Thursday, May 29, 2008

Support Medical Marijuana Patients employment rights

Support Medical Marijuana Patients Rights in California. Read this informations provided by AMERICANS FOR SAFE ACCESS. Support them today.

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ASA Victory for Patients’ Employment Rights
California Assembly Votes to Protect
Medical Marijuana Patients' Right to Work

Yesterday, the California Assembly voted to approve legislation sponsored by Americans for Safe Access (ASA) that will protect medical cannabis patients from discrimination in the workplace! Thanks to a groundswell of grassroots support from thousands of ASA members and allies, Assemblymember Mark Leno’s AB 2279 is now on its way to the California Senate and then to the Governor’s desk. This is a tremendous step forward in ASA’s continuing work to defend and expand the rights of medical cannabis patients in California.

Please take a moment right now to support ASA’s strategic and effective work in Sacramento!

Assemblymember Leno introduced AB 2279 after the California Supreme Court ruled that medical cannabis patients could be fired – even if they were not using or impaired by cannabis in the workplace! This outrageous ruling placed more than 200,000 legal patients in jeopardy. Fortunately, ASA and Assemblymember Leno were prepared in advance and ready to act.

Since the bill was introduced, ASA staff has been actively working to educate lawmakers and rally grassroots support. ASA visited the offices of every key committee member prior to the vote, identified strategic “must win” districts, and mounted an effective email and call in campaign in the days leading up to the vote.

ASA also worked diligently to secure key endorsements needed to overcome opposition to the bill. Influential labor groups, like the Service Workers International Union (SEIU) and the Americans Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), who represent over one million California workers, support AB 2279. ASA also helped secure endorsements from local Chambers of Commerce and HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations.

We have crossed a milestone in the effort to protect patients’ rights, but we need your help to secure the Senate vote and the Governor’s signature. You can be sure ASA is there for the entire fight by donating $100 today to support our work.

Thank you for your support and commitment to defending patients’ rights in California!

P.S. For more information about ASA's employment rights bill, please visit www.AmericansForSafeAcce ss.org/AB2279.


ASA - Americans for Safe Access is the nation's largest organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.

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