CALL TO ACTION: HHS Rescheduling Rally Oct 4, Washington DC

*RALLY FOR RESCHEDULING:
DEMAND HHS RESCHEDULE MARIJUANA NOW!*

**
Click here to download a PDF
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/HHS%20Call%20to%20Action%202005.pdf>
or Word
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/HHSCalltoaction.doc>version of
this alert.

*TIME IS UP: WE NEED OUR MEDICINE NOW!*

***
WHAT*: RALLY FOR RESCHEDULING: MARIJUANA IS MEDICINE & ACTIVIST CAMPAIGN
TRAINING

**
***WHERE*: HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS), WASHINGTON DC


*WHEN*: TRAINING: MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2005 - 10:30AM-6:30PM
RALLY: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2005 - 10 AM

*WHO:* PATIENTS, DOCTORS, ADVOCATES & YOU!


*WHAT IS IT?* In 2002, Americans for Safe Access as part of a larger
coalition submitted a formal petition demanding the rescheduling of
marijuana. Last year, to turn up the heat, ASA activists gathered at the
Health and Human Services building in DC to echo the demands of the
rescheduling petition. ASA simultaneously launched a Data Quality Act
petition requesting HHS make corrections to published administrative
statements regarding the accepted medical value of marijuana. But HHS
continues to drag its feet. It's time to turn up the heat: Another year
is too long for patients to wait! Join ASA as we return to DC for the
"Rally to Reschedule" to demand HHS respond to the DQA petition and
acknowledge marijuana accepted medical value.

*WHY HHS?* To ensure safe and legal access for ALL patients, marijuana
must be rescheduled. In order for rescheduling to occur the federal
government must acknowledge marijuana's accepted medical value. In 2001
HHS ruled that marijuana had, "No currently accepted medical use in
treatment." They did not, however, address the mountain of data
recognizing cannabis as a useful treatment, by itself or as an adjunct
to other therapies, for a variety of chronic conditions. Some of these
conditions include cancer, HIV/AIDS, chronic pain, multiple sclerosis,
osteoarthritis, Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitis, glaucoma, anorexia
and recurrent migraines but this is not an exhaustive list.

Refusing to acknowledge marijuana's accepted medical value gives DEA the
leverage they need to reject rescheduling. Worse yet, it gives DEA
implicit permission to continue raiding medical marijuana patients and
cooperatives.

*WHAT SHOULD I DO?*

1. COME TO WASHINGTON DC: E-mail Rebecca at _rebecca [at] safeaccessnow.org_
<mailto:rebecca [at] safeaccessnow.org> or call (510) 251-1856 and give us
your name, address, your phone number, and your e-mail address if you
would like to join us.

2. GET YOUR MATERIALS: Download the Community Fundraising materials,
action flyers and petitions from
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=1366.

3. START FUNDRAISING: You will be representing all the medical marijuana
patients and supporters from your community who will not be present. Ask
your community for help sending you to DC! Personalize and send out the
fundraising letter to everyone in your address book. Throw a house party
and ask for donations to support your travel costs.

*SCHEDULE:

Sunday, Oct. 2, 7:00pm:* ASA Reception
*
Monday, Oct. 3, 10:30am-6:30pm:* Trainings covering lobbying, media,
political art
&
overview of ASA's Rescheduling Campaign

*Tuesday, Oct. 4, 10:00am:* Rescheduling Rally at HHS

*WHO ARE WE? *Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national
grassroots coalition working to protect the rights of patients and
doctors to legally use marijuana for medical purposes. Our mission is to
ensure safe, legal access to marijuana for all who are helped by it. We
provide legal training for lawyers and patients, medical information for
doctors and patients, media support for court cases, activist training
to grassroots organizers, and rapid response to law enforcement
encounters. We work with local, state and national legislators to raise
awareness of issues concerning medical marijuana patients. Our
successful media and legal campaigns have resulted in important court
precedents, new sentencing standards, and more compassionate community
guidelines.

For more information, visit http://www.safeaccessnow.org
<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/>

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