thanks, any ideas on how or where to get public support? i am seeing my expensive medical specialist lawyer tomorrow. i am sure he will have some ideas too. thanks again!
Court Support and Organizing During Trials
Medical cannabis patients are being arrested, facing trial, and
going to jail nationwide. As advocates, it is our job to highlight
these injustices in the courts.
What is court support?
Court support is a group of tactics used to support a patient or
provider while s/he is going through the legal system. Listed
below are some examples of tools that can be used for court support.
You may want to use some or all of them depending on the
situation. Remember the health and safety of the defendant must
ALWAYS be your first priority.
Media:
• Get all the facts straight: Before you contact the press, make
sure you have a clear account of what has happened. Get
contact numbers for the defendant and anyone s/he would
like to speak on his/her behalf: his/her attorney, family members,
local officials, doctors etc.
• Contact local media about case: Either immediately following
the raid or a week before a hearing, send a press advisory to
local press outlets.
• Press Release: Before a courtdate, send a press release at least
24 hours in advance. Press releases have very specific formats,
so if it is your first release, check out ASA's media manual for
tips:
www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/MediaManual
• Backgrounder: Medical cannabis trials can be very confusing.
It is a good idea to have a one-page handout to give to the
press that explains the specifics of the case and information
about state law and about the state-federal conflict.
• Press Conferences: Press conferences should only be between
10-30 minutes long. Having a MC can help keep things moving.
Make sure everyone knows the speakers’ order, only
have a press conference when there is something NEW to say,
make sure someone helps the press set up and get all the
interviews they need, and don't forget signs and visuals!
In the courtroom:
Fill the courtroom with supporters…
• Be respectful. It is often hard to sit and watch injustices
unfold in front of you, but interruptions in the courtroom
can cause a judge to take his anger out on the defendant.
• Dress for court. Dress like it is YOU that is on the stand, since
your appearance reflects on the defendant.
32 ASA California Legal Manual
Legal_Manual_2009.qxp 9/25/2009 3:06 PM Page 34
TIP: No need to draw attention to yourself, just all stand up and
leave with the defendant.
Outside the courtroom:
• Protests and rallies: Get creative! Street theater, easy-to-read
signs, marches, pickets, and large puppets can deliver a complex
message to the public and to the press.
CAUTION: Be aware of laws concerning Jury tampering. Do not
hand out information about the defendant once jury selection
begins or during the trial.
Emotional Support
Going through the legal system can be financially and emotionally
draining. To build a strong, vibrant movement, we must make
sure we do not let anyone slip through the cracks. Sometimes
people need an ear, sometimes a ride to court, or childcare for
their children. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask what they
need. It is important to only commit to what is viable for you.
When should you use court support?
Court support should be used anytime a medical cannabis patient
or caregiver is arrested. A defendant or even your community
may decide that a specific case may be too cloudy for the local
political landscape, and media may do more harm than good. If
this is the case, you can still do everything else but contact the
media (protests, presence in the court, emotional support etc.).
Why do court support?
• Organizing opportunity: Court cases create a crisis in a community
and court support can give quiet supporters an opportunity
to become active supporters.
• Community Awareness: Court cases create an opportunity to
educate your community, local media, and legislators about
the injustices surrounding medical cannabis.
• Bring the issue home: Court cases provide the opportunity to
localize and put human faces on the medical cannabis issue.
• The fate of the defendant: Simply, judges and prosecutors are
less likely to screw people in public.
How do you find cases to support?
• Keep an eye in the paper for local medical cannabis busts
• Stay in touch with people in the medical cannabis community
• Check ASA's listing of upcoming federal court dates:
www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/UpcomingCourtDates
... However, that does not mean that you can grow as much as you want or unlimited!!! In other words, if you can prove that your consistant and reasonable medical needs are 10 plants then the #10 would be o.k...even if the attorney general guideline is #6... if you did something like 30 and you can prove it then 30 would be o.k...the bottom line is that you must prove that those limits meet your medical needs or those you grow for.. how you prove it is up to your expensive lawyer to argue that in court.. If the case is not drop before further court proceedings then its up to the juror to decide. 
anyways, good luck with the court proceedings...
