Oakland Hearing on MMJ Policy!

WHEN: November 28, 2006, 7:30 pm
WHAT: Hearing on Adopting the CHP Medical Cannabis Policy in the Oakland
Public Safety Committee Meeting
WHERE: Hearing Room 1, on the first floor of City Hall 1 Frank H. Ogawa
Plaza,
between 14th and 15th Streets at Clay Street

As part of ASA's services to the community, we take in reports of police
harassment of qualified patients. Based on the information we have
gathered, ASA has determined that the Oakland Police Department (OPD) is
not obeying its own policy on medical cannabis and is continuing to
harass patients.

For instance, we received three separate incidents in April of this year
that involved a qualified patient being arrested after showing the
officer his or her letter of recommendation. One of these incidents
involved a patient in with severe moving disorders. On April 10, 2006,
qualified patient David was on his way to visit his family when he was
pulled over by an officer. Without giving reason for his detention, the
officer asked the patient if he had anything illegal. Confident that he
was rightfully in possession of his medical cannabis, the patient showed
the officer his medical cannabis and his recommendation. The officer
allegedly responded that he didn't 'care about recommendation and [he]
was going to jail.' The patient was arrested and released the next day
with no charges.

To stop these abuses, Council Member Nancy Nadel has proposed that the
OPD adopt the CHP policy on medical cannabis. Please attend the hearing
tomorrow to voice your concern over the continued harassment of patients
and to stand up for safe access! If you plan to attend, please set aside
a couple hours, since our issue is towards the end of the agenda.

Please excuse the short notice. There will be further opportunities to
testify when this issue comes before the full council.
Feel free to take a look at the Public Safety Committee Agenda
<http://clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/meetings/2006/11/4977_A__Public_Safety_Committee_06-11-28_Meeting_Agenda.html>

and the Oakland Staff Report
<http://clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/attachments/15016.pdf> on the issue.

--
Rebecca Saltzman
Field Coordinator
Americans for Safe Access
p (510) 251-1856 x 308
f (510) 251-2036
http://www.safeaccessnow.org