Media Misleading Headlines

Last week's DEA raid at Mother Earth Alternative Healing, was misreported by almost all the news organizations covering the political stunt.
 Mother Earth Alternative Healing is not the last co-op in San Diego.

http://legalmarijuanadispensary.com/

 Watching the various news feeds and YouTube videos show how uneducated the media and the law enforcement community really is.
When I followed a link doing my research, I watched a video where this was spoken by the reporter;
"Critics say it is easy to get a recomendation online."
Where? From who and which dispensaries or co-operatives are accepting those bogus licenses? but that's another blog!
The Medimar office follows all state guidelines and those for the Medical Board of California.
The critics, or better known as politicians, who are completely ignorant to the benefits of medical marijuana, include Bonnie Dumanis in San Diego, Jim Janney of Imperial Beach and Jerome Kern in Oceanside and all the others in between. They are using U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy as their strong arm federal prosecutor to prevent the wishes of California citizens.
One glaring question on the Mother Earth Alternative Healing raid; will the county give back the $11,000 fee they just took from the co-op when licensing them for business?

Do some research!
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/jul/25/feds-shut-down-last-medical-marijuana-co-op-san-di/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxezlLNOT0c
http://www.safeaccesssd.org/p/about-sd-asa.html
http://www.canorml.org/

Update on Imperial Beach Initiative

Dispensary issue placed on Imperial Beach ballot  

Published on the San Diego Union Tribune website, updated July 19.

Written by Katherine Poythress

IMPERIAL BEACH — Amid thunderous applause and cheers, the Imperial Beach City Council voted 4-1 Wednesday to let voters decide in November whether they want to lift the city’s ban on medical marijuana dispensaries.

The vote came just weeks after residents submitted a petition containing at least 1,012 verified signatures, the percentage of registered voters required to qualify the proposed Safe Access Ordinance of Imperial Beach for appearance on ballots.

Council members also voted unanimously to craft their own measure that would compete with the ordinance in November.

To the surprise of supporters and opponents alike, it was Mayor Jim Janney who moved to place the Safe Access item on the November ballot.

“It’s a little bit disappointing, because I thought the council made the right decision last year when we voted on our existing ordinance,” Janney said at the Wednesday council meeting. “Our ordinance allows for collectives of three people or less. There are several things that I believe are wrong with this initiative, including some of the terms and conditions, but I believe people have the right to vote in California, and I move to adopt the recommendation.”

After the gasps and applause subsided, he proceeded to hear testimony from the dozens of green-shirted advocates for the measure filling the council chamber and a nearby overflow room. Most appeared to be in their 20s and cited San Diego addresses, although a few locals spoke strongly in favor of the proposal. A handful of opponents spoke against it, but none were from Imperial Beach.

The six-page ordinance for Imperial Beach was co-sponsored by the San Diego chapter of Americans for Safe Access and grass roots organization Canvass for a Cause. It is crafted to ensure “that seriously ill Californians and residents of the city of Imperial Beach can obtain and use cannabis for medical purposes where that medical use has been deemed appropriate by a physician in accordance with California law,” according to the document.

The measure would allow patients to smoke inside a dispensary if certain requirements are met, and allow the shops to operate from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. It does not include any special fees to help offset the cost of regulation and enforcement.

Janney said he did not want to assign city staff to conduct a study of the matter before placing it on the ballot, because they studied it recently. Last June, the City Council voted to ban medical marijuana dispensaries in lieu of developing zoning and regulations for restricted access.

The council reasoned at the time that two stores just outside the city limits were sufficient to provide patients with enough legal access to medical marijuana to comply with California’s 1996 Compassionate Use Act. Since then, one of those stores has buckled under pressure from a federal campaign to shut down dispensaries across the state, and the other operates only intermittently.

“I don’t want to ask for the city to produce more paper, because nothing has changed,” Janney said at Wednesday’s meeting. “The federal law is still the same.”

Also of Interest;

• DISPENSARY ISSUE PLACED ON IMPERIAL BEACH BALLOT
• COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION ON MARIJUANA INITIATIVE
• IB council to take action on pot initiative
• Del Mar faces measure on medical pot
• MARIJUANA INITIATIVE APPEARS HEADED TO BALLOT

Rally Against Federal Attack Wed at Noon - Federal Courthouse

Rally Against Federal Attack Wed at Noon - Federal Courthouse

Wednesday July 25th at 12pm at the San Diego Federal Court House on 880 Front St. the medical marijuana community will be rallying against the federal attacks on Proposition 215, SB420 and the will of California voters who overwhelmingly support safe access!

After closing down over two hundred dispensaries in the City of San Diego, U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy has set her sights on Mother Earth's Alternative Healing Cooperative, the only Sheriff Permitted medical marijuana dispensary in the four most southern counties in California. Last week, the Coop received an eviction notion to cease operation by Wed, July 25. In addition, Duffy is now threatening lawmakers with federal prosecution for adopting ordinances that regulate dispensaries. She has completely gone against the position of her boss, Attorney General Eric Holder and the Obama Administration’s promises.

During his election, President Obama promised not to target those in compliance with state law, in fact just weeks ago Attorney General Holder testified before Congress that his Justice Department would only undertake enforcement action against medical marijuana organizations operating "out of conformity with state law." US Attorney Laura Duffy’s actions prove otherwise.

Just today we saw more attacks against the Medical Cannabis Community here in San Diego, the local police working in collaboration with Duffy's office parked their squad cars all day at Green Power a collective located in National City, and prevented patients from coming in to get their medicine, while in the Pacific Beach area the Narcotic Task Force was busy raiding another facility.  

These attacks must end and patient's rights must be respected. Please come out tomorrow to the rally at noon at the Federal Courthouse help us send a strong message of opposition to these attacks on Proposition 215, SB420 the will of California voters, and those most vulnerable in our communities.

WHAT: Rally To Save Medical Cannabis
WHEN: Wednesday 7/25/2012 12pm
WHERE: San Diego Federal Courthouse - 880 Front St.

For more information contact sandiegoasa@gmail.com

Monday, July 23, 2012

Rally Against Federal Attacks on Safe Access to Medical Marijuana

Join us, Wednesday July 25th - 12pm at the San Diego Federal Court House on 880 Front St. to rally against federal attacks on the Medical Cannabis Community!


After closing down over 200 dispensaries throughout San Diego County, U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy has set her sights on Mother Earth's Alternative Healing Cooperative the only Sheriff Permitted medical marijuana dispensary in the 4 most southern county's in California. The Coop received an eviction notion to cease operation on Wed, July 25 due to the pressure from U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy’s office on there landlord.

Recently Attorney General Eric Holder and his U.S. Attorneys have indicated they are not targeting medical marijuana establishments in compliance with state law. However, this and other federal actions indicate otherwise.

Just weeks after Attorney General Holder testified before Congress in June that his Justice Department would only undertake enforcement action against medical marijuana organizations operating "out of conformity with state law," US Attorney Laura Duffy is trying to shut down Mother Earth's Coop, the only fully permitted medical cannabis dispensary in San Diego County.

Although the coop intends to serve patients and seek an emergency stay thru legal means, on Wednesday July, 25th at the Federal Courthouse in San Diego, the community will be rallying against these attacks and demanding that the Obama Administration uphold their promises to respect state law.

WHAT: Rally To Save Medical Cannabis
WHEN: Wednesday 7/25/2012 12pm
WHERE: San Diego Federal Courthouse - 880 Front St.

For more information contact sandiegoasa@gmail.com

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Treating Emphysema with Medical Cannabis

Medical marijuana patient, double lung transplant candidate, and San Diego Americans for Safe Access Board Member, Vey Linville discusses using marijuana to treat his severe emphysema and tells the truth about dispensaries in San Diego, the recent federal crackdown in California, and his efforts to protect patient's rights in Imperial Beach. 

Interview by Sam Spear with Canvass for a Cause. 

 

San Diego Medical Marijuana Patient Tells All; Dispensaries, Activism, Fighting Emphysema and COPD

Friday, July 20, 2012

ADVOCATES TO UNVEIL PLANS FOR LEGAL MEDICAL MARIJUANA DEFENSE

Sole legal medical marijuana dispensary to challenge U.S. Attorney for straight legal test of California state law, to announce plans for ongoing defense of legitimate medical marijuana operations

San Diego, CA (July 20, 2012) – Advocates, patients, and concerned citizens in support of the only state and county approved legal medical marijuana dispensary in California’s four county southern border region, announced plans to unveil strategy to defend one of the model medical marijuana dispensaries in the nation this coming Monday at a press conference on the steps of San Diego’s federal court building. 

Representatives of Mother Earth’s Alternative Healing Cooperative said they would announce the plans and a specific challenge to U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy at the press conference on the steps of the U.S. federal court house in San Diego on Monday, July 23 at 11:00 a.m. 

The medical marijuana cooperative facility located in an industrial area near Gillespie Field in El Cajon, CA is facing imminent eviction which would effectively shut down the operation despite the lack of a direct legal challenge by the federal government. 

“The lack of a straight legal challenge by the U.S. Government to California state law or even San Diego County’s licensing of the cooperative is a slap in the face of California voters and the right of states to regulate medical marijuana,” said Robert Reidel of spokesperson for the cooperative. “We intend to announce a challenge to the U.S. Attorney and take whatever steps are necessary to continue to provide medical marijuana to the 70,000 plus patients in need in San Diego County.” 

Attorney General Eric Holder and his U.S. Attorneys have indicated they are not targeting medical marijuana establishments in compliance with state law. However, this and other federal actions indicate otherwise. Just days after Attorney General Holder testified before Congress in June that his Justice Department would only undertake enforcement action against medical marijuana organizations operating "out of conformity with state law," armed federal agents raided El Camino Wellness, a respected -- and fully permitted medical cannabis dispensary in Sacramento, California and asset forfeiture proceedings were filed against the longest standing permitted dispensary in Oakland, Harborside Health Center.

The U.S. Attorney’s office in San Diego is using the same tactics to attempt closure of Mother Earth’s Alternative Healing Cooperative. This comes despite full compliance with California state law and certification by the County of San Diego. The San Diego County’s Sheriff’s Department has inspected and certified the facility as legal and in compliance. 

“California state law is clear. San Diego County regulations are clear. We have complied with both,” said Reidel. “This is a conflict between states and the federal government and needs to be resolved in a manner which ends this insane waste of federal tax money and resources. Pursuit of legitimate and legal medical marijuana facilities is the ultimate example a futile federal drug policy. This federal folly must end.” 

The advocate’s press conference will take place at 11:00 a.m. in front of the U.S. Attorney’s Southern District Office of California at the Federal Office Building located at 880 Front Street in downtown San Diego.

Monday, July 16, 2012

IB To Delay Vote on Ballot Initiative for 2 Years; City Manager Threatens Federal Prosecution

On Wednesday, July 18th, the Imperial Beach City Council is scheduled to vote on placing the Safe Access Ordinance of Imperial Beach on the ballot after a successful signature gathering effort by Canvass for a Cause and San Diego Americans for Safe Access. The signature drive resulted in over ten percent of registered IB voters signing the petition to place the initiative on the November ballot in less then half the time allotted by California election law.

Unfortunately the City’s Mayor, Jim Janney, is intent on delaying the vote and will of Imperial Beach voters. Mayor Janney wants to place the initiative on the November 2014 instead of the 2012 ballot leaving qualified patients without safe access for at least two years.

At Wednesday’s meeting, instead of voting to place the initiative on the November ballot the Mayor will ask for an impact report and will insist the city take the entire thirty days period allotted by law to complete it. This would require the completed report be presented back to Council at the Aug. 15 meeting, five days after the deadline issued by the county’s registrar of voters to place all initiatives on the November ballot. This five day delay would force the vote to be delayed until the next general election in 2014.

Aside from thwarting the will of the voters, a two year delay would leave patients in the city with the current ordinance passed by Mayor Janney last year. The current ban not only defines large-scale dispensaries as those with three or more members but it also prohibits three or more patients from cultivating medicine in their own homes anywhere in the city, a right expressly given to patients in Proposition 215.

To help the Mayor confuse the voters and City Council, City Manager Gary Brown wrote a staff report in preparation for Wednesday’s meeting. In the report which can easily be classified as “Reefer Madness on Steroids”, Brown claims that if the ordinance were to pass, city staff would be prosecuted for being in violation of federal drug laws for issuing business licenses to medical cannabis dispensing collectives.

At the July 18th meeting it will be City Council’s one and only chance to vote to place the initiative on the November ballot without delaying the will of the voters. Please come out to the meeting on Wednesday and help us urge the Mayor and City Council to respect the will of the voters and to allow the voters to decide this November.

If you are not able to make the meeting, please call the City Manager Brown at 619-423-8303 and urge him to tell City Council that IB voters deserve a voice this November.

WHAT: IB City Council to Vote on Medical Marijuana Ordinance

WHEN: 7/18/2012 - 6:00pm (City Council meeting starts at 6 with our agenda item to be heard at 8pm)

WHERE: 825 Imperial Beach Blvd. Imperial Beach, CA 91932

For more information contact safeaccessib@gmail.com  

RSVP for the event on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/NekX0k   

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A Big Mistake In Obama's War on Medical Marijuana

A Big Mistake In Obama's War on Medical Marijuana 

From the Huffington Post, July 17, 2012

For over a year now, the Obama Administration has been steadily escalating its assault on medical marijuana. What was already a mess has been getting worse from one week to the next, and each new attack revives the question of whether the feds have finally taken things too far.... Full article

Industrial Hemp; Not Your Medicine

Industrial Hemp

From the Website  http://www.votehemp.com/
 Industrial hemp is the non-psychoactive, low-THC, oilseed and fiber varieties of the Cannabis sativa plant. Hemp has absolutely no use as a recreational drug.
Industrial Hemp has other uses; as the name suggests. Educate yourself with a visit to these various websites.
KUSI San Diego: Hemp Farming in America (Part 1)
KUSI San Diego: Hemp Farming in America (Part 2)

North American Industrial Hemp Council Inc.

Of course Google any of the terms to find more information.

Health Care Act for Medical Marijuana users

Since Californians voted and passed a small form of Affordable Care when they passed Props. 420 & 215, thus making one form of medical relief available to all citizens without the high cost of prescriptions or main stream medical providers. There is a growing debate on whether the federal government is taking steps towards removing marijuana from its controlled substance list.

Many debates are arising along the ideals of health care and medical marijuana; They often refer to the court case;  Gonzales vs Raich

An opinion within Time Magazine;

Are Medical Marijuana Raids the Price We Must Pay for National Health Care?

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/04/06/are-medical-marijuana-raids-the-price-we-must-pay-for-national-health-care/#ixzz1zmFmWtWn

An opinion from ABC News;

Health Care: Liberals Eye Scalia and Roberts Vote ; Justice Scalia and Medical Marijuana

If you have an opinion or other insiteful knowledge we at Medimar would appreciate hearing from you.