Commemoration: Acupuncture Legalization in California

The library hosts a viewing of the film, Acupuncture Fever—the Road to Legalization in California, the first English documentary on the legalization of acupuncture in California. Afterwards, American Association of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture will provide free consultations to the public.

California is an important state for Chinese medicine and acupuncture in the United States. There are more than 12,000 acupuncturists in California, accounting for about one-third of the United States. However, the legalization of acupuncture in California more than 40 years ago was not easy. The forbearers of Chinese Medicine and acupuncture in Northern California made huge and irreplaceable contributions to the legalization of acupuncture in California. From 1972 to 1974, California law enforcement agencies arrested and prosecuted acupuncturists for illegal medical practice and banned acupuncture clinics.

California's first professional organization of Chinese medicine and acupuncture in San Francisco formed in March 1974, as the California Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Research Association. It promoted and led the legalization of acupuncture in California. In June 1975, with the joint efforts of the acupuncture profession and the friendly people in the social and political circles, the SB86 California Acupuncture Legalization Act, proposed by California Senators Moscone and Song, was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown, legalizing California acupuncture since then.

This event is in partnership with American Association of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. 

                   為慶祝第一部有關加州針灸合法化的英文紀錄片《針灸熱——加州合法化之路》的上映，圖書館將舉行公眾放映會，隨後將由美國中醫公會的中醫師會向公眾提供義診。 

                   加州是全美中醫針灸重鎮，加州針灸師人數有一萬二千多人，約佔全美1/3。但40多年前加州的針灸合法化道路卻是曲折坎坷的，北加州的華人中醫針灸前輩為加州針灸合法化作出巨大的難以替代的重要貢獻。 1972-1974年間，加州執法部門以非法行醫的罪名逮捕和起訴針灸師，取締針灸診所。

  三藩市中醫針灸前輩，在1974年3月創立加州第一個中醫針灸專業團體-加州中醫藥針灸學會，推動和領導加州針灸合法化運動，1975年6月，在針灸界，社會和政界友好人士的共同努力下，由加州參議員Moscone 和Song提出的SB86加州針灸合法化法案經州長Jerry Brown簽署成為法律，加州針灸從此合法化。

該活動與美國中醫針灸協會合作。