Blog

Contents:

• Message from the CA Director: 5% used medical cannabis, 92% found relief
• State & Local News: Mendocino County, Humboldt County, San Jose, Los Angeles, Vallejo, El Cajon, San Diego, and more
• Public Meetings & Events: Richmond, Alameda County, Lincoln, Nevada City, San Diego, Fresno, Porterville, and more 
• Court Support: Santa Ana and more
• Take Action Now: Tell Riverside County Not to Ban Cultivation, Support the Medical Marijuana Organ Transplant Act, and more
• ASA Website Spotlight: Work With ASA
• Chapter & Affiliate Meetings: San Francisco and Yuba County

Did you see the stories about a new study released last week about the prevalence of medical cannabis use in California? The study shows that 5% of Californians have used medical cannabis, and 92% of those report that it provided relief for a serious medical condition. This is big news. The research debunks the misperception that healthy people are overusing medical cannabis. Almost all of the 1.4 million Californians who have used medical cannabis used it successfully to treat the symptoms of a serious medical condition - chronic pain, arthritis, migraine, cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, muscle spasms, nausea, stress, and depression.

The authors talked with more than 7,500 Californians to reach important conclusions about medical cannabis use in California:

• “Our study found that adults in California who had ever used medical marijuana were overwhelmingly satisfied with its ability to treat and manage their serious medical conditions.”
•  “The most common reasons for use include medical conditions for which mainstream treatments may not exist, such as for migraines, or may not be effective, including for chronic pain and cancer.”
• “First, it is clear that Proposition 215 is helping people who are sick and use medical marijuana to treat serious conditions.”
• “Medical marijuana use to treat serious medical conditions and recreational marijuana use are motivated by different factors.”

Read more about the study, “Prevalence of medical marijuana use in California, 2012,” and its significance in my blog from last week and the news section of the CA Weekly Roundup. 

California & National News

92% of patients say medical marijuana works (California)
Christopher Ingraham, Washington Post

A 2013 survey in the New England Journal of Medicine found that nearly 8-in-10 doctors approved the use of medical marijuana. Now, a wide-ranging survey in California finds that medical marijuana patients agree: 92 percent said that medical marijuana alleviated symptoms of their serious medical conditions, including chronic pain, arthritis, migraine, and cancer.
Read more here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/10/01/92-of-patients-say-medical-marijuana-wor

See a related blog by ASA California Director Don Duncan here:
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/a_lot_of_californians_use_medical_cannabis_it_works_and_that_matters

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The State's Mystery Men Swoop In: Cops Answering to CA's Attorney General are the Marijuana-Eradicating Agents in Mendocino (Mendocino County)
Chris Roberts, SF Weekly

Attorney General Kamala Harris has had an uneasy relationship with marijuana. As San Francisco's District Attorney, Harris opposed the push to legalize marijuana in California in 2010. Marijuana advocates still campaigned heavily on her behalf during the AG race that fall, claiming the alternative, L.A. District Attorney Steve Cooley, was much worse. With her margin of victory a meager 75,000 votes, the state's roughly 750,000 card-carrying medical marijuana patients may have made the difference.
Read more here:
http://www.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/chem-tales-kamala-harris-mendocino-marijuana/Content?oid=3177493

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Northern California Marijuana Grows Attract International Investment (Humboldt County)
Joe Vazquez, CBS San Francisco

State drug agents told KPIX 5 the number of pot plants growing in California has doubled in the past five years. Marijuana is by far the state’s number one cash crop. Much of it is growing in the mountains of Humboldt County, where pot has always been big business. But it really took off after the state legalized medical marijuana. Now many are taking advantage and cashing in on California cannabis.
Raed more here:
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/09/30/northern-california-marijuana-grows-attract-international-investment-humboldt-county-pot-bulgaria-green-rush/

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San Jose medical marijuana measure headed to voters; would weaken pot shop rules (San Jose)
Mike Rosenberg, San Jose Mercury News

Voters will have a chance to overturn San Jose's strict new regulations on pot shops in favor of looser rules, though it will be a while before the weed war ignites at the ballot. The City Council in June voted to limit all shops to select industrial areas that make up less than 1 percent of San Jose, while the surviving marijuana stores would then have to adopt costly new safety and operational standards. Angry opponents argued that virtually all of San Jose's 80 dispensaries would have to close by the time the rules take full effect in summer 2015 and had warned they would try to overturn the law change at the ballot box.
Read more here:
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_26636188/san-jose-medical-marijuana-measure-headed-voters-would

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Would-Be Pot Shop Robbers Caught in the Act (Los Angeles)
Kelly Goff and Oleevia Woo, NBC 4 Los Angeles

The owner and two employees of a Studio City medical marijuana shop huddled in a bathroom Tuesday evening after two men broke in and ransacked the store before police circled the store and caught the would-be robbers in the act.
Read more here:
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Would-Be-Pot-Shop-Robbers-Caught-in-the-Act-277740511.html  

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Farmers Market Marijuana (Los Angeles)
Scott Shackford, Reason

For one lovely Los Angeles weekend—Independence Day weekend to be exact—legal medical marijuana users shopped for cannabis the way they might shop for fresh strawberries, avocados, and flowers: at a local farmers market.
Read more here:
http://reason.com/archives/2014/09/28/farmers-market-marijuana

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Vallejo firefighters find booby-trapped marijuana grow in burning building (Vallejo)
Staff, Times-Herald

Vallejo firefighters found a large marijuana grow Thursday night inside a burning commercial building at 615 Florida St. Fire crews responded to the blaze at about 6:45 p.m. to find smoke coming out of all sides of the building as well as the roof, Vallejo Fire Battalion Chief Cliff Campbell said. As crews entered they came across tripwires attached to pepper spray burglar devices and smoke bombs as well as a large number of marijuana plants and indoor-growing equipment, Campbell said.
Read more here:
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/breaking_news/ci_26654521/vallejo-firefighters-find-booby-trapped-marijuana-grow-burning

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Ending the pot prohibition (Tulare County)
David Castellon, Visalia Times-Delta

Washington State and Colorado have legalized marijuana, and voters in Oregon and Alaska will decide next month whether to make it legal in their states. And there's a good chance that Californians will vote on whether to fully legalize the drug within the next couple of years, a lobbyist for Tulare County told the county Board of Supervisors Tuesday night.
Read more here:
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/local/2014/10/02/ending-pot-prohibition/16572225/

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County’s 1st legal marijuana shop opens (El Cajon)
Misha Dibono, Fox 5 San Diego

The first legally licensed medical marijuana dispensary in San Diego County is now open for business in El Cajon. Located in a largely industrial area on the east side of Gillespie Field, there are no schools in the vicinity. State and county ordinances prohibit marijuana dispensaries near schools.
Read more here:
http://fox5sandiego.com/2014/09/24/first-legal-marijuana-shop-opens-in-the-county/

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Roughed Up Over 29 Plants, This 61-Year-Old Cancer Survivor with HIV Is Suing San Diego Police (San Diego)
David Downs, East Bay Express

A San Diego attorney for medical marijuana patients says they face a pattern of mistreatment by local police and is taking the issue to federal court. Attorney Nathan Shaman said he’s filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman and San Diego County Sheriff William Gore on behalf of Deborah Little.
Read more here:
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/LegalizationNation/archives/2014/10/01/roughed-up-over-29-plants-this-61-year-old-cancer-survivor-with-hiv-is-suing-san-diego-police

Public Meetings & Events

Monday, October 6, 2014 - Marijuana Compassion and Common Sense (Online)

6:00 PM at www.blogtalkradio.com/marijuananews Tune in for this weekly live Internet broadcast about cannabis and medical cannabis issues. You can call in to participate.

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014 - Porterville City Council Meeting (Porterville)

5:30 PM at City Hall, 291 N. Main Street, Porterville, CA 93257. The City Council will have a second reading of a highly-restrictive medical cannabis cultivation ordinance.

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014 – Richmond City Council Meeting (Richmond)

6:30 PM at the Community Services Building, 440 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804. The City Council may vote on expanding the number of patients’ cooperatives and collectives. Arrive early to complete a public speakers card. Check the agenda in advance, as this date is subject to change: http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=151

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014 – Alameda County Board of Supervisors Meeting (Oakland)

9:30 AM in the Administrative Building, Board Chambers, 1221 Oak Street, 5^th Floor, Room 512, Oakland, CA 94607. The Board is voting on banning e-cigarettes and personal vaporizers, which may impact medical cannabis patients who vaporize their medicine. See the agenda here: http://tinyurl.com/mnmtcqk

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Tuesday, October 14, 2014 – Lincoln City Council Meeting (Lincoln)

6:00 PM at Mc Bean Memorial Park, 65 Mc Bean Park Dr., Lincoln, CA 95648. The City Council may vote on an ordinance to ban all medical cannabis cultivation. Contact the City Council in advance at http://ci.lincoln.ca.us/default.aspx?Jpage=11030 The date of this vote is subject to change.

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Thursday, October 16, 2014 – Medical Cannabis in CA: Local Measures & the November Election (Online)

7:00 PM online at https://plus.google.com/events/ci81048q7fsdtcqea8acs83boi8 or on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz50lVuqa6Q. This live broadcast with ASA CA Director Don Duncan will focus on local ballot measures and the November election. There will be time for questions and comments.

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Thursday, October 16, 2014 – Benefit for “Yes on Measure S” (Nevada City)

7:00 PM at Miners Foundry Cultural Center, 325 Spring St, Nevada City, California 95959. Join comedian and cannabis personality Ngaio Bealum to support ASA-NC’s Measure S. Guests include Achilles Wheel and Saul Rayo & Cocina Café. Tickets are $20 and proceeds benefit ASA-NC and the Yes on Measure S Campaign.

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Saturday, October 18, 2014 – Potluck in the Park (San Diego)

12:00 PM at Golden Hill Community Park, 25^th and A Street, San Diego, CA 92102. Come celebrate with San Diego ASA! For more info: http://tinyurl.com/ofwsgx7

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Monday, October 20, 2014 – Fresno County Board of Supervisors (Fresno)

9:00 AM at the Hall of Records, 2281 Tulare St., Suite 302, Fresno, CA 93721. The Board will be hearing appeals of the excessive fines imposed on local cultivators. Agendas and contact information: http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/Departments.aspx?id=122

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March 27, 2015 – ASA’s National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference 2015 (Washington, DC)

Join us March 27th – 31stfor the biggest and most important medical cannabis conference yet. Early bird and ASA member discounts are now available. Save money on registration, travel, and lodging by registering now. For more information: http://www.nationalmedicalcannabisunityconference.org

Court Support

What is Court Support and how do I get involved?

Friday, October 10, 2014 – Court Support for Tuan Nguyen (Santa Ana)
9:00 AM at Central Justice Center, 700 W Civic Center Dr., Santa Ana, CA 92701. Dress in an appropriate manner and obey all courtroom rules to best help the defendant. 

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Find more information and additional listings on The Human Solution Calendar. http://www.thsintl.org/calendar

Take Action Now

Tell Riverside County Not to Ban Cultivation (Riverside County)
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/tell_riverside_county_not_to_ban_cultivation_ca

The County Board of Supervisors in Riverside County, CA, is considering a ban on all medical cannabis cultivation. The County already bans cooperatives and collectives that provide medicine in storefront locations, so the new ban on cultivation will cut off all legal access to patients in the county. Riverside County has more than 2 million residents, so this will affect a lot of people. Will you take a few minutes to call the five members of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors with a short message opposing the ban?

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Join ASA’s New California Discussion List – ASA-CCSA (California)
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/asa-ccsa 

ASA-CCSA is a membership-based email discussion list about local and state medical cannabis legislation, initiatives, referendums, and related litigation in the state of California. Unlike this weekly email, you can respond to messages on ASA-CCSA and share your response with everyone. The purpose of the list is to facilitate dialog and participation by movement and industry stakeholders. Respectful and courteous participation, conversations, and debate are welcome.

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Support the Medical Marijuana Organ Transplant Act (California)
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/support_the_ca_medical_marijuana_organ_transplant_act

A patient in California can be denied a life-saving organ transplant solely based on the fact that he or she uses medical cannabis! Legal patients have died after being removed from the organ transplant list, and others are in jeopardy right now. Americans for Safe Access, the nation's leading medical cannabis patients' advocacy organization, proposes legislation to prevent anyone from being denied a transplant because of medical cannabis. Sign this petition to let lawmakers know you support the Medical Marijuana Organ Transplant Act to provide equal access to health care for legal patients.

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Join Americans for Safe Access (ASA)
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/join_asa

ASA is the nation’s leading medical cannabis patients’ advocacy organization. The patients, medical professionals, scientists, concerned citizens, and other who comprise ASA are committed to promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. ASA works in partnership with state, local and national legislators to overcome barriers and create policies that improve access to cannabis for patients and researchers. 

ASA Website Spotlight

Work With ASA
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/work_with_asa

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the nation’s leading medical cannabis patients’ advocacy organization. We have the only office in Washington, DC, devoted exclusively to national medical cannabis issues – ending federal raids, changing federal laws, rescheduling cannabis, and more. But we are fundamentally a grassroots organization, and our roots are firmly planted in local community organizing. Is there work to be done around medical cannabis in your hometown? ASA may have a tool to help you do it. Visit this section of our website to learn more about forming an ASA Chapter, Action Group, or affiliated organization. 

ASA Chapter & Affiliate Meetings

Tuesday, October 7, 2014 - San Francisco ASA (San Francisco)
The meeting starts at 7:30 PM at Lounge 847, 847 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103.
Email [email protected] for more information.

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Thursday, October 9, 2014 - Yuba County ASA (Valley)
The meeting starts at 7:00 PM at Rivers Edge Pub, 1 E. 12th Street, Marysville, CA 95901. Email [email protected] for more information.

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See all California ASA Chapter Meetings here:
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/california_advocacy 

Have something to share?

The “California Weekly Roundup” is a once-a-week email for ASA Members and Friends that focuses on relevant news and important updates, action alerts, meetings and special events. Send items for the California Weekly Roundup to [email protected] before 12:00 PM on Friday to be included in Monday's distribution.