Blog

Contents:

• Message from the CA Director: Your CA representatives may be in town
• State & Local News: News From Communities All Over California
• Public Meetings & Events: Live Google Hangout & More
• Court Support: No listings this week
• Take Action Now: Register for the CA Citizen Lobby Day & More
• ASA Website Spotlight: Resources for Medical Professionals & Researchers
• Chapter & Affiliate Meetings: Nevada County, San Diego, Sacramento, & Yuba County

REMINDER – Don’t miss a Live Google Hangout on Wednesday, July 9, at 7:00 PM (PDT). We will be discussing current state legislation and ASA’s proposed Medical Marijuana Organ Transplant Act of 2015. These will be important topics at the CA Citizen lobby Day in Sacramento on August 4. Log on to https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/csadjb5qgj0qd3csdb2dq9r89uc a 7:00 PM on Wednesday to join the conversation.

Your California Assembly Member and Senator may be in your home town right now. The state legislature has adjourned for their summer recess, and many lawmakers are back in their home districts for the rest of the month. Why not use this time to make an appointment to see them? State representatives have one or more offices in the district they represent. One is probably close to where you live. You can call the district office and make an appointment to talk to your representatives or their staff today. Locate your representatives and find their district offices here.

District office visits are important, because they show lawmakers that voters who elected Assembly Members and Senators care about medical cannabis. You can talk to your representatives about pending legislation, the need to protect patients’ from discrimination, or barriers to local access to medical cannabis. You can even download one of ASA’s reports to share with lawmakers or staff.

Do not be intimidated about asking for an appointment. It is a normal part of the Democratic process, and elected officials and staff take meetings with people like you all the time. Just remember your ABCD’s – Be Accurate, Be Brief, Be Courteous, and Do Follow Up. Brush up on your citizen advocacy skills using ASA’s free online Medical Cannabis Advocate's Training Center, and you will be lobbying you elected officials like a pro.

California & National News

California Is Beginning to Compromise on Weed (California)
Max Cherney, Vice

Out on patrol with the San Francisco Police Department’s Bayview company, the cop I was riding with and I encountered a construction worker smoking a lunch-time joint near a building site at Hunters Point. The construction worker eyed our black and white taxi. “It’s lunch time,” the cop joked out the rolled-down window to the construction worker who, caught off-guard, laughed hesitantly. That was it. We drove off without even getting out of the car.
Read more here.

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League of California Cities Reports Assembly Member Tom Ammiano Signs on as Principal Co-Author to SB 1262 Medical Marijuana (California)
Sierra Sun-Times

In a move highlighting the rapidly expanding support for the League-and-Police Chiefs sponsored bill in the Legislature, Assembly Member Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) has signed on as principal co-author on SB 1262 (Correa). If enacted, the bill will be the first serious step toward regulation of medical marijuana since voters approved the Compassionate Use Act in 1996. The bill passed out of the Assembly Public Safety Committee on June 26 on a 6 to 1 bipartisan vote.
Read more here.

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"It's Insane": Long Lines for Medical Marijuana Farmers Market (Los Angeles)
Andrew Lopez and Mekahlo Medina, 4 Southern California

A large number of people were spending their Fourth of July in line to a unique kind of farmers market in Boyle Heights. The featured product: medical marijuana. The lines were outside the door to the 20 to 30 medical marijuana growers inside the Boyle Heights California Heritage Market on Friday. Some people reported waiting up to an hour-and-a-half to get in.
Read more and watch a video here.

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Berkeley will give free weed to homeless medical marijuana patients (Berkeley)
Arielle Duhaime-Ross, The Verge

Low-income and homeless medical marijuana patients who dwell in Berkeley, California, will soon have access to free weed. Berkeley’s city council unanimously passed a proposal this week that will require marijuana dispensaries to hand out 2 percent of their total inventory to the less fortunate, at no cost. But dispensaries won’t get away with handing out their leftover, low-grade weed, reports CBS, because the proposal ensures that dispensaries will provide the same quality pot that they distribute to paying customers.
Read more here.

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Marijuana entrepreneur tied to Sutter County operation takes plea deal (Sutter County)
Peter Hecht, Merced Sun-Star

His first name, Yan, stood for “yes and no.” His last name, Ebyam, was “maybe” spelled backwards. But from the time he showed up in Oakland to open a cannabis production warehouse blazing with grow lights in 2010, Yan Eybam projected a sense of certainty in the lucrative business prospects of the California medical marijuana market.
Read more here.

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How to fund cops? Town considers marijuana tax (Desert Hot Springs)
Brett M. Kelman and Dave Nyczepir, USA Today

A desperate, crime-ridden desert town, reeling from a recent brush with bankruptcy, has turned to an unlikely savior to pay for its embattled police force — marijuana. Desert Hot Springs, a city of about 28,000 people in the desert two hours east of Los Angeles, is considering legalizing medical marijuana dispensaries as a last-ditch effort to bolster the city budget so it can maintain its local police department.
Read more here.

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Over 70 medical marijuana clubs to be shut down in San Jose starting July 18th (San Jose)
 Erika Montgomery, EIN News

The clock is ticking for cannabis clubs in San Jose. Many clubs are small businesses who have worked hard to establish what they have. Combined they employ well over 1,000 people in San Jose. But in less than 16 days, these small businesses will be shut down. Their people will be unemployed and the business they would have received will be shifted back to drug dealers as patients in need have little other recourse. This is reality beginning July 18th.
Read more here.

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City files suit against first of five dispensaries (Bakersfield)
Theo Douglas, The Bakersfield Californian

The Bakersfield City Attorney's office filed the first of at least five civil lawsuits against medical marijuana dispensaries Tuesday -- this one against Healthy Life Center in central Bakersfield. Bakersfield is asking a Kern County Superior Court judge for an injunction that would force the dispensary, one of 22 officials have identified in city limits, to close.
Read more here.

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Board of Supervisors certifies final election canvass; sheriff, district attorney among officials declared elected (Lake County)
Elizabeth Larson, Lake County News

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday evening accepted the final results for the June 3 primary and, in so doing, declared the election of the new sheriff, the district attorney and several other county offices. Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley had until 5 p.m. Tuesday to finish the final election canvass, which had begun first thing June 4, the day after the primary. Board Chair Denise Rushing said at the Tuesday meeting that Fridley had believed she would need all of that time, thus the decision to schedule the meeting at a special time in the evening rather than the usual morning start time. However, Rushing pointed out that Fridley bested her own estimate by about a day, releasing the final numbers Monday evening.
Read more here.

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Zoning issues one-year moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries (Redding)
Aaron Leo, The Redding Pilot

The federal government says marijuana is completely illegal, even for medical uses, but the Connecticut legislature disagrees. Now it is up to individual cities and towns, Redding included, to decide how to proceed. To do that, the Redding Zoning Commission recently approved a one-year moratorium to study the state and federal laws and craft its own regulations. One year is the maximum length allowed for such a moratorium.
Read more here.

Public Meetings & Events

Monday, July 7, 2014 - Marijuana Compassion and Common Sense (Online)
Join this weekly Internet radio show covering cannabis and medical cannabis topics. Tune into www.blogtalkradio.com/marijuananews at 6:00 PM PDT.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2014 – Live Google Hangout: Medical Cannabis in California (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. Click or copy this link to join at 7:00 PM - https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/csadjb5qgj0qd3csdb2dq9r89uc

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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)
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?

No court dates were reported this week.

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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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

Resources for Medical Professionals & Researchers

ASA offers a lot of free resources for health care professionals and researchers - or for patients who want to educate their doctors. Browse this section of our website to find information about the science, history, safety, and efficacy of medical cannabis. You will also find state-by-state recommending guidelines, condition-specific information, and a medical cannabis code of ethics.  

ASA Chapter & Affiliate Meetings

Tuesday, July 8, 2014 - 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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Tuesday, July 8, 2014 - San Diego ASA (San Diego)
The meeting starts at 7:30 PM at Giovanni's Restaurant - 9353 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. San Diego, CA 92123. Email [email protected] for more information.

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Tuesday, July 8, 2014 – Sacramento NORML (Sacramento)
Held at Perkos Farm Fresh Cafe at 3rd and J, 925 3rd Street, Sacramento, California 95814. Visit http://sacnorml.org/ for more information.

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Thursday, July 10, 2014 - San Diego ASA (Imperial Beach)
The meeting starts at 6:00 PM at 1233 Palm Ave, Imperial Beach, CA 91932. Email [email protected] for more information.

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Thursday, July 10, 2014 - Yuba County ASA (Foothills)
The meeting starts at 7:00 PM at the Willow Glen Restaurant. 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.