Current Actions

Support Sensible Regulations in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles City Council will consider a motion on Wednesday, May 16, that asks the City Attorney to write a new ordinance to regulate medical cannabis patients’ cooperatives and collectives in the city. This motion will restart the regulatory process, which has been stalled for years in court. The motion by Council Members Paul Koretz and Herb Wesson represents a patient-friendly alternative to efforts by other City Council Members to ban patients associations outright. Fill in the form at the bottom of this page to send a fax supporting the motion to each member of the City Council.
Support AB 2312 to protect safe access statewide!
California Assemblymember Tom Ammiano’s (D-SF) AB 2312 will establish a regulatory body to develop and implement statewide standards for medical cannabis (marijuana) cultivation and provision, limit local taxation of medicine, and make banning legal patients’ associations harder. Many local governments are uncertain about the scope of state law and reluctant to move forward with sensible regulations. A statewide standard will help address this ambivalence.

When California voters approved Proposition 215 in 1996, they called on their elected officials “to implement a plan to provide for the safe and affordable distribution of marijuana to all patients.” AB 2312 is an important step towards fulfilling that goal. Help us get it adopted today by sending an email to your California Assemblymember.
Support SB 1182 to Protect Patients & Caregivers!
The California Senate will vote soon on SB 1182 (Leno), a bill that will add medical cannabis cooperatives, collectives, and other associations to the list of those exempt from penalties under the Medical Marijuana Program Act (SB 420). Americans for Safe Access (ASA) supports SB 1182 because this simple and straightforward change will clarify the scope and intent of the law. That means patients and primary caregivers will not be harassed, arrested, or prosecuted when they exercise their rights to cultivate and provide medical cannabis. Help ASA protect patients by sending a message in support of SB 1182 to your California Senator right now.
Respond to Your Representative's Vote to the Rohrabacher-Hinchey-Farr McClintock Amendment!
Earlier this week, the House of Representatives voted down the Rohrabacher-Hinchey-Farr-McClintock Amendment to the appropriations bill. This amendment, if passed, would have removed federal funding for medical cannabis enforcement. Take a minute to thank your Representative if they voted in favor of this crucial amendment, or send them a letter explaining why this issue is important using our action alert. This alert also asks Representatives to sign onto HR 1983: the State's Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act.
Urge Your Legislator to Vote Yes for Patient Protection from Arrest!
HB15 has been amended to provide another stop-gap measure for patients in need of safe access in Maryland. This amendment will not only protect patients from arrest when they are in possession of a valid tamper-proof doctor's certification, but it also add caregivers to the affirmative defense so they have protections in court.

Urge your legislator to support the amended version of HB 15 by emailing and calling them today! Call everyone on the Health and Government Operations Committee and the Judiciary Committee asking their support using the following script:

Delegate ____________________:

Medical marijuana patients and caregivers deserve protection under the law. Please support the amended version of HB15 so that patients are protected from arrest and prosecution, and caregivers have an affirmative defense in the event they are prosecuted.

Thank you.
Save Safe Access in San Francisco!
The US Federal Government continues to undermine state and local medical marijuana laws resulting in the closure of a few of San Francisco's oldest and best-regulated dispensing collectives and warning that "nobody is immune from action by the federal government."

Petition San Francisco's Mayor and the County Board of Supervisors to pass ordinances that direct the City Attorney to stand up for safe access.
Bring Safe Access to Maryland: Support HB 15
While patients across the country commend the Maryland Medical Marijuana Work Group's effort to create medical cannabis laws workable for Maryland; we respectfully oppose both of the proposed models: HB 1158 and HB 1024. Both bills are heavily restrictive and, if passed, will create unimplementable programs much like the medical marijuana laws in New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and Delaware, where patients are still left without safe access and are still subject to arrest, prosecution, and jail time. Patients deserve a right to medical cannabis, and HB 1024 and HB 1158 will fail. Ask your legislators to support and pass Delegate Glenn's House Bill 15, which takes a reasonable approach to legislating medical cannabis and is based on best practices of medical cannabis states from across the country. In put your address below to generate your legislator's contact information. (NOTE: Your Delegate's phone number will be generated after you input your address). Make sure to do two things: 1. Call your delegate using the phone numbers and script provided below 2. After you call, enter your information and click "Send Your Message" to send your legislators an email.

Dear Delegate ______________________

While the medical cannabis community of Maryland commends the legislature and medical marijuana study group’s effort to create a medical cannabis law workable for Maryland, we respectfully oppose both of the proposed models: HB1024 and HB 1158. Both bills are heavily restrictive and, if passed, will create unimplementable programs much like the medical marijuana laws in New Jersey, Delaware, and Washington, DC, leaving patients with out access and still subject to arrest and prosecution. Patients deserve a right to medical cannabis, and HB1024 and HB1158 will fail. If you believe Marylanders have a right to medical cannabis, please support Delegate Glenn’s HB15 which takes a reasonable approach to legislating medical cannabis, and is based on the best practices of medical cannabis states across the country. Don't try to reinvent the wheel, pass a bill we know will work: Vote for HB15!

Thank you.
Urge Your Governor to Sign onto the DEA Rescheduling Petition!

Something happened last month that changed the political landscape on medical cannabis. The governors of Washington and Rhode Island filed a petition to reclassify cannabis for medical use. This is a huge opportunity for patients and the medical cannabis movement!

Governors Christine Gregoire (D-WA) and Lincoln Chafee (I-RI) have shown tremendous leadership in trying to change federal medical cannabis policy and other governors must be called on to do the same. The heavy arm of the federal government has affected the rights of patients in many medical marijuana states, not just Washington and Rhode Island. Help end the conflict between federal and state law by urging your governor TODAY to join the petition to reschedule cannabis!
Don't Ban Medical Cannabis in Sacramento County!
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors will consider a motion to ban medical cannabis patients’ cooperatives and collectives in the unincorporated areas of the county on Tuesday, December 6.

Take a minute right now to call each member of the Board of Supervisors at the telephone numbers below (ignore the label “fax”). Tell them to vote no on item 56 on Tuesday’s agenda – a ban on medical cannabis patients’ coops and collectives. Then send the email below (or write your own) by filling in the form and clicking “Send You Message” at the bottom. All five Supervisors will receive a copy.

Make plans to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, December 6. You can speak to the Supervisors about agenda item 56, which will be heard around 2:15 PM. The meeting is at 700 H. Street, Suite 1450, Sacramento, CA 95814. Thanks for helping protect safe and legal access to medical cannabis in Sacramento County!
Don't Ban Medical Cannabis in Los Angeles
Some City Councilmembers in Los Angeles want to ban medical cannabis (marijuana) patients' cooperatives and collectives outright. Patients and other community members have been working with the City Council to promote, develop, and implement sensible regulations for the city since 2005. Banning patients' associations now means the City Council is turning its back on the large majority of local patients who rely on cooperatives and collectives for safe access to medicine. Tell the Los Angeles City Council to live up to the promises they made to legal patients and the community over the years. Fill in the form below and click "send your message" today. You can customize the letter if you wish.
Don't Ban Medical Cannabis in Our City!
The California Appellate Court recently ruled that cities and counties are limited in their ability to regulate medical cannabis patients’ cooperatives and collectives. The state Supreme Court has not yet decided whether or not to hear an appeal of Pack v. City of Long Beach, but some cities are citing the Pack decision as a reason for banning patients’ associations or abandoning their regulatory process. Tell South Lake Tahoe City Council Members not to ban medical cannabis patients' cooperatives and collectives, and to work with stakeholders to find a better solution.
Don't Ban Medical Cannabis in Our City!
The California Appellate Court recently ruled that cities and counties are limited in their ability to regulate medical cannabis patients’ cooperatives and collectives. The state Supreme Court has not yet decided whether or not to hear an appeal of Pack v. City of Long Beach, but some cities are citing the Pack decision as a reason for banning patients’ associations or abandoning their regulatory process. Tell the Richmond City Council Members not to ban medical cannabis patients' cooperatives and collectives, and to work with stakeholders to find a better solution.
Don't Ban Medical Cannabis in Our County!
The California Appellate Court recently ruled that cities and counties are limited in their ability to regulate medical cannabis patients’ cooperatives and collectives. The state Supreme Court has not yet decided whether or not to hear an appeal of Pack v. City of Long Beach, but some counties are citing the Pack decision as a reason for banning patients’ associations or abandoning their regulatory process. Tell the Board of Supervisors not to ban safe access, but to work with stakeholders to find a better solution.
Don't Ban Medical Cannabis in Our City!
The California Appellate Court recently ruled that cities and counties are limited in their ability to regulate medical cannabis patients’ cooperatives and collectives. The state Supreme Court has not yet decided whether or not to hear an appeal of Pack v. City of Long Beach, but some cities are citing the Pack decision as a reason for banning patients’ associations or abandoning their regulatory process. Tell your City Council Members not to ban medical cannabis patients' cooperatives and collectives, and to work with stakeholders to find a better solution.
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Tell the City Council Not to Ban Safe Access in Long Beach
The Long Beach City Council will soon reconsider a motion to ban medical cannabis patients’ cooperatives and collectives in the city. Use this form to email City Council Members today and ask them to reject this option. Instead, the City Council should work with patients and other stakeholders to rewrite the city’s existing regulations. Send the message below, modify it, or write one of your own today!
California: Urge Congress to Show their Support for Patients
During the first week of October, California’s four U.S. Attorneys sent letters to at least sixteen landlords and property owners who rent buildings or land where dispensaries provide safe access to medical cannabis, notifying them that they are violating federal drug laws. These letters warn that the dispensaries must shut down within forty five days, or the landlords and property owners will face criminal charges and confiscation of their property – both real and personal – even if they are operating legally under the state’s medical cannabis law!

Representatives Sam Farr (D-CA) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) have written a letter to President Obama requesting that his administration reschedule cannabis as a Schedule II or Schedule III drug as a legitimate controlled substance for medicinal purposes or, alternatively, support legislation that would make this change. California Legislators have the opportunity to sign on to this letter, so call and email your Congressional Representative before this Friday, October 28, and urge him or her to sign on and show his or her support for patients!
Urge your Representative to Co-Sponsor HR1983!
Help stop attacks on medical cannabis! Recently we have seen an increase in DEA raids and other tactics used by the federal government to interfere with medical cannabis in California, Arizona, and Michigan. Our allies in Congress have introduced critical bipartisan legislation to protect medical cannabis patients and providers. But they need your help to get it passed. Take a minute to urge your Representative in the House to cosponsor the HR1983, the States' Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act today!

If passed, HR 1983 will essentially end federal interference in state sanctioned programs, provide patients and providers with a defense in federal court, and, most importantly, reclassify cannabis to Schedule III under the Controlled Substance Act. This reclassification will recognize the medicinal value of cannabis, open doors to critical medical research, and create access for people in need across the country!

Call your representative today, ask him or her to cosponsor HR1983, the States' Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, today!
The Federal Attack on Safe Access is an Attack on Patients!
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a major attack on medical cannabis patients’ access to medicine last week. The DOJ says medical cannabis patients’ cooperatives and collectives in California are illegal, and ordered them to close within forty five days. The DOJ also dusted off and old Bush-era tactic, sending letters threatening property owners who rent to medical cannabis tenants with prosecution and asset forfeiture. Most of California’s legal medical cannabis patients rely on cooperatives and collectives for safe access to the medicine they need to treat the symptoms of cancer, HIV/AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, chronic pain, and other serious conditions. Join tens of thousands of medical cannabis supporters nationwide in telling President Obama to stop the federal attack on safe access and to support a change in federal law!
Look Up Your Federal and State Legislators Here!
Urge Your Federal Representative to Support New Legislation to Protect Medical Cannabis Patients and Providers

You can help change federal law! Our allies in Congress have introduced critical bipartisan legislation to protect medical cannabis patients and providers. But they need your help to get it passed. Take a minute to urge your Representative in the House to cosponsor these important bills today!

The three bipartisan federal bills are HR1983, the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act; HR1984, the Small Business Banking Improvement Act of 2011; and HR1985, the Small Business Tax Equity Act of 2011. HR 1983 would give patients and caregivers a defense in federal court and reclassify cannabis as a drug with medical use. HR 1984 would stop banks and other financial institutions from closing the accounts or refusing to do business with medical cannabis patients, providers, or businesses. HR 1985 would allow dispensing centers and other state-authorized medical cannabis business to deduct their operating expenses on their federal tax returns.

The cosponsors of the three bipartisan bills are Representatives Barney Frank (D- MA 4), Jared Polis (D-CO 2), Pete Stark(D- CA 13), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA 46), and Ron Paul (R- TX 14). Tell your representative to join them in cosponsoring these bills today!
Urge Your Governor to Take a Stand for Patient Rights!
In the past few months, United States Attorneys in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Rhode Island, and Vermont have issued letters threatening local and state officials to dissuade them from participating in state sanctioned medical cannabis programs. While these threats have been used before by other administrations, it is disappointing to see President Obama sanction this behavior. Now is the time to urge Governors in medical cannabis states, whether they have gotten a threat letter or not, to take a stand for patient rights.
Urge President Obama to Grant Clemency to Medical Cannabis Prisoners of War!
On Monday, May 2, 2011 our community will lose two more members to the failed war on drugs. Dale Schafer and Dr. Mollie Fry, both patients, must remand themselves into federal custody for participating in bringing medical cannabis to themselves, and to other sick and debilitated community members. How many more will become prisoners of war in the name of medical cannabis? We must urge the federal government to end the raids on our community, but in the meantime we must ask for clemency to be granted to those most affected.
Obama: We are Sick and Tired, but Doing Our Part!

This community has done its part to educate legislatures and voters across the country about the therapeutic and palliative benefits cannabis provides. As a result, seventeen states and the District of Columbia have shown compassion by recognizing the legitimate need for cannabis as medicine in their respective communities. Despite our efforts to come out of the darkness, the Obama Administration released the Cole Memo, a document expressing the federal government's inention continue interfering with state medical cannabis laws! Sign the petition asking for President Obama to leave medical cannabis to the states!
Tell President Obama to Stop Medical Marijuana Raids!
The DEA raided 28 medical cannabis facilities in Montana and California on March 14-15. This is harmful to patients and a waste of federal resources! Send an email to President Obama asking him to stop the federal raids and create a policy to protect MEDICAL CANNABIS patients and providers nationwide.