Your support is needed at the SLO Board of Supervisors Meeting

The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors meeting meeting is Tuesday, March 6th, at 1:30 pm.

A storefront dispensary has
been approved by the County
Planning Commission. Your support
is needed to encourage the Board
to deny an appeal of this approval.

The Board will hear the appeal of the 4-1 vote of approval by the SLO County Planning Commission to allow a collective outlet in unincorporated Oceano. Should the Board deny this appeal, a single storefront location anywhere in SLO County would be allowed for the first time since Charles Lynch's dispensary in Morro Bay was raided and closed nearly 5 years ago. Board members have indicated that they may be directly influenced by the level of supportive turnout at this meeting. Thus it is imperative that patients and others in support of safe access come to the meeting and fill the seats in the room, even if they do not wish to address the Board during the comment period.

The Board Chambers are located at 1055 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo (between Santa Rosa Street and the Fremont Theater). For additional information, email  asaprop215@gmail.com.

San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Dismisses Charges Against Three More of the "SLO 12" Delivery Service Providers

MEDIA ADVISORY

San Luis Obispo Americans for Safe Access

For Immediate Release: February 15, 2012

Contact: San Luis Obispo Chapter Representative Linda Hill 805-528-0808

National ASA Media Liaison Kris Hermes 510-681-6361

San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Dismisses Charges Against Three More of the "SLO 12" Delivery Service Providers

District Attorney is likely to appeal the dismissals.

In San Luis Obispo Superior Court, Judge Jacqueline Duffy on February 15 -- Medical Marijuana Day -- dismissed the charges against Shelly, Troy and Rianna Allred, three of the so-called "SLO 12" delivery services providers who were swept up in a Narcotics Task Force raid in late December, 2010. This follows other dismissals handed down in January.

Although the former commander of the now defunct Narcotics Task Force had asserted that there was "concrete proof" of guilt of these defendants, the 14 months of protracted hearings, motions and other actions -- all at taxpayer expense -- have resulted in not one case going to trial. As in previous cases, the District Attorney refused to agree to the jury instructions that had been developed for use in these trials.

However, SLO County District Attorney Gerald Shea's office has appealed the earlier dismissals, and it is expected that they will also appeal the dismissals involving the Allreds.

The San Luis Obispo Chapter of Americans for Safe Access plans to launch a petition/letter-writing campaign urging DA Shea not to appeal the Allred's cases, and to drop the appeals that have already been filed. SLOASA recognizes that the vast majority of people in San Luis Obispo County are strongly in favor of medical marijuana (the county voters even passed Prop. 19, legalizing recreational use, by 51%-49%.) Our chapter is urging the District Attorney to recognize the desires of the public, the weakness of these cases, and the continuing and unnecessary financial cost of pursuing these cases to the Second District Court of Appeals and to drop the appeals.

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With over 50,000 active members in all 50 states, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. ASA works to overcome political and legal barriers by creating policies that improve access to medical cannabis for patients and researchers through legislation, education, litigation, grassroots actions, advocacy and services for patients and the caregivers.

Medical Marijuana Week

Hi Folks,

This is Medical Marijuana Week.   This mail-out from ASA National details actions we can take to further the cause of safe access.  As described below, even a minute or two of your time can really help:  contact the White House today, Congress tomorrow, and Gov. Brown on Wednesday.  Remember, you can enhance our effort from the comfort of your home by doing things like this.

Regarding the national Day of Action on Thursday, we are not holding a rally here in SLO County, as the rally is specifically planned at Obama re-election headquarters and/or at Federal buildings, which we don't have here.  In addition, we are concentrating this week on the "SLO 12," as another court date is 8:30 this Wednesday morning (on 2-15, Medical Marijuana Day, appropriately enough) for several of the defendants--join us to show our support.

 We will have our monthly meeting next Tuesday, Feb. 21st at 7:00 pm at Petra Pizza & Mediterranean Grill, corner Higuera & Toro Sts. in SLO.  We will have much to discuss, including the "SLO 12" status; the Medical Marijuana Control, Tax & Regulate Act petitions; the local appeal to the Board of Supervisors for a collective outlet in Oceano, and other activities.

Our organization here in SLO County IS making an impact; please help make our efforts even more successful by becoming actively involved, both in your individual actions such as those detailed here this week, and by visibly showing up at meetings (ours and local official bodies such as the Bd. of Supes), court dates, rallies we hold, and other public events.  Simply filling seats in a room or adding to a group outside helps convince our local officials to yield to the will of the people on the MMJ issue.

Thank you from SLOASA