CLEARLAKE – This month, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) celebrates its five-year anniversary, which is milestone for the medical cannabis movement.

The Lake County ASA chapter's next meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, at the D&M Compassion Center, 15196 Lakeshore Dr, Clearlake.

Every day, ASA works in partnership with state, local and national legislators to overcome barriers and create policies that improve the lives of patients.

With more than 35,000 active members with chapters and affiliates in more than forty states, ASA is now the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic uses and research.

To date 12 states have adopted medical cannabis laws. In California the majority voted over 10 years ago for medical cannabis and yet there are cities and counties trying to ban medical cannabis cultivation and use.

ASA believes Americans need campaigns for safe access to implement the laws and educate patients, law enforcement and public officials. They also support eliminating barriers to safe access and research, protecting patients from legal risks and fully implementing the compassionate use law.

The group cited a recent editorial on medical marijuana in the American Association for the Advancement of Science's publication. The editorial, written by former FDA Commissioner and Editor-in-Chief of Science Magazine, Dr. Don Kennedy, concluded that the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) violated its own guidelines regarding information quality when it rejected the petition filed by ASA.

In February 2007, ASA filed a lawsuit in United States District Court in San Francisco against HHS and FDA for violating the little known Data Quality Act (DQA). The DQA is a mechanism to ensure that regulatory agencies base policy decisions on sound science. The DQA lawsuit followed a two year administrative process in which HHS denied ASA's petition.

"This is vindication from the scientific community that the medical efficacy of marijuana clearly exists and is being ignored by the federal government," said ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer. "The opinion illustrates the broad nature of support for the advancement of this important medicine."

The DQA lawsuit is currently pending before U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup. The government's response to ASA's complaint is due May 25, 2007, and the court is likely to hear oral arguments in July or August. "We're confident that science will ultimately prevail over politics," said ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford. "The DQA is the vehicle to compel the federal government to recognize the truth about medical marijuana and validate the experiences of patients and doctors who have had success using it to alleviate suffering."

ASA provides educational literature, a toll free patient hotline for information and legal support – 888.929.4367, and you can download information from the newly redesigned web site – www.americansforsafeaccess.com.

For more information on Lake County's ASA chapter e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 245-6630.

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LAKEPORT – Did you know that a one key to a healthy pregnancy starts in the mouth? Pregnant women and those women considering becoming pregnant can significantly reduce their chances of premature labor and delivery by taking care of their oral health.

A 2006 American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology study found that 30 percent of women with moderate to severe periodontal disease (inflammation of the gums with bleeding and loss of tissue that holds the tooth in place) delivered small for their gestational age babies.

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Web site, pregnant women with severe periodontal disease have an estimated seven-fold increase in their risk of delivering premature, low-birth weight babies.

Sutter Lakeside Hospital's Family Birth Center has named May the "Spring Clean" oral health promotion month.

"The nurses and physicians here in the Birth Center are focused on our patients' overall health and wellness," said Family Birth Center Nurse Manager Jody Dawson.

Dr. Jonathan Davies, director of OB/GYN Services at Sutter Lakeside, agrees. "Many patients take their oral health for granted, not realizing the impact this can have on their pregnancy.”

In an effort to help this information reach area residents, the Family Birth Center has purchased 500 dental kits that will be distributed throughout the county.

Staff Nurse Sasha Reynolds, RNC, the brains behind the initiation of this promotion, wants to remind everyone of the importance of taking care of their oral health.

"Brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, limit foods containing sugar, avoid sodas, and see your dentist twice a year to improve your overall health,” Reynolds said. “Periodontal disease has also been linked to increased cardiovascular risks as well. Good oral hygiene is not just about a pretty smile.”

For information regarding dental kit distribution, or for pregnancy-related questions, please contact the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Family Birth Center at 262-5085, or visit them online at www.sutterlakeside.org.

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CLEARLAKE – Childhood obesity is a national epidemic. One in three children in California is overweight or at risk for being overweight. We can turn this around by coming together in community focus groups, called "World Cafés," to share ideas and make recommendations for programs throughout Lake County.

Sutter Lakeside Hospital and the Health Leadership Network (HLN) are inviting all interested community members to a series of "World Cafés" to do just that.

The Health Leadership Network, a network of Lake County service provider agencies, has received a grant from the California Endowment to develop countywide obesity prevention programs.

Partners in this project include our school systems, hospitals and clinics, physicians, public health, early childhood development agencies, food and agricultural programs, and concerned citizens.

The first World Café will be conducted in Clearlake at the Clearlake Senior Center on Wednesday, May 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. If you live in Clearlake, Clearlake Park or Lower Lake, please join us for a fun evening. Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited so please call and reserve your space.

For more information about the World Café call Leslie Lovejoy at Sutter Lakeside Hospital's Wellness Center at 263- 2998 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . To reserve your space or find out when a World Café is coming to your community, contact Jill Mills, Administrative Assistant to the HLN at  (707) 245-5745.

For more information on Sutter Lakeside Hospital, visit our website at www.sutterlakeside.org.

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Mendocino College's recent class of nursing graduates. Photo by Barbara French.

UKIAH – The Mendocino College Nursing program will graduate 31 nursing students on May 25, the largest graduating nursing class thus far for the program.

These students will be eligible to take their Registered Nurse (RN) licensing exams and will provide much-needed relief to local hospitals and health facilities.

Of the current 31 graduating students, 23 are two-year RN students and nine are Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) to RN Bridge students. One mother and son have completed the nursing program together and will graduate on the same evening.

All graduating students will receive an associate's degree in nursing. Many students plan to go on to further their nursing education toward bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

The Mendocino College nursing program was originally approved by the Board of Registered Nursing in 2003 and graduated their first class of LVN to RN Bridge students in 2004.

Since that time the program was expanded to a full two-year Registered Nursing program and has yearly admissions. Because of expansion of the nursing program, due in large part to $60,000 in funding from the Mendocino College Foundation, the college has hired two new full-time faculty in the past year.

Karen Wilson and Melissa Hladek, both local RNs, have joined the program director Barbara French and assistant program director Fran Laughton in the instruction and administration of the nursing program.

Currently enrolled in the nursing program are the 31 graduating students, and twenty-four first year students. A new first semester class will be admitted in August. Applications for the two-year RN program are accepted each March, and applications for the LVN to RN Bridge program are accepted each November. Admission to these programs is highly competitive as with all nursing programs within the state.

“Our goal is to produce skilled and intelligent nurses that will serve our community at the highest level possible,” said nursing program director Dr. Barbara French. “Our local community had been very happy with our graduates, and we continue to work hard at educating great nurses.”

The 2007 nursing graduates are Theresa Adair (Clear Lake), Mark Albert (Ukiah), Candace Baroza (Ukiah), Annette Barrera (Willits), Steven Bushey (Nice), Kati Christofferson (Philo), Donald Clancy (Willits), Terri Coker (Nice), Bonnie Covarrubias (Ukiah), Jami Flores (Ukiah), Zorah Gluckman (Potter Valley), Sherri Gravier (Laytonville), Katrina Hale (Lakeport), Shellee Hoomalu (Ukiah), Danielle Jones (Ukiah), Denise LaChance (Ukiah), Rebecca Larson (Ukiah), Lindsay Linnell (Lakeport), Jene Lowater (Kelseyville), Amy Niesen (Willits), Jennifer Prince (Ukiah), Kenneth Robinson (Upper Lake), Denise Sams (Ukiah), Shannon Scatena (Potter Valey), Jennifer Seymour (Willits), Carrie Studer (Ukiah), Kristen Terwilliger (Ukiah), Aura Thomas (Clearlake), Erin Webb (Redwood Valley), Jason Winegarner (Lakeport), and Nicole Woodruff (Willits).

General information on the nursing program can be obtained through the Mendocino College Web site nursing pages, or by calling the nursing office, 468-3099.

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