Blog

Happy Veteran's Day from everyone at Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the nation's leading medical cannabis patients' advocacy organization. Will we see you for Safe Access Night with the San Francisco Bulls on Saturday, November 16? Scroll down for details!

Contents:

California News

• Solano County seeks medical marijuana feedback online (Solano County)
• Mendocino County medpot ruling may set new precedent (Mendocino County)
• Citywide: Alameda County asks Obama for an end to federal pot raids, Cannabis Dispensary Approved in Oakland (Alameda County, Oakland)
• California School Stops Administering Medical Marijuana to Student (Modesto)
• 2 Arrested in Medical Marijuana Dispensary Robbery (San Diego)
• Proposed Medical Marijuana Restrictions in SF Anger Cannabis Supporters (San Francisco)
• Medical Cannabis: Voices from the Frontlines (ASA Blog)

Events

• Saturday, November 16 - Safe Access Night with SF Bulls Pro Hockey SPECIAL EVENT! Buy tickets today!
• Save the date: April 5-7, 2014 - ASA’s 2nd Annual National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference in Washington, DC.

Take Action

• Fall Membership Drive: Become an ASA Member Now!
• California Patient Survey

ASA Services
Free Online Services

• Legal Support
• Publications
• Raid Center
• Medical Cannabis Advocate's Training Center

ASA Chapter Meetings

• Tuesday, November 12, 2013 - San Diego
• Tuesday, November 12, 2013 - Nevada County
• Thursday, November 14, 2013 - Imperial Beach

California News

Solano County seeks medical marijuana feedback online
By the Staff at the Times-Herald Online

Residents can go online to provide feedback on options Solano County leaders should consider in regulating medical marijuana operations in unincorporated areas. The online survey is the same as one provided at a series of community meetings held over the last two weeks. The survey is available at www.solanocounty.com/medicalmarijuana. "We had some very informative discussions at the community meetings, and the online option gives residents who were unable to attend an easy avenue to provided their comments," the county's director of resource management Bill Emlen said in a press release. Read the full story here.

Mendocino County medpot ruling may set new precedent
By TIFFANY REVELLE at the Ukiah Daily Journal

In what could be a significant ruling for medical marijuana defense, a Mendocino County Superior Court judge on Friday granted a motion to throw out evidence from a vehicle search done because the driver admitted to having the drug and a county-issued card identifying him as a medical marijuana patient. Judge Ann Moorman ruled in favor of Mendocino County Deputy Public Defender Eric Rennert's motion to suppress the evidence used to charge his client, Kevin R. Hawkins, 55, of Cloverdale, with possessing methamphetamine when a Ukiah Police Department officer pulled Hawkins over on South State Street and searched his vehicle. Read the entire story here.

Citywide: Alameda County asks Obama for an end to federal pot raids, Cannabis Dispensary Approved in Oakland
By Matthew Arts, Ashly McGlone, and Matt O’Brien at Bay Area News Group

Alameda County is asking President Barack Obama to "end federal interference" in how states and municipalities regulate marijuana. The board of supervisors adopted a resolution Tuesday supporting the legalization of marijuana for both medical and recreational use, and asked the federal government to back off from heavy-handed and costly enforcement, including raids on medical pot dispensaries…

The city [of Oakland] may soon get its seventh medical cannabis dispensary. Oakland officials last week greenlighted a dispensary for 3007 Telegraph Ave. The outlet would be run by Tidewater Patients Group, which has strong ties to Carlos Plazola, a one-time aide to former Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente. Read the entire story here.

California School Stops Administering Medical Marijuana to Student
By Scott Gacek at the Daily Chronic

The father of a 7 year old California boy, who suffers from epileptic seizures, says that his son’s school has stopped giving his son medical marijuana after over a year. Jason David says his son Jayden, who suffers from Gervais Syndrome, which causes him to have severe epileptic seizures, has been on a CBD based medication which the school’s nurse has been administering at lunch for the past year and a half. Since Jayden began taking the medicine, which does not produce a “high”,  his seizures have reduced and he has been able to stay in school. Read the full story here.

2 Arrested in Medical Marijuana Dispensary Robbery
By Elena Gomez and R. Stickney on NBC San Diego

San Diego Police arrested two suspects for breaking into a medical marijuana dispensary located less than a block away from central division headquarters. The robbery was reported just before 5 a.m. Thursday at 26th and Imperial by a passerby who noticed a broken window and saw three men go into the building with backpacks. Read the full story and watch the video here.

Proposed Medical Marijuana Restrictions in SF Anger Cannabis Supporters
By Chris Roberts on NBC San Francisco

New rules that would clamp down on medical marijuana in San Francisco have some advocates of the drug hopping mad, according to reports. A law up for approval Tuesday would limit how many medical cannabis dispensaries could open up in the Excelsior neighborhood on the city's southern edge, according to the San Francisco Examiner. Read the full story here.

Medical Cannabis: Voices from the Frontlines (ASA Blog)

Read more articles and commentary on ASA's blog, Medical Cannabis: Voices from the Frontlines at http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/blog

Events

Saturday, November 16 - Safe Access Night with SF Bulls Pro Hockey

Americans for Safe Access and San Francisco Bulls Hockey have teamed up to offer Safe Access Night at the Cow Palace. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to ASA, so come join other advocates for a night of hard hitting hockey!
Email [email protected] for more info or visit the ticket page.

April 5-7, 2014 - 2nd Annual National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference

Save the date for ASA's second national conference in Washington, DC.

Take Action

Fall Membership Drive: Become an ASA Member Now!

ASA offers patients, their providers, attorneys, medical professionals and policymakers up-to-date information on the medical and legal use of cannabis nation-wide.  ASA offers our members legal and legislative support including trainings, capacity-building, analysis, publications and strategic support. We organize media support for court cases, rapid response to law enforcement raids, and media responses to current events.  Our successful advocacy, media, and legal campaigns have resulted in important court precedents, new sentencing standards, and more compassionate local and state guidelines.
Join between October 2nd and November 15th for a chance to win a FREE trip to DC for ASA's Annual Conference this April!

California Patient Survey

Because California has no mandatory state registration for medical cannabis patients, there is very little known about the patient population of the state. Please fill out this completely anonymous 10 question survey for California patients so that we can use this data in our efforts to bring safe access to all parts of the state.

ASA Services

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 Chapter Meetings (Full Calendar Here)

Tuesday, November 12, 2013 - San Diego
7:00-9:00 PM at Giovanni’s Restaurant - 9353 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. San Diego, CA 92123
Email [email protected]  for more information.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013 - Nevada County
6:00 PM at Nevada County Contractors Association, 147 Crown Point CT Grass Valley, CA 95945
Email [email protected] for more information.

Thursday, November 14, 2013 - Imperial Beach
6:00 PM at 1233 Palm Ave, Imperial Beach, CA.
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.