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ASA California Weekly Alert: June 27, 2008

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*Weekly Round Up*
1a. ASA's Employment Rights Bill Passes the California Senate Judiciary Committee
b. Local Medical Marijuana Regulation Updates: Arcata & Claremont

*Chapter and Affiliate Meetings*
2. Tuesday, July 1, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting
3. Thursday, July 3, Santa Rosa: Sonoma ASA Meeting
4. Monday, July 7, Fresno: Fresno ASA Meeting & Special Viewing of /Waiting to Inhale/
5. Tuesday, July 8, San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting
6. Tuesday, July 8, San Diego: San Diego ASA Meeting

*City and County Hearings*
7. Tuesday, July 8, Oakland: Alameda County Board of Supervisors to Discuss Revising Dispensary Ordinance

*Special Events*
8. Saturday, July 12, Landers: Fundraiser Event for Senior Medical Marijuana Defendants

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California Icon Weekly Round Up

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1a. ASA's Employment Rights Bill Passes the California Senate
Judiciary Committee

On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved AB 2279. This ASA sponsored bill, authored by Assemblyman Mark Leno, would protect the rights of hundreds of thousands of medical marijuana patients in California from employment discrimination. AB 2279, which is being co-authored by Assemblymembers Patty Berg (D-Eureka), Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) and Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego), is in response to a January decision by the California Supreme Court in /Ross v. RagingWire/.

The bill will be heard by the full senate after they return from recess on August 4th. If AB 2279 passes the full senate, it will then be sent to the Governor's desk. We will be sending out an alert in late July asking you to contact your senator to ensure the passage of this bill. We cannot pass this important civil rights bill without your help!

The Press-Telegram published an editorial in support of AB 2279 this week, which urges the Governor to sign the bill. Please visit their website <http://www.presstelegram.com/opinions/ci_9694373> to read this excellent editorial.

For a detailed account of the hearing, please visit ASA's discussion forums <http://www.americansforsafeaccess.org/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=1394>.

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b. Local Medical Marijuana Regulation Updates: Arcata & Claremont

/Arcata Extends Moratorium on Medical Cannabis Dispensaries/

This week, the Arcata City Council voted to extend its moratorium on new medical cannabis dispensaries for 10 months and 15 days. Several advocates, including members of ASA's Humboldt chapter, spoke out in support of safe access at the hearing. Existing dispensaries will not be effected by the moratorium, and the council plans to work on long term regulations for dispensaries in the coming months.

Please read the Arcata Eye article <http://www.arcataeye.com/index.php?module=Pagesetter&tid=2&topic=3&func=vie wpub&pid=972&format=full> on the hearing for more information.

/Claremont Bans Medical Cannabis Dispensaries/

On Tuesday, the Claremont City Council voted to ban medical cannabis dispensaries. This vote was a reversal of the council's previous position, since they had voted several months ago to draft an ordinance to regulate dispensaries.

Please read the Daily Bulletin article <http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_9694623?source=rss> on the hearing for more information.

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Take Action Icon Chapter and Affiliate Meetings

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2. 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 July 1 at 7:00pm
Where: Crusaders Hall
320 Harris Ave. Suite H in Sacramento

For more information, contact Cannacare@earthlink.net

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3. 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, July 3, 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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4. Monday, July 7, Fresno: Fresno ASA Meeting & Special Viewing of
/Waiting to Inhale/

Join Fresno ASA for a special viewing of /Waiting to Inhale/, presented by the film's creator, Jed Riffe.

Waiting to Inhale explores the battle between patients, doctors, activists and the United States government over the legalization of medical cannabis. Providing exclusive access to individuals whose powerful stories have never made it to the front pages, the filmmaker takes us inside a world where critically ill patients are arrested at gunpoint for growing the only effective medicine for their pain.

When: Monday, July 7 @ 7:00pm
Where: Unitarian Church of Fresno
2672 E. Alluvial Avenue, Fresno

For more information, please contact fresnocagal@sbcglobal.net

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5. Tuesday, July 8, 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, July 8 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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6. Tuesday, July 8, San Diego: San Diego ASA Meeting

San Diego ASA has been very busy lately. Come to the San Diego ASA meeting where we will be discussing the latest medical cannabis issues.

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

For more information, visit the chapter's website: www.SafeAccessSD.org

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Government Icon City and County Hearings

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7. Tuesday, July 8, Oakland: Alameda County Board of Supervisors
to Discuss Revising Dispensary Ordinance

On Tuesday, July 8th, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors will receive testimony, discuss, and vote on the proposed amendments to the county medical cannabis dispensary regulation. *Among these amendments, the supervisors are proposing banning the provision of medical cannabis edibles at dispensaries!*

In order to give voice to the hundreds, if not thousands of patients living in these areas, we need to find 10 patients from these unincorporated communities - Ashland, Cherryland, Sunol, San Lorenzo, Fairview, Castro Valley - to share their experiences with medical cannabis at the next Board meeting on July 8th. Patients from nearby cities such as San Leandro and Hayward can also talk about their experience with local access.

Please attend the hearing to speak out in support of safe access!

*Who can help?*

Patients living in the unincorporated regions of Alameda County- Ashland, Cherryland, Sunol, San Lorenzo, Fairview, Castro Valley. Patients from nearby cities like San Leandro & Hayward can address their experience with local access.
*
When and where is the Board of Supervisors meeting?*

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors will meet to discuss the proposed changes on Tuesday, July 8th at 10:30 a.m. The meeting will take place at 1221 Oak St. Room 512, in downtown Oakland (corner of 12th St.).
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Marijuana Icon Special Events

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8. Saturday, July 12, Landers: Fundraiser Event for Senior Medical
Marijuana Defendants

Like many high desert senior citizens, JoAnn and Rich McCabe find that marijuana provides safe, effective symptomatic relief for the ailments of advancing years and use it specifically to manage their arthritis, insomnia and chronic back and joint pain. For following state law and doing what the voters of California said they could do, they are now paying a terrible price -- a price they cannot afford.

Local advocates have already raised a little over $7,000 on the way to the needed total of $15,000. Please come out and help JoAnn and Rich McCabe and have a great time as well!

What: Benefit Event for JoAnn and Rich McCabe
When: Saturday, July 12 from 5-9pm
Where: Castle Inn, 1388 N. Golden Slipper, Landers

See next week's alert for further details.

For more information, contact Lanny Swerdlow at: 760-799-2055.

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