Citizens for Safe Access

P.O. Box 5281 North Hollywood, Ca 91616-5281 • Tel 818-914-9560  • Fax 323-882-6263

PRESS RELEASE                                                      Contact                                                

Duke Smith                       818-914-9560

August 11, 2008                                                         Richard Eastman              323-474-4602

                                                                                    Jim Chudd      http://www.citizens4safeaccess.com

For immediate release                                                 

                                                                                               

Medical Marijuana Patients thank Obama at DNC.

What started off as an apparent feud requiring involvement by the ACLU.  Activist, Campaigners, and constituents’ have changed there tone to one of a 68” love in, to thank Obama for his stance on medical marijuana.

On Thursday, August 28, 2008, medical marijuana patients and supporters will march from Lincoln park in downtown Denver  CO, to the north side of INVESCO Field  thanking Barak Obama for his position on medical cannabis, and asking for him to show his gratitude once elected, “ It is time for the President to exercise his power of the pen to reschedule this medicine, by not changing policy is just standing in the way and confusing the issue, It time to get the law cleared up.” Says Duke Smith event chairman.

“Supporters are letting him know how important this issue is, an issue that has already been decided in the twelve states where voters approved its use. Allow states to distribute tax and regulate, and as we know tax is a big word. Do you realize the billions in taxable revenue that could be used to improve healthcare, or lend support to HIV healthcare which has lost millions under the bush administration, In addition to getting seriously ill patients out of jail who have been persecuted for no good reason, let’s stop the hypocrisy.

How do I know Obama Supports us? Upon writing to Obama asking his position I received the following as a response,” replied Mr. Smith.

Thank you for contacting Obama for America to inquire about the Senator's position on allowing severely ill patients to use marijuana for medical purposes. 

Many states have laws that condone medical marijuana, but the Bush Administration is using federal drug enforcement agents to raid these facilities and arrest seriously ill people.  Focusing scarce law enforcement resources on these patients who pose no threat while many violent and highly dangerous drug traffickers are at large makes no sense.  Senator Obama will not continue the Bush policy when he is president.

Thank you again for contacting us.

Sincerely,

Obama for America

Some highlighted event of the day will be speeches from Irv Rosenfeld, a patient that the federal government has providing with medical cannabis since the 70’s, We believe he would like to thank the federal government for being his caregiver for so many years, and a speech by our beloved Dennis Peron the pioneer and founder of the medical marijuana movement, not to mention Lynnette Shaw "owner of the longest standing, licensed and regulated medical cannabis club in America." As well as Brian Vicente and Timothy Tipton our local advocates’ whom we appreciate for their efforts.

Most details have been finalized effective Friday when the ACLU announced a resolution of a case that screamed for their involvement, we are just grateful that they seen it our way. “This will be the first national medical cannabis protest since patients and activists gathered in Washington, DC, in April 2000,” said parade organizer Richard Eastman, who has been using medical cannabis to treat the symptoms of AIDS since 1994.

The details that have been changed is that now we are confirmed to have a march with the starting point being  Lincoln Park opposed to Civic Center Park as originally planned. Organizers caution attendees that parking will be scarce and encourage marchers to take public transportation.

Eastman will announce additional speakers as well as  a reception dinner to be held if all goes as planned, the most difficult thing is finding the funding in these difficult and taxing times, but we will be their no matter what, in an industry that you would think would be flourishing with funding we are having it tight like everyone with this recession but we are excepting donations for official stickers for a $1; each. And we will get there no matter what, says Richard Eastman whom you can contact at (323) 474-4602 or visit www.citizens4safeaccess.com.

Events schedule for 8-28-08

Thursday, August 28 ROUTE: Starting at Lincoln Park 12th/13th Mariposa/Colfax/Federal/Invesco Field

11:00 - 11:45   Ten Million Citizens for Obama Citizens for Obama March for Democracy     Damien Sedney                  (5K)

11:45 - 12:30   Hillary Now No Obamination - Hilary Now for McCain                               Robert  Kunst                         100

12:30 - 1:15     Protect Colorado’s Future Protect Colorado’s Future Rally                         Jess Knox                           (1-5K)

12:30 - 1:15     Concerned Men of America                                                                    Dan Clopton                          (1K)

1:15 - 2:00       Citizens for Safe Access                                                                   Richard Eastman                     (1-10K)

2:00 - 2:30  Allies Against Marijuana Prohibition DNC 2008 Democrats & Allies Against Marijuana Prohibition Miguel Lopez (5-10K)

2:00 - 2:30       Recreate 68                                                                                       Barbara Cohen               (10K)

 

Citizens for Safe Access

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter. 

                                                                        Martin Luther King

Citizens for Safe Access

August 28^th at 1:15pm: A Call on Obama to Stand up for Patients as well as Their Rights

Hello, my name is Duke Smith.  Please join us in asking Obama to reschedule Cannabis. With the work of his pen he can stop the hypocrisy; he can end the criminalization of patients. 

We have secured the permit necessary for this march during the Democratic National Convention.  We invite the support from local people in Colorado as well as advocates from around the United States.  Please join us and unite in defending our rights.

I invite our friends in Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, Rhode Island, Maine, Nevada, Maryland, and Alaska as well as other advocates of medical cannabis and anyone else who believes and understands the importance of this dynamic government catch-22.

It’s time our government stopped lying to us about medical cannabis’ effectiveness as medicine; it’s time to march and demand our right to not be criminalized patients.

While this will be a historic march a lot of assistance, cooperation, and coordination will be required to ensure its success.  Accommodations, transportation, and tax deductible donations will be needed.  Together we can make this happen.  I hope we can rely on your support.

Thank you for your time and consideration.  Please feel free to contact me at 818-914-9560.  I look forward to marching with you.

Your friend in the fight,

Duke

Freedom on the March

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."

Theodore Roosevelt, 1918

This is why we are late, our request for the permit became an issue for litigation, this article is from the Progressive. It is all the same I just highlighted where ASA  name is in the text.

ACLU of Colorado Sues to Ensure DNC Protesters’ Rights

By Matthew Rothschild, May 2, 2008

If you’re planning on going to protest at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, they’re not making it easy on you.If you’re planning on going to protest at the Democratic National Convention in Denver August 25-28, they’re not making it easy on you.

Neither the city nor the Secret Service has yet let the public know about when and where they can protest.

It should be considered an abomination even to have to ask, under our Constitution, to exercise our First Amendment rights.

But after what happened four years ago at the Democratic Convention in Boston or at the Republican Convention in New York or at the FTAA protests in Miami, the ability to speak, assemble, and petition our government for redress of grievances has become very circumscribed.

Many protest groups are willing to jump through the bureaucratic hoops, but in Denver, they don’t even know how narrow those hoops are going to be.

“Denver has refused to process any applications for parade permits during the DNC, and it has refused to disclose any information about the ‘demonstration zone’ that it plans to set up,” explained Steven D. Zansberg, an ACLU cooperating attorney. “Denver says it is waiting for the Secret Service to decide the outer boundaries of the security perimeter, and the Secret Service says it may not decide until July. If the plaintiffs are forced to wait for these government agencies to act, there will be not be enough time for a court to review unreasonable restrictions on First Amendment activity.”

Plaintiffs include the ACLU, American Friends Service Committee, American Indian Movement of Colorado, Americans for Safe Access, CODEPINK, Escuela Tlatelolco, Troops Out Now Coalition, Recreate 68, Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center, Citizens for Obama, Tent State University, and United for Peace and Justice.

“Less than 120 days before” the Democratic National Convention, “the plaintiffs are unable to organize and plan their free speech and assembly activities,” the lawsuit alleges. “Despite numerous requests and urgings from the plaintiffs over the past several months, the City and County of Denver has refused even to begin the process of issuing permits needed to conduct ‘parades’ (political protest marches) along the public thoroughfares that from time immemorial have been reserved for such expressive use by the People.”

Stalling by the city and the Secret Service is “making it impossible for Plaintiffs to organize rallies, protests, and other demonstrations,” thus infringing on their constitutional rights, the suit says.

The protest groups are urging the court “to order the Secret Service to share with the city the information the city says it needs in order to process the Plaintiff’s pending requests for parade permits.”

All of the plaintiffs are nonviolent. One plaintiff, “Citizens for Obama,” is a group set up by a Vermont citizen named Damian Sedney. He’s been trying to get a permit for a pro-Obama march and rally at the convention. And even he has been stymied.

The ACLU of Colorado has been in discussion with the City of Denver, and in particular Deputy Police Chief Michael Battista, since May 23, 2007, about the upcoming protests. The group held four meetings with Battista or other city officials last year about this, and has had several other communications this year. Battista told the ACLU of Colorado that the Secret Service would have a “hard-security perimeter” around the Pepsi Center, where the convention is being held. Battista said there would be “free speech zone” or “demonstration zone” outside the Secret Service’s perimeter.

But these zones have yet to be announced, and anyway, not all the plaintiffs are willing to be penned in like that.

“For certain plaintiff organizations,” the suit says, “the prospect of being caged behind wires and fencing, with battalions of riot-clad law enforcement flanked around them, is anathema. In the eyes of these organizations, such militarism and forced confinement in the face of peaceful, humble petitioning is wholly inappropriate, and they refuse to enter such a ‘demonstration zone.’ Instead, these organizations intend to exercise their constitutional right of peaceful assembly and speech on the public forum spaces, such as sidewalks, walkways, and the like, as close as possible to the Convention. For these plaintiff organizations, therefore, it is imperative that the city not unconstitutionally close off access.”

The Secret Service did not return a call for comment.

Denver City Attorney David Fine gave the following statement:

“No one has been denied a parade permit. No one has been denied the right to protest. In fact you will see a vigorous exercise of free speech during the convention – in many ways and in many places. That being said, we will review the plaintiff’s papers and respond as necessary.”

This came out on the 26^th

DNC Parade Route Slots Announced

Denver Announces Allocation of Designated Parade Route Slots During Democratic National Convention

The City and County of Denver announced Thursday the initial allocation of slots on the Designated Parade Route to be available during the Democratic National Convention in late August for groups seeking to march toward the Pepsi Center.

Since announcing details of the route one week ago, the City worked closely with the seven separate organizations that requested use of the Designated Parade Route by the March 14 application deadline. Every organization that submitted a request has been allocated a slot on every day in which they were interested.

Organizations allocated slots and the dates for which they have been allocated are:

Thursday, August 28
Barbara Cohen, Recreate 68
Richard Eastman, Citizens for Safe Access
Damien Sedney, Citizens for Obama March for Democracy
Jess Knox, Protect Colorado’s Future

  Put the jackass in the wheelchair smoking a joint/bong

Grand Sponsor to receive

$25,000.

5 minuets on stage time top & Individual Billing, thanks on posters/flyers/handbills. Advertising and event information disseminated in all 13 states in large point print.

If signed up on within time every rally participant will get an arm band with sponsor name

2 company sign/banner to be carried during rally Tee shirts and hats if completed.

Recognized and honored at the reception.

1 hotel room accommodation along with 2 coach airline tickets to the event. For the 5 days.

10 tickets to reception dinner 5 tickets to thank you party

Recognition in press and media for sponsorship.

Premier sponsors receive

$5,000.

Billing and thanks disseminated in groups of no more then three in smaller point print

1 company sign/banner to be carried during rally posters/flyers/handbills.

10 free tee shirts recognition at reception dinner 2 tickets to reception dinner

Recognition in press and media for sponsorship space permitting.

Major sponsors

2,500

Billing and thanks disseminated  in groups of no more then  12 in smaller point print on

1 company sign/banner to be carried posters/flyers/handbills.

2 free tee shirts Recognition at reception dinner

Recognition in press and media for sponsorship space permitting.

Event Sponsors

1,000.

2 Tee Shirts

1 company sign/banner to be carried 2 tickets to dinner

Recognition at reception dinner

Budget:

Budget
Expense
Housing $220 per night X 10 rooms - five nights							11,000
Travel $500 per person X 10							5,000
Food $45 per day X 10 persons -five days							2,250
Promotions, Advertising, Signage, Communication and PA							21,500
Insurance and booth rental							1,000
Security							1,500
Shipping Expense							1,000
Community Reception							5,000
							48,250
	20%  Override						9,650
	Total Budget Expenses						57,900
Income
Potential Sponsors
	Anyone Please Help