Mara checks in and recaps where we are today, 10/1/2009
__________________________________________________________________
Good morning everyone,
I have a few thoughts I'd like to share on the e-mails that have
been
flying around.
Coordination of efforts; national vs. local
These seem to be the biggest issues
we have to deal with. As we know,
there are many organizations now getting involved. People have raised
issues re:
national organizations vs. local efforts. I don't think we
can look at this as an either or thing. This is an issue
that
critically effects San Diego but as we have seen, this community is
either uninformed, apathetic or both.
I STRONGLY believe that the way to get movement on this issue is to
broadcast UNTIL WE ARE BLUE IN THE FACE that
the issues raised here
critically concern ALL citizens because it is an example of local
police and prosecutors
committing wholesale violations of civil and
constitutional rights in direct defiance of the will of the people of
California. Their actions are going unchecked because those objecting
most to what is going on have either been arrested,
jailed without
bail and/or are too sick to protest.
I know I am preaching to the converted here but my point
is this - we
MUST broaden our scope beyond San Diego -- if for no other reason than
to show that this is a concerted
effort by California DAs, police, and
narcotics officers to upend the law and that this is a STATEWIDE issue
that
is NOT confined to SD. and, it is not confined to CA because it
is a question of federalism and state's rights to establish
medical
practices within the state (an issue that has been settled in the
courts, but not if you ask one of the
county board of supervisors).
Back to coordination -- our problem is that we are so incredibly
fragmented.
There is ASA, Norml and others. I think we can gain from
our association with them but I think that most peoples' concern
is
that these organizations are being hijacked by some people with the
loudest voices who make more of a case for
themselves than the people
who are similarly situated to them. The more any one person tries to
make this about
THEIR OWN CASE, the more everyone has to lose. That is
my personal opinion and I will leave it there.
I am
100% behind the idea of a web database of documents. these should
include: documents related to criminal proceedings
- summonses,
warrants, transcripts, etc for op green rx/endless summer defendants;
newspaper articles on the issue,
public statements from our beloved
government officials, etc. The google document application is great -
we
will just have to decide how we want to allow access to it.
I think one of the primary things that needs to happen,
at the very
least, is to have minutes (notes from the meeting) circulated after
these meetings occur so at least
people know what is going on.
(hopefully that will reduce some duplication.)
Lastly, regarding updates for
court hearings and other public events
-- there doesn't seem to be a clear place to go to get this
information easily
and quickly. The Herbfolks website and
sandiegomarijuana.com are both great starts but I find it quite
difficult to sift through all the other information to get to the
court, legal and newspaper updates. If we actually want people to
show up and be informed, we need to make it
much easier than that and
frankly, we need to have a website that has this information without
other commercial
information (like where to buy weed currently.)
we have so much great energy - like everyone else, I just want
to
focus it so we can accomplish our mutual goals.
much love,
MaraI am very happy to let Marcus run with coordination if he wants that
job -- its a huge one! Be prepared!
