Press Releases
Jul 222003
House of Representatives Voting to Stop Federal Medical Marijuana Raids - Americans for Safe Access
Washington, D.C.– For the first time in five years, the U.S. House of Representatives is voting on the right of states to regulate the medical marijuana issue, an issue that has increasingly pitted the state of California and nine others against the Bush Administration.
Jun 302003
New Medical Marijuana Sentencing after Role of SFPD Uncovered - Americans for Safe Access
In the first federal sentencing since Ed Rosenthal walked out of court a free man, three medical marijuana defendants, including a noted Hollywood actor, will be sentenced tomorrow in a case which has drawn allegations of San Francisco Police misconduct and caused the judge to order an investigation of SFPD involvement.
May 162003
Medical Marijuana Supporters Demand Meeting with DEA Nominee - Americans for Safe Access
WASHINGTON, DC -- Medical marijuana advocates demand to know the views of President Bush’s expected nominee for head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Karen Tandy. Besides being the first woman to be named as head of the DEA, she recently made national news for her role in masterminding the investigation known as Operation Pipe Dreams – which resulted in the indictment of 50 individuals and businesses that sell or manufacture water pipes and other devices that could be used to consume marijuana. Advocates sent a request to Karen P. Apr 072003
Federal Jurors Told They Must Acquit Marijuana Defendants To Stop Convictions of Medical Marijuana Patients and Providers - Americans for Safe Access
WASHINGTON, DC -- As a growing number of medical marijuana patients and providers face federal charges, DC residents will protest the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) harassment of the seriously ill by informing jurors that the federal government has blocked all medical necessity defenses in federal marijuana cases. The jurors will be given leaflets as they report for jury duty at the Federal Courthouse at 3rd and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, beginning at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, April 9, 2003. Feb 262003
Feb 192003
CA Representatives Announce Medical Marijuana Defense Bill - Americans for Safe Access
Sacramento: Rep. Sam Farr (D-Carmel) will be honored in Sacramento by the families of medical marijuana growers convicted under federal law for his efforts in the struggle to decriminalize medical marijuana. Feb 182003
Medical Marijuana Activists to “Evict the DEA” Feb. 18 - Americans for Safe Access
Oakland and San Francisco –Activists will “evict the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)” for criminal violations of medical marijuana patients’ and voters’ rights on the Americans for Safe Access (ASA) Nationwide Day of Direct Action, Feb. 18. Currently, 40 medical marijuana patients and providers are facing federal charges and legitimate medical marijuana patients continue to be harassed and intimidated by the threat of DEA attacks.The protests against the DEA precede President Bush’s appointment of a DEA Administrator.
Feb 142003
Medical Marijuana Awareness Week - Americans for Safe Access
Saturday, Feb. 15th12:00 pm - Press conference in front of Conservatory in Golden Gate Park. Activists announce their plan to implement Prop S and plant 215,000 Marijuana seeds for medical use. Ed Rosenthal, recently convicted in federal court despite his being given permission by city officials to grow medical marijuana , will bless the seeds.
4:20 pm - Medical Marijuana Banner will be dropped from the top of Twin Peaks.
Sunday, Feb.
Feb 082003
Recent Medical Marijuana Convictions Spur Action from State and Federal Government - Americans for Safe Access
In a press conference in San Francisco today, state assembly member Mark Leno released a letter co-authored by state senator Don Perata and signed by 48 of their colleagues in the state assembly and state senate urging the CA congressional delegation to:1. Secure states rights to regulate and oversee the use and cultivation of medical cannabis
2. Amend the controlled substance act to allow medical necessity defense and
3.
Dec 132002
Statement of Steph Sherer Executive Director, Americans For Safe Access - Americans for Safe Access
In a time of unprecedented intimidation from the Federal Government, Medical Marijuana patients and their providers won a hard fought victory today in the California Supreme Court. In a unanomous decision, the court held on Thursday that medical users who are arrested may have those charges dismissed without a trial if they are acting under the documented advice of a doctor. The decision reasserts what California voters decided when they passed proposition 215—that patients in need should have safe and legal access to medical marijuana.State Advocacy Resources
