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Register now for ASA’s California Citizen Lobby Day on Monday, May 23, 2016. This is the largest medical cannabis lobby day in Sacramento, and your chance to shape the future of medical cannabis in the state. Be a part of it!

Last week ASA…

• Met with lawmakers and staff in Los Angeles to promote local licensing for medical cannabis business.
• Testified in opposition to bills that would impose additional taxes on medical cannabis consumption and cultivation.
• Participated in the Mendocino Cannabis Resource Conference in Willits, CA.

This week…

• ASA will be supporting bills that improve the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act.
• Registration is now open for ASA’s California Citizen Lobby Day, May 23, 2016, in Sacramento, CA.

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NEWS      

National

DEA Plans To Decide Whether To Reschedule Marijuana By Mid-Year

Blockbuster Report Backs U.N. Cannabis Regulation, End to Prohibition

Cannabis Insider: A Local Dispensary Owner Meets President Obama + GMO Weed Is Now a Thing

California

Has she smoked weed? What will happen with recreational pot?: A conversation with California's first marijuana czar

California lawmakers propose new oral swab field test for drivers high on pot

Opinion: New Pot Rules Will Double Prices, Crash California System

California Pot Mogul Denies Bill Was Written As A Favor To Him

Local

State law offers medical marijuana sales tax; Shasta County not interested (Shasta County)

Medical marijuana in San Jose: What do residents really think? (San Jose)

Pot Tax: A Solution to Funding Housing for LA’s Homeless? (Los Angeles)

Will Oakland's Legal Weed Industry Leave People of Color Behind? (Oakland)

Challenge to California Ordinance Prohibiting Mobile Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Goes Up in Smoke (Upland)

Pro-cannabis group sues East Bay city over marijuana cultivation law (Antioch)

Dan Miller during Measure W forum: BOS composition can change in the future, we're locking this down now (Nevada County)

Calaveras supervisors to review medical marijuana rule (Calaveras County)

Court deals devastating blow to county pot shop ban (Kern County)

Chamber solicits input on medical marijuana dispensaries (Paso Robles)

SF marijuana store Medithrive reopens as federal crackdown wanes (San Francisco)

PUBLIC MEETINGS & EVENTS 

April 12, 2016 - Assembly Business and Professions Committee Hearing on AB 1575 (Sacramento)

9:00 AM in room 447 in the State Capitol Building in downtown Sacramento, CA. The committee will vote on AB 1575 (Bonta), a clean up bill for various provisions of the MMRSA. ASA supports this bill as a necessary step in improving state law.

April 13, 2016 – Assembly Committee on Agriculture Hearing on AB 2516 (Sacramento)

1:30 PM in room 126 in the State Capitol Building in downtown Sacramento. The committee will vote on AB 2516 (Wood), which will create a new state license for “specialty cottage” cultivation. ASA supports this bill, because it will expand licensed cultivation in California.

April 18, 2016 - Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation Hearing on AB 2149 (Sacramento)

2:30 PM in room 126 in the State Capitol Building in downtown Sacramento, CA. The committee will vote on AB 2149 (Bonilla), which will allow the CA Board of Equalization to accept cash payments from medical cannabis businesses and organizations on behalf of other state agencies. ASA supports the bill, because many medical cannabis associations cannot get financial services.

April 18, 2016 - Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation Hearing on AB 2243 (Sacramento)

2:30 PM in room 126 in the State Capitol Building in downtown Sacramento, CA. The committee will vote on AB 2243 (Wood), which will impose a statewide tax on medical cannabis cultivation (in additional to any other tax). ASA opposes the bill because we find it excessive and premature.

April 18, 2016 - Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing on SB 987 (Sacramento)

10:00 AM in room 4203 in the State Capitol Building in downtown Sacramento, CA. The committee will vote on SB 987 (McGuire), which imposes an additional 15% tax on medical cannabis consumption statewide. ASA opposes this bill, as the tax is an unfair burden on patients.

April 19, 2016 - Assembly Committee on Business and Professions Hearing on AB 2385 (Sacramento)

9:30 AM in room 4202 in the State Capitol Building in downtown Sacramento, CA. The committee will vote on AB 2385 (Jones-Sawyer), which would make dispensaries qualified for limited immunity under city law eligible for state licensing. The bill does not make any other medical cannabis businesses eligible for state licensing. ASA does not have a position on the bill at this time.

April 19, 2016 –Assembly Committee on Business and Professions Hearing on AB 2545 (Sacramento)

9:30 AM in room 4202 in the State Capitol Building in downtown Sacramento, CA. The committee will vote on AB 2545 (Bonta), which will authorize the Governor to enter into agreements concerning medical cannabis with federally recognized sovereign Native Americans tribes. ASA has no position on this bill at this time.

April 20, 2016 - Dr. Burnell Vasser Discusses CBD (Grass Valley)

7:00 PM at 400 Idaho Maryland Rd, Grass Valley, CA 95945. Dr. Burnell Vasser talking about CBD's particularly as it effects epilepsy.  We have a 8-year old local boy, Silas Hurd, who has become the poster child for this issue.  His father will be speaking as well as Kara Fox whose son also has intractable epilepsy.  There will be a silent auction to raise money to defeat Measure W, the outdoor cultivation ban ordinance. Email [email protected] for details.

April 23-24, 2016 - The 2016 Medicinal Cannabis Conference (Arcata)

All day both days at Arcata Community Center, 321 Community Park Way, Arcata, CA 95521. See the agenda, speaks, and ticket information at http://www.medicalmarijuanaconference.net/     

April 26, 2016 - Assembly Committee on the Judiciary Hearing on AB 2300 (Sacramento)

2:30 PM in room 126 in the State Capitol Building in downtown Sacramento, CA. The committee will vote on AB 2300 (Wood), which will prohibit smoking medical cannabis anywhere where smoking is prohibited by a landlord. ASA has no position on this bill, but regards it as unnecessary.

May 3, 2016 – Marin County Board of Supervisors Meeting (San Rafael)

10:00 AM at 3501 Civic Center Drive Room 330, San Rafael, CA 94901. The Board will discuss a new licensing ordinance to allow some medical cannabis businesses in the unincorporated areas of the county.  Check the Board’s website for and agenda and draft ordinance shortly before the meeting.

May 23, 2016 –ASA’s California Citizen Lobby Day 2016 (Sacramento)

8:00 AM Registration and Breakfast, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Lobby Day at the Hyatt Regency, 1209 L St, Sacramento, CA 95814. Registration is now open! Join us for the state’s largest medical cannabis lobby day. Special guest speakers, training, briefing materials, and more. ASA will make appointments for you to meet with your state lawmakers when you register. $40 requested donation. No one turned away for lack of funds. Click here to get more information and register today.

May 23, 2016 – ASA’s California Citizen Lobby Day VIP Reception (Sacramento)

7:00 PM at the Hyatt Regency, 1209 L St, Sacramento, CA 95814. Network and celebrate with elected officials, lobby day participants, and special guests. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. $20 suggested donation, free for lobby day participants. Click here to get more information.

TAKE ACTION NOW 

Register for the California Citizen Lobby Day - May 23, 2016 (California)

Join Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the nation’s leading medical cannabis patients’ advocacy organization, our annual California Citizen Lobby Day on Monday, May23, in Sacramento. You will be part of the state's largest medical cannabis lobby day - with more than 300 patients, advocates, providers, industry works, and other stakeholders. This is your chance to talk face-to-face with lawmakers and regulators about patients' rights, taxation, and commercial regulation.

Research shows that an in-person visit from a constituent like you is six times more likely to influence an undecided lawmaker than a visit from a paid lobbyist. That means you have a lot of power to shape the future of medical cannabis in California. When you register for ASA's California Citizen Lobby Day, we will make an appointment for you to meet with your State Assembly Member and Senator to talk about legislation that affects you and your loved ones.

Sign the Petition to Ask Your Representative and Senators to Sign on to the CARERS Act! (National)

The CARERS Act is the most comprehensive piece of federal medical marijuana legislation that has ever been introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate. The bipartisan legislation would remedy the state-federal conflict over medical marijuana laws. The bill would allow state programs to continue without federal inference, move marijuana out of Schedule I, remove CBD from the scheduling, create access to banking services for legal marijuana businesses, end the Public Health service review process and NIDA monopoly that blocks research, and allow VA doctors to write recommendations in states that have a medical marijuana program. 

COURT SUPPORT 

What is Court Support and how do I get involved? 

None this week. Please send court support requests to [email protected] before 12:00 PM on Friday to be included in Monday's distribution.

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

ASA WEBSITE SPOTLIGHT 

Resources for Patients

“In 2000, I sustained a severe injury that left me with lack of mobility in my neck, neurological spasms, and severe chronic pain. I had to take painkillers, muscle relaxants, and high doses of ibuprofen to relieve the pain and calm the spasms. After about a year, I started having problems with my stomach and kidneys as a result of the medications. Six months later, my doctor put me on diuretics and warned me that I might have to start dialysis. I was 23 years old and terrified…” – Medical cannabis patient and ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer

Read more of Steph’s story and find information here about becoming a legal medical cannabis patient, talking with your doctor, scientific research, side effects, and much more.

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.