NATIONAL ACTION ALERT - Urge your U.S. Senators to Support Research: The federal government has created a gridlock by refusing to allow scientists to conduct medical research using non-governmental cannabis. But the FDA and DEA also claim there is not enough research on the medicinal value of marijuana. This hypocrisy and gridlock must end now! Congress must force the DEA to end the gridlock and allow scientists to conduct the necessary research on medical cannabis. What You Can Do: Call both of your U.S. Senators today! Ask them to sign the Kennedy/Kerry letter to acting DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart. Find out more at: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5366

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Tomorrow - Comedy Club Fundraiser for River City Patient Center: Please join us on Wednesday night for a Cannabis Comedy Festival to support the River City Patient Center! Hosted by Ngaio Bealum with guest entertainment from LA and The Bay Area! Also meet special guests Jack Herrer, Eddie Lepp and many more! Plus special guest music from Sacramento's own Selecta Lue, playing Reggae. The fundraiser will be this Wednesday night (1/16) at 8:00 PM, at the Punch Line Comedy Club in Sacramento (Howe Bout Arden Center), 2100 Arden Way. Order tickets online at: http://www.livenation.com/artist/getArtist/artistId/23918

PLUS, don't miss the Super Bonus Crazy Raffle full of sick and twisted prizes! Smoking pieces, massages, autographed historical memorabila, books, all 3 Cannabibles, joint rolling hand book, a special patient prize pack, spiritual reading plus sooooooo much more! . All procedes from event will benefit The River City Patient Center.

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California State Senator Carole Migden Takes a Stand for Safe Access: January 11 2008 - This week, State Senator Carole Migden introduced a resolution in the California Senate calling on the federal government to end its attacks on patients and providers in California and end the DEA raids. This is a huge victory for patients, providers, supporters, and activists in the medical marijuana movement. Senator Migden’s statement comes as a response to the DEA’s recent escalation of tactics against medical cannabis providers by targeting innocent third-party landlords, threatening to prosecute them and seize their property for renting to collectives. The resolution introduced yesterday makes a clear and strong statement about the DEA’s actions in California, saying:

"Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature respectfully memorializes the Congress and President of the United States to enact legislation to require the Drug Enforcement Agency and all other federal agencies and departments to respect the compassionate use laws of states, including returning any assets seized from medical marijuana dispensaries and collectives to the states in which they are located…"

More information: http://safeaccessnow.org/blog/?p=52

Read the Resolution: http://www.americansforsafeaccess.org/downloads/SJR_20.pdf

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Patient Meetings:

Tonight: Sacramento ASA Meeting: Join Sacramento ASA to prepare for 2008 campaigns including coalition outreach, ID card program, and national campaigns. When: Tuesday 1/15 at 7:00pm; Where: Crusaders Hall, 320 Harris Ave. Suite H in Sacramento. For more information, contact Lanette: cannacare@earthlink.net

Colorado Chapter Meeting: January 21: 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/

AAMC Meeting: January 26: The El Dorado County American Alliance for Medical Cannabis meets on the fourth Saturday of each month from 2:15pm until 4:20pm, at the Garden Valley Grange, 4940 Marshall Road, Garden Valley, California. For more information visit: http://www.eldoradocountyaamc.com/

National Compassionate Coalition Meeting: January 29: Please join us for our first meeting of 2008 as we discuss national, state, and local patients' rights issues. As always, new and returning members are invited to join the fun, have some food, and volunteer for upcoming events. When: Tuesday, December 18th, at 7:00PM. Where: Crusader Hall, 320 Harris Avenue, Suite H, Sacramento, CA. For more information contact info@CompassionateCoalition.org or (916) 709-2483.

NEW! - COLORADO SPRINGS CARES MMJ Discussion Group: January 29: Please join patients and caregivers at the first meeting of the Colorado Springs discussion group. This group will meet on every fourth Tuesday of the month from 7-9 p.m. at the Penrose Public Library Meeting Room, 20 N Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. For more information contact: commjexpert@gmail.com

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

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Other News Updates:

Orange County opens medical marijuana ID program: http://www.compassionatecoalition.org/forums-477

Texas SWAT Team Kills Medical Marijuana Patient: http://www.mpp.org/news/articles/nc/texans-mourn-fugitive.html

Colorado "One LOVE, People Get Ready" Event Feb 6: http://compassionatecoalition.org/forums-469

Joe Rogan on Medical Marijuana and The Compassionate Coalition:
http://www.justin.tv/joerogan/59025/Joe_Rogan_talks_about_medical_marijuana_i

Maui Cannabis Club Seeking Donations: http://compassionatecoalition.org/forums-313

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 MAPP: http://www.marijuananews.org

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

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Fry/Schafer Sentencing Postponed: Dear Friends, Once again, the government has postponed Dr. Mollie Fry and Dale Schafer's sentencing hearing until sometime in late February. I expect to have a date within the next week and will alert you all again at that time. Please help me post this notice of continuation so that supporters DON'T plan to show up or rally on Jan. 28th. These continue to be extremely trying times for the entire Fry/Schafer family and your support is greatly appreciated!!! I hope to have some additional info to share in the very near future regarding the appeal we will file in the 9th circuit once we've settled the sentencing issues. For more updates go to: http://www.docfry.com

-Thank You All and I hope this year is better for all of us! LOVE from COOL, Bobby Eisenberg, Fry/Schafer Defense Committee.
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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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