ASA California Roundup: December 7, 2012

Contents:
California Roundup
Landlord can't evict Oakland's largest medical marijuana dispensary
Sheriff Allman: Mendocino County pot permit holders weren’t promised immunity; says feds will find nothing amiss in county program
Medical Marijuana Users Can Get Booted From Public Housing at Any Time
Supes extend pot dispensary moratorium; prompted by federally inspired evictions, county adds exception

Take Action
Add Federal POW's to your holiday card list
Pardon Chris Williams campaign

Events
February 22-25 - Americans for Safe Access National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference

City & County Meetings
Monday December 10 - Berkeley Medical Cannabis Commission Dispensary Subcommittee
Tuesday December 11 - Sonoma County
Thursday December 13 - Lake County

ASA Services
Peer Counseling
Wednesday December 12 - Sebastapool
Thursday December 13 - Oakland

ASA Chapter Meetings
Tuesday December 11 - Nevada County
Tuesday December 11- San Diego
Tuesday December 11 - Marin County
Tuesday December 11 - Central California
Thursday December 13 - Imperial Beach

California Roundup

Landlord can't evict Oakland's largest medical marijuana dispensary

The landlord for the city's largest medical marijuana dispensary cannot evict the business just because the federal government has threatened to seize the property for violating federal drug laws, a state court judge has ruled.

Read More: http://www.insidebayarea.com/oakland-tribune/ci_22116408/landlord-cant-evict-oaklands-largest-medical-marijuana-dispensary

Sheriff Allman: Mendocino County pot permit holders weren’t promised immunity; says feds will find nothing amiss in county program

Mendocino County sheriff Tom Allman spoke Monday, Nov. 26 about the subpoena the county received in late October from the U.S. attorney’s office for records the county keeps regarding its medical marijuana ordinance.

Read more: http://www.redwoodtimes.com/garbervillenews/ci_22122343/sheriff-allman-mendocino-county-pot-permit-holders-weren

Medical Marijuana Users Can Get Booted From Public Housing at Any Time

Medical marijuana users enjoy protection from criminal prosecution under California law -- but that's about it.

Read More: http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2012/12/medical_marijuana_users_can_lo.php

Supes extend pot dispensary moratorium; prompted by federally inspired evictions, county adds exception

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors unanimously extended a moratorium on new medical marijuana dispensaries for a second time on Tuesday.

Read More: http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_22128370/supes-extend-pot-dispensary-moratorium-prompted-by-federally

Take Action

During this season of family and cheer, it's important to remember our courageous POWs who are spending the Holidays in Federal Prison for protecting safe access. Now more than ever, they need our support and thanks for ensuring patients had access to their medicine.

Please Add These Federal POWs to Your Holiday Card List!

http://safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=624

ASA is asking you to support the Pardon Chris Williams campaign as he is currently facing over 80 years in prison for being a medical cannabis provider in Montana. Check out our Pardon Chris Williams webpage for more info and ways to get involved.

Read More: http://safeaccessnow.org/pardon-chris-williams
Please sign his White House Pardon Petition: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/grant-full-pardon-chris-williams-man-facing-80-years-prison-legally-growing-medical-marijuana/PgtWfvFg
Send a Letter to the Editor on his behalf: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/182/letter/?letter_KEY=1460

Events

February 22-25 2013 - Americans for Safe Access National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference, Washington, D.C.

ASA is pleased to announce Harnessing Our Power for Victory – Americans for Safe Access National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference, taking place February 22nd - 25th at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Americans for Safe Access and our allies will fight even harder for safe access in 2013. This is our chance to show the Obama Administration and the new Congress our strength in unity – and to make our voice heard like never before in the nation’s capitol! The conference is a chance to network with other activists from around the country, attend panels and workshops to improve your skills and increase your knowledge, and to engage in direct citizen-lobbying efforts in the halls of Congress on Monday, February 25th.

Please use the links below to find more information regarding the conference. We will be updating the website weekly to include information on scholarships, exhibitors, sponsorships and the program schedule, so keep checking back!

Harnessing our Power for Victory Website!

http://safeaccessnow.org/nationalconference2013

Registration

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/182/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=76444

Travel & Accommodations for the National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference

http://safeaccessnow.org/travel--accomodations

Making the Most Out of Your Conference Experience

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/182/p/salsa/web/questionnaire/public/?questionnaire_KEY=1520

Funding Your Way to the National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference

http://safeaccessnow.org/-1-12

Call for Abstracts Information & Application Page for the National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/182/p/salsa/web/questionnaire/public/?questionnaire_KEY=1518

City and County Meetings

Monday December 10 - 3:30PM
Berkeley Medical Cannabis Commission’s Dispensary Subcommittee meeting

City Hall, Redwood Conference Room
2180 Milvia Street, Sixth Floor
Berkeley, CA 94704
Agenda: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/medicalcannabis

Tuesday December 11 - Gather at 2PM, Agenda item starts around 2:30PM
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors

Attention Sonoma County Patients!
Act Now to STOP Your Medical Cannabis Rights from being VIOLATED!
On December 6th, 2012, it was made public that the Board of Supervisors would be adding an item to their December 11th meeting agenda that would dramatically change the legal landscape of local medical cannabis patients' rights. These recommendations have not been vetted by community members or industry stakeholders and five days is not enough time for the Board of Directors to elicit input from their constituents on this controversial public program.

We need to attend this meeting IN FORCE to show our elected public officials that we DO NOT SUPPORT these actions!

The Medicinal Marijuana Ad Hoc Committee recommends that the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors

(1) repeal their 2006 resolution allowing for local qualified patients to cultivate up to 30 plants, which would effectively reduce the allowable number to the state mandatory minimum of 6 plants,

(2) to establish an ordinance prohibiting the cultivation of marijuana in unoccupied residential buildings and

(3) direct staff to establish a Marijuana Task Force modeled on the Sonoma County Methamphetamine Task Force.

To see the counties staff report check out:
http://www.sonoma-county.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=20

We can create the effective and clearly united response by participating in ALL THREE of the following actions:

ATTEND THE MEETING Tuesday December 11th we will be gathering at 2 PM at the Arlene Francis Center (99 west 6th street in Santa Rosa) to carpool over to the meeting with fellow community members and activists. We will get a chance to go over talking points & practice our speeches to Board of Supervisors.

CONTACT YOUR SUPERVISORS at (707)565-2241 or reach out to them at their individual emails which are posted on the following page: http://supervisors.sonoma-county.org/

SIGN THE PETITION on Change.org: http://www.change.org/petitions/sonoma-county-board-of-supervisors-take-no-action-on-the-recommendations-of-the-marijuana-ad-hoc-committee

It is imperative that we take action now to protect patients' rights, safe access and responsible public process in Sonoma County!
For more information on participating in this community action please contact
Sonoma ASA 707 595 0215 or sarah@safeaccesssnow.org

--

Thursday December 13 - 9AM
Lake County Planning Commission

The Lake County Planning Commission is due to consider proposed zoning changes that would prohibit marijuana cultivation in mobile home parks and apartments, and set marijuana processing limits at residences.

Lake County Courthouse, Board Chambers
255 N. Forbes St
Lakeport, CA 95453
Proposed Changes: http://www.scribd.com/doc/115883209/121312-Lake-County-Planning-Commission-Marijuana-Zoning-Ordinance-Proposed-Changes

ASA Services

Peer Counseling

Wednesday December 12 -- Sebastopol - 3:30 to 5:30PM
Peace In Medicine
6771 Sebastopol Avenue # 100
Sebastopol, CA 95472

Thursday December 13 -- Oakland - 5:30 to 7:30PM
Harborside Health Center
1840 Embarcadero
Oakland, CA 94606

ASA Chapter Meetings

Tuesday December 11 -- Nevada County
6PM @ Nevada County Contractors office, 149 Grass Valley, CA (Left off of Crown Point Circle)
For more info, contact: info@asa-nc.com

Tuesday December 11 -- San Diego ASA
7pm @ La Jolla Brew House, 7536 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA
For more info, contact: Eugene@safeaccessnow.org

Tuesday December 11 -- Marin County ASA
7:30pm @ the Whistlestop, 930 Tamalpais Ave, San Rafael, CA, located next to the Transit Center
For more info, contact: ASA_Marin@yahoo.com or marinsafeaccessnow@yahoo.com

Tuesday December 11 -- Central CA ASA
6PM @ the C.A.F.E., 935 F St, Fresno, CA
For more info, contact: Robertfromasa@yahoo.com

Thursday December 13 - Imperial Beach ASA
6:00 p.m. @ 1233 Palm Ave, Imperial Beach, CA
For more info, contact: rasmwboyd@yahoo.com

Launching an ASA chapter is a great way to formally bring together like-minded activists in your community to work together toward ensuring safe access to medical cannabis. ASA chapters are part of a national network of ASA activists and staff who work together on a regular basis to achieve shared goals. You can find more information and tools to start a chapter on our website!
Read More: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/starting_an_asa_chapter_2011.pdf