Are you ready for November 4?
Contents:
- Message from the CA Director: Are you ready for November 4?
- State & Local News: California, Lake County, Mendocino County, Anaheim, San Diego, San Jose,
- Public Meetings & Events: Redlands, Fresno, online, and more
- Court Support: Oroville, Redding, and more
- Take Action Now: Register to Vote, Support the Medical Marijuana Organ Transplant Act, and more
- ASA Website Spotlight: Vote Medical Marijuana 2014
- Chapter & Affiliate Meetings: San Francisco and Nevada County
Today is the deadline to register to vote at your current address for the November 4 election. Are you registered? It matters.
Voters will decide on twelve local ballot measures related to medical cannabis in ten different cities and counties on Election Day. These measures will affect how patients in those communities get medicine, but they will also help shape the political landscape for medical cannabis in California in 2015 and 2016. Do voters want safe, legal, and dignified access to medicine in their neighborhoods? We will know after the polls close – and so will lawmakers, law enforcement, and others.
Voters will elect 100 state legislators on November 4, including at least thirty three new members. These are the Assembly Members and Senators that will cast decisive votes on regulations for commercial medical cannabis activity and patients’ rights bills in the state legislature in 2015. The lawmakers we elect will also have a significant impact on the political landscape as we approach a likely vote on legalizing cannabis for non-medical use in 2016.
Will legislators represent the will of over 1.4 million medical cannabis users in the state, or will lobbyists representing law enforcement and other special interest groups have their ears? That depends on how well we do turning out the vote on November 4.
Do not fall into the traps of apathy and cynicism. We can and should make a difference on November 4. Get registered today and be a part of it!
California & National News
DOJ official: California should strengthen medical marijuana oversight (California)
Timothy M. Phelps, LA Times
California should strengthen its regulation of the medical marijuana industry if the state wants to avoid federal intervention, Deputy Atty. Gen. James M. Cole said Thursday in an interview with The Times.
Read more here:
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-california-medical-marijuana-oversight-20141016-story.html
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California Narcotic Officers’ Association Bent on Increasing Arrests for Under an Ounce of Medical Marijuana (California)
Terrie Best, San Diego ASA
If the California Narcotic Officers’ Association didn’t break your heart as a cannabis patient with their discovered and widely circulated “Marijuana is NOT Medicine” Training Manual, a new article found in their Summer 2014 Newsletter will surly do the trick.
Read more here:
http://www.safeaccesssd.com/2014/10/2628.html
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Local California Governments Driving Marijuana Policy (California)
Katie Orr, CA Public Radio
While several Western states are considering or have already legalized marijuana, California is still struggling with how to regulate it for medical use. But increasing local action could push the issue beyond that.
Read more and listen too the broadcast here:
http://www.capradio.org/articles/2014/10/14/local-california-governments-driving-marijuana-policy/
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Warrantless Medical Marijuana Raids Unconstitutional, Federal Judge Finds (Lake County)
David Downs, East Bay Express
Pot may be federally illegal, but so is police activity that violates due process. This week, a federal court sided with California medical marijuana patients who are suing Lake County officials for the possibly illegal removal of their cannabis plants. Federal judge Thelton Henderson issued an injunction against the county Tuesday, saying police have to stop ripping up gardens without due process.
Read more here:
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/LegalizationNation/archives/2014/10/16/warrantless-medical-marijuana-raids-unconstitutional-federal-judge-finds
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Allegations of Police Misconduct in Marijuana Raids Spark Legal Action (Mendocino County)
Adrian Baumann, Willits News
A lawyer for a group of local growers has filed a request for public records with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office for documents connected to allegations of illegal raids, and other police misbehavior, seeking a huge swath of documents related to raids by County of Mendocino Marijuana Eradication Taskforce and the Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force, over the last several years; the document was also sent to the state Department of Justice. Allegations of several raids alleged to be abusive or illegal, have also been communicated in detail to The Willits News.
Read more here:
http://www.willitsnews.com/ci_26705643/allegations-police-misconduct-marijuana-raids-spark-legal-action
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Southern California city cuts power, water to shut down pot shops (Anaheim)
AP, Press Democrat
Anaheim is literally pulling the plug on pot shops that keep popping up despite a law forbidding the businesses. Officials have used its operation of utilities to cut off water and power to dispensaries in the city that's home to Disneyland, the Orange County Register reported Tuesday (http://bit.ly/1v7AWZb).
Read more here:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2974878-181/southern-california-city-cuts-power
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SD OKs first legal pot shop (San Diego)
David Garrick, UT San Diego
A group hoping to open San Diego’s first legal marijuana dispensary got a key approval Wednesday morning that could allow the proposed pot shop to open in Otay Mesa before the end of the year.
Read more here:
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/oct/15/marijuana-dispensary-legal-open-otay-hearing/
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Closing Time For Dozens Of San Jose Marijuana Clubs Is Friday (San Jose)
Chris Roberts, NBC Bay Area
The marijuana era may be ending in San Jose. As in Friday. Only six medical marijuana clubs in San Jose have permits, which means that as of Friday, the rest of them -- as many as 80 at one point over the summer -- might be shut down by the city, according to San Jose Inside.
Read more here:
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Closing-Time-For-Dozens-Of-San-Jose-Cannabis-Clubs-Is-Friday-279518482.html
Public Meetings & Events
Monday, October 20, 2014 - Voter Registration Deadline (Statewide)
You must be registered to vote at your current address by October 20 in order to vote in the general election on November 4. Visit http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm to learn more and register online.
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Monday, October 20, 2014 –Pete Aguilar and Paul Chabot Debate (Redlands)
7:00 PM in the Memorial Chapel on the University of Redlands Campus, 1200 E. Colton Ave., Redlands CA 92373. Join medical cannabis advocates for this debate between candidates for the 31st Congressional District. Candidate Paul Chabot is an outspoken opponent of medical cannabis.
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Monday, October 20, 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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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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Thursday, November 20, 2014 –What Legalization Means for Medical Cannabis (Online)
7:00 PM online. Join ASA California Director Don Duncan for a live Google Hangout to discuss what legalization of cannabis means (and does not mean) for medical cannabis patients, providers, and other stakeholders in California. A Google Hangout is an interactive event you can join from your computer of mobile device. We will publish the link for joining soon.
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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?
Monday, October 20, 2014 – Court Support for Mark Shoemaker (Redding)
8:30 AM at Shasta County Courthouse, Dept. 2, 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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Thursday, October 23, 2014 – Court Support for Frank Marrone (Oroville)
8:30 AM at 1 Court St, Oroville, CA 95965, United States 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
Register to Vote
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm
You must be registered to vote at your current address before Monday, October 20, in order to vote in the November 4 general election. You can register in person or online.
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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
Vote Medical Marijuana 2014
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/vote_medical_marijuana2014
Be an informed voter. This is a powerful tool for voters who care about medical cannabis. Find out where candidates stand on the issue, request a voters’ guide, get connected directly with your elected representative, and more. This is also where you will find ASA groundbreaking political ads targeting candidates that oppose safe access.
ASA Chapter & Affiliate Meetings
Tuesday, October 21, 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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Sunday, October 26, 2014 – Nevada County (North San Juan)
The meeting starts at 2:00 PM at the North San Juan Senior Center, 29190 State Hwy 49, North San Juan, CA 95960. 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.
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