Fresno County, city on cannabis collision course By Michael S. Green

SAC NORML Neighbors

Fresno County, city on cannabis collision course

By Michael S. Green

Fresno Cannabis Association

As medical cannabis patients and social users turn their attention toward adult-use legalization in 2016, Fresno County continues to preach the gospel of pot prohibition.

The county's total ban on medical cannabis cultivation, both indoors and outdoors, took effect in February 2014. The City of Fresno passed its own growing ban a month later, apparently at the urging of county supervisors. Both ordinances feature feature on-the-spot plant rips by police officers or sheriff's deputies (aka "summary abatement") and excessive fines of $1,000 per plant.

Caught in the cross-fire are patients who grow and use medical cannabis in compliance with Proposition 215 and Senate Bill 420, only to find out that Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims, Fresno police Chief Jerry Dyer, and their respective officers don't enforce those state laws. Instead, both the City and County of Fresno are in a perpetual (and unlawful) state of cannabis emergency, so plants typically get ripped without advance notice or property inspection warrants. In two marathon meetings last fall, supervisors imposed fines ranging from $1 to $316,000, even though the plants were pulled at the same time the fine citations were issued. Several of those fines are now on appeal in Fresno County Superior Court, which prompted supervisors to amend the enforcement procedures of the growing ban this January.

It's not all bad news for Prop. 215 patients. Two lawsuits challenging the county ban on pre-emption grounds are pending in the Fifth District Court of Appeal, including one filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. A pair of lawsuits were filed last year against the City and County of Fresno on grounds they violated state planning and environmental laws when they passed their respective growing bans, and court rulings are expected in both of those cases within 60 days.

In March, the Fresno City Council considered an ordinance that would have allowed four plants, indoors only, but that also would have required growers to obtain a city permit and allow police inspections of those same four plants. Fresno Cannabis Association members praised the proposal as a good starting point for discussions, but objected to the proposed permits and the $1,000/plant fines. Fresno County supervisors apparently lobbied against the proposal behind the scenes, and after the four-plant plan failed on a split vote the council president decided to table the issue. Since then, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors also adopted a zero-tolerance growing ban (minus the excessive fines), and it's expected that more cities and counties will follow suit.

Fast-forward to 2016: Cannabis legalization will fix all this, right? As the Fresno ordinances show, that's hardly a given. Several ballot measures are competing for attention and campaign funds, and personal cultivation remains a hot-button issue. Another wild card is the Legislature, which has stalled cannabis regulations for years. The looming specter of adult-use legalization could finally spur action on medical cannabis regs, but cities and counties will fight like hell to make sure local governments can opt out.

Because medical cannabis dispensaries are already banned throughout Fresno County and most of the Central Valley, it's unlikely that retail sales of adult-use cannabis will take place in California's heartland unless local bans are pre-empted by the specific terms of the winning ballot initiative.

Learn more:

Fresno City Council balks at cannabis ordinance

http://fresnocannabis.org/fresno-city-council-balks-at-cannabis-ordinance/

Fresno County cannabis fine appeals

http://fresnocannabis.org/fresno-county/cannabis-fine-appeals/

Fresno County cannabis ban faces CEQA challenge

http://fresnocannabis.org/fresno-county-cannabis-ban-faces-ceqa-challenge/

Court records filed in challenge to Fresno growing ban

http://fresnocannabis.org/court-records-filed-in-challenge-to-fresno-growing-ban/

Health: The Scent of Healing Kim Cargile

Health

The Scent of Healing

 By: Kim Cargile

Terpenes-  The Common Connection Between Cannabis, Grapes, Black Pepper and Perfume

Do you find the smell of lavender relaxing or pine invigorating?  Well, many people do.  This is because the molecules that you are smelling in lavender and pine actually produce pharmacological effects on your body.  These molecules are terpenes.  According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, terpenes are “any of various isomeric hydrocarbons C₁₀H₁₆ found present in essential oils (as from conifers) and used especially as solvents and in organic synthesis; broadly :any of numerous hydrocarbons (C₅H₈)_n found especially in essential oils, resins, and balsams.”  That is for the science buffs out there. For everyone else, terpenes are the scent molecules naturally occurring in essential oils of citrus, herbs, pine, black pepper, hops, grapes, and yes cannabis.  Each terpene has a distinct smell and causes different effects on the body’s chemistry.

A 1997 study by the Swiss Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture entitled “Essential oil of Cannabis sativa L. strains” distinguished 16 terpenoid compounds in the essential oil of different cannabis strains. The most common of these terpenes are: pinene, myrcene, limonene, beta-caryophyllene and linalool.  These same molecules are found in a variety of other plants, flowers, fruits and herbs.  They are widely used as additives in perfumes, cosmetics and foods.  They provide scent, flavor and color as well as medicinal effects.

Pinene has a pine smell as its name implies.  It is found in conifers, rosemary, basil, parsley and dill.  It provides an invigorating effect on the body producing a feeling of alertness.  Michael Backes the genius author of Cannabis Pharmacy, The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana writes about its effects on enzyme inhibition in the brain which helps counteract short term memory loss, a negative side effect of THC. Pinene also provides relief of asthma by way of bronchial dilation and is used as an antiseptic.

Myrcene is the most common terpene in cannabis.  It emits a musky, earthy and herbal smell with notes of tropical fruit. It is present in found in mangos, lemongrass, thyme and hops.   Myrcene is found in vary high levels in cannabis indica and produces sedating effects. It helps patients relax and is good relief for muscle tension. The Complete Guide to Natural Healing website providing expert advice on alternative medicine, health, fitness and beauty provides evidence that myrcene is the most important terpene for treating insomnia.

 

Limonene has a citrus aroma. It naturally occurs in fruit rinds, rosemary, juniper, peppermint, a variety of  flowers and of course cannabis.  Its effects provide mood elevation and stress relief.  It has been found to have antifungal, anti-bacterial and anti-carcinogenic properties.  Steephill Laboratory’s website states, “Limonenes have antidepressant, anxiety-relief, immuno-stimulant (similar to garlic), anti-tumor, and anti-fungal/bacterial properties, and also aid in treating gastric reflux including treatment of esophageal ulcers.”

Beta-Caryophyllene has a pungent pepper and clove smell. It originates in black pepper, cloves and cotton and again cannabis.  It is spicy and woody. It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects and is helpful in treating arthritis and gastrointestinal complications.  It is also a Federal Drug Administration approved food additive. This and more information on this terpene’s medicinal effects can be found at www.medicaljane.com.

Linalool is floral and sweet with hints of citrus.  It is found in lavender and cannabis. It provides the same effects of relaxation and anxiety relief in each of these herbs.  Linalool is one of the most widely researched terpenes because of its use in aromatherapy.  You can find a large wealth of information about linalool online including it’s role in cannabis at www.alchimiaweb.com.

Each strain of cannabis has its own unique terpene profile, providing for the variety of unique smells that cannabis emits.  Terpenes work in conjunction with the cannabinoids, the main active molecules in cannabis, to provide relief from a wide variety of symptoms.  A study published in August of 2011 in the British Journal of Pharmacology titled, “Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects” explores the idea that the terpenes and cannabinoids work together to produce the large variety of symptom relieving effects associated with the use of cannabis as a medicine. With the most recent advances in cannabis laboratory testing your local dispensary can now find out the percentages of each terpene within each strain of cannabis tested.  Because the different terpenes cause different pharmacological effects on the patient, this testing helps dispensary staff to tailor a cannabis medication for a patient.  Whether you love the smell of cannabis or hate it, now you know why it smells.

Ask Grandaddy-Cannabidiol

Cannabidiol

Why are high CBD infused medicinal products so much more expensive, relatively speaking,  than most cannabis infused products?

Answer: 

The simple answer is what you would expect.  It all comes down to supply and demand.  Currently, with  the upswing in both anecdotal and scientific evidence of the true medicinal value of CBD, the demand is increasing more rapidly than the increase in supply.

Searching for an explanation of the factors contributing to this condition, I contacted my friend, Martin Lee, author of Smoke Screen, and Director of Project CBD.  I also discussed this issue with a good friend specializing in developing high CBD plants and consistently producing pharmaceutical grade concentrates from them.

We agreed on the following factors which all raise the price of CBD-rich products

1.     Most CBD-rich plants are relatively low yielding.  When compared to THC-dominant plants, fewer pounds per square foot are produced growing CBD-rich plants.

2.    Very few consumers of CBD-rich products are using cured flowers, a vast majority choose products infused with concentrated oils or waxes. 

3.    Concentrating CBD-rich material is low yielding relative to THC-dominant concentrating.

4.    Most THC-dominant concentrates are made from lower cost (trim) ingredients, while most serious high CBD concentrators are using bud as their starting ingredients.

5.    CBD-rich plants are not as ubiquitous as THC-dominant plants.

6.    The demand for CBD-rich products of all kinds is increasing faster than the demand for THC-dominant plants and concentrates.

As people come to understand all the Cannabidiol does we will see an increase in supply and competition which would hopefully lower the inflation

One Resource is project CBD foun at http://www.projectcbd.org/

From their site:

Project CBD provides educational resources for physicians, patients, and the general public. We respond to inquiries from all over the world. Almost everyone wants to know where to get CBD and how to use it for maximum benefit. After decades in which only high-THC cannabis was available in North America and beyond, CBD-rich strains and products are now accessible to medical users.

Written By: Granddaddy Mike Grafton

Cultivstion Corner Clones V Seeds- Anthony Savala

   Cultivation Corner  

Clones V Seeds

This month in Cultivation Corner we are going to talk about some of the differences between growing from seed or “magic beans” as many are starting to call them and clone. Some growers have preferences on whether to start from seed or to just go with a clone to start their grow, this month we will just explain a few  of the differences between the two.

When you start from a seed first and foremost you should start with quality genetics.

These can be found in your local compassion club or seed bank,sometimes even in your meds, which is sometimes known as bag seed. Most of these seeds (genetics) come from long time cannabis breeders that have spent extensive time and work on picking and breeding the specific characteristics into the certain cannabis genetics that many of you know and love such as Blue Dream, Purple Kush, and Cookies just to name a few. These type of breeders have bred and targeted the genetics down to just a couple of pheno types so you pretty much know what to expect and what your getting when using these. Then there are newer breeders which have yet to stabilize their genetics and can have a variety of phenotypes, some desireable others not, unstabilized.

After you choose your seeds (genetics), It’s time to sprout your plant there are many ways to sprout your plant. Some soak the seed for 24 hours then put in a paper towel until they see a root and then plant some just sprout in a paper towel without soaking and others just plant directly into the medium they intend to use. After a few days the plant will sprout and a new cannabis plant has started to grow and reach for the sunshine. In just a few short weeks you will be able to determine the sex of your plant. It is at this time that you can get rid of the males, if you do not intend to breed your plants and  have seeds.

.This is a picture of a male plants internodal flower sacs before they open and spread pollen to pollinate the female and create seeded flowers. This is a pic of a male top . When you remove all the males you leave only females in your garden to grow the sensimillia or seedless flower, which when cultivated and cured becomes the bud or medicine that medicinal cannabis and recreational users use.

Here is a pic of a female plants internodal flower this is what you look for to determine if your plant will mature into a big beautiful female. Also included is a pic of a female top starting to flower.

Plants that have been started by seed are very vigorous and are often used as mother plants for indoor as well as outdoor beautys  as they grow fast and healthy.One of the down sides for most gardeners is the wait to sex the plant,which for some is a wait they just do not have time for  in their garden as they rather have that time dedicated to female plants filling out their space.

Now we will talk a bit about starting with clones. Just as with seeds you really should start with quality genetics. These genetics can be found at your local compassion club ,a specialized nursery or even a cut from a trusted friend. Clones tend to start off a bit slower than plants started from seed, but with enough time and patience they can be just as big and vigorous as a plant started from seed. Some growers as stated before do not have this time in their garden, so they have to plant more plants to make up for this lack of time to let the plant get full and fill up the grow space which takes time for the clone to establish the root system needed to support such a plant.

After you have your clone or clones picked out and you decide what medium you're going to use soil or soilless and if you're going to be growing inside or outside, all you have to do is make sure to take very good care of your plant. Because clones are mostly females taken from mother plants of high quality genetics and will mature into a big beautiful budded plant. The reason it is important to take good care of your plant is some plants if stressed too much or if the clones were taken from a stressed plant  will produce hermaphrodite plants, which contain both female and male sexual reproductive organs this in turn will result in a seeded garden. Some specialized nurseries have clones of male plants as well as female plants for breeding purposes,If you happen to go to one of these to get your clones make sure to tell them what sex you prefer.

So there are a few of the differences between growing from seeds or from clones.

With clones you are guaranteed a female plant, unless stressed too much, it is a bit slower to start but can be overcome with time or more plants to fill the grow space.

When you start from seed you get a more vigorous plant to start. You have to wait to sex the plant . Can grow big beautiful mother plants in a shorter amount of time. In the end it all comes down to the growers own personal preferences and needs.one thing for sure is you  Always start with Great and Trusted genetics in your grow and if you put a lot of love into your grow, your grow will give you a lot of love right back..

            til next time   Peace,Love and Overgrow Always!  

  Written by Anthony Savala    photos by Anthony Savala aka Compassionate Caregiver

(Almost) Secret Commission May Decide How We Legalize

(Almost) Secret Commission May Decide How We Legalize

Editorial by David Fiedler SacNORML member

Cannabis activists in California have been trying to get marijuana legalized for decades. Apart from the success of Proposition 215 for medical marijuana, the "big year" was supposed to be 2010, when Prop. 19 was on the ballot. Prop. 19 failed for a number of reasons, and there’s still controversy around whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. A number of efforts were launched in 2012, but none of them even made the ballot.

But the “perfect storm” is likely to hit next year. 2016 is a presidential election year, so we can expect a high voter turnout. In addition, four states have already legalized adult recreational use of cannabis, and the first two (Colorado and Washington) are already seeing enough financial and other success that a surprising number of other states are looking at it too. The last factor is that, for the first time, a majority of Americans polled finally are ready to see marijuana legalized for adults over 21.

Gavin Newsom, who was previously mayor of San Francisco and now is the Lieutenant Governor, reputedly wants to ride this legalization tidal wave all the way to the Governor’s Mansion in 2018. To do that, he’ll have to be seen to spearhead a method of legalizing that makes the soccer mom voting contingent happy, at least if you believe conventional political wisdom. That may be why he made it a priority to set up the so-called Blue Ribbon Commission On Marijuana Policy. This commission just issued its first progress report last month, although it’s almost impossible to find on their website.

The commission members come from a wide range of backgrounds, including addiction medicine specialists and others who have a vested interest in keeping cannabis taboo, but there are also some people who are likely to have positive input as well. Here’s what I sent to the commission through their comment form, and it sums up the basic problem I found with the commission itself:

I'm wondering why, if this is a "commission comprised of leading policymakers, public health experts and academics from across the state and the nation that have done significant work and research related to marijuana", that it has not a single representative from the community of growers, patients, or medical marijuana dispensaries that actually work with marijuana on a daily basis in the real world of California politics?

And the progress report isn’t much better. Much of the discussion regarding medical marijuana is a similar type to what just destroyed Washington state’s MMJ program: implying that the state wants all the taxes it can get, and it’s likely willing to throw those inconvenient patients under the bus to get them.

Here’s the real secret that I discovered about public input to the commission. There isn’t any. At press time, only about two dozen people have even registered on their public forum discussion site. This is not totally surprising, because it’s hosted on a completely different website, and the link to access it only appears in a limited number of places on the commission’s main site.

As a cannabis activist, if you register on the discussion site, you will be one of a handful of people who have the ability to vote on and discuss important policy topics -- ranging from DUIs to environmental concerns -- to be seen by the eyes of the commission itself. The more of us that express our opinions (in a well-written, respectful way, of course), the more likely we’ll be to get what we want. So go there now, register on the site, and vote and write wisely!


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LIVERMORE RAID!

First Hand account of Tree of Life Raid

The Tree of Life, SacNORML’s February Club of the Month was the only store front walk-in medical cannabis collective in the Tri-City Livermore area. They’re business located at 33 East Airway Blvd, in Livermore, California was raided by local law enforcement in the form of a search warrant on March 12^th 2015. The owner Ramin “Ray” Ahmed had been detained prior from a traffic stop. Officers seized cash and filed for a search warrant for money laundering. SacNORML Communications Director and Human Solutions Rep. Jackie McGowan went to witness the raid and this is her first hand experience.

“When I received that dreaded phone call that the raid was in progress in Livermore, I was also informed that Ray had been pulled over by five Livermore squad cars two days prior after leaving his place of business for the evening.  He was served a warrant for money laundering and had $28,000 in cash on him at the time.  He was taken to jail and it took the police another two days to convince a judge to sign a warrant to search his collective.  I tend to think if there was enough evidence of money laundering that warrants would have been issued for him, his business, and his home simultaneously, but what do I know?  Given the fact that Cannabusinesses can't get bank accounts, it is easy to see how having cash on hand can look like a money laundering case.  Since I live a half mile away from this business and had been working closely with the Director Ramin Ahmed on speaking at several City Council meetings and had started a Human Solution Chapter there, I hustled over to record what I could.  

Upon arrival I saw several Livermore Police squad cars, the Fire Department, as well as 15-20 officers, most in unmarked plain clothes.  I attempted to get them to identify themselves and I said over and over again "You realize you are taking medicine away from sick people right?"  

The answer I received was "We are not here for the medicine."  

Shortly after receiving that answer my cell phone was snatched out of my hand by one of the plain-clothes detectives.  I quickly snatched it back.  I was then shoved out of the collective and, when I attempted to reenter, I was arrested.  The entire encounter lasted approximately two minutes.  Two very long and intense minutes and now I was in handcuffs.  While detained I had an interesting conversation with who I now believe was Sergeant Keith Graves.  Mr. Graves was very convincing in telling me how much he hated his job and was tired of being the bad guy.  I finally saw a new perspective.  This failed War on Drugs had pitted "Us vs. Them" in a very ugly way, and I could finally see that both sides were suffering.  While on route to the County Jail, the Sheriff that was booking me began to engage me in lengthy debates about our movement.  We laughed, I cried, we agreed on some things, we disagreed on others, but we talked.  We talked and talked and talked some more.  We talked so much that he actually asked me if he could stop by my house in the future to chat some more.  I know we both learned a lot from each other that day and for that reason, I do not regret my involvement or my consequences of that encounter. 

While being booked, I saw the Collective's Manager and a bud tender in a holding cell.  It was then that I overheard a call come in from the Livermore Chief of Police.  It was made clear by the officer that received that call that the two men I knew "were not to be let out on bail no matter what."  That phrase was used several times.  "We are not to let them post bail no matter what because we don't know where that money will be coming from."  That money laundering thing.  They used that to set Ray's bail at $750,000, a kind gesture considering they began the negotiation at $1,000,000.  My bail on the other hand was only set at $5,000 for "Resisting Arrest."  I was released 10 hours later at 4:30am.  Since the police would not let me get my purse out of my car and had confiscated my cell phone, telling me I would never see it again, I had no choice but to walk the cold, dark streets until I came across a coffee shop just opening up.  The manager called me a cab and gave me a free cup of coffee to keep warm with while I waited.  Angels are everywhere.  

I got home at 6am and, after getting a few hours of sleep, I then began a rigorous fundraising effort to try and help Ray get out of jail.  We ran from fundraiser to fundraiser that weekend and by March 15th had raised $21,233.77.  On Monday I testified in court on behalf of The Human Solution International and was grilled by a very determined District Attorney to discredit me and this wonderful organization.  After a grueling two days on the stand, the judge denied our portion of the bail stating that we had failed to prove that this money was not feloniously attained.  We have since used that money to set up a legal fund instead for Ray's future legal fees.  Not only did Ray's family step up to cover that difference of his bail, but his own attorney John McCradle signed over the deed to his home to ensure Ray's freedom.  Ray was released eight days after his arrest.  

It took me days to piece the entire thing together but this is the conclusion that I arrived at.  Ray opened his doors in Livermore in spite of a toothless ban on dispensaries - a term the AG guidelines does not recognize.  The City Attorney calls this semantics.  Ray's first raid was a little over a year ago and he had been winning that case in court.  In November of last year the City Attorney attempted to attain a restraining order to shut down the Tree of Life.  That restraining order was denied.  It is my belief that the city attempted a money laundering approach in order to run him out of town once and for all.  However I visited the collective days later only to find several boxes of receipts not collected into evidence.  If this were a true money laundering case, wouldn't the police take every shred of financial evidence into account?   But again, what do I know?  

What I do know is this.  Ramin Ahmed is a good man with a heart of gold.  Not only did he donate medicine to very needy patients in need of compassion, he was working on starting a Veteran's program, a CBD Support Group, and a Senior Citizen's program.  I will continue to stand next to him and continue to offer any support I can because we are all in this together.  Ray has been offered a deal in his first case.  The DA proposed to give back a portion of the money taken from that first raid, as well as to drop all the charges in that case, if Ray closed shop and went away.  That alone is enough to convince me that this money laundering ploy is just exactly that.  An attempt to run him and his business out of town.  The failed “War on Drugs” is coming to an end, but as it does, we have to unite to ensure "Nobody goes to jail for a plant!"  

Jacqueline McGowan is a Canabis Activist 

on the SacNORML Board, and a representative 

for the Local Human Solutions

#UNITY IN #HARVEST

UNITY IN HARVEST-

By: Ron Mullins Sacramento NORML Gen. Mngr. 

 

Harvest season has crept upon us. With Croptober comes the outdoor cannabis harvest in California which happens but once a year!  Magically, thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of so-called “Stoners” show what they can really do!

In spite of Federal attacks, local bans, frightened landlords, sheriff's, code enforcement, Child Protective Services, rippers, thieves, Mother Nature, and the like, the people in the cannabis community continue to plant, nurture, protect, hide, harvest, manicure, ship, and market millions of pounds of cannabis every year in this state!  This is the miracle of this community, the Cannabis Community.

Think about this.  People written off as low-functioning, unintelligent losers do what many corporations cannot accomplish - without the benefits of cheats like chemicals, preservatives, harmful pesticides, or an industrial complex they meet a huge demand and deliver a quality product statewide year after year.  I don’t know a conglomerate who could crank out a 22.5% THC perfectly manicured flower bud that tastes like a blueberry muffin - do you?!  They can't do it, even if it were legal.  As someone who is a trimmer (one of the people who delicately manicures the final product), I proudly can say that WE, the cannabis community, have done it annually for quite some time.  I personally have never grown marijuana - I can’t even grow a houseplant for some reason.  I have, however, seen my share of farms; and I do end up trimming a few dozen pounds a year since I became part of the community.

I have found the cannabis community to be a productive, vibrant, compassionate community! So maybe we haven't got the politicking down to a science just yet, and like any community we struggle between our grass roots identity and becoming part of the capitalist world by becoming legitimate (and ultimately selling out our souls for profit).

I think we will figure it out.  We, the cannabis community, are struggling with our identity!  Is everyone who tokes part of us?  Even the profiteers and scammers?  I think not.  Every community has a dark element trying to exploit it - pretending to be part of it.  I believe we will someday rise above that too. I’ve been called a “Pollyanna”, and that’s fine.  I will still continue to marvel at this amazing plant.  Whenever I look at a big sugary bud, I will think of the hard- working farmers, trimmers, dispensaries, doctors, lawyers, and prisoners of the “War on Drugs” who have worked - and continue to work - in secret - making this plant a reality, harvest after harvest!

So the next time somebody tries to tear down the cannabis community or scoff at the mere speculation that, somehow, we are organized and will someday accomplish our equality under the law, remember this:  As long as there is bud out there, the real community exists, creating the magic of this powerful medicine and sacrificing its lives and livelihood to bring it to you!

Let’s face it.  If you're part of the cannabis community, you are likely smoking a bowl and reading this in the privacy of your home. You are at minimal risk, even less if you're a medically certified patient.  This doesn’t mean we have won.  We owe it to the community who brings us this miracle medicine to create laws that legalize cannabis.  We need to take away any legal standing of the governments and police forces that are still attacking people who grow and provide safe access to marijuana. Over 21,000 people, in California alone, were arrested on marijuana charges that involved no other drug, violence, or offense.

The first thing you can do is go sign the California Cannabis Hemp Initiative of 2014 CCHI, written by Jack Herer himself, and introduced over many elections.  Canvassers are working hard to gather the signatures needed to get it on the ballot in 2014. Go to CCHI2014.org for more info

We may see more than one legalization initiative vying for the Ballot, the Marijuana Control Legalization and Revenue Act filed October 11th and is working to get initiatives on the street before the end of the year in time for 2014

Personally, I fully support all initiatives; and if both make it to the ballot, we will be doubly sure to legalize cannabis for adult consumption next year!

On October 22nd 2013 the occupy movement sponsored a Police Brutality rally at the west steps of the California state capitol and Sacramento NORML sponsored a cannabis community table. CCHI signatures were gathered from the over 500 marchers in attendance. Calling itself “Sac Green Street team”, literature from Safe Access Sacramento, Brownie Mary Democratic Club, The Human Solution, MCLR, local dispensaries and others was handed out to rally goers.

Pamphlets were available about the medical applications of Cannabis, and how to support those attacked by law enforcement and incarcerated with court support (where people show up in court to support patients fighting cannabis laws used to prosecute them). 

Videos of the Jose Gutierrez beating were played on a loop at the table. Guiterrez, an activist beaten by cops at the April 2011 raid on Oaksterdam university in an incident where he was swarmed and pummeled by Federal Marshals, IRS,DEA agents and others. He was then charged and convicted of assaulting the officers who beat him. Also on the Sacramento NORML literature was the story Richard Flor who died of a heart attack in federal prison on drug charges for providing medical marijuana.  And Michael Saffioti, who died in a jail of a food allergy after turning himself in to officers at the Lynwood police department in Washington state when officers he complained to accused him of faking his allergy.  Daniel Chong’s story was also included, the 23 year old San Diego college student forgotten in a jail cell without food or water for five days nearly killing him

There were many discussions with the families and supporters there because of family members murdered by police officers. In many cases suspicion (smell) of cannabis was why the officers approached them. The crowd rallied on the steps and marched down to Kamala Harris’ office at 13^th and I street where they held a ceremony and called out the names of loved ones who had been killed by cops, showing unity, and placed a rose on a coffin with all the names written on.

There were many more police than I have seen at a typical rally, on bikes and horseback. There were no incidents of conflict and overall seemed to be a very powerful and emotional demonstration.

…

The city of Sacramento passed it amendments to its dispensary ordinance on October first and the changes went in effect October 31^st officially. Dispensaries will be receiving a letter from the City Revenue Manager, Brad Wasson, sometime soon laying out what is expected of them. In addition to changing the ordinance to give more wiggle room to dispensing collectives looking for new homes, this heralds the end to the nearly 2-year long “Administrative Pause” or, as some called it, the “freeze”. The city stalled its licensing process out of concern over the Federal crackdown, and was taking a wait-and-see attitude regarding a supreme court case in Inland Empire that would decide legitimacy of local ordinances government medical cannabis distribution. The case found in favor of cities ordinances last February.  So, a mere 10 months later, they are ready to move forward. Wasson cautioned that many of the provisions of the ordinance that have been overlooked during the administrative pause will now be enforced. Wasson would not speculate on what we will see as far as new collectives opening, but I did request a list from his office.  It appears we have 22 open awaiting the next phase of licensing, 8 in limbo without a potential home or any word on whether they intend to re-open, and 4 planning on re-opening. The dispensaries will have until December 14^th 2012 to complete their licensing process under the new amendments.

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