[ASA Field]

ASA California Weekly Alert: February 29, 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. San Francisco Board of Supervisors Vote to Further Protect Safe Access
b. ASA Urges BOE to Protect Sales Tax Revenue
c. Contra Costa County Votes to Thwart Safe Access

*Take Action
*2. Senators Boxer and Feinstein Need to Support Research: Petition Your
Community Today!

***Chapter and Affiliate Meetings*
3. Tuesday, March 4, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting
4. Thursday, March 6, Santa Rosa: Sonoma County ASA Meeting
5. Saturday, March 8, Willits: Medocino County ASA Meeting
6. Monday, March 10, Fresno: Fresno County ASA Meeting
7. Tuesday, March 11, San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting
8. Tuesday, March 11, San Diego: San Diego ASA Meeting
9. Wednesday, March 12, Newport Beach: Orange County ASA Meeting

*Court Support
*10. Monday, March 3, Sacramento: Sentencing Hearing for Jeffre Sanderson and
Alice Wiegand
11. Tuesday, March 4, Sacramento: Status Conference for Richard Marino*
*12. Thursday, March 6, Sacramento: Change of Counsel Motion for David Davidson
13. Thursday, March 6, Sacramento: Sentencing Evidentiary Hearing for Dr.
Mollie Fry and Dale Schafer
14. Friday, March 7, Fresno: Pre-trial Motions for California Healthcare
Collective Defendants
15. Friday, March 14, San Diego: Sentencing Hearing for Nathan Archer

*Special Events**
*16. Friday and Saturday, 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. San Francisco Board of Supervisors Vote to Further Protect Safe Access
b. ASA Urges BOE to Protect Sales Tax Revenue
c. Contra Costa County Votes to Thwart Safe Access
/
/*/ // a. //San Francisco Board of Supervisors Vote to Further Protect Safe
Access
From ASA SF Core Member, Alex Franco

/This week, the medical cannabis community celebrated the approval of two
important pieces of legislation that will help to protect safe access in San
Francisco, when the Board of Supervisors passed two key resolutions.

The first resolution voted on re-establishes the city's sanctuary status and
calls on the U.S. Congress and Mayor Gavin Newsom to stand up for patients
rights and put an end to DEA's interferences. This passed by a 7-2 vote with
Supervisors Sean Eslbernd and Carmen Chu. This legislation was introduced by
Supervisor Chris Daly, drafted by attorney Pat Goggin, and worked on by
activists from San Francisco ASA, Harvey Milk Club and Axis of Love.

The second is a resolution that allows for dispensaries to stay open after the
March 1st deadline pending an amendment to the current ordinance. The resolution
passed unanimously! This legislation was also championed by Chris Daly and was
worked on by activist of ASA SF, Americans for Safe Access, the Compassionate
Care Council, Drug Policy Alliance, and the Marijuana Policy Project. Supervisor
Allioto-Pier was absent for both votes.

Congratulations to all who worked tirelessly on these resolutions! Check out
CBS' coverage of the resolutions
<http://cbs5.com/localwire/22.0.html?type=bcn&item=SF-MARIJUANA-RESOLUTION>.


/ b. ASA Urges BOE to Protect Sales Tax Revenue/

ASA's California Director, Don Duncan, testified at the Board of Equalization
(BOE) hearing in Culver City this week. There were approximately fifty people
present and a dozen speakers – although only one talking about medical
cannabis. Don Duncan sent Chairwoman Chu and the other Board Members copies of
ASA’s sales tax fact sheet, along with Senator Carole Migden’s sales tax amnesty
bill
<http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_1051-1100/sb_1098_bill_20080114_introduced.html>
and non-cooperation resolution
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/blog/www.americansforsafeaccess.org/downloads/SJR_20.pdf>.
Duncan praised Vice-Chairwoman Yee for the op-ed piece
<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/15/ED0UV1RNP.DTL&hw=medical+marijuana&sn=001&sc=1000> she
authored with Senator Migden in the San Francisco Chronicle earlier this month.
He emphasized that the timing of the op-ed's release was perfect because it
coincided with the recent meeting with the Governor’s senior staff in Sacramento.

During his testimony, Duncan reiterated that dispensaries are legal in
California and generated an estimated $100 million dollars in sales tax revenue
in 2007. He also told the Board that federal interference and intimidation
threaten both patients and revenue. Duncan asked the board to support Senator
Midgen’s efforts and to encourage the Governor to take visible action. Following
his comments, Vice Chairwoman Betty Yee thanked the staff for working so hard on
the issue and said it was a very tough time for dispensaries.

A larger group of advocates and collective operators will be attending a similar
hearing in Sacramento next month.
/

// c. Contra Costa County Votes to Thwart Safe Access

/This week, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors voted to limit safe
access in the unincorporated regions of the county. The unanimous decision
banned the opening of any new dispensaries in Contra Costa County. The ban,
however, allows the one current dispensary in the unincorporated area of the
county to stay open, M.E.D. Dispensary in El Sobrante. Since M.E.D. Dispensary
was approved for a land-use permit prior to the 2006 moratorium in Contra Costa,
the Board of Supervisor's decision will not affect the dispensary. Thank you to
the medical cannabis supporters and activists who attended and spoke at the hearing.

Read more about the ban in the Contra Costa Times
<http://www.contracostatimes.com/search/ci_8379873?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com&nclick_check=1>
and the Mercury Times
<http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8379873?nclick_check=1>.

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Take Action federal advocacy

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*2. **Senators Boxer and Feinstein Need to Support Research: Petition Your
Community Today!

*Senators Boxer and Feinstein have not yet signed on to support research. They
must hear from their constituents as soon as possible!*
*
ASA has created a *petition
<http://www.americansforsafeaccess.org/SenatePetitionMap>* that you can print
out and circulate at your work, school, home, church, and in your larger
community. Download and print out this petition demanding your U.S. Senators
support access to materials for FDA-approved medical cannabis research. Our goal
is to collect 30,000 signatures by April 21^st . These petitions will be hand
delivered each to Senators Boxer and Feinstein by our National Office staff.
Please join in our efforts and begin gathering signatures today!

Visit ASA’s fun interactive map to download a petition addressed to your state’s
U.S. Senators. Go to www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/SenatePetitionMap and click
on your state for your specialized petition!

Please send completed petitions to ASA Headquarters:

Americans for Safe Access
Attn: Sonnet Seeborg Gabbard
1322 Webster Street, Suite 402
Oakland, CA 94612
Fax: (510) 251-2036**

*Also, forward to this action to as many people as possible. The only way we
will win this campaign is with strength in numbers. That means the more people
that sign the petition the better!*

* *

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Chapter and Affiliate Meetings asa activists *
*

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*3. Tuesday, March 4, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting

*Please join Sacramento ASA as we continue to fight for safe access! At our
meeting, we will be discussing upcoming campaigns, reaching out to
condition-based groups, upcoming events in Sacramento, and much more!
*
*When: Tuesday the 4th 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. Thursday, March 6, Santa Rosa: Sonoma County ASA Meeting

*Please join us at our monthly Sonoma County ASA meeting. We will be discussing
local, state, and national campaigns that will have an impact on patients'
access to medicine.

Please come out and support safe access in our community!

When: Thursday, the 6th, 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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*5. Saturday, March 8, Willits: Medocino County ASA Meeting
*
Join Mendocino ASA at our monthly meeting. Help support safe access in Mendocino
County!

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

For more information contact: Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org*
*
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*6. Monday, March 10, Fresno: Fresno County ASA Meeting

*We went again last Tuesday to the Board of Supervisors meeting to urge them to
implement the California Medical Marijuana Identificiation Card (MMIC). The
Board asked us to get on the next meeting's agenda, which will be in March.
Please come and join us at this important meeting. We will be preparing for the
upcoming BOS meeting. If you have any questions about the Fresno Chapter of ASA
please feel free to give Diana an e-mail. We hope to see many of you at our
next meeting.

When: Monday, the 10th at 6:00pm
Where: Fig Garden Memorial Library
Corner of Marks and Bullard in the Shopping Center

For more information, contact Diana at: fresnocagal@sbcglobal.net*
*
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*7. * *Tuesday, March 11, San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting
*
There have been several recent victories in San Francisco and we want to
continue to build off of this momentum. Come join us at our SF ASA meeting and
fight for safe access!

When: 7:30-9:00pm
Where: Bowers Pizza on 11th street in SF

For more information, contact Alex at: aaaFranco@yahoo.com
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*8. Tuesday, March 11, San Diego: San Diego ASA Meeting
*
Join San Diego ASA for our March meeting and help us protect access in San Diego!*

*When: 7:00pm
Where: 6070 Mt. Alifan Suite 202
San Diego, CA 92111, Clairemont *

*Location is subject to change. Please contact 4cccp@cox.net to verify location.
*
*
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*9. Wednesday, March 12, Newport Beach: Orange County ASA Meeting

*Safe access has been under attack in Orange County and we need your help to
stop it! Please come out and show your support at our monthly meeting on March
12th.

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

For more information contact: OCLawyer@aol.com.*

*

**
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Court Support patients rights
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/Thank you to Vanessa Nelson for helping ASA stay on top of upcoming court dates!/*
*
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*10. **Monday, March 3, Sacramento: Sentencing Hearing for Jeffre Sanderson and
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 being detained in Sacramento County Main Jail awaiting sentencing
and both he and Wiegand have agreed to accept plea bargains.

When: 10:00am
Where: Before Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr. in U.S. District Court (E.D., CA),
Courtrooom 2, 15th Floor at 501 "I" Street in Sacramento.
*
*
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*11. Tuesday, March 4, Sacramento: Status Conference for Richard Marino
*
Sacramento County dispensary operator Richard Marino was raided on September 3,
2004 at Capitol Compassionate Care Center and at his home in Newcastle, CA. DEA
agents allegedly seized 250 plants, 20 pounds of processed medical marijuana,
and more than $100,000. Criminal charges were not filed for more than a year and
a half, but on January 13, 2006, Marino was indicted for conspiracy to
distribute marijuana, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana,
manufacturing marijuana, and money laundering. The federal government also has
forfeiture proceedings pending on Marino's home and the facility in which Marino
ran his business. Come out and show your support for Richard at his status
conference!

When: March 4th at 9:30am
Where: Courtroom 4, before Judge Karlton, 501 I Street, Sacramento, CA

For more information contact Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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*12. **Thursday, March 6, Sacramento: Change of Counsel Motion for David Davidson

*Medical marijuana patients Cynthia Blake and David Davidson were raided
separately at their homes (in Red Bluff, CA and Oakland, CA) in 2003 and were
originally brought up on state charges. While both sides were negotiating in
their state case in judge's chambers, in January 2004, with the help of the
Tehama County District Attorney, Blake and Davidson were arrested on federal
charges. They are now facing manufacturing and conspiracy to manufacture more
than 1,000 plants, and due to the June 2005 Raich decision have little hope of
providing evidence of medical use. Come out and show your support for David
Davidson at his hearing.*

*When: March 6th at 9am
Where: Courtroom 3, before Judge England, 501 I Street, Sacramento, CA

For more information, contact: Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org
*
*
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*13.* *Thursday, March 6, Sacramento: Sentencing Evidentiary Hearing for Dr.
Mollie Fry and Dale Schafer

*On September 28, 2001, DEA raided the Cool, California (El Dorado County)
clinic of medical marijuana physician and breast cancer patient Mollie Fry and
her husband, attorney Dale Schafer, and seized patient records. Almost
immediately after the Raich decision, on June 22, 2005, Fry and Schafer were
arrested and indicted for marijuana found on the premises during the raid. In
2002, the federal government also successfully revoked Fry's DEA license to
practice medicine, but Dr. Fry remains a licensed physician in the state of CA.
Trial began on August 1, 2007, with Jeffrey Lichter appearing for Fry, and Tony
Serra representing Schafer. Sadly, Fry and Schafer later that August were
convicted. For more information, see www.docfry.como, see *this page
<http://www.docfry.com>.

When: Thursday, March 6th at 10am
Where: Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr. in U.S. District Court (E.D., CA)
<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>,
15th Floor at 501 "I" Street in Sacramento.

For more information contact Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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*14. Friday, March 7, Fresno: Pre-trial Motions for California Healthcare
Collective Defendants

*After the City of Modesto failed to shut down the California Healthcare
Collective by banning dispensaries, it called in the DEA. On September 27, 2006,
the DEA raided the collective and arrested four people (owner-operators Luke
Scarmazzo and Ricardo Montes and two staff members) on charges of distribution
of marijuana and conspiracy to distribute. Scarmazzo and Montes were also
charged with possession of firearms and money laundering. Later, an additional
five people were indicted, bringing the total to nine people being prosecuted by
the federal government. In the raid, the DEA allegedly seized more than 100
pounds of marijuana, one thousand plants, multiple firearms, and more than
$200,000 in cash. The raids were the result of a 15-month investigation between
the DEA and the Modesto Police Department. Since Judge O'Neill finally decided
to release Monica Valencia on bail after 7 months in federal prison, all
defendants have been released on bail pending trial. Recently, Bradley
Heinmiller, Bradley Wickliffe and Stephen DeMattos have pled guilty to avoid
trial, and only six defendants (Scarmazzo, Montes, Valencia, Lucky Boissiere,
Jose Malagon, and Antonio Malagon) remain. The trial confirmation hearing is
expected to occur on March 14, 2008 at 8:45am, and the trial is expected to
begin on April 15th, 2008 at 9am. Please come out and show your support for the
group at his pre-trial Motions hearing! For more info, see Vanessa Nelson's
article <http://www.medicalmarijuanaofamerica.com/content/view/155/1/>

When: March 7th at 1:30pm
Where: Courtroom 4, Judge O'Neill, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA

For more information contact Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org
*
*
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*15. Friday, March 14, San Diego: Sentencing Hearing for Nathan Archer

*In April, 2006, the San Diego P.D. raided the residence of Nathan Archer, 40
year-old chronic pain patient in San Diego, seizing 30 plants (police inflated
the number to 98 plants by counting garbage and dead plants) and 28 oz. of
processed medicine. After failing to get a jury to convict Archer in a previous
criminal trial, the San Diego County District Attorney Robert Bruce, who was
overheard remarking to the jurors of the first case that "this whole medical
marijuana thing is a bunch of poppycock," retried Archer. On January 30, 2008,
after assistance from a cross-deputized DEA Agent who served as an expert
witness, the second jury convicted Archer of cultivation and possession of
greater than 1 oz. of marijuana and he remains at home in Sausalito while
awaiting sentencing. Please come out to demonstrate to the San Diego justice
system that Nathan is part of our medical marijuana community and to encourage
the judge towards lenience. Come show your support for Nathan at his sentencing
hearing!

When: 9am before Judge Kerry Wells
Where: San Diego County Superior Court, Central Courthouse at 220 West
Broadway, Department 36
<http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=55,1059008&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL >


For more information, contact Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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Special Events closer look ****
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*16. Friday and Saturday, 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.
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--

Sonnet Seeborg Gabbard
Field Coordinator
Americans for Safe Access
AmericansForSafeAccess.org <http://AmericansForSafeAccess.org>

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national member-based
organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned
citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and
research.

Join us today... AmericansforSafeAccess.org <http://AmericansforSafeAccess.org>

Headquarters
1322 Webster St Suite 402
Oakland, CA 94612
P: 510-251-1856 ext. 321 F: 510-251-2036