|
|
| Cannabis Groups Fear DEA Raids |
|
Posted by FoM on March 16, 2002 at 08:56:02 PT By Leslie Fulbright Source: Contra Costa Times 
East Bay medical marijuana users and the state are butting heads with the government over ambiguous laws. East Bay users of medical marijuana are still smoking, but anxiety has clouded the air since federal agents raided a cannabis club across the Bay.The heated debate over marijuana is again simmering. While club officials and users cite a state initiative that allows the seriously ill to use marijuana, the Drug Enforcement Administration maintains federal law prohibits it. "You know, personally my heart goes out to someone who has cancer or AIDS, and I'm sure they are just trying to alleviate their pain, but federal law does not make a distinction between medical marijuana and marijuana," said DEA spokesman Richard Meyers. In recent months, federal agents have raided three California cannabis clubs, seizing thousands of plants. On Feb. 12, the DEA dynamited the door of the Harm Reduction Center in San Francisco. Four men were indicted in connection with that bust. Marijuana-growing guru Edward Rosenthal, 56, and James Halloran, 61, were charged with manufacturing marijuana and maintaining the premises to do so. Richard Watts, 47, executive director of the San Francisco club, was charged with manufacturing and cultivating marijuana. All have since posted bail. A fourth suspect, Kenneth Hayes, is in Canada, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Local residents and city officials, including San Francisco District Attorney Terence Hallinan, were outraged at the raid and gathered in the streets to protest the DEA's action. The U.S. attorney's office stands by the charges, saying the men are trafficking in illegal drugs. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal anti-drug laws supersede laws allowing marijuana to be used as medicine in eight states. DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson said unprecedented challenges to homeland security make this prime time for a crackdown on illegal drugs. He cites President Bush's newly aggressive anti-drug policy, which links casual use to terrorism. "I think the goals here are to stomp out this emerging political movement once and for all," said Keith Stroup, director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. "The way they're trying to do that is to come into San Francisco, at the heart of the legalization movement, and arrest, prosecute and jail the major players." Don Duncan, director of the Berkeley Patient's Group on San Pablo Avenue, said he is fearful. "I am supplying the sick," he said, leaving the smoke-filled club. "Nothing I am doing is illegal. But we are definitely on heightened alert because of what's happened." Voters approved Proposition 215 in 1996 without medical research showing benefits or data regarding how much a patient needs. The guidelines for cannabis prescriptions remain ambiguous, and that has created problems. A bill signed into law by Gov. Gray Davis may help. It funded a $9 million research program that will conduct tests to determine if smoking cannabis can help AIDS and multiple sclerosis patients by easing pain or treating nausea. The three-year program will begin March 27 at the University of California's Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research. The marijuana for testing will come from the National Institute of Drug Abuse, which controls the only unambiguously legal source of marijuana in the nation. It is grown at the University of Mississippi. Prop. 215 proponents say approval of the study by the federal government shows an awareness that research could provide guidance. They hope the information will help settle the fight, using scientists rather than judges. In the meantime, advocates are calling on the public to pressure Congress to pass the States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act. The bill, introduced in July by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., would stop federal agents from interfering with state-authorized marijuana programs and move the drug to the federal Schedule II, alongside such drugs as morphine and cocaine, which physicians can prescribe. The bill is pending in the House health subcommittee. Associated Press contributed to this story. Note: East Bay medical marijuana users and the state are butting heads with the government over ambiguous laws. Source: Contra Costa Times (CA) Related Articles & Web Sites: DEA Raids Medical Marijuana Club Feds Clash with San Francisco Over Marijuana Federal War Against The Sick DEA Approves UC San Diego Marijuana Study Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
 |
| Comment #11 posted by dddd on March 18, 2002 at 05:50:56 PT |
|
Herr Walters on why drugs should be illegal: "The reason that drugs are illegal is because of the harm
they do to individuals particularly. I would think the
sensitivity here is because of the harm they do to individuals
in a democratic society - that they take away the ability of
individuals to act as free, responsible citizens. Their lives
collapse down to drug use. That is what drug addiction is
really about, that is what drug legalization is about... As I
said, 25 percent of the people in the country who are
substance dependent are teenagers. We have never had
that rate of young people. So to present this as 30
year-olds who are going to have fun on the weekend and
who cares what they do with themselves is not the reality of
drug addiction in this country." .(actually real ..from the Christian Science Monitor!) ....this guy is DERANGED!...an obsessed puppet of the Evil Empire,,the perfect man for the job! dea Uber Alis.. ........ [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #10 posted by kaptinemo on March 18, 2002 at 05:07:59 PT:
|
| "You know, personally my heart goes out to someone who has cancer or AIDS, and I'm sure they are just trying to alleviate their pain, but federal law does not make a distinction between medical marijuana and marijuana," said DEA spokesman Richard Meyers. Ever wonder what went through the minds of many Nazi concentration camp guards? They weren't born soul-less; they had to have felt something...as they were busily exterminating European Jewry, gypsies, gays, political prisoners, and anybody else the 3rd Reich thought were lives 'not worth living'. They went right on with their cruelty, barbarism and murder. Right up until the days the Allies liberated the camps. And many of them wound up in the docket at various mini-war crimes trials too small for Nuremburg. Have a care, Mr. Meyers; when Goering was captured, he honestly couldn't believe that he was being classified a 'war criminal', either. [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #9 posted by Spookk on March 17, 2002 at 06:49:33 PT:
|
| Hey, DdC! You should post those stories to MAP and some other sites. Or at least a link =) [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #8 posted by John Markes on March 17, 2002 at 01:09:42 PT |
As long as the DEA both sets and enforces policy and laws regarding marijuana, it will always act in it's own best interest (i.e. maintain budget, the qualifier amongst federal agencies of status, importance and power)instead of the interests of the people and the country. I guess that would pretty much make them traitors for bucks... [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by goneposthole on March 16, 2002 at 19:37:41 PT |
| More to the meaning of those two words than just a railroad. [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #6 posted by Jose Melendez on March 16, 2002 at 14:05:46 PT:
|
This quote comes from a document titled,
An Open Hearted Letter
It seemed appropriate to post.
Does doing your job include taking other peoples' rights to freedom away? These rights are guaranteed in your country's constitution! Don't you know the painful truth about the persecution, the truth the whole world has realized and one that is adding to your government's shame every day? Think about it, if you don't turn around history will regard you as even worse then the Nazi soldiers who were also "just doing their jobs." [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by xxdr_zombiexx on March 16, 2002 at 13:19:32 PT |
| **"You know, personally my heart goes out to someone who has cancer or AIDS, and I'm sure they are just trying to alleviate their pain, but federal law does not make a distinction between medical marijuana and marijuana," said DEA spokesman Richard Meyers.** What this says is" we are helpless here. We are just doing our jobs." The DEA aint got no heart. They probably take pride in having a cold, damp spot where it should be. They probably have contests to see who can be the most evil. **DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson said unprecedented challenges to homeland security make this prime time for a crackdown on illegal drugs. He cites President Bush's newly aggressive anti-drug policy, which links casual use to terrorism.** All hollow non-speak. They didn't hurt or affect any terror network, other than the PR of their own: the DEA. Dynamiting the doors of the Harm Reduction Club?? On the day of the Terrorist alert? Is THAT not metaphorical?? Stroup is right: it is meant to quash a bona fide and legitimate political movement that has gained a foothold, and which is not going to whither and go away so easily. It's great that we were not attacked by FOREIGN terrorists on February 12th, and even better for the DEA. Imagine the PR if we were attacked, americans were killed and injured, and here's the DEA attacking established, law-abiding medical cannabis facilities with freakin' dynamite. Perhaps if we WERE'NT AT WAR it maight seem lessoutrageous...but then again.. maybe not. Wrong is wrong, even if its your job or the law. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by E_Johnson on March 16, 2002 at 13:06:50 PT |
| Wired Magazine just posted an article about the role of marijuana in the development of the Mac. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by p4me on March 16, 2002 at 12:53:31 PT |
| DdC writes in comment 2:
Or raising the Military budget and National debt cutting help for the poor, building private prisons and new crimes to fill em. The local news out of Charlotte was interesting yesterday. They were investigating a string of robberies and when the investigation led to a person with a sawed-off shotgun they charged him with possessing a weapon of mass destruction. I thought it a sign of madness. They also had a bust of someone with $16,000 in cash and a pound of MJ. The film crew showed them carrying out their furniture and said they would take the cars too. The bastards that perpetuate this prohibition of MJ need to be removed from public office. Execute Congress and VAAI. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by DdC on March 16, 2002 at 11:51:56 PT |
| Hummmmm.... I made these pics in the first post last year. Notice the faith I had that the Crats would stop such draconian GOPer choices as Assa, Prickwally and Asscraft confirmations. Or stop the Monsanto destruction of the poor in Colombia or crude cruzing the globe in the name of Enron or Carlyles. Or raising the Military budget and National debt cutting help for the poor, building private prisons and new crimes to fill em. Both sides of a three dollar bill. Follow the program not the money trail, listen to CBS Westinghouse News or GE or Faux for the details to keep us confused. Feeding the fascist on WoD and Ganja prohibition, substituting synthetics for natural alternatives not needing 270,000 tons of herbopestofertolizers or poly plastic or meat taking most of the agriculture and fresh water growing grain just to feed em, while hempseed goes on the chopping block being a threat to the Korpses graveytrains. Chemtrails or DU poison or sending kids to the jungle for ExxonMobile profits. Pisstesting for profit drugczars and Bushit Cheney starwars and Pharmaceuticals side effects requiring more white powders. History, unquestioned, will always repeat itself, same old shit just a different Bush. Peace, Love and Liberty or D.E.A.th! DdC Don't Feed Red Herrings [ Post Comment ] |
| Post Comment |  |
 |  |
