Want to Join ASA for Medical Cannabis Patients’ Day in Federal Court?
September 6th, 2012Posted by Mike Liszewski
After a full decade of waiting, medical cannabis patients will finally have their day in federal court on October 16, 2012 when the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit agreed to hear oral arguments in Americans for Safe Access v. Drug Enforcement Administration. The hearing will be a historic day in the medical cannabis movement and ASA’s staff have been fielding a great many inquiries from our members about how they can get a “front row seat” to history. Well, not everyone will be so lucky as to sit in the front row seat in the courtroom, but many of our members will be able to watch the hearing live. Below are details on how you can join ASA in the courtroom that day, but first, some brief background on the case.
The Legal Battle to Reschedule Cannabis, 10 Years in the Making
The history of this case begins in 2002 when Coalition for Rescheduling Cannabis (CRC) filed its petition, the courts will finally review the scientific evidence regarding the medical value of marijuana. Since “marijuana” (cannabis) was originally placed and has since remained in Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substances Act, the U.S. Government holds the position that the plant has no accepted medical value and is unsafe to use for medical purposes. The appeal case on Oct. 16 with challeng the July 2011 Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) denial of the CRC petition, which was filed in 2002. ASA’s Chief Counsel, Joe Elford, summarizes the case as,
“…a rare opportunity for patients to confront politically motivated decision-making with scientific evidence of marijuana’s medical efficacy. What’s at stake in this case is nothing less than our country’s scientific integrity and the imminent needs of millions of patients.”
While a decision in the case will not come for several weeks after oral arguments, many medical cannabis patients and their loved ones will no doubt want to join Elford in the courtroom as he presents ASA’s argument before the court.
How to Attend Your Day in Federal Court
The Oct. 16th oral argument hearing will be held E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse, however, those planning to attend should take note that there is very limited seating, and ASA cannot reserve seating for the public. The hearing is currently scheduled for 9:30am in Courtroom 11 (4th floor), which has a maximum capacity of only 80 members of the public. While there is a chance that the hearing may be moved to a larger courtroom, the largest courtroom available has a maximum capacity of 200 members of the public.
Those wishing to be in the courtroom that day should be prepared to wake up early and wait in line, as seating is first come, first served. The courthouse opens at 8am, and the line to view the hearing begins right outside the Courtroom 11 doors. Typically the courtroom begins seating members of the public at 9:10am, with the hearing beginning at 9:30am. It appears as though ASA vs. DEA will be the second hearing held in Courtroom 11 that morning, so safe access advocates packing the courtroom may end up sitting through the case unrelated to medical cannabis, Gang Luan vs. US.
What to Bring, and What Not to Bring
Security at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse is higher than most federal buildings in DC, and many items are not allowed in the courthouse, much less the courtroom. Nobody is permitted in the courthouse without presenting a valid government-issued photo ID card. Backpacks, briefcases and purses are permitted in the courthouse, but electronic devices are only by attorneys who can practice federal court and credentialed members of the media. Technically, certain kinds of electronic devices are permitted, but since nearly every device is capable of recording audio and/or video, it applies to most electronic devices. The court does have lockers where electronic devices capable of recording may be stored while attending a hearing. Traditional film cameras are strictly forbidden as well. Additionally, visitors are forbidden from bringing in “all liquids, aerosols, and gels in excess of 3.4 ounces (100 ml).”
Getting to the Courthouse
The courthouse is located at 333 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001. Both locals and those coming in from out of town to attend the hearing are highly encouraged to take public transportation. The DC Metro system has two stops that are short walks to the hearing on the Red line at Judiciary Square, and Green/Yellow lines at Archives. There are a handful of public parking lots nearby, but they are not cheap, nor are they closer to the courthouse than the Metro stations.
Although there are 4 entrances to the courthouse, individuals with physical disabilities should use either the 3rd ST entrance or John Marshall Park entrance.
ASA looks forward to seeing you on YOUR day in federal court to watch history unfold before our eyes!
September 7th, 2012 at 7:50 am
It’s about time….
September 7th, 2012 at 8:12 am
I just wanted to say that I would rather see patients smoking pot than taking man made drugs that are killing us everyday. At least pot was grown from the Earth and not chemically altered. Look @ how many has died from it and not from pot. So YES I do agree that patients should smoke it.
September 8th, 2012 at 7:33 am
The deny the use of a natural substance that is proven to help with certain diseases and certainly with pain management. Yet the push pills on our society that continue to harm people. The medical industry and disease are a huge cash crop! They push drugs on us that cause more and more problems then push even more drugs on us for those problems. It’s a vicious never ending cycle and the only people benefitting from it are the sick individuals promoting it! They don’t want marijuana legalized, even if only for medicinal purposes, because they know the claims are legitimate. Marijuana will only hurt their business by healing people. The medical industry doesn’t want people healthy…that would only kill their business. Marijuana is illegal, but people are becoming addicted to narcotic pain pills by the thousands…inexcuseable in my opinion. Some of us are not blind. We see what is going on and we will prevail. End of story…
September 9th, 2012 at 6:59 am
There has never been one death from the use and or overdose of Cannabis in recorded history, How many people die from pharmaceuticals per year? Its time our people get the right to choose what is good for them.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:29 am
[...] 2013 kinda goes hand in hand with News: Lack of Resources Hampers Marijuana Regulation Medical Cannabis Patients Day in Federal Court safeaccessnow.orgAfter a full decade of waiting, medi… I dont actually believe this, but in the interest of fair representation…. [...]
September 9th, 2012 at 6:19 pm
Its all in educating our parents and grandparents. Check out “should grandma smoke pot” on you tube. Victimless crimes are funding private prisons and needs to stop.
September 10th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
I have a poorly formed spine [birth defect] that was fused seven years ago but too late to stop the neuropathy that has ravaged me since. I live in a world of pain and desperation. My doctor gives me Fentanyl, morphine, Lyrica, Amitriptyline and Cymbalta to help with the pain and depression but the side effects are destroying my mind.
Medical marijuana works much better and doesn’t eat away my memory and alter my personality–and it allows me an appetite. We have a medical cannabis bill in the Illinois legislature but it has been so screwed up by added restrictions and costs that it is useless. [Unfortunately the legislators think it best to consult with law enforcement for medical advice in this area. They have a top-notch research bureau that does a marvelous job of researching subjects like this but to date not one legislator has requested any information from them.] The ‘legal’ marijuana will be as expensive if not more expensive than buying it on the street. If I could afford that, I wouldn’t need a medical marijuana law.
I long ago learned that life is unfair but the perversity of this situation drives me nuts. While the disease ravages my body, the medicine ravages my brain. Neuropathy is incurable, I will live with the pain and crippling loss of my hands and feet until I die or am rendered null and void by the drugs. My only hope is that you good people have success in your long fought battle to bring relief to folks like me. I can’t thank you enough for your tireless efforts on my behalf and on behalf of millions like me.
My kindest regards.
September 24th, 2012 at 4:23 pm
ASA does the ending of hemp prohibition proud,,thank you.
Does anyone have any info on the judge that will be hearing the appeal?
September 28th, 2012 at 9:03 am
Does anyone know if a major news station will be televising the hearing? I’m asking for the thousands of us that support the movement but cannot make the trip to D.C.
September 28th, 2012 at 10:01 am
We don’t know yet if cameras will be allowed in the courtroom, but we asked the judges to permit them. We’ll have more information as the date gets closer.
October 1st, 2012 at 6:11 am
Marijuana has the absolute potential to re birth our nation economicaly and medically. Yes a plant can do that. Free the plant and watch America grow!
October 12th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
[...] one isn’t warranted.” Americans for Safe Access will make their case to the DEA in D.C. on October 16th. A benefit of rescheduling cannabis is that researchers will be able to study the plant without the [...]
October 14th, 2012 at 10:55 am
[...] court. I strongly urge everyone to go to the ASA’s website to learn the rules for the day.http://safeaccessnow.org/blog/blog/2012/09/06/want-to-join-asa-for-medical-cannabis-patients-day-in-…). Rate this:Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like [...]
October 15th, 2012 at 10:40 am
I love what you folks are doing to help pass new laws all of us.I just read in New York times I believe that Israel military is having a human trial with a group of troops.The court should hear that. I wish you all the sucess in this world
October 16th, 2012 at 7:45 am
Might have Also Mentioned Dress Code requirements! This shows respect for the Court. As in, no buttons, badges, hats, Tshirts with Pot Leafs(kinda like Wayward Bill is wearing today). NOT RESPECTFUL, NOT APPROPRIATE!