Nationwide Vigils Honoring Steven McWilliams

[Guest guest]

Although I do not promote or use medical marijuana, I do think that it

is important that people do have this health freedom option for

treating serious or terminally ill patients.

 

 

P

Sun, 17 Jul 2005 14:42:30 -0700 (PDT)

Nationwide Vigils Honoring Steven McWilliams

 

 

 

Call to Action: Nationwide Vigils Honoring Steven McWilliams

" Caren Woodson " <caren

 

 

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TO YOUR LISTS

 

On Tuesday, July 12, 2005, medical marijuana patient and lifelong

advocate Steve

McWilliams committed suicide while awaiting federal sentencing. Many

of us remember Steve as the man who organized and led the September

2002 public handout of medical marijuana to patients at San Diego's

City Hall. As a result of this activism, Steve was targeted by the

DEA and arrested on charges relating to the cultivation of 25

marijuanaplants grown for the medical

marijuana collective he operated, Shelter from the Storm. He plead

guilty because he would have been prohibited from presenting a valid

medical marijuana defense in Federal court.

 

Steve was sentenced to six months and released pending appeal but

denied access to marijuana. He had been depressed, in terrible pain,

and was hospitalized as late as last week. Steve's depression was

apparently a combination of factors – including dreadful thoughts

about going to prison and his deteriorating health. He was taking

powerful pharmaceuticals including opiates, anti-nausea, anti-migraine

and a variety of other `prescribed' drugs in far higher amounts than

when he was able to medicate with marijuana. Evidently, they were the

substances used to overdose.

 

Americans for Safe Access invites activists to join us on Tuesday,

July 19, 2005, for nationwide vigils to remember Steve McWilliams.

 

We have received an overwhelming amount of support from community

members for Steve McWilliams. Currently, there are vigils planned in

sixteen cities across the country. To get detailed information about

contact the local contacts, or contact Rebecca:

rebecca

<rebecca or 510-251-1856.

 

- California:

Los Angeles - Amanda -

amarajane

<amarajane

 

Oakland - Mikki -

mikki

<mikki

 

Orange County - Rick -

endprohibition

<endprohibition

 

San Diego - Claudia - Please Join the Many Friends of Medical

Marijuana Activist Steve McWilliams In a Memorial Service, Tues, Jul

19, at noon at San Diego Civic Center Concourse Plaza at 202 C Street

(3rd and B Street), downtown San Diego. Map

ronandclaudia

<ronandclaudia

 

San Francisco - Tony -

tonebowles

<tonebowles

 

Santa Cruz - Valerie -

valerie

<valerie

 

Sonoma - Terri -

TWorden36

<TWorden36

 

Susanville - Tim -

ziggy420me

<ziggy420me

 

- Colorado - Lorisa -

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- Indiana: Lawrenceburg -

Vanessa - osuandsonny

<osuandsonny

 

- Oregon:

Eugene - Jim -

jimgreigads

<jimgreigads

 

Portland - Trista -

empowerdchic

<empowerdchic

 

- Texas: Austin - Karen -

heikkala

<heikkala

 

- Pennsylvania: Philadelphia -

Emily - emlee_p

<emlee_p

 

- Utah - Ken -

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<Kblindfaith2

et>

 

- Washington DC - Caren -

caren

<caren

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If you are planning a vigil and have not yet alerted ASA about it,

please email Rebecca at rebecca

<rebecca or call 510-251-1856.

While we are leaving these vigils open-ended to local activists, many

will take place at federal buildings, and we have developed messaging

and materials that you can use.

 

MESSAGING:

 

Tuesday is a day to honor Steve McWilliams' life. He was a brave

activist, patient and caregiver who was ultimately attacked by the

federal government. Sadly, Steve's story is not the only tragedy in

the medical marijuana movement. Twenty patients died shortly after

WAMM was raided by the DEA. Others are facing lengthy sentences, when

they will be separated from their families and unable to use their

medicine.

 

This is a time to call on the federal government to stop these

tragedies. The DEA must stop arresting patients and Congress must pass

a law protecting patients' rights in states that allow medical

marijuana. Ultimately, marijuana must be rescheduled so patients

throughout the

country can use their medicine without fearing federal attack.

 

MATERIALS:

 

Signs: We have created sign with Steve McWilliams' picture and a quote

from him. You can find it on our website:

http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/Steve.McWilliams.Poster.pdf

You should make several blown up copies to hold at the vigil. Also

feel free to create your own signs.

 

Leaflets: Also available on our wesite is a two-sided leaflet that can

be passed out to participants and people passing by the vigil to

spread your message:

http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/Steve.McWilliams.Flyer.pdf

 

Banners: Several activists will be creating banners that say: " Ask me

how the feds killed Steve McWilliams. " This will attract the public to

engage with you and take interest in your leaflets.

Here's a quick how to on banners. If you'd like more information,

please contact the ASA office.

 

- The best material to use is paint drop cloth. You can

usually pick this up at a hardware store for about $20, which buys you

a 9X12 canvass. You can cut the 9x12 in half and tie (or sew) together

the pieces to form a longer 4.5x24ft long banner. Paint: Black or

Red on a white background is best, and easiest.

 

Thanks to all who are participating in these vigils.

This is what Steve would have wanted. Just as he did, we must continue

to fight for patients, no matter how hard the feds work against us.

 

------------------------------

Caren Woodson

Campaign Director

Americans For Safe Access

 

1322 Webster St., Ste 208

Oakland, CA 94612

888.929.4367

510.251.1856

 

www.SafeAccessNow.org

 

--

Rebecca Saltzman

Field Coordinator

Americans for SFwd DPFCA Call to Action Nat.ems afe Access

p (510) 251-1856

f (510) 251-2036

www.safeaccessnow.org