Medical Cannabis Patients & Advocates Join The Occupy Movement
from the LA Free Press, October 11, 2011
Protest Failed Drug War, Prosecution of Patients as a Waste of Federal Resources
LOS ANGELES – October 11, 2011 – When medical cannabis patients and supporters finished their rally at the federal building on Friday, October 7, 2011, the same day U.S. Attorneys announced their escalated attack on medical cannabis collectives and cooperatives, the protesters made their way to Los Angeles City Hall to see how the ‘occupation’ was going.
“When Occupy LA activists saw our signs, they cheered,” states Degé Coutee, Executive Director of Patient Advocacy Network, an LA-based non-profit organization advocating for patients’ rights. One sign read ‘Cannabis Is Medicine Not Criminal’ while others read ‘Patient, Not Criminal.’
“We chanted ‘No More Drug War’ and they got it,” continues Coutee. “Twenty years ago is was much more difficult to get anti-war activists to acknowledge Drug War atrocities. Now everyone knows someone whose been effected by the Drug War. Everyone knows someone whose used cannabis therapeutically.”
So, Patient Advocacy Network launched Occupy 4:20, a nationwide movement of cannabis supporters protesting the failed Drug War and the federal attack on states with medical cannabis laws while calling for cannabis legalization.
The Patient Advocacy Network is an LA-based charitable 501 (c) (3) organization founded by patient-activists in 2006. Since then PAN has provided several hundred workshops to medical cannabis patients and their providers throughout California on compliance issues, law enforcement encounters and how to effectively engage the democratic process. PAN works with numerous elected officials to educate the legislature on cannabis issues: scientific, social and legal. PAN advocates for patients’ rights and the end of marijuana prohibition.
Events: To be held in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Philadelphia. Details will be announced here.
Contact Points:
Degé Coutee, Executive Director -Patient Advocacy Network at (323) 334-5282
patientadvocates@riseup.net.
Information: www.CannabisSavesLives.org, http://panorg.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @Occupy420 @PAN4Compassion.
Filed under: Uncategorized
aidsoversixty 