Our Health Is In Our Hands

Posted by 21pc on February 02, 2015

ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer will be touring California between February 8th and 15th to talk to patients and other stakeholders about the local and state work that needs to get done on medical cannabis between now and November of 2016, when voters are likely to decide on an adult use ballot measure. A lot is up in the air between now and then.

Will regulations for commercial medical cannabis be good, bad, or both? Will the state legislature finally protect legal patients from discrimination? Will cities and counties ban distribution and cultivation, or keep moving forward with regulations allowing local access?

The answer to each question is that it is up to us. Steph’s talk is entitled “Our Health Is In Our Hands,” because responsibility for making sure that patients’ needs are met and rights are respected lies with us – the grassroots medical cannabis community. If we don’t take our message and vision to City Councils, Boards of Supervisors, and state lawmakers; no one else will. Don’t miss a chance to be a part of this important conversation about your community and state. Check the Events section for a list of talks statewide.

 

ASA California Weekly Roundup: February 2, 2015

Contents:

News

  • Will a divided marijuana community jeopardize California's legalization effort? (California)
  • State seeks water rules for pot growers (California)
  • Debunked — the California residency requirement for medical marijuana is a myth (California)
  • Medical pot in Oakland: Appeals court weighs fate of 'superstore' (Oakland)
  • San Diego OK's first medpot permit (San Diego)
  • Grow Their Own! California Tribe Will Grow Medical Marijuana on Tribal Land (Mendocino County)
  • Santa Cruz County Supervisors ask for certification program for marijuana cultivation (Santa Cruz)
  • IE SWAT Standoff Ends in Arrests After Marijuana Dispensary Ambush Robbery: Police (Upland)
  • Police tackle medical pot grows (Hanford)

Events

  • February 4, 2015 – Latino Community Outreach Meeting (Los Angeles)
  • February 8, 2015 – Our Health is In Our Hands (Riverside)
  • February 10, 2015 – Our Health is In Our Hands (San Diego)
  • February 11, 2015 – Our Health is In Our Hands (Los Angeles)
  • February 12, 2015 – Our Health is In Our Hands (San Francisco)
  • February 13, 2015 – Our Health is In Our Hands (Sacramento)
  • February 15, 2015 – Our Health is In Our Hands (Santa Rosa)
  • February 15, 2015 - A Classic Safe Access Outdoor Gathering (San Diego)
  • February 15, 2015 – Sonoma ASA Medical Marijuana Week Celebration (Santa Rosa)
  • February 21, 2015 – Latino Community Outreach Meeting (San Diego)
  • March 27-31, 2015 – ASA’s National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference 2015 (Washington, DC)

Court Support

  • February 3, 2015 – Jury Trial for Michael Cappiello (Redding)
  • February 5, 0215 – Court Support for Connica Kellerman (Oroville)
  • And more

Take Action Now

  • Take the Medical Cannabis Discrimination Survey (California)
  • Support the Medical Marijuana Organ Transplant Act
  • Join ASA’s Email Discussion List

ASA Website Spotlight: Work With ASA

Chapter & Affiliate Meetings

  • February 3, 2015 - San Francisco ASA (San Francisco)
  • February 5, 2015 - Sonoma ASA (Santa Rosa)

News

Will a divided marijuana community jeopardize California's legalization effort? (California)
David Downs, NewsReview.com

California marijuana legalization in 2016 looks anything but certain after a major January meeting where leading activists showed how divided they remain. The possibility of ending nearly a century of cannabis prohibition within the next 650 or so days has increased factionalism within the reform movement.
Read more here:
http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/will-a-divided-marijuana-community/content?oid=16146502

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State seeks water rules for pot growers (California)
Mary Callhan, The Press Democrat

State officials have begun rolling out a new environmental initiative designed to win the cooperation of marijuana growers in protecting Northern California waterways and fisheries from the kinds of degradation that commonly result from pot cultivation.
Read more here:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/home/3451589-181/state-seeks-water-rules-for

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Debunked — the California residency requirement for medical marijuana is a myth (California)
David Downs, Smell the Truth

The California residency requirement for legal medical marijuana doesn’t exist — if we don’t want it to.
Read more here:
http://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/2015/01/30/debunked-the-california-residency-requirement-for-medical-marijuana-is-a-myth/

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Medical pot in Oakland: Appeals court weighs fate of 'superstore' (Oakland)
Howard Mintz, Contra Costa Times

Even with dozens of states such as California now allowing the sale of medical marijuana and a handful of others legalizing weed altogether, Oakland's Harborside Health Center, the nation's largest medicinal cannabis dispensary, is still locked in a legal fight for survival with the federal government.
Read more here:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_27433032/medical-pot-oakland-appeals-court-weighs-fate-superstore

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San Diego OK's first medpot permit (San Diego)
David Garrick, U-T San Diego

San Diego gave final approval on Thursday to the city’s first legal marijuana dispensary, which will be run by an HIV-positive San Diego State lecturer who smokes pot daily to relieve his symptoms.
Read more here:
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/jan/29/marijuana-dispensary-legal-otay-appeal/

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Grow Their Own! California Tribe Will Grow Medical Marijuana on Tribal Land (Mendocino County)
Staff, Indian County Today Media Network

The Pinoleville Pomo Nation in northern California's Mendocino County is set to be the first tribe to grow and manufacture medical marijuana on tribal land.
Read more here:
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/01/26/grow-their-own-california-tribe-will-grow-medical-marijuana-tribal-land-158864

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Santa Cruz County Supervisors ask for certification program for marijuana cultivation (Santa Cruz)
Samantha Clark, Santa Cruz Sentinel

After a long public discussion on the proposed changes to Santa Cruz County’s cannabis cultivation ordinance, the Board of Supervisors asked staff to return with additional recommendations for a quality control program.
Read more here:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/general-news/20150127/santa-cruz-county-supervisors-ask-for-certification-program-for-marijuana-cultivation

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IE SWAT Standoff Ends in Arrests After Marijuana Dispensary Ambush Robbery: Police (Upland)
Asher Klein and Jane Yamamoto, NBC Los Angeles

An hours-long standoff between a SWAT team and men believed to have violently robbed three other men at a nearby Inland Empire medical marijuana dispensary ended in four arrests Saturday morning.
Watch a video and read more here:
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Robbery-Ambush-at-Upland-Marijuana-Dispensary--290419511.html

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Police tackle medical pot grows (Hanford)
Mike Eiman, Hanford Sentinel

A citywide ban on growing and distributing medical marijuana has been in effect for about two months, and local law enforcement is cracking down on local grow operations.
Read more here:
http://hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/police-tackle-medical-pot-grows/article_073a9d95-3c9b-5b87-9253-0f8bc2aec88b.html

Public Meetings & Events

February 2, 2015 - 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. ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer will be the special guest.

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February 4, 2015 – Latino Community Outreach Meeting (Los Angeles)
1:00 PM at Buds and Roses Collective, 13047 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604. Es una platica in espanol para educar pacientes y sus cuidadores en el uso de Marijuana Medicinal y sus derechos legales. La education necesaria sobre la Marijuana Medicinal para poder hacer una difirencia en si comunidad. Correo Electronico [email protected] para poder obtener mas informacion. (Spanish language event.)

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February 8, 2015 – Our Health Is On Our Hands with Steph Sherer (Riverside, CA)
7:30 PM at THCF Medical Clinic, 647 Main St. Unit 4D, Riverside 92501. Join ASA Executive Director for a conversation about medical cannabis in California at the local and state level between now and 2016.

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February 10, 2015 – Our Health Is On Our Hands with Steph Sherer (San Diego, CA)
4:30 PM at Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant, 9353 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego CA, 92123. Join ASA Executive Director for a conversation about medical cannabis in California at the local and state level between now and 2016.

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February 11, 2015 – Our Health Is On Our Hands with Steph Sherer  (Los Angeles, CA)
Time and address TBA. Join ASA Executive Director for a conversation about medical cannabis in California at the local and state level between now and 2016.

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February 12, 2015 – Our Health Is On Our Hands with Steph Sherer (San Francisco, CA)
Time and address TBA. Join ASA Executive Director for a conversation about medical cannabis in California at the local and state level between now and 2016.

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February 13, 2015 – Our Health Is On Our Hands with Steph Sherer  (Sacramento, CA)
6:00 PM in the Back Room at Perko’s, 925 3rd Street, Sacramento, CA 94814. Join ASA Executive Director for a conversation about medical cannabis in California at the local and state level between now and 2016. Dinner menu available at your own expense.

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February 15, 2015 – Our Health Is On Our Hands with Steph Sherer  (Santa Rosa)
4:00 – 6:00 PM at the Arlene Francis Center at 99 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95401. Join ASA Executive Director for a conversation about medical cannabis in California at the local and state level between now and 2016. Complimentary tea and refreshments served.

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February 15, 2015 - A Classic Safe Access Outdoor Gathering (San Diego)
2:15 – 9:00 PM at The SeedleSs Compound 2229 Bacon Street San Diego, CA 92107. Art, Music, Comedy, Food, Raffle Prizes & Safe Access. Patients Only 21+ Must have valid physicians recommendation. Tickets are $20 at SeedleSs, 2229 Bacon St., San Diego, CA 92107 and Alternative Care Clinic, 4452 Park Blvd, Ste 314, San Diego, CA 92116.

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February 15, 2015 – Sonoma ASA Medical Marijuana Week Celebration (Santa Rosa)
7:00 PM at the Arlene Francis Center at 99 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95401. Mardi Gras Celebration featuring live artists, bands, DJ Konnex, Raffle, & More Entertainment surprise’s. Come get the opportunity to network and mingle with the community, meet Steph Sherer, enjoy upbeat music, all for a great cause! Best Mardi Gras outfit wins a prize. Tickets $10. Proceeds benefit the Arlene Francis Center and Sonoma ASA.

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February 21, 2015 – Latino Community Outreach Meeting (San Diego)
Time to be announced. Chicano Park, beneath the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, where Route 75 crosses Logan Ave. in San Diego. Es una platica in espanol para educar pacientes y sus cuidadores en el uso de Marijuana Medicinal y sus derechos legales. La education necesaria sobre la Marijuana Medicinal para poder hacer una difirencia en si comunidad. Correo Electronico [email protected] para poder obtener mas informacion. (Spanish language event.)

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March 27-31, 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?

February 3, 2015 – Jury Trial for Michael Cappiello (Redding)
8:00 AM at 1655 West St, Redding , CA 96001. Dress in an appropriate manner and obey all courtroom rules to best help the defendant.

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February 5, 0215 – Court Support for Connica Kellerman (Oroville)
8:30 AM at 1 Court St, Oroville, CA 95965. 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

Take the Medical Cannabis Discrimination Survey (California)
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/ca_discrimination_survey

Medical cannabis patients still face pervasive discrimination when it comes to employment, housing, parental right, and equal access to healthcare. ASA is collecting data about discrimination against legal medical cannabis patients, primary caregivers, and providers to help educate lawmakers and regulators. The 26-question patient survey is up now. Please take a few minutes to answer the mostly yes or no questions.

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

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.

ASA Website Spotlight

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

The mission of Americans for Safe Access is to ensure safe and legal access to cannabis (marijuana) for therapeutic uses and research. ASA's stand on federal interference with medical cannabis state laws is one of zero-tolerance. ASA organizers engage in traditional, battle-tested tactics such as legislative organizing, community outreach, phone-in days, petition drives, etc., and supports the use of non-violent direct action as means of escalating tactics to reach campaign goals. Want to get involved? Check out this section of our website.

ASA Chapter & Affiliate Meetings

February 3, 2015 - 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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February 5, 2015 - Sonoma ASA (Santa Rosa)
The meeting starts at 5:00 PM at Arlene Francis Center, 99 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95401. 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.