SAFE AND LEGAL

Courtney Sheats Makes Sure Patients Know Their Rights

Oakland-based Americans for Safe Access was founded in 2002.
Cannabis-patient advocate Courtney Sheats-who is a patient as
well-works as the organization's Sacramento representative. She's a
major force in ensuring that true patients can relieve their pain and
suffering with high-quality and easily accessed cannabis in the
Sacramento area.

Describe the state of the cannabis community in Sacto post-Proposition 19.

Americans for Safe Access took no position on Proposition 19 because
it lies outside the scope of our focus and area of expertise. Even
post-Prop. 19, the reality is that it has been 15 years since Prop.
215 passed, and we are still fighting for patients' rights and to
prevent local governments from adopting bans.

Why did you decide to become involved with ASA?

[T]o work on closing the divide between state and federal laws. Great
progress has been made in California. However, patients are still
facing issues with housing, employment, child custody, veteran and
health-care services and traveling between states. ASA is working on
pushing the Obama administration toward a sensible federal policy.

What is one thing would you like to see happen with dispensaries in 2011?

In the city, I anticipate a continued focus on our medical-marijuana
community working together. Cannabis dispensaries are already legal
under state law, so we need local governments in our surrounding
areas to adopt ordinances that don't create hardships for patients
and providers.

If you could give patients any one word of advice, what would it be?

Know your rights and exercise your freedom of speech.

Has the city ordinance changed access for patients in the city? What
would you like to see the city of Sacramento do next?

Over the past several years, we have gained a victory for the
pre-moratorium dispensaries to remain open under the new city
ordinance. With this victory, however, dispensaries now have high
permitting costs associated with the licensing process. The high fees
that the city is imposing could result in rising medicine costs for
our patients or a smaller number of dispensaries, which may impact
access. The city will need to keep the needs of the patients in mind
when addressing future fees and raising taxes.

Does ASA hold local meetings or events? How can others become involved?

ASA meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month, 7 p.m., at
Crusaders Hall, 320 Harris Avenue, Suite H, in Sacramento. ... ASA
peer counselors are also available to answer legal, medical and
political questions, as well as conduct legal trainings and patient
spokesperson trainings.

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Find out more at www.safeaccessnow.org or e-mail Courtney Sheats at
courtney@safeaccessnow.org.

Each week, SN&R's The 420 will highlight Sacramento's
medical-cannabis community-in exactly 420 words!

Want SN&R to review your club's medical cannabis? Send suggestions to
bestbuds@newsreview.com. Reviewers write under pseudonyms to protect
anonymity as patients.