[ASA Field]

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ASA California Weekly Alert: June 20, 2008

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*Weekly Round Up*
1a. Medical Marijuana Legislation to Be Considered Next Week in the California Senate
b. Luke Scarmazzo and Richard Montes Will Not Be Retried on Conspiracy Charges
c. California Medical Marijuana Program Launches New Website
d. With All Votes Counted, Mendocino's Measure B Passes

*Chapter and Affiliate Meetings*
2. Saturday, June 21, Los Angeles: Special LA ASA Meeting on ASA's California Plan
3. Tuesday, June 24, San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting
4. Wednesday, June 25, Oakland: East Bay ASA Meeting
5. Tuesday, July 1, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting
6. Thursday, July 3, Santa Rosa: Sonoma ASA Meeting

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California Icon Weekly Round Up

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1a. Medical Marijuana Legislation to Be Considered Next Week in
the California Senate

Next week, the California Senate will vote on two pieces of medical marijuana legislation. The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on AB 2279, which would protect the rights of hundreds of thousands of medical marijuana patients in California from employment discrimination. Introduced by Assemblymember Mark Leno and sponsored by ASA, AB 2279 passed through the Assembly last month and, if passed by this committee, will soon head to the full Senate for a vote.

SJR 20, introduced by Senator Carole Migden, could be voted on by the full Senate as early as next week. This resolution urges the President and Congress of the United States to enact legislation requiring federal law enforcement to respect state medical marijuana laws, to cease raids of medical marijuana dispensaries that are operating legally under California and local law, and to return any assets seized from medical marijuana dispensaries and collectives to the states in which they are located. After clearing the Senate Health Committee, SJR 20 was slated to be heard in the Judiciary Committee, but the committee instead passed it straight to the Senate floor.

For more information on AB 2279 and SJR 20, please visit www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/CA2008Bills

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b. Luke Scarmazzo and Richard Montes Will Not Be Retried on
Conspiracy Charges

On Monday, Luke Scarmazzo and Richard Montes were in court for a Motion for a Speedy Trial Hearing for Retrial on Conspiracy count. Scarmazzo and Montes had been tried in federal court last month. While the jurors had deadlocked on the conspiracy counts and acquitted on the firearms counts, they delivered a grand total of eight guilty verdicts against the defendants, including a conviction for continuing criminal enterprise, which puts Scarmazzo and Montes at risk of life imprisonment.

Here is Vanessa Nelson's account of the hearing:

Rather than going to trial right away, federal prosecutors have
decided to ditch the plan to re-try former dispensary owners Luke
Scarmazzo and Ricardo Montes on conspiracy.

Both defendants were imprisoned a month ago, following the first
trial of medical marijuana dispensary operators in federal court. Oddly enough, the jurors handed down convictions on several weighty
felony charges, but failed to return verdicts on conspiracy to
manufacture marijuana, distribute marijuana, and possess marijuana
with the intent to distribute. Shortly after the trial concluded,
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Servatius revealed that Scarmazzo
and Montes would be re-tried on this conspiracy count, but the
defendants' refusal to waive time threw a wrench in the works. Unable to find a way to avoid a speedy trial, Servatius announced
yesterday that the government would dismiss the conspiracy count for
both defendants "in the interest of justice."

Please read the full story at Medical Marijuana of America's website <http://www.medicalmarijuanaofamerica.com/content/view/225/1/>.

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c. California Medical Marijuana Program Launches New Website

The California Medical Marijuana Program recently launched a new website <http://ww2.cdph.ca.gov/programs/MMP/Pages/default.aspx>. The site has several new features, including:

* A map tracking counties that have implemented the ID card program
and those that have not
<http://ww2.cdph.ca.gov/programs/Documents/MMP-ParticipatingCounties.pdf>.
* Statistics on state ID cards issued, by year
<http://ww2.cdph.ca.gov/programs/MMP/Pages/MMPCardDATA.aspx>.
* A more user friendly directory of county programs
<http://ww2.cdph.ca.gov/services/Pages/MMPCounties.aspx>.

Interestingly, while 10,274 ID cards were issued in the fiscal year 2006/2007, this number dropped to 6,836 for 2007/2008. This drop in registration is possibly due to the fee increase that was implemented by the California Department of Public Health in March 2007.

For further information on California's medical marijuana ID card program, please visit www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/CAIDCard.

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d. With All Votes Counted, Mendocino's Measure B Passes

Two weeks ago, we reported that Measure B in Mendocino County appeared to have passed, but there were still more than 10,000 ballots to be counted. The final votes were counted today, and the measure passed with 52% of voters voting for the measure and 48% voting against it. Measure B lowers the plant limits for medical marijuana patients from 25 plants to the state limit of 12 immature or six mature plants and eight ounces of dried marijuana.

Though the ballot initiative has now passed, advocates may challenge it in court, based on the recent ruling in /People v. Kelly/ <http://americansforsafeaccess.org/blog/?p=104>.

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Take Action Icon Chapter and Affiliate Meetings

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2. Saturday, June 21, Los Angeles: Special LA ASA Meeting on ASA's
California Plan

*"The California Plan"*

Please join us for a special meeting of the Los Angeles Chapter of Americans for Safe Access on Saturday, June 21. As part of his statewide tour, California Director Don Duncan will be discussing ASA's progress in California and the next steps for protecting and expanding patients' rights. Don will be returning to LA from meeting with California Senators at the Capitol, so come hear the very latest news!

*Who: *This is a meeting that every medical cannabis advocate in the Los Angeles area should attend
* *
*What:* Special Los Angeles Chapter Americans for Safe Access Meeting with California Director Don Duncan

*When:* 1:00 PM, Saturday, June 21, 2008

*Where:* Patient ID Center, 470 S. San Vicente Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90048-4107

*How do I get more Info:* Visit http://www.ASAaction.org <http://www.asaaction.org/> or email _don@safeaccessnow.org_

*Some of the topics he will cover include:*
*? *ASA landmark victory in the California Appeals Court, which help that wrongfully confiscated medicine must be returned -- despite federal law!

*? *The California Assembly approved ASA sponsored legislation to protect legal patients from employment discrimination (AB 2279). How ASA plans to accomplish the next steps, passing the Senate, and getting signed by the Governor this year.

*? *Together we will work on local strategy for grassroots opposition to DEA interference. Find out about ASA's efforts already underway in Sacramento and Washington, DC, to stop the raids once and for all.

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3. Tuesday, June 24, San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting

Join us for our ASA SF patient activist meeting at our usual meeting space, Bowzers Pizza on 11th at Harrison. We will discuss the latest in medical cannabis politics, laws, science, and activism.

When: Tuesday, the 27th at 7:30pm
Where: Bowzer's Pizza, 371 11th St in San Francisco

For more info, contact Alex: aaafranco@yahoo.com
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4. Wednesday, June 25, Oakland: East Bay ASA Meeting

Please come and join the East Bay ASA crew as we discuss important local, state, and national medical cannabis issues! We will also be focusing on proposed changes to the Alameda County dispensary ordinance, and upcoming East Bay court support.

When: Wednesday, the 25th at 7:00pm
Where: ASA Headquarters Office
1322 Webster Street, Suite 402, Downtown Oakland (2 blocks from 12th St. BART station!)

For more information, contact Rebecca@AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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5. Tuesday, July 1, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting

There are several medical marijuana activities over the next month including state legislation and outreach to condition-based groups. Please come and find out how you can get involved.

When: Tuesday the 20th at 7:00pm
Where: Crusaders Hall
320 Harris Ave. Suite H in Sacramento

For more information, contact Cannacare@earthlink.net

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6. Thursday, July 3, Santa Rosa: Sonoma ASA Meeting

Please join Sonoma County ASA as we discuss pressing local, state, and federal safe access issues.

When: Thursday, June 4, 5:00-7:00pm
Where: South City View Room
Department of Public Health
625 5th St., Santa Rosa, CA

For more information, contact Sarah@AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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[yesyestheoneandonly]

Incredibly informative. I thank your for this. Sad about mendocino though.