Medical Marijuana

ASA ACTION: Science Supports DQA Lawsuit ASA IN THE NEWS: Defending Election Fairness DISPENSARIES: Regulations Working in Many Cities RHODE ISLAND: Veto-Proof Margin for Medical Marijuana Bill MINNESOTA: Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Bill VERMONT: Medical Marijuana Law May Broaden ILLINOIS: Political Pressure for Medical Marijuana Bill NEW HAMPSHIRE: Locals Push for Legal Access TEXAS: Medical Marijuana Bill Considered CONNECTICUT: Massive Support May Spur Bill WASHINGTON: Medical Marijuana Law’s Limit Tested FEDERAL: California Dispensary Raid OREGON: Doctor Explains Medical Benefits CANADA: Activists Working Toward Better Policies _________________________________ ASA ACTION: Science Supports DQA Lawsuit The editorial in this week's edition of Science, the journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, supports ASA’s lawsuit asking for a correction of the misinformation about medical marijuana being spread by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Such mention in one of the world’s most prestigious scientific magazines would be noteworthy on its own, but it’s even more so when the author is also the former FDA Commissioner. EDITORIAL: Turning the Tables with Mary Jane by Don Kennedy, Editor, Science ASA finally brought its case to federal court, asking it to substitute for the agency's false statement one that says, "Adequate and well-recognized studies show the efficacy of marijuana in the treatment of nausea, loss of appetite, pain and spasticity." Will the judge make HHS change, giving ASA the injunctive relief it seeks? We'll have to wait to see whether this case turns the tables on DQA, but it's already clear that HHS has violated its own DQA guidelines--going, you might say, one toke over the line. _________________________________ ASA IN THE NEWS: Defending Election Fairness ASA’s litigation over a narrowly lost local medical marijuana initiative may result in fairer and more accountable election results. The ability to re-count ballots cast on electronic voting machines is at issue, and a judge is siding with ASA. Many election observers have questioned the reliability of such voting machines; a positive ruling helps protect basic democratic principles. Judge scolds county for loss of files by Ian Hoffman, ANG Newspapers A state judge chided Alameda County officials Friday for giving away the only internal electronic records of a contested election to Diebold Election Systems Inc., after an appeals court ordered the county to preserve the records. The judge's scolding came as a medical marijuana group, Americans for Safe Access, sought penalties against the county for getting rid of its touch-screen voting machines last summer without first downloading the electronic ballots and internal logs related to contested Measure R, a marijuana dispensary initiative Berkeley voters rejected in 2004.

Contact: Philippe Lucas, tel: 250-884-9821, E: [email protected] or Kirk Tousaw, tel: 604-836-1420, E: [email protected] In May of 2004, the Vancouver Island Therapeutic Cannabis Research Institute (VITCRI), a research and cultivation facility overseen by the Vancouver Island Compassion Society, was raided by the West Shore RCMP. Mat Beren and Michael Swallow were charged with multiple counts of cannabis production, and over 900 plants were seized and destroyed, temporarily leaving the critically and chronically ill members of the VICS without a safe source of medicine. The ensuing court case and Constitutional challenge - which is taking place from May 9th-18th in B.C. Supreme Court, 850 Burdett Avenue - will establish that the federal medical cannabis program is violating the constitutional rights of critically and chronically ill Canadians by a) unnecessarily restricting access to the program; b) supplying an inadequate source of cannabis; and c) instituting arbitrary limitations on production and distribution. "This ineffective, onerous and expensive program has long been an impediment to safe access" says Philippe Lucas, a medical cannabis user and founder of the VICS, "and clearly isn't protecting Canada's sickest citizens from arrest for their use of medical cannabis". The VICS legal team consists of Mr. John Conroy QC from Abbotsford, BC, and Mr. Kirk Tousaw. Witnesses for the defense include Senator Pierre-Claude Nolin (chair of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs), Dr. Robert Melamede (Biology professor at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs). "We look forward to challenging the constitutionality of these regulations and demonstrating to the court that Health Canada is not meeting its obligations to Canada's critically and chronically ill", says Mr. Tousaw. If successful, this challenge will make the legal medical use of cannabis more accessible, and potentially legalize the community-based distribution of cannabis. A similar challenge in Ontario from 2003 resulted with the courts striking down the prohibition on the recreational adult use of cannabis in Ontario, thereby legalizing the personal use of cannabis for over 18 months. This case may lead to a similar outcome in B.C.

Dear Friends: At the last two hearings, on April 13 and 20, Judge Breyer urged the prosecutor to drop Ed Rosenthal's case. The judge was trying to prevent the feds from marching straight ahead into a quagmire, just like in Iraq. Using the same wisdom they have shown on other issues, they decided to forge ahead.

ASA ACTION: Challenging Butte County Ban FEDERAL: Public Health Official Fighting Forfeiture AUSTRALIA: Lawmaker to Introduce Medical Measure RHODE ISLAND: Legislature to Vote Soon MAINE: State Law May be Expanded

[Courtesy of David Steele] Subject: To Bernie's friends and family -- an update on his situation To everyone -- Bernie has asked me to communicate with all of you since he cannot do so himself. Last Tuesday, Bernie met with the staff of the halfway house to request permission to attend the "Save Bernie's Farm" benefit, being held to raise money to offer the government a settlement to drop their effort to confiscate his farm. Instead of receiving permission to attend, Bernie has been detained at the halfway house ever since. He has not been allowed to work and it looks like he will not be allowed to return to work (costing him $1,000 in salary). He will also not be allowed to attend his weekly support group and his monthly pass to visit his farm has been denied. He has been put on double work details at the "house", and his only opportunity to leave the "house" will be to attend church services at St. Ann's Episcopal Church (419 Woodland Street; he attends the 10:30 am service).

In this update: 1. IDPI helps attain a sentencing reform victory in Maryland 2. IDPI mobilizes 50 clergy to support a medical marijuana bill in Illinois and generates substantial media coverage 3. Troy Dayton moves on, Tyler Smith is promoted to associate director

Take Action! - Help Repeal Higher Education Act Drug Provision Take Action! - Ask Congress to Allow Medical Marijuana Research Take Action! - Support Second Chance Act for Drug Offenders ACLU Forum: Wakarusa '07 - Privacy Rights in Public Places

ASA ACTION: Making the Case for Community Solutions RESEARCH: Medical Marijuana May Be Best Cancer Fighter FEDERAL: Rosenthal Medical Marijuana Re-Trial May 14 CALIFORNIA: Implementation in Orange County

[Courtesy of ASA] ASA Co-Sponsors Largest HIV/AIDS Lobby Day Support Hundreds of Advocates As They Tell Congress that Access Matters to People Living with HIV/AIDS! Dear ASA Supporter, This month, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) will co-sponsor the largest annual HIV/AIDS constituent-based federal advocacy and education event in the US – an event which marks a major expansion in the national health care coalition advocating for medical cannabis therapies and research. Hundreds of HIV/AIDS patients and their supporters will visit Congressional offices on Capitol Hill to talk with Representatives about increased federal support and appropriations for domestic and global HIV/AIDS prevention, research, housing, and – for the first time – medical cannabis!

FEDERAL: Medical Marijuana Advocate to Be Retried Despite Ruling MONTANA: Federal Agents Intercept Delivery to Qualified Patient ILLINOIS: Lawmakers Urged to Act on Medical Marijuana Bill MINNESOTA: Medical Marijuana Bill Passes Senate Committee