Press Releases
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. Sep 052002
Bay Area Activists to Protest at Federal Buildings - Americans for Safe Access
San Francisco, CA – The Drug Enforcement Agency raided another medical marijuana dispensary today in Santa Cruz, California, arresting 2 people and shutting off safe access to life affirming medicine to 300 seriously ill patients. In response to the federal government’s failure to respect local state laws that permit the use of medical marijuana for the seriously ill, activists will engage in protest and civil disobedience at the Oakland and San Francisco Federal Buildings. Aug 282002
Not All Students Will Start School This Week - Americans for Safe Access
WASHINGTON, DC - According to new Department of Education data, over 30,000 college students have been denied federal loans and grants for the 2002-2003 school year due to the 1998 Higher Education Act drug provision. Since the HEA drug provision was first enforced in 2000, a total of 86,898 students have been denied aid. A drug conviction is the only crime that can result in the loss of federal financial aid. Jul 092002
HOLLYWOOD BRIEFING BY DEA CHIEF DRAWS PROTESTS - Americans for Safe Access
CA, STATEWIDE—The last time Asa Hutchinson visited California, the DEA raided two San Francisco medical marijuana dispensaries, seizing property and arresting four prominent activists including nationally renowned author Ed Rosenthal. Tomorrow, Hutchinson returns to the state to brief Hollywood’s top brass just as Rosenthal appears before a Federal Court in San Francisco. Jun 132002
DEA Raids on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Will be Met With New Nationwide Protests - Americans for Safe Access
SAN FRANSISCO – Last week thousands of people who organized under the banner Americans For Safe Access (ASA) disrupted business-as-usual at 50 regional outposts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, including the Department of Justice in Washington, DC. The protests were organized to publicize an expected permanent injunction that was granted yesterday by US District Court Judge Charles Breyer which orders medical marijuana dispensaries in California to stop distributing the medicine to certified patients. Jun 042002
Ohio Protest to Stop the DEAs Expanding War on Medical Marijuana and Patients! - Americans for Safe Access
June 6th has been declared as a day for a nation-wide action by a coalition of dozens of marijuana reform groups all across the United States. The nation-wide day of action has been called because of the recent raids of the DEA and the federal government on California's legal marijuana medical buyer's clubs and patients that use these buyer's clubs as a source for safe medical marijuana. The Ohio Cannabis Society, the local contact for this action will protest the Ohio Patient Network and North Ohio NORML.State Advocacy Resources
