cannabisnews.com: Medical Pot Parade Set for July 16 Medical Pot Parade Set for July 16 Posted by CN Staff on July 01, 2005 at 07:24:01 PT By Brian Seals, Staff Writer Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel Santa Cruz -- Members of the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana plan a July 16 march through downtown Santa Cruz — while carrying some pot plants.The group hopes to attract 1,000 like-minded supporters to participate in the noon march down Pacific Avenue as a protest against an adverse U.S. Supreme Court ruling and recent raids of medical marijuana operations in Northern California. WAMM wants to make the statement that people who use marijuana as medicine have legitimate health reasons, they are not just a bunch of potheads and the general public supports the use of marijuana as medicine.The "solemn event," added WAMM co-founder Valerie Corral, will also commemorate 154 members who have died since the group’s inception. Whether the group will be allowed to carry plants will be part of its parade permit review, which is still in the process, said Santa Cruz Police Deputy Chief Kevin Vogel. The march comes at a time when the federal government has stepped up raids on medical marijuana operations in California. Drug Enforcement Administration agents recently raided three pot clubs and more than 20 homes and businesses in San Francisco, saying they were fronts for illegal drug operations, and arrested a Sacramento area couple on marijuana-related charges.Those raids followed a June 6 Supreme Court ruling that held federal drug laws supersede state medical marijuana laws.A DEA spokesperson wouldn’t discuss any potential interest from the agency in the march.WAMM has made public statements in the past. Following a September 2002 raid on its Davenport garden, the group conducted a medical pot handout to about a dozen of its patients on the steps of Santa Cruz City Hall. For the past two years, it has held a family day picnic in August at San Lorenzo Park. Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA)Author: Brian Seals, Staff WriterPublished: July 1, 2005 Copyright: 2005 Santa Cruz SentinelContact: editorial santa-cruz.comWebsite: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:WAMMhttp://www.wamm.org/Pictures & News from WAMM Protesthttp://freedomtoexhale.com/eventpics.htmMarijuana Ruling Worries Santa Cruz Grouphttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20798.shtmlLocal Medical Pot Users Disheartened by Decisionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20794.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 13, 2008 at 06:10:49 PT Truth We love you too. I wish you good luck tomorrow. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Truth on February 12, 2008 at 23:11:11 PT: Court tomorrow just time to stop in an say how much I love Cannabisnews.com , FoM and Everyone who reads in here. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Max Flowers on July 03, 2005 at 17:34:38 PT Saint Valerie Go Valerie! You are so awesome.It sickens me that our world is so backward and dysfunctional that saintly, loving, altruistic people like Valerie are seen as "criminals" while true criminals like DEA who thrive on ruining lives are seen as trying to help people?! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment