On Monday,
April 2, my school -- Oaksterdam University in Oakland -- was raided by
the DEA, IRS, and US Marshals. Oaksterdam provides training to the
medical cannabis industry, and is fully compliant with state and local
law.
President Obama promised at the beginning of his administration to
respect state medical marijuana laws. He has broken this promise time
and time again -- and the consequences have been devastating.
This
was a senseless act of intimidation. But I've been an activist far too
long to become intimidated -- and with the majority of Americans and
common sense on our side, I know this is a fight we can win.
With our government trillions in debt, why is our government using
taxpayer dollars to come after me, Oaksterdam, and the thousands of
patients who need medical marijuana just to get through the day?
Six National Drug Policy Organizations Call on President Obama to End Unnecessary Assault on Medical Marijuana Providers
Coalition to President Obama: “It is time for a new approach on marijuana policy.”
Contact: Aaron Smith, NCIA executive director, (707) 291-0076,
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In
the wake of recent attacks on medical marijuana providers and patients
by multiple branches of the federal government, including Monday's raids
on Oaksterdam University in Oakland, CA, a coalition of six national
drug policy reform organizations is appealing to President Obama and his
administration to follow its own previously stated policies respecting
state medical marijuana laws. In the letter, posted in full below, the
organizations call on the Obama administration to bring an end to the
federal government’s ongoing campaign to undermine state efforts to
regulate safe and legal access to medical marijuana for those patients
who rely on it.
Every last Sunday of the month means the totally peaceful, completely awesome Oaksterdam Get Down hosted by our friends at OaksterdamNews.Com. Visit 375 15th Street in downtown Oakland between noon and 6 p.m. every last Sunday of the month, for the event that cures racism: namely, a police-sanctioned, marijuana-friendly block party. Any bad bones in your body will be cured by cannabis-infused hamburgers and barbecue sauce, and the good bones will be nothing but magnified. Come early for the live music, and stay late for the love.
Oakland riots after verdict in police shooting of Oscar Grant
Officer who shot dead unarmed African American cleared of murder but
found guilty of involuntary manslaughter
Written by Matthai Kuruvila, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, 25 July 2009
Matthai Kuruvila, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
OAKLAND, CALIF. -- Oakland voters overwhelmingly approved four ballot measures in an unusual mail-only election Tuesday that sought to ease the city's tight budget situation.
All four measures passed with at least 71 percent of the vote, with well over 90 percent of the ballots counted. Measure F's creation of a business license tax for cannabis businesses got approval from 79.9 percent of voters, the highest of any measure.
The measures featured an eclectic set of issues, ranging from Measure F to Measure D's restructuring of funding for children's programs.
But the stakes were high.
Despite having slashed $83 million in jobs, services and other expenses to come up with a $414 million budget for the fiscal year that began July 1, the city had staked at least $7 million on the premise that voters would pass these four measures.
The election was scheduled off the election cycle, city leaders say, so that they could adjust to voters' decisions as quickly as possible. But by having a special election and doing it solely by mail, voter turnout was bound to be low.
Of the city's 204,000 voters, roughly 23 percent - or 47,424 voters - had mailed in their ballots and were counted in Tuesday's results.
In contrast, the November presidential election drew 80 percent of Oakland voters, Alameda County Registrar of Voters Dave Macdonald said. The June 2006 election, which featured the Oakland mayoral race, drew 39 percent of voters.
The four ballot measures were also striking in that they required no new taxes from the vast majority of residents. And the parties that were taxed were often in support.
Measure C, which would raise the hotel tax to fund the convention center and tourism-related venues, was supported by hotels. Measure F's cannabis business license tax was put forth by cannabis businesses as a way to gain legitimacy.
But Measure H, which clarified that corporations had to pay property transfer taxes on buildings acquired as part of mergers and acquisitions, was opposed by the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, which said it would prevent businesses from locating in the city.
Ballot measures
Measure C: Raises hotel tax by 3 points, to 14 percent, to fund the convention center, zoo, Oakland Museum and Chabot Space and Science Center. Passed, 76.6 to 23.3 percent.
Measure D: Modifies last year's Measure OO, which requires a percentage of city general fund for children's programs. Reduces $15.1 million in funding this year by $3.7 million. Passed, 71.5 to 28.5 percent.
Measure F: Would tax gross receipts of all "cannabis businesses" at 1.8 percent. Expected to generate $294,000 annually. Passed, 79.9 to 20.1 percent.
Measure H: Ensures that property transfer taxes be applied in corporate ownership changes. Passed, 74.6 to 25.4 percent.
E-mail Matthai Kuruvila at
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The Men's Wearhouse George Zimmer
