Press Releases
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. Oct 222002
BANNERS FLY FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA AT WORLD SERIES - Americans for Safe Access
WHAT: In response to raids by the Drug Enforcement Administration on medical cannabis patients & dispensaries, a banner reading: DEFEND MEDICAL MARIJUANA will fly above PacBell Park at the beginning of Tuesday’s game.WHERE: Pacific Bell Park, San Francisco
WHEN: Tuesday, October 22, 2002; 5:00 pm, at beginning of World Series game
WHO: Sponsored by Americans for Safe Access (ASA), a medical marijuana rights campaign. More details on ASA can be found online at www.safeaccessnow.
Oct 092002
Stop the Casualties of the Marijuana War! - Americans for Safe Access
On September 27th the Preble County SWAT team executed a search warrant at the the residence of Clayton Helriggle, 23, of Lewisburg, Ohio. Just minutes into the drug raid Clayton Helriggle lay dying in the arms of his friend from a shotgun blast to the chest from a SWAT team member’s weapon. Later in the day sheriff deputies found one ounce of marijuana. The Ohio Cannabis Society, feeling that it has a moral obligation to inform the public of the harms of marijuana's prohibition, will hold a rally and march October 19, 2002. Sep 182002
California Governor Gray Davis Speaks Out Against Federal Busts of Medical Marijuana Clinics Throughout State - Americans for Safe Access
SACRAMENTO-Momentum and outrage continue to build in California and elsewhere in the wake of the Drug Enforcement Administration's September 6 raid of the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Santa Cruz, CA. As reported on CNN, and in The New York Times, USA Today and others, WAMM distributed marijuana to cancer, AIDS, and other terminally ill patients on the steps of Santa Cruz city hall yesterday, backed by Mayor Christopher Krohn and several city council members, in a show of support for the patients and caregivers affected by the raid.State Advocacy Resources
