Mrs.Z
12-17-2007, 03:38 AM
Hi everyone,
Below you will find all the stories and link to stories I have discussed in “The Grow Report 59”. I have also posted additional links to additional stories that I didn’t include in the interest of time. There might have been 4-5 stories about the same topic; and I just read out 1. So, this gives you an opportunity to do some extra reading or more in depth reading. So enjoy:
1. a. Dozens of Patients and Activists Protest DEA in Support of Tainted, Inc.
b. DEA Asset Forfeiture Letters Reach Northern California; Activists Mobilize
c. Court Denies Appeal for Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative
d. DEA Seizes Taxes from CA Board of Equalization
a. Dozens of Patients and Activists Protest DEA in Support of Tainted, Inc.
Tainted, Inc. is the company that makes the edible products and the DEA come in and busted the whole company. As I told you last week; ASA decided to join their holiday party and a protest of these arrests. Friday December 14, 2007, dozens of Bay Area activists gathered at the Oakland Federal Building in protest of the recent raids on several Tainted, Inc. facilities and the arrests of four employees. The "Holiday Party Protest," commenced with Tainted operator and ASA activist, Michael Martin, dressed in a Santa Claus costume singing holiday carols. Martin then gave a compelling speech, presenting the DEA with a selection of scientific research which proves the efficacy of medical marijuana, and a Grinch plush doll. Referencing the tale of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Martin encouraged the DEA to have a change of heart, as the Dr. Seuss’ story says. The protest continued with patient activist, Jacqueline Patterson, speaking about the importance of medical marijuana for patients, and Dr. Frank Lucido, echoing her sentiments.
The Tainted, Inc. defendants' court hearing has been postponed to January 29th. Bay Area activists and ASA plan on attending for court support. We will keep you updated on the hearing's date and location in future alerts. Read ASA's press release about the DEA's raid on Tainted here. For more information on what you can do to support the defendants, visit www.FreeTainted.com.
b. DEA Asset Forfeiture Letters Reach Northern California; Activists Mobilize
This week, the DEA's newest tactic of shutting down access for patients reached Northern California. Several Northern California collectives' landlords received asset forfeiture letters from the DEA. In these letters, the DEA threatens to seize the property of the innocent third-party landlords for allowing medical cannabis collectives to operate in their properties. While this is a concerning development, ASA is working in coalition with Drug Policy Alliance, Marijuana Policy Project, California NORML, and other activists and leaders to ensure that landlords, patients, and providers are protected.
We will need the grassroots' support and actions in the upcoming weeks. Please stay alert, as the coalition will be calling on activists to take action to ensure safe access in California.
c. Court Denies Appeal for Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative
This week, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative's oral arguments, affirming the U.S. government's injunction. This decision does not change the current situation for medical cannabis dispensaries in California. Read more about the decision, reported by CBS 5: http://cbs5.com/local/medical.marijuana.oakland.2.610402.html
d. DEA Seizes Taxes from CA Board of Equalization
From Dale Gieringer, Executive Director, California NORML
DEA raids on California's medical marijuana dispensaries are costing the state's taxpayers millions of dollars in lost revenues, according to records collected by California NORML.
The DEA has not only closed facilities that were paying millions of dollars yearly in sales taxes, but also seized as much as $450,000 in sales tax payments that were in transit to the state Board of Equalization. Among them was a $350,000 electronic payment to the BOE from the Compassion Center of Alameda County, which the DEA seized from the bank on October 30th. Read the rest of the story>>
A Holiday Surprise & Victory for Medical Marijuana!
Thank Rep. Conyers for His Pledge to Hold DEA Accountable
Dear ASA Supporter,
Last week, House Judiciary Committee Chair, Rep. Conyers (D-MI) pledged to investigate the DEA’s recent and ongoing tactics threatening the safety and security of state-sanctioned patients, providers, and innocent third-party landlords. Chairman Conyers’ commitment to question DEA attacks on medical marijuana states has brought holiday cheer to medical marijuana patients and supporters. Please thank Chairman Conyers, and his staff, today!
Click here to thank Chairman Conyers right now! Chairman Conyers needs to know you support and appreciate his decision to hold oversight hearings. Be sure to thank him and tell him that as a patient and/or medical marijuana supporter, you look forward to working with him and his dedicated staff as they prepare for the oversight hearing.
Visit www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/ThankYouRepConyers to send a short message.
Since the DEA began raiding medical cannabis dispensing collectives in 2002, Congress has never held a hearing to investigate the goal of these raids, how much these raids are costing taxpayers in both dollars and precious resources, or what impact these raids are having on patients and the state and local governments attempting to regulate the distribution of medical marijuana in accordance with state law. A House oversight investigation is an important and significant opportunity for the medical marijuana community. Please thank Chairman Conyers today. Click here to send a message.
Thank you for your commitment to safe access.
Sincerely,
Sonnet Seeborg Gabbard
Field Coordinator
Americans for Safe Access
________________________________________
Americans for Safe Access is the nation's largest organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.
COLORADO: Marijuana Returned But Unusable
A Colorado court last week ordered property returned to a caregiver couple who lost 39 plants and other property to an illegal search and seizure. The cannabis was returned this week, but in an unusable condition. The couple wants compensation, as they would be entitled to in any other instance of wrongful seizure resulting in the destruction of property. Pursuing the matter on their behalf is Brian Vicente, director of the Colorado Campaign for Safe Access, a joint project of Sensible Colorado and Americans for Safe Access.
Court orders pot returned
Continue on next post...
Below you will find all the stories and link to stories I have discussed in “The Grow Report 59”. I have also posted additional links to additional stories that I didn’t include in the interest of time. There might have been 4-5 stories about the same topic; and I just read out 1. So, this gives you an opportunity to do some extra reading or more in depth reading. So enjoy:
1. a. Dozens of Patients and Activists Protest DEA in Support of Tainted, Inc.
b. DEA Asset Forfeiture Letters Reach Northern California; Activists Mobilize
c. Court Denies Appeal for Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative
d. DEA Seizes Taxes from CA Board of Equalization
a. Dozens of Patients and Activists Protest DEA in Support of Tainted, Inc.
Tainted, Inc. is the company that makes the edible products and the DEA come in and busted the whole company. As I told you last week; ASA decided to join their holiday party and a protest of these arrests. Friday December 14, 2007, dozens of Bay Area activists gathered at the Oakland Federal Building in protest of the recent raids on several Tainted, Inc. facilities and the arrests of four employees. The "Holiday Party Protest," commenced with Tainted operator and ASA activist, Michael Martin, dressed in a Santa Claus costume singing holiday carols. Martin then gave a compelling speech, presenting the DEA with a selection of scientific research which proves the efficacy of medical marijuana, and a Grinch plush doll. Referencing the tale of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Martin encouraged the DEA to have a change of heart, as the Dr. Seuss’ story says. The protest continued with patient activist, Jacqueline Patterson, speaking about the importance of medical marijuana for patients, and Dr. Frank Lucido, echoing her sentiments.
The Tainted, Inc. defendants' court hearing has been postponed to January 29th. Bay Area activists and ASA plan on attending for court support. We will keep you updated on the hearing's date and location in future alerts. Read ASA's press release about the DEA's raid on Tainted here. For more information on what you can do to support the defendants, visit www.FreeTainted.com.
b. DEA Asset Forfeiture Letters Reach Northern California; Activists Mobilize
This week, the DEA's newest tactic of shutting down access for patients reached Northern California. Several Northern California collectives' landlords received asset forfeiture letters from the DEA. In these letters, the DEA threatens to seize the property of the innocent third-party landlords for allowing medical cannabis collectives to operate in their properties. While this is a concerning development, ASA is working in coalition with Drug Policy Alliance, Marijuana Policy Project, California NORML, and other activists and leaders to ensure that landlords, patients, and providers are protected.
We will need the grassroots' support and actions in the upcoming weeks. Please stay alert, as the coalition will be calling on activists to take action to ensure safe access in California.
c. Court Denies Appeal for Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative
This week, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative's oral arguments, affirming the U.S. government's injunction. This decision does not change the current situation for medical cannabis dispensaries in California. Read more about the decision, reported by CBS 5: http://cbs5.com/local/medical.marijuana.oakland.2.610402.html
d. DEA Seizes Taxes from CA Board of Equalization
From Dale Gieringer, Executive Director, California NORML
DEA raids on California's medical marijuana dispensaries are costing the state's taxpayers millions of dollars in lost revenues, according to records collected by California NORML.
The DEA has not only closed facilities that were paying millions of dollars yearly in sales taxes, but also seized as much as $450,000 in sales tax payments that were in transit to the state Board of Equalization. Among them was a $350,000 electronic payment to the BOE from the Compassion Center of Alameda County, which the DEA seized from the bank on October 30th. Read the rest of the story>>
A Holiday Surprise & Victory for Medical Marijuana!
Thank Rep. Conyers for His Pledge to Hold DEA Accountable
Dear ASA Supporter,
Last week, House Judiciary Committee Chair, Rep. Conyers (D-MI) pledged to investigate the DEA’s recent and ongoing tactics threatening the safety and security of state-sanctioned patients, providers, and innocent third-party landlords. Chairman Conyers’ commitment to question DEA attacks on medical marijuana states has brought holiday cheer to medical marijuana patients and supporters. Please thank Chairman Conyers, and his staff, today!
Click here to thank Chairman Conyers right now! Chairman Conyers needs to know you support and appreciate his decision to hold oversight hearings. Be sure to thank him and tell him that as a patient and/or medical marijuana supporter, you look forward to working with him and his dedicated staff as they prepare for the oversight hearing.
Visit www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/ThankYouRepConyers to send a short message.
Since the DEA began raiding medical cannabis dispensing collectives in 2002, Congress has never held a hearing to investigate the goal of these raids, how much these raids are costing taxpayers in both dollars and precious resources, or what impact these raids are having on patients and the state and local governments attempting to regulate the distribution of medical marijuana in accordance with state law. A House oversight investigation is an important and significant opportunity for the medical marijuana community. Please thank Chairman Conyers today. Click here to send a message.
Thank you for your commitment to safe access.
Sincerely,
Sonnet Seeborg Gabbard
Field Coordinator
Americans for Safe Access
________________________________________
Americans for Safe Access is the nation's largest organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.
COLORADO: Marijuana Returned But Unusable
A Colorado court last week ordered property returned to a caregiver couple who lost 39 plants and other property to an illegal search and seizure. The cannabis was returned this week, but in an unusable condition. The couple wants compensation, as they would be entitled to in any other instance of wrongful seizure resulting in the destruction of property. Pursuing the matter on their behalf is Brian Vicente, director of the Colorado Campaign for Safe Access, a joint project of Sensible Colorado and Americans for Safe Access.
Court orders pot returned
Continue on next post...