The Compassionate Coalition

ASA on the Offensive in California
New lawsuit will force Solano County to implement state law

Dear ASA Supporter,

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) filed a lawsuit in Superior Court today that will force the County of Solano to issue medical cannabis ID cards mandated by state law since 2003. Today’s lawsuit is part of ASA’s increasingly aggressive legal posture following the US Supreme Court’s decision not to review our historic victory in Garden Grove v. Superior Court, which finally held that federal law does not trump state law when it comes to medical cannabis.

ASA has already won important victories for patients in court, but we need your help to force cities, counties, and police to respect patients’ rights in 2009. We cannot do it without your help. Please make a donation today to help ASA keep fighting.

In November 2008, ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford sent a letter to every noncompliant county in the state warning that there could be legal consequences if they continued to stall on implementation. The Counties of Sacramento, Kings, Ventura, Nevada, Fresno, and Mariposa all responded by pledging to comply. But Solano County is one of a handful of counties that continue to balk at state law.

This lawsuit will have repercussions all over the state. It took three years from the time ASA first identified a plaintiff in Garden Grove to the time the Supreme Court made that victory final. That persistent and strategic work has helped us turn an important corner in California. Our elected officials and law enforcement must uphold our medical cannabis laws… or face the consequences!

We have a lot of work to do in the courts to protect and expand patients’ rights. Your support will help us fight for medical cannabis ID cards in every county in California. You will also be helping us fight other important cases, like our motion to hold the City of Montebello in contempt for failing to return confiscated medicine or our new lawsuit against the DMV for revoking patients’ licenses.

With your support, we will continue to bring the fight to those who will not follow California law. Please be a stronger part of this effort by donating today.

Sincerely,

Don Duncan
California Director
Americans for Safe Access

P.S. Read more about our Solano County ID card lawsuit at www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/SolanoLawsuit.