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Americans For Safe Access

Safe Access Now

About Me


About ASA

Americans For Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. ASA works to overcome political and legal barriers by creating policies that improve access to medical cannabis for patients and researchers through legislation, education, litigation, grassroots actions, advocacy ­and services for patients and the caregivers. ASA has over 30,000 active members with chapters and affiliates in more than 40 states.

Medical cannabis patients and current Executive Director Steph Sherer founded ASA in 2002 in response to federal raids on patients in California. Ever since then, ASA has been instrumental in shaping the political and legal landscape of medical cannabis. Our successful lobbying, media, and legal campaigns led to positive court precedents, new sentencing standards, more compassionate legislative and administrative polices and procedures, as well as new legislation.

ASA protects the rights of cannabis patients. We are working to change federal policy to meet the immediate needs of patients as well as create long-term strategies for safe access and programs that encourage research.

Join ASA's Emergency Response Text Messaging SystemWith the numerous recent attacks on Southern California dispensaries by the DEA, we need to be prepared for immediate action to support medical cannabis providers. ASA has designed a system that will alert its members of regional emergency DEA actions as soon as they happen. The goal of the Raid Emergency Response Text Messaging System is to immediately notify and organize grassroots response to help stall federal raids on patients and caregivers in California.Sign-up for ASA's Raid Emergency Response Text Messaging System now! Learn of DEA raids immediately! This service is only for regional emergency alerts, primarily for raids, and ASA will not bombard folks with text messages.The Raid Emergency Response Campaign only works if we are prepared on the local level to respond quickly! For more information or to get involved, contact Sonnet: [email protected] or (510) 251-1856 x 321. Follow this link: http://safeaccessnow.org/form.php?id=66

For phone numbers of your representatives go to: www.house.gov or call the congressional switchboard at: (202) 224-3121.


Americans for Safe Access * 1322 Webster Street, Ste. 402 * Oakland, CA 94612 [email protected] * 510-251-1856 * www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org

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RALLY @ GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER OFFICE & DEA RAIDS DOWNTOWN LA DISPENSING COLLECTIVE (10/11/07)


PHOTOS FROM LOS ANGELES PROTEST ON 1/22 ASA RESPONDS TO DEA RAIDS ON 11 MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSING COLLECTIVES IN LOS ANGELES

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My Interests

Major Accomplishments

ASA successfully filed suit against California Highway Patrol, the largest law enforcement agency in the state, compelling CHP to stop confiscating patients’ medical cannabis and otherwise comply with the mandates of Proposition 215.

ASA works with elected officials to enact sound ordinances regulating medical cannabis dispensing collectives (dispensaries). So far, 24 cities and 7 counties have given dispensaries protection and legitimacy under local law.

ASA turned the tide of media bias and indifference with a professional, proactive media strategy, making medical cannabis a page-one story nationwide. ASA is framing the national discourse on medical cannabis issues.

ASA has provided outreach services to countless collectives, including legal training, peer counseling, and media spokesperson training.

If you would like to become a supporting member, please our website: Americans For Safe Access

Americans For Safe Access

I'd like to meet:

07/27/2007- LA Councilmember, Dennis Zine, talks to protesters outside of LA city Hall.You!

Join up with thousands of other ASA members across the US that are the grassroots strength of ASA. People like you are the reason that ASA is building political power and beating back the attack on medical marijuana.

ASA activists are at the forefront of the struggle for safe and legal access to our medicine. We're not watching the news, we're making the news.

If you would like to become a supporting member, please our website: Americans For Safe Access

"Americans For Safe Access

Music:

Time Line

** 2002-2007: ASA organizes court support for more than 30 federal defendants

* 2002-2007: ASA implements National Emergency Response actions over a dozen times, following DEA raids

* * Jan 2007: 500 patients and advocates rally outside the Los Angeles federal building, in protest of continued DEA raids

* *Oct 2006: Activists protest in front of DEA marijuana conference in San Diego

* *Oct 2006: Launches TV commercial campaign in San Diego area

* *Sept 2006: State lawmakers and ten state and national medical organizations file amicus briefs with CA Supreme Court in support of ASA’s employment case

* *Sept 2006: Releases report on dispensaries at convention of city officials; several city council members speak in support of dispensaries at press conference

* *Aug 2006: Helps Kern County pass medical cannabis regulations

* *July 2006: Hinchey Amendment to stop DEA raids on patients receives record number of votes in Congress

* *June 2006: Sues Butte County over cultivation ban

**May 2006: Los Angeles ASA helps to pass progressive medical cannabis ordinance in Los Angeles County

**May 2006: Sues city of Emeryville and wins; city pays patient $15,000 for destroyed medical cannabis

** Mar 2006: Congress calls on GAO to research DEA expenditures on medical marijuana

** Feb 2006: ASA granted cert by CA Supreme Court to argue medical marijuana employment case

** Jan 2006: Protests follow San Diego Lawsuit against the state

** Jan 2006: ASA organizes HopeNet support press conference

** Oct 2005: Nationwide protests against HHS for their delay on the DQA

**Aug 2005: ASA changes CHP policy

** July 2005: ASA organizes nationwide memorials in response to the suicide of Steve Mc Williams

**Jun 2005: ASA works with AG and others to clarify the impact of the Supreme Court ruling

** May 2005: CA Training tour prepares activists for Dispensary Regulations

** Apr 2005: ASA sues the City of Fresno

** Feb 2005: ASA files suit against CHP

** Dec 2004: ASA begins Motion for Return of Property Campaign by suing the City of Emeryville

** Oct 2004: ASA files the Data Quality Act Petition & Protests at HHS

** Aug 2004: Bryan Epis released from prison!

** May-Jun 2004: ASA trains over 600 CA Public Defenders on defending medical marijuana patients

** Mar 2004: ASA creates the "Raich" defense in federal cases

** Nov 2003: ASA protests Drug Czar tour in several cities

** Feb 2003: Evict the DEA actions

** Jan-Feb 2003: ASA completed a regional student training tour

** Jan-Apr 2003: ASA organizes the Juror's Revolt in Ed Rosenthal's case

** Jan 2003: Epis Billboard Campaign

** Oct-Nov 2002: ASA does a 26-city Know Your Rights training tour

** Oct 2002: ASA organizes a California stakeholder conference

**Sep 2002: ASA mobilizes over 1,000 activists to protest the 10 year sentence of Bryan Epis

** Jun 2002: 55 cities serve the DEA "Cease and Desist" orders

**Apr 2002: ASA launches with a 1200 sq. ft Banner Drop in San Francisco

If you would like to become a supporting member, please our website: Americans For Safe Access

Movies:

Drew Carey: Reason TV- The medical marijuana episode

Video by: Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

About medical marijuana: Mr. Rosenfeld, a federal medical marijuana patient, testifies before the State of Michigan Committee on Government Operations on Tuesday November 28th, 2006.

A look at Sativex.

Television:

ASA’s trip to LA in October 2007 for the rally calling on Governor Schwarzenegger to Stand Up for Patients’ Rights was apparently well documented.

On Thursday, hundreds of patients and advocates rallied outside of Governor Schwarzenegger’s Los Angeles office:

Later that night, the DEA raided a medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles. ASA and LA activists jumped into motion and coordinated a protest outside of the dispensary:

During the weekend, Dean Becker interviewed Rebecca Saltzman for a documentary he’s working on, and she discussed the increase in raids and ASA’s response to DEA actions (the interview follows the one with Dr. Mitch Earlywine):

Books:

Read them.

Our Blog- Americans For Safe Access (ASA)

Medical Marijuana Discussion Boards- Americans For Safe Access (ASA)

Heroes:

Write to Medical Marijuana Prisoners: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=624


Online Action Center
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?list=type&type= 69

My Blog

AB 2279 passes Anti-Discimination bill- onto Senate

PRESS RELEASEAmericans for Safe AccessFor Immediate Release: May 28, 2008California Assembly Votes to Protect Medical Marijuana Patients' Right to WorkAnti-discrimination bill AB2279 passes State Asse...
Posted by Americans For Safe Access on Thu, 29 May 2008 12:16:00 PST

Weekly CA action alert

ASA California Weekly Alert: May 23, 2008 Weekly Round Up 1. Sonnet's Farewell to ASA Chapter and Affiliate Meetings 2. Tuesday, May 27, San Francisco: SF ASA Meeting 3. Wednesday, May 28, Oakland:...
Posted by Americans For Safe Access on Mon, 26 May 2008 01:40:00 PST

LA: Where’s Mayor Antonio? Protest Tuesday.

Make plans to attend our rally at the LA Mayor's office on Tuesday, May 27. We are calling on the Mayor to end his silence on the issue of medical cannabis and delivering hundreds of signatures on a p...
Posted by Americans For Safe Access on Mon, 26 May 2008 01:39:00 PST

Weekly Updates, action alerts

ASA California Weekly Alert: May 9, 2008 ***Click here to Take Action to Ensure Patients' Employment Rights!*** Weekly Round Up 1.  a.  US House Judiciary Chairman Questions DEA Medica...
Posted by Americans For Safe Access on Mon, 12 May 2008 06:02:00 PST

House Judiciary Chair Questions DEA tactics!

House Judiciary Chair Questions DEA Tactics Rep. Conyers Next Step Toward Congressional Hearings Dear ASA Supporter, ASAâ¬"s ongoing campaign to hold the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA...
Posted by Americans For Safe Access on Tue, 06 May 2008 04:48:00 PST

ASA California weekly update/alerts

ASA California Weekly Alert: May 1, 2008***Click here to Take Action to Ensure Patients' Employment Rights! http://salsa. democracyinaction. org/o/182/campaign. jsp?campaign_KEY=24303***Weekly Round U...
Posted by Americans For Safe Access on Sun, 04 May 2008 01:05:00 PST

Employement Rights Bill PASSES committees!

Medical Marijuana Employment Rights Bill Passes Two State Assembly Committees Anti-discrimination bill AB2279 has broad support including state SEIU and AFSCME ..tr>..table>Sacramento, CA -- A state...
Posted by Americans For Safe Access on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:48:00 PST

Groundbreaking Study: Need participants

Groundbreaking Chronic Pain Study Needs Participants: Find Out What You Can Do to Help Dear ASA Supporter, Dr. Donald Abrams of University of California, San Francisco needs individuals who are ...
Posted by Americans For Safe Access on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:37:00 PST

2 weeks away! Action for Compassion!

Hello, ASA members and friends. There are only two weeks left until the April 26 protest at the Federal Building in west LA. We need to turn out a big group of patients and supporters that day to send...
Posted by Americans For Safe Access on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:03:00 PST

ASA Weekly Action Alert 4/11

ASA California Weekly Alert: April 11, 2008 Weekly Round Up 1.  a.  ASA-Sponsored Patient Employment Bill Clears First Hurdle While Sales Tax Bill is Stalled      b.&nb...
Posted by Americans For Safe Access on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:49:00 PST