Cypress Hill SmokeOut has teamed with Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and Medicine & Music Project for a peaceful protest in response to recent federal activities against medical marijuana as well as the local Los Angeles ban on medical marijuana.

The event will start with protesters meeting at the west steps of City Hall at 4:20 pm and will then proceed to the Edward R. Royal Federal Building where speakers will include Cypress Hill's B-Real, Americans for Safe Access' California Director Don Duncan and more.

The goal of the rally is to draw attention to local threats towards patient access and federal interference in efforts to regulate medical marijuana. The scope of the federal crackdown is shocking, as federal officials and agencies have threatened providers, growers and property owners.

B-Real of Cypress Hill: "It's important we employ the collective voice of the music community and bring it to the medical marijuana debate"

The federal government is seeking to intimidate elected officials, financial service providers, legal gun owners and media outlets. This may be the broadest and most serious threat to medical cannabis yet. The federal crackdown has frustrated efforts to regulate medical marijuana in Los Angeles and some City Council members are ready to ban patient cooperatives and collectives outright.

ASA is a national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.

"Obama's failure at keeping his promise not to 'circumvent' state medical marijuana laws

and to highlight the unprecedented attack on patients and their providers across the

country are hurting legitimate patients," said Duncan of the ASA. "Patient advocates are calling on Obama to end his attacks on the medical marijuana community and begin to address this issue from a public health standpoint."

Orbitcast

That's how B-Real rolls.

âï¿½ï¿½The rally comes two days before the Cypress Hill SmokeOut -- the all day, mind-opening music festival set for Saturday, March 3 at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, Calif. The festival will feature more than 20 artists on two stages, a Medical Marijuana Expo and a Patient Consumption Area, providing private and peaceful area for registered California medical marijuana patients.

"The Cypress Hill SmokeOut is not only a music festival--it's a movement," said B-Real. "The goal of its inception was to use the power of music to build a platform for supporters, advocates and fans to congregate and take a stand toward decriminalization.

"Every artist that has ever been a part of the SmokeOut bill has been selectively chosen not only for their incredible talent and art, but also for their passion for legalization and safe access to medicine," B-Real said. "The artists have the ability to reach and educate their fans and

followers in their respective communities including hip-hop, rock, Latin music or dance."

"It's important we employ the collective voice of the music community and bring it to the

medical marijuana debate," B-Real said. "The SmokeOut for Safe Access rally serves as another podium and another step we need to take to further our success."

Protesters are encouraged to take public transportation. Parking information is also

available here: http://gsd.lacity.org/parking/parking.htm

Starting location - 4:20 pm:

City Hall (meeting at the West Steps)

200 N. Spring St.

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Ending Location:

Edward R. Roybal Federal Building

255 E. Temple Street (between N. Los Angeles St. and N. Alameda St)

Los Angeles, CA 90006

For more information about the proposed ban in Los Angeles:

http://www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/StopTheBanLA

For more information about federal interference and intimidation: