National Action Alert:
Your Chance to Impact the US Attorney General Confirmation!
Dear ASA Supporter,
It’s here - your first opportunity to be a real part of changing medical cannabis policy. If you ever wanted to take action that could make a difference, now’s your chance!
On January 15th, Senate Judiciary Committee will begin confirmation hearings for President-elect’s nominee for US Attorney General, Eric H. Holder. Obama pledged to end DEA raids on individuals who use or provide medical cannabis in accordance with their state law. The U.S. Attorney General is the cabinet official who can carry out this stance.
Now is the time to act! We need you to help make sure the first discussions with Obama’s Attorney General include questions on medical cannabis.
It just takes two short but critical phone calls to Judiciary Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) (202) 224-7703, and ranking Republican Member Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) (202) 224-5225). Call both offices and say:
"Hi, my name is ___________ and I am calling about the Attorney General confirmation hearings. President-elect Obama said numerous times during his campaign that DEA raids on individuals legally qualified to use medical cannabis in their states are a waste of resources and that he would end that policy. 72 million Americans live in the 13 states with medical cannabis laws. Please ask Eric Holder if he will uphold Obama's promise and end DEA raids on legal medical cannabis patients."
Because the federal government has refused to act, states have taken the lead in protecting patients who use medical cannabis. However, for 8 years the Bush Administration, the US Department of Jusice (DOJ), and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) have aggressively targeted, raided, arrested, and prosecuted individuals who comply with state medical cannabis laws. In court, defendants are not allowed to present this as evidence for their defense, or even to mention that such state laws exist. As a result, many innocent people are serving time in federal prisons, and many more are waiting for their sentence.
We demand change NOW. Stand up for them by joining our effort!
Once you’ve made the call, send a letter to increase the pressure even more!
Change will not be handed to us. If we want it we have to demand it, and now is the best opportunity this country has ever had. Thank you for being a part of it.
Sincerely,
George Pappas
Field Coordinator
Americans for Safe Access
Rx215.com Prop. 215 and SB-420 Online! We are patients helping patients!!
Showing posts with label 707 cannabis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 707 cannabis. Show all posts
Monday, January 12, 2009
Monday, December 1, 2008
Community Partners and Ways to help...
1. 420 Community
Drug Policy Reform Links:
Alternet: Drug Reporter
ACLU Drug Policy
Americans for Safe Access
Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy
Cannabis Culture
Cannabis News
Cato Institute: Drug War
Change the Climate
Christians for Cannabis
Common Sense for Drug Policy (CSDP)
DanceSafe
Drug Action Network
Drug Policy Alliance
Drug Policy Forum of Illinois
DrugSense
A Drug War Carol
Drug War Facts
Educators for Sensible Drug Policy (EfSDP)
Daniel Forbes articles at MAP
Forfeiture Endangers American Rights (FEAR)
Fully Informed Jury Association
Harm Reduction Coalition
True High
IDEAL
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP)
The Lindesmith Center
Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts
Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)
A Marijuana Smoker's Lounge
M.A.S.H. Action Group
Media Awareness Project (MAP)
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
Narco News
NORML
The November Coalition
Orange County NORML
Religious Leaders for a More Just and Compassionate Drug Policy
Salon.com Drug War Archives
Stop the Drug War (DRCNet)
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP)
Unitarian Universalists for Drug Policy
U.S. Marijuana Party
Vaults of Erowid
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drug War Cheerleaders:
DEA
ONDCP
Pushing Back - the Drug Czar's "blog"
SAMHSA
NIDA
Freevibe
DOJ
Media Campaign
Federal Prisons
CIA drugs
Miserable Failure at Drug Policy
2. Write a letter to the editor
The government is using your tax dollars to campaign for continuing the failed war on drugs. You can't afford to do the same advertising they can, but you can make a huge difference. A letter to the editor has the same impact as an expensive ad, but at no cost but your time and effort.
There's a fabulous resource called Media Awareness Project, which has just about every important article printed in a newspaper anywhere (usually within a day), along with contact information for writing a letter to the editor. There are even resources to help you write letters. Voluteer contributors got enough letters printed last year to be equivalent to almost $4 million worth of advertising.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Contact your elected officials
When issues come up in Congress, I'll give you an alert on Drug WarRant. There are also some excellent places to find out about alerts, that will walk you through an easy web process to send an email or fax to your representatives. If you have time, write a regular letter, or call their office and talk to the staff. It has even more impact. Recently, I called the office of Senator Durbin to say how much I appreciated his efforts regarding the Tandy nomination, and the staff was so happy to hear a positive word. It can really make a difference.
Go to the NORML Action site
Or visit the ACLU Drug Policy Action Site.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Sign up for informative newsletters
StopTheDrugWar.org has an excellent weekly newsletter with a review of what's going on in the drug war called "The Drug War Chronicle". Click on the link and sign up for the free email newsletter.
Another site with a newsletter is the Drug Policy Alliance:
Drug Sense has a weekly newsletter:
Check the list of Drug Reform Organizations on the Drug WarRant front page for more places to visit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Know your rights
Go to Flex your Rights and order a copy of the DVD: "Busted"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Know how to talk to young people
Go to Safety First - a reality based approach to teens, drugs, and drug education, with some outstanding wiritng by Marsha Rosenbaum.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. If you live somewhere on this planet...
Sign the international appeal for an Anti-prohibitionist Reform of Drug Laws.
Drug Policy Reform Links:
Alternet: Drug Reporter
ACLU Drug Policy
Americans for Safe Access
Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy
Cannabis Culture
Cannabis News
Cato Institute: Drug War
Change the Climate
Christians for Cannabis
Common Sense for Drug Policy (CSDP)
DanceSafe
Drug Action Network
Drug Policy Alliance
Drug Policy Forum of Illinois
DrugSense
A Drug War Carol
Drug War Facts
Educators for Sensible Drug Policy (EfSDP)
Daniel Forbes articles at MAP
Forfeiture Endangers American Rights (FEAR)
Fully Informed Jury Association
Harm Reduction Coalition
True High
IDEAL
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP)
The Lindesmith Center
Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts
Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)
A Marijuana Smoker's Lounge
M.A.S.H. Action Group
Media Awareness Project (MAP)
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
Narco News
NORML
The November Coalition
Orange County NORML
Religious Leaders for a More Just and Compassionate Drug Policy
Salon.com Drug War Archives
Stop the Drug War (DRCNet)
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP)
Unitarian Universalists for Drug Policy
U.S. Marijuana Party
Vaults of Erowid
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drug War Cheerleaders:
DEA
ONDCP
Pushing Back - the Drug Czar's "blog"
SAMHSA
NIDA
Freevibe
DOJ
Media Campaign
Federal Prisons
CIA drugs
Miserable Failure at Drug Policy
2. Write a letter to the editor
The government is using your tax dollars to campaign for continuing the failed war on drugs. You can't afford to do the same advertising they can, but you can make a huge difference. A letter to the editor has the same impact as an expensive ad, but at no cost but your time and effort.
There's a fabulous resource called Media Awareness Project, which has just about every important article printed in a newspaper anywhere (usually within a day), along with contact information for writing a letter to the editor. There are even resources to help you write letters. Voluteer contributors got enough letters printed last year to be equivalent to almost $4 million worth of advertising.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Contact your elected officials
When issues come up in Congress, I'll give you an alert on Drug WarRant. There are also some excellent places to find out about alerts, that will walk you through an easy web process to send an email or fax to your representatives. If you have time, write a regular letter, or call their office and talk to the staff. It has even more impact. Recently, I called the office of Senator Durbin to say how much I appreciated his efforts regarding the Tandy nomination, and the staff was so happy to hear a positive word. It can really make a difference.
Go to the NORML Action site
Or visit the ACLU Drug Policy Action Site.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Sign up for informative newsletters
StopTheDrugWar.org has an excellent weekly newsletter with a review of what's going on in the drug war called "The Drug War Chronicle". Click on the link and sign up for the free email newsletter.
Another site with a newsletter is the Drug Policy Alliance:
Drug Sense has a weekly newsletter:
Check the list of Drug Reform Organizations on the Drug WarRant front page for more places to visit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Know your rights
Go to Flex your Rights and order a copy of the DVD: "Busted"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Know how to talk to young people
Go to Safety First - a reality based approach to teens, drugs, and drug education, with some outstanding wiritng by Marsha Rosenbaum.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. If you live somewhere on this planet...
Sign the international appeal for an Anti-prohibitionist Reform of Drug Laws.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
DECISIONS FORCE NEW LOOK AT MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Pubdate: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 Source: Ukiah Daily Journal, The (CA) Copyright: 2008 The Ukiah Website: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/
http://www.mapinc.org/media/581 Referenced: People v. Kelly http://www.canorml.org/news/kellyruling.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Compassionate+Use+Act Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Mendocino+County Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)
DECISIONS FORCE NEW LOOK AT MEDICAL MARIJUANA We understand why a local judge struck down the provisions of voter-approved Measure B limiting the number of plants a medical marijuana patient can grow. The California Appeals Court ruled in May that the six mature, 12 immature plant limit and the eight ounce dried marijuana possession limit were unconstitutional because the California Legislature had set the limits by legislation not voter initiative. Measure B's limits were based on the California state law. (The California Supreme Court has now decided to take up the question of the legality of these limits which were rejected a second time in another Appeals Court ruling in July.) Now, medical marijuana growing and possession goes back to the confusing and varied interpretations that existed before the state passed its regulations - regulations that were fervently sought by true medical marijuana patients in order to bring some order and protection to the 1996 initiative that was unfortunately very poorly worded. As of this moment, there are technically no limits on the number of medical marijuana plants a person can grow - but anything they grow has to be strictly for their own personal medical needs. That is the important distinction and one that local marijuana growers need to pay attention to. Unfortunately this ruling may encourage more of the commercial backyard growing we've seen from people who will assume that "no limits" means they can get away with anything. We hope that our Sheriff Tom Allman and District Attorney Meredith Lintott will make it clear in their actions that this local court ruling - and the ruling it stems from in People v. Kelly in the State Court of Appeals - still makes it clear that medical marijuana growing must be for personal medical use - and lacking any regulatory direction, not some conglomerate in San Francisco or dispensary in Ukiah. The courts ruled that the Compassionate Use Act does not limit a medical marijuana patient's growing allowance based on a doctor's recommendation. But it is also clear that those needs must be approved by a doctor and clearly defines "caregiver" as a person "designated by the person exempted under this section who has consistently assumed responsibility for the housing, health, or safety of that person." We have long argued that the definition of caregiver from the CUA had been twisted out of all proportion and made mockery of the compassion California voters tried to extend to the truly sick and dying. We will see if the California Supreme Court agrees that regulating the CUA by legislation is constitutional. If not, the CUA will likely be scrutinized and perhaps amended by another voter initiative. If that happens, we believe it is time to set constitutional limits on the number of plants a medical marijuana patient can have, and provide a strict definition of caregiver, limiting that to one person, someone who is personally caring for the patient on a regular basis, not someone in Mendocino County growing 100 plants in their name. The Kelly decision - and the local decision based on it - should not be construed as an open door to more pot growing. These decisions should be viewed as restating the limits envisioned on medical marijuana when the voters passed the CUA, limits that have been ignored up and down the state and which have led voters even in this Emerald Triangle, to reject marijuana growing as greedy and dangerous to their communities.
http://www.mapinc.org/media/581 Referenced: People v. Kelly http://www.canorml.org/news/kellyruling.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Compassionate+Use+Act Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Mendocino+County Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)
DECISIONS FORCE NEW LOOK AT MEDICAL MARIJUANA We understand why a local judge struck down the provisions of voter-approved Measure B limiting the number of plants a medical marijuana patient can grow. The California Appeals Court ruled in May that the six mature, 12 immature plant limit and the eight ounce dried marijuana possession limit were unconstitutional because the California Legislature had set the limits by legislation not voter initiative. Measure B's limits were based on the California state law. (The California Supreme Court has now decided to take up the question of the legality of these limits which were rejected a second time in another Appeals Court ruling in July.) Now, medical marijuana growing and possession goes back to the confusing and varied interpretations that existed before the state passed its regulations - regulations that were fervently sought by true medical marijuana patients in order to bring some order and protection to the 1996 initiative that was unfortunately very poorly worded. As of this moment, there are technically no limits on the number of medical marijuana plants a person can grow - but anything they grow has to be strictly for their own personal medical needs. That is the important distinction and one that local marijuana growers need to pay attention to. Unfortunately this ruling may encourage more of the commercial backyard growing we've seen from people who will assume that "no limits" means they can get away with anything. We hope that our Sheriff Tom Allman and District Attorney Meredith Lintott will make it clear in their actions that this local court ruling - and the ruling it stems from in People v. Kelly in the State Court of Appeals - still makes it clear that medical marijuana growing must be for personal medical use - and lacking any regulatory direction, not some conglomerate in San Francisco or dispensary in Ukiah. The courts ruled that the Compassionate Use Act does not limit a medical marijuana patient's growing allowance based on a doctor's recommendation. But it is also clear that those needs must be approved by a doctor and clearly defines "caregiver" as a person "designated by the person exempted under this section who has consistently assumed responsibility for the housing, health, or safety of that person." We have long argued that the definition of caregiver from the CUA had been twisted out of all proportion and made mockery of the compassion California voters tried to extend to the truly sick and dying. We will see if the California Supreme Court agrees that regulating the CUA by legislation is constitutional. If not, the CUA will likely be scrutinized and perhaps amended by another voter initiative. If that happens, we believe it is time to set constitutional limits on the number of plants a medical marijuana patient can have, and provide a strict definition of caregiver, limiting that to one person, someone who is personally caring for the patient on a regular basis, not someone in Mendocino County growing 100 plants in their name. The Kelly decision - and the local decision based on it - should not be construed as an open door to more pot growing. These decisions should be viewed as restating the limits envisioned on medical marijuana when the voters passed the CUA, limits that have been ignored up and down the state and which have led voters even in this Emerald Triangle, to reject marijuana growing as greedy and dangerous to their communities.
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