[ASA Field]

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ASA California Weekly Alert: August 10, 2007
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*Weekly Round-Up*
1. a. Federal Court Update
b. Mendocino County Takes Steps to Maintain Safe Access
c. Pleasanton Human Services Commission Calls for Medical Cannabis Need
Assessment

*Take Action*
2. a. Donate to the Free Charles Lynch Fund
b. Sign Up for Instant Raid Alerts

*ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings*
3. Sunday, August 12, Birds Landing: Solano Patients Group Meeting
4. Tuesday, August 14, San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting
5. Tuesday, August 14, San Diego: San Diego ASA Meeting
6. Wednesday, August 15, Willits: Mendocino ASA Meeting
7. Wednesday, August 15, Newport Beach: Orange County ASA Meeting
8. Wednesday, August 15, Arcata: ***First Humboldt County ASA Meeting***
9. Saturday, August 18, Los Angeles: Los Angeles ASA Meeting
10. Wednesday, August 22, Oakland: East Bay ASA Meeting & Raid Response Training
11. Thursday, August 23, Clearlake: Lake County ASA Meeting

*City and County Hearings*
12. Thursday, August 16, Seaside: City Council to Vote on Dispensary Ban
13. Tuesday, August 14, Marysville: Yuba County Board of Supervisors Hearing on
Medical Marijuana ID Card Program
14. Tuesday, August 14, Santa Barbara: City Council to Discuss Medical Cannabis
Dispensary Regulations

*Court Support*
15. Tuesday, August 14, Sacramento: Federal Status Hearing for Dr. Mollie Fry
and Dale Schafer
16. Friday, August 24, Sacramento: Federal Resentencing Hearing for Bryan Epis

*Special Events*
17. Saturday, August 11, Fresno: Safe Access Now and Hemp Shack to Host Fresno
Organizing Meeting
18. Saturday August 11, Los Angeles: The First Occasional Los Angeles Cannabis
Comedy Festival
19. Wednesday, August 15, Los Angeles: WAMC March to City Hall
20. Thursday, August 16, Riverside: Public Demonstration in Downtown Riverside

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Weekly Round-Up
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1. *a. Federal Court Update
b. Mendocino County Takes Steps to Maintain Safe Access
c. Pleasanton Human Services Commission Calls for Medical Cannabis Need
Assessment

a. Federal Court Update

With the resurgence in DEA attacks on patients and providers there continues to
be numerous tragic victims in the war on patients. The following are updates on
patients and providers with federal trials:

Dr. Mollie Fry and Dale Schafer

El Dorado County medical marijuana physician and breast cancer patient 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. 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.

Their trial began on August 1, 2007, with Jeffrey Lichter appearing for Fry, and
Tony Serra representing Schafer. As this is a federal case, the judge has been
instructing the jury to ignore all references to medical marijuana. Currently,
the U.S. Attorney is presenting the federal case, and Mr. Serra is in the midst
of cross-examining the first witness. Fry, Schafer, and Serra have been
appearing with Christine Craft after court on 1240AM, 5-6pm, online at
www.1240talkcity.com <http://www.1240talkcity.com>. Please contact:
coolstuf@comcast.net <mailto:coolstuf@comcast.net> for information on a possible
courthouse demonstration, and for more info, visit www.docfry.com
<http://www.docfry.com>. See */Court Support/* for more information on their
next court date.

For information on the most recent court proceedings, please see Vanessa Nelson's report:
http://www.medicalmarijuanaofamerica...tent/view/128/.

John Moreaux

John C. Moreaux, the operator of West Hollywood Caregivers on Santa Monica
Boulevard, is facing federal charges after his dispensary was raided by federal
agents twice this year, in January and once in March. This week, Moreaux pled
not guilty to the DEA's charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute marijuana; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; possessing
a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; being a felon in possession of a
firearm; and maintaining a drug premises.

Read about Moreaux in the Daily News
<http://www.dailynews.com/ci_6560711?source=rss>.

b. Mendocino County Takes Steps to Maintain Safe Access

Congratulations to ASA's Mendocino Chapter and other activists and supporters in
Mendocino County! The Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance calling for the
county to honor the voter's wishes as specified in measure G and to keep the
guidelines at 25 plants per patient. The Board of Supervisors rejected the
Criminal Justice Committee's recommendation to lower the County's limits to 6
mature and 12 immature plants. Great work ASA and affiliated activists and
supporters! Thank you for your hard work and commitment to safe access.

c. Pleasanton Human Services Commission Calls for Medical Cannabis Need
Assessment

Pleasanton has taken the first steps towards safe access. Pleasanton Human
Services Commission has asked council staffers to approach Alameda County to
work to design and implement a blind survey of medical cannabis ID card
holders. Pleasanton City Council voted earlier this summer to ban medical
cannabis dispensaries. Despite that decision, several City Council members have
asked that the city assess the need for medical cannabis and dispensing
collectives. This is an important step forward for Pleasanton and Alameda County
residents.

To read more about the Human Services Commission's request for a survey, click
here.
<http://www.contracostatimes.com/search/ci_6564582?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com&nclick_check=1>


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Take Action
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2. a. Donate to the Free Charles Lynch Fund
b. Sign Up for Instant Raid Alerts

a. Donate to the Free Charles Lynch Fund

On July 17th, 2007, Charles C. Lynch was indicted for operating the Central
Coast Compassionate Caregivers in Morro Bay. Charles C. Lynch has become yet
another victim in the DEA's war on patients. Charles Lynch's dispensing
collective, the Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers provided safe and legal
access for patients in Morro Bay.

This innocent, law abiding, compassionate man needs your help!

*At the present time Charles C. Lynch has a public defender. What he really
needs is a medical cannabis lawyer. Any donation you can make will be greatly
appreciated. *Anyone wanting to help can contact Gina Armstrong at (805)
288-4000*. Thank you for all your continued support and encouragement.

b. Sign Up for Instant Raid Alerts/*

The DEA's increasing attacks on patients and providers in California needs to be
combated. Medical cannabis patients, providers, and supporters need to organize
together to prevent, stall, and bring attention to the federal government's
raids on dispensary collectives and providers in medical cannabis states. ASA
has developed a real-time emergency response service that alerts supporters of
local federal raids while they happen. Sign up for this service now by visiting
www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/RaidAlert
<http://www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/RaidAlert>.

To learn more about ASA's Raid Emergency Response Campaign and for instructions
on what to do in case of a raid, please visit
www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/EmergencyResponse
<http://www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/EmergencyResponse>. If you have questions
or need further information please contact Sonnet:
Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org <mailto:Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org>.

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ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings
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3. Sunday, August 12, Birds Landing: Solano Patients Group Meeting

Please join Solano Patients Group's fight for safe access in Central
California. At this meeting we will be discussing current events including the
recent federal activity in California and what we can do to be to increase
safety and access for patients in Solano County.

All medical cannabis supporters are welcome!

When: Sunday, August 12th @ 3:00 pm
Where: 2145 Collinsville Road in Birds Landing

For more info, call (707) 720-7593

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4. Tuesday, August 14, **San Francisco**: **San Francisco** ASA Meeting

Please join us at the upcoming San Francisco ASA meeting. We will be giving
briefings on the recent hearing last week, the DEA protest last Friday, and we
will be looking at what's on to the horizon for medical cannabis issues in San
Francisco.

The next ASA SF meeting will be held on Tuesday August 14th from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.

Where: Bowzer's Pizza
371 11th St
San Francisco , CA 94103

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5. Tuesday, August 14, San Diego: San Diego ASA Meeting

The San Diego City Council recently voted to file an Amicus Brief supporting
California's medical cannabis law. Please come find out what this means for safe
Access in San Diego.

When: Tuesday, August 14, 7:00-8:00pm
Where: Twiggs Coffee House
4590 Park Blvd.
In the Green Room

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6. Wednesday, August 15, Willits: Mendocino ASA Meeting

Please join us at our Mendocino ASA August meeting. We will be discussing the
Board of Supervisors meeting and what our next actions will be to protect
medical cannabis cultivation and access in Mendocino County.

When: August 15, Wednesday, at 6:00
Where: Herban Legends, 18300 Old Coast Hwy, Fort Bragg, CA

For more information contact Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org
<mailto:Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org>

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7. Wednesday, August 15, Newport Beach: Orange County ASA Meeting

Orange County ASA's recent victory of convincing the Board of Supervisors to
implement the state ID card program is a step towards safe access. Please join
us to discuss implementation of the program, recent events, and other important
medical cannabis issues facing us in Orange County.

When: July 11th @ 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 <mailto:OCLawyer@aol.com>

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8. Wednesday, August 15, Arcata: ***First Humboldt County ASA Meeting***

Humboldt County ASA (Americans for Safe Access) will hold its inaugural monthly
meeting on Wednesday, August 15 at 7pm at Mosgo's coffee house in Arcata. At the
meeting we will discuss Humboldt ASA's mission and goals, plan for future
actions and get to know each other. This meeting will mark a new chapter in the
local medical marijuana movement; we hope to see you there!

WHO: Humboldt County ASA
WHAT: Monthly Meeting
WHEN: Wed., August 15, 7pm
WHERE: Mosgo's coffee house in Arcata (Westwood Shopping Center off Alliance Rd.)
WHY: To organize to fight for patients rights in Humboldt County.
HOW: Through dedication and compassion...

Please email David at Humboldtasa@gmail.com <mailto:Humboldtasa@gmail.com> with
any questions or concerns. All patients and supporters are invited!

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9. Saturday, August 18, **Los Angeles**: **Los Angeles** ASA Meeting

This meeting will have a special focus on non-violent civil disobedience and
strategic planning in response to the crisis in LA. Please invite your friends
and loved ones. The meeting is not at a collective and the venue is 100%
accessible. Visit http://www.ASAaction.org for directions.

When: Saturday, August 18, 1pm - 3pm
Where: 470 S. San Vicente Blvd. Los Angeles, CA
(Cross Street is Drexel, between Wilshire & 3rd St.)

For more information, call Chris: (323) 464-7719

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10. Wednesday, August 22, Oakland: East Bay ASA Meeting & Raid Response
Training

At, this month's meeting we will hold a training on what to do in case of a
raid and will design a community emergency response plan in case of a DEA raid
in the Bay Area. We encourage all Bay Area activists to attend this important
meeting! We need to develop a coherent emergency response plan that we could
activate at a moment's notice.

Please join us! Refreshments will be served.

When: Wednesday, August 22nd @ 7 pm

Where: Americans for Safe Access Headquarters
1322 Webster Street, Suite 402, Downtown Oakland
Just a couple blocks from the 12th Street BART station!

For more information or to get involved, contact Rebecca:
Rebecca@SafeAccessNow.org <mailto:Rebecca@SafeAccessNow.org> or 510-251-1856 x 308

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11. Thursday, August 23, Clearlake: **Lake** County ASA Meeting

*Please Join Lake County ASA's Clearlake meeting this month. We will be planning
our Lake County fair tabling session, covering recent California campaigns, and
talk about the latest federal medical cannabis campaigns. All medical cannabis
supporters are welcome!*
*
When: August 23rd: 6:00pm
Where: D&M Compassion Center, 15196 Lakeshore Dr., Clearlake

For Additional information, contact Donna: LakeCoASA@msn.com
<mailto:LakeCoASA@msn.com>

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City and County Hearings
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12. Tuesday, August 14, Santa Barbara: City Council to Discuss Medical Cannabis
Dispensary Regulations

*Next Tuesday, two Santa Barbara Council members will ask the City Council if
there needs to be dispensary regulations. Please come out and show your support
for medical cannabis and safe access to medicine. Please contact Jennifer if you
plan on attending the hearing: jenniferln@gmail.com <mailto:jenniferln@gmail.com>.

Download ASA talking points <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2717>
on dispensary regulations, moratoriums and bans.

When: August 14 at 2:00pm
Where: City Council Chambers
City Hall
735 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, CA


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13. Tuesday, August 14, Marysville: Yuba County Board of Supervisors **Hearing
on Medical Marijuana ID Card Program*
*
*Yuba County Board of Supervisors will be formally receiving Safe Access Now's
written request to schedule a hearing on the implementation of the medical
marijuana ID program. Currently, the Yuba County Department of Public Health has
no plans to implement the state mandated program without direction from the
Board of Supervisors. In order to protect Yuba's medical marijuana patients and
move the county into compliance with state law, the board must grant our request
to place the ID program on a future agenda and then direct staff to move forward
with the program.

If you live in Yuba County, please call the board at (530) 749-7510 and urge
them to support implementation of the medical marijuana ID card program in Yuba
County (tell the operator the city you live in and ask them to direct you to
your supervisor).

In addition to calling the board members, it's crucial that patients and
supporters of the program attend and speak at next week's meeting in Marysville.
With your help, we can compel Yuba County's leaders to do the right thing and
vote to protect patients from arrest.

Talking points supporting the medical marijuana ID card program can be found
here: http://ca.mpp.org/talkingpoints.html

Meeting details:

Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - 10:00AM
915 Eighth St.
County Admin. Center, Board Chambers
Marysville, CA 95901
map: http://tinyurl.com/2v5pjk

For more information, contact Aaron Smith at (707) 575-9870 or
safeaccessnow@gmail.com <mailto:safeaccessnow@gmail.com>


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14. Thursday, August 16, **Seaside**: City Council to Vote on Dispensary Ban

*Please come out and show your support for safe access in Seaside. On August
16th, the Seaside City Council will hear a second reading of an ordinance, which
will ban dispensaries in the city. The Seaside City Council needs to know about
the importance of safe access. Please attend the hearing.

Download ASA talking points <http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2717>
on dispensary regulations, moratoriums and bans.

When: Thursday, August 16 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: City Hall located at 440 Harcourt Ave. Seaside, CA

For more information, contact Sonnet: Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org
<mailto:Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org>

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Court Support
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15. Tuesday, August 14, Sacramento: Federal Status Hearing for Dr. Mollie Fry
and Dale Schafer

*Please come out and show your support for Dr. Mollie Fry and Dale Schafer. As
you have read in the Round-Up, Dr. Fry and Schafer are facing federal
prosecution. For more information on the trial visit www.docfry.com
<http://www.docfry.com>

When: Tuesday, August 14 at 1:30pm
Where: The Courtroom of Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr.
U.S. District Court (E.D., CA), 15th Floor
501 "I" Street, Sacramento, CA

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16. Friday, August 24, Sacramento: Federal Resentencing Hearing for Bryan Epis

Bryan Epis was the first medical marijuana patient convicted in federal court
after the passage of California's Proposition 215. Epis was arrested June 25,
1997, after Butte County sheriff's officers discovered marijuana plants growing
in the basement of his home in Chico. Epis was released on bail August 9, 2004,
pending his appeal, and is currently awaiting his re-sentencing by the District
Court. See Vanessa Nelson's article
<http://www.medicalmarijuanaofamerica.com/content/view/67/60/> for more info.

When: Friday August 24 at 10:00am
Where: Courtroom of Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr.
U.S. District Court (E.D., CA), 15th Floor
501 "I" Street, Sacramento, CA

For more information contact Sonnet: Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org
<mailto:Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org>

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Special Events
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17. 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
<mailto:safeaccessnow@gmail.com>

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18. Saturday August 11, **Los Angeles**: The First Occasional **Los Angeles**
Cannabis Comedy Festival

What: A fantastic benefit comedy show for ASA. This show has been produced in
SF for the past 10 years, and one in Sacramento for about 5 years, and now it is
coming to LA!!!

Must be 18 or older!
Featured Comics: Garrett Morris, Greg Proops, Ngaio Bealum, Jefferey Peterson,
Rich Chassler and many more!
Music by the Luchadoors and DJ Ill Media.

Proceeds to benefit Americans for Safe Access

Ticket cost: $15.00

When: Saturday, August 11. Show stats at 9pm sharp.
Where: Downtown Comedy Club, Los Angeles

For more information, contact: info@AmericansforSafeAccess.org
<mailto:infor@AmericansforSafeAccess.org>

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*19. Wednesday, August 15, **Los Angeles**: WAMC March to City Hall
*
WHAT: Women Advancing Medical Cannabis Symbolic March to City Hall
WHEN: August 15th at 9:00am
WHERE: 255 E. Temple Street (Edward R. Roybal Federal Building),
Downtown Los Angeles
WHY: Safe access isn't going anywhere on our watch.

WHO: Women Advancing Medical Marijuana are concerned patients who are dedicated
to the further enrichment of the Medical Cannabis community and survival of safe
access for all patients. We are your mothers, sisters, daughters and partners;
we seek to merge these traits into the minds of those who know not what a
'patient is'.

We urge all interested parties to march alongside us - be they in wheelchairs,
walkers, canes or in need of someone to lean on while we make our way up to City
Hall. How you 'march' is how you feel, and it shows.

For more information, visit http://www.wamcla.org. To RSVP e-mail:
march@wamcla.org <mailto:march@wamcla.org>.


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*20. Thursday, August 16, Riverside: Public Demonstration in Downtown **Riverside**
*/From Summer Glenney/*

*Attention all local patients! Join us at a Public Demonstration in Downtown
Riverside.

There is a public demonstration on Thursday August 16th from 4PM to 6PM on Lime
St. between University and 10th St. We hope to have enough people to span both
intersections.

We will be having a funeral procession to essentially "lay safe access to rest"
here in the IE. The public demonstration will be in mourning & preparation for
those patients in the Inland Empire who have been left to die or waste away with
no medicine. It is in mourning of those patients who will soon become
non-functional once again because they have to manage their pain with
prescription drugs.

Please dress in black and try to bring a candle as this will also be a
candlelight vigil. You may also wish to bring any posters or signs you feel
would be appropriate. Bring any Halloween decorations symbolizing death (i.e.
Skeletons, headstones etc.) because that's what Riverside County & the County DA
has essentially prescribed the patients by going against their doctors
recommendation and taking away their medical cannabis.

Remember to mark your calendars for Thursday August 16th from 4-6PM so that you
can attend our public demonstration on Lime St in Riverside between University
Ave. and 10th St.