About Medical Marijuana » ASA

ASA Blog: ASA appeals LA zoning interpretation

Don Duncan — Mon, 24 May 2010 21:59:51 +0000

From the ASA Blog -

“Americans for Safe Access (ASA) filed an appeal of the Zoning Administrator’s interpretation of the new medical cannabis ordinance in Los Angeles on Friday. The appeal challenges the Zoning Administrator’s position on parking and nonconforming use status for medical cannabis collectives…”

Read the entire post on the ASA Blog.

That Other Web Show

Don Duncan — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:36:31 +0000

CJ Davidson from That Other Web Show (TOWS) interviewed me after the Americans for Safe Access (ASA) Community Forum on Medical Cannabis on Saturday. Visit TOWS to hear our conversation about regulations for medical cannabis patients’ collectives in Los Angeles.

CJ Davidson and me

NORML Conference

Don Duncan — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 06:38:57 +0000

Last week, I spoke at a California break out session at an annual conference hosted by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) in San Francisco. The video below has some of my comments about the Americans for Safe Access (ASA) campaign in California. I kept my comments about legal victories and patients’ rights short, because most of the people in the crowded room were there to discuss the pros and cons of three cannabis legalization initiatives competing for a place on the November 2010 ballot.

My comments are followed by a panel discussion on cannabis and athleticism including ASA member and mixed martial arts champion Toby “TigerHeart” Grear. I testified for Toby at the California Athletic Commission last year when he was suspended for testing positive for medical cannabis in a pre-fight drug screening. Toby’s suspension is another example of the need to end discrimination against patients – one of the priorities for California ASA I mentioned in my comments.

I was pleased to learn that NORML awarded me the Peter McWilliams Activist of the Year Award at the conference. Unfortunately, I did not get word of the honor before the award was presented at the opening night dinner. Thanks to NORML for the award. Sorry I missed it!

ASA Blog: Victory in CO, nonsense from ONDCP

Don Duncan — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:15:34 +0000

Two new posts on the ASA blog:

-
Colorado Victory for Patients is Emblematic of Move by States to Address Distribution of Medical Marijuana

“Nearly 200 supporters of safe access to medical marijuana testified Monday at a 12-hour hearing before the Colorado State Board of Health to oppose a proposal aimed at curtailing the centralized distribution of medical marijuana. Fortunately, the Board of Health took heed of the overwhelming objection and voted 5-4 to table a proposal that would limit caregivers to 5 patients. The proposal also required caregivers to assist patients in ways that would be impractical for many medical marijuana providers. The decision, which paves the way for increased access to medical marijuana through safe and affordable distribution, was cheered by the roomful of hundreds of supporters…”

—

Drug Czar Gets it Wrong — “Medicinal Benefit” of Marijuana is Clear

“Gil Kerlikowske, the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the country’s new Drug Czar was in Fresno, California this week for Operation S.O.S. (Save Our Sierras). The multi-agency effort to eradicate marijuana in eastern Fresno County has nothing to do with medical marijuana. However, that did not stop Kerlikowske from declaring (erroneously) to the Fresno Bee that marijuana ‘has no medicinal benefit’…”