Americans for Safe Access, the grass roots organization founded in 2002 by Medical cannabis patients and current Executive Director Steph Sherer, now has a newly formed chapter in Lake County, California. Formed by MMJ patient and advocate Donna Serna the Lake Co. chapter has hit the ground running actively recruiting new members and getting involved in the local political scene. 

With a member base of over 30,000 active members with chapters and affiliates in more than 40 states, ASA has been instrumental in shaping the political and legal landscape of medical marijuana in California and the United States. Last year CAMP confiscated more marijuana plants from Lake co. than any other county in California by more than double. We are the home of marijuana advocates and celebrities such as Jack Herer and Eddy Lepp and now we are happy to welcome the newly formed ASA chapter.

Because of the size of the lake and the time it takes to drive around it, ASA will be holding two meetings per month. The first meeting of the month for west Lake co. is always the second Thursday of the month at 6:00 pm and is currently held at Café Victoria, 301 N Main Street, Lakeport. The second meeting for east Lake co. is always on the fourth Thursday and is held at 6:00 pm at D&M Compassion Center, 15196 Lakeshore Dr, Clearlake. This allows the citizens of Lake co. to decide which meeting is closer for them and save some driving time. Attending both meeting is not necessary but is also not discouraged. You do not have to be a MMJ patient to join ASA. More info at www.safeaccessnow.org.

There is a lot of work to be done in Lake co. and ASA is hoping to recruit as many new members as possible to help them win their fight. The city of Clearlake recently voted to extend their moratorium on MMJ dispensaries for another year extending the ban until April of 2008. The city of Lakeport just passed an ordinance that took effect on April 6, 2007 banning ALL MMJ cultivation in the city limits, both indoor and outdoor. It was this ordinance by the city of Lakeport, in fact, that prompted Donna Serna to get actively involved in the fight and start this new ASA chapter. I commend and encourage Donna in her efforts. We need more people like her on our side.