Blog

Contents:

• Message from the CA Director: Happy New Year, California!

• News: National, California, Humboldt County, Los Angeles, Oceanside

• Public Meetings & Events: Oakland, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, San Diego, Washington DC

• Court Support: Redding

• Take Action Now: Support the Medical Marijuana Organ Transplant Act, Join the ASA-CCSA Discussion List, Expand the Green Zone

• ASA Website Spotlight: National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference 2015

• Chapter & Affiliate Meetings: None this week

Happy New Year, California! We had a big year in 2014, and are looking to accomplish even more in 2015. Just consider some of what you helped ASA achieve this year…

• We scored a huge victory when Congress finally adopted an amendment to the omnibus budget bill that removes funding for federal interference and intimidation in California and other medical cannabis states.
• Californians re-elected all of our supporters in the legislature in the midterm elections.
• Voters in Santa Ana approved new medical cannabis regulations that will provide safe and legal access for patients in that community.
• ASA certified the first patients’ cooperatives and collectives in San Francisco and Berkeley under our new Patient Focused Certification program, which endures quality and integrity in the medical cannabis industry. Congratulations, SPARC and Berkeley Patients Group!
• ASA members helped persuade the influential California Medical Association to oppose the practice of denying organ transplants to cannabis users. 
• ASA helped to improve two major legislative proposals regarding commercial medical cannabis regulations in California by successfully amending legislation more than a dozen times. ASA also helped stop a bill in the state legislature that would have established unscientific DUI limits for legal patients.

We have a lot more to do in 2015. Cities and counties will continue to wrestle with regulations and bans on cultivation and distribution. Our state legislature is already mulling at least two proposals for commercial medical cannabis licensing. ASA is gearing up to fight another medical cannabis DUI bill, and we are looking forward to sponsoring a bill to prevent discrimination against legal patients who need organ transplants.

Thanks in advance for your ongoing commitment and support for the grassroots medical cannabis campaign. Have a safe, happy, and healthy holiday!

News

The Year in Pot: Legal Sales and Anti-Marijuana Voices Boomed (National)
Tony Dokoupil, NBC News

Marijuana has never had a year like 2014. 
Read and watch a video more here:
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2014-year-in-review/year-pot-legal-sales-anti-marijuana-voices-boomed-n272081

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New law could affect criminal sentences in marijuana cases (California)
Bob Eglko, SF Gate

In a sharp reversal of federal drug policy, Congress has prohibited the Justice Department from interfering with laws in California and other states that allow the medical use of marijuana.
Read more here:
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/New-law-could-affect-criminal-sentences-in-5974026.php

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Pot Turnaround on Tribal Lands (Humboldt County)
Grant Scott-Goforth, The North Coast Journal

Following a trend of relaxing marijuana policy, the Department of Justice announced recently that it will no longer prosecute people who grow marijuana on tribal lands.
Read more here:
http://www.northcoastjournal.com/humboldt/pot-turnaround-on-tribal-lands/Content?oid=2789226

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Judge Halts Medical Marijuana Delivery App in Los Angeles (Los Angeles)
Christina Cocca, NBC 4 Southern California

Want your medical marijuana delivered? There might not be an app for that.
Read more here:
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/judge-halts-medical-marijuana-delivery-service-app-los-angeles------286706431.html

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Does Oceanside have a pot-shop problem? (Oceanside)
Thomas K. Arnold, Seaside Courier

It appears Oceanside has a pot shop problem. City officials are trying to shut down another medical marijuana dispensary, the Chronic Pain Releaf Shop on San Diego Street.
Read more here:
http://www.seasidecourier.com/opinion/does-oceanside-have-a-pot-shop-problem/article_6e178ef6-8a48-11e4-8bf1-1f25cfa55596.html

Public Meetings & Events

Monday, December 29, 2014 - Marijuana Compassion and Common Sense (Online)

6:00 PM at www.blogtalkradio.com/marijuananews Tune in for this weekly live Internet broadcast about cannabis and medical cannabis issues. You can call in to participate. 

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Wednesday, December 31, 2014 – Last Day to Get the Early-Bird Discount (Nationwide)
Today is the last day to register for the early-bird discount for ASA’s National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference – and to get a free ASA Signature Vape Pen. Don’t forget to book your travel and hotel room at the Lowes Madison early to save even more. 

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March 27-31, 2015 – ASA’s National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference 2015 (Washington, DC)
Join us March 27th – 31stfor the biggest and most important medical cannabis conference yet. Early bird and ASA member discounts are now available. Save money on registration, travel, and lodging by registering now. For more information: http://www.nationalmedicalcannabisunityconference.org 

Court Support

What is Court Support and how do I get involved?

Tuesday, December 30, 2014 – Court Support for People v. Drewsen (Redding)
10:00 AM at 1500 court St, Redding , CA 96001. Closing arguments. Dress in an appropriate manner and obey all courtroom rules to best help the defendant(s).

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Tuesday, December 30, 2014 – Court Support for People v. Richy (Redding)
10:00 AM at 1500 court St, Redding, CA 96001. Jury selection. Dress in an appropriate manner and obey all courtroom rules to best help the defendant(s). 

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Find more information and additional listings on The Human Solution Calendar: http://www.thsintl.org/calendar

Take Action Now

Support the Medical Marijuana Organ Transplant Act (California)
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/support_the_ca_medical_marijuana_organ_transplant_act

A patient in California can be denied a life-saving organ transplant solely based on the fact that he or she uses medical cannabis! Legal patients have died after being removed from the organ transplant list, and others are in jeopardy right now. Americans for Safe Access, the nation's leading medical cannabis patients' advocacy organization, proposes legislation to prevent anyone from being denied a transplant because of medical cannabis. Sign this petition to let lawmakers know you support the Medical Marijuana Organ Transplant Act to provide equal access to health care for legal patients.

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Join ASA’s New California Discussion List – ASA-CCSA (California)
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/asa_ccsa_email_discussion_list

ASA-CCSA is a membership-based email discussion list about local and state medical cannabis legislation, initiatives, referendums, and related litigation in the state of California. Unlike this weekly email, you can respond to messages on ASA-CCSA and share your response with everyone. The purpose of the list is to facilitate dialog and participation by movement and industry stakeholders. Respectful and courteous participation, conversations, and debate are welcome.

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Expand the MCD Green Zone (San Francisco) 
https://www.change.org/p/sf-board-of-supervisors-expand-the-mcd-green-zone 

The outdated rules restricting medical cannabis dispensaries to a limited Green Zone of less than 5% of The City of San Francisco have created a clustering problem, and limit access for medical cannabis patients. The current policy has not been updated since 2005. Expanding the existing MCD Green Zone would allow vital medical cannabis dispensaries to locate in more areas of The City of San Francisco.

ASA Website Spotlight

National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference
http://www.nationalmedicalcannabisunityconference.org

ASA’s National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference and Citizen Lobby Day will be March 27-31 in Washington, DC. Unity 2015 is your place to gather with other patients, providers, activists, medical and legal professionals from around the country; to learn best practices, exchange ideas and learn how to navigate medical marijuana in this new political landscape. The conference ends with hundreds of patients and advocates visiting members of Congress. Get more information and register online.

ASA Chapter & Affiliate Meetings

There are no ASA Chapter meetings scheduled this week.

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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.