Blog

On behalf of everyone here at ASA, I want to wish you a safe, healthy, and happy New Year!

Contents:
California News

• The lie that won’t die: “We don’t know enough about marijuana!”  (National)
• In California, a Mayor’s Rise Is a Sign of the Times (Sebastopol)
• Cops to Use Portable Drug Test at New Year's DUI Checkpoints (Los Angeles)
• West Sacramento ponders requiring medical marijuana to be grown inside (West Sacramento)
• Long Beach Council presses for new city ordinance on medical marijuana, prepares for April 2014 ballot measure (Long Beach)  
• Marijuana laws differ in tri-county area (Calaveras County)
• Kern County lawyers reaffirm Measure G (Kern County)
• Political action committee launches referendum on medical marijuana cultivation ordinance (Lake County)
• Monterey drug team busts medical pot dealer for allegedly breaking the rules (Marina)

Events

• April 5-7, 2014 - The 2nd Annual National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference (Washington, DC)

Take Action

• Take the National Survey on Medical Cannabis Policy
• Join Americans for Safe Access (ASA)

ASA Services Spotlight

• Patient Focused Certification (PFC) – Putting Medical Cannabis Back in the Mainstream
• Free Online Services

ASA Merchandise

• ASA Cloud Vaporizer Pen
• ASA Condition-Specific Booklets for Kindle

ASA Chapter & Affiliate Meetings

• Thursday, January 2, 2014 - Sonoma ASA

California News

The lie that won’t die: “We don’t know enough about marijuana!”
By Paul Armentano in Salon.com

Speaking recently with the Los Angeles Times, UCLA professor and former Washington state ”pot czar” Mark Kleiman implied that we as a society are largely ignorant when it comes to the subject of weed. Speaking with Times columnist Patt Morrison, Kleiman stated, “I keep saying we don’t know nearly as much about cannabis as Pillsbury knows about brownie mix.” Kleiman’s allegation—that the marijuana plant and its effects on society still remains largely a mystery—is a fairly common refrain. But it is far from accurate…
Read the full blog here.

---
In California, a Mayor’s Rise Is a Sign of the Times
By Norimitsu Onishi in the New York Times

When Robert Jacob ran for the City Council here last year, he had already made the list of “Forty Under 40 of 2012” in a local business magazine. So it was to be expected that his business gave him face recognition among voters on the campaign trail, many of whom greeted him by exclaiming, “You’re the pot guy!” A founder of Sebastopol’s lone dispensary for medical marijuana, Peace in Medicine, and a strong advocate of its use, Mr. Jacob far outraised and outspent his rivals by running the most expensive campaign in Sebastopol’s history. He won and quickly became vice mayor but was not done…
Read the full story here.

---
Cops to Use Portable Drug Test at New Year's DUI Checkpoints
By Ted Chen and Andrew Lopez on NBC 4 Los Angeles

Authorities plan to crack down on impaired drivers – either drunk or under the influence of drugs – using new DUI technology this New Year’s holiday… Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer said the prevalence of medical marijuana dispensaries throughout Los Angeles have heightened the number of impaired drivers in the city…
Read the entire story and watch the video here.

---
West Sacramento ponders requiring medical marijuana to be grown inside
By Darrell Smith in the Tribune

West Sacramento medical marijuana users and their caregivers could soon need a city-issued permit to grow cannabis indoors under an ordinance headed for a City Council vote in January. The ordinance extends the city’s nearly two-year ban on outdoor cultivation connected to medical marijuana dispensaries and adds new standards for indoor gardens. ..
Read the entire story here.

---
Long Beach Council presses for new city ordinance on medical marijuana, prepares for April 2014 ballot measure
By C.J. Dablo in the Signal Tribune

Long Beach still hasn’t figured out just how to effectively regulate the medical marijuana dispensaries, but city officials are not giving up on the daunting task, in spite of concerns expressed by the police chief– and in spite of a number of advocates of medical marijuana who don’t like the idea of keeping dispensaries in industrial zones. The Council has also laid the groundwork to put a measure on the April 2014 ballot that would establish a city tax on marijuana dispensaries…
Read the entire story here.

---
Marijuana laws differ in tri-county area
By Stephen Crane in the Calaveras Enterprise

Medical marijuana laws are in constant flux. There are federal, state and local laws, which give rise to many conflicts and overlaps. As many states across the nation loosen their laws concerning marijuana, legislators are left trying to write new laws to accommodate new views on this growing issue. Many times, lawmakers are just trying to keep up with the changes in policy, procedure and the perspectives of the populace. Officials in the counties of Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne continue to sort out the best approach to medical marijuana in their respective communities, and each county has traveled a different path to regulate both the growing of plants and the dispensaries that distribute the medical marijuana.
Read the entire story here.

---
Kern County lawyers reaffirm Measure G
By Theo Douglas in the Bakersfield Californian

After a court-ordered review of Kern's medical marijuana ordinance limiting dispensaries, county lawyers have concluded that it does not violate the state's environmental quality act. This could be good news for Kern County, which had convinced voters 18 months ago that medical marijuana dispensaries should be restricted, only to be sued by a group of county medical marijuana patients and patient collectives and cooperatives that accused the county of not considering the environmental consequences of the ordinance…
Read the entire story here.

---
Political action committee launches referendum on medical marijuana cultivation ordinance
By Elizabeth Larson in the Lake County News

An effort to stop the Board of Supervisors' recently passed marijuana cultivation ordinance is under way, with signature gathering now taking place for a referendum. A newly formed political action committee called Community Alliance to Ban Illegal Cannabis Cultivation, or CABICC, held a meeting about the ordinance this past weekend, as Lake County News has reported. One of the group's organizers, Michael Horner, said in an email message to Lake County News that the referendum was presented at the meeting. The group opposes the new marijuana cultivation ordinance accepted unanimously by the Board of Supervisors at its Dec. 17 meeting. The ordinance goes into effect on Jan. 16 and applies only to the unincorporated areas of the county…
Read the entire story here.

---
Monterey drug team busts medical pot dealer for allegedly breaking the rules
By Larry Parsons in the Herald News

Medical marijuana activist Kevin Saunders of Marina figured the hammer would come down soon. Still, he said he didn't expect to be arrested on maijuana [sic] sales charges by "SWAT dudes dressed like ninjas with guns." "They could have called me in, and they could have easily arrested me," Saunders said Monday. He said he spent a night in Monterey County Jail before being freed on a $60,000 bond posted Saturday…
Read the entire story here.

Events

April 5-7, 2014- The 2nd Annual National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference (Washington, DC)

We are pleased to announce the 2nd Annual National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference, Navigating Medical Cannabis in the Mainstream, taking place April 5 – 7th at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. Americans for Safe Access and our allies will fight even harder for safe access in 2014. This is our chance to show the Obama Administration and Congress our strength in unity – and to make our voice heard like never before in the nation’s capitol! The conference is your chance to network with other activists from around the country, attend panels and workshops to improve your skills and increase your knowledge, and to engage in direct citizen-lobbying efforts in the halls of Congress. Last year we had over 300 patients, providers, activist, medical and legal professional march on Washington on our lobby day. This was the largest march on Washington for safe access. Dont miss your chance to be apart of history.

Read more, register for the conference, and book your room at the Mayflower Inn today.

Do you have a medical cannabis event to share? Send items for the California Weekly Roundup to [email protected] before 12:00 PM on Friday to be included in Monday's distribution.

Take Action

Take the National Survey on Medical Cannabis Policy

We know that the best outcomes for our constituents come when they have a seat at the table when laws affecting their welfare are debated. Help ASA better represent your voice in the local, state, and federal conversation about medical cannabis regulations. Take this short survey to help us better understand your priorities when it comes to medical cannabis guidelines.

---
Join Americans for Safe Access (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 provides legal training for and medical information to patients, attorneys, health and medical professionals and policymakers throughout the United States. We also organize media support for court cases, rapid response to law enforcement raids, and capacity-building for advocates. Your support makes it all possible. Join ASA or renew your membership today.

ASA Services Spotlight

Patient Focused Certification (PFC) – Putting Medical Cannabis Back in the Mainstream

PFC is an innovative new program that is calibrating the medical cannabis industry for excellence.  Comprehensive and flexible, PFC is what patients, healthcare providers, companies, and regulators can depend on to identify reliable, high-quality medical cannabis products and services. ASA has created PFC to address product and distribution safety in the medical cannabis industry. The program provides components for operators, legislators and regulators to promote the adoption of safe and reasonable industry standards and regulations from seed to consumption. Share this link with your medical cannabis provider or professional: www.PatientFocusedCertification.org

---
Free Online Services

• Legal Support - Legal information for patients, lawyers, and other about medical cannabis laws the legal system.
• Publications - Education literature and training for patients, activists, and others.
• Raid Center - Be prepared for a law enforcement encounter, let ASA help you in case of a federal raid, and get text alerts regarding local law enforcement activity.
• Medical Cannabis Advocate's Training Center - Learn how to be a more effective advocate for medical cannabis and how to build the movement in your community.

ASA Merchandise

ASA Cloud Vaporizer Pen

Medicate and advocate! The ASA Cloud Vaporizer Pen is perfect for patients who want to show their support for the medical cannabis movement. The pen has an ASA logo, comes in our signature color, and has a lifetime guarantee. 30% of every sale goes to support ASA.

ASA Condition-Specific Booklets for Kindle
 
ASA’s condition-specific booklets are the go-to reference for doctors and researchers when it comes to medical cannabis and cancer, HIV/AIDS, chronic pain, and other common conditions. These science-based booklets are also a great tool for patients who want to talk to their health care provider, family members, or others about medical cannabis. Download your now.

ASA Chapter & Affiliate Meetings

Thursday, January 2, 2014 - Sonoma ASA
5:00 PM at the Arlene Francis Center, 99 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95401. Email [email protected] for more information.

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.