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Will AB 1578,
the Only Game In Town to Thwart the Feds,
Make it to Second Base?

On Friday, I, along with members of the Brownie Mary Democrats and the Drug Policy Alliance, met with Assemblyman Jones-Sawyer, primary sponsor of AB 1578 which will prevent police from assisting federal police in arresting, prosecuting or imprisoning marijuana providers who are following state law.

Assemblyman Jones-Sawyer explained how he came to submit this legislation and how it would work. As much as I think the feds should completely stay out of California, Assemblyman Jones-Sawyer explained that his bill will only protect those providers who are in compliance with state law. That means if they are rogue operators who have not obtained local and state licenses, local police can still can assist the feds in going after them.

 GOOD NEWS!!!

This makes the opposition to his bill by the California Chiefs of Police Association and the California State Sheriff’s Association all the more hypocritical and disrespectful of the voters of California.

Police should be overjoyed that they have the green-light to utilize federal resource personnel to go after marijuana providers in their community who are operating illegally. They ought to be grateful that a licensed and regulated marijuana distribution system has been put in place that will increase their donut eating time by ending enforcement of marijuana prohibition laws against otherwise law-abiding citizens and decrease the number of black market operators and the problems associated with any criminal enterprise.

After all they seem to have no problem with legal distributors of alcohol and tobacco and extensively utilize their resources and those of other government agencies to go after people selling alcohol and tobacco without a license. Police even killed a man in New York who was selling individual cigarettes without a license.

Police are well aware that a legal regulated market will in time significantly reduce illegal sales. This clearly shows that their agenda is not public safety, but rather their desire to continue to rake in millions of dollars in tax money and asset forfeiture by keeping marijuana illegal.

We got to first base when the Assembly’ Public Safety Committee voted last week on a party-line vote to approve and send to the floor AB 1578. Don’t get to giddy about this as this success has to be tempered with the understanding that Assemblyman Jones-Sawyer is the Chairperson of that committee. It is still considered an uphill battle to get this legislation passed as police are extensively lobbying state legislators with their scare tactics of increased crime, availability to children, stoned drivers and scariest of all a threat to endorse a more cop-compliant opponent in the next election.

STRANGE NEWS!

Do the right thing and successfully counter their intimidating tactics by taking 60 seconds to send your assembly member an email asking them to vote for AB 1578. If you want to do the super-right thing you can go full-throttle boogie and spend three minutes to give them a phone call. It is really is easy and can really help convince your assembly member to vote YES. To find out just how easy it is – CLICK HERE.

MAY MAPP MEETINGS FEATURE
ANTI-DRUG DISORDER and
AN INSIDER LOOK AT AB 1578

All three May MAPP meetings feature drug use educator Richard Gicomeng speaking on THE REALITY OF A DRUG SAFETY POLICY IS THAT IT SAVES LIVES. As part of the presentation, Richard will examine Anti-Drug Disorder - a progressive disease process that is characterized by the obsession to apply control policy despite its adverse consequences. For additional information on the scope of the presentation CLICK HERE.

I will be presenting a comprehensive update on AB 1578 including a behind-the-scenes account of my meeting with Assemblyman Reginal Jones-Sawyer, the bill’s sponsor. From legislative maneuvering to Gov. Jerry Brown’s leanings, Assemblyman Jones-Sawyer is a wealth of information that is both educational and fascinating.

From learning to recognize Anti-Drug Disorder and protecting both medical and adult-use marijuana cultivators, manufacturers and distributors from the feds plus a delicious assortment of cookies with milk, I would look forward to seeing you at any of our May MAPP meeting.

Wednesday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. – Moreno Valley/Western IE MAPP meeting - Greenview Medical, 22275 Alessandro Blvd, Moreno Valley, CA 92553

Saturday, May 6 at 12 noon - Palm Springs/Coachella Valley meeting – Crystal Fantasy, 268 N. Palm Canyon Dr., downtown Palm Springs 92262.

Saturday, May 6 at 3 p.m. - Joshua Tree/Morongo Valley meeting – Beatnik Lounge, 61597 Twenty-Nine Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree 92252.

WILL PROP. 64 PUT MJ ATTORNEYS
OUT-OF-WORK?

Famed MJ attorney Bruce Margolin
Takes a Nuanced Look

For the last 75 years, attorneys have made a very good living defending people accused of a broad variety of marijuana crimes. With the advent of legalization, will these attorneys have to look elsewhere for clients? On this podcast of Marijuana Compassion and Common Sense, one of the most experienced and knowledgeable attorneys on marijuana law takes a look at what marijuana legalization means for lawyers.

Bruce Margolin is a dedicated criminal defense attorney who successfully defended his clients against all types of accusations from marijuana to murder. For more than 40 years Mr. Margolin has successfully pursued justice on his clients’ behalf and defended their rights to be free of illegal searches and their rights that assure a fair trial.

With almost 50 years of courtroom experience in defending persons accused of an extensive variety of crimes, he has specialized in marijuana and drug cases successfully defending more marijuana cases than any other attorney in the country. He has written one of the most comprehensive and easy to read explanations of the California and Federal Marijuana laws that exists today, The Margolin Guide to Marijuana Laws.

Additionally he has served as the Director of the Los Angeles Chapter of NORML since 1973 and has been a candidate for Governor of California and U.S. Congress. Mr. Margolin has been selected numerous times to the list of California Super Lawyers and designated Criminal Defense Attorney of the Year. He has been actively involved in legislative reform initiatives, bar associations and other professional organizations.

To listen to this most informative podcast with Bruce Margolin and to find out if he will be applying for unemployment insurance, CLICK HERE or go to www.blogtalkradio.com/marijuananews anytime 24/7.

There is so much to do to protect our rights to access marijuana and we could use a little help from our friends.
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