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Americans for Safe Access: March 2008 Activist Newsletter

New Employment Bill Would Protect California Patients

California medical marijuana patients may soon have protection from employment discrimination, thanks to legislation sponsored by Americans for Safe Access that was introduced on February 20. The new law has been proposed in response to a January California Supreme Court ruling that said employers may fire qualified patients for no reason other than following the medical treatment recommended by their doctors.

Assemblyman Mark Leno Assemblyman Mark Leno

The employment rights bill leaves intact existing state law prohibiting medical marijuana consumption at the workplace and protects employers from liability by allowing exceptions for jobs where physical safety could be a concern.

"The California Supreme Court decision said that an employer may fire someone solely because they use medical marijuana outside the workplace," said Assemblymember Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), the author of the bill. "AB 2279 is merely an affirmation of the intent of the voters and the legislature that medical marijuana patents need not be unemployed to benefit from their medicine."

Joining Assemblymember Leno as co-authors are Patty Berg (D-Eureka), Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) and Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego).

The bill is designed to rectify a 5-2 decision by the California Supreme Court in Ross v. RagingWire, a case which was argued by ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford.

The court upheld a lower court ruling that qualified patients could be fired based on either their status as a patient or a positive test for marijuana. The plaintiff in the case, a 46-year old disabled veteran named Gary Ross, lost his job as a systems engineer in 2001 after testing positive for marijuana. His employer, RagingWire Telecommunications, would not make an exception for medical use, even though Ross did not use cannabis on the job and was treating injuries sustained during his military service.

Gary Ross Gary Ross, speaking to the media

"It's important that we not allow wholesale employment discrimination in California," said Ross. "If the court is going to ignore the need for protection, then it's up to the legislature to ensure that productive workers like me are free from discrimination."

California joins Oregon and Hawaii in introducing legislation to protect medical marijuana patients from employment discrimination.

Since 2005, ASA has received hundreds of reports of employment discrimination from all across California. Employers that have either fired patients from their job, threatened them with termination, or denied them employment because of patient status or because of a positive test for marijuana, include Costco Wholesale, UPS, Foster Farms Dairy, DirecTV, the San Joaquin Courier, Power Auto Group, as well as several construction companies, hospitals, and various trade union employers.

"We welcome and strongly endorse this clarification from the legislature," said ASA spokesperson Kris Hermes. "Despite the ill-conceived ruling by the California Supreme Court, the intent of state legislatures has been to recognize the civil rights of patients and to offer them reasonable protections."

Further information, see ASA’s website at: www.AmericansForSafeaccess.org/Ross.

Sixth Annual Medical Marijuana Week Another Success

For the sixth year in a row, Americans For Safe Access organized a Medical Marijuana Week. And for the sixth time, the event was a huge success, providing opportunities for patients and activists to learn about the issues, take action, and educate others.
Held every year during the week of 2/15 -- to commemorate the passage of Proposition 215, California's medical cannabis law -- Medical Marijuana Week this year had an activity or event for every day of the week from February 11-17.
Monday's focus was on membership, as ASA supporters reached out to friends and family to encourage them to join the nation's largest and fastest growing organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.

On Tuesday, hundreds of activists throughout the country visited their U.S. Senators' district offices to ask their representatives to support access to new sources of cannabis for FDA-approved medical research. The senators were urged to support patients by signing on to the letter Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry are circulating to enable FDA-approved research.

Wednesday, activists wrote letters to their local newspapers calling on Congress to support access for FDA-approved medical marijuana research. FDA-approved research is key to safe access nationwide. ASA created a Letter to the Editor action site as an easy way to submit LTEs online, using talking points provided by ASA's communications specialists.

For Thursday, patients were asked to plug into ASA's condition-based unions to further promote medical cannabis research and advocate for safe access.

On Friday, ASA released its first National Field Report, which paints a comprehensive picture of the local, state, and national campaigns ASA's chapters and affiliates work on and also highlights the 2007 accomplishments in the field. Patients and activists were asked to start or join a local ASA chapter.

Finally, the weekend was devoted to mobilizing local communities and getting signatures for ASA's Congressional research petition.

All in all, it was another fun, informative, and empowering week of activities for medical marijuana patients and activists across the country.

RESEARCH UPDATE

Osteoporosis May Be Treatable with Cannabinoids

New research out of Israel shows that osteoporosis, a degenerative bone condition afflicting 10 million Americans over age 50, may be treatable with cannabinoids.

Researchers found that the body's natural endocannabinoid system helps control how the body replaces old bone with new growth. In the study, activating CB2 cannabinoid receptors reduced bone loss and stimulated bone formation.

This would seem to confirm early studies that showed faster bone loss in mice that had fewer CB2 receptors.

Study Confirms Cannabis Helps People with HIV/AIDS

Cannabis has been commonly recommended to help people with HIV/AIDS combat nausea and appetite loss, and numerous studies have shown it to be an effective treatment.

A new Columbia University study, the first in nearly 20 years to examine cannabis' efficacy, has shown that not only is smoked cannabis effective, it's substantially more so than Marinol, the synthetic oral drug, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients in the trial gained almost 2.5 lbs over four days.

To produce similar weight gain, Marinol had to be given in doses eight times higher than current recommendations.

State Medical Marijuana Laws Do Not Increase Drug Use

A statistical study has found that passing state laws legalizing the medical use of cannabis does not increase the drug's recreational use.

Researchers looked at two "high-risk" groups (ER patients and arrestees) in four states, California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. Researchers reported that "the introduction of medical cannabis laws was not associated with an increase in cannabis use."

This finding confirms a study of states with medical marijuana laws conducted by the US General Accounting Office (GAO), which found that legalizing medical cannabis has not led to increased recreational use.

Press Release: PreventionWorks! Selects New Executive Director To Advance Agency As A HIV Continuum Of Care Service Provider

[Courtesy of PreventionWorks!] NEWS RELEASE: November 20, 2007 CONTACT: Beth Beck: [email protected], (202) 253-0397 PreventionWorks! Selects New Executive Director To Advance Agency As A HIV Continuum Of Care Service Provider November 20, 2007 – Washington, DC – PreventionWorks!, a non-profit community-based organization committed to addressing HIV/AIDS and related health issues among drug users, their families, friends and partners, announced today the appointment of its new Executive Director. Ken Vail, MPH, MA, has been selected to lead the agency, as it prepares to expand and enhance service delivery to the District’s most vulnerable populations. The appointment of Mr. Vail is the result of an official search that began after Paola Barahona, Founding Executive Director, announced her departure in August of this year. "After an exhaustive and detailed search, that included the efforts of an executive search firm, it became clear to the Board of Directors that we already had the best candidate for the job", said Beth Beck, Board President, Prevention Works!. “As the search moved forward, it was evident to the Board that Mr. Vail’s knowledge, skills, experience, and vision were directly in line with the growth the agency is experiencing in response to the continually shifting HIV/AIDS epidemic and we are very excited to have him aboard.” Mr. Vail was most recently the Interim Executive Director for PreventionWorks! and took over the operations of the agency in August. Before coming to PreventionWorks! he was the Director of Prevention for Community Health Action of Staten Island. Mr. Vail has more than 17 years of experience in the fields of public health, medical anthropology and direct service provision. He has a strong background in non-profit program planning and management, staff development, grant writing and program evaluation. Mr. Vail also has extensive experience as an HIV prevention educator and is an expert in the theory and practice of harm reduction. “I am very excited and humbled to become the next Executive Director for PreventionWorks!” said Vail. “I have worked my whole life to serve populations most impacted by HIV disease and illness and I look forward to working with staff, volunteers, clients, and the Board of Directors to move the agency forward.” “As Executive Director, my initial focus will be to strengthen the organizational infrastructure to effectively position the agency as a comprehensive continuum of care service provider to best improve the health of DC’s drug using populations and most vulnerable residents.” Transition Guides, an executive firm specializing in non-profit agencies, and the Board of Directors at PreventionWorks, conducted the search for the executive director position.

New Report: Half Million Incarcerated for Drug Offenses

Friends:

The Sentencing Project has released a new report that examines the burden of the "war on drugs" on the criminal justice system and American communities. A 25-Year Quagmire: The War on Drugs and Its Impact on American Society assesses the strategy of combating drug abuse primarily with enhanced punishments at the expense of investments in treatment and prevention. The report documents how the drug war has produced a record expansion of prison and jail systems and highlights additional indicators of the war's impact on the criminal justice system and communities, including:

-- Drug arrests have more than tripled since 1980 to a record 1.8 million by 2005;

-- Four of five (81.7%) drug arrests were for possession offenses, and 42.6% were for marijuana charges in 2005;

-- Nearly six in 10 persons in state prison for a drug offense have no history of violence or high-level drug selling;

-- Only 14% of persons in 2004 who report using drugs in the month before their arrest had participated in a treatment program, a decline of more than half from participation rates in 1991;

-- A shortage of treatment options in many low-income neighborhoods contributes to drug abuse being treated primarily as a criminal justice problem, rather than a social problem.

Our report also provides policy recommendations that can help effectively reinvest government resources in community safety by encouraging comprehensive drug treatment and prevention strategies to address drug addiction.

Harm Reduction Project - News, Information, & Opinion: July 30, 2007

News & Opinion This Week 1. How, and How Not, to Stop AIDS in Africa 2. Transcending God B Upcoming Conference C Quotes D How To Help E About HRP F Subscription Information -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. How, and How Not, to Stop AIDS in Africa By William Easterly The Invisible Cure: Africa, the West, and the Fight Against AIDS by Helen Epstein Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 326 pp., $26.00 From Volume 54, Number 13 August 16, 2007 of The New York Review Of Books One of the classic works of journalism of the last couple of decades was Randy Shilts's And the Band Played On[1] about the sluggish response to AIDS in the 1980s in the United States, which indicted both the Reagan administration and the leaders of the gay community. I still remember the sense of outrage I felt when reading Shilts's book; it struck just the right note, leaving one both horrified about the tragic incompetence of so many and yet also hopeful that someone, somewhere could do things better next time. Yet after reading Helen Epstein's masterful new book, the response to AIDS in America now looks in retrospect like a model of courage, speed, and efficiency by comparison with the response in Africa. In the US, the government publicized the threat and funded research, the gay community reduced its infection rates by encouraging less risky sexual behavior, the dreaded breakout into the heterosexual population never happened, and AIDS receded to become a disease that, while still tragic, could in most cases be kept under control with expensive new antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). The opposite is true in every respect of AIDS in Africa, which was anticipated as a looming crisis already in the 1980s, yet governments, foreign aid agencies, and even activists reacted with denials and evasion. The disease rampaged through the heterosexual population and is still rampaging, ARVs were too late, too costly, and available to too few, and Africa is still in the midst of an epic disaster without a solution in sight. As of the latest figures in 2006, 25 million Africans are HIV-positive, 2.1 million die from AIDS every year, and 2.8 million are newly infected each year.[2] Epstein's book lays all this out in courageous and thought-provoking detail, describing the maddening complexity of the AIDS crisis in Africa, and the reprehensible and simplistic evasions of nearly everyone involved. It is not only a book that should be required reading for people concerned in the least with AIDS or with Africa; it is also compulsively readable. It is not without some flaws. Epstein's discussion of the economics of African poverty is overly simple-it sometimes sounds more like flat statements about corporate and official power than deep analysis. More seriously, for some of her key points, the evidence base-the numbers of studies and of people and the different groups whose experience she draws on-seems a little thin, although I found her points plausible and largely convincing. Perhaps the fact that there is insufficient evidence about so many aspects of AIDS in Africa is itself a symptom of the skewed priorities that the book describes as afflicting the international AIDS effort. The history of the response to African AIDS can be divided into two phases: (1) fiddling while Rome burns, and then (2) trying to use the fiddles to put out the fire. Phase I began long ago, undermining any claims of any of those involved to ignorance of the problem. An article published in the London Times on October 27, 1986, said: A catastrophic epidemic of AIDS is sweeping across Africa.... The disease has already infected several millions of Africans, posing colossal health problems to more than 20 countries.... "Aids has become a major health threat to all Africans and prevention and control of infection...must become an immediate public health priority for all African countries," says a report published in a leading American scientific journal. Signs of the coming epidemic had appeared even earlier. A sample of prostitutes in Butare, Rwanda, in 1983 found that 75 percent were infected with HIV. A later study reporting this statistic dated the general awareness that Central Africa was at risk for the spread of AIDS back to 1983 as well.[3] An article in 1991 in the World Bank/ International Monetary Fund quarterly magazine predicted that 30 million people would be infected worldwide by the year 2000 if nothing were done.[4] This was not far off the actual outcome in 2000, so sixteen years ago many knew that a catastrophic epidemic was underway. One of the lead organizations for fighting the African epidemic was the World Bank, which says today on its AIDS Web site that it is "the largest long-term investor in prevention and mitigation of HIV/AIDS in developing countries." In its first AIDS strategy report in 1988, the World Bank said the crisis was urgent. It presciently detected "an environment highly conducive to the spread of HIV" in many African countries. It noted that the epidemic was far from reaching its full potential and that "the AIDS epidemic in Africa is an emergency situation and appropriate action must be undertaken now."[5]

Update on Moscow Marijuana Rally Free Speech Violations

Following is an update from Moscow on the police brutalization and free speech violation committed by authorities against marijuana march participants. (Click here to read the first update received this weekend.) - Dave Dear sisters and brothers! Thank you for your assistance and attention to Russian problems with human rights. Below there is new information about events with cruel breaking up of Marijuana march in Moscow: All cannabis activists were unlawfully sentenced by Moscow district court! As I earlier informed all arrested cannabis activists were delivered at The Presnentsky administrative district court of Moscow City. Not only participants of Marijuana march were accused but also other people who were sympathized them. The Judge has worked during the whole night without the rest. She has hypocritically convicted demonstrators according to The Russian Administrative law for the propaganda of drugs (...and bla-bla-bla). No one of councels for the defence was allow in the process. Finally some of activists were sentenced for 15 days of arrest. Other ones were nominated money fine. On juridical commentary all accusations are unlawfully. There are not simply disproportionate sentences, but sentences absolutely fixed by lawlessness. Here is that Ivan Ninenko who is the protector of activists has told: I just returned from the court versus delayed on the March for Legalize MJ and people who sympathized them near police department named "ARBAT". They all were accused according articles 19.3 (non-obedience to legal requirements of employees to militias), 6.13 (propaganda of narcotics) and 20.2 (overset of undertaking of meeting, demonstration and picketing). The judge listened the case during the whole night from 9 P.M. to 9 A.M. Total: Three girls - a fine on 4500 rubles. Sergey Konstantinov - 15 days of arrest and the fine on 3500 rubles. To every another 6 lads (list later) - 10 day of arrest and the fine on 3500 rubles. Now I'm going to sleep because I'm very tired. Such unlawfulness that I never saw! Brothers and sisters, friends, this is never mind what kind of the march is this and as you are to take to it. More so, some guys were delayed not on the march, but beside a police department "Arbat". BUT it is IMPORTANT to spread this information over the World into the name of God and for liberties of people and human right. Please, put this letter and other links on your LJ blogs, the forum conferences, or WebPages. All people must hear ABOUT THESE UNDOUBTEDLY ILLEGAL actions of Moscow militias. We all hope that they will carry responsibility for this! You may organize: 1. The action of solidarity beside Russian embassies, consulates and representations with requirements to free cannabis activists. Moreover it is very important on Action to raise a voice not for the hemp, but against cops bestialities. In the insulator there are people without defence councels. 2. To call Phones and faxes of Russia embassies. See below Richard Lake advice: In the United States there is a Russian Consulate in Washington, D.C., New York, Houston, Seattle and San Francisco. Please see for address and phone numbers: http://www.russianembassy.org/consulat/contact.htm The location and contact information for Russian embassy and consulate offices worldwide may be accessed from this page: http://www.russianembassy.net/ 3. To call Phones and faxes of Russia in Moscow straight: +7 495 684-42-36 - an insulator, where keeping imprisoned people now. Presently the most important, so that defence councels can come to the delayed activists in the insulator. Also they need Public prosecutor (or attorneys), because there are repressions. Sergey Konstantinov who was sentenced for 15 days arrest is keeping hunger strike. + 7 495 2009305; 2008510; 2008924; Fax: 9732041. This numbers are telephones of Head service of investigation of Moscow, Petrovka street, 38. It is necessary to call them and talk about cops bestialities in police department and that sentenced activists are requiring defence councels, which do not allow. You may surf on Marijuana march organizers Website http://www.legaliz.info/ You can read last reporting on http://community.livejournal.com/legal_team/ ; http://blancanevies.livejournal.com/432177.html; http://sportloto80.livejournal.com/92719.html; http://gazeta.ru/2007/05/05/oa_238380.shtml Unfortunately only in Russian. But there are many photos. You also can write to me [email protected] or call in my mobile telephone 8 916 980 8590, or meet in ICQ # 291099002 as well as to protector Ivan Ninenko [email protected]; mob: 8-926-568-4583; icq 299200108 God bless you and bless us all, Eugene Kazachenko

Update: Bernie Ellis and the "Save Bernie's Farm" Effort

[Courtesy of David Steele] Subject: To Bernie's friends and family -- an update on his situation To everyone -- Bernie has asked me to communicate with all of you since he cannot do so himself. Last Tuesday, Bernie met with the staff of the halfway house to request permission to attend the "Save Bernie's Farm" benefit, being held to raise money to offer the government a settlement to drop their effort to confiscate his farm. Instead of receiving permission to attend, Bernie has been detained at the halfway house ever since. He has not been allowed to work and it looks like he will not be allowed to return to work (costing him $1,000 in salary). He will also not be allowed to attend his weekly support group and his monthly pass to visit his farm has been denied. He has been put on double work details at the "house", and his only opportunity to leave the "house" will be to attend church services at St. Ann's Episcopal Church (419 Woodland Street; he attends the 10:30 am service).

Nimbin Mardigrass Press Release April 26, 2007

NIMBIN MARDIGRASS PRESS RELEASE: 26 APRIL 2007 WHERE’S WALLYBAGO? CAN YOU SEE HIM ANYWHERE IN THE PICTURE? Lose a bago? The Nimbin HEMP Embassy is putting up a reward for anyone who can spot the new NSW Police Winnebago saliva drug testing bus around our beautiful Northern Rivers.

Books to Prisons: Usborne Books Online Book Fair

[Courtesy of Usborne Books] I invite you to support the Usborne Books Online Book Fair to benefit The DC Area Books to Prisons Project **Read to the end of this email and you might win a free book!**
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