Advocacy & Rights Groups Defend CA Medical Marijuana Laws

WHAT:  Oral arguments before the California 4th District Court of Appeal in San Diego and San Bernardino Counties’ challenge to the state medical marijuana laws.  A media availability with ACLU and ASA attorneys will follow the hearing.

WHO:  Joe Elford, Chief Counsel with Americans for Safe Access, and Adam Wolf, an attorney with the ACLU, will argue before the court tomorrow.

WHEN:  Tuesday, June 10, at 9:00 a.m.

WHERE:  The California 4th District Court of Appeal at Symphony Towers, 750 B Street, Suite 300, San Diego, California

Media Availability Immediately Following the Hearing

SAN DIEGO – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Americans for Safe Access (ASA), along with the California Attorney General’s office, will appear before a California court of appeal tomorrow morning to argue in support of the state’s medical marijuana laws.  San Diego and San Bernardino Counties are appealing the ruling of a San Diego Superior Court, which held that California’s decision not to arrest or prosecute medical marijuana patients is a valid exercise of the state’s sovereignty, even if the federal government prohibits all marijuana use.  The counties have, thus far, refused to establish an identification card program to help law enforcement identify medical marijuana patients, as required by state law.

The ACLU represents the marijuana law reform and patients’ rights organization San Diego NORML in the proceedings, as well as medical marijuana patients and physicians.  ASA represents a coalition of local medical marijuana patients, as well as the organization itself, a nationwide patients’ advocacy group.

Interview availability with ACLU and ASA attorneys will take place immediately following tomorrow’s hearing.

Additional information on the case is available online at: www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/medmarijuana/27446prs20061116.html and www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4405

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