[ASA Field]

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ASA California Weekly Alert: October 12, 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@AmericansforSafeAccess.org no later than Thursdays by 3:00pm.

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*Weekly Round-Up*
1. a. Hundreds Gather at the Governor's Office Calling on Him to Stand Up for
Patients' Rights
b. DEA Raids Downtown Los Angeles Dispensary Following the Rally *

*ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings*
2. Monday, October 15, Fresno: ***First Fresno ASA Meeting***
3. Tuesday, October 16, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting
4. Thursday, October 18, Arcata: Humboldt County ASA Meeting
5. Saturday, October 20, Los Angeles: Los Angeles ASA Chapter Meeting
6. Tuesday, October 23, San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting
7. Wednesday, October 24, Oakland: East Bay ASA Meeting

*Court Support*
8. Monday, October 22, Sacramento: Bail Pending Appeal Hearing for Brian Epis
9. Monday, October 22, Sacramento: Status Conference for Jeff Sanderson & Alice
Wiegand
10. Monday, October 22, Fresno: Preliminary Hearing for Nature's Medicinal
Cooperative
11. Thursday, October 25, Sacramento: Arraignment for **** Lombardo
12. Friday, October 26, Oakland: Arraignment for Tainted Inc. Defendants

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Weekly Round-Up California
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*1. a. Hundreds Gather at the Governor's Office Calling on Him to Stand Up for
Patients'
Rights
b. DEA Raids Downtown Los Angeles Dispensary Following the Rally

a. Hundreds Gather at the Governor's Office Calling on Him to Stand Up for
Patients' Rights

a. On Thursday, over 300 medical cannabis supporters gathered from around the
state to call on Governor Schwarzenegger to stand up for patients' rights and
call on the Bush Administration to end the war on patients. The people began
gathering in front of the Governor's over an hour before the event was
scheduled. By the time the rally began, the crowd took up almost the entire
block, spilling into the streets. During the rally, people were chanting,
"support patients' rights, stand up and fight," and, "we're patients, not
criminals!" Patients, providers, supporters, and concerned citizens held
marquis-styled signs reading clever slogans such as, "Coming Soon: the Gov. in
Terminate the DEA," "Coming Soon, the Gov. in End of DEA Days," and "The Gov. in
Stop the Federal Predators."

Brian Perry, LA City Council Member, Dennis Zine's, staffer read a powerful
statement at the rally saying, "this year has seen a dramatic increase in
federal law enforcement activity surrounding medical cannabis, including raids,
confiscation of medicine and plants, and indictments." Other speakers included
a reading of a statement by Orange County Supervisor, Chris Norby, ASA Executive
Director, Steph Sherer, Michael Martin, the former medical marijuana edible
manufacturer who was recently raided by the DEA, and ASA California Campaign
Director, Don Duncan. The rally ended on a somber note when the crowd went
silent to hear federal inmate, Stephanie Landa, speak on a participant's speaker
phone from jail.

Her speech further illustrated the need for the Governor to intervene in this
dire situation. This year alone, the DEA has conducted at least 44 separate
raids of patients and providers, more than twice that of the prior two years.
Illustrating the breadth of these attacks, the DEA has conducted raids in no
less than 10 counties across the state and has shut down entire regions of
access to medical marijuana. Bringing a new dimension to the federal effort to
undermine state law, letters were recently sent to more than 150 landlords in
California, threatening asset forfeiture and criminal prosecution if they
continued to lease to medical marijuana providers.

This rally culminated weeks of advocacy that resulted in more than 40,000
postcards sent to the Governor, as well as hundreds of phone calls and emails,
all urging him to take action to defend patients' rights. In addition to
calling on the Governor to end the federal raids on patients and providers,
advocates are seeking a directive from the Governor to local law enforcement
discouraging cooperation with federal raids. Advocates are also urging
Schwarzenegger to solicit support from Governors of other medical marijuana
states in order to ward off federal interference. In August, New Mexico Governor
Bill Richardson sent a letter to President Bush after the DEA threatened state
officials with criminal prosecution if they implemented the state-mandated
medical cannabis distribution system.

Read more about the rally in the Associated Press
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5132>, the Daily Breeze
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5134>, and KSBY - NBC TV 6 (San
Luis Obispo) <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5135>.


b. DEA Raids Downtown Dispensary Following the Rally
From California Campaign Director, Don Duncan

Yesterday, more than 300 medical cannabis patients and advocates rallied in
front of the Governor's office in downtown Los Angeles demanding that he stand
up for patients' rights and the will of California voters and lawmakers. Last
night, the DEA and LAPD staged yet another raid a one of Los Angeles'
collectives, the Arts District Healing Center (ADHC). More than 50 protesters
turned out again to defend ADHC, which serves patients just blocks from City Hall.

It is disheartening to see our local police department continue to support these
harmful and unnecessary raids -- despite clear guidance from LAPD Veteran and
City Council Member Dennis Zine and his colleagues that the City intends to
regulate medical cannabis facilities instead of close them. It is crucial that
City Council members move forward quickly with a proposed resolution calling on
an end to cooperation between the LAPD and DEA on medical cannabis raids. The
image of our police department has been battered of late by brutality and
scandal. This city does not need to see the men and women who should be heroes
doing the work of villains.

I was so proud of my fellow Angelinos and our guests from as far away as Rhode
Island who stood up twice yesterday. It is a tremendous credit to local
organizers that this constituency is so well trained and prepared to respond to
an emergency on short notice. Americans for Safe Access (ASA) staff and
volunteers leapt into action -- sending hundreds of text messages and thousands
of email alerts about the raid and protest less than one one half an hour after
in began.

You can sign up for our emergency text message alert to be notified about DEA
raids at http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/RaidAlert

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ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings
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*2. Monday, October 15, Fresno: ***First Fresno ASA Meeting****

Please join the newly formed Fresno ASA chapter for our inaugural meeting. We
will be discussing the protocols for being an ASA chapter, local medical
marijuana issues, including establishing an ID card program, and other important
medical marijuana issues. If you are a medical marijuana patient, provider,
concerned citizen, and supporter, please join us as we gather to improve safe
access in Fresno!

When: Monday, October 15th at 7:00pm
Where: Fig Garden Regional Library
3071 W. Bullard Ave. in Fresno

For more information, contact Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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*3. Tuesday, October 16, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting*

Join the Sacramento ASA Chapter as we hear a report of the mobilization to Los
Angeles, discuss upcoming court dates, and talk about other pressing medical
cannabis issues in our community.

When: Tuesday, October 16th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Crusaders Hall
320 Harris Avenue, Suite H
Sacramento, CA

For more information, contact Lanette: cannacare@earthlink.net.

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*4. Thursday, October 18, Arcata: Humboldt County ASA Meeting*

Please join the Humboldt County ASA chapter this month. We will be discussing
the recent Arcata City Council meeting, and other important medical marijuana
issues in our community. Read about the City Council meeting in the Eureka
Reporter here <http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=29159>.

When: Thursday, October 18th at 7:00pm
Where: Bayview Courtyard Complex at 550 Union St. in Arcata

For more information, contact HumboldtASA@gmail.com.

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*5. Saturday, October 20, Los Angeles: Los Angeles ASA Chapter Meeting*

Please join Los Angeles ASA next Saturday at our Know Your Rights training. We
are encouraging all of our members to come out and attend this important and
special meeting.

When: Saturday, October 20th at 1:00pm
Where: Patients ID Center at 470 S. San Vicente

For more information, go to www.ASAAction.org.

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*6. Tuesday, October 23, San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting

Come to the SF ASA meeting as we discuss the 350 Divisadero appeal, preparation
for the Save our Friends:The Harvest Moon Celebration, and important San
Francisco issues.*

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

For more information, contact Alex: aaafranco@yahoo.com.

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*7. Wednesday, October 24, Oakland: East Bay ASA Meeting

*Join the East Bay ASA chapter this month. We will be debriefing on the rally,
doing emergency response follow up, and will be discussing other important local
issues.

Where: ASA Headquarters- 1322 Webster St. in Oakland (just 2 blocks from 12th
St. Bart station)
When: Wed. the 24th at 7:00pm

Snacks and beverages will be provided.

For more information, contact Rebecca@AmericansforSafeAccess.org.

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Court Support
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*8. Monday, October 22, Sacramento: Bail Pending Appeal Hearing for Brian Epis

*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. On September 14, 2007, Judge Damrell
sentenced Epis to 10 years in prison. Epis has been out on bail since August 9,
2004, pending his appeal, and Judge Damrell denied the prosecution's request to
imprison him immediately. Epis' attorney, Brenda Grantland, will file more
documents and move for continued bail pending his appeal. An in-depth report of
Epis' sentencing hearing by Vanessa Nelson is available (with pictures) here
<http://www.medicalmarijuanaofamerica.com/content/view/149/1/>.

When: Monday, October 22nd at 10:00pm
Where: In Front of Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr.
U.S. District Court (E.D., CA), 15th Floor at 501 "I" Street
<http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?BFCat=&Pyt=Tmap&newFL=Use+Address+Below&ad dr=501+I+Street%2C+&csz=sacramento%2C+ca&country=u s&Get%A0Map=Get+Map>
in Sacramento

For more information, contact Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org.

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*9. Monday, October 22, Sacramento: Status Conference for Jeff Sanderson &
Alice Wiegand

*On August 14, 2006, a local-federal task force arrested Plumas County patients
Jeff Sanderson (who also serves as a caregiver for nine other patients) & Alice
Wiegand in a raid for allegedly growing more than 260 plants. Though they were
released from Plumas County jail within several days, on September 5, 2006,
Sanderson was rearrested by federal agents and is being prosecuted on federal
charges of manufacturing and conspiracy to manufacture more than 100 marijuana
plants. Authorities confiscated all of the plants and medicine, and have
initiated asset forfeiture proceedings on their home and family farm. Sanderson
is currently out on bail pending trial.

When: Monday, October 22nd at 10:00pm
Where: In Front of Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr.
U.S. District Court (E.D., CA), 15th Floor at 501 "I" Street in
Sacramento

For more information, contact Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org.

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*10. Monday, October 22, Fresno: Preliminary Hearing for Nature's Medicinal
Cooperative *

The DEA, Bakersfield PD, Kern County Sheriffs, and Central Valley High Intensity
Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) raided Nature's Medicinal Cooperative and a
residence of one of the owners in April & July 2007, arresting owners David
Chavez, Sr. & David Chavez, Jr., and employees John Wyatt, John Shanks, Jennifer
Brown, Jonathon Chapman, and Israel Cabacos. They are charged with conspiracy to
distribute marijuana and possession w/ intent to distribute allegedly more than
87 lbs. of medicine & 35 plants. All of the defendants have been released on
bail pending trial, except David Chavez, Sr., who remains in jail.

When: Monday, October 22 at 1:30pm
Where: Before Magistrate Dennis L. Beck in U.S. District Court (E.D., CA),
8th Floor at 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA.

For more information, contact: Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org.

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*11. * *Thursday, October 25, Sacramento: Arraignment for **** Lombardo

*On* *September 13, 2007, the Nevada County Sheriffs called in the DEA and they
jointly raided the residence of 50-year old chronic pain sufferer Lombardo in
Big Oak Valley, confiscating a mere 65 plants, and charging him with cultivation
with intent to sell. The federal government is also proceeding with asset
forfeiture.

When: Thursday, October 25th at 2:00pm
Where: Before Judge Lawrence K. Karlton in U.S. District Court (E.D., CA),
15th Floor at 501 "I" Street in Sacramento

For more information, contact: Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org.

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*12*. *Friday, October 26, Oakland: Arraignment for Tainted Inc. Defendants

*On September 26, 2007, the DEA raided five locations in Oakland and San
Leandro, allegedly confiscating hundreds of edibles and 460 plants, and
arresting Jessica Sanders (30), Michael Anderson (42), and Diallo McLinn (35).
After a press conference on October 4, Michael Martin (33), who had been on
vacation during the raid, voluntarily turned himself in. All four are charged
with conspiracy to manufacture or distribute controlled substances and are out
on bail. Tainted Edibles were available for patients as an alternative to
smoking at dispensing collectives across the state.

When: Friday, October 26th at 10:00am
Where: Before Magistrate Wayne D. Brazil
U.S. District Court (N.D., CA), at 1301 Clay Street
<http://216.152.235.70/webdir.fwx?mode=divofc&srchstring=D09CANCOakland++ +++++++++++++++0000001751&jnet=>
in Oakland
*
*Read ASA's press release about the DEA's raid on Tainted here
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5105>.*