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ASA believes that good public policy is created when those who are most affected by laws and regulations have a seat at the table. That is why it is so important that California lawmakers hear your voice this year – before they vote on more than a dozen medical cannabis bills. Do you have something to say about patients’ rights, licensing and regulating commercial medical cannabis activity, environmental standards for cultivation, penalties for manufacturing concentrates, and more? If so, you need to be at the California Citizen Lobby Day June 15-15 in Sacramento.

ASA is bringing 300 patients, doctors, researchers, industry workers, and other stakeholders to the Capitol to talk with lawmakers and staff from every legislative district in the state. But before we do, we are going to have a special insider’s legislative briefing about the most important bills for participants. You will get expert fact sheets on legislation and information about your lawmakers, including their priorities and major campaign donors. This year, the fact sheets will have a place for you to add your own comments and suggestions about pending legislation.

What happens in the state legislature this year is going to affect medical cannabis for years to come. It will also determine the political landscape for an anticipated vote on legalizing adult use of cannabis in 2016. Don’t miss your chance to be a par of it. Register for the California Citizen Lobby Day today!

Scroll down for all the medical cannabis news, events, action alerts, court support, and chapter meetings. 

 ASA California Weekly Roundup: May 18, 2015

Contents (Scroll down for details and links):

News

• National
• California
• Local

Events

• May 18, 2015 - Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing on SB 643 (Sacramento)
• May 19, 2015 – Know Your Rights Training at Nevada County ASA Meeting (Grass Valley)
• May 19, 2015 – Q&A with Connor McIntee from the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Santa Rosa)
• May 19, 2015 – Richmond City Council Meeting (Richmond)
• May 19, 2015 - Riverside County Board of Supervisors Meeting (Riverside)
• May 20, 2015 – Assembly Appropriations Committee Hearing on AB 34, AB 243, and AB 266 (Sacramento)
• May 28, 2015 – Legislating Compassion: Passing and Implementing Good Medical Cannabis Laws (Online)
• June 14-15, 2015 – California Citizen Lobby Day 2015 (Sacramento)

Court Support

• May 21, 2015 – Court Support for Robert Orlosky (San Diego)
• May 21, 2015 – Court Support for Tina Marie and Gerald Mize (Oroville)
• More

Take Action Now

• Sign the Petition to Ask Your Representatives to Sign on to the Senate CARERS Act! (National)
• Support the CA Medical Cannabis Organ Transplant Act (California)
• Stop Incarcerating Parents for Victimless Marijuana Crimes (Sonoma)

ASA Website Spotlight

• Citizen Lobbying
• California Citizen Lobby Day

Chapter & Affiliate Meetings

• May 19, 2015 - Nevada County ASA (Grass Valley)
• May 19, 2015 - San Francisco ASA (San Francisco)
• May 20, 2015 - East Bay ASA (Berkeley)
• May 20, 2015 - Lake County ASA (Clearlake Oaks)
• May 24, 2015 - Nevada County ASA (North San Juan)

News

Follow @ASAdonduncan on Twitter for medical cannabis news and more.

Feinstein, Grassley Urge DOJ, HHS to Facilitate Cannabidiol Research (National)
http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=01eda513-3e09-4d57-9dbc-568eadc56fb7

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Drug Reformers Hold Breath as DEA Gets New Leader (National)
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/05/14/drug-reformers-hold-breath-as-dea-gets-new-leader

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Convicted medical pot seller finds congressional allies in legal appeal (National)
http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-lynch-marijuana-20150513-story.html

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The Future of Marijuana in California (California)
http://www.myfoxla.com/story/29070887/the-future-of-marijuana-in-california

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California Looking at New Drug-Detecting DUI Technology (California)
https://www.techwire.net/california-looking-at-new-drug-detecting-dui-technology/

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High & Dry: California’s Drought Prompts Crackdown On Marijuana Farmers (California)
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/05/08/high-dry-californias-drought-prompts-crackdown-on-marijuana-farmers/

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Marijuana dispensaries allowed in Santa Monica’s new Zoning Ordinance (Santa Monica)
http://smdp.com/marijuana-dispensaries-allowed-santa-monicas-zoning-ordinance/148033#sthash.B0E1DUXH.dpuf

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Clearlake City Council repeals marijuana ordinance, directs staff to rework existing city rules (Clearlake)
http://www.lakeconews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41793:clearlake-city-council-repeals-marijuana-ordinance-directs-staff-to-rework-existing-city-rules&catid=1:latest&Itemid=197

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Sidecar Will Now Deliver Weed to Your Doorstep if You Have a Doctor’s Note (San Francisco)
http://recode.net/2015/05/12/sidecar-will-now-deliver-weed-to-your-doorstep-if-you-have-a-doctors-note/

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City Changes Rules to Ban Weed in Sunset (San Francisco)
http://www.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/cannabis-medical-marijuana-marijuana-legalization-2016-sunset-district-katy-tang-carmen-chu-medical-marijuana-dispensary/Content?oid=3615384

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San Jose to Take Major Marijuana Dispensary to Court (San Jose)
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/-San-Jose-to-Take-Major-Marijuana-Dispensary-to-Court-303143881.html

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Melissa Etheridge talks medical marijuana (Nevada County)
http://www.theunion.com/cannabis/16226268-113/melissa-etheridge-talks-medical-marijuana

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Ban on medical pot grows earns support in Vacaville poll (Vacaville)
http://www.dailyrepublic.com/news/vacaville/ban-on-medical-pot-grows-earns-support-in-vacaville-poll/?PageSpeed=noscript

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City voters to decide on marijuana dispensaries (Riverside)
http://www.pe.com/articles/city-766844-measure-marijuana.html

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SJ County to become medical marijuana no-grow zone (San Jose)
http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150509/NEWS/150509648/101087/A_NEWS

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City Of Vallejo Asks Court To Prevent Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiatives (Vallejo)
http://www.theweedblog.com/city-of-vallejo-asks-court-to-prevent-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiatives/

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Santa Cruz collective WAMM fundraising to buy cannabis garden site (Santa Cruz)
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/general-news/20150511/santa-cruz-collective-wamm-fundraising-to-buy-cannabis-garden-site

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Yucca Valley to vote on marijuana with Measure X (Yucca Valley)
http://www.hidesertstar.com/news/article_a5544378-f91f-11e4-8596-1be6ea2999cc.html

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Inyo Supervisors discuss marijuana dispensaries (Inyo County)
http://www.sierrawave.net/34710/inyo-supervisors-discuss-marijuana-dispensaries/

 Public Meetings & Events

May 18, 2015 - Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing on SB 643 (Sacramento)
10:00 AM in Room 4203 in the State Capitol Building. The committee will hear testimony and vote on SB 643 (McGuire), which will establish a bureau to write and enforce regulations for commercial medical cannabis activity. The bureau would issue provisional licenses, subject to licensing at the local level. ASA’s position is support, if amended. Get more information at http://www.safeaccessnow.org/2015_legislation

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May 19, 2015 – Know Your Rights Training at Nevada County ASA Meeting (Grass Valley)
6:00 PM at Golden Empire Grange, 11283 Grange Ct, Grass Valley, CA 95945. ASA California Director Don Duncan will host a free Know Your Rights Training for Nevada County ASA members and friends.

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May 19, 2015 – Q&A with Connor McIntee from the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Santa Rosa)
5:30-7:00 PM at Alternatives Health Collective, 1603 Hampton Way, Santa Rosa CA 95407. Talk with Connor McIntee from the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board about a proposed water quality regulatory structure to prevent and/or address poor water quality conditions and adverse impacts to water resources associated with cannabis cultivation on private land. Please find more information at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/public_notices/ On that page, go Order No. 2015-0023, “Draft Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements and General Water Quality Certification.” These regulations may soon be adopted and concern anyone cultivating medical cannabis.

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May 19, 2015 – Richmond City Council Meeting (Richmond)
6:30 PM at 50 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA  94804. Support the efforts of Richmond’s fourth collective to relocate. Arrive early to complete a public speaker’s card for agenda item H-1. See the relevant documents here: http://sireweb.ci.richmond.ca.us/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=593&doctype=AGENDA Email City Council Members in advance to support of the application to relocate here: http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=29

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May 19, 2015 - Riverside County Board of Supervisors Meeting (Riverside)
9:00 AM in the Council Chambers on the 1st floor of the Riverside County Administration Center at 4080 Lemon St., Riverside, CA 92501. The Board will be voting on a long-awaited medical cannabis ordinance some time around 10:30 AM. While the ordinance is imperfect, local advocates are asking for support. Email [email protected] for details.

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May 20, 2015 – Assembly Appropriations Committee Hearing on AB 34, AB 243, and AB 266 (Sacramento)
9:00 AM in Room 4202 in the State Capitol Building. The committee will hear testimony and vote on three regulatory bills related to medical cannabis. AB 34 (Bonta/Jones-Sawyer) and AB 266 (Cooley) create new mechanisms to license commercial medical cannabis activity and create regulations.  ASA’s position on both bills is support, if amended. AB 243 (Wood) seeks to regulate medical cannabis cultivation to prevent environmental damage. ASA withdrew opposition to this bill after the Author made changes protecting patients. We have not taken a new position. We expect substantive amendments to all three bills moving forward. Get more information at http://www.safeaccessnow.org/2015_legislation

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May 28, 2015 – Legislating Compassion: Passing and Implementing Good Medical Cannabis Laws (Online)
7:00 PM online at https://plus.google.com/events/ce1bgftl5r1422ositu2e1a7tq0  Join ASA California Director Don Duncan for a live online broadcast to discuss how to adopt and implement local and state laws that are beneficial to medical cannabis patients and other stakeholders. Topics include how to read and analyze legislation, crafting amendments, understand the political processes, using the tools you have, and more. You can watch live on YouTube without the interactive features at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2f43rCxGtM

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June 14-15, 2015 – California Citizen Lobby Day 2015 (Sacramento)
1:00 – 5:00 PM Sunday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday at the Library Galleria, 828 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. 5:30 PM VIP Reception in the Ballroom at the Citizen Hotel, 926 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. ASA will bring hundreds of medical cannabis patients and advocates to Sacramento for workshops on changing local law, special briefings on state bills, training, and face-to-face meetings with lawmakers and staff. Register now for the biggest and most important medical cannabis citizen lobby day yet. Workshops $25 (including materials), Lobby Day $25 requested donation (no one turned away for lack of funds). Registration is open now at http://CaliforniaCitizenLobbyDay.org/registration

Court Support

What is Court Support and how do I get involved?

May 21, 2015 – Court Support for Robert Orlosky (San Diego)

8:30 AM in Dept. 38 in the Downtown Courthouse - 220 W Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101. Motion to dismiss. Dress in an appropriate manner and obey all courtroom rules to best help the defendant.

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May 21, 2015 – Court Support for Tina Marie and Gerald Mize (Oroville)

12:00 PM at 1 Court St, Oroville, CA 95956. Dismissal hearing. Dress in an appropriate manner and obey all courtroom rules to best help the defendants. 

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

Take Action Now

Sign the Petition to Ask Your Representatives to Sign on to the Senate CARERS Act! (National)
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/senate_carers_act_petition

For the first time ever, we now have comprehensive medical marijuana legislation in the U.S. Senate.  Sign the Petition below to urge your senators to protect safe access and patients right by signing onto the CARERS Act.

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

The California Medical Cannabis Organ Transplant Act (AB 258) is on its way to the Senate Health Committee. AB 258 will reduce unnecessary suffering and preventable death. It prohibits anyone in the decision-making process from blocking an organ transplant based on the potential recipient’s legal medical cannabis use, unless a doctor has determined that medical cannabis use is clinically significant to the transplant process. Sign this petition to let committee members and their colleagues in the Senate know that voters support equal access to health care for medical cannabis patients.

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Stop Incarcerating Parents for Victimless Marijuana Crimes (Sonoma)
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/stop-incarcerating-parents.fb51?source=c.fb&r_by=12947975

Yarrow Kubrin, father of two small children, is facing four and a half years in prison for medical cannabis cultivation. Sign this petition asking Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch and Probation Director Robert Ochs to stop recommending prison sentences for victim-less crimes related to cannabis.

ASA Website Spotlight

Citizen Lobbying
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/training_citizen_lobbying

The best outcomes result from having those affected by political decisions at the table when choices are made. That is why getting you involved in the local, state, and national conversation about medical cannabis with lawmakers is a high priority for ASA. Research conducted by the Congressional Management Foundation shows that undecided lawmakers are six times more likely to be persuaded by visits from people who live in their district than they are to be persuaded by paid lobbyists. You will have a chance to use the skills you learn in this section of ASA’s Medical Cannabis Advocates Training Center at the California Citizen Lobby Day, June 14-15, in Sacramento. Join 300 other medical cannabis patients and advocates when we visit every office in the state legislature to talk about medical cannabis.

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California Citizen Lobby Day
http://californiacitizenlobbyday.org

Get all the details, tentative agenda, and registration information, and more on this new webpage for the California Citizen Lobby Day, June 14-15, in Sacramento, CA. This will be ASA’s biggest and most important lobby day yet in California. We will be discussing regulating cultivation, using local initiatives, and more than a dozen bills in the state legislature. ASA will make an appointment for you to see your state Assembly Member and Senator on Monday, June 15, when you sign up.

ASA Chapter & Affiliate Meetings

May 19, 2015 - Nevada County ASA (Grass Valley)
The meeting starts at 6:00 PM at The Banner Grange, 12629 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley, CA 95949. There will be a special “Know Your Rights” training. Email [email protected] for more information.

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May 19, 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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May 20, 2015 - East Bay ASA (Berkeley)
6:30 at 3025 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705, USA. Email [email protected] for more information.

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May 20, 2015 - Lake County ASA (Clearlake Oaks)
The meeting starts at 6:30 PM at the Moose Lodge, 15900 East Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423. Email [email protected] for more information.

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May 24, 2015 - Nevada County ASA (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.