March 31, 2012 – California NORML invites friends & supporters to rally in protest of the Department of Justice’s attack on medical marijuana at S.F. City Hall on Tuesday, April 3rd.
In a report to Congress, Cal NORML denounced the DOJ crackdown as arbitrary, inconsistent, disrespectful of state and local laws, and destructive of efforts to legally regulate marijuana. – D. Gieringer, Cal NORML
MEDIA ALERT!! March 30, 2012
SAN FRANCISCO SUPERVISORS, CITY ATTORNEY & STATE OFFICIALS
TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST FEDERAL CRACKDOWN AT
PRESS CONFERENCE AT 11:30AM ON TUESDAY, APRIL 3rd
(San Francisco, CA) On Tuesday, April 3rd, on the steps of City Hall (Polk Street entrance) at 11:30am an overwhelming number of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will be joined by representatives from the offices of the City Attorney, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, State Senator Mark Leno, and the Board of Equalization to show their support for medical cannabis patients by delivering a strong message to the Obama Administration regarding recent actions by the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) and the State’s 4 U.S. Attorneys against local medical cannabis dispensaries. District Attorney Gascon is sending a statement from his office affirming his stance on medical cannabis laws.
A lively rally will precede the press conference at 11am, and at noon patients and supporters will march to the Federal Building located at 450 Golden Gate to demand that Attorney General Eric Holder end the federal attacks on safe access.
Last October, California’s 4 U.S. Attorneys announced a so-called “federal crackdown” on medical cannabis and proceeded to threaten dispensary operators as well as their landlords. As a result, 5 of the City’s licensed dispensaries have been forced to shut down. With more closures expected next week, U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag has said that, “none are immune from action by the federal government.” San Francisco, which has shown staunch support for medical cannabis over the years, continues to move ahead with its medical cannabis program of permitting dispensaries, despite extensive federal intimidation.
Patients, advocates, dispensary operators, members of SF’s Medical Cannabis Task Force, and the San Francisco chapter of Americans for Safe Access (ASA), have launched a campaign — San Francisco United — calling on City officials to take further steps to protect safe access to medical cannabis in San Francisco. “By opposing federal interference, San Francisco officials are taking a stand for patients and for sensible public health policy,” said ASA founder and Executive Director Steph Sherer. “The federal government must not be allowed to push patients into the illicit market without consequence.”
Other speakers at the press conference will include affected patients and dispensary operators, ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford, Steph Sherer, representatives from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and San Francisco Medical Cannabis Task Force.