The Compassionate Coalition

The bill that would ban employment discrimination against medical marijuana patients A.B. 2279 may need a few more votes in order to achieve the threshold required to pass the state Senate, which is a majority of the entire membership. I'm sending you this e-mail because you live in one of few senate districts whose representative is still on the fence.

You have a unique opportunity to help pass this important legislation! -Will you please call your senator today and urge him or her to support A.B. 2279?

Calling is easy. Just visit MPP's action page, enter your contact information, and use the number provided to call your senator. Feel free to use the call script provided during your call. Also, please let your senator know if you are a patient, medical professional, or an employer.

Action Page: https://ssl.capwiz.com/mpp/callalert/index.tt?alertid=11753136

A.B. 2279 is narrowly crafted legislation authored by Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and sponsored by Americans for Safe Access that would ensure that medical marijuana patients could not be fired or denied employment based solely on a positive drug test for marijuana. Although the legislation carves out exceptions for safety-sensitive positions and doesn't lift the prohibition on coming to work impaired, some senators including yours are hesitant to support the bill.

Please don't forget to contact your senator to urge him or her to vote 'yes' on A.B. 2279! Please forward this message on to friends, family, and co-workers in your area, so that they too can take action. Thank you for supporting MPP and California's medical marijuana patients.

Sincerely, F. Aaron Smith, California Organizer

Marijuana Policy Project

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Sacramento Voters Needed to Support AB 2279!!

Message from Americans for Safe Access: The California Senate may vote this week on a bill that will protect medical cannabis patients from workplace discrimination, but we need help from supporters specifically in the Sacramento area to make sure we have enough votes to pass!

ASA has already asked supporters all over the state to contact their Senators to support the AB 2279, but State Senator Michael Machado is still uncommitted. If you live or work in or near Sacramento, it is especially important that you call your Senator Machado today and ask him to support AB 2279.

Senator Michael Machado Sacramento: (916) 651-4022

The Senator has a history of supporting medical cannabis, so we want to be sure he votes YES on AB 2279. Use this sample script:

"I m calling to thank Senator Machado for supporting medical cannabis patients in the past, and to ask him to support AB 2279, the Workers Rights to Medical Marijuana Act. This bill will prevent employers from discriminating against legal medical cannabis patients, and will reverse a court decision that puts more than 200,000 California citizens in jeopardy of losing their jobs without due cause.

Assemblymember Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) introduced AB 2279 to negate a recent California Supreme Court ruling, which stated that employers can fire workers just for being legal medical cannabis patients, legitimizing job discrimination for seriously ill Californians. The ASA-sponsored law will protect patients who strive to continue to be productive members of society.

You can also find more information at http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/AB2279

Thanks for helping protect patients rights!

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Seeking Guest Editors for The E-Dispensary Newsletter

"The E-Dispensary" Newsletter has a proud history of helping to inform and mobilize citizens to help defend patients rights, and we would like to thank all of our readers and members for your support!
We re now seeking guest editors to provide a broader perspective, and enhance the newsletter overall. If you re interested in contributing original articles, or helping to gather news from other sources, please contact us to help out: info@CompassionateCoalition.org

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NEW - Santa Rosa, CA: Monthly Meeting for Women & Cannabis of Northern California

Dear Folks, Please see message below regarding the formation of a new medical cannabis group for women in Northern California. Thanks you for your support, Doc Knapp & Mary Pat Jacobs, Spokespersons, Sonoma Alliance for Medical Marijuana (SAMM).

Northern California Women & Cannabis - Learn the benefits of cannabis for women AND share your story of how cannabis has impacted your life in a positive way.

What: Monthly meeting for Women & Cannabis of Northern California

When: Tuesday, February 19th, 2008 at 7:00PM

Where: Organic Cannabis Foundation, Organicann Health Center, 3386 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95407.

You do not have to have a medical cannabis recommendation to attend this meeting. All are welcome! Tell your friends! RSVP: Email CaliCanna@yahoo.com - Phone 707-573-3830 (leave message) or in person at Organicann.

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Patient Meetings:

Colorado Chapter Meeting: August 18th: 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/

Next National Compassionate Coalition Meeting: August 19th:
Supporters from Sacramento and beyond are invited to join us to discuss our plans for defending patients rights. Agenda items will
include: Outreach, responding to DEA raids and seizures, educating public officials, court support, business items, and more. The group meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00PM at Crusader Hall, 320 Harris Avenue, Suite H, Sacramento, CA. For more information contact info@CompassionateCoalition.org or (916) 709-2483

AAMC Meeting: August 23: 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/

Check out the Oaksterdam News "Cannabis Freedom" calendar for other meetings and events: http://www.oaksterdamnews.com/WebCalendar3/month.php

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Other News Updates:

More News Updates from Americans for Safe Access: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/punbb/

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

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Sacramento Text-Message Alert System: 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
Vice President, 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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