cannabisnews.com: DEA Defends Method DEA Defends Method Posted by FoM on November 07, 2000 at 11:34:33 PT By Mike Geniella, The Press Democrat Source: Press Democrat Rejecting allegations of snooping on pro-marijuana activists, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration on Monday defended its effort to obtain transcripts of a series of political ads aired on a Ukiah radio station in support of an initiative to decriminalize pot."It was just part of a routine gathering of information about marijuana ballot-related issues across the U.S.," said Jocelyn Barnes, a spokeswoman for the DEA's San Francisco office. Barnes acknowledged Monday that federal agent Mark Nelson bypassed the county election office, where information about Mendocino County's Measure G and other ballot measures and candidates is readily available. She said Nelson was under specific orders to secure from radio station K-Wine, 94.5 FM Ukiah, the transcripts of a series of four pro-Measure G ads, including one saying that "Clinton smoked it. So did Bush and Gore.""Headquarters wanted actual transcripts of the radio ads. That's all I can say. It was done at their request," said Barnes.The DEA's Washington, D.C. headquarters did not respond Monday to requests for comment on the information gathering done by agent Nelson.If passed, Measure G would become the first initiative in the nation to decriminalize marijuana cultivation and possession for individual use. Local law enforcement authorities, however, say they will continue to follow state and federal laws even if Measure G wins a majority vote at the polls today.Guidren Dye, co-owner of the radio station, said Monday the station voluntarily turned over the transcripts last week to Nelson, who asked that they be faxed to his San Francisco office. "There was no demand. It came in the form of a request. We decided to provide copies just as we would anyone," said Dye.But organizers of the Green Party-sponsored marijuana initiative cried foul Monday, contending that while the radio station voluntarily turned over the transcripts, the federal agency's request raises constitutional questions.Wrong Place To Go:"If the DEA was just conducting a review of marijuana-related ballot measures around the country, the place to find out that kind of information is at county election departments and not in the offices of radio stations or any other news media," said former Rep. Dan Hamburg of Ukiah.Hamburg, who left the Democratic Party and joined the Green Party after losing his 1996 re-election bid, helped create and pay for the series of radio ads.Hamburg said Monday that the DEA's "intrusion into the affairs of Mendocino County citizens is typical of why people have become so cynical about the government's war on drugs."Hamburg said he was especially troubled when he learned it was agent Nelson who sought transcripts of the ads. "I think his record speaks for itself," said Hamburg.Nelson figured prominently in an earlier marijuana case that included a bizarre twist.Judge Ruled Out Tapes:At the end of a July, 1999, federal court hearing in the trial of a Mendocino County man accused of leading a marijuana-growing ring, a federal judge concluded that Nelson had gone too far in persuading the suspect's then-wife to install a tape recorder in their bed.Judge Susan Illston refused to allow government prosecutors to use the tapes as evidence against William Dalton during his trial. Dalton was later convicted by a federal jury of marijuana cultivation and sentenced to state prison.During the pre-trial hearing, Nelson under oath admitted drinking beer with and kissing Virginia Horstman, Dalton's wife, during an encounter at a DEA safe house in Ukiah. He also admitted falsifying federal documents relating to their encounter.Nelson testified that the DEA paid Horstman $4,800 in expenses to move to the state of Washington after their involvement in Mendocino County."This is the same agent who a year later is asking a radio station for transcripts of political advertising, which is clearly none of the DEA's business," said Hamburg. "What's going on here?"Nelson could not be reached Monday for comment on his role in the flap or on Hamburg's comments.You can reach Staff Writer Mike Geniella at 462-6470, or e-mail: mgeniella pressdemocrat.comNote: Pro-Marijuana Activists Cry Foul At Agent Bypassing Channels To Scrutinize Series Of Political Ads. Source: Press Democrat, The (CA) Author: Mike Geniella, The Press Democrat Published: November 7, 2000Copyright: 2000 The Press Democrat Address: Letters Editor, P. O. Box 569, Santa Rosa CA 95402 Fax: (707) 521-5305 Contact: letters pressdemo.com Website: http://www.pressdemo.com/ Forum: http://www.pressdemo.com/opinion/talk/ Feedback: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/opinion/letform.html Related Articles:Mendocino Marijuana Measure Famoushttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7574.shtmlMendocino Making Drug Policy Statement http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7564.shtmlMendocino Votes on Growth Industry http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7501.shtmlHigh on Voters' Minds in Mendocino Countyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7493.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 07, 2000 at 22:09:38 PT Update On Measure G Mendocino County Considers Allowing Pot Growing and SmokingNovember 07, 2000 at 21:39:58 PST Associated Press© 1998, 1999, 2000 Vegas.comhttp://www.lasvegassun.com/UKIAH, Calif. - A measure that would legalize the cultivation and use of marijuana for personal use in Mendocino County was ahead in early vote returns Tuesday.Measure G was leading 53 percent to 47 percent with 26 percent of precincts counted.The measure would allow residents of this verdant county some 115 miles north of San Francisco to grow up to 25 pot plants apiece. It faced no organized opposition.Under state and federal law, marijuana remains illegal. And the county would still prohibit its sale or transportation if the measure passed.But busting small-time growers and smokers with a pocket-sized stash would, officially, be a low priority for the sheriff. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on November 07, 2000 at 14:46:56 PT Here's an Associated Press News Brief Mendocino County Considers Allowing Pot Growing and Smoking Justin Pritchard, Associated Press WriterTuesday, November 7, 2000 ©2000 Associated Press URL: http://www.sfgate.com/(11-07) 12:18 PST UKIAH, Calif. (AP) -- Voters in Mendocino County decided Tuesday whether to legalize the cultivation and use of marijuana for personal use -- the first move of its kind in the country. Measure G would allow residents of this verdant county some 115 miles north of San Francisco to grow up to 25 pot plants. It faced no organized opposition. Under state and federal law, marijuana remains illegal. And the county would still prohibit its sale or transportation if the measure passed. But busting small-time growers and smokers with a pocket-sized stash would, officially, be a low priority for the sheriff. Mendocino County is part of the ``Emerald Triangle,'' a region comprised of Mendocino, Humboldt and Trinity counties that produces an annual marijuana crop estimated near $1 billion. The potent green bud, for years the region's top cash crop, fetches more than gold: A single ounce can cost $400 on the street. With such stakes, Measure G didn't mean law enforcement would back off. Last year, state anti-marijuana forces raiding Mendocino's illicit pot farms seized some 63,000 plants valued at more than $250 million. Though some educators have voiced concerns, Measure G faced no organized opposition. Not so with a similar effort in Alaska, where a contentious ballot initiative would also give restitution to people who served marijuana-related prison sentences. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by AOCP on November 07, 2000 at 13:35:03 PT: Thugs >If passed, Measure G would become the first initiative in the nation to decriminalize marijuana cultivation and possession for individual use. Local law enforcement authorities, however, say they will continue to follow state and federal laws even if Measure G wins a majority vote at the polls today.If Measure G passes, they damn well better start paying attention, lest they have to go become parking lot security guards as a result of defying the people. Translation of their position: "F*** what the people want, we're the cops, and we're qualified to speak on whatever subject we care to butt into, so y'all better listen to us, or we'll be breaking down YOUR door on a wrong-address someday soon." Get bent. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by observer on November 07, 2000 at 13:24:24 PT Harassment, Intimidation "It was just part of a routine gathering of information about marijuana ballot-related issues across the U.S.," said Jocelyn Barnes, a spokeswoman for the DEA's San Francisco office. Harassment, Intimidation & Violence . . . Conspicuous surveillance: The FBI and police blatantly watch activists' homes, follow their cars, tap phones, open mail and attend political events. The object is not to collect information (which is done surreptiously), but to harass and intimidate. COINTELPRO Revisited Spying and Disruption http://www.dickshovel.com/coin.htmlDo not let fears generated by 'conspicuous' surveillance create unspoken tensions that undermine your work and organization. Creating fear is often the purpose of obvious surveillance. IF AN AGENT KNOCKS http://www.shadeslanding.com/firearms/agent.knocks.html see also: http://www.google.com/search?q=cointelpro+intimidation [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by TroutMask on November 07, 2000 at 12:20:00 PT Nasty old 1st Amendment Gotta get rid of that nasty 1st Amendment thingy. What the heck, get rid of all of them. -The mind of a DEA agent. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: