Call the White House at (202) 456-1414 between 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST and send an email right now:

I am outraged by the recent federal raids on medical marijuana patients and providers in Montana and California. Medical marijuana patients and providers should not be subject to harassment or arrest, especially when they are obeying state law. I demand the Administration stop the raids, allow states to regulate medical marijuana, and develop a federal policy that protects patients once and for all. Thank you.

Speaking up today is the first step in standing up to federal aggression, but we have much more work to do. Our elected representatives need to hear from an empowered and energized base now more than ever. ASA needs your support so that we can train and mobilize the grassroots base and keep pushing to change federal law. Can you make a special contribution to ASA today, so that we are ready to respond to renewed federal threats?

Thank you for your support and participation! Together, we will stop the raids and secure safe access for every patient who needs medical cannabis!

And… After you call or send your email, forward this message to your friends and loved ones, and don’t forget to share it on Twitter, FaceBook, MySpace, etc.

AHHS (Alternative Herbal Health Services) 7828 Santa Monica (@ Fairfax)

Zen Healing Collective, 8464 Santa Monica Blvd (@ La Cienega Blvd.)

Americans For Safe Access strongly condemns the raids and calls on the Administration to live up to its promise of a more reasonable federal policy. ASA will publish more information about the federal raids and the grassroots response later today. Join the ASA mailing list at http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org or follow @ASAdonduncan on Twitter for information.

My goal is to help new operators organize and operate their collectives in ways that are as safe and legitimate as possible in the current legal climate.  A well-run collective is good for patients and for the grassroots movement to defend medical cannabis rights.  A poorly run collective, however, is dangerous for patients and brings the integrity of our movement into question.  Patients, operators, and advocates will all benefit from making our collectives the best they can be.

This site contains answers to frequently asked questions and other useful information.  Of course, you will want to talk to an attorney and accountant before you open your collective.  My advice is not a substitute for help from other professionals.

Operating a medical cannabis dispensing collective is a very important and compassionate project.  It is also a lot of hard work.  You should think hard about your level of commitment and the risk you’re willing to take before you begin this project.  Some operators would do better for themselves, the patients, and the grassroots movement for medical cannabis if they decided not to operate dispensing collectives.  There are easier and safer ways to earn a living.  This is a line of work that is most appropriate for people who are committed to compassion – and to the cause of medical cannabis. If you are not committed to upholding the letter and the spirit of the law and to conducting your business affairs in an ethical and reputable manner, then you should not pursue this line of work. You will do more harm than good.

New operators also do well to reflect honestly upon their motives for opening a dispensing collective.  Your motives will influence how you operate your collective and the decisions you make regarding your patients and community.  The consequences for making bad decisions are serious for you, the patients, the community, and medical cannabis in general.  If you say that your motive is compassion, then your actions should reflect this. Neighbors, elected officials, and police officers can tell when you’re being insincere.  Do not put yourself and others at risk by failing to examine your motives.

I need to include a disclaimer to be very clear about my participation in conversations with new collective operators: I am not an attorney or an accountant. The contents of this message do not constitute professional legal or financial advice, nor am I recommending that you take any specific actions. This information is for educational purposes only. The contents are my own opinions.

Good luck with your project.  Please keep me posted on your progress and let me know how I can help.