cannabisnews.com: No Charges After DEA Anti-Pot Raids No Charges After DEA Anti-Pot Raids Posted by CN Staff on September 07, 2002 at 08:26:27 PT By Josh Richman, Staff Writer Source: Oakland Tribune Protesters planted marijuana sprigs in a concrete planter outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building on Friday, decrying federal agents' raid of a medical marijuana facility near Santa Cruz one day earlier. As similar protests occurred in San Francisco and San Jose, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer wrote to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and Drug Enforcement Administration director Asa Hutchinson calling Thursday's raid "a disheartening addition to a growing list of provocative and intrusive incidents of harassment by the DEA in California." "A medical marijuana provider such as the Santa Cruz collective represents little danger to the public and is certainly not a concern which would warrant diverting scarce federal resources away from the fight against domestic methamphetamine production, heroin distribution or international terrorism, to cite just a few more worthy priorities," Lockyer wrote. Staging raids without evidence of any illicit commercial distribution "is wasteful, unwise and surprisingly insensitive when it comes to listening to Californians who have made clear their support for medicinal marijuana at the ballot box," he added. The federal government still deems all marijuana growth, possession or use illegal, even though California voters approved medical use in 1996. Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon and Washington have similar laws. Lockyer -- who requested a meeting with the federal officials -- also questioned the "ethical basis" of the DEA's raids, because other recent raids have failed to lead to any criminal charges. Indeed, no charges had been filed by Friday's end against Valerie and Michael Corral, who were awakened Thursday morning by riot-gear-clad, assault-rifle-toting DEA agents raiding their home, the headquarters of the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana about 60 miles south of San Francisco. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office would say only that no charges were filed. A call to Assistant U.S. Attorney George Bevan Jr., who is prosecuting the Bay Area men arrested in February's DEA raids in Oakland and San Francisco, was not returned Friday. DEA spokesman Special Agent Richard Meyer said the ball is entirely in the U.S. Attorney's court, and defended his own agency's actions. "We went by the book -- we obtained a search warrant, we went and served it, we found marijuana which is an illegal substance, and we took them into custody," he said Friday. "We took them to San Jose, to our office, for booking and processing. And by the close of business, the U.S. Attorney's office had not filed charges, so we took them back to their residence as a courtesy." Meyer said the 167 marijuana plants and a small amount of hashish seized in the raid already had been destroyed Friday, and that three rifles and a shotgun -- reportedly heirlooms from Michael Corral's grandfather -- were stored in the DEA's evidence vault. About 75 people, including a few using wheelchairs, rallied outside Oakland's federal building Friday, their chants of "DEA, go away!" echoing in the courtyard. "This is our Kristallnacht, and we'd better not forget it," said Dr. Mike Alcalay, medical director of the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative, likening Thursday's DEA raid to the 1938 Nazi "Night of Broken Glass" rampage in which Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues were destroyed. Berkeley City Council member Kris Worthington said the Republican Party advocates states' rights to make and enforce their policies, yet the Bush administration's trouncing of such rights is "about political expediency and advancing a far-right agenda." Angel McClary, director of Angel Wings Patient Outreach Inc., said further raids will be met by further resistance. "Our bodies may be weak but we are strong of spirit, and we will not back down," she said. About 15 people protested outside the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., and a few other U.S. cities reported small protests as well. Note: Amid protests, Lockyer urges feds to target 'worthy priorities'.Source: Oakland Tribune (CA)Author: Josh Richman, Staff WriterPublished: Saturday, September 07, 2002Copyright: 2002 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers Contact: triblet angnewspapers.com Website: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:WAMM http://www.wamm.org/OCBChttp://www.rxcbc.org/Americans For Safe Access http://www.safeaccessnow.org/DEA Raid Sparks Medical Marijuana Protests http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14023.shtmlDEA Agents Raid Medical Marijuana Farmhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14016.shtmlSanta Cruz Officials Fume Over Pot Club Busthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14015.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #10 posted by karkulus on September 07, 2002 at 20:14:22 PT about "Kristallnacht".. that was at the beginning of the war...this is the start of the end of the reefermadnessdrugwar ... more the equivalent of the Nazi's shooting the prisoners in the concentration and pow camps before they could be freed after the war was lost. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on September 07, 2002 at 17:08:30 PT BGreen check out these pictures from WAMM Marijuana Art http://www.marijuana-art.com/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by BGreen on September 07, 2002 at 13:25:30 PT Copy exactly and get burned In the garden, a sign reads: "Love Grows Here." [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by BGreen on September 07, 2002 at 13:24:04 PT In the garden, a sign reads: "Love Grows Here.&quo That's the caption on a bud shot in Valeries' article. I wonder which of the 20 a$$&%$#'s destroyed it? [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by BGreen on September 07, 2002 at 13:19:17 PT Here's an article about the bust on Hightimes.com The Mar. 2002 issue of High Times had a big article by Valerie. It has some beautiful bud shots and a wide-shot of a hillside full of a Purple Indica X African Malawi cross. DEA RAIDS WAMM MEDICAL-MARIJUANA GARDEN [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on September 07, 2002 at 12:51:39 PT BGreen I understand you being upset. Many of us are. Here we are at almost a year since 9-11 and look who they are still hassling. Anyone find bin Laden yet? No too busy chasing dangerous people like Valerie with the dangerous peace sign. Lord help us all. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by BGreen on September 07, 2002 at 12:42:32 PT Thanks for the picture, FoM, but which one is the threat to the human race that necessitated the attack by 20 thugs from the DEAth?Valerie looks pretty threatening flashing that "gang" symbol, but that green leafy substance scared the hell out of me.I'm sorry, if you haven't noticed I'm pretty upset today. The lies and violence perpetrated in the name of my loving, peaceful God has got to stop.I hope your husband won't whoop up on me, FoM, but when I meet you in person I'm going to give you the biggest hug. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 07, 2002 at 12:15:47 PT A Small Page I'm Working On This is still under construction so more might be added or a few things changed but I wanted to share particularly the picture with all of you.http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/valc.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by BGreen on September 07, 2002 at 12:09:43 PT Look at the Federal Building in Oklahoma City These cowardly federal agents used their kids as shields by placing a day care center in between them and the street.If they don't even care about babies, do we really think they give a flying flip about us?Save the kids from drugs, save the babies from drugs, but use them as projectile absorbers to protect your own worthless sorry asses, you COWARDS! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by schmeff on September 07, 2002 at 12:01:21 PT Hath not a DEA agent eyes? If you prick them, do they not bleed?There is a reason that DEA agents show up in dressed in black, with their faces covered, and carrying automatic weapons when they raid a compassion club. And it has nothing to do with any threat they face when bullying the sick and dying-they have never faced a firestorm of hot lead from the sick and dying. They do this to conceal their identities.Remember, they work for us, they are public servants. Yet we are not allowed to know who they are, to whom they answer. The reason they conceal their identity is shame. Terrorists do not want their identities known.But terrorism is a two-way street.I think it is time to get to know our local DEA agents a little better. Get to know who they are, where they live, what kinds of cars they drive and the license plate numbers. What route do they take to work? What churches do they..scratch that...not much evidence of Christian values.Do they have homes? Mortgages? Wife and kids? Do they have nice gardens that need ripping up? Can they too experience fear in the quiet dark hours before dawn? Don't they too get sick, and if so, shouldn't their medicines be subject to adulteration or destruction?The DEA may be the most bloated of government agencies, but we are more. Perhaps there is a need for a website to celebrate these dedicated public servants. A web site that informs us more fully about their efforts. A website that identifies them, lists names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, next of kin. Remember, they are helping us. They are dedicated to keeping us safe from even self-inflicted harms, and there deserves to be a direct and sincere route for us to exhibit our gratitude. We should start paying them visits. It is important that they hear from us on a more personal level. Because unless they receive feedback, a clear indication of our evaluation of their efforts, how can they find satisfaction in their careers?The sick and dying need those of us who are still healthy to be their advocates. Because a person for whom DEAth is near, is a person without hope, without much to lose. People who are close to the edge and frustrated. Because even if it happens in a DEA office, a suicide bombing is an ugly mess. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment