[FREEkaya]

Join Nationwide Congressional Drop-in Day!! Visit Your Representative's Office on August 29th!

Dear ASA Supporters and Activists,

Join hundreds of ASA activists throughout the nation and take action to end the medical cannabis gridlock! Next week, medical cannabis supporters all over the U.S. are planning on dropping into their Member of Congress' district office to urge them to support medical marijuana research. Many representatives throughout the country who have supported medical cannabis issues in the past have not signed-on to Representative Olver's letter to DEA Administrator Tandy urging her to support better access to cannabis for research purposes.

Background on the Letter:

On May 16, U.S. Representatives John Olver (D-MA) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) sent a "Dear Colleague" letter to all Members of the House of Representatives urging co-signatures on a letter addressed to DEA Administrator Karen Tandy urging acceptance of DEA Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Mary Ellen Bittner's February 2007 Opinion and Recommended Ruling in support of the UMass-Amherst Medical Marijuana Research Production Facility. The deadline for US Representatives to co-sign the letter is Sept. 7, 2007, which is fast approaching!

What You Can Do:

1. Call your Member of Congress today! Ask for her/his co-signature on the Olver/Rohrabacher letter to DEA Administrator Karen Tandy.

SAMPLE PHONE SCRIPT

"Hello, my name is (YOUR NAME) and I live in (YOUR CITY and STATE). I am calling today to ask Representative (YOUR CONGRESSPERSON'S LAST NAME) to co-sign the Olver/Rohrabacher letter to DEA Administrator, Karen Tandy, urging 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 Brendan Boundy in Rep. Olver's office at 202-225-5335. Please let me know what you plan on doing. Thank you."

Don't forget to leave your name and number

For phone numbers of your representatives go to: United States House of Representatives, 110th Congress, 1st Session or call the congressional switchboard at: (202) 224-3121

After your call, be sure to contact Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org to let us know how it went!

2. Join ASA's Activists in a National Congressional District Drop-in Day! Wednesday, August 29th!

What: Activists throughout the country are planning on dropping by their Congressional Representative next Wednesday, August 29 during business hours. Schedule a meeting today with your Congressional Representative's office next Wednesday, August 29. If they cannot meet with you on the 29th, organize a drop-in at your representative's local district office for that day. Don't know who your representative is and/or need the local district address? Go to United States House of Representatives, 110th Congress, 1st Session to find out!

When: During business hours on Wednesday, August 29th.

What to Bring: Download the following materials to drop off at your representative's district office:

a. A letter from Reps. Olver and Rohrbacher urging your Congressperson to sign on: http://www.AmericansforSafeAccess.or...Dear_Colleague

b. The letter to Administrator Tandy: http://www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/Research_Sign-On

c. ASA's UMass Amherst Fact Sheet: http://www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/Umass_FactSheet

What to Ask:

Please support medical cannabis research by co-signing the Olver/Rohrabacher letter to DEA Administrator, Karen Tandy, urging 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 Brendan Bundy in Rep. Olver's office at 202-225-5335.

Why: The only way we can win this campaign and end the research gridlock is with strength in numbers. That means we need as many people as possible to contact their representative and call on them to support medical cannabis research.

Follow Up: At your drop-in or meeting, be sure to schedule a follow up meeting to discuss other pressing national medical cannabis issues. After your drop-in or meeting, be sure to contact Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org to let us know how it went!

Visit ASAEnding NIDA's Monopoly, Support Access to Marijuana for Research for more information on the UMass-Amherst research struggle.

Thank you for taking action for medical cannabis research!

Sonnet Seeborg Gabbard

Field Coordinator

Americans for Safe Access

[1stimer]

All Santa Clarita, Antelope Valley, Inyo County, Mono County, and most of the High Desert should contact Howard "Buck" McKeon.

Congressman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon
U.S. House of Representatives
2351 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
ph:(202) 225-1956
fax: (202) 226-0683

For letters requesting my aid with a federal agency or any other personal matter relating to the federal government, please write to:

Congressman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon
26650 The Old Road
Suite 203
Santa Clarita, CA 91381
ph:(661) 254-2111
fax: (661) 254-2380

or

Congressman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon
1008 W. Ave M-14
Suite E-1
Palmdale, CA 93551
ph: (661) 274-9688
fax: (661) 274-8744

[ASA Field]

I know that many congressional representatives were visited and called last week. Great work, and thanks to everyone who participated!

Anyone have stories to share from their visits or calls?