[ASA Field]

*Weekly Round-Up*
1. a. Los Angeles Update: L.A. City Council Endorses Hinchey-Rohrabacher
Amendment While DEA Raids 8 Hollywood Dispensaries
b. Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment Defeated
c. Claremont City Council Approves Dispensary Ordinance
d. Ukiah City Council Amends Punishment for Medical Cannabis
Regulation Violators

Take Action
2. Friday: Protest the DEA's Attack on Patients Statewide!

ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings
3. Thursday, August 2, Santa Rosa: Sonoma ASA Meeting
4. Tuesday, August 7, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting

City and County Hearings
5. Wednesday, August 1, Pleasanton: Human Services Commission Meeting to
Assess Need for Medical Cannabis Access

Court Support
6. Monday, July 30, Sacramento: Dr. Phillip Denney's Federal Motion to
Dismiss Hearing
7. Monday, July 30, Fresno: Discovery Hearing for Bill Connelly
8. Tuesday, July 31, Sacramento: Federal Trial for Dr. Mollie Fry & Dale
Schafer
9. Monday, July 30, Sacramento: State Sentencing Hearing for John
Berchielli
10. Wednesday, August 8, Modesto: State Criminal Sentencing Hearing for
Jesse Kiryakoz
11. Thursday, August 9 Sacramento: Federal Status Conference for David
Davidson

Special Events
12. Tuesday, July 31, San Francisco: Virginia Resner's Memorial Service
13. Saturday, August 11, Fresno: Safe Access Now and Hemp Shack to Host
Fresno Organizing Meeting

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Weekly Round-Up

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1. a. Los Angeles Update: L.A. City Council Endorses Hinchey-Rohrabacher
Amendment While DEA Raids 8 Hollywood Dispensaries
b. Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment Defeated
c. Claremont City Council Approves Dispensary Ordinance
d. Ukiah City Council Amends Punishment for Medical Cannabis
Regulation Violators

a. Los Angeles Update: L.A. City Council Endorses Hinchey-Rohrabacher
Amendment While DEA Raids 8 Hollywood Dispensaries
A Message from ASA's Southern California Coordinator, Don Duncan

There were between eight and ten DEA raids at medical cannabis
facilities in Hollywood yesterday. We have not yet determined how many
arrests were made citywide. This is bad news for patients and providers,
but let's don't forget how the day started. Yesterday's DEA sweep was
timed to coincide with two landmark votes in Los Angeles and one in
Washington, DC.

Yesterday morning, City Councilmember Dennis Zine, a former Los Angeles
Police Officer, held an unprecedented press conference with Americans
for Safe Access (ASA) to present a letter calling on the DEA to abandon
its latest attack on landlords who rent to medical cannabis dispensaries
and allow the City Council to move forward with regulations without
further federal interference. City Council President Eric Garcetti
joined patients and dispensary operators to support Zine's courageous
stance. Then, the City Council unanimously approved the first reading of
a moratorium on new collectives that marks the first step towards
sensible guidelines and greater legitimacy for collectives in the city.
Those two things alone would have been a big step forward, but the City
Council was not finished! One Councilmember after another stood up to
join Councilmember Zine in signing the letter to the DEA and announcing
their support for medical cannabis in Los Angeles. Finally, the Council
unanimously approved a motion endorsing the Hinchey-Rohrabacher
amendment in the US House, adding their considerable clout to the call
to legalize medical cannabis at the federal level.

The LA City Council's endorsement was not enough to secure a victory for
patients in Congress, but it was a shot across the bow of the DEA and
the Bush Administration. The outcome of today's Los Angeles City Council
meeting was abundantly clear for everyone to see -- Los Angeles has
turned a corner on medical cannabis and the endgame is now in sight! We
are headed inexorably towards sensible guidelines and fully-sanctioned
safe access in the state's largest metropolis. Never doubt the
significance of what has happened. As goes Los Angeles, so goes the
country. We are making history and changing everything for patients all
over the United States.

The DEA and the LAPD do not want us to succeed, so they have staged
another sweep of local collectives in Los Angeles. At least eight
locations were raided by the DEA and LAPD yesterday. In an obscene and
cynical twist, these raids were timed to coincide with the City Council
vote to support legal medical cannabis in Congress! I spent all day
protesting the raid at CPG and cleaning up the aftermath. I want to
ensure you that CPG will continue to defend safe access and stop these
unconscionable attacks on patients' access. A handful of protesters at
CPG decided to blockade the DEA and LAPD perpetrators and secure the
freedom of staff, patients, and protesters. I can not express how
impressed I was with the brave protestors who put their bodies ion the
line. The demonstration was intense, and patients faced intimidation and
violence at the hands of the LAPD. They behaved with bravery grace under
pressure. I want to thank every one of them from the bottom of my heart.

On Friday, July 27, ASA is calling on medical cannabis supporters to
protest the DEA raids at federal buildings nationwide. Please read the
Take Action alert below for details. Please bring signs, banners, and
friends to the federal building and make you voice heard. This is a
crisis moment in our community, and we need to stand up in record numbers.

Thank you again for your support. Do not be discouraged... We are
winning and yesterday's trouble is the DEA and LAPD's last desperate
attempt to stop us. Let's finish this work together and make safe access
a reality in Los Angeles!

b. Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment Defeated

The final vote for the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment was 165 "Ayes",
262 "Noes," and 10 abstained from voting on this important amendment.
The Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment to the Commerce-Justice-State
appropriations bill would have cut funding to the DEA for federal raids
against state-licensed patients and caregivers. Those opposing this
amendment focused all of their arguments on attacking a national
medicinal cannabis policy, basing claims on selected science that has
been debunked by the federal Institute of Medicine, and disrespecting
the thousands of Americans who find relief from medicinal cannabis.
Opponents refused to focus on what the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment was
actually proposing.

All of the calls, e-mails, letters, and faxes had a significant impact
on getting the 165 votes in favor of the amendment. Your work helped
recruit 6 new medical marijuana supporters and has opened the door to
communicating with the fence sitters and newly elected representatives
about medical cannabis issues.

Thanks again to all of our supporters for your hard work! Educating your
representatives on medical cannabis issues not only helps protect
patients and providers, it strengthens our democracy. Please be sure to
look for ASA's national alert with more details on the vote.

For more information, contact Sonnet: Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org

c. Claremont City Council Approves Dispensary Ordinance

This past Tuesday, the Claremont City Council voted 3-2 in favor of
lifting the temporary ban on dispensaries and allowing a dispensary to
open within the city limits. Details on the dispensary's location in the
city, the operator, and specific restrictions will be determined in the
upcoming months. This vote has paved the way for the City Council to
begin adopting dispensary regulations. Claremont City Council will
present a timeline for developing dispensary regulations at their
September 11 meeting.
This decision makes Claremont one of the first cities in the Inland
Valley to have dispensary regulations. Thank you to all the activists
in the Claremont area for your hard work. Your efforts have made an
important impact!

For more information, contact Sonnet: Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org.

d. Ukiah City Council Amends Punishment for Medical Cannabis Regulation
Violators

The Ukiah City Council voted 4-0 earlier this week to amend the city's
medical marijuana ordinance. The amendment calls for law enforcement to
use a civil nuisance abatement procedure for violators of the city's
cultivation regulations. With the new amendment, violators are visited
by city inspectors and given time to fix the complaint. Prior to this
amendment, violators were charged with a misdemeanor and would have
faced up to 6 months in jail. The amendment also gives the city the
flexibility to eventually press charges against continual non-compliant
violators.

To read more about the City Council's decision and the timeframe for the
nuisance abatement procedure, read the Ukiah Daily Journal article
<http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/searchresults/ci_6423571> on the
amendment.

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Take Action!
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2. Protest DEA's Attack on Patients and Providers Statewide!
When: Friday, July 27th
Where: Los Angeles, Buellton, Humboldt, Oakland, Lakeport, Riverside,
Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara

On Wednesday, at least 8 dispensaries in Hollywood were raided by the
DEA. After hundreds of patients and advocates blockaded one of the
dispensaries, California Patients' Group, the DEA and LAPD released
those who were being detained inside. ASA would like to thank all of the
patients, providers, and advocates who rushed down to CPG to show
solidarity.

These raids came on the heels of the Los Angeles City Council moving
towards dispensary regulations and calling on the DEA to stop attacking
patients and providers in Los Angeles. For more information about the
raids and the actions of the council, please see ASA's press release
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4877>.

ASA chapters and affiliates throughout California will be holding
protests and marches in solidarity with Los Angeles patients and
providers this Friday. Please show your support for medical cannabis and
protest the DEA's contemptible actions!

Below is a list of confirmed protests and demonstrations. If you do not
see one listed for your area and you'd like to organize an action,
please contact Sonnet at Sonnet@SafeAccessNow.org or 510-251-1856.

Los Angeles ASA
When: Friday, July 27th at 9:00am
Where: Starting at the Federal Building at 255 East Temple St. in
downtown LA for the protest and then marching to City Hall at 200 N
Spring St. in downtown LA.
For more information, contact Sonnet: Sonnet@safeaccessnow.org
Download LA ASA's Protest Flyer and Distribute
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/LAASAProtestFlyer.pdf>

Buellton ASA
*When: Friday, July 27th at 2:00pm
Where: 2nd St. and Avenue of the Flags in Buellton
For more information, contact ****: 805-693-5790

East Bay ASA in Oakland
When: Friday, July 27th at 12:00pm
Where: Oakland Federal Building, 1301 Clay Street, Downtown Oakland
Contact: Sean at seanluse@hotmail.com or 510-395-5988

Humboldt County ASA
When: Friday, July 27th at 5:00pm
Where: Arcata City Hall, 736 F St, Arcata
For more information, contact: HumbodltASA@gmail.com

Lake County ASA in Lakeport
When: Friday, July 27th at 12:00pm
Where: County Courthouse at 255 North Forbes Street in Lakeport
For more information, contact Donna at:707-245-6630 or e-mail at
LakeCoASA@msn.com

Riverside, sponsored by *Patient Advocacy Network *
When: Friday, July 27th at 10:00am
Where: Riverside Offices of the DEA at 4470 Olivewood Ave in Riverside
For more information, call Ryan Michaels at 909-996-1197 or 951-785-0670

Sacramento ASA
When: Friday, July 27th at 9:00am
Where: State Capitol Building, 1500 11th St. Sacramento
For more information, call: 916-925-8837
Download SAC ASA's Protest Flyer and Distribute
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/SACASAProtestFlyer.pdf>

San Diego ASA
When: Friday, July 27th at 12:00pm
Where: Federal Building, 880 Front Street, San Diego
For more information, contact Dion: 4cccp@cox.net

San Francisco ASA
When: Friday, July 27th at 9:00am
Where: San Francisco Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate, San Francisco
For more information, contact: aaafranco@yahoo.com
Download SF ASA's Protest Flyer and Distribute
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/SFASAProtestFlyer.pdf>

Santa Barbara ASA
When: Friday, July 27th at 10:00am
Where: Santa Barbara Courthouse, 1100 Anacapa St # 2, Santa Barbara
For more information, contact: jenniferln@gmail.com; (805) 637-5365

We are calling on all medical cannabis supporters, patients, and
providers to come out and protest DEA's blatant attack on patients and
providers in Los Angeles! Please bring signs in support of medical
cannabis and safe access.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact
Sonnet: Sonnet@SafeAccessNow.org.
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ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings
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3. Thursday, August 2, Santa Rosa: Sonoma ASA Meeting

Join us at the August Sonoma ASA meeting. We will be going over updates,
court dates, and urgent local organizing issues.

When: Thursday, August 2 at 7:00pm
Where: Department of Public Health
625 5th St., Santa Rosa, CA

For more information, contact Terri: 707-332-6556
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4. Tuesday, August 7, Sacramento: Sacramento ASA Meeting

There has been increasing activity in California around dispensary
regulations, ID card programs, court support needed, and overall access
for patients. Come to the Sacramento ASA meetings this month to work on
important medical cannabis issues facing Sacramento. We will also be
giving updates on SAC ASA's court support for Dr. Mollie Fry and Dale
Schafer, ASA's lawsuit with the DQA, and other California issues. Come
join us!

When: Tuesday, August 7th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Crusaders Hall
320 Harris Avenue, Suite H
Sacramento, CA

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

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City and County Hearings
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5. Wednesday, August 1, Pleasanton: Human Services Commission Meeting to
Assess Need for Medical Cannabis Access

The City Council has referred the question of community need for medical
marijuana access to the Human Services Commission. The commission will
determine whether there is a need for medical cannabis access at this
meeting. Please come out to the Commission meeting and show your support
for medical cannabis. Download ASA talking points
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2717> on dispensary
regulations, moratoriums and bans.*

When: August 1 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: City Council Chambers, 200 Old Bernal Avenue. in Pleansanton

For more information, contact Sonnet: Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org
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Court Support
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6. Monday, July 30, Sacramento: Dr. Phillip Denney's Federal Motion to
Dismiss Hearing

In February 2006, Dr. Denney, a physician in practice for over 30 years,
received documents revealing that an undercover agent of the Bureau of
Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) visited Dr. Denney's Redding, CA
office and obtained a recommendation using false information and under
false pretenses. The government was allegedly investigating a local
dispensary that was subsequently shut down. In November 2006, Dr. Denney
filed a lawsuit in federal court naming the ATF, DEA, and various local
law enforcement agencies, which alleges that his constitutional rights
have been violated, and that the actions of law enforcement have had a
chilling effect on his relationships patients. The lawsuit seeks to
enjoin (prevent) law enforcement not only from investigating Dr. Denney,
but also from using him in an investigation.

When: Monday, July 30th at 10:00am
Where: Judge Lawrence Karlton in U.S. District Court 15th Floor
501 "I" Street in Sacramento

For more information, contact Sonnet at sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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7. Monday, July 30, Fresno: Discovery Hearing for Bill Connelly

Medical marijuana patient Bill Connelly, who operated the Seven Seas
collective, was raided on June 12, 2007, and the DEA confiscated
approximate 40 mature and 40 immature plants but did not arrest him.
Later in June, the DEA returned and arrested him and at least four
others and charged them with conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

When: Monday, July 30 at 9:00am
Where: Judge Anthony Ishii Courtroom
U.S. District Court (E.D., CA), 8th Floor
2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA

For more information, contact Sonnet: sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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8. Monday, July 30, Sacramento: State Sentencing Hearing for John
Berchielli

In Sacramento Superior Court last month, patient, caregiver, and
activist, John Berchielli, was convicted on five counts relating to his
medical marijuana garden. Berchielli was a supplier of clones to the
Sacramento dispensary Alternative Specialties, which was shut down by a
multi-agency raid in July 2005 and whose owner is currently being
prosecuted in federal court. This closure, which occurred shortly
before the action against Berchielli, prevented the defendant from being
able to present adequate evidence of his caregiver status during trial.
This made his grow of over 1000 marijuana clones very difficult to
defend. When interviewed after giving their verdict, jurors reported
that the lack of patient lists and testimony heavily influenced their
decision.

To read a full account of the trial of John Berchielli, visit
http://www.medicalmarijuanaofamerica...gory/1/56/109/

If Berchielli is sentenced heavily, it could mean that we will lose the
work of a very valuable activist. Please come to the sentencing hearing
to show your support for this asset to our community.

When: July 30 at 9:00am
Where: Dept. 47 (6th Floor) of 720 9th Street in Sacramento, California

For more information, contact Sonnet: Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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9. Tuesday, July 31, Sacramento: Federal Trial for Dr. Mollie Fry & Dale
Schafer

El Dorado County medical marijuana physician Mollie Fry and her husband,
attorney Dale Schafer, were arrested as a result of a September 28, 2001
raid on their clinic in Cool, California, in which patient records were
seized. After the Raich decision, on June 22, 2005, Fry and Schafer were
indicted for marijuana found on the premises during the raid. Fry is
also facing a separate action by the DEA to revoke her license to
practice medicine.

When: Tuesday, July 31, Time, TBD
Where: Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr.
U.S. District Court (E.D., CA), 15th Floor
501 "I" Street in Sacramento

For more information, contact Sonnet: sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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10. Wednesday, August 8, Modesto: State Criminal Sentencing Hearing for
Jesse Kiryakoz

Next Wednesday there will be state criminal sentencing Hearing at 8:30am
before Judge Ricardo Cordova. The Modesto Police Department raided his
private patient collective cultivation site and arrested 32-year old
chronic back pain patient Jesse Kiryakoz. Kiryakoz was convicted of
cultivation and possession with intent to sell 11 oz. of medicine and
less than 100 plants. Please come out to Jesse's sentencing hearing to
show the judge that he is part of our community and we stand behind him,
but please call (209) 558-6000 to confirm that the hearing is on schedule.

When: August 8th at 8:30am
Where: Judge Ricardo Cordova's courtroom
Stanislaus County Superior Court, Dept. 8, 1st Floor,
800 11th St., Modesto, CA.

Click here for a map to the Courthouse.
<http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory =&searchtab=home&formtype=address&popflag=0&latitu de=&longitude=&name=&phone=&level=&cat=&address=+8 00+11th+Street&city=modesto&state=ca&zipcode=>

For more information, contact Sonnet: Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org
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11. Thursday, August 9 Sacramento: Federal Status conference for David
Davidson

Medical marijuana patients David Davidson & Cynthia Blake were raided in
2003 by Tehama County Sheriffs and were arrested on federal charges in
January 2004. Davidson is now facing manufacturing and conspiracy to
manufacture more than 1,000 plants and is currently incarcerated in
Sacramento.

When: Thursday, August 9th at 9am before Judge Morrison England, Jr.
U.S. District Court (E.D., CA), 15th Floor
501 "I" Street in Sacramento.

Please come out and show your support!
For more information, contact Sonnet: Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org

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Special Events
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*12. Tuesday, July 31, San Francisco: Virginia Resner's Memorial Service*
From Mikki Norris

A memorial service for our dear friend and colleague, Virginia Resner
(who passed away earlier this week), will be held on Tuesday, July 31,
2007 at 1:00 PM at Temple Emanu-El, Martin Meyer Sanctuary, at 2 Lake
Street (located on the corner of Lake and Arguello Streets), San
Francisco, CA 94118.

Her family requests that donations in Virginia Resner's name to be made
to Coming Home Hospice, Green Aid: Medical Marijuana Education and Legal
Defense Fund, Inc., and to programs at Temple Emanu-El.

A second gathering to celebrate Virginia's life is being planned for
Sunday, September 30, 2007. Details to come.

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*13. Saturday, August 11, Fresno: Safe Access Now and Hemp Shack to Host
Fresno Organizing Meeting*

On Saturday, August 11, Safe Access Now and the Hemp Shack will be
hosting a meeting to help local medical cannabis patients effectively
advocate their local government.

Fresno County is not working to implement state law by implementing
California's medical marijuana ID card program and, due to a lack of
medical cannabis dispensaries in the area, many local patients are
forced into the black market to obtain their medicine.
Please attend this important meeting to learn how you can help turn
Fresno County around and protect local patients from arrest.

When: Saturday, August 11, 4:00-6:00 PM
Where: Round Table Pizza (private meeting room)
5040 N. West Avenue (@ Shaw)
Fresno, CA
93711-2901

Map: http://tinyurl.com/yohf85

Pizza and soft drinks will be provided. For more information, contact
Aaron Smith at Safe Access Now: (707) 575-9870 or safeaccessnow@gmail.com