White House Statement Signals the Beginning of the End!

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Public Outcry Following New DEA Raids Spurs Presidential Response

Dear Friends,

In a statement signaling what may be largest victory to date in the campaign to end federal interference and intimidation in the thirteen states where medical cannabis is legal, White House Spokesman Nick Shapiro said on Wednesday that he expects President Obama to end Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) raids once he can nominate someone to take charge of DEA, an agency still staffed by Bush officials.

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) has made ending federal raids a national priority since we opened the first office in Washington, DC dedicated exclusively to medical cannabis advocacy in 2006. We need your continued support to take advantage of this historic opportunity.

Please donate today to help ensure that ASA can continue our work with the Obama Administration and Congressional leaders to enact policies that support safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.

Shapiro made the unprecedented statement in the wake of five DEA raids in California a_" four in a single day a_" since Inauguration Day. a_oThe president believes that federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws, and as he continues to appoint senior leadership to fill out the ranks of the federal government, he expects them to review their policies with that in mind," Shapiro said.

ASA was instrumental in creating the national media and grassroots outcry, which prompted the historic statement. ASA and other advocacy organizations generated thousands of calls to the White House following a January 22 raid in South Lake Tahoe and Tuesdaya_Ts raids in the Los Angeles area. ASA members also helped push the issue of medical cannabis to number three on the list of priorities in the Presidenta_Ts web site, Change. gov. Media reports of four raids in Los Angeles on Tuesday prompted critical coverage from media nationwide.

There is still a lot of hard work to do in solidifying the upcoming change in federal policy, and ASA sent policy recommendations aimed at harmonizing federal and state law and encouraging research to President Obama and Congress earlier this year. Now we need you help more than ever to keep the grassroots pressure behind our strategic work in Washington, DC.

Please support ASA today!.

Sincerely,

Steph Sherer Executive Director Americans for Safe Access

Source: ASA Newsletter