California Gov Vetos Restrictive Medical Marijuana Dispensary Bill

I am happy to report that Governor Jerry Brown has vetoed SB 847, a bill by Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) that would have required medical cannabis cooperatives and collectives be located at least 600 feet from residential zones! The Governor’s veto comes after a groundswell of opposition from members of Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and other medical cannabis advocates. I want to say a special thank you to everyone who visited legislative offices, made phone calls, wrote letters, and sent emails. Well done!

The veto of SB 847 shows that grassroots participation makes a difference. We have some big challenges to overcome at the state and local levels, and ASA is already working on next year’s California Campaign. We have just finished a statewide tour to talk with organizers, and are launching a new effort to coordinate grassroots support for ASA’s draft state legislation [https://safeaccessnow.org/downloads/ASA_CA_2012_draft.pdf ]. Our goals are to defend patients’ civil rights, authorize cooperatives and collectives, and finally protect medical cannabis cultivators.

*I need your help right now, so that we can start preparing for the next steps. Can you make a **special contribution* [https://www.americansforsafeaccess.org/donate ]* to ASA to build on today’s momentum*

In addition to the statewide tour, ASA also launched a new Activist Training Center [ https://www.americansforsafeaccess.org/trainingcenter ] this summer with the goal of building skills in our grassroots base. And we have kicked off our innovative Think Tank and Policy Shop [ http:/www.americansforsafeaccess.org/policyshop ] to offer unprecedented professional support to local organizers. If we can mobilize a well-trained and motivated base, the veto of SB 847 will be the first of many victories
in California.

Please take a moment right now to make a one-time or recurring donation [ https://www.americansforsafeaccess.org/donate ] to ASA, so we can keep the momentum going in our direction!

Thanks again for your work to stop SB 847,

Don Duncan
California Director
Americans for Safe Access (ASA)
https://www.americansforsafeaccess.org/

Americans for Safe Access is the nation’s largest organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.