Historic, unprecedented vote illustrates political strength, legitimacy of medical marijuana community Paul Marini | December 04, 2013 Sebastopol, CA -- In an unprecedented move, the Sebastopol City Council voted yesterday to seat Vice Mayor and medical marijuana community leader Robert Jacob as Mayor of Sebastopol. Jacob, 36, founder and executive director of Peace in Medicine, two licensed... Read more
Patient advocates call on Congress to adopt binding changes to new federal policy Paul Marini | November 25, 2013 Washington, DC -- Medical marijuana advocates Americans for Safe Access (ASA) issued a report today that analyzes the Obama Administration's latest enforcement guidelines for federal prosecutors in states that regulate medical marijuana distribution. The report, "Third Time the Charm? State... Read more
Stakeholders speak out to defend state's 15-year-old law and urge legislators to preserve, strengthen patients rights Paul Marini | November 13, 2013 Seattle, WA -- Patient advocates and various stakeholders will hold a press conference today at 4pm at Saint Martin's University in Lacey to draw attention to this evening's statewide public hearing on the fate of Washington's 15-year-old medical marijuana law... Read more
Recommendations are part of statewide public comment period, culminating with Nov. 13th public hearing Paul Marini | November 08, 2013 Seattle, WA -- Medical marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) filed recommendations yesterday for the Washington State legislature, based on a series of patient and provider stakeholder meetings held last week in Bellingham, Olympia, Seattle, Spokane, and Yakima.... Read more
Arkansans for Compassionate Care kicks off campaign with music festival on November 9th in Eldorado, AR Paul Marini | November 07, 2013 Little Rock, AR -- Medical marijuana advocates Arkansans for Compassionate Care (ACC) and Americans for Safe Access (ASA) have joined forces to put an initiative on the 2014 ballot. The Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act (AMCA) is a comprehensive blueprint for... Read more
District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis desperately seeks a conviction after People v. Jackson overturned her legal strategy Paul Marini | October 21, 2013 San Diego, CA -- The third trial against medical marijuana dispensary operator and Navy veteran Jovan Jackson began today in San Diego Superior Court, before Judge Louis R. Hanoian. San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, a staunch opponent of medical... Read more
"Health Before Happy Hour" campaign seeks state legislation to protect patient rights, preserve and license dispensaries Paul Marini | October 21, 2013 Seattle, WA -- Medical marijuana advocates will hold stakeholder meetings across Washington State next week in advance of submitting written public comments on regulations being developed for I-502, the state's recreational marijuana initiative passed last November. Meetings hosted by the... Read more
6 months imprisonment, $821,000 forfeiture for Norton brothers who ran a licensed dispensary in Alameda County Paul Marini | October 10, 2013 San Jose, CA -- Four people connected to a licensed medical marijuana dispensary in Alameda County were scheduled to be sentenced today in federal court in a prosecution that has lasted more than six years. Brothers Winslow and Abraham Norton accepted... Read more
National Marijuana Policy & Strategy Conference sponsored by groups opposed to statewide regulations in California Paul Marini | September 20, 2013 Rancho Cucamonga, CA -- Medical marijuana advocates Americans for Safe Access (ASA) will join the Brownie Mary Democratic Club of Riverside County to stage a peaceful counter-demonstration at 11am on Monday, September 23rd, against the 2013 National Marijuana Policy &... Read more
Medical Marijuana Advocates, Congressmen, and Families of Those Imprisoned Hold D.C. Press Conference Wednesday Paul Marini | September 16, 2013 Washington, D.C. -- Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Sam Farr (D-CA) will join medical marijuana advocates, as well as multiple family members of imprisoned medical marijuana patients for a press conference in the District on Wednesday, September 18th, to urge... Read more