On January 4, 2010, cannabis patients, activists, supporters, providers, and concerned citizens will descend on Oakland's Federal, State, and City buildings to demand accountability from these government agencies. Details are still being worked out regarding speakers and event structure, so if you want to speak, be involved, organize sign making, or help with communications please let me know ASAP.

We will begin at the Federal Building to demand that Federal Agencies respect patients rights to use cannabis medicines in conjunction with state law. We will demand that they respect the memo issued by the Department of Justice on October 19th and quit wasting precious resources on investigating, prosecuting, and jailing patient providers.

We will then march down the block to the California State building and demand that the state do a better job of protecting patients and providers. We will call for a "clear and unambiguous" definition of how patients, providers, and communities should provide medicine to patients. The federal government has stated that they would not pursue providers who were operating within the "clear and unambiguous" bounds of state law, so we must push the state to define those policies to keep providers out of harm's way and put an end to the confusion and chaos of the current system. The state must protect its citizens from unnecessary harm caused by their failure to set clear boundaries for cannabis distribution, production, and use.

We shall then move forward to Oakland City Center to support the efforts of local governments, such as Oakland, who have attempted to support patients and providers and create more clear guidelines in their city. Cities like Oakland, San Francisco, and Berkeley have lead the charge in the absence of state regulation to help more clearly define the system of medical cannabis distribution and production. Oakland's historic regulations enacted over 5 years ago have been a model in which the movement has found legitimacy and has grown substantially. While their groundbreaking regulations were initially the source of much controversy, they have shown cities all over the state that for over half of a decade this city has been able to regulate and control the cannabis market and find many benefits in working with the local collectives, rather than against them. We commend Oakland and the other local governments for their efforts to ensure patient and provider safety and legitimacy and will rally in their support.

We will be holding a press conference to create awareness for the cause and expose the state and federal policies as not doing enough to protect patients and providers, while promoting the sound and effective reasoning of local governments that have enacted more clear policies to protect their providers. We will RING IN THE NEW YEAR in high fashion, so bring bells and noise makers to wake up the officials whose support we seek.

Representatives from Americans for Safe Access and several other grassroots organizations will be helping in the communications, outreach, and support efforts of this historic event. We look forward to a major showing to begin 2010 off with a bang and let the world know that we will not go another year in harm's way because local, state, and federal governments cannot rectify their policies to protect the citizens who choose to use safe and effective natural cannabis therapies. This charade has gone on long enough, and as I enter a correctional facility for my actions in providing medicine the following day, we will use this opportunity to create awareness for the movement and ask that our elected and governing officials stand up for the rights of patients and create a "clear and unambiguous" system in which we can all be more confident that we are in compliance and no longer fear the wrath of the DEA.

Join us! Save the date!

What: Peaceful Cannabis Rally and Press Conference

When: January 4th, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. (High Noon) Subject to change---

Where: Oakland Federal Building, 1301 Clay St., Oakland, 94612

Why: To RING IN THE NEW YEAR and demand patients and providers be protected "clearly and unambiguously" from prosecution and to support those agencies that have been instrumental in providing safe access to patients.

To Bring: BELLS, signs, your activist voice, media, a friend, a smile, and some comfortable shoes.

For questions, concerns, or more information contact Mickey Martin at 510-377-1990 or visit www.freetainted.com for continued updates and postings. We will be distributing flyers and literature in the coming weeks. let me know if there is anything YOU can do to help spread the word and make this the WORLD'S LARGEST CANNABIS RALLY AND PROTEST IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND! I look forward to your support and efforts!