Obama, federal court, the state legislature, & more

Posted by 21pc on April 20, 2015

President ObamaWhen asked if he supported the CARERS Act, in an interview with Dr. Sanjay Gupta last night, President Obama said “I think carefully prescribed medical use of marijuana may in fact be appropriate and we should follow the science as opposed to ideology on this issue…” The President was talking about groundbreaking bipartisan legislation that would end federal interference in medical cannabis in California and other medical cannabis states. His comments are another sign of how far we have come. Read more about the President’s interview, an important case in federal court, bills in the state legislature, and local developments around medical cannabis in the California Weekly Roundup for Monday, April 20, 2015.

You can hear more about what the President’s comments do and don’t mean in a Live Google Hangout tonight. The program will feature ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer,  PA State Senator Mike Folmer, medical cannabis researcher Jahan Marcu Ph.D, U.S. combat veteran and activist with Grow for Vets Matt Kahl, and Weed 3 participant Dr. Sue Sisley. Join the interactive event live from your computer or mobile device tonight at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT at http://www.safeaccessnow.org/asa_live

Be sure to read ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer’s blog about our 13th birthday!
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/how_are_you_celebrating_today

And finally, don’t forget to email you California Assembly Member in support of AB 258. A vote on the Medical Cannabis Organ Transplant Act in the State Assembly could come at any moment this week.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/ca_assembly_support_ab_258_and_save_lives

 

ASA California Weekly Roundup: April 20, 2015

Contents (Scroll down for details and links):

News

  • Obama Voices Support for Medical Marijuana in Cable News Interview (National)
  • Marijuana Is Still a Schedule 1 Drug, Judge Rules (National)
  • A roundup of marijuana bills now making the rounds at California's state Capitol (California)
  • First California Marijuana Legalization 2016 Initiative Filed (California)
  • Officials: Growers Bogarting Taxes Owed To California (California)
  • Santa Clarita Officials To Support Medical Marijuana Regulation (California)
  • For now, Calaveras board won’t regulate medical marijuana gardens (Calaveras County)
  • Nevada County group pushes for more restrictive outdoor pot grow ordinance (Nevada County)
  • Marijuana cultivation ordinance to go before Planning Commission (Riverside County)
  • Faulconer wants to cut back on illegal pot shops (San Diego)
  • H.B. wants to make it clear: No pot shops allowed (Huntington Beach)
  • Baked in Arcata (Arcata)
  • Costa Mesa can delay medical marijuana election, judge decides (Costa Mesa)

Events

  • April 20, 2015 – Live Google Hangout to Discuss Weed 3 (Online)
  • April 20, 2015 – Rally is Support of Defendant Robert Orlosky (San Diego)
  • April 20, 2015 – Senate Business and Professions Committee Hearing on SB 643 (Sacramento)
  • April 21, 2015 – Assembly Business and Professions Committee Hearing on AB 266 (Sacramento)
  • April 28, 2015 – Assembly Business and Professions Committee Hearing on AB 34 (Sacramento)
  • April 28, 2015 – Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Hearing on AB 243 (Sacramento)

Court Support

  • April 23, 2015 – Court Support for the BART Collective (Oroville)
  • And more

Take Action Now

  • CA Assembly: Support AB 258 and save lives! (California)
  • Sign the Petition to Ask Your Representatives to Sign on to the Senate CARERS Act! (National)

ASA Website Spotlight

  • ASA Live

Chapter & Affiliate Meetings

  • April 21, 2015 - Nevada County ASA (Grass Valley)
  • April 21, 2015 - San Francisco ASA (San Francisco)
  • April 26, 2015 - Nevada County ASA (North San Juan)

News

Obama Voices Support for Medical Marijuana in Cable News Interview (National)
Daniel Politi, Slate

President Obama offered support for decriminalizing medical marijuana, as well as an overall change in the way the country deals with drug offenders, during an interview scheduled to air on Sunday night as part of a CNN special on marijuana.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/04/19/obama_voices_support_for_medical_marijuana_in_cable_news_interview.html

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Marijuana Is Still a Schedule 1 Drug, Judge Rules (National)
Arielle Pardes

Marijuana has come a long way since the paranoia of Reefer Madness. States that have legalized the drug are quickly getting rich on tax revenue from it, it's shown promise in treating all sorts of ailments, and there's some evidence that it might reduce addiction and overdoses caused by other drugs.
http://www.vice.com/read/marijuana-is-still-a-schedule-i-drug-judge-rules-415

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A roundup of marijuana bills now making the rounds at California's state Capitol (California)
David Downs, Sacramento News & Review

The people of California have convened a historic legislative session this year. According to some lobbyists, never has there been this level of lawmaker interest in medical cannabis.
https://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/roundup-of-marijuana-bills/content?oid=16782294

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First California Marijuana Legalization 2016 Initiative Filed (California)
David Downs, East Bay Express

Two groups filed proposed ballot initiatives to legalize cannabis for adults, and protect the medical marijuana marketplace today.
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/LegalizationNation/archives/2015/04/15/first-california-marijuana-legalization-2016-initiative-filed

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Officials: Growers Bogarting Taxes Owed To California (California)
Bob Moffitt, Capitol Public Radio

The California Board of Equalization says the medical marijuana industry isn't paying the taxes it owes.
http://www.capradio.org/articles/2015/04/13/growers-bogarting-taxes-owed-to-california

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Santa Clarita Officials To Support Medical Marijuana Regulation (California)
AM 1220

AB 266 addresses a lot of the shortcomings of Proposition 215, a voter initiative passed in 1996 that created the Compassionate Use Act  and legalized medicinal marijuana, said Randy Perry, a lobbyist for the Peace Officers Research Association of California, which endorsed the measure.
http://www.hometownstation.com/santa-clarita-news/politics/santa-clarita-officials-to-support-medical-marijuana-regulation-149655

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For now, Calaveras board won’t regulate medical marijuana gardens (Calaveras County)
Dana M. Michols, Calaveras Enterprise

The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors decided Tuesday afternoon that it won’t try to pass a zoning ordinance to regulate medical marijuana gardens this year.
http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/breakingnews/article_8b2bb6a6-e309-11e4-a5fe-1700130eed70.html

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Nevada County group pushes for more restrictive outdoor pot grow ordinance (Nevada County)
Keri Brenner, The Union

A local group called Tuesday for an “urgency ordinance” to establish more restrictive outdoor marijuana growing regulations in Nevada County — keeping pace, they say, with surrounding counties and helping to reduce water use during the statewide drought.
http://www.theunion.com/news/15905798-113/nevada-county-group-pushes-for-more-restrictive-outdoor-pot

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Marijuana cultivation ordinance to go before Planning Commission (Riverside County)
Jeff Horseman, Press Enterprise

Changes to Riverside County’s marijuana laws will be reviewed by planning commissioners Wednesday, April 15, as part of a larger effort to crack down on for-profit pot grows in the county’s unincorporated communities.
http://www.pe.com/articles/marijuana-764735-county-crops.html

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Faulconer wants to cut back on illegal pot shops (San Diego)
Robert Santos, ABC 10 News

Mayor Kevin Faulconer wants part of his 2016 budget proposal to go towards cutting down on illegal pot shops.
http://www.10news.com/news/san-diego-mayor-wants-to-cut-back-on-illegal-pot-shops

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H.B. wants to make it clear: No pot shops allowed (Huntington Beach)
Anthony Clark Carpio, Huntington Independent

Huntington Beach took a step Tuesday intended to make it clear that marijuana dispensaries are illegal in the city.
http://www.hbindependent.com/news/tn-hbi-me-0416-marijuana-dispensaries-20150415,0,5733772.story

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Baked in Arcata (Arcata)
Grant Scott-Goforth, North Coast Journal

Arcata and pot. Are they, or aren't they? In 2014, the city started collecting a tax for high electricity use, a move clearly targeting residential grow houses.
http://www.northcoastjournal.com/humboldt/baked-in-arcata/Content?oid=2865085

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Costa Mesa can delay medical marijuana election, judge decides (Costa Mesa)
Jennifer Dobruck, Daily Pilot

An Orange County Superior Court judge Thursday denied a motion that would have compelled Costa Mesa to hold a special election later this year about allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.
http://www.dailypilot.com/news/tn-dpt-me-0417-marijuana-election-ruling-20150416,0,7695252.story

 Public Meetings & Events

April 20, 2015 – Live Google Hangout to Discuss Weed 3 (Online)
7:00 PM ET or 4:00 PM PT at http://www.safeaccessnow.org/asa_live Join this live online event to discuss President Obama’s comments on Sanjay Gupta’s Weed 3 on CNN and more. Panelists include ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer,  PA State Senator Mike Folmer, medical cannabis researcher Jahan Marcu Ph.D, U.S. combat veteran and activist with Grow for Vets Matt Kahl, and Weed 3 participant Dr. Sue Sisley.

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April 20, 2015 – Rally is Support of Defendant Robert Orlosky (San Diego)
11:30 AM at the Hall of Justice, 330 W Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101. Join San Diego ASA and the local medical cannabis coalition to support a medical cannabis defendant that is being charged by anti-medical cannabis crusader and District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis for a second time. Visit http://www.safeaccesssd.com for more information.

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April 20, 2015 – Senate Business and Professions Committee Hearing on SB 643 (Sacramento)
1:00 PM in Room 3191 in the State Capitol Building on 10th Street between L & N Streets, Sacramento, CA 95814. The committee will hear testimony on SB 643 (McGuire), which will license and regulate commercial medical cannabis activity and more. See http://www.safeaccessnow.org/2015_legislation for more information.

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April 21, 2015 – Assembly Business and Professions Committee Hearing on AB 266 (Sacramento)
9:00 AM in Room 447 in the State Capitol Building on 10th Street between L & N Streets, Sacramento, CA 95814. The committee will hear testimony on AB 266 (Cooley), which will license and regulate commercial medical cannabis activity and more. See http://www.safeaccessnow.org/2015_legislation for more information.

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April 28, 2015 – Assembly Business and Professions Committee Hearing on AB 34 (Sacramento)
9:00 AM in Room 447 in the State Capitol Building on 10th Street between L & N Streets, Sacramento, CA 95814. The committee will hear testimony on AB 34 (Bonta), which will license and regulate commercial medical cannabis activity and more. See http://www.safeaccessnow.org/2015_legislation for more information.

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April 28, 2015 – Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Hearing on AB 243 (Sacramento)
1:30 PM in Room 444 in the Capitol Building on 10th Street between L & N Streets, Sacramento, CA 95814. The committee will hear testimony on AB 243 (Wood), which will require patients, caregivers, and collectives to obtain permits to grow medical cannabis, restrict the number of plants that can be grown, and set environmental standards for cultivation. ASA opposes this bill. See http://www.safeaccessnow.org/2015_legislation for more information.

Court Support

What is Court Support and how do I get involved?

April 23, 2015 – Court Support for the BART Collective (Oroville)
8:30 AM at 1 Court St, Oroville , CA 95965. Dress in a professional 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

CA Assembly: Support AB 258 and save lives! (California)
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/ca_assembly_support_ab_258_and_save_lives

The State Assembly will vote soon on a bill that will reduce suffering and preventable deaths among legal medical cannabis patients in California. Email your State Assembly Representative today to support AB 258. The vote may happen any day now, so please do not wait.

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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.

ASA Website Spotlight

ASA Live
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/asa_live

ASA Live is where you can watch Live Google Hangouts, free interactive events you can join from your computer or mobile device. You can see an all-star panel of experts discussing President Obama’s comments on medical cannabis tonight. Archives also include previous events discussing Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s broadcasts, response to new federal legislation, and more. Check out these live and archived programs for coverage and voices you won’t see anywhere else. 

ASA Chapter & Affiliate Meetings

April 21, 2015 - Nevada County ASA (Grass Valley)
The meeting starts at 6:00 PM at The Banner Grange, 12629 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley, CA 95949. Email [email protected] for more information.

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April 21, 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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April 26, 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.