ASA Weekly Alert - 5/18/07

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ASA California Weekly Alert: May 18, 2007
Weekly Round Up
1. Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana Goes to Court; Claremont Shoots Down Ban, Considering Dispensary Ordinance; Ed Rosenthal's Federal Trial Begins

ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings
2. Sunday, May 20, Birds Landing : ***Rescheduled Solano Patients' Group Meeting***
3.  Wednesday, May 23, Oakland:  ***Rescheduled East Bay ASA Meeting***
4. Tuesday, May 22, Sacramento: ***Rescheduled Sacramento ASA Meeting***
5. Tuesday, May 22, San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting
6. Saturday, June 2, Modesto: Merced County Patients Coalition

Court Support
7. Friday, June 1, Sacramento: Status Hearing for Louis Wayne Fowler
8. Friday, May 16th- Friday, June 1, San Francisco : Ed Rosenthal Federal Trial

Special Events
9. Saturday, May 19, Newport Beach: Medical Cannabis Activist Town Hall
10. Wednesday May 23, San Francisco: Rally to Support Ed Rosenthal
Weekly Round Up                                 CA ASA                    
1. Ed Rosenthal's Federal Trial Begins; Claremont Shoots Down Ban, Considering Dispensary Ordinance; Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana Goes to Court

Ed Rosenthal's Federal Trial Begins

Medical Marijuana activist Ed Rosenthal's vindictive trial began this week on Tuesday.  Rosenthal, a medical marijuana provider and prolific writer, was raided and arrested by Federal agents in February 2002.  After the February 2003 trial, several jurors discovered that evidence was withheld, and subsequently denounced their verdict. In the midst of a highly charged political climate, in June 2003, U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer sentenced Rosenthal to a single day in prison, time served.

Despite no compelling reason to re-try Rosenthal, the federal prosecutor pursued another trial and added tax evasion and money laundering to the charges. Based on the vindictive nature of the prosecution, ASA Chief Counsel, Joe Elford, filed a motion to dismiss in February 2007 on behalf of Rosenthal. In an unusual ruling on March 14, 2007, Judge Breyer found that there was at least the appearance of vindictiveness on the part of the federal government, and dismissed the tax and money laundering charges against Rosenthal.

Jury selection began on Monday May 14th. Just under 80% of the prospective jurors said they had an opinion on medical marijuana.  Judge Breyer pointed out that because they were being selected for a Federal trial, a medical defense would not apply to the case and that this defense would not be presented.

There were many compelling pro-medical marijuana testimonies during the prospective juror interviews.  See Vanessa Nelson's Article to read some of the testimonies.  The selected jurors-eight women and four men, plus two female alternates- said they do not have an opinion on medical marijuana.

For more information on Ed Rosenthal's trial see Green Aid and Vanessa Nelson's Ed Rosenthal Column.

Want to know how you can get involved?  See Special Events below!

Claremont Shoots Down Ban, Considering Dispensary Ordinance

Last week, Claremont City Council staffers proposed an ordinance that would ban dispensaries.  The proposal was rejected by many of the council members. This particular proposal would have banned not only dispensaries, but all businesses that violated state or federal law.

Rather than support the ban, City Council members  are considering designing and implementing dispensary regulations.  The council is reviewing 25 California city and county ordinances before making a decision either way. If the city implements a dispensary ordinance it will be the first to permit medical marijuana dispensaries in the Inland Valley.

Claremont City Council is expected to revisit the topic in early July.

Activists in the Inland Valley that want to organize around this issue, please contact Sonnet: sonnet@safeaccessnow.org

Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana Goes to Court

The Women's Alliance For Medical Marijuana is heading to court to sue the federal government over the right to use medical cannabis for chronic pain.The WAMM collective has been raided in the past by federal agents.

WAMM's case will go to court on July 13th in San Jose District Court. WAMM will present three arguments. The first involves due process and the right to access to medicine if it's the only thing that will keep someone alive. The second involves the 10th Amendment and allows the city the right to provide marijuana as a medicine to the community. Finally, they will argue the "necessity defense."

For more information go to: http://www.wamm.org/ or e-mail: info@wamm.org

ASA Chapter and Affiliates Meetings        Activist Fist
2. Sunday, May 20, Birds Landing: ***Rescheduled Solano Patients' Group Meeting***

Come meet with us on Sunday, May 20th. We will be coming together to not only celebrate our recent victory, but also to discuss our strategy for the next hearing.

Sunday, May 20th at 3:00pm
2145 Collinsville Rd.
Birds Landing, CA

For more information call: 707-635-3752
3. Monday, May 21, Oakland: ***Rescheduled East Bay ASA Meeting***

Join East Bay ASA to prepare for the Rosenthal rally on Wednesday, May 23rd. We will be making signs and props for the rally and will be phoning local supporters to encourage them to attend.

Please join us and make your voice heard! Refreshments will be served.

Wednesday, May 21st @ 7:00pm
Americans for Safe Access Headquarters
1322 Webster Street, Suite 402, Downtown Oakland
Just a couple blocks from the 12th Street BART station!

For more information or to get involved, contact Rebecca: Rebecca@SafeAccessNow.org or 510-251-1856 x 308
4. Tuesday, May 22, Sacramento:***Rescheduled Sacramento ASA Meeting***

Please join Sac ASA to plan for the future of safe access locally, statewide, and nationally!
7:00 p.m.

Crusaders Hall
320 Harris Avenue, Suite H
Sacramento, CA

For more information or to get involved, please contact Lanette: cannacare@earthlink.net
5. Tuesday, May 22, San Francisco: San Francisco ASA Meeting

Join SF ASA to discuss and plan for local, state and national issues. Get active locally to protect safe access!

7:30 p.m. @ CA Marijuana Party Bookstore
223a 9th St. @ Howard in San Francisco

For more information contact Alex: aaafranco@yahoo.com
6. Saturday, June 2, Modesto: Central Valley Patients Coalition

Please join central valley patients and supporters to help plan and strategize for the defense of patients rights in Stanislaus County, Merced County, and beyond!

The CVPC meets on the first Saturday of each month, at 11:00 AM.

Location: These meetings are held at 1733 Yosemite Ave, Modesto, CA, 95350.

For additional information, contact Shirley Cox, Public Relations Officer for the Central Valley Patients
Coalition: shirley@CompassionateCoalition .org          
Court Support                   patients rights
7. Friday, June 1, Sacramento: Status Hearing for Louis Wayne Fowler

The DEA and Sheriff conducted a raid on Sacramento County dispensary operator Louis Fowler, 51, on July 7, 2005. In addition to the raid on the Alternative Specialties dispensary, allegedly as a result of operating without a business license, three other locations were raided by the DEA and Sheriff where two indoor gardens allegedly with more than 800 plants were found. Fowler was charged federally with manufacture of marijuana and illegal possession of weapons. Fowler is released pending trial in Sacramento.

Friday, June 1st @ 10:00am
Courtroom of Judge Edward Garcia
U.S. District Court
501 I Street
Sacramento, CA
8. Tuesday, May 15-  Friday, June 1, San Francisco: Ed Rosenthal Federal Trial

See Weekly Round-up for details on the trial. The vindictive re-trial began on Tuesday May 15th and is expected to continue through the next two weeks.  Stay tuned for updates.

Medical Cannabis activists are encouraged to show their support for Ed Rosenthal by attending the trial.

San Francisco Federal Building
Courtroom of U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, 19th Floor
450 Golden Gate
San Francisco, CA

For trial updates go to Green Aid.

*See below for details on ASA Sponsored Ed Rosenthal Court Support Rally May 23rd*
Special Events                                  Patients Rights
9.  Saturday, May 19th, Newport Beach: Medical Cannabis Activist Town Hall

Please join Steph Sherer, ASA's Executive Director for an Orange County Activist Town Hall on May 19th from 3-6 pm. This event will be a an opportunity for the community to come together while Steph walks everyone through a strategic planning session to create next steps for Orange County implementation of Prop 215 And SB 420. This will include defining problems in the community, as well as determining goals and creating campaigns to tackle these problems and achieve community goals.

Steph Sherer will also give a brief update from ASA about national and state campaigns.

Who: Orange County Medical Cannabis Community and ASA's Executive Director
What: Orange County Activist Town Hall
When: May 19, 2007 from 3PM- 6 PM
Where: Law Offices of WENTWORTH, PAOLI & PURDY, LLP
            4631 Teller Avenue, Suite 100
            Newport Beach, CA 92660
Why: Because these laws aren't going to implement themselves

For more info contact Bill: OCLawyer@aol.com
10. Wednesday, May 23rd, San Francisco: Ed Rosenthal Support Rally

Ed Rosenthal needs our help!  ASA is calling on all of our members in the SF Bay Area to come out in support for Ed Rosenthal and medical marijuana. We must show the public that medical marijuana patients and advocates will not stand for vindictive trials.  Please come out on May 23rd at 1:00pm on the Federal Building steps.

Wednesday May 23 at 1:00pm           
San Francisco Federal Building
450 Golden Gate (between Polk and Larkin on Golden Gate)
Just 4 Blocks southwest from Civic Center BART stop

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