Dale's speaking & county watch fund

Hello, My name is Dale Schafer and I have been an attorney, in the State of California for almost 30 years. In 1997, just after California's Compassionate Use Act was voted into law, my ex-wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and thus started my journey into the medical marijuana movement. Long story short I recently was released from a 5-year sentence, in federal prison, for cultivating cannabis for myself and my family and conspiring to give the extra to patients for free. As I began looking for a place to jump back into this fight, I immediately saw the need for someone, like myself, to not only speak up for the sick people in this movement but also to understand and help to educate the government officials, trying to set up regulations.  additionally, I wanted to assist new business owners who will try to do business under the laws, in place, and those to come.

I am raising these funds to travel to the various county and city meetings across the State. It is there that discussions are being had on the process of writing regulations. Additionally, the funds will cover travel expenses to make all of the speaking engagements I have been invited to for this year. Until now, I have been self-funded and unfortunately my funds have been exhausted. For more information about myself, my journey through the system and my future projects continue reading or go to www.daleschaferlaw.com.......

In 1999, myself and my then wife, Dr. Mollie Fry, opened the first medical/legal clinic in Cool, California. The purpose, of the medical/legal clinic, was to first educate every patient about the California State Law, their rights under the law and what to do if they were to be approached by law enforcement. Then to be evaluated, by a doctor for the purposes of a recommendation as per Health and Safety Code 11362.5.

As much as we tried to work with local law enforcement, unfortunately in September of 2001 (just 3 months after announcing my run for El Dorado County District Attorney) our home and office were raided by the DEA. In 2005 we were charged with cultivation of more than 100 plants, grown between 1999 and 2001, and conspiracy to distribute marijuana to the sick people I had agreed to grow for. Without a medical marijuana defense, allowable under federal law, we were convicted and sentenced to the minimum mandatory of 5 years in federal prison.

In May of 2011, we surrendered at the Federal Courthouse, located in Sacramento California, (as seen below) and began serving the 52 months of our 60-month sentence.

My time in prison did not deter me from fighting for the rights of people; if anything it unleashed a sleeping dragon inside of me. However, my tactics have absolutely changed. My opinion is that best way to keep others from going to prison, especially in the current political environment, is to educate them. Therefore, my first task is to travel, throughout the State of California, to educate every future legal cannabis business owner about the State, County and City regulations that govern them and encourage them to participate in their local Board of Supervisors meetings in order to fight for the policies that will work best for their business.

Unfortunately, the cost to travel throughout the state is beyond what I can cover at this time.  However, there are so many counties looking at the regulation of cannabis and it is necessary to encourage, all of the counties across California, to use accurate and factual information to create regulations that can work with everyone involved.

I am asking for help, with travel expenses, to get to county and city meetings, across the state, as well as special speaking engagements such as High Times events, Seattle Hempfest and opportunities to meet with leaders in Washington DC and other such cities.

I have been attending local county board of supervisor's meetings as well as other city and state meetings and it is clear that the waters ahead of us are quite muddy. The counties are unclear on, and sometimes using inaccurate information to create, regulations for areas such as cultivation , distribution and testing facilities. There are many local agencies that need to become involved in issues like what pesticides can be used, how will water be allotted or where dispensaries can and will be placed. I feel that it is important to have someone who is educated and holds a degree, that can be respected, attending these county and city meetings to ask the questions and offer the information that needs to be taken into consideration to create regulations that work for all parties involved.

This money will help me to make connections with county and city leaders in order to assist in creating cannabis regulations that work for the local and state governments, non-cannabis using residents and those intending to enter the legal cannabis industry.

I appreciate, any donations made, more than I can say and will use all of the funds to help the medical and recreational cannabis industry move forward in a way that works for everyone.