Blog

Contents:

Message from the CA Director - Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Volunteers

California News

• California Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Can Be Targeted By Feds, Appeals Court Rules (California)
• Marijuana and DUI: What Californians Need to Know (California)
• The Myth of California's Drugged Driving Epidemic (California)
• Men who killed L.A. marijuana dispensary worker get life in prison (Los Angeles)
• San Jose medical marijuana voter initiative filed to block pot shop ban (San Jose)
• Medical marijuana delivery service shut down by city of San Rafael (San Rafael)
• Butte supervisors move to tighten pot garden rules (Butte County)
• Martinez may limit outdoor medical marijuana cultivation (Martinez)
• Advocates deliver 5,000 pot petitions to City Hall (Napa)
• California man sentenced for marijuana possession in Cass County (Plattsmouth, NB)

Events

• Tuesday, January 21, 2014 – Medical Board Hearing for Dr. David Allen (Sacramento)
• 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 Website Spotlight

• Medical Cannabis: Voices from the Frontlines (Blog)
• Free Online Services

ASA Merchandise

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

ASA Chapter & Affiliate Meetings

• Tuesday, January 21, 2014 – San Francisco ASA

Message from the CA Director

Today we are celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His work to bring equality and justice to the United States made a real and lasting difference for African Americans and the county as a whole. His legacy and powerful words continue to inspire grassroots advocates around the world.

Dr. King was the leader of a vast movement that transformed our county. Untold thousands of volunteers helped organize boycotts, protests, peaceful acts of civil disobedience, and speaking engagements. They also registered voters, helped get them out to the polls, and supported legislative efforts to end discrimination. The Civil Rights Movement would not have been possible without this army of supporters.  Indeed, no broad civil justice effort has ever succeeded without a motivated base of supporters like those who worked beside D. King.

Thousands of ASA Members and allies also volunteer and donate to support the grassroots medical cannabis movement. I want to say a special holiday thank you to all of those who work so hard!

California News

California Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Can Be Targeted By Feds, Appeals Court Rules
By Associated Press on NBC Bay Area

An appeals court has ruled that California medical marijuana dispensaries have no protection under state law from federal drug prosecutions. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that California's law allowing marijuana use with a doctor's recommendation doesn't shield dispensaries, their landlords and customers from criminal charges and government lawsuits. All uses of marijuana are illegal under federal law, even in states that have legalized pot…
Read the full story here.

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Marijuana and DUI: What Californians Need to Know
By Smell the Truth

California continues its seemingly inexorable march toward marijuana legalization, but even if weed becomes legal, driving under the influence won’t. Tens of thousands will still be prosecuted for allegedly driving when their ability to see, think or operate their motor vehicle is impaired by any psychoactive substance, including weed. Here’s a run-down on current California drugged driving law, how people get popped for it, what the punishments are, and how to act right…
Read the full blog here.

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The Myth of California's Drugged Driving Epidemic
By David Downs in the east Bay Express

The start of the New Year means the start of another legislative session in Sacramento — which means we're just weeks away from new bills purporting to stop California's drugged driving epidemic.
Problem is, police lobbyists manufacture this problem every year now to get more funding…
Read the full story here.

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Men who killed L.A. marijuana dispensary worker get life in prison
By Paresh Dave in the LA Times

Two robbers convicted of fatally shooting an Echo Park medical marijuana dispensary employee in 2010 were sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Raymond Lemone Easter, 31, and Daniel Deshawn Hinton, 35, were convicted in November of one count of first-degree murder with a special circumstance allegation of murder during a robbery in the death of Matthew Butcher, 27…
Read the full story here.

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San Jose medical marijuana voter initiative filed to block pot shop ban
By Mike Rosenberg in the San Jose Mercury News

Medical marijuana supporters on Monday filed an initiative that would ask voters to keep pot shops open throughout most of San Jose, fighting back against city leaders who are trying to close the stores down. Dispensary owners will soon begin collecting signatures to get the measure on the November ballot -- a pre-emptive strike to pressure the City Council against enacting sweeping new rules on pot shops. Facing a growing outcry over public safety, the city last month began sending letters to dispensaries near homes, ordering them to "cease operations" or face big fines and potentially criminal prosecution. Now, the council is set to vote on banning pot shops in more than 99 percent of the city, prohibiting them from operating anywhere near homes, schools, churches and other similar places…
Read the full story here.

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Medical marijuana delivery service shut down by city of San Rafael
By Richard Halstead in the Marin Independent Journal

The city of San Rafael has forced a medical cannabis delivery service operating out of an office to close its doors. The collective Caregiver Compassion Group, which closed Jan. 6, has been flying beneath the radar since moving into the office at 15 Woodland Ave. in 2011, after losing its lease in Sausalito. The San Rafael City Council adopted an ordinance in 1997 that states, "A medical marijuana dispensary is not an allowable use within any district of the city…”
Read the full story and watch a video here.

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Butte supervisors move to tighten pot garden rules
By Roger Aylworth in OrovilleMR

In an entirely unexpected move, the Board of Supervisors today preliminarily passed amendments to Butte County's marijuana cultivation ordinance that drastically tighten restrictions on growers.  On a motion by Chico Supervisor Maureen Kirk, the board unanimously voted to limit marijuana gardens not by the number of plants but by square-footage…
Read the full story here.

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Martinez may limit outdoor medical marijuana cultivation
By Lisa P. White in the Contra Costa Times

Following complaints about medical marijuana growing in backyards, Martinez may restrict the number of outdoor plants to six per property.  The Planning Commission is scheduled to review the proposal at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 525 Henrietta St. The commissioners will then make a recommendation to the City Council.  Last year, Martinez police received complaints about a strong marijuana smell emanating from the backyard of a house in the Brittany Hills subdivision. An investigation revealed that the plants are legal because the resident has a medical cannabis card and is a caregiver for five other patients, according to police. Large numbers of marijuana plants also are growing in the yards of two other properties, police Chief Gary Peterson said…
Read the full story here.

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Advocates deliver 5,000 pot petitions to City Hall
By Kerana Todorov in the Napa Valley Register

Medical marijuana activists on Wednesday delivered three banker boxes of petitions containing more than 5,000 signatures to Napa City Hall. The group wants the Napa City Council to either overturn its December decision to scrap the city’s ordinance that would have allowed at least one dispensary in Napa or place the matter on the ballot later this year. Volunteers, who started collecting signatures a few days before the holidays, need 3,852 signatures to overturn the ban or place the matter on a ballot later this year. That number amounts to 10 percent of all registered voters in Napa…
Read the full story here.

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California man sentenced for marijuana possession in Cass County
By Brent Hardin in the Journal

A California man learned Monday morning that he would serve time in state prison for driving in Cass County with nearly 30 pounds of marijuana. Johnny C. Hatchett, 53, appeared in Cass County District Court for sentencing on one count of attempted possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute-marijuana. Hatchett pled guilty to the Class IV felony in September as part of a plea agreement…
Read the full story here.

Events

Tuesday, January 21, 2014 – Medical Board Hearing for Dr. David Allen
Medical cannabis doctor and advocate Dr. David Allen will have a hearing before the CA Medical Board on Tuesday, January 21. The Board will decide whether or not to penalize Dr. Allen, including the loss of his medical license. Thousands of patients count on Dr. Allen. Show you support by attending the hearing at 9:00 AM in the Office of Administrative Hearings, 2349 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 200 Sacramento, CA 95833. Dress and behave in a professional manner to help Dr. Allen.

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.

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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 Website Spotlight

Medical Cannabis:Voices from the Frontlines

Be an informed advocate. Read ASA's blog to get the latest information from ASA staff and guest authors about medical cannabis issues nationwide. Be sure to check out the archives.

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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

Tuesday, January 21, 2014 - San Francisco ASA
The meeting starts at 7:30 PM at 847 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103. Email [email protected] for more information. Like SF-ASA on Facebook.

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.