Happy New Year from Americans for Safe Access (ASA)!

We look forward to working with all of our members and friends to promote safe and affordable access for every patient in 2011. Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment.

A Narcotics Task Force (NTF) made up of local and state law enforcement agencies aggressively raided 5 collectively-run San Luis Obispo County medical marijuana delivery services on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week, arresting at least 13 people on felony charges and holding them on bails of up to $100,000. Several of those arrested were charged with child endangerment, after Child Protective Services (CPS) removed at least 6 children from the homes of 3 different families. One of the people arrested on Monday suffered a heart attack because of the police raid and was taken to a local emergency room before being arrested. As of Thursday afternoon, at least four people were still in jail unable to raise bail. Read the ASA press release for more information.

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) wishes all of our members and friends a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season!

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On December 10th, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mohr ruled in the case Americans for Safe Access v. City of Los Angeles, which involves more than 100 plaintiffs, that the city’s medical marijuana dispensary ordinance was too restrictive. Relying on the recent landmark decision in Qualified Patients Association v. City of Anaheim, Judge Mohr held that state law forbids such onerous restrictions on local distribution. However, some LA City Council Members must not have read the decision.

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On Wednesday, San Diego Superior Court Judge Howard H. Shore told a crowded courtroom of patient advocates:

“Medical marijuana is a scam.”

Jovan Jackson (right) and attorney Lance Rogers at Jackson's sentencing

During his vitriolic rants, Judge Shore found time to sentence Jovan Jackson, a dispensary operator who was recently convicted after being denied a defense at trial. Judge Shore harshly sentenced Jackson to 180 days in jail, and imposed a $5,000 fine and three years of probation, during which time Jackson is prohibited from using marijuana to legally treat his medical condition. (more…)

Another year is winding down and our movement has added more amazing victories to our impressive list. From taking down anti-medical marijuana AG candidate Steve Cooley to passing access regulations in Washington DC, ASA has shown the power of grassroots patient advocacy.

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Fifty medical cannabis patients and advocates protested in front of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ meeting this morning in response to the Board’s 4-1 vote to ban medical cannabis collectives in unincorporated communities. Protesters cheered as motorists honked in support, including one Los Angeles Police Department squad car. Supervisor Michael Antonovich proposed the ban earlier this year, in response to concerns over public safety and a handful of non-permitted collectives in the county.

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After years of wrangling in the Court of Appeal, medical marijuana patients, on August 18, 2010, obtained a published decision affirming that federal law does not preempt California law regarding medical marijuana collectives.  Dissatisfied with this outcome, numerous law enforcement organizations, including:  five former DEA Administrators, the Drug Free America Foundation, and the California State Sheriff’s Association, along with numerous cities and counties, filed requests for the California Supreme Court grant review and reach an opposite conclusion.  On Thursday, this came to and end, as six of the seven Justices of the California Supreme Court voted to decline review.

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LA County Supervisor Don Knabe and his colleagues on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission just overturned a ban on raves at the LA Coliseum. The Commission enacted a ban this summer after a 15-year old girl died of a drug overdose at a dance party with over 185,000 attendees.

The LA Times reported Supervisor Knabe’s rationale for lifting the ban:

“There’s a way to do it right where we protect the public and allow this opportunity to take place,” said Supervisor Don Knabe, who serves on the commission and said he preferred regulating raves at the publicly owned venue rather than see them “driven to the back alleys.”

Supervisor Knabe’s logic is sound, but his actions are inconsistent. Just nine days earlier, the Supervisor voted to ban medical cannabis patients’ collectives in the unincorporated communities of the county. He and his colleagues adopted the ban despite overwhelming opposition from community members, who asked instead for tighter regulations (the same kind the Commission will impose on raves). The advocates’ rationale was the same as the Supervisor’s. A ban just pushes medical cannabis back into the shadows, and that is bad for legal patients and their communities.

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Wednesday, December 1 marks the 23rd annual World AIDS Day. The theme of this important day this year is Universal Access and Human Rights, something we as members of the medical cannabis movement can certainly understand and get behind. ASA’s website is going red for the day in recognition of this event.

Despite a lack of coverage of the AIDS pandemic, it is still very real and still very much a threat all over the world. According to the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS’ (UNAIDS) estimate, there are now 33.3 million people living with HIV including 2.5 million children. These 33.3 million people are not just numbers – they are your friends, neighbors, partners, brothers, sisters, parents, children, husbands, wives and co-workers. AIDS is not just someone else’s problem - it is a crisis that affects us all, and it is up to us to stand in support of our fellow human beings with HIV/AIDS this World AIDS Day and every day.

So this Wednesday, do something to support those living with HIV/AIDS. Light a candle in remembrance or support, wear a red ribbon, practice safe sex, educate someone on the importance of prevention and early detection. And please, take a moment to honor the commitment and sacrifices of patient advocates past and present. To find out how else you can get involved, visit the World AIDS Day 2010 Events Calendar.