[Justonevoice]

LOS ANGELES – October 20, 2009 – Medical cannabis patients and their
advocates are holding rallies and conducting actions in Los Angeles, San
Francisco, San Diego and Riverside, California, on Thursday, October 22,
2009. Patients are responding to local elected officials and rogue law
enforcement for impeding regulations and violating patients’ rights.
Patients are also working with Congressional offices to move the issue
further forward on the federal level.

They will be thanking President Obama for the recent memo to California
Attorney General Jerry Brown and others, that includes language which has
helped reduce fear of DEA raids and federal prosecution of patients from
the US Department of Justice. While patient advocates applaud this memo
many feel it falls short and changes little in California.

“President Obama’s memo is welcome and a reasonable first step but
patients and providers need much stronger protection and clear language
under federal law,” states Shona Gochenaur, Executive Director of Axis of
Love San Francisco, a medical cannabis patient advocacy and social
services organization serving San Francisco. Patient advocates in San
Francisco will call on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for a review of the pros
and cons HR 2835, the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act -
Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress). Gochenaur states,
“We have to keep up this momentum.”

In Los Angeles, District Attorney Steve Cooley and City Attorney Carmen
Trutanich are calling all medical cannabis dispensaries “100% illegal” and
have promised busts. “Patients feel threatened in a new way in Los
Angeles,” states Degé Coutee, director of Patient Advocacy Network, a
medical cannabis patient advocacy and educational organization serving
Greater Los Angeles. “They [Cooley and Trutanich] are recreating reefer
madness and are out of step with the will of the people. We want
acceptable rules not raids. Los Angeles has created a dangerous situation
and patients want to let our officials know we that,” continues Coutee.

Day of Action List of Events and Contacts:
Los Angeles – Degé Coutee (contact info above)
Rally at Los Angeles City Hall – 200 N. Main St. Entrance, Downtown LA –
2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
San Francisco – Shona Gochenaur (415) 240- 5247 axisoflovesf@gmail.com
Rally at Congressional Office of Nancy Pelosi - 90 7th Street, San
Francisco, 94103 – Noon to 1 p.m.

San Diego – Kim McCue kim_cue@sbcglobal.net or Wendy Christakes (619)
723-6572
Rally at CA Narcotic Officers Assoc. Awards Ceremony – Double Tree Hotel –
7450 Hazard Center Drive – 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Riverside – Ryan Michaels (760) 707-7661 neotruth@hotmail.com
Rally at Riverside County Courthouse – Corner of 10th and Main Streets,
Riverside Civic Center – 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.

[Justonevoice]

Los Angeles City Council to rush vote on medical pot law

By John Hoeffel
10:25 PM PDT, October 20, 2009

With its moratorium on new medical marijuana dispensaries declared unlawful,
the Los Angeles City Council is now poised to act quickly on a strict
ordinance that it has struggled with fitfully for more than two years.

On Tuesday, the city attorney's office delivered a draft that some members
want the council to take up within a week. The sudden acceleration stems
from a Superior Court ruling Monday that left the city unable to enforce its
ban and derailed its four-month-old drive to shut down new dispensaries.

"We painted ourselves into a very tough position and now we act," said
Councilman Ed Reyes, who has overseen the drawn-out effort to write an
ordinance. "If we can do this Tuesday, I think we'll be OK."

The city's failure to pass an ordinance or enforce its moratorium allowed
the number of dispensaries to explode. There are now hundreds in the city,
by most estimates, and new ones continue to open almost weekly. Neighborhood
activists have angrily complained that the council has lost control.

The proposed ordinance contains provisions that could make it one of the
most restrictive in the state.

Under the latest proposal, most dispensaries would be required to close
immediately and could not apply to reopen for six months. The 186
dispensaries that registered with the city when it passed its moratorium in
2007 would be allowed to remain open for six months, but then would have to
meet the ordinance's requirements.

The ordinance could effectively outlaw most dispensaries in the city by
prohibiting sales of medical marijuana. Both City Atty. Carmen Trutanich and
Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley maintain that state law does not
allow over-the-counter sales, though they say collectives owned by the
members are allowed to recoup their expenses. Dispensary operators say the
sales, usually in 1/8 -ounce increments, are meant to cover their operating
costs.

Council members have become increasingly frustrated with dispensaries
flagrantly violating the ban and the state's requirement that they operate
as collectively-run nonprofits.

Some of the council members most involved in the issue have begun to press
for the tough measure.

"We are going to ban sales," said Councilman Dennis Zine, who said he has
discussed the issue with colleagues. "The profit margin is what's gotten
them going. They're not in there to help people, they're in there to make
money."

Councilman Jose Huizar, however, said he was studying all the relevant court
cases to try to decide whether to ban sales, a complicated and contentious
issue that has contributed to the council's extended deliberations.

No other city or county appears to have tried to directly restrict sales,
although some require collectives to maintain detailed records to prove
their nonprofit status.

Yamileth Bolanos, who runs Pure Life Alternative Wellness Center and is
president of the Greater Los Angeles Collective Alliance, said dispensary
operators were stunned at the sudden turn of events.

"I understand that they are going to try to rush [the ordinance] through,
but it doesn't work for us. Essentially, it's just going to wipe us out,"
said Bolanos, whose group of 54 dispensaries has worked with the council for
many months to try to reach a compromise. "This is a very unfair thing to
us."

The ordinance requires collectives to keep records on members and suppliers
and to make them available to police, which operators fear could leave them
vulnerable to federal prosecution even though the Justice Department on
Monday formally told its prosecutors not to pursue medical marijuana users
and dispensaries that follow state law.

The draft ordinance also adds a provision that requires collectives to
notify council members and neighborhood councils of their plans to open, and
another that bars anyone who was convicted of a felony within the previous
10 years or who is on parole or probation from managing a collective.

In addition, the ordinance would limit the number of dispensaries by
requiring them to be at least 1,000 feet from schools, parks, libraries,
religious institutions, child care facilities, youth centers, hospitals,
medical facilities, substance abuse rehabilitation centers and other
collectives.

The ordinance also would restrict the dispensaries' operations. They could
be open only between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. They could have no more than 5
pounds of marijuana or 100 plants on hand, and marijuana could not be
consumed on site. They also would not be allowed to sell or manufacture
edible marijuana products.

[jessejames12345]

wouldn't miss this for the world. NO ONE SHOULD

[ShiningSkull]

This is tomorrow? Not much planning time...

[gomez760]

Yea no planning! Im in Victorville I need a heads up

[ShiningSkull]

I wonder if the gay community would come out with us on this issue. I know I've supported them.

Besides they really know how to show up for an event!

[Justonevoice]

Please do not get mad that there was no planning for this. This is a "Response Protest" which means that because of the court decision on monday and the fact that the City attorney rushed to City Council yesterday wanting to rush his draft ordinance through we must make sure that we are heard and that they know that we know they "F'd up".

[ShiningSkull]

Originally Posted by Justonevoice

Please do not get mad that there was no planning for this. This is a "Response Protest" which means that because of the court decision on monday and the fact that the City attorney rushed to City Council yesterday wanting to rush his draft ordinance through we must make sure that we are heard and that they know that we know they "F'd up".

I get it, JOV. Thanks. It just caught me off-guard for a minute. Of course, we need to react right away.

What are some new ways we can get more people out? I'm serious about the gay community; does anyone know any of their activists?


Also, the obvious point... the co-ops. Apparently, from what I've read, there are more co-ops in the City of Los Angeles than all other businesses combined. Geez, with those kinds of numbers, can't you all scare up some people? Lol

Seriously, it'd be nice if more co-ops lent some bodies to the effort.

[Justonevoice]

Originally Posted by ShiningSkull

I get it, JOV. Thanks. It just caught me off-guard for a minute. Of course, we need to react right away.

What are some new ways we can get more people out? I'm serious about the gay community; does anyone know any of their activists?


Also, the obvious point... the co-ops. Apparently, from what I've read, there are more co-ops in the City of Los Angeles than all other businesses combined. Geez, with those kinds of numbers, can't you all scare up some people? Lol

Seriously, it'd be nice if more co-ops lent some bodies to the effort.

I have been saying that for five years now, if every collective sent just one representitive we would have 800 people there at least. Tel you favorite collective to come and join the protest tomorrow,pick up the phone and call them if you can not go to them,whatever just do something. Post info on other website,email to everyone ya know. There really should be no trick to this patients need to understand that are right to real "Safe Access" is seriously threathened.

[ShiningSkull]

Originally Posted by Justonevoice

I have been saying that for five years now, if every collective sent just one representitive we would have 800 people there at least. Tel you favorite collective to come and join the protest tomorrow,pick up the phone and call them if you can not go to them,whatever just do something. Post info on other website,email to everyone ya know. There really should be no trick to this patients need to understand that are right to real "Safe Access" is seriously threathened.

I'll contact the ones I go to, JOV. Thanks.

[halosmoker420]

See you there JOV, I just asked for a vacation day..... - H

[cephas]

Planning on being in downtown anyway around noon..I'll just hang out for a bit and be there.

[VooDoo Chile]

Protest starts at 2ish.

[Greenbud]

NNCC was raided today! More than enough reason to attend the protest!

How many WT'ers are really out there, huh?

Better see a turnout this time or we can kiss this MMJ baby goodbye!

GB

[ShiningSkull]

Tell City Hall,
"You can't close them all!"


For NNCC...

Let 'em hear it!!

[sandoad]

I don't know if I can get off early but this post pissed me off. I will try to be there.

[Jebediah.Ruckus]

If I can't have edibles, then I have to smoke? Are these people DOCTORS? What gives them legal authority to override my doctor's advice??

LA City Council is fucking it up, big time...what a disaster.

[vc805]

I got to work but im sending my girlfriend and her friend down there tomorrow. Thanks for the info!!!

[steveadams203]

I suggest if any of you come down to the protest, please be respectable and well dressed. Otherwise we will just look like a bunch of useless non-voting stoners....

...think church clothes, funeral clothes, court clothes... etc. ill be there with a suit and tie on.

[Greenbud]

Originally Posted by steveadams203

I suggest if any of you come down to the protest, please be respectable and well dressed. Otherwise we will just look like a bunch of useless non-voting stoners....

...think church clothes, funeral clothes, court clothes... etc. ill be there with a suit and tie on.

Not sure on that one. Hasn't worked so far. Activism 101: If you're outdoors protesting, wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

For court support, I agree we should observe decorum but this is a fight protest, not time for niceties. Furthermore, not all protests have nice suits to wear so let's not discourage anyone from attending.

Something to be said for being vocal. MMJ is quickly becoming a social scapegoat like African Americans faced with segregation and civil rights, gays, etc. We are being ostracized and mistreated and marginalized. We need to come out of the grow closet as it were and am I don't necessarily think it's time to continue the charade.

They have declared war and you don't wear your Sunday Best to a battle unless your going to be an observer and not a combatant!

Wear whatever the hell you want! I am bringing meds to light up in protest and hope someone else will too! We need to not be afraid. We need to demonstrate balls and courage at tomorrow's protest.

Impromptu smoke-in!

Like this:



How is it Canadians have more freedom than we do and more balls to show it?

Dare to Blaze the Ganja!

Best,

GB

[BabyBoomer]

Originally Posted by steveadams203

I suggest if any of you come down to the protest, please be respectable and well dressed. Otherwise we will just look like a bunch of useless non-voting stoners....

...think church clothes, funeral clothes, court clothes... etc. ill be there with a suit and tie on.

I agree.

Our actions will be remembered long after our words. Let's SHOW them.

[cephas]

I'm agreeing with the dressing nice idea.

Clean clothes, clean bodies.

Tomorrow, we need to make a good impression.

Don't worry about the shoes though...keep those comfortable.

If you don't own a suit, or a tie, or slacks, or a button up shirt, that is perfectly fine, please still attend, just wear the nicest, cleanest clothes you do have. Let's all work together to make the best impression we can, that is all anybody is saying I think.

[The_Clone_Depot]

And keep the medicating out of the cameras eye.

Go out there tomorrow to stand up for everything CK was doing for you. Dont embarrass him, make him proud to be a member of this community.

[cephas]

Originally Posted by The_Clone_Depot

And keep the medicating out of the cameras eye.

Go out there tomorrow to stand up for everything CK was doing for you. Dont embarrass him, make him proud to be a member of this community.

I am all for holding a "smoke in" as a protest.

Tomorrow is not the time.

We must show the general populace of California how responsible we are. How much we want to be legal, and how it is not our fault that we do not seem to be, despite how the people of California voted over 12 years ago....

Let's hold the "smoke in" on a Saturday when more people can come, and the police are busy with other things....Sunday might even be better, as that is when the PD tends to have the fewest active officers on duty...making it easier for us to overwhelm them...Let's be smart about it if we do it. Tomorrow is too soon.

Sunday's also tend to be slow news days....easier to get real media coverage....

[rubberguard]

I will be at the Riverside rally with a few members of our small private collectve !