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ASA California Weekly Alert: November 2, 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. ASA and Orange County Medical Marijuana Activists Achieve a Victory for
Safe Access!
b. DEA Strikes East Bay Collective and Facilities
c. DEA Raids Orange County Collective and Operator's Home*
*
*ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings*
2. Tuesday, November 6, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting
3. Wednesday, November 7, Sacramento: Solano Patients' Group Meeting
4. Saturday, November 10, Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara ASA Meeting
5. Saturday, November 10, Willits: Mendocino ASA Potluck and Meeting
6. Tuesday, November 13, San Diego: San Diego ASA Meeting
7. Wednesday, November 14, Newport Beach: Orange County ASA Meeting
8. Thursday, November 15, Arcata: Humboldt County ASA Meeting

*City and County Hearings**
*9. Monday, November 5, Huntington Beach: City Council Vote on Medical
Marijuana Dispensary Ban
10. Monday, November 5, Los Angeles: First Los Angeles County Planning
Commission Hearing on Collective Permit
11. Tuesday, November 6, Willows: Glenn County Board of Supervisors Vote on ID
Card Program

*Court Support*
12. Tuesday, November 6, Sacramento: CA Supreme Court Oral Arguments in /Ross
vs. Ragingwire/

*Special Events*
13. Saturday, November 3, San Francisco: Memorial Party for Medical Cannabis
Activist John Shaw
14. Sunday, November 11, Philo: ASA Legal Training and Benefit Reception
15. Tuesday, November 13, San Francisco: SF ASA's "Save Our Friends"
Fundraiser and Party
16. Wednesday, November 14, Pleasanton: Cannabis Comedy Festival- Benefit for
Free Tainted and ASA
17. Sunday, November 18, Ventura: Second Safe Access Now Town Hall Meeting

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Weekly Round-Up California

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*1. **a. ASA and Orange County Medical Marijuana Activists Achieve a Victory
for Safe Access!*
* b. DEA Strikes East Bay Collective and Facilities
c. DEA Raids Orange County Collective and Operator's Home


*/a. ASA and Orange County Medical Marijuana Activists Achieve a Victory for
Safe Access!
From ASA California Campaign Director, Don Duncan
/*
*The Orange County Board of Supervisors decided this week to delay a vote on
banning medical cannabis collectives after Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and
local advocates expressed concern about the impact on patients and the process
through which the item suddenly appeared on the Board’s agenda. Supervisor
Bates’ eleventh-hour motion would have prohibited the county from issuing
permits, licenses, or allowances for any activity that violates federal law, a
back door approach to banning collectives already used in two Orange County
cities. ASA and advocates did not get word of Supervisor Bates’ motion until the
afternoon before the early morning hearing.

I asked the Board to table the issue to allow more time to consider how other
jurisdictions are regulating collectives, including neighboring Los Angeles
County. I told the Board that concerns over abuse of the state’s medical
cannabis laws are valid, but that regulations are the best tool for protecting
patients and communities. I left each Board Member with a copy or our report on
the outcomes of regulations for collectives in cities and counties all over
California and some information about what the County and City of Los Angeles
are doing to effectively regulate their facilities. You can read the report at
http://www.AmericansForsafeAccess.org/DispensaryReport

The Board also heard from William Britt of the Association of Patient Advocates.
Mr. Britt told the Supervisors that banning collectives would harm patients and
was inconsistent with the Board’s decision in April to issue Medical Cannabis ID
Cards mandated under CA Health and Safety Code 11362.71 (SB-420). A local
patient told the Board that there is insufficient access to affordable medicine
in Orange County, and this motion would only make things worse.

The Board voted unanimously to continue the motion until December 4. ASA will
continue to educate the Board about compassionate and sensible alternatives
before that vote. Congratulations to advocates for their quick and effective
response to this unanticipated vote.
*
*/b. DEA Strikes East Bay Collective and Facilities

/On Tuesday, the DEA raided the Compassionate Patients Cooperative of California
(CPCC) in Hayward, arresting the two operators, Winslow and Abraham Norton. The
raid began in the early morning on Tuesday with the DEA shattering the
collective's patients intake center glass door and then moving on to the actual
dispensary next door. During that time the Norton Brothers were arrested and
their homes were raided. They were taken into custody and held overnight without
bail.

CPCC had a permit from Alameda County, authorized by the Alameda County Board of
Supervisors to operate. The permit required that they follow stringent
regulations and allow the Sheriff's Department to conduct monthly inspections.
They did not have any permit violations during their time of operation in
Alameda County.

ASA activists, patients, and staff received the news via ASA's Emergency Text
Messaging System and sprung into action. While a handful of Oakland, Berkeley,
and San Francisco activists came out to show their support, several CPCC
collective members showed up to the collective with the intent of getting their
medicine and stayed to protest the attack on safe access in Alameda County. The
group of protesters drew a crowd of onlookers and local media. NBC 11
<http://www.nbc11.com/news/14459097/detail.html>, KTVU Channel 2
<http://www.ktvu.com/video/14465576/index.html>, and the Daily Review
<http://www.ktvu.com/video/14465576/index.html> were just a few of the many
media outlets that covered the story. See video from the raid here:
http://www.bayareanewsgroup.com/mult...yer/?f=1030pot

Alameda County Sheriff's officers were at the site of the raiding claiming to be
there for "crowd control." The officers carried batons and weapons and stared
the crowd down with only the yellow tape between them and the patients. The
County police went so far as to post an officer on the roof of the collective
with what appeared to be a tear gas gun.

While the dispensary raid was happening, several other facilities in association
with CPCC were raided by the DEA in a joint operation involving DEA, Berkeley
PD, Oakland PD, and the Alameda County Sheriff's Department.

Tuesday's raids in Hayward were the third major attack on patients and providers
in the Bay Area in less than a month. Bay Area activists, patients, and
providers will be continuing to bolster their emergency response plans to ensure
large protests at future raids. To sign up for ASA's Emergency Raid Response
Text Messaging System, go to www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/RaidAlert

ASA will report further details on the Norton brothers' status and the
collective as information comes in.


/c. DEA Raids Orange County Collective and Operator's Home

/Yesterday, the DEA arrested Steele Smith at his home in Fullerton at 6:00 in
the morning. At the same time, Smith's dispensary, C-3 Collective in Garden
Grove, and one other home in association with the collective was raided. One of
the collective's employees and Smith’s wife were arrested as well. They had a
bail hearing today at 2:00pm in Los Angeles. ASA will continue to report
further details as we receive them.

Orange County ASA will be meeting on November 14th to discuss support for the
Smiths and C-3 Collective. See "ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings" for more
details.

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ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings activist
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*2. Tuesday, November 6, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting*

Join the Sacramento Chapter as we discuss upcoming court support, the ID card
program, and other pressing local issues.

When: Tuesday at 7:00pm
Where: Crusaders Hall
320 Harris Ave. Suite H in Sacramento

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

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*3. Wednesday, November 7, Sacramento: **Solano Patients' Group Meeting*

Solano Patients' Group has decided to combine our meetings with our Sacramento chapter on the first Wednesday of the Month. We will be working on pressing medical cannabis issues.

When: Wednesday, November 7 at 7pm (every first Wednesday of the month).
Where: River City Patient Center located at 1512 C El Camino Ave, Sacramento.

For more information, contact Linda: Linda4SPG@compassionatecoalition.org.


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*4. Saturday, November 10, Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara ASA Meeting

*Safe access is under attack in Southern California and we need to protect it! Join SB ASA next Saturday as we discuss strategies to defend medical marijuana in our community.

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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*5. Saturday, November 10, Willits: Mendocino ASA Potluck and Meeting
*
The ASA Mendocino Chapter will be hosting a potluck at our next meeting on November 10th, 2007. The event will be held at The Ping Pong Club at 475 E. Valley Rd. in Willits and will begin at noon. We plan on having a fun time and are inviting everyone to come. We will be discussing our plans for future events and goals. Please bring your favorite dish or dessert and we will eat, medicate, and be merry!

When: November 10th at 12:00pm
Where: The Ping Pong Club at 475 E. Valley Rd. in Willits

For more information about this event, call: 707-332-8584. For questions about the Mendocino ASA chapter, please contact: mendobruce@yahoo.com

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*6. Tuesday, November 13, San Diego: San Diego ASA Meeting

*Please join us as we discuss ways to keep the momentum going in San Diego in our efforts to improve access.

When: Tuesday, November 13, 7:00-8:00pm
Where: Twiggs Coffee House
4590 Park Blvd.
In the Green Room

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

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*7. Wednesday, November 14, Newport Beach: Orange County ASA Meeting

*The DEA has begun targeting Orange County patients and providers. We must put an end to this victimization and fight for patients' rights. Please come and join us as we discuss upcoming court support and other important safe access issues in our community.

When: November 14th @ 7:00pm
Where: Law Offices of WENTWORTH, PAOLI & PURDY, LLP
4631 Teller Avenue, Suite 100
Newport Beach, CA 92660

For more information, contact Bill: OCLawyer@aol.com

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*8. Thursday, November 15, Arcata: Humboldt County ASA Meeting*

Arcata City Council is taking actions to develop a medical marijuana task force. Please join us at this meeting to discuss what we can do to get involved in the task force and also what we would like to see come out of this working group.

When: Thursday, the 15th at 7:00pm
Where: Bayview Courtyard Complex at 550 Union St. in Arcata

For more info, contact: HumboldtASA@gmail.com



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City and County Hearings FAP
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*9. Monday, November 5, Huntington Beach: City Council Vote on Medical
Marijuana Dispensary Ban*

The City of Huntington Beach will be voting on a medical marijuana dispensary
ban. We cannot allow safe access to be shut out of Huntington Beach! Please
come out and show your support for medical cannabis access.

Download ASA's talking points
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/general.ordinance.talking.points.pdf> on
dispensary regulations, moratoriums and bans.

When: Monday, November 5 at 6:00pm
Where: City Council Chambers
2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA

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*10. Monday, November 5, Los Angeles: First Los Angeles County Planning
Commission Hearing on Collective Permit*

After years of lobbying, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted an
ordinance regulating medical cannabis collectives and cooperatives last year.
The first public hearing to consider an application to open a collective in
unincorporated Los Angeles County will finally be held at 6:30 PM on Monday,
November 5, 2007.

ASA is inviting medical cannabis supporters to attend this hearing and let the
Planning Commission know that well-regulated collectives are safe for
communities and necessary for legal patients. This hearing may set an important
precedent for future applications in LA County, so we want to make a good
impression.

Download ASA's talking points
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/general.ordinance.talking.points.pdf> on
dispensary regulations, moratoriums and bans.

What: Public Hearing on Medical Cannabis Collective Permit Application
When: 6:30 PM * Monday, November 5, 2007
Where: 12110 Hindry Ave., Hawthorne, CA 90250-3401

All medical cannabis supporters are welcome, but we especially need patients who
live in the areas near LAX, El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale, and surrounding
communities. You can email don@safeaccessnow.org for more information about the
hearing. Please dress in a professional manner.

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*10. Tuesday, November 6, Willows: Glenn County Board of Supervisors Vote on ID
Card Program

*Next Tuesday, November 6, the Glenn County Board of Supervisors will be
conducting a hearing—and most likely voting—on the local implementation of
California’s medical marijuana ID card program.

Once the voluntary program is made available, local patients will have the
opportunity to obtain the ID cards through the county's Health Department. The
program provides further protection from detainment, arrest or the seizure of
property for those who choose to become cardholders.

If you live in Glenn County, please take a few minutes today to contact the
Board of Supervisors to express your support for this important program.

Please e-mail or call the Board of Supervisors, tell them you are a voter in
Glenn County and politely urge them to approve the staff recommendation to begin
accepting applications for the ID cards. Feel free to use the talking points,
posted at the bottom of this message in your correspondence.

Board phone: 530-538-7631
Board e-mail: gcboard@countyofglenn.net

The hearing will take place on Tuesday, November 6 at 10:00am in Willows. Please
attend this important meeting to express your support for California's medical
marijuana ID program and patients' rights in Glenn County.

Glenn County Board of Supervisors
When: Tuesday, Nov. 6 - 10:00am
Where: Courthouse, 2nd floor
526 W. Sycamore Street in Willows
Map: http://snipurl.com/1snff

(this is a professional meeting, please dress and act accordingly)

Thank you for taking action to protect Glenn County's medical marijuana patients.

For more information, contact Aaron Smith at safeaccessnow@gmail.com*
*
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Court Support patients rights
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*12. Tuesday, November 6, Sacramento: CA Supreme Court Oral Arguments in
*/*Ross vs. Ragingwire*

/Americans for Safe Access Chief Counsel Joe Elford will argue an appeal of the
discriminatory decision of September 7, 2005, when the Court of Appeals for the
Third Appellate District denied a qualified medical marijuana patient any remedy
for being terminated from his/her employment simply for testing positive for
marijuana. In /Ross v. Ragingwire Telecommunications, Inc./, the court relied on
federal law to defeat Gary Ross' state law causes of action for wrongful
termination in violation of public policy and employment discrimination in
violation of California's Fair Employment and Housing Act.

Hoping to overturn this discriminatory published decision, ASA joined the
lawsuit as co-counsel, and on November 30, 2005, the California Supreme Court
granted review. ASA filed the opening brief on February 7, 2006 and on July 25,
2006, allies filed three /amicus/ (support) briefs on behalf of Ross: a
medical-based brief filed by ten local, state, and national organizations,
including the American Nurses Association; a legislative-based brief filed by
all of the original authors of SB 420; and a disability rights brief filed by
two prominent disability rights groups. Important issues of federalism and
employment discrimination are at stake in this case. For further explanation and
links to the legal briefs, go to ASA's Brief Bank page on Ross v. RagingWire
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4407>.

When: Tuesday, November 6 at 9:00am
Where: Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building
<http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory =&searchtab=home&formtype=address&popflag=0&latitu de=&longitude=&name=&phone=&level=&cat=&address=91 4+capitol+mall&city=sacramento&state=ca&zipcode=>
California Supreme Court
914 Capitol Mall
<http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory =&searchtab=home&formtype=address&popflag=0&latitu de=&longitude=&name=&phone=&level=&cat=&address=91 4+capitol+mall&city=sacramento&state=ca&zipcode=>
in Sacramento.

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Special Events closer look
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*13. Saturday, November 3, San Francisco: Memorial Party for Medical Cannabis
Activist John Shaw

*Come celebrate the life of John Shaw – esteemed activist, artist, advocate,
performer, spiritual inspiration, singer, friend, and so much more!

This is a celebration (party), so bring whatever you choose to celebrate with.

When: Saturday, November 3 at 8 pm
Where: At 1884 Market St. (at Laguna), San Francisco
Everyone welcome!

You can read more about John Shaw on ASA's blog:
http://AmericansForSafeAccess.org/blog/?p=9 (2nd item after story about DEA raids)
*
*
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*14. Sunday, November 11, Philo: ASA Legal Training and Benefit Reception

*Americans for Safe Access (ASA) invites you to an ASA sponsored legal training,
"Know your Rights as a Medical Cannabis Patient." Come participate in a series
of roleplays teaching you how to deal with law enforcement encounters. After
the training ASA will be hosting a reception, featuring reggae and salsa music
and live talent. Food and drinks will be provided.

What: ASA's Know Your Rights Legal Training and Reception Benefiting ASA
When: Sunday, November 11, 2007- Doors open 2pm Legal Training 3pm Reception 5pm
Details: $25 Donation- Proceeds benefit ASA
Food and Drinks will be provided
Stay for the reception and enjoy reggae, salsa, and live talent!

For more information, contact Sarah@AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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*15. Tuesday, November 13, San Francisco: SF ASA's "Harvest Moon: Save Our
Friends" Fundraiser and Party
*
Join us at San Francisco ASA chapter's fundraiser and party. The "Harvest Moon:
Save our Friends" event is a fundraiser for the San Francisco chapter and will
feature local patient talent including live music, MC Ngaio Bellum, and other
exciting events.

When: Tuesday, November 13th starting at 7:30pm
Where: El Ricon 2700 16th St. at 16th and Harrison in San Francisco
(Just 5 blocks from the 16th and Mission Bart stop!)

For ticket information and questions about the event, contact
ASA.SanFrancisco@gmail.com
*
*
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*16. Wednesday, November 14, Pleasanton: Cannabis Comedy Festival- Benefit for
Free Tainted and ASA*

Laugh your head off at this fantastic comedy night for a good cause. Please join
ASA, Free Tainted, and medical cannabis supporters as we gather for a night of
fun and laughter. Comics performing include: Ngaio Bealum, John Hoogasian, and
W. Kamau Bell.

What: Cannabis Comedy Festival
Where: Tommy T's Comedy Club- 5104 Hopyard Rd. Pleasanton, CA
When: Wednesday, November 14th, show starts at 8:00pm
Details: $10.00 Admission- Proceeds go to ASA and Free Tainted
$20.00 for VIP Reserved Seating
Must be 17 or older
Two Drink Minimum


For information on the event, contact info@AmericansforSafeAccess.org or go to
www.FreeTainted.com

Hope to see you out there!

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*17. Sunday, November 18, Ventura: Second Safe Access Now Town Hall Meeting

*Sunday, November 18, Safe Access Now will be hosting its second town hall
meeting for local medical marijuana patients, caregivers and advocates.

Currently Ventura County is not issuing California’s medical marijuana ID card
and patients are left at risk of false arrest or seizure of property. This
strategic planning meeting is the first step in our campaign to protect local
patients by implementing the ID program in the Ventura County.

Please attend this important meeting to help support patients’ rights in Ventura
County!
*
Details:*
When: Sunday, November 18th: 4 to 6 PM
Where: Foster Library (private meeting room)
651 E. Main St. (between Fir & Chestnut) in Ventura

For more information, contact Aaron Smith at safeaccessnow@gmail.com