The E-Dispensary: AFSCME Endorses Medical Marijuana (August 11, 2006)

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AFSCME Endorses Medical Marijuana - 8/11/06
Source: StoptheDrugWar.org

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the country's largest public service workers' union, passed a resolution endorsing medical marijuana at its national convention in Chicago Tuesday. AFSCME thus becomes the latest major civic organization to advocate for access to therapeutic cannabis.

Passed on an overwhelming voice vote by convention delegates, the resolution notes that marijuana has been shown to effectively treat illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, Crohn's disease, chronic pain, and the side effects of medical treatments for these illnesses. And here's the bottom line: "Therefore, be it further resolved that AFSCME endorse and support legalization of medical marijuana for appropriate medically indicated ailments, including but not limited to AIDS, HIV, cancer, arthritis, etc."

AFSCME represents some 1.4 million American workers in both the public and private sectors, including bus drivers, child care providers, custodians, librarians, and other state, local, and federal government employees. Of particular relevance to drug policy issues, AFSCME also represents nurses and corrections officers. Some 6,000 delegates are meeting all week in Chicago for the union's 37th annual convention.

"Our efforts to protect medical marijuana patients from arrest are gaining new momentum every day," said Aaron Houston, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, DC. "This year alone, we've seen such new supporters as the Presbyterian Church (USA), Citizens Against Government Waste, and now AFSCME. With support this broad and growing this fast, it's no surprise we saw record support in the US House of Representatives this year, and we expect to keep building this large and powerful coalition."

Source: http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/448/afscme_endorses_medical_marijuana.shtml

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News: Solano Patients Group Gets ID Cards on County Agenda
Link: http://www.compassionatecoalition.org/node/3901

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Central Valley Patients Coalition Meetings: August 12th, and 26th Please join central valley patients and supporters in August to help plan and strategize for the defense of patients rights in Stanislaus County, Merced County, and beyond. Agenda items will include court support, letters to the editor, safe access, and more. The CVPC meets at 1:00 PM at 4213 McHenry Ave, Suite F, Modesto California, 95354. For additional information, contact Darian Burnham, Secretary for the Central Valley Patients Coalition - JollyD_CA@yahoo.com

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California Bar Program on Medical Marijuana: August 18th
On August 18th Dennis Roberts, Rick Runcie (Mower's atty) and Bill McPike will teach an approved Bar course on medical marijuana laws from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm in Fresno, California. This is the only Bar-approved course on the topic of medical marijuana, and will cover California's medical marijuana laws under Health & Safety Code 11362.5 and 11362.7, and related court rulings.

This course offers 6.5 MCLE credits for attorneys, at a cost of $199. Patients, law enforcement officers, and judges can attend for a cost of only $50. Course materials and lunch are included. Seating is limited, so contact Bill McPike at (888) 420 - BUDS or mcpike@psnw.com to reserve your seat today!

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Bryan Epis Court Support: August 21st
Former cannabis cultivator Bryan Epis will be in court for an evidentiary hearing on August 21st at 9:30am, in front of Judge Damrell, at the Sacramento Federal Courthouse, 501 I street (I at 5th). Bryan has already served over 2 years of a 10 year sentence, and has gotten out of the cannabis industry entirely. Bryan's case is one of many being resentenced due to the US Supreme Court's Raich ruling. Link: http://www.compassionatecoalition.org/node/3890

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Court Support Dates for Solano County
**Lark Freeman & Michael Mendozaâ€“ August 22nd, 10am, DPT 8 RM 207, JUSTICE CENTER - 600 Union Ave, Fairfield **Lawtons â€“ Sept. 1st, @ 8:30am- Dept 12 Courtroom 101 - 321 Tuolumne Street, Vallejo

SPG is planning out being outside with signs for all the court dates above. If anyone can come and join us in our peaceful demonstration outside the courthouse, please call us so we can coordinate times to
meet: 707-635-3752

More info: http://www.compassionatecoalition.org/node/3862

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Compassionate Coalition National Meeting - August 22nd in Solano County Greetings Compassionate Coalition members and guests, the next national meeting of The Compassionate Coalition will be August 8th, 7pm at 2145 Collinsville Road in Birds Landing, CA 94512. This is a public meeting and all are welcomed to join. These meetings will happen on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. If you have any questions, please contact Linda Jimenez, Chairman of The Board, at 707-635-3752 or linda4spg@compassionatecoalition.org

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AAMC Picnic: August 26th: The August meeting of the The El Dorado County American Alliance for Medical Cannabis will be a picnic at Stumpy Meadows instead of a formal meeting. The group will supply hamburgers and hot dogs, and patients and supporters are encouraged to bring beverages and side dishes. www.ElDoradoCountyAAMC.com

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Harde and Landis Court Support: August 28th
The next hearing for David Harde and Toby Landis is scheduled for August 28 at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Frank Damrell in the Sacramento Federal Courthouse, 501 I street (I at 5th). Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Endrizzi told Damrell at the July 31 hearing that negotiations are proceeding for a settlement and change of plea. Harde and Landis were facing charges in El Dorado County for 101 plants in a cooperative grow (five members) at the organic farm of Harde, before the case was handed off to federal authorities. Harde owns Noah's Ark organic food store in Placerville. The former Peace Corps volunteer helped develop California's organic food standards, and was on the El Dorado County fairboard until his arrest. Landis, a psychotherapist, was uninvolved in the cooperative, and her prosecution appears to be a case of tormenting a spouse to apply pressure. 
Link: http://www.compassionatecoalition.org/node/3904

Thanks to Pat McCartney for this update!!

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Sacramento Compassionate Coalition Meeting: September 6th Please join Sacramento Chapter of The Compassionate Coalition for our next planning meeting and information session! Agenda topics include: Patient meetings, news updates, court support, and business items. This group meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00PM at the River City Patient Center, 1512 C El Camino Ave, Sacramento, CA.
Note: Any patients who wish to use their medicine at this meeting must be registered and verified in advance by the River City Patient Center. For information please contact Nathan Sands at nathan@CompassionateCoalition.org

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Joaquin Brand Court Support: September 8th
Joaquin Brand will appear in court on September 8th, with a 3 day trial tentatively scheduled for September 9th to 11th. Please support Joaquin in Department 8 at 2775 Richardson Drive in Auburn, CA; more information to follow.

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Patrick McCartney Reveals "The Law Enforcement Conspiracy"

Pouring through government files, court transcripts and public documents from record requests, Northern California journalist Patrick McCartney is working to reveal "The Law Enforcement Conspiracy" against medical marijuana in California. McCartney's research reveals that the conspiracy to subvert Proposition 215 began only days after voters approved the ballot measure. Much of the secret cooperation between state and federal officials occurred in the sprawling Eastern District, the largest of California's four federal court districts. Its 34 largely rural counties include such battleground locations as Solano, Fresno, Merced, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Sacramento, Kern, Shasta, Tehama, Placer, El Dorado and many more.

While serving as city editor of the Auburn Journal in 2001, Patrick McCartney was silenced from writing about the medical-marijuana issue in Placer County. Instead of backing off, McCartney decided to research and tell the story of why qualified medical patients were still being arrested and prosecuted four years after voters made their medicine legal.

Since that time, McCartney has gathered thousands of pages of documents that spell out California law-enforcement's continuing opposition to the Compassionate Use Act of 1996.

He and co-author Martin Lee of Sonoma County are negotiating with a publisher for a book that will expose the conspiracy, and help to end harassment and intimidation of medical marijuana patients. McCartney and Lee will summarize their finding about law-enforcement's role since 1996 for an article they are on assignment to write for The Nation magazine on the tenth anniversary of Proposition 215 this fall.

After five years work on the project, however, McCartney is also running short on funding, and would appreciate any support that you can provide at this critical time.

Please help support Patrick McCartney's continuing work by sending your donation to: Patrick McCartney, 12116 Persimmon Terrace, Auburn, CA 95603. McCartney can also be reached at ElPatricio@aol.com or (530) 823-3040.

McCartney also welcomes copies of any government document, court transcript, arrest report or other material that would contribute to a deeper understanding of the medical-marijuana movement in California.

Thank you in advance for your support!

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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 defending the rights of medical marijuana patients!

Nathan Sands
Communications Director
The Compassionate Coalition
www.CompassionateCoalition.org 
nathan@CompassionateCoalition.org

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