[ASA Field]

ASA California Weekly Alert: February 1, 2008

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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. Berkeley City Council Votes to Provide Sanctuary to Patients and
Providers
b. California Legislation to Help and Protect Patients
c. New Northern California U.S. Attorney Says Raids Should be a Low
Priority
* *

*Take Action
*2. Super Tuesday is 4 Days Away! Californians Must Be Heard!**
*
Chapter and Affiliate Meetings*
3. Tuesday, February 5, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting
4. Tuesday, February 5, San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting*
*5. Thursday, February 7, Santa Rosa: Sonoma County ASA Meeting
6. Tuesday, February 12, San Diego: San Diego ASA Meeting
7. Wednesday, February 13, Newport Beach: Orange County ASA Meeting

*Medical Marijuana Week Activities
*

8. Sunday, February 10, San Francisco: Medical Marijuana University
9. Monday, February 11, Marin County: Showing of In Pot We Trust
10. Tuesday, February 12, San Francisco: Know Your Rights Legal Training
11. Wednesday, February 13, Oakland: Sneak Preview of a New Medical Marijuana Movie
12. Thursday, February 14, San Francisco: Valentine’s Spread the Love Seed
Planting
13. Friday, February 15, Oakland: Patients' Testimonials Video and Photo Shoot
14. Saturday, February 16, Oakland: Civil Disobedience Training for Emergency
Response
15. Saturday, February 16, Berkeley: Medical Marijuana Movie Matinee
16. Sunday, February 17, San Francisco: SF ASA 215 Party
17. Saturday, February 23, Sacramento: Sacramento Medical Marijuana Patients
Art Show

*Special Events*

18. Save the Date: April 4-5, 2008: Patients Out of Time Fifth National Conference

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Weekly Round Up California

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*1. a. Berkeley City Council Votes to Provide Sanctuary to Patients and
Providers
b. California Legislation to Help and Protect Patients
c. New Northern California U.S. Attorney Says Raids Should be a Low
Priority
*

/ a. Berkeley City Council Votes to Provide Sanctuary to Patients and
Providers

/On Tuesday, the Berkeley City Council voted to adopt a Sanctuary Resolution,
which will provide protection for patients and providers in the event of a DEA
raid. The Berkeley City Council unanimously approved the Medical Cannabis
Sanctuary Resolution co-sponsored by Councilmembers Moore and Worthington,
thereby designating Berkeley a "sanctuary for medicinal cannabis patients,
providers, and landlords." The resolution also called on the Governor to stand
up against the DEA and call for an end to the interference in the implementation
of state and local laws.

This resolution came as a result of months of lobbing and outreach to the City
Council by medical cannabis activists, patients, providers, and supporters. This
is an important victory for patients, providers, and now third-party landlords
in Berkeley and the East Bay. Congratulations to all of those who worked on
this important resolution to ensure protection and safe access in the Bay Area.

To learn more about the City Council's resolution read the San Jose Mercury
<http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8121308> and Berkeley Daily Planet
<http://www.berkeleydaily.org/text/article.cfm?issue=01-29-08&storyID=29037>
articles.
/
b. California Legislation to Help and Protect Patients //

/As the anti-medical marijuana efforts escalate with the most recent examples
being the surge of DEA raids and the California Supreme Court's decision to deny
a patient's right to work, several California state representatives are stepping
forward to protect patients and providers in California. The following is a
brief legislative update on medical cannabis bills and a resolution that are
being worked on in Sacramento currently.

Last week, ASA reported that Assemblyman Mark Leno was introducing a bill that
would protect a patient's right to work. This bill came on the heels of the
California Supreme Court's ruling last week in the Ross vs. Raging Wire
Communications case. California Assemblyman Mark Leno and ASA were waiting to
respond in case of an adverse ruling like this. Assemblyman Leno announced only
hours after the decision on Thursday that he will be introducing an
ASA-sponsored piece of legislation that will amend California law to protect
patients from this kind of discrimination.

Senator Carol Migden has been a long time medical cannabis supporter. Last
month, working with medical cannabis supporters, the senator introduced a
California Senate Joint Resolution
<http://www.americansforsafeaccess.org/downloads/SJR_20.pdf> calling on
Congress, the President, and federal law enforcement to stop raiding legal
medical cannabis collectives and respect California’s law. Senator Migden’s
resolution follows an unprecedented escalation in Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) attacks on medical cannabis providers and threats against
property owners who rent to hundreds of collectives all over California.

Senator Migden also recently introduced to the Senate floor a bill that will
ensure back tax relief for medical cannabis dispensaries. The medical cannabis
dispensaries would have back sales tax amnesty for all sales prior to October 1,
2005. Senator Migden's sales tax relief comes in response to the 2005 decision
by the California Board of Equalization (BoE) to adopt a policy to collect sales
tax from dispensaries and other medical marijuana providers. At the time, ASA
testified at several public hearings, presenting a position paper against
collection of sales tax, as it would invariably be a cost absorbed by the
patients. To read about ASA's position on sales tax, click here
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4427>.

This bill is an important compromise for both dispensaries and the Board of
Equalization, because it relieves the burden of paying large amounts of back
taxes whilst encouraging compliance with and participation in the BoE's sales
tax scheme. Read more about Senator Migden's tax relief bill in the Bay Area
Reporter. <http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=2660>

ASA will keep you updated as news comes in on the status of these three
important pieces of legislation.

/ c. New Northern California U.S. Attorney Says Raids Should be a Low
Priority
/
This week, the San Francisco station KCBS released a story about the new U.S.
Attorney for Northern California, Russoniello. The story highlighted a recent
quote by Russoniello regarding DEA raids of state sanctioned and regulated
medical cannabis dispensaries. The new U.S. Attorney said, "We could spend a
lifetime closing dispensaries and doing other kinds of things and enforcement
actions, bringing cases and prosecuting people, shoveling sand against the tide,
it would be terribly unproductive and probably not an efficient use of precious
federal resources."

While the new U.S. Attorney's sentiments about funding raids are encouraging,
the federal government and current Bush Administration has made it clear that
they intend to shut out access for patients. To listen to the full story on
KCBS and the new U.S. Attorney for Northern California's statements click here
<http://podcast.kcbs.com/kcbs/886971.mp3>.
///
/
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Take Action Federal campaign

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*2. Super Tuesday is 4 Days Away! Californians Must Be Heard!*

Next week, thousands of citizens nationwide will line up to vote in one of more
than 20 presidential primaries held on Super Tuesday including thousands of
Californians. Click here to send an e-mail and fax to the presidential
candidates to commit to ending DEA raids on medical marijuana providers
<http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/ExecutiveOrder>.

*We need every single one of you to contact the presidential candidates today!
<http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/ExecutiveOrder> *We are targeting the
candidates who have publicly supported medical marijuana to take their
commitment to safe access one step further by pledging to end federal raids if
elected.

We are asking Senators Obama and Clinton if elected to issue an Executive Order
that would say:

“No funds made available to the Department of Justice shall be used to prevent
States from implementing adopted laws that authorize the use, distribution,
possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana. In particular, no funds shall
be used to investigate, seize, arrest or prosecute in association with the
distribution of medical marijuana, unless such distribution has been found by
adjudication to violate state or local law.”

Since Senator Edwards announced this week that he is pulling out of the race we
have taken him off of our target list. Also, due to activists taking action
earlier this week, ASA has been contacted by Congressman Paul's campaign to
begin to work towards developing an Executive Order pledge.

Click here to e-mail and fax the candidates
<http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/ExecutiveOrder> challenging them to stand
up for medical marijuana patients and to protect taxpayers' dollars.

* *

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Chapter and Affiliate Meetings activist corner*
*

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*3. **Tuesday, February 5, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting

*There are several medical marijuana activities over the next month. Please come
and find out how you can get involved. We will be discussing Medical Marijuana
Awareness Week, upcoming campaigns, reaching out to condition-based groups and
many more events on the horizon.
*
*When: Tuesday the 5th at 7:00pm
Where: Crusaders Hall
320 Harris Ave. Suite H in Sacramento

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

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*4. Tuesday, February 5, San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting

*Join San Francisco ASA at a special Medical Marijuana Awareness preparation
meeting. If you wish to be involved in the SF ASA Medical Marijuana Week events
please join us for this important meeting.

When: Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 7:30pm*
*Where: Bowzer's Pizza, 371 11th St in San Francisco

For more info, contact Alex: aaafranco@yahoo.com <mailto:aaafranco@yahoo.com>
*
*
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*5. Thursday, February 7, Santa Rosa: Sonoma County ASA Meeting*

Please join us at our monthly Sonoma county ASA meeting. This month, we will be
preparing for our meeting to discuss the Santa Rosa regulations and our Medical
Marijuana Awareness Week activities.

Please come out and support safe access in our community!

When: Thursday, the 7th, 5:00-7:00pm
Where: South City View Room
Department of Public Health
625 5th St., Santa Rosa, CA (Between Humboldt and Mendocino)

For more info, contact: asasonomaco@aol.com
*
*
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*6. Tuesday, February 12, San Diego: San Diego ASA Meeting

*

Join us at the San Diego ASA meeting this month. Our San Diego chapter of ASA has been busy lately and needs you to get involved. We will be discussing important local issues including medical marijuana week. It is time to get involved and protect safe access!

Twiggs Coffee House
4590 Park Blvd.
In the Green Room
7:00-8:00 p.m.

For more information, contact: sdasa420@yahoo.com.

*
*
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*7. Wednesday, February 13, Newport Beach: Orange County ASA Meeting

*Please attend the meeting next Wednesday as we celebrate Medical Marijuana
Awareness Week and discuss other pressing local, state, and national campaigns.

When: 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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Medical Marijuana Awareness Week Events Closer
Look

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***8. Sunday, February 10, San Francisco: Medical Marijuana University

*When: 1:00-4:00p.m.
Where: The Women's Building
3543 18th St # 8, San Francisco

Join us for the 5th Annual Medical Cannabis University. Come get your diploma in
Medical Cannabis Law, Research, and Cultivation!

Sponsored by Americans for Safe Access, San Francisco

For more information, please contact asasf@gmail.com*

*
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*9. Monday, February 11, Marin County: Showing of In Pot We Trust
*
Screening with the Star of Showtime's in Pot We Trust

For time & location e-mail: medicalmaryjane@hotmail.com

Marin County*

*
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*10. Tuesday, February 12, San Francisco: Know Your Rights Legal Training

*When: 7-9pm
Where: Medical Marijuana Activist Resource Center (next door to Hope Net
Dispensary)
223A 9th Street between Howard & Folsom.

Come practice how to deal with law enforcement encounters through a series of
roleplays. Learn what do when you get pulled over, police show up at you door,
or what happens after you are arrested.*

*Sponsored by ASA SF

**
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*11. Wednesday, February 13, Oakland: Sneak Preview of a New Medical Marijuana
Movie

*What: Sneak Preview of an unreleased docu-commedy on Cannabis.
Where: Oaksterdam University
410 15th St. Oakland
When: Door 7pm, Movie 7:30 (90 minutes)

Featuring well-known comedians and includes footage of Don Duncan and protests
of the DEA raids in L.A.

For more information please call: 510.251.1544*


*
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*12. Thursday, February 14, San Francisco: Valentine’s Spread the Love Seed
Planting

*Help us deliver a Valentine to Mayor Newsom! Bring plants and seeds to plant in
Civic Center.

When: 4:20pm
Where: San Francisco Civic Center Plaza

For more information, contact asasf@gmail.com*

***
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*13. Friday, February 15, Oakland: Patients' Testimonials Video and Photo Shoot

**Calling All Patients in the Bay Area! *

Are you a medical marijuana patient? Are you willing to share your story with
the world? Are you interested in being the new face of ASA and having your
picture on our website? If so, please join Americans for Safe Access at our
headquarters in Oakland on February 15, during Medical Marijuana Awareness Week,
for our YouTube video testimonials and photo shoot day. On Feb.15 we are asking
patients willing to share their story on camera to come in and film a short 1-3
minute video testimonial to be posted on YouTube and ASA's website to help
educate the world about medical marijuana and why people need safe access.

If you would rather do a written testimonial and have your picture on the
website, please come in and join us that day for a photo shoot. The video and
photo shoot will take place at ASA headquarters on February 15th, 11:00am-7:00pm.

In order to participate in this event, we need you to sign up for a time slot.
To sign up, RSVP to Josie@AmericansforSafeAccess.org or call (510) 251-1856.
Time slots are going to be fillied on a first come first serve basis so sign-up
today! We will also need you to sign a release when you come to the shoot to
allow ASA to share your story.

Please join us for a fun and important day of filming and photo shoot!

When: Friday, February 15th, 11:00am-7:00pm
Where: ASA Headquarters
1322 Webster St., Suite 402
Oakland, CA
How: RSVP to Josie@AmericansforSafeAccess.org or call (510) 251-1856 to sign up
for a time slot!
*
*
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14. *Saturday, February 16, Oakland: Civil Disobedience Training for Emergency
Response*

What: Civil Disobedience Training for Emergency Response
When: 12-2pm
Where: 1322 Webster Suite 402 in Oakland, CA

For more information, contact Rebecca@AmericansforSafeAccess.org or call
(510)251-1856.

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15. *Saturday, February 16, Berkeley: Medical Marijuana Movie Matinee*

What: Medical Marijuana Film Festival
When: 2-9pm
Where: 48th and Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley

Movies to be announced.

More info available on nberkhills@sbcglobal.net

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16. * Sunday, February 17, San Francisco: SF ASA 215 Part**y**

*Celebrating California’s State Law, Prop 215 inspiring Medical Marijuana
Awareness Week

Featuring: Live Music and DJ’s: Reggae, Hip Hop and Latin Beats. Door Prizes,
Community Awards and Much Much More…

When: 8:00pm
Where: 2700 16th Street at Harrison
Other Details: $10 Admission. Hemp Ale & Cuban Food Available

For information check out sf.safeaccessnow.org
*
*
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*17. Saturday, February 23, Sacramento: Sacramento Medical Marijuana Patients
Art Show*

More details to come....

The Brick House 2837 36th Street
Time TBA
For more information contact: 916-325-9000

All of this information is available at SF ASA’s website:
sf.safeaccessnow.org
*
*
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Special Events closer look
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*18. Save the Date: **April 4-5, 2008**: Patients Out of Time Fifth National
Conference

*Question: Have you registered for the Patients Out of Time national conference
yet? If not, please register today <http://www.MedicalCannabis.com/registration>!

Save the date for the Fifth National Patients Out of Time conference for April
4th and 5th. For more information and to register visit
www.MedicalCannabis.com/registration <http://www.MedicalCannabis.com>

The Patient Out of Time Conference will feature patients, activists, doctors,
and researchers gathering to discuss the latest research on medical marijuana.
This important conference only happens once every other year, so if you are a
patient, doctor, researcher, and/or supporter, we strongly encourage you to look
into attending the conference, which will be held at Asilomar Conference Center
in Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula.