Happy Holidays, California
Contents:
-
Message from the CA Director: Happy Holidays, California
-
News: National, California, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Fresno County, Costa Mesa, Sonoma County
-
Public Meetings & Events: Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, San Diego, Washington DC
-
Court Support: None this week
-
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 Holidays to ASA members and friends in California!
2014 may be winding down, but medical cannabis activity at the state level is speeding up! See the News section of this message for articles about an exciting development in court for patients who use concentrates and a new player in the statewide regulatory game - the State Water Resources Control Board. That agency will join lawmakers in trying to regulate medical cannabis cultivation next year. Meanwhile, cities and counties are still grappling with local regulation, a Los Angeles neighborhood rejected a medical cannabis Santa Claus, and the results from the states biggest outdoor cannabis contest are in.
Don't forget to register for the ASA National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference and Citizen Lobby Day before December 31st to get the special early-bird discount and a free ASA Signature Vape Pen. The conference will be at the beautiful Lowes Madison Hotel in Washington, DC, March 27-31, 2015. You can also save a lot of money by booking your travel in advance. Check out the event page for information about scholarships and tips for raising money for your trip to DC.
California & National News
The Federal Government Recognizes Battle Over Medical Marijuana (National)
Steph Sherer, Huffington Post
Wednesday marked a milestone in the 18-year battle between state and federal law concerning medical marijuana. But to me, and thousands of other Americans, it marks a day that our country has finally acknowledged that our battle exists.
Read more here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steph-sherer/the-federal-government-re_b_6341244.html
---
President Obama Signs 'Ceasefire' in War on Medical Marijuana (National)
David Downs, East Bay Express
President Obama Tuesday afternoon signed a massive $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill with some historic provisions for medical marijuana advocates. The controversial “cromnibus” spending bill funds the government through September 2015 and includes a rider to de-fund the Department of Justice’s war on medical pot.
Read more here:
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/LegalizationNation/archives/2014/12/17/president-obama-signs-ceasefire-in-war-on-medical-marijuana
---
Concentrated cannabis qualifies as medical marijuana, California court rules (California)
Denny Walsh, Sacramento Bee
A state appellate court in Sacramento has ruled that “concentrated cannabis” qualifies as marijuana for purposes of medical use.
Read more here:
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/health-and-medicine/article4708713.html#storylink=cpy
---
Water Board moves forward with marijuana regulations (California)
Adrian Baumann, Willits News
As soon as this summer, North Coast pot growers may be required to submit a water use site plan to the Department of Water Resources.
Read more here:
http://www.willitsnews.com/ci_27154530/water-board-moves-forward-marijuana-regulations
---
L.A. Medical Marijuana Dispensary Removes Pot-Smoking Santa Painting From The Window After Complaints (Los Angeles)
Mary Beth Quirk, Consumerist
If the legal marijuana industry learns anything from Big Tobacco’s experience in this country, it’s that mixing kids and smoking is just not going to fly, as the industry found out with the banishment of Joe Camel and his ilk.
Read more here:
http://consumerist.com/2014/12/17/l-a-medical-marijuana-dispensary-removes-pot-smoking-santa-painting-from-the-window-after-complaints/
---
Editorial: California's inaction leads L.A. to send mixed messages on pot shops (Los Angeles)
Editorial Board, Los Angeles Times
Despite 2013's Measure D, under which only about 135 existing medical marijuana dispensaries have permission to stay open in Los Angeles, the city has continued to issue tax registration certificates to new pot shops and keeps collecting business taxes from some 450 dispensaries.
Read more here:
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-marijuana-taxes-20141216-story.html
---
$43,000 fine withdrawn in Fresno County medical marijuana case (Fresno County)
Marc Benjamin, Fresno Bee
A Del Rey woman will not be fined $43,000 for allegedly violating Fresno County’s ban on medical marijuana, it was confirmed Wednesday.
Read more here:
http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/12/17/4291057_marijuana-fine-is-withdrawn-in.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy
---
Several Bay Area Medical Cannabis Products Flunk A Potency Test (San Francisco Bay Area)
David Downs, East Bay Express
A flurry of new consumer reports are taking the Bay Area medical cannabis industry to task for what’s in their products.
Read more here:
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/LegalizationNation/archives/2014/12/18/several-bay-area-medical-cannabis-products-flunk-a-potency-test
---
"Uber for Pot:" Medical Marijuana Delivery Services Take Over the Bay Area (San Francisco Bay Area)
Stephanie Chang, NBC Bay Area
It’s the intersection of tech and pot. As more and more states legalize marijuana – both recreational and medicinal – the opportunity to cash in is blowing up. And ground zero is right here in the Bay Area.
Read more and watch a video here:
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Pot-Delivery-Services-Take-Over-the-Bay-Area-285903811.html
---
No Costa Mesa medical marijuana vote next year (Costa Mesa)
Bradley Zint, Daily Pilot
The Costa Mesa City Council on Tuesday opted not to call a special election for two competing medical marijuana measures, instead deciding to reexamine a proposal championed by Councilman Gary Monahan.
Read more here:
http://www.dailypilot.com/news/tn-dpt-me-1217-costa-mesa-marijuana-dispensaries-20141216,0,2786890.story
---
Public Meetings & Events
Monday, December 22, 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.
---
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.
---
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?
ASA Members and allies did not report any court support dates this week.
---
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.
---
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.
---
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.
---
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.
Share this page
