By: Marcus Boyd, Vice Chair San Diego Americans for Safe Access
Medical cannabis patients, supporters and advocates in the City of Imperial Beach (IB) are urged to be prepared. Additional law enforcement action against legitimate patients brought about by the IB City Council is imminent. Now is the time to stand up against the City Council’s attempt to eradicate access to medical cannabis for sick and dying patients and defend your rights.
On June 29th, Deputy Attorney General James Cole issued a memo reinforcing the intent of the federal government to interfere with state medical cannabis laws. That day Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the nation’s largest medical cannabis patient’s rights advocacy group issued a red alert.
“The time has come for great action on our part to show the federal government that our state’s right to medical cannabis will not be trumped.” Said Steph Sherer, Executive Director of ASA
In light of the red alert issued by ASA and actions taken by the Imperial Beach City Council including banning collective cultivation in the City and intimidating / ridiculing patients, for IB patients, the red alert warning has been enhanced.
At the June 15th IB City Council meeting, medical cannabis cancer patients on life support, and their supporters were met outside City Hall with an unusually large and intimidating contingent of deputies from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
That night, inside City Hall, injured, sick and dying residents were met with discrimination and ridicule by city officials and in short, told that state law did not apply in Imperial Beach on this issue. The Council proceeded to ban patients from associating to grow cannabis within their own private homes.
In light of both federal and local developments, SDASA believes that patients should closely monitor the actions of the Imperial Beach City Council on July 6th when for a second time they will be voting to ban patients from associating to grow cannabis in Imperial Beach.
This is another example of local governments refusing to respect the will of the voters and thumbing their noses at their own constituents.
Although IB residents and legitimate medical cannabis patients are sick and tired of the ridicule and prejudice, and have lost their trust in the Imperial Beach City Council, they still have not given up.
Patients, advocates, and concerned citizens are urged to attend the Imperial Beach City Council Meeting on Wednesday July 6th, and demand that Council to vote down their ban and move forward on a reasonable regulation that protects the rights of legitimate medical cannabis patients, rather than advances a bias driven agenda.
WHAT: Imperial Beach City Council Meeting
WHEN: Wednesday, July 6, 2011 – 6pm
WHERE: City Hall – 825 Imperial Beach Blvd in Imperial Beach
For more information contact South Bay San Diego ASA Coordinator Marcus Boyd at rasmwboyd@yahoo.com
