The Compassionate Coalition

Patients are taking action to defend our rights, check out the links below to watch and hear...

Video and Report from Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Meeting: http://www.compassionatecoalition.org/forums-450

KFBK AM News Report: "Medicinal pot facilities get DEA warning": Listen to the report at: http://www.kfbk.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=172730&article=3013205

Video from Ventura County Board of Supervisors Meeting: Watch courageous patient Bill Wintersteen approach the Board to call for implementation of the MMJ ID Card Program (skip ahead to minute 53:00): http://ventura.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=16&clip_id=1008

MAPP Talk Radio Interview with Margaret Dooley, Los Angeles Coordinator for the Drug Policy Alliance - Tonight at 9PM: http://marijuananews.org/node/137

Ed Rosenthal - a founder of High Times Magazine - takes "Time 4 Hemp" - new Potcast series free for download from: http://www.Time4Hemp.com

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Patient Meetings:

Fresno Patients Take Action: December 17-18: Please join Fresno area patients on the 17th to prepare for speaking at the Board of Supervisors meeting on the 18th. Full details at: http://www.compassionatecoalition.org/forums-459

Colorado Chapter Meeting: December 17: The CO. North Denver Medical Marijuana Discussion is every 3rd Monday, at the Front Range Community College LIBRARY, 3705 W 112th Ave Westminster, CO80031-2140, Room L211, from 7pm to 9pm. For more information contact Tim Tipton at (303) 438-7221 or email him at TTipper39@hotmail.com or join the Meetup: http://medmarijuana.meetup.com/119/

National Compassionate Coalition Meeting: December 18: Our last meeting of the year is next Tuesday, and we're going to 'throw out' the normal agenda and do something different. We'll use this year-end meeting to discuss our accomplishments (and setbacks) from 2007, and our goals for 2008. This will also be a great chance for new members and out-of-towners to join the group, have some food, and find out what lies ahead for the medical marijuana movement. Lastly, we'll have sign-making materials on-hand for everyone, and we'll be giving out free t-shirts for the best and most creative signs! When: Tuesday, December 18th, at 7:00PM. Where: Crusader Hall, 320 Harris Avenue, Suite H, Sacramento, CA. Who: New and returning members, members of other groups, visitors and anyone else! This s hould be a fun meeting, hope to see everyone there! For more information contact nathan@CompassionateCoalition.org or (916) 709-2483.

Check out the Oaksterdam News calendar for all meetings, events and more: http://oaksterdamnews.com/WebCalendar/month.php

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Other News Updates:

Chairman of House Judiciary Committee, Rep. John Conyers, Expresses Concern About DEA Medical Marijuana Threats: http://judiciary.house.gov/newscenter.aspx?A=889

DEA Robs California of Millions in Tax Revenues - Seizes Tax Payments from State Board of Equalization; DEA raids on California's medical marijuana dispensaries are costing the state's taxpayers millions of dollars in lost revenues, according to records collected by California NORML: http://www.canorml.org/news/DEASeizesStateTax$$_relse.htm

NY Times: California Ruling Against Marijuana Clubs: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/us/14brfs-RULINGAGAINS_BRF.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin

No Jail for Great Grandma! - The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department and the San Bernardino District Attorney's office are trying to put great grandma in jail: http://www.marijuananews.org/node/135

More News Updates from ASA: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?list=type&type=36

More News Updates from NORML: http://norml.org/index.cfm?wtm_view=daily_news

More News Updates from The Compassionate Coalition: http://www.compassionatecoalition.org/forum

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Court Support for Galen and Laura Lawton: Dec 21: Medical marijuana patient/advocates Galen and Laura Lawton continue to face charges in Solano County for a personal grow operation that was raided in 2004. Since that time Galen has been very vocal in his defense of medical marijuana, speaking to media, the Board of Supervisors, and various city councils. Galen's efforts even helped to get charges dismissed against another Solano patient, Sergio Perez, yet Galen and several others in Solano still face charges of their own.

Please show up to support Galen and Linda at their "Trial Management Conference" on December 21st, which will either result in dismissal of the charges, or a jury trial in March 2008. The court appearance will be on Friday December 21st at 8:30 AM, in Dept 12 Courtroom 101 - 321 Tuolumne Street, Vallejo. For more information contact info@CompassionateCoalition.org

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Donate to the River City Relief Fund: In September 2007 the River City Patient Center dispensary in Sacramento was raided by the DEA and forced to close its doors. Following the raid, the DEA initiated forfeiture proceedings on almost all assets owned by operator Bill Pearce, including his family's home. Bill is now left with no income and few available assets, as he fights the DEA to keep his home.

Bill has been a very vocal advocate for patients’ rights in the central valley, contributing time and donations to many organizations for the good of the movement. As a dispensary operator, he helped to provide medicine to sick patients, and even helped out patients who could not afford the meds they needed. Bill served our community with compassion and care, despite the risks he faced for doing so.

Now Bill faces a time of need, and the outcome of his struggle will affect us all. If the DEA succeeds in taking Bill's home and destroying his life, they will continue to use this tactic on all care providers.
Please consider making a donation to the River City Relief Fund, to help Bill, and to show that we stand united against the DEA's heavy-handed tactics. Donations can be made via Paypal with a credit or debit card at: http://www.RiverCityPatientCenter.com

Thank you for helping, your support is appreciated in this difficult time!

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Want to get a text-message on your cell phone when a local raid is happening? -Then join the Sacramento Emergency Response Text-Message list! We're looking for patients and supporters to sign up for this service and show up to protest when a raid happens. Please help defend our local dispensaries and patients from DEA persecution. Sign up here: http://www.compassionatecoalition.org/erlist

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The Compassionate Coalition is an all-volunteer, non-profit, educational organization. We work to defend the rights of medical marijuana patients and care providers, and your support enables our work to continue. Please consider making a donation today: http://www.compassionatecoalition.org/donate

Thank you for helping to defend patients' rights!

Nathan Sands
Communications Director, Sacramento Chapter Representative
The Compassionate Coalition
1500 Oliver Road, Ste-K, P.M.B. #248 Fairfield, CA 94533
www.CompassionateCoalition.org
Email: nathan@CompassionateCoalition.org
Phone: (916) 709-2483

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