[ASA Field]

ASA Scores Victory for Patients' Rights
Donate today to protect medical marijuana patients rights' to work!

Dear ASA Supporter,

Yesterday, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) scored a victory for patients’
rights, as the California Assembly Judiciary Committee approved our medical
marijuana employment rights bill. AB 2279, authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno
and sponsored by ASA, would protect the rights of hundreds of thousands of
medical marijuana patients in California from employment discrimination.

This fight is not over – please donate today to end patient discrimination
and protect patients’ jobs!

ASA began working with Assemblyman Leno last year to write this legislation in
case of an adverse ruling from the California Supreme Court in Ross v.
Ragingwire Telecommunications. It is a good thing that we were ready, because
in February, the court ruled that Proposition 215 did not provide protection
from employment discrimination – leaving hundreds of thousands of legal
patients in jeopardy. In a show of support for working patients, Assemblymember
Leno introduced AB 2279 on the same day the court ruled.

Approval from the Committee on Judiciary was our first big legislative test.
ASA staff helped recruit important endorsements, including the Service
Employees International Union (SEIU), the American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the National Lawyers Guild, and several
HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations. ASA staff also visited every member of the
committee to be sure they understood the bill and to encourage their support.
Then, we briefed and trained Supreme Court plaintiff Gary Ross to tell his
story in person to the committee. ASA's Chief Counsel Joe Elford also testified
before the committee and responded to several complex legal questions from the
committee members.

This time consuming work paid off yesterday, as the committee passed the bill
on a 6-3 vote. Assemblymember Leno and Chairman of the Judiciary Committee Dave
Jones both made strong statements at the hearing in support of the bill and in
support of medical marijuana patients’ rights.

Though we’ve passed this first hurdle, we have more hurdles to clear before
AB 2279 becomes law. Next week, we’ll go before the Assembly Labor Committee.
Then it’s on to the Assembly Floor, the Senate, and finally to the
Governor’s desk. Please donate today to help make this work possible.

We have our work cut out for us, but with your support, we can advance state
law to protect medical marijuana patients’ rights to work. Please donate $50,
$100 or more today to support our continued efforts in Sacramento.

Thank you in advance for your generosity,

Rebecca Saltzman
Chief of Staff
Americans for Safe Access

P.S. For more information about ASA's employment rights bill, please visit
http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/AB2279.

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.

[Medpatient]

this is awesome news thank you thank you thank you.

Can you let us know how you feel this is going to play out as it goes up the ladder, is it possibly something that looks really good for hitting the senate and governors desk.

[ASA Field]

Originally Posted by Medpatient

Can you let us know how you feel this is going to play out as it goes up the ladder, is it possibly something that looks really good for hitting the senate and governors desk.

Things look good for the Labor committee hearing next week, but Don will be going to Sacramento on Monday to check in with all the committee members. The Assembly floor vote will be next and is probably the biggest wild card because most assembly members have never voted on medical marijuana. So we'll have to get into every office to educate members and secure votes. Once we've passed through labor next week, it would be great for everyone to set up meetings with your assembly members. We'll need every vote we can get!

In terms of the Governor, we're working with his office and we're hopeful that he'll see this as the civil rights issue it is. However, we'll need help at that stage too. This is going to be a long process, but we feel good about it.

[dpla]

I just donated my $100. to ASA in support of their work supporting anti-discrimination of our sisters and brothers in the work force and I can never work again.
Rise up California! Fight back and support the ASA!
Power to the People!

[Lucas Jackson]

Thank you guys, as usual...Will get you some loot soon...

I couldn't be more grateful than I'm right now

Originally Posted by ASA Field

ASA Scores Victory for Patients' Rights
Donate today to protect medical marijuana patients rights' to work!

Dear ASA Supporter,

Yesterday, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) scored a victory for patients’
rights, as the California Assembly Judiciary Committee approved our medical
marijuana employment rights bill. AB 2279, authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno
and sponsored by ASA, would protect the rights of hundreds of thousands of
medical marijuana patients in California from employment discrimination.

This fight is not over – please donate today to end patient discrimination
and protect patients’ jobs!

ASA began working with Assemblyman Leno last year to write this legislation in
case of an adverse ruling from the California Supreme Court in Ross v.
Ragingwire Telecommunications. It is a good thing that we were ready, because
in February, the court ruled that Proposition 215 did not provide protection
from employment discrimination – leaving hundreds of thousands of legal
patients in jeopardy. In a show of support for working patients, Assemblymember
Leno introduced AB 2279 on the same day the court ruled.

Approval from the Committee on Judiciary was our first big legislative test.
ASA staff helped recruit important endorsements, including the Service
Employees International Union (SEIU), the American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the National Lawyers Guild, and several
HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations. ASA staff also visited every member of the
committee to be sure they understood the bill and to encourage their support.
Then, we briefed and trained Supreme Court plaintiff Gary Ross to tell his
story in person to the committee. ASA's Chief Counsel Joe Elford also testified
before the committee and responded to several complex legal questions from the
committee members.

This time consuming work paid off yesterday, as the committee passed the bill
on a 6-3 vote. Assemblymember Leno and Chairman of the Judiciary Committee Dave
Jones both made strong statements at the hearing in support of the bill and in
support of medical marijuana patients’ rights.

Though we’ve passed this first hurdle, we have more hurdles to clear before
AB 2279 becomes law. Next week, we’ll go before the Assembly Labor Committee.
Then it’s on to the Assembly Floor, the Senate, and finally to the
Governor’s desk. Please donate today to help make this work possible.

We have our work cut out for us, but with your support, we can advance state
law to protect medical marijuana patients’ rights to work. Please donate $50,
$100 or more today to support our continued efforts in Sacramento.

Thank you in advance for your generosity,

Rebecca Saltzman
Chief of Staff
Americans for Safe Access

P.S. For more information about ASA's employment rights bill, please visit
http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/AB2279.

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.

Fantastic work! I doubt my measly little phone call did much but I am very grateful for all your work and look forward to joining you at your next meeting in L.A.!

[coldfire23mj]

Hello I am a patient and this is great news to hear. I have been wondering though, what can and cannot a medical marijuana patient do? Like what are the laws for patients? Like no smoking in public places? or like you cannot let other people see your medication. WHat happens if i get pulled over with my medication in my car, should i tell the officer and show him my recommendation or just not even bring it up? if anyone knows any where i can find laws like these or if there arent just let me know.

[dpla]

Originally Posted by coldfire23mj

Hello I am a patient and this is great news to hear. I have been wondering though, what can and cannot a medical marijuana patient do? Like what are the laws for patients? Like no smoking in public places? or like you cannot let other people see your medication. WHat happens if i get pulled over with my medication in my car, should i tell the officer and show him my recommendation or just not even bring it up? if anyone knows any where i can find laws like these or if there arent just let me know.

Start here: http://www.weedtracker.com/forums/fo...tics-1189.html

[SubUrban Cowboy]

I am very excited to see this news. I have high hopes for the Leno bill. I know we would have significantly more people vocal for our movement if they knew they would still have their job after letting people know what medicine they choose to use. This bill can mean many good things for us MMJ patients. Keep up the good fight to all.

[ASA Field]

Here's an update on the bill:

Medical Marijuana Employment Rights Bill Passes Two State Assembly Committees

We're also very excited about the potential of passing this bill.

[FARMER]

THIS IS HUGE!!!

WHERE'S MY BIG ASA DOLL SO I CAN GIVE IT A BIG BEAR HUG!!!

WAIT, LET ME FIRST SEND THEM A DONATION TO HELP KEEP THIS MOVING FORWARD...

:luv: THEN A BIG HUG!!!
ASA, I LOVE YOU!

PS, Los Angeles, Saturday 4/19/08 1:00pm ASA Meeting at Patients ID Center, San Vicente!

I sent the e-mail already to my assembly rep. and everyone else should too....

[ASA Field]

Originally Posted by im6878

I sent the e-mail already to my assembly rep. and everyone else should too....

The bill will likely be headed to the Assembly floor next Thursday, just a week from today! So email your Assembly Member now: www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/AB2279Action

We've secured dozens of votes, but there are still several members who are on the fence. It's incredibly important that you contact your member to urge him/her to vote yes for AB 2279!

[TeamDank]

This is great news and thanks to ASA for a job well done.