BAD NEWS - Medical Marijuana Raid in Rancho Cucamonga

On Tuesday, the same day over 60 patients and advocates rallied and spoke before the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors, a small delivery collective was raided in Rancho Cucamonga.

Phelan, Chino and now Rancho Cucamonga. It's San Bernardino Cops Gone Wild! Here's how the operator of the Collective described the raid:

My name is Dustin and I own and operate a legal, licensed delivery service called High Times 420 Delivery (www.hightimes420.com). Last night my house was raided. I only had approximately five ounces of medical marijuana that were separated in different glass jars.

Officer Dean and Officer Lopez and six other police from the Rancho Cucamonga Police Dept.
called the "smash" unit came to my house, raided it and took my cash, money, business cards,
cell phones, computers and a lot of other stuff. They tossed my whole house. I asked for a search warrant and they told me don't worry about it. They had me handcuffed for four hours on the curb while they tossed my house, cars, travel trailer, motorcycle.

They finally showed up with a warrant. The officers stole $4,000 cash from my girlfriend's safe. It was her checks she was saving up and had her check stubs in there. They claim there was no money in the safe and only my Rolex watch. The cops are corrupt.

I provided them all my legal documents, patient ID forms, patient rec forms. I was totally legal - they didn't want to hear it.

Although I only had about five ounces, they used the glass jars as weight and ended up booking me for 3 pounds and charging me with possession with intent to sell. I just got out of jail on a $50,000 bond. This is my first arrest ever. It sucks cause I am also a bail bondsman.

Dustin will be meeting with his attorney on Thursday. He will be at the Wednesday, May 5 MAPP meeting in Riverside and will bring us up to date on this latest travesty perpetuated by San Bernardino County law enforcement. Stay tuned.

The Riverside MAPP meeting is at 7:30 pm at the THCF Medical Clinic and Patient Center @ 647 Main Street, Ste. 1B, Riverside, CA. 951-782-9898.

Post Medical Marijuana Rally Report

Yesterday’s rally was a huge success. We had about 40-45 people on the street on front of the San Bernardino County building with signs. Just like last month’s rally, we had a lot of enthusiastic support and honking of horns from the public.

As part of the rally, a small group of activists marched from the County Building around the corner to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office to present a public records request asking for details of exactly how much money San Bernardino County has spent pursuing cases against medical marijuana patients and collectives.

Thanks to activist Scott Bledsoe’s readiness with his camera, you can watch most of that encounter on You Tube. In the video Lanny Swerdlow, director of the Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project, and other activists discuss with Bruce Brown from the district attorney’s office about why the San Bernardino County district attorney Michael Ramos continues to prosecute medical marijuana and why the public was not invited to or even aware of six secret meetings that took place with various county agencies including the district attorney’s office regarding medical marijuana. Click here to watch the video.

The entire group then went into the Board of Supervisors meeting. Only a handful were able to speak before the board breaked for lunch. This included two members of our opposition, including California state assembly candidate Paul Chabot who profusely thanked the board for continuing to fight medical marijuana and the opening of medical marijuana dispensaries in San Bernardino county. (For more on Chabot’s political positions, see his website at http://www.paulchabot.com/. Read what he has to say and vote accordingly and please make sure your friends and family do the same.)

I find it more than curious that Mr. Chabot, a candidate for the state legislature, essentially thanked the board for obstructing the law. Of course, the Board of Supervisors themselves say they have nothing against medical marijuana and are doing no such thing. Somebody here is not telling the truth. A few of our speakers followed, so Chabot and the single minion he managed to drag to the meeting were not the last heard before the break.

The board broke for lunch at noon and told us to be back at 1:30. Of course, some people had other obligations and had to leave. I would estimate that about ¾ of our group did actually return after lunch. Unfortunately the board of supervisors kept us waiting until nearly 2:15 before they returned (try being that late next time you have to go to court). Supervisor Josie Gonzalez apologized profusely, claiming the delay was unavoidable and due to serious business the board was working on in closed session. By that point a great number of our group had to leave, but we still had some terrific speakers left who gave impassioned pleas to the board. It ended with Lanny Swerdlow calling out Supervisor Gonzalez, who has previously lead us to believe she was an ally. Gonzalez’s office has never even returned any of Lanny’s numerous calls to set up a meeting. Ms. Gonzalez claimed ignorance of these calls and vowed to speak with Lanny the following day (stay tuned for a follow-up on that).

A HUGE thanks to everyone who was able to come out. If you couldn’t make this rally, we are going to do it again on May 25 so mark your calendars. This next rally will be especially important as the county's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries is set to expire in June.

To everyone else, please follow Annelies Kuiper’s model and write or call your county supervisor today. The county’s moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries is up in June. If we don’t want to them to pass an outright ban, we MUST stay active and let our voices be heard loudly on this issue.

Cheri Sicard
ASA San Bernardino County Action Group

Letter from SB County Citizen to the Board of Supervisors

The following letter was sent by San Bernardino citizen Annelies Kuiper to the Board of Supervisors. Unfortunately Annelies was not well enough to attend yesterday's rally, but she still made sure her voice was heard. This is a wonderful example of how to communicate with elected officials. As you will notice Annelies labeled her correspondence as PUBLIC RECORD which means that it constitutes an official correspondence which cannot (well, technically it can, but should not) be destroyed.

We realize many of you, like Annelies, are not able to make it to the rallies (yes, we have another rally coming up on May 25th), but that doesn't mean you can't be heard on this most important issue. Call or email your supervisor today and let them know your opinion on how they are handling the issue of drafting reasonable medical marijuana regulations! You can find the telephone numbers and email address for all of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors (as well as links to map to help you figure out who your supervisor it, if you don't already know) at this post.

And now, on to Annelies's letter:

PUBLIC RECORD: MEDICAL MARIJUANA REGULATIONS, PLEASE

Dear San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors:

My name is Annelies Kuiper and I live in Joshua Tree. I was hoping to be at the Medical Marijuana Rally on Tuesday, April 27th; but, unfortunately, I am unable to attend. I have stood before you many times over the years, pleading with you to abide by California Law and allow me my rights as a Medical Marijuana Patient in my Home County. If I was standing before you today, I would have said:

We are a nation of medicators! Most Americans medicate with something: alcohol, food, shopping, heroin, games, pornography, prescription drugs, self-righteousness, cyberspace and yes, some of us medicate with Marijuana.

So what? Why is San Bernardino County continuing to make such a big deal about Medical Marijuana? What evil does Medical Marijuana symbolize to you, that causes this lawless, anti-Medical Marijuana crusade in this County?

Please, stop this insanity! Stop law enforcement officials in San Bernardino County from pursuing this terrifying, unlawful Tyranny on Medical Marijuana Patients and Horticulturists. With complete disregard for California State Law and United States Supreme Court rulings, small-time Medical Marijuana Patients and Horticulturalists are being lumped into the same criminal box, by San Bernardino County Law Enforcement Officials and the Marijuana Eradication Team, as environmentally-destructive, violent, armed drug cartels, growing thousands of Marijuana plants in our National Forests. It’s not right: it’s a violation of our human rights.

Apparently the Board of Supervisors, local law enforcement and city planning officials have been unable to come up with satisfactory Medical Marijuana Regulations in all those months since the moratorium went into effect. Agonizing months, following agonizing years, during which MMJ Patients have continued to live in fear for our lives, our freedom and our property. While San Bernardino County and Law Enforcement Officials continued their relentless campaign of persecution and terror on Medical Marijuana and all of us who choose Medical Cannabis to help us feel well, with no side effects, every day. I worry that your inability to come up with reasonable Medical Marijuana regulations, is just another ploy on the part of San Bernardino County Officials…you know: “If we can’t come to an agreement about Marijuana Regulations in our County…well, I guess we’ll just have to slap an extension on that old moratorium”!!

Please don’t do that. We have some really intelligent, articulate People with us at the Rally today; People who are knowledgeable about California Law, City Planning and zoning, Science, Horticulture, Taxes, Health and Wellbeing, Accounting, etc…and we are all ready to share our constructive, do-able insights, to help you establish reasonable regulations concerning Medical Marijuana Patients, Horticulturalists, Dispensaries and Distributors. Please, let’s sit down together, like reasonable Adults and have a dialogue. A constructive, respectful, open dialogue. Please: we must end this nonsense. Stop the raids, end the moratorium on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries and let’s Talk!

Please listen to us; listen to what all of us have to say. We are all Voters and we all have Friends, Families and Loved Ones who vote and this matter is very important to us.

Thank You.
Annelies Kuiper

MEDICAL MARIJUANA CALL TO ACTION PLUS+++++

Hi Everyone,

This is a call to action plus!

1. San Bernardino Rally for Safe & Local Access - Tuesday, April 27
2. May MAPP meetings

There are two ways elected officials get things done in America - rich people and even richer corporations give them lots of money to do it or enough ordinary folks make enough of a stink that local elected officials take action. Well we sure don't have the money but we have the people - that is if YOU will make the time to come out and make yourself heard.

I don't need to go into detail about the reasons and rational for the rally and speak out this Tuesday at the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors meeting - if you read my emails you have read all the reasons before. The only way patients will finally get safe, reliable and local access is when our elected officials create the rules and regulations that will protect those who provide us with our medicine.

When we get a significant number of people out to a meeting, elected officials take notice. The bottom line for any elected official is getting re-elected and fat cats and corporations shower money on elected officials so they can buy votes. We may not be able to do that - yet - but we do vote and we also get our family members, friends, co-workers and others out to vote as well and I can assure you, they take notice of that.

That's why patients need you to come on down to downtown San Bernardino this Tuesday at 10 AM and join us for what is going to be a truly exciting rally. We are going to meet at 10 a.m. at the San Bernardino County Administration Building where the Board of Supervisors holds their weekly sessions. At 10:15 a.m. we will walk two blocks over to the SB District Attorney's office where we will deliver an official Public Records Request letter requesting information relating to the amount of taxpayer money the DA's office has spent prosecuting medical marijuana patients and providers.

We will then walk back to the County Administration Building where will rally with speakers, chants and sign waving until it is time to go into the SB Board meeting for the Public Comment section. You don't have to make a 3 minute presentation to the Board, but I encourage you to do so - the Board needs to hear from YOU! The first amendment to the U.S. Constitution gives you the right to free speech and to assemble peacefully and seek redress of grievances before your elected officials - this is your right as an American citizen and your chance to experience the incredible high you feel when you use it. Exercising your freedoms is like exercising your muscles - if you don't use it, you will lose it.

Mark your calendar and join your friends and compatriots on Tuesday, April 27 at 10 a.m. at the San Bernardino County Administration Building at 385 N. Arrowhead in downtown San Bernardino 92415.

We would appreciate it if you could send us an email (asasbcountyaction@gmail.com) and let us know if you are planning on coming.

MAY MAPP MEETINGS- Circle the dates on your calendar

Saturday, May 1 at 3 p.m. - Palm Springs/Coachella Valley.
Program to be announced.
Crystal Fantasy Enlightenment Center, 266 N. Palm Canyon in downtown Palm Springs 92262 - across the street from the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Wednesday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. - Riverside/Inland Empire.
Featured speaker Christopher Fichtner, M.D., American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Certified, Fellow of the American College of Physicians Executives and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Southern Illinois University.
Meeting at THCF Medical Clinic, 647 Main St., Riverside 92501.

Wednesday, May 19 at 6:30 p..m.- High Desert.
Program to be announced.
Castle Inn, 1388 N. Golden Slipper Lane, Landers 92285.

Lanny Swerdlow
Director, Marijuana Anti Prohibition Project

RALLY THIS TUESDAY SAN BERNARDINO!!!!!

SAN BERNARDINO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RALLY TUESDAY, APRIL 27 at 10 AM.

We have got to let SB elected officials know in no uncertain terms that their lawlessness and refusal to recognize California's medical marijuana laws even after their humiliating loss at the U.S. Supreme Court is wrong, wrong, wrong.

I know we have been before the Board before and it all seems so futile - but it is our right and
our duty "to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
If we don't take this action, then nothing will ever change - so don't throw your hands up in
despair - we can bring about change even in San Bernardino County, but it will take concerted
effort on all our parts.

Your presence, and if you chose, your three minute presentation before the Board, lets them
know, the Sheriff and the DA know, and everyone else know that patients have specific rights and the law must be followed. I honestly believe they will come around, but I know it will never happen unless we are there to tell them that it must happen. Do not abrogate your rights as American citizen to speak to your elected officials and set them straight.

We will meet in front of the San Bernardino County Administration Building on Tuesday, April 27 beginning at 10 AM.

Bring a sign if you like to let everyone know what is going on as they pass by on the atreet, enjoy some speakers, and then join us as we go into the Board meeting to make our presentations during the public comment session.

We need as many people as possible to show up, so please brings your friends. This is an important chance to take part in democracy.

The County Administration Building is located 385 N. Arrowhead Ave. in lovely downtown
San Bernardino 92415.

Delaying Medical Marijuana Law Costly for San Bernardino County

Today's San Bernardino Sun newspaper ran an outstanding op-ed on the topic of what the lack reasonable marijuana regulations in San Bernardino County is really costing Inland Empire citizens. The article is written by our own Lanny Swerdlow, director of the Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project (MAPP), an Inland Empire medical marijuana and patient's rights advocacy group.

Please take a moment to read the article and do post a comment in the comments section after reading. We want to educate as many folks as possible and draw as much local attention as we can to this important issue at this critical time. You can bet local officials are reading, so the more positive comments posted in agreement of Lanny's position the better. We also want to encourage the Sun and other Inland Empire newspapers and media outlets to cover this topic, and the more interest the public shows, the greater liklihood of that happening.

Read the full SB Sun article and post comments here.

Happy 4-20! and High Desert MAPP Meeting Reminder

Happy 4-20 Everyone! Do something to celebrate and do something to give back to the movement. Donate funds, volunteer your time to fight for patients' safe access to medical marijuana, and join with others working to further the cause. For instance, if you're in the high desert area, check out Wednesday's (4-21-10) High Desert MAPP (Marijuana Anti Prohibition Project) meeting.

The regular monthly meeting of the High Desert MAPP group will feature a presentation by local High Desert attorney Stephen Peretz. In addition, Cheri Sicard will be there to speak about the upcoming rally on April 27 with the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. Mark your calendars so you won't miss this informative and, since it is the high Desert group, fun, fun, fun meeting.

The High Desert MAPP meeting will be Wednesday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Castle Inn, 1388 N. Golden Slipper Lane in beautiful albeit slightly out of the way Landers, CA 92285.

Yes-We-Cannabis Meeting 4-21, Riverside and SB Rally

This next week is shaping up to be an exciting one for advocates across the Inland Empire.

After your April 20th celebrations, come out to the Coffee Depot in Downtown Riverside on April 21st for the monthly Yes We Cannabis meeting. Always fun and informative, Yes We Cannabis meetings are a great place to network with other advocates and find out more about how to be involved!Coffee Depot is located at 3204 Mission Inn Avenue, and the meeting begins at 7:30.

Tuesday, April 27th, is our next Rally for Regulations at the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors. We need you to join us in requesting that the County develop responsible regulations for collectives ahead of the expiration of the current moratorium. The rally is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in front of the Board Chambers: 385 N. Arrowhead San Bernardino, CA. We want to fill the room with support, so mark this one down on your calendar!

Going to the THC Expose in Los Angeles this weekend? If so, don't forget to drop in at the Yes We Cannabis booth. We'll be there with new t-shirts, giveaways, and all the information on what is happening in the Inland Empire!

We hope you'll join us this week and get involved in making a change happen in your communities!

Yours in solidarity,

Angela Smith
Co-Direcor, Yes-We-Cannabis

SAN BERNARDINO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RALLY TUESDAY, APRIL 27

SAN BERNARDINO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RALLY TUESDAY, APRIL 27 at 10 AM.

It's a disaster again in San Bernardino County with Sheriff's officers raiding collectives,
patients like Don Lawrence being arrested and jailed and a total abandonment of any effort to
allow patients safe, reliable and local access. We have got to let SB elected officials know in
no uncertain terms that this lawlessness and refusal to recognize California's medical marijuana
laws even after their humiliating loss at the U.S. Supreme Court is wrong, wrong, wrong.

I know we have been before the Board before and it all seems so futile - but it is our right and
our duty "to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
If we don't take this action, then nothing will ever change - so don't throw your hands up in
despair - we can bring about change even in San Bernardino County, but it will take concerted
effort on all our parts.

Your presence, and if you chose, your three minute presentation before the Board, lets them
know, the Sheriff and the DA know, and everyone else that patients have specific rights and the
law must be followed. I honestly believe they will come around, but I know it will never happen
unless we are there to tell them that it must happen. Do not abrogate your rights as American
citizen to speak to your elected officials and set them straight.

We will meet in front of the SB County Administration Building on Tuesday, April 27 beginning at 10 AM.

Bring a sign if you like to let everyone know what is going on, enjoy some speakers and then join us as we go into the Board meeting to make our presentations during the public comment session.

The County Administration Building is located 385 N. Arrowhead Ave. in lovely downtown
San Bernardino 92415.

Lanny Swerdlow
Director, Marijuana Anti Prohibition Project

CHINO SUPPORT RALLY TOMORROW 4-14-10

Thank you to those who joined us in our court support efforts last week at the Chino Superior Courthouse for those volunteers and staff being held from the recent raid on the San Bernardino Patients Association.

SBPA has currently re-opened as an advocacy center and will be hosting their first support rally tomorrow evening. Patient members of the collective who were arrested and detained during the raid will be on hand to discuss their stories. The rally will be held at SBPA-3757 Riverside Dr. Ste B Chino, CA 91710 and will begin at 6:30 PM. Come out to show your support for the patients involved, and hear about why San Bernardino needs regulations, not raids.

Yours in solidarity,

Angela Smith, Co-Director, Yes-We-Cannabis

High Desert MAPP Meeting, Wednesday, April 21

The regular monthly meeting of the High Desert MAPP (Marijuana Anti Prohibition Project) group will feature a presentation by local High Desert attorney Stephen Peretz. In addition, Cheri Sicard will be there to speak about the upcoming rally on April 27 with the Board of Supervisors. Mark your calendars so you won't miss
this informative and, since it is the high Desert group, fun, fun, fun meeting.

The High Desert MAPP meeting will be Wednesday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Castle Inn, 1388 N. Golden Slipper Lane in beautiful albeit slightly out of the way Landers, CA 92285.

San Bernardino Medical Marijuana Rally April 27

San Bernardino Rally April 27 to Protest Raids and Medical Marijuana Ordinance Inaction

As we have written in past posts, San Bernardino County has failed to live up to their commitment to implement California's medical marijuana laws and allow patients safe, reliable and local access. The Sheriff's office has begun a systematic program of raiding collectives and arresting collective operators, employees and even patients. This is beyond the pale and one of the most effective avenues to try and stop these hideous practices is to once again go before
our elected officials on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and demand that they take action to reign in the lawless actions of SB County law enforcement. The democratic and American way to do that would be to get our elected officials to light a fire under the Planning Department to get a medical marijuana ordinance allowing collectives to operate before the Board for a vote and for it to be implemented ASAP.

Mark your calendar now for Tuesday, April 27 at 10 a.m. and join us at the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors meeting at the County Administrative Building at 385 N. Arrowhead Ave. in downtown San Bernardino. More information will be forthcoming in future posts, but mark your calendar now so that you can be there.

We can stop this madness, but only if patients and advocates such as yourself make the time to join us and demand our rights under California law.

Lanny Swerdlow, Director MAPP

Marijuana TV Show Now Seen in Inland Empire and More!

Marijuana Compassion and Common Sense, the TV show which has been seen in the Coachella Valley, Riverside and the High Desert since 2006, breaks into the big time on Charter Cable TV beginning Friday, April 16. The show will now be seen on Charter Cable in the San Gabriel Valley (Pasadena, Alhambra, Norwalk, Azusa, Irwindale and others), Inland Empire (Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, Norco, LaSierra, Riverside, Rubidoux and more), Long Beach, High Desert (Victorville, Apple Valley, Hesperia, Big Bear, Running Springs, Crestline and more), Whittier and Malibu every Friday night at midnight on Charter Cable 31 (11:30 p.m. in the San Gabriel Valley and channel 3 in the High Desert).

Tackling issues from the medical efficacy of cannabis to the laws surrounding it use
recreationally as well as medically, the show will specifically work to develop support for the
Cannabis Tax and Regulate Initiative that will appear on California's November 2010 ballot as well as repoprt local medical marijuana news.

If you have cable TV in any of these areas, you can now see the show. More importantly, you can help spread the word by telling your friends, neighbors, co-workers and every else about the
show. If your friends are not as lucky as you to have cable and only have a satellite dish,
invite them over a Marijuana Compassion and Common Sense party. You know it will be a hoot.

STOP DEA MEDICAL MARIJUANA RAIDS

Over the past two months, the DEA has raided medical marijuana laboratories and cultivators in Colorado and Hawaii. To make matters worse, the federal government has assisted local law enforcement in dozens of other raids in California, Colorado, and Michigan.

U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, will soon conduct the confirmation hearings for Acting DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart. President Obama has nominated Michele Leonhart to be the new administrator of the DEA.

Please urge Senator Leahy to aggressively question Ms. Leonhart about recent DEA medical marijuana raids.

Please take a minute to email Senator Leahy today: www.americansforsafeaccess.org/AskLeahy

MAPP Meeting Wed April 7 and Radio Show

From: Lanny Swerdow, Director Marijuana Anti Prohibition Project

MAPP Meeting, Wednesday April 7
7:30 PM
THCF Medical Clinic
647 Main Street
Riverside 92501

Radio Show
Don Lawrences's release and the Chino collective raid will be the topic of discussion on Monday's
Marijuana Compassion and Common Sense radio show at 6:05 p.m. You can learn what happened at the arraignment and what will be happening next. If you are member of the SBPA, it would be great to have you call in to the show. The number to call is 888-909-1050.

The radio show can be heard everywhere in the western Inland Empire on radio station KCAA
1050AM. If you can't get it on your radio dial, the show is also simulcast on the Internet and
can be heard at www.kcaaradio.com. Click on LISTEN LIVE on the home page.

MAPP Meeting
The Chino Collective raid will also be one of the items under discussion at the Wednesday, April
7 Riverside MAPP meeting. We should have a lot more information and hopefully some of the
victims of the raid will be able to be there and fill us in on exactly what happened.

There has been considerable discussion on what our response should be and by Wednesday night I would imagine that there will be options that we need to discuss. We can't just do nothing - if
we don't fight back for our rights, it will only get worse and more dangerous.

Part of our problem is that most elected officials have little direct contact with us and don't
see us as a constituent whose concerns need to be addressed. If we want to part of the system to
protect our rights, then we need to work within the system. At the meeting on Wednesday we will be doing just that as two candidates for elective office will be at the meeting.

Anna Nevenic, RN, candidate for the 37th State Senatorial District and Herb Higgins, candidate
for the 4th District in Riverside County will be making presentations about their candidacy. We
hope that other candidates for elective office will contact us so that they may speak before us
and learn about our concerns.

Following the MAPP meeting will be a group of activists seeking interest in establishing a NORML chapter in the Inland Empire. There will be representatives from several Southern California chapters to speak.

As you can see, the Wednesday, April 7 MAPP meeting in Riverside is going to be of some interest and will certainly stimulate and hopefully motivate you to get involved.

The MAPP meeting on Wednesday, April 7 begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. and takes place at that
Mecca of medical marijuana rationality and perseverance, the THCF Medical Clinic, 647 Main
Street, Riverside 92501.

Don Lawrence Case Dismissed! - Still in Jail

From: Lanny Swerdlow, Director, Mariujuana Anti Prohibition Porject

Good News!

Medical marijuana patient Don Lawrence, who has been in prison for over one and one-half months had his case dismissed last Friday. Unfortunately due to some kind of court to prison mix-up, he is still in jail. Hopefully we will be able to get him out on Monday.

As for what happened - it is all too bizarre.

Don was in jail and facing 25 years to life in prison because of totally incompetent defense by
the San Bernardino Public Defenders office. With only 12 plants, police claim of two pounds
(which is always absurd), an exceeds limit recommendation and two other patients he was growing for, the case should have been dismissed at the preliminary hearing. None of this evidence was introduced because his public defender didn't even show up and the public defender representing his son substituted and he knew nothing of Don's case and next to nothing about medical marijuana law.

Figuring that Don would continue to be represented by incompetent public defenders, the
prosecuting attorney tacked on a three strikes charge to scare Don into pleading guilty to a
lesser charge because Don knew all too well just how incompetent his public defenders were.

Putting his home up for collateral, we were able to raise the money to retain the services of
Zenia Gilg, whose illustrious string of successful defenses included Inland Empire patients
Marty Victor, David Markarian and Rich and Joanne McCabe. Ms. Gilg's prowess as a medical
marijuana defense attorney is well known by Inland Empire prosecutors.

Last week Ms. Gilg informed the San Bernardino DA's office that on Monday, April 5, she will be
filing for change of counsel and that she would now be Mr. Lawrence's attorney. This fact was
reported in an excellent story in the April 2 issue of the SB Sun and Inland Valley Daily
Bulletin.

The same day the story comes out, I get a call from his public defender, that the SB DA's office
has moved to dismiss all the felony marijuana charges. Whatever hopes they had of facing up
against an ill-prepared public defender were dashed when they learned that Zenia Gilg would soon be Don's attorney. They lawyers in the DA's office are not stupid , they knew they didn't have a case against Don and they didn't want to be embarrassed by losing what, thanks to the SB Sun article, was going to become a high profile case.

Hopefully we will get Don out on Monday and he will be at the Wednesday Riverside MAPP meeting to celebrate his freedom with us.

Chino Raid Update

From: Lanny Swerdlow, Director Marijuana Anti Prohibition Project

CHINO COLLECTIVE OPERATORS TO BE ARRAIGNED MONDAY

The two operators of the SB Patients Association collective remain in jail along with three
employees and possibly one or two patients stemming from the raid by San Bernardino Sheriff'
officers on Tuesday, March 30. Although a couple of those arrested were able to post bail, most
remained in jail with a combined bail total exceeding $10 million.

There has not been much more information available from what was in the last email newsletter. I have received a number of emails from members of the SBPA very upset at the loss of their source of medicine. Several of these emails were from low income individuals expressing how
compassionate SBPA was in providing low cost or even free medication to them. SBPA was one of
the relatively older collectives and operated in compliance with the Attorney General
Guidelines.

In a story published in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, which is printed at the end of this
newsletter as well, the SB Sheriff's office has issued a press release with some really weird
wording. It is very unusual for the Sheriff's office to issue any kind of press release unless
they realize what they are doing is pissing off a lot of people and that these people complain
to their elected officials and so to cover their butts they put out a press release touting
their heroic acts of bravery and the evilness of the evil they have just vanquished.

As more information becomes available, I will send it out in a newsletter, but in the meantime,
court support is being sought at Monday's arraignment hearing at 7:45 a.m. at the Chino Superior Court, 13260 Central Ave in Chino, CA 91710.

It is not known which courtroom the hearing will be held in, but supporters will be out in force
with rally signs. Having gone through trials myself and with way too many patients, I know how
empowering it is to have friends and supporters on hand when standing before a judge, so if you
can make it, please come.

New Inland Valley Daily Bulleton Article

The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin has published a new article on the Chino raid.

Become a Fan on Facebook

You can now get San Bernardino County medical marijuana updates on Facebook. Check out our Facebook page here.

Follow us on Twitter!

You can now get San Bernadino County medical marijuana news and action alerts via Twitter. Follow us here
http://twitter.com/ASASBCAction

ACTION ALERT! -- Help Those Arrested in Chino

Friday, April 2, 2010
Good afternoon,

As we are awaiting information in regards to those still in custody from the Chino raid, here are a few ways you can help.

1. Below you will find a list of the phone numbers and the emails of the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors. We need to light up their phone lines this afternoon and fill their in boxes this weekend with requests for regulations, not raids!

2. This morning, both the San Bernardino Sun and the Daily Bulletin posted articles (Links Below) about the Chino raid, and the aftermath. There have been multiple negative comments posted since then. We need to reply with positive responses and make sure our voice and opinions are heard. Remember-Regulations, not Raids!

We will keep you posted on pending court support. Actual arraignments have not occurred yet but may happen as early as this afternoon or as late as Monday morning.


Spread the word, we stand together.


Angela Smith, Co-Director Yes-We-Cannabis

RESOURCES

SB Sun Article Here

Daily Bulletin Here

San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors

Brad Mitzelfelt

1st District

SupervisorMitzelfelt@sbcounty.gov

909-387-4830

Paul Biane

2nd District

SupervisorBiane@sbcounty.gov

909-387-4833

Neil Derry

3rd District

SupervisorDerry@sbcounty.gov

909-387-4855

Gary Ovitt

4th District/Chairman

SupervisorOvitt@sbcounty.gov

909-387-4866

Josie Gonzales

5th District/Vice Chair

SupervisorGonzales@sbcounty.com

909-387-4565

HOW DO I FIND OUT WHAT DISTRICT I AM IN?
Check out these district maps to find which supervisor you should write to (if you already don't know).

District 1 Map -- Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt

District 2 Map -- Supervisor Paul Biane

District 3 Map -- Supervisor Neil Derry

District 4 Map -- Supervisor Gary Ovitt

District 5 Map -- Supervisor Josie Gonzales

Chino Raid and Court Update

Friday April 2, 2010
Good morning,

Thank you to those who rallied at Chino Superior Court today for those still in custody from this weeks raid on San Bernardino Patients Association.

Deputy D.A. James Hoffman stated that thus far charges were to be filed against seven people, those not charged would be released later today. The D.A. advised that there is very little information available in the discovery at this time as many reports are still being filed.

We will keep you posted on pending court support. Actual arraignments have not occurred yet but may happen as early as this afternoon or as late as Monday morning.

Also, the Daily Bulletin has posted an article about the raid that can be read HERE

Spread the word, we stand together.

Yours in solidarity,

Ryan Michaels, Director Yes-We-Cannabis

Court Support Needed Friday!

From: Angela Smith, Yes-We-Cannabis

Good Evening,

Here is the latest information that we have in regards to the Chino Raid:

At this time formal charges have not been filed by the San Bernardino District Attorney's office against the operators of SBPA, though they are still being held in custody. Even so, they are due to be arraigned tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. in the Chino Superior Court, Department C-2, 13260 Central Ave. Chino, CA 91710.

We need your support in the courtroom to show that we will not stand idly by and let San Bernardino County stand on the rights of qualified patients.

Please email info@yes-we-cannabis.org for additional information.

Take care and stay safe,

Yours in solidarity,

Angela Smith

Latest Info on Chino Raid

From: Ryan Michaels, Yes-We-Cannabis

Good afternoon,

We are slowly gathering more information about the actions of San Bernardino County Sheriffs and Chino Poice involved in a raid on a local medical cannabis collective, here are the updates so far:

1. On Tuesday evening March, 30, 2010, 15 minutes prior to closing as many as thirty officers in raid gear swarmed the facility through front and rear doors, badges were covered.

2. Paper bags were placed over the cameras.

3. Two operators, husband and wife, and eleven employees were on-site at the time and all were detained and arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to sell.

4. All marijuana, computers, patient files, and some furniture was taken.

5. Currently ALL parties are being held on a four million ($4,000,000) bond, we are awaiting updates from attorneys and bail bondsmen today to see how they will proceed for release but a number of personal contacts are involved working to get the operators released.

6. Chino Police and San Bernardino County Sheriffs reportedely arrested patients as well, and in fact set up a checkpoint in the parking lot from which they searched and arrested a number of individuals who were coming to the collective yesterday. Arrests were made for a variety of charges including simple possession.

It is unfortunate to have to report news of this nature, but I am hopeful from the incredible response from all across Southern California and now the nation, we are working to coordinate a response that is in-line with the desires of the operators, we will not stand idly by and let San Bernardino County stand on the rights of qualified patients.

Take care and stay safe,

Yours in solidarity,

Ryan Michaels
Director, Yes-We-Cannabis

Medical Marijuana Advocacy Groups to Stage Upcoming Rallies in San Bernardino

Two Inland Empire medical marijuana advocacy groups are co-sponsoring two upcoming rallies at the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors meetings on April 27 and May 25. Directors from the Marijuana Anti Prohibition Project (MAPP, www.cannabisnews.org) and Yes We Cannabis (www.yes-we-cannabis.org) are organizing the rallies to give the public a chance to speak up and request responsible medical marijuana regulations in the county. The rallies will begin at 10 AM at 385 N. Arrowhead Ave, in downtown San Bernardino.

The county’s current moratorium on medical cannabis dispensaries is scheduled to expire in June and Inland Empire patients want to see regulations, not another extension on the current moratorium or an outright ban.

“It is time for our local government to act in the interest of qualified patient constituents and we are hopeful that county officials will take heed of the concerns of the community to provide for the safe access to medicine for medical marijuana patients, “ says Ryan Michaels, director of Yes-We Cannabis.

Lanny Swerdlow, a registered nurse and director of the Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project, takes issue with the county’s waste of taxpayer money. "With no ordinance on how medical marijuana is to be distributed, taxpayer money that is desperately needed for county services is being wasted as San Bernardino County medical marijuana patients and providers continue to be arrested and prosecuted,” says Swerdlow.

Following the raid of a medical marijuana collective in Phelan, KABC news reported on March 9 that “Authorities in San Bernardino County said they are aggressively cracking down on violators of a county moratorium against selling marijuana.”

Swerdlow continues, “If this is indeed the policy of San Bernardino County law enforcement, how many more patients will be ensnared in the criminal justice system and how much more money must San Bernardino County continue to hemorrhage while waiting for a medical marijuana collective ordinance to be drafted?"

In fact, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been wasted throughout California arresting and prosecuting legitimate patients whose charges are routinely dropped. In many cases, the courts have even ordered cities and counties to pay damages to wrongfully prosecuted patients. MAPP and Yes-We-Cannabis don’t want this happening in San Bernardino County.

Angela Smith, co-director of Yes-We-Cannabis notes that patients in San Bernardino have faced an uphill battle in regards to gaining safe access to their medicine, often having to drive to Orange or Los Angeles counties or even resort to black market sources. “The establishment of responsible regulations for collectives will protect the patient's safety and well-being In addition, responsible regulations would have the added benefit of keeping a potentially important source of revenue firmly in San Bernardino County."

County residents who agree with that position are encouraged to join MAPP and Yes-We Cannabis at the two rallies and let their positions be known to our elected county officials.

The Marijuana Anti Prohibition Project (MAPP, www.cannabisnews.org) is a non-profit inland empire medical marijuana patient support and law reform organization.

Yes We Cannabis (www.yes-we-cannabis.org) is a non-profit inland empire advocacy group promoting greater public understanding regarding medical marijuana laws, scientific studies of medical marijuana, and objective evidence relating to medical marijuana.