[ASA Field]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASA California Weekly Alert: December 14, 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Special Announcement: Due to the upcoming holidays, ASA will not be providing a
Weekly Alert for Friday, the 28th. *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weekly Round-Up
1. *a. Dozens of Patients and Activists Protest DEA in Support of Tainted, Inc.
b. DEA Asset Forfeiture Letters Reach Northern California; Activists Mobilize
c. Court Denies Appeal for Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative
d. DEA Seizes Taxes from CA Board of Equalization*

ASA's Legal Tip of the Month
2. How to Handle a Law Enforcement Encounter: In Your Home- Part 2 of a 3-Part
Series

Take Action
3. If you haven't sent a thank you e-mail to Rep. Conyers, do so today!

ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings*
4. Monday, December 17, Fresno: Fresno ASA Meeting
5. Tuesday, December 18, Sacramento: Compassionate Coalition Meeting
6. Thursday, December 20, Arcata: Humboldt County ASA Meeting
7. Thursday, December 20, Sebastopol: Sonoma County ASA Meeting and Annual Kris
Kringle Potluck

City and County Hearings
9. Tuesday, December 18, Merced: Merced County Board of Supervisors to Discuss
Dispensary Ban

*Special Events
12. Saturday, December 15, San Francisco: ASA Holiday Party

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weekly Round Up
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. a. Dozens of Patients and Activists Protest DEA in Support of Tainted, Inc.
b. DEA Asset Forfeiture Letters Reach Northern California; Activists Mobilize
c. Court Denies Appeal for Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative
d. DEA Seizes Taxes from CA Board of Equalization

a. Dozens of Patients and Activists Protest DEA in Support of Tainted,
Inc.

Today, dozens of Bay Area activists gathered at the Oakland Federal Building in
protest of the recent raids on several Tainted, Inc. facilities and the arrests
of four employees. The "Holiday Party Protest," commenced with Tainted operator
and ASA activist, Michael Martin, dressed in a Santa Claus costume singing
holiday carols. Martin then gave a compelling speech, presenting the DEA with a
selection of scientific research which proves the efficacy of medical marijuana,
and a Grinch plush doll. Referencing the tale of/* How the Grinch Stole
Christmas*/, Martin encouraged the DEA to have a change of heart, as the Dr.
Seuss story says. The protest continued with patient activist, Jacqueline
Patterson, speaking about the importance of medical marijuana for patients, and
Dr. Frank Lucido, echoing her sentiments.

The Tainted, Inc. defendants' court hearing has been postponed to January 29th.
Bay Area activists and ASA plan on attending for court support. We will keep you
updated on the hearing's date and location in future alerts. Read ASA's press
release about the DEA's raid on Tainted here
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5105>. For more information on
what you can do to support the defendants, visit www.FreeTainted.com.

b. DEA Asset Forfeiture Letters Reach Northern California; Activists Mobilize

This week, the DEA's newest tactic of shutting down access for patients reached
Northern California. Several Northern California collectives' landlords received
asset forfeiture letters from the DEA. In these letters, the DEA threatens to
seize the property of the innocent third-party landlords for allowing medical
cannabis collectives to operate in their properties. While this is a concerning
development, ASA is working in coalition with Drug Policy Alliance, Marijuana
Policy Project, California NORML, and other activists and leaders to ensure that
andlords, patients, and providers are protected.

We will need the grassroots' support and actions in the upcoming weeks. Please
stay alert, as the coalition will be calling on activists to take action to
ensure safe access in California.

c. Court Denies Appeal for Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative

This week, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Oakland
Cannabis Buyers Cooperative's oral arguments, affirming the U.S. government's
injunction. This decision does not change the current situation for medical
cannabis dispensaries in California. Read more about the decision, reported by
CBS 5: http://cbs5.com/local/medical.mariju...2.610402.html/


d. DEA Seizes Taxes from CA Board of Equalization
From Dale Gieringer, Executive Director, California NORML

DEA raids on California's medical marijuana dispensaries are costing the
state's taxpayers millions of dollars in lost revenues, according to records
collected by California NORML.

The DEA has not only closed facilities that were paying millions of dollars
yearly in sales taxes, but also seized as much as $450,000 in sales tax payments
that were in transit to the state Board of Equalization. Among them was a
$350,000 electronic payment to the BOE from the Compassion Center of Alameda
County, which the DEA seized from the bank on October 30th. Read the rest of
the story >>
<http://www.canorml.org/news/DEASeizesStateTax$$_relse.htm>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASA's Legal Tip of the Month
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. How to Handle a Law Enforcement Encounter: In Your Home- Part 2 of a 3-Part
Series*

Though medical marijuana was legalized ten years ago, if you possess or
cultivate medicine in your home, you continue to be at risk of a police
interaction. If you cultivate, post all copies of all recommendations, state ID
cards, and caregiver agreements in your garden, and try to stay under your
county guidelines, as your condition allows. Keep copies of these documents
near your processed medicine as well. If there are children in the house,
ensure that all medicine (including cannabis butter) is secured by lock and key
and inaccessible.

If law enforcement knocks on your door, step outside and close the door behind
you while the officers explain their intentions. Do not leave the door open.
Then, ask for a search warrant, and do not let officers in without one. If the
officers present you with a warrant, make sure it includes the correct address,
a relatively recent date, and a judge's signature before allowing them to enter.

Once the officers are in your home, with or without a search warrant, say, "I do
not consent to a search." You need not answer any questions except to present
your recommendation and state ID card (if you have one) to explain any
possession or cultivation that the officers discover.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Take Action
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. If you haven't sent a thank you e-mail to Rep. Conyers, do so today!

*Last week, House Judiciary Committee Chair, Rep. Conyers (D-MI) pledged to
investigate the DEA's recent and ongoing tactics threatening the safety and
security of state-sanctioned patients, providers, and innocent third-party
landlords. As the chair of the committee, Rep. Conyers has afforded medical
marijuana supporters a great opportunity to make sure that the DEA is held
accountable for their actions.

Visit http://www.AmericansforSafeAccess.or...kYouRepConyers to take action to ensure
that Rep. Conyers follows through with his word.

Click here <http://www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/ThankYouRepConyers>* to thank
Chairman Conyers right now!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Monday, December 17, Fresno: Fresno ASA Meeting

Join the Fresno ASA chapter as we discuss the ID Card program and strategize
our next steps.

7:00pm @ Fig Garden Regional Library
3071 W Bullard Ave in Fresno

For more information, e-mail: Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Tuesday, December 18, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA and Compassionate
Coalition Meeting

Please join Compassionate Coalition, hosted by Sacramento ASA, as we discuss our
current upcoming campaigns and look at what is on the horizon for 2008 to ensure
safe access.

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

For more information, contact: Nathan@CompassionateCoalition.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Thursday, December 20, Arcata: Humboldt County ASA Meeting

Join Humboldt County ASA as we wrap up for 2007 and prepare for the New Year.
All medical marijuana supporters are encouraged to join.

6:00pm @ Bayview Courtyard Complex at 550 Union St. in Arcata

For more info, contact: HumboldtASA@gmail.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Thursday, December 20, Sebastopol: Sonoma County ASA Annual Kris Kringle
and Potluck and Meeting

Please come celebrate the end of 2007 with Sonoma ASA. Bring a dish or drink to
share, as well as a $5-$10 gift to exchange. No alcohol. No medicating onsite.
Potluck and gift exchange will follow our regular meeting.*

When: Thursday, December 20th, 5-7pm
Where: 708 Gravenstein Hwy, in Sebastopol*

For more info, contact: asasonomaco@aol.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City and County Hearings
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Tuesday, December 18, Merced: Merced County Board of Supervisors to Discuss
Dispensary Ban

Safe access is under attack in Merced County! The Merced County Board of
Supervisors will consider a county wide ban on medical dispensaries on December
18th. Please come out an show your support for safe access.

Download ASA talking points <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2717> on dispensary regulations, moratoriums and bans.

When: December 18th at 10:00am
Where: Board Chambers on the third floor of 2222 M Street, Merced.

Read more about the potential ban in the Merced Sun-Star here:
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/story/79056.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Events
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. Saturday, December 15, San Francisco: ASA Holiday Party

*2007 ASA Holiday Party on 12/15/07*

Join us for fun, food and music at Pier 23 in San Francisco! Raffle with Volcano
Grand Prize!

Get your tickets today at<http://www.americansforsafeaccess.org/holidayparty>and receive a free drink
ticket at the door!

Doors open 7pm - 21+ only - Tickets are $50 each
For more information and to order your tickets online, visit
<http://www.americansforsafeaccess.org/holidayparty> or call 510.251.1856.