CA Assembly Rejects SJR 14
The California Assembly failed to adopt SJR 14 by only four votes on Monday (see votes). We are disappointed by this outcome, but I want to thank the hundreds of Americans for Safe Access (ASA) members and supporters who called their representatives in the Assembly over the last ten days to support the resolution. I [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "CA Assembly Rejects SJR 14", url: "http://safeaccessnow.org/blog/?p=851" });

08-27 NORML News PodCast - Aug 27, 2010
Commonly Prescribed Medications Often Trigger 'False Positive' Results On Urine Drug Screens, Study Says; California: Latino Voters League, Black Police Officers Endorse Marijuana Depenalization Initiative; Spain Approves Marijuana Spray As Medicine

LA City Attorney Turns Up the Heat
The Los Angeles City Attorney’s office has filed a complaint (download sections 1- 2 -3 – 4) asking for a Temporary Restraining Order and Permanent Injunction closing 135 pre-moratorium medical cannabis collectives deemed ineligible to register under the city’s new ordinance. The complaint is City Attorney Carmen Trutanich’s latest escalation in his campaign to roll [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "LA City Attorney Turns Up the Heat", url: "http://safeaccessnow.org/blog/?p=845" });

08-20 NORML News PodCast - Aug 20, 2010
Oregon: State NORML Affiliate Re-Opens 'World Famous Cannabis Café'; Register Now To Attend NORML's 2010 National Conference; Detroit: Marijuana Depenalization Measure In Litigation

08-13 NORML News PodCast - Aug 13, 2010
Washington, DC: Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Not Likely Until Mid-2011; Effects Of Random Student Drug Testing Programs Limited, Education Department Study Says

Toronto Police Conduct 2nd Raid on Long-Running Dispensary
Our sister organization, Canadians for Safe Access (CSA), reports a second raid of Cannabis as Living Medicine (CALM), one of the most well-established medical cannabis dispensaries in Canada.  Officers claimed they were responding to “community complaints” and seized a large quantity of medical grade cannabis and hashish.  Today, the website indicates that the peer-run collective, [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Toronto Police Conduct 2nd Raid on Long-Running Dispensary", url: "http://safeaccessnow.org/blog/?p=838" });

08-06 NORML News PodCast - Aug 6, 2010
House Passes National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2010; Marijuana Compound Halts Breast Cancer Tumor Growth; Rasmussen Poll: Fewer Than One In Five Americans Say Marijuana Is More Dangerous Than Booze.

Dr. Andrew Weil Applauds New Documentary Film “What if Cannabis Cured Cancer”
A new documentary by Len Richmond, “What if Cannabis Cured Cancer,” is starting to turn heads. Dr. Andrew Weil recently reviewed Richmond’s film, calling it “excellent,” and last week answered a question about medical cannabis on his web site. [E]xciting new research suggests that the cannabinoids found in marijuana may have a primary role in [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Dr. Andrew Weil Applauds New Documentary Film “What if Cannabis Cured Cancer”", url: "http://safeaccessnow.org/blog/?p=832" });

07-30 NORML News PodCast - Jul 30, 2010
Washington, DC: Congress Won't Overturn District's New Marijuana Dispensary Law; California: Oakland City Council Approves Regulations For First-In-The-Nation Industrial Marijuana Production Facilities; California: Legislative Analyst's Office Rejects Claims Of Prop. 19 Opponents

Victory for Veterans!
Late last week, ASA received word from Michael Krawitz, Executive Director of Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access , of a significant victory for veterans who utilize medical marijuana in the states that have adopted such laws. According to a letter to Mr. Krawitz from Robert A. Petzel, MD, Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Victory for Veterans!", url: "http://safeaccessnow.org/blog/?p=828" });

07-23 NORML News PodCast - Jul 23, 2010
Marijuana Use Seldom Associated With Emergency Room Visits, Study Says; Veteran Administration Clarifies Medical Marijuana Practices; Oregon: Medical Marijuana Dispensary Measure Certified For November Ballot

07-16 NORML News PodCast - Jul 16, 2010
NORML Now Accepting Registrations For Its 2010 National Conference; Maine, Other States, Approve Licenses For Medical Marijuana Distribution Centers; California: Senator Diane Feinstein Signs Ballot Argument Opposing Marijuana Depenalization Measure

The AIDS Beacon Runs 2-Part Series
This month, The AIDS Beacon, ran a two-part series about the therapeutic use of marijuana for the treatment of symptoms related to HIV and the pharmaceutical drugs designed to keep the disease in check.  The Beacon is an independent news and information resource for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. Part 1: Legal Support [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The AIDS Beacon Runs 2-Part Series", url: "http://safeaccessnow.org/blog/?p=817" });

Stacy Ruling Requires Action for Truth
Earlier this week, U.S. District Court Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz denied a defense for James Stacy, a San Diego-area medical marijuana provider raided in September 2009 by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),  just one month before the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a new policy concerning medical marijuana enforcement.  Tell your Member of Congress to [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Stacy Ruling Requires Action for Truth", url: "http://safeaccessnow.org/blog/?p=806" });

CA Senate Committees Approve AB 2650
Two California Senate committees approved a bill this week that will require a 600-foot buffer zone between medical cannabis collectives and schools statewide. AB 2650 was approved by the Senate Health Committee and the Local Government Committee over the objection of Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and other medical cannabis advocates. However, ASA and allies [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "CA Senate Committees Approve AB 2650", url: "http://safeaccessnow.org/blog/?p=802" });

City Attorney Joins Vigil for LA Victims
Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich was one of more than sixty people who gathered last night for a candlelight vigil for the victims of two violent attacks at medical cannabis collectives this week.  Two people were killed and one was seriously injured in two separate incidents on Thursday. The tragedies occurred in the midst [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "City Attorney Joins Vigil for LA Victims", url: "http://safeaccessnow.org/blog/?p=797" });

ASA Rejects Unfair Taxes – No on SBX6 16 (CA)
Update June 23 – Sen. Calderon has withdrawn SBX6 16. Thanks to everyone who helped get this done! California Senator Ron Calderon (D-Montebello) wants to add a new tax medical cannabis in California. If adopted, SBX6 16 would tax legal medicine at the same rate as tobacco – forty one percent!  ASA opposes this unreasonable [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "ASA Rejects Unfair Taxes – No on SBX6 16 (CA)", url: "http://safeaccessnow.org/blog/?p=790" });

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04-30 NORML News PodCast - Apr 30, 2010
Oregon: Supreme Court Okays Firing State-Authorized Medi-Pot Users For Off-The-Job Marijuana Use; Florida: Lawmakers Unanimously Pass Law Restricting 'Paraphernalia' Sales; Urine Testing Unlikely To Identify Drugged Employees Or Reduce Workplace Accidents, Study Says .

04-23 NORML News PodCast - Apr 23, 2010
Washington DC: City Council Unanimously Backs Medical Marijuana Dispensary Plan; CBS Polls Finds Majority Of Western Voters, Californians, Back Legalization; NORML Remembers 'The Hemperor' Jack Herer

04-16 NORML News PodCast - Apr 16, 2010
NORML Foundation To Launch Second NYC Times Square Billboard Campaign, New Ad Debuts On April 20 On The CBS Super Screen; Maine: Lawmakers Approve Medical Marijuana Dispensary Rules

04-09 NORML News PodCast - Apr 9, 2010
Philadelphia: No More Criminal Records For Minor Pot Offenders, D.A. Says; Washington: Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Expansion Measure Into Law; Colorado: City Passes State's First-Ever Medical Marijuana Sales Tax; Sixth International Clinical Conference On Cannabis Therapeutics To Take Place Next Weekend.

04-02 NORML News PodCast - Apr 2, 2010
California: San Jose Voters Likely To Decide On Marijuana Tax; New York City: Pot Arrests For 2009 Second Highest Total Ever; Register Now For NORML's Fifth Annual Aspen Legal Seminar -- Three-Day Event Takes Place June 10 - 12.

03-19 NORML News PodCast - Mar 19, 2010
New Hampshire: House Passes Marijuana Decriminalization Measure; Washington: Legislature Expands Medical Marijuana Law; Medical Cannabis Use Doesn't Adversely Impact Substance Abuse Treatment Outcomes, Study Says; Hawaii: Marijuana Law Reform Bills Pass Senate, Move Forward In House

03-12 NORML News PodCast - Mar 12, 2010
NORML Foundation To Relaunch NYC Times Square Ad Campaign - "Money Can Grow On Trees," Marijuana Legalization Group Announces

03-05 NORML News PodCast - Mar 5, 2010
NORML Responds To Latest Warnings Regarding Marijuana Use And Schizophrenia; Rhode Island Lawmakers Introduce State's First Ever Marijuana Legalization Bill; Imposition Of Punitive Punishments For Student Drug Test Failures Conflict With Federal Guidelines

Medical marijuana advocates file lawsuit challenging L.A. ordinance - March 2, 2010

March 2, 2010
Source: Los Angeles Times
Author: Tony Barboza
Link: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/03/medical-marijuana-advocates-file-lawsuit-challenging-los-angeles-ordinance.html

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AP: Calif. high court strikes down medical pot limits - January 21, 2010

By PAUL ELIAS, Associated Press Writer

Thursday, January 21, 2010
Read more: " target="_blank">http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/01/21/national/a105136S79.DTL#ixzz0dMnrRNJK

A unanimous California Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a law that sought to impose limits on the amount of marijuana a medical patient can legally possess.

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New Medical Marijuana Policy Issued - October 19, 2009

Source: http://news.aol.com/article/new-medical-marijuana-policy/445182#

WASHINGTON (Oct. 19) - Pot-smoking patients or their sanctioned suppliers should not be targeted for federal prosecution in states that allow medical marijuana, prosecutors were told Monday in a new policy memo issued by the Justice Department.

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Examiner: California Issues State Medical Marijuana ID Cards - Sept 17 2009

By: Sacramento Statehouse Examiner Shawn E. Hamilton
Source: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-4172-Sacramento-Statehouse-Examiner~y2009m9d17-California-Issues-State-Medical-Marijuana-ID-Cards

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Ken Hayes Sentencing August 5th at 2;15pm in San Francisco Federal Court

I saw Ken at my mother's funeral on June 10th. I am glad to see him after all these years. I will be there in support of Ken, as he was instrumental in getting me started on my advocacy for medical marijuana. His story is below.
Regards,
Christine/Tina Marie Flora
Secretary.Treasurer, and Spokesperson
SVCPU-Silicon Valley Cannabis Patients Union
svcpu@hotmail.com
Member of the Board of Directors
The Compassionate Coalition
www.compassionatecoalition.org

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Sacramento Moratorium Hearing on June 16th, 2009

Hello organizers,

I just got word from the Sacramento City Clerk that the moratorium will be on the agenda of the Law and Legislation Committee next week, Tuesday June 16th at 3pm. This will be at City Hall, 915 I Street, 1st Floor in the Council Chambers - Please show up to support!

The Staff Report on dispensaries is not available yet, but will be posted online by the end of the day at: http://sacramento.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=8

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LA Times: New medical marijuana dispensaries not expected to sprout quickly - May 19, 2009

Cities and counties that view such operations with suspicion aren't likely to suddenly welcome them, despite the U.S. Justice Department's decision not to go after legal California dispensaries.

By Catherine Saillant
April 26, 2009
Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-medical-marijuana26-2009apr26,0,6883780,full.story

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LA Times: Supreme Court action upholds California's medical pot law - May 18, 2009

Justices reject appeals from San Diego and San Bernardino counties seeking to throw out the state marijuana law. Patients likely will be able to seek ID cards showing they're eligible to use the drug.

By David G. Savage
10:24 AM PDT, May 18, 2009
Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-court-marijuana19-2009may19,0,4902661.story

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