3553
Address:112 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
Web Contact: boxer.senate.gov/contact
Website:
Senator Dianne Feinstein- (D - CA)
Phone: (202) 224-3841
Address: 331 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
Website:
Visit AmericansforSafeAccess.org/ResearchCampaign for background on the campaign
and AmericansforSafeAccess.org/SenateResearchLetter for more ways to take action
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter and Affiliate Meetings
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Saturday, January 12, Willits: Mendocino County ASA Meeting
*There will be a meeting of the Mendocino Chapter of ASA on January 12th, 2007
at the Willits Ping Pong Club.
The meeting will begin at 2pm and we will discuss our plan for 2008. The
Willits Ping Pong Club is located at 475 E. Valley St. in Willits. Please come
and join us, everyone is welcome!
For more information, contact Suzee at: suzeking111 [at] yahoo.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Monday, January 14, Fresno: Fresno ASA Meeting
Our next meeting will be on Monday Jan the 14th at 6:00PM at the Fig Memorial
Library, Bullard Ave & Marks Ave in the shopping center.
We will be discussing the Mardi Gras Parade coming up in February, the recent
Board of Supervisors' meeting, and upcoming plans for safe access.
For more information about the upcoming meeting, contact
Sonnet [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Tuesday, January 15, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting
Join Sacramento ASA as we prepare for 2008 campaigns including, coalition
outreach, ID card program, and national campaigns.
When: Tuesday at 7:00pm
Where: Crusaders Hall
320 Harris Ave. Suite H in Sacramento
For more information, contact Lanette: cannacare [at] earthlink.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Thursday, January 17, Arcata: Humboldt County ASA Meeting
Join Humboldt County ASA as we begin planning for 2008. All medical marijuana
supporters are encouraged to join.
6:00pm @ Bayview Courtyard Complex at 550 Union St. in Arcata
For more info, contact: HumboldtASA [at] gmail.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Saturday, January 19, **Los Angeles**: LA ASA Meeting
Please join us for the first LA ASA meeting of the year. We will be talking
about the ongoing federal raids and intimidation, our emergency response, and
how the campaign to get elected officials on our side is going. This will also
be a strategic planning time for our local campaign, so make plans to attend.
What: LA-ASA Meeting
When: 1 PM * Saturday, January 19, 2008
Where: Patient ID Center, 470 S. San Vicente Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90048-4107
(Cross Street is Drexel, between Wilshire & 3rd St.)
For a map and public transit information – http://www.ASAaction.org
Go ahead and renew your ASA membership today...
http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/Join
For more information, contact Don [at] AmericansforSafeAccess.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Tuesday, January 22, **San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting
Join us for our San Francisco ASA meeting. We will be discussing medical
marijuana week along with several other activities.
When: Tuesday, January 22nd at 7:30pm
Where: Bowzer's Pizza, 371 11th St in San Francisco
For more info, contact Alex: aaafranco [at] yahoo.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Wednesday, January 23, Oakland: East Bay ASA Meeting
The 22nd marks the first East Bay meeting of the year! We will be following up
on our 2008 goals. Please attend this meeting as we will be prioritizing our
campaigns for 2008.
When: Wednesday, the 23rd at 7:00 pm
Where: ASA Headquarters Office
1322 Webster Street, Suite 402, Downtown Oakland
(Just 2 blocks from 12th St. Bart!)
For more information, contact Rebecca: 510-251-1856 x. 308
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Event
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Save the Date: **April 4-5, 2008**: Patients Out of Time Fifth National
Conference
Save the date for the Fifth National Patients Out of Time conference for April
4th and 5th. For more information visit http://www.MedicalCannabis.com
When: April 4-5, 2008
Where: The Alsimor Conference Center in Pacific Grove, CA
To Register for the conference go to:
Add Your Comments
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$210.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network