Blog

Contents:

• Message from the CA Director: Take your seat at the table
• State & Local News: News From Communities All Over California
• Public Meetings & Events: Live Google Hangout, State of the State Conference, & more
• Court Support: Redding & Sacramento
• Take Action Now: Register for the CA Citizen Lobby Day & More
• ASA Website Spotlight: Return of Property
• Chapter & Affiliate Meetings: Nevada County

We are expecting two hundred patients and other advocates in Sacramento on Monday, August 4, to talk to lawmakers about medical cannabis bills that will affect our community for years to come. Will you be there to take your seat at the table two weeks from today?

Register today for the CA Citizen Lobby Day in Sacramento on Monday, August 4.

I will make an appointment for you to meet with your California Assembly Member and Senator when you register. Do it today. Time is running out to make the appointments. ASA is requesting a $25 donation from participants to help defer the cost of the event, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Lobby day participants will be advocating for important amendments to current bills and laying the groundwork for patients’ rights legislation in 2015.

California Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), author of the controversial regulatory bill SB 1262, will speak to the crowd on Monday morning. We will have a legislative briefing, distribute printed materials, and have a special citizen lobbyist training before meeting with lawmakers. Participants will also spend some time talking about local campaigns for safe access.

Participants are invited to a special VIP reception on Monday evening honoring Assembly Member Tom Amminao (D-San Francisco), a principal co-author of SB 1262 and longtime champion for medical cannabis in the legislature. This is the Assembly Member’s last year in office, and ASA will present him with an award at the reception.

Read more about the lobby day, see the agenda, learn about sponsorship opportunities, and download an event flier online. You can also join me for a live Google Hangout at 7:00 PM  on Thursday, July 24, to learn more about the event and bills.

You need to be a part of this conversation. Lawmakers need to hear directly from people in their home districts about medical cannabis regulations and patients’ rights. They also need to see hundreds of advocates in the hallways, so that they know there is grassroots support for bills and amendments we support. Remember that research shows the citizen lobbyists like you are six times more influential than paid lobbyists!

Register today for the CA Citizen Lobby Day in Sacramento on Monday, August 4.

Strategic committee votes and final floor votes may happen days after the CA Citizen Lobby Day. Do not miss your chance to be a part of ASA’s biggest and most important citizen lobby day yet. Take your seat at the table and make a real difference on August 4.

California & National News

Medical Marijuana Patients Hail Landmark Victory with Another Unprecedented Vote in Congress (National)
Americans for Safe Access, The Daily Chronic

Medical marijuana patients hailed another landmark victory Wednesday when Congress voted 231-192 to restrict Department of Treasury funds from “being used to prohibit or penalize a financial institution from providing services to a marijuana-related business that engages in activities permissible under state or local laws.”
Read more here.

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California Looks To Regulate Medical Marijuana (California)
California Public Radio

The strange bedfellows’ society was definitely in session at a recent Assembly Public Safety Committee hearing. Medical marijuana supporters like Committee Chair Tom Ammiano and longtime opponents from law enforcement groups and the League of California Cities all praised each other for working on a regulatory and licensing framework – not just for dispensaries but for growers, processors and physicians.
Read more and listen to the report here.

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Oakland to Feds: Stop Pot Raids; Feinstein: Keep Raiding (Oakland)
David Downs, East Bay Express

The Oakland City Council threw its support behind efforts to end the three year-long federal medical marijuana crackdown in California. Councilmember Libby Schaaf announced last week that the council had voted unanimously for her resolution to support the policy direction of the Rohrabacher Amendment to end federal raids on state-legal businesses.
Read more here.

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Fresno County supervisors impose medical marijuana crop fines (Fresno County)
Marc Benjamin, The Fresno Bee

Fresno County supervisors Tuesday levied their largest fine yet in an appeal of the medical marijuana ordinance, imposing a $99,000 fine against a man who was caught growing 99 plants on his property near Laton earlier this year. Xiongh Thao lost his appeal on a 5-0 vote, even though a lawyer representing him said sheriff's detectives improperly cited him.
Read more here.

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Medical marijuana farmers market in L.A. temporarily closed by judge (Los Angeles)
Veronica Rocha, Los Angeles Times

Boyle Heights farmers market for medical marijuana users has been temporarily shut down by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge. The judge's ruling Tuesday grants a temporary restraining order sought by Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer to stop the California Heritage Market operations, saying it failed to comply with the city's voter-approved law regulating marijuana dispensaries.
Read more here.

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Medical marijuana delivery services are on a roll (Los Angeles)
David Pierson, Los Angeles Times

Brian Reichle couldn't have gotten a pepperoni pizza much faster. Needing to replenish his stash of pot one recent afternoon, the Burbank resident dialed Speed Weed. Within the hour, a driver arrived with a white paper bag carrying a gram of cannabis, 10 joints and a handful of pot-infused candies and cookies. "They come to my house, and they're in and out," said Reichle, 39, a comedian who spends about $100 a week on medical marijuana. "I shouldn't have to go to a store."
Read more here.

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New Rules Go Into Effect for San Jose Pot Clubs (San Jose)
ABC 7 News

Strict new restrictions for medical marijuana dispensaries goes into effect in San Jose Friday. Cannabis clubs will not be allowed to do business in residential areas or near schools. Sellers are now also required to grow their own marijuana and to have on-site security.
Read more here.

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San Jose Marijuana Dispensaries Giving Away 45,000 1-Gram Stashes Of Pot In Ballot Referendum Effort (San Jose)
Len Ramirez, CBS San Francisco

Medical marijuana advocates are hoping to get voters fired up about saving the industry in San Jose by offering free pot for signing a petition. A group of lawyers, dispensary owners, and medical marijuana users named The Silicon Valley Cannabis Coalition organized the giveaway of 45,000 individual grams of pot – about 100 pounds total – in an effort to qualify a referendum for an upcoming ballot, and they need a lot of signatures.
Read more and watch a video here.

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Berkeley Medical Cannabis News: California City Requires Giving Marijuana Free of Charge to Poor Patients (Berkeley)
Rodrigo Ugarte, Latin Post

A law passed by the city earlier this month ensures that medical marijuana dispensaries set a small amount of the drug for low-income patients. The city ordinance states that medical marijuana dispensaries must provide cannabis free of charge to poor patients, according to the Los Angeles Times. The law also ensures that 2 percent of the cannabis given out by the dispensaries must be slated for the poor.
Read more here.

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Paso Robles City Council does not reach decision on ordinance banning mobile marijuana services (Paso Robles)
Victoria Johnson, KSBY

The Paso Robles City Council did not come to a decision Tuesday night to discuss an urgency ordinance that will ban mobile medical marijuana dispensaries. The council was deadlocked on the decision after a two-to-two vote.
Read more here.

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Honey Oil Production Explodes in Mendocino (Mendocino County)
Adrian Baumann, Willits News

Last month in Ukiah, Wayne Briley stood in front of the board of supervisors waving a hash oil extractor, an empty butane canister and some other butane hash oil (BHO) making paraphernalia, explaining to the supervisors why houses are blowing up across California. Briley heads the Redwood Empire Hazardous Incident Team (REHIT), a county level organization tasked with hazardous material clean up and as a result he's had ample opportunity to see the dangerous side of BHO production, commonly called honey oil.
Read more here.

Public Meetings & Events

Monday, July 21, 2014 - Marijuana Compassion and Common Sense (Online)
6:00 PM online. Join this weekly Internet radio show covering cannabis and medical cannabis topics. ASA CA Director Don Duncan will be the guest. Tune into www.blogtalkradio.com/marijuananews .

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Wednesday, July 24, 2014 – Live Google Hangout: Medical Cannabis in California (Online)
7:00 PM online. Join ASA California Director Don Duncan for a live talk and Q&A about local, state, and federal medical cannabis issues. We will be discussing ASA's proposed legislation for 2015 and SB 1262. A Google Hangout is a free online event you can join from your computer or mobile device. Log on to - https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/109193897924528499034/events/c2k8gkm2n5mhnl1ha1s7oomd374?authkey=CImUmMTvh-njvAE

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Saturday, July 26, 2014 – The State of Marijuana (Los Angeles)
This one-day conference focuses on the future of the cannabis and medical cannabis movement and industry. ASA CA Director Don Duncan will be speaking. The conference is at 7080 Hollywood Blvd., 11th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90026. Information, tickets, and registration is online at http://stateofmarijuana.eventtribe.com

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Monday, August 4, 2014 – CA Citizen Lobby Day (Sacramento)
9:00 AM to 7:30 PM. Hundreds of ASA Members and allies will meet in Sacramento for a legislative briefing and citizen lobby day in support for sensible legislation to better regulate commercial medical cannabis activity and protect patients’ rights. We will also hear from special guest speakers and get a preview of ASA’s legislative agenda for 2015. ASA requests a $25 donation for the event, but no one will be turn away for lack of funds. Please register now, so that we can schedule an appointment for you to see you state Assembly Member or Senator.

Court Support

What is Court Support and how do I get involved?

Monday, July 24, 2014 – Settlement Conference for Robert Scordel (Redding)
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM at Shasta County Courthouse, 1655 West St., Redding, CA 96001. Dress in an appropriate manner and obey all courtroom rules. Thanks to The Human Solution for tracking this case.

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Monday, July 24, 2014 – Hearing for Logan Benno (Redding)
9:30-10:30 AM at Shasta County Courthouse, Dept. 2, 1655 West St., Redding, CA 96001. Dress in an appropriate manner and obey all courtroom rules. Thanks to The Human Solution for tracking this case.

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Friday, July 25, 2014 – Trail for Sioux Columbe (Sacramento)
12:00-3:00 PM at Sac Superior Court, 720 9th St., Dept 42, Sacramento, Cal 95825. Dress in an appropriate manner and obey all courtroom rules. Thanks to The Human Solution for tracking this case.

Take Action Now

Register for the CA Citizen Lobby Day

More than 200 ASA members and allies will participate in the biggest and most important medical cannabis lobby day yet on Monday, August 4, in Sacramento. Register now so that you can be a part of the conversation. There will be a legislative briefing, citizen lobbyist training, special guest speakers, and a reception with lawmakers. ASA will make an appointment for you to meet with your state Assembly Member and Senator when you register. The requested donation is $25, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

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Take the FCA Survey on SB 1262

Senate Bill 1262 is a cannabis regulation bill under consideration by the state Legislature. Although a final vote is not yet scheduled, some cannabis advocates believe it has a good chance for passage. This brief survey does not cover every aspect of SB 1262 in detail, but it does present some of the key elements. The final question on the survey asks whether the Fresno Cannabis Association (FCA) should take a position on the bill. [This is not an ASA survey.]

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Urge your Senator to pass CJS Medical Marijuana Amendment

The US House of Representatives voted late Thursday (May 30, 2014) night to cut off funding for federal medical cannabis raids, arrests, and prosecutions in states where it is legal. The same CJS amendment must still be introduced in the Senate and pass there as well. We're doing our part by lobbying on Capitol Hill, but we desperately need your help contact your Senators and asking for their support to this amendment. Contact California Senators Feinstein and Boxer today.

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Join Americans for Safe Access (ASA)

This is the final week of ASA’s Spring Membership Drive. Have you joined yet?  Be sure to take advantage of some great membership incentives right now. 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 Website Spotlight

Return of Property

Legal medical cannabis, plants, and other property are often confiscated by law enforcement. As a result of ASA’s landmark victory in City of Garden Grove v. Superior Court of Orange County, you have a constitutional right to have wrongfully-confiscated property returned. You must follow specific procedures if you want a court to order law enforcement to return your property. This section of ASA’s website will help you navigate the legal system to file your own Motion for Return of Property.

ASA Chapter & Affiliate Meetings

Sunday, July 27, 2014 - 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.

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.