cannabisnews.com: Medical Pot Activist May Sue Over Bust at Airport Medical Pot Activist May Sue Over Bust at Airport Posted by CN Staff on August 20, 2005 at 06:28:58 PT By Brian Seals, Sentinel Staff Writer Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel Santa Cruz -- A well-known local medical marijuana advocate is considering a lawsuit after getting caught with the drug at a Southern California airport in late July. Valerie Corral said she was at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank when security officials found about "5 or so grams" of pot in her bag. She had a Santa Cruz County medical identification card and a doctor’s recommendation, she said. That didn’t keep her from being detained for about 45 minutes, having her pot taken and getting a citation. Corral, co-founder of Santa Cruz’s Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana, said she is fighting the charge, and may sue to ensure state medical marijuana laws are followed in the city. She is getting help from the Drug Law Reform Project of the American Civil Liberties Union based in Santa Cruz."We intend to plead not guilty," said ACLU staff attorney Christina Alvarez of Santa Cruz. A court hearing on the misdemeanor charge is set for Aug. 29. Alvarez said a decision on a civil suit would be made after that."Our primary concern is the police appeared to be under the impression the Compassionate Use Act was no longer in effect in California," Alvarez said. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that the federal government can charge people for marijuana possession even if they have a doctor’s recommendation and live in a state that has approved medical marijuana. After the ruling, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer issued a statement saying the ruling had no impact on the validity of the California law.Calls to the Burbank Police Department were referred to Bob Hope Airport, which has a separate police force. An airport spokesman declined comment, except to say citations issued by airport police are forwarded to city police.Corral said she typically takes marijuana with her when traveling in California, but not to other states. After a bust of WAMM’s Davenport garden in September 2002, the group sued the U.S. Attorney General’s office in U.S. District Court in San Jose, eventually winning an injunction barring raids on its Davenport garden by federal agents. Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA)Author: Brian Seals, Sentinel Staff WriterPublished: August 20, 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.htm Pot Backers Rally in Santa Cruzhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20964.shtml700 Protesters in Santa Cruz Rally for Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20963.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #25 posted by global_warming on August 21, 2005 at 13:42:39 PT Vioxx This current decision,Will reflect into our future,As Merck slides down,So may the folks that allowed this grievous injustice,The FDA, is is our American people,The watch dogs who have forever stood upTo protect and administer,One company may struggle for their bottom line,This first salvo for human justice,Heralds the new dawnWhen profit is exposed,Before the truths of healing,Let this decisionMark many more decisions,That will illuminateThe grief that profit driven groups,Have forced on the innocent populations.The Leaf will survive,All this objectionable warfare,There will always be a gardenTo share and reflect on our History.ktp..gw [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by Hope on August 21, 2005 at 09:15:25 PT Knowhemp From the lyrics to "Lovers in a Dangerous Time", I particularly liked the line, "Got to kick at the darkness until it bleeds daylight".Thanks."Got to kick at the darkness until it bleeds daylight." [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by FoM on August 21, 2005 at 07:33:19 PT Hope I'm glad you got to hear it. He does have a sweet and comforting voice. I said I read the Rust List almost as much as CNews and that really isn't true. When a big concert happens like what just happened in Nashville I am glued to the list because I want to read about the reviews from those who were lucky enough to get in to the show. What is so cool about Neil Young is his music is a reflection of his own life mostly. He said it's all one song. I can't imagine having music running thru my head all the time like good musicians do but I am grateful for those who have that gift and can share it with us. Thank You Knowhemp and Afterburner.One of these days I'm going to sit down and write a letter to all the good friends that I've known. Neil Young: Prairie Wind [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by knowhemp on August 21, 2005 at 07:15:12 PT url http://www.clandyken.com/you can't touch the herb:http://www.clandyken.com/Music_Lyrics/mp3files/Clan_Dyken-Cant_Touch_the_Herb.mp3 [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by knowhemp on August 21, 2005 at 07:12:00 PT music if you like neil and bruce, you may like clan dykenwww.clandyken.comyou'll find songs you can listen to there ;) [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by afterburner on August 20, 2005 at 23:05:47 PT Harvest: Lovers in a Dangerous Time Happy First Birthday to the Up In Smoke Café & Hamilton Compassion Society. Congratulations to Chris G. and Melissa, the owners.Alison was there and Tim and Chris L., and Wayne and many others. David gave another stirring speech, challenging the crowd to open more bring-your-own-smoke cafes and to educate the public about the health benefits of "marijuana" and the advantages of time dilation, and especially to question the police about the relatively harmless nature of cannabis enjoyers and gardeners. Marc was originally scheduled to appear, but due to his recent international seed bust he was unable to attend, due most likely to conditions placed on his bail.Harvest lyrics (Neil Young) http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Neil-Young/Harvest.html Lovers in a Dangerous Time lyrics (Bruce Cockburn) [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Hope on August 20, 2005 at 23:02:07 PT FoM, comment 17 Wasn't getting any sound for some reason. Downloaded a new RealPlayer...took forever...played it and kept getting a woman singing the song. Did that several times and finally heard Neil Young singing it. It is a pretty song. I looked up the lyrics to it, too. He has such a pretty, sweet voice. It's got a comforting quality to it.Thanks. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on August 20, 2005 at 19:50:47 PT DPFCA: Ed Rosenthal Goes to Appeals Court - Sept 9 Dear Friends,We have been handed a great opportunity to change federal enforcement of medical marijuana laws. On September 13, The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear oral arguments in United States vs. Edward Rosenthal. This case has implications for the entire medical marijuana movement.After Ed was found guilty he received a one-day sentence. In spite of this leniency he has appealed his conviction because of the case's important issues for patients, caregivers and providers.I asked Ed to discuss the issues in his case and their importance. Here is his reply. Please pass it along.Help Ed win his case. Financial support is needed for publicity as well court costs. Visit: http://www.green-aid.com to make a contribution. Together we can make a difference. Thank you for your ongoing support.Sincerely,Virginia Resner, PresidentGreen Aid Medical MarijuanaLegal Defense Fund & Education Fund___________________________________________Dear Friends,It's been more than two years since my trial. Once again I'd like to thank everyone who acted on their concerns at that time. We advanced the public's awareness about the validity of medicinal marijuana and how, to quote the NY Times, "the misguided federal war on medical marijuana has now escalated out of control."As you know I appealed the conviction in my case. The appeal had been on hold by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals while they waited for the Supreme Court decision in Raich/Monson. The case has now been calendared. Oral arguments are set for Tuesday, September 13.Some people have told me that I should be happy with the outcome of my trial. I'm not. I'm appealing my conviction because it offers an opportunity to take another shot at the marijuana laws. We have several legitimate legal avenues to explore. All of them are relevant to broad bands of people who are regularly harassed by the legal system. I'd like to briefly summarize them.The first issue the Appeals Court must decide is whether the prosecutor's lies to the grand jury were significant in obtaining an indictment. While seeking an indictment, Assistant United States Attorney George Bevan, though not under oath, lied in his testimony before the grand jury. Prosecutor Bevan answered a juror's query by saying that he was after me but was not interested in closing down dispensaries. This was a lie, as the Harm Reduction Center was shut down by the feds as part of the investigation that led to my indictment. The indictment should have been dismissed because of this distortion of the truth, calculated as it was to assuage the grand jury's expressed reluctance to indict me because this would deprive sick persons of the medicine they need.Judge Breyer admitted that Bevan broke the rules by lying, but said "No Harm Done. Proceed." This issue is pertinent in many cases. Prosecutors regularly violate the law and defendants' rights with impunity when leading Grand Juries. Exposing Bevan's unconstitutional actions will change the way federal grand juries are used in federal courts. Without unsworn testimony and outright lies there would be many fewer medical marijuana indictments issued.Another issue on appeal is that the search warrant was inaccurate and the judge should have dismissed the case. To make a long story short, we were about to prove the officer's lies in the warrant. Breyer understood where we were going and cut off testimony that would have discredited the officer. Then he approved the warrant without allowing full disclosure.This could be an important win for the community because officers regularly employ "creative writing", or prevarications, when applying for warrants. The courts rarely examine the documents before approving them. A win on this point would send notice to the trial courts to demand a higher standard for search warrants, one that the police would often fail.These two arguments have a fair chance of catching the Appeals Court's attention. However, if the Court doesn't dismiss on these arguments, it then gets to make a more momentous decision on the use of Section 885(d) of Title 21of the United States Code by cities that want to implement medical marijuana laws.The Oakland City Council passed an Ordinance (No. 12076 C.M.S.) that incorporated a clause of the Federal Controlled Substance Act, Section 885(d), that grants immunity "for any duly authorized officer of a political subdivision of a state lawfully engaged in the enforcement of a municipal ordinance relating to controlled substances." Typically Section 885(d) is used to protect narcs trying to entrap a suspect. Oakland interpreted this clause in a way that would help implement a medical cannabis policy that would provide safe access to patients. On September 4, 1998 I was deputized as an agent of the City of Oakland.Prejudicial Judge Breyer himself stated that a simple literal reading of that statute would seem to exonerate me. According to court rules he's supposed to follow the clear, simple reading. Short of this, he was required to let me present what I was led to believe from the plain reading of the statute to the jury, which is known legally as an "entrapment-by-estoppel" defense. However, employing twisted arguments, Judge Breyer let the case proceed and never allowed the jury to know that I was a City Officer. This presents the strongest ground for reversal.The importance of winning this case is that other cities could follow Oakland's lead and appoint "Distribution Officers". These people and their organizations would be free from arrest because they would be enforcing city policy.GREEN-AID, THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND NEEDS YOUR HELP TO FIGHT THIS CASE. They are funding this very important case as part of their efforts to change marijuana laws through the courts. This case has cost over $300,000 and the bills are still coming in. Lawyers and others associated with my case have told Green-Aid that they will need $30,000 expenses and fees. Although it's a lot of money it's still a bargain for two reasons. Green-Aid negotiates rock-bottom fees with top-name lawyers. More importantly, this case may have a profound effect on the enforcement of medical marijuana laws by the federal government.Help me win this case and change the laws. Please make a contribution of at least $100. If just 300 people make that contribution, we will be able to fight this to a great finish. If you can afford more, please make a generous contribution. The time is short so we need your help now. You can contribute using a credit card online at www.Green-Aid.com, or send checks or money orders in USD payable to:Green Aid, PMB 172484 Lake Park Ave.Oakland, CA 94610I promise that with your help we will change the marijuana laws.Thank you,EdGreen-Aid, the medical marijuana legal defense and education fund, is a registered 501(C)3 charitable, non-profit corporation. All donations to Green-Aid are tax-deductible. -- ---- Dale Gieringer (415) 563-5858 // canorml igc.org 2215-R Market St. #278, San Francisco CA 94114 [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by FoM on August 20, 2005 at 18:51:58 PT Hope I really liked Willie's new CD but that is the only one I ever bought of his and I am back to listening to Neil Young's music. As you know I read the Rust List about as much as I do CNews. I don't post in the group but the people are remarkable. They are from all over the world and show so much respect for Neil Young and in his spirit to each other. I read where a man was able to get Neil to sign his baby's picture and the reason why he wanted the baby's picture signed is a story all it's on and very sweet. This song was the way the concert - movie ended with One of These Day. That is a beautiful song. I hope you can check it out. It's not a long clip maybe 30 seconds.One of these days is number 6. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002MG4/ref=m_art_li_7/102-5221022-1021720?v=glance&s=music Neil Young: Prairie Wind [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Hope on August 20, 2005 at 18:22:15 PT Sadly... Not my cup of tea. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by Hope on August 20, 2005 at 18:14:08 PT FoM, Off Topic again. I'm listening to Countryman. I'm not loving it. I love Willie's voice of course, but it's too sad. I avoid most country music for that very reason. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by mayan on August 20, 2005 at 15:12:55 PT Keep Suin' That's the only way these numbskulls will get the point. We aren't going to take it anymore. They are violating state law but enough about the legal stuff. Bob Hope Security harassed a sick person, stole her medicine and had the nerve to issue her a citation! I can't imagine people being so heartless and ruthless. Sue the hell out of them, Valerie!!! THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Victims' Families Outraged, Want New 9/11 Panel: http://newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/8/18/121106.shtmlC-SPAN will be broadcasting the entirety of the McKinney congressional briefing on 9/11: http://copvcia.com/free/ww3/081205_mckinney_911_cspan.shtmlSunday, September 11, 2005: March for Truth in NYC: http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20050811235833758 [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on August 20, 2005 at 14:03:23 PT ekim I'm not sure if it will help Stick or not. I never understood how he keeps log books. I can't imagine a driver only drivng 150 miles a day. 500 or more miles a day is more realistic I think. Maybe that would be for a driver who does a lot of stops in one day. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by ekim on August 20, 2005 at 13:21:42 PT FoM will this help Stick or hurt him this last Friday, the Bush administration announced a rule change allowing truck drivers to drive 11 hours not the 10 a day that they have been driving The Bush administration also announced for the first time a new set of rules for truckers who drive less than 150 miles a day will be allowed to work two 16 hour days every week. Current rules limit driver's workdays to 14 hours. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by global_warming on August 20, 2005 at 12:59:46 PT re:rats with high cholesterol The cures for brain cancer are so quickly forgotten.Who will stop these anarchies?Maybe not Mercke, and some of those high priced drug merchants,It may somehow resolve down to some simple understanding,Where a handshake of trust and honor,Survives all the legal jurist prudence,Building trust, is like climbing the highest mountain,Each clef and holding point,Placed within arms reach,Assures the next step.Choose wisely,May my next momentSee myself reaching to helpan old lady to cross the street,Bow my head to some tattooed strangerScarred and with bald head,Sick and Dieing human beingsArrested and in their last frenzied momentsIn this life, in our world,Can we come together?Can we forgive the Dieing?Can we start to make things better?ktpgw [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by charmed quark on August 20, 2005 at 12:11:14 PT Cannabis and Lung Cancer The report cited below actually stated that it appears that cannabis use had a protective effect AGAINST lung and oral cancers. This research was done by the doctor that is often cited by the DEA as having proven that cannabis causes precancerous conditions in the lungs, which they equate with cancer.Of course, this doesn't mean that smoked cannabis can't damage your lungs and contribute to diseases like obstructive lung disorder,so vaporization is still a very good idea.And this morning, I just saw a study result in "New Scientist" (I think that's where it was) that THC was protective against heart infarctions (heart attacks) in rats with high cholesterol.And yesterday I saw in an AP press release that THC works better than a synthetic cannabinoid against brain cancer.-CQ [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Hope on August 20, 2005 at 11:43:36 PT Whoooaaa... Reading this will make you shake your head wondering if your eyes are reading right.http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1355/a02.html?397In a Lawless Town, the Top Lawman Avoids Trouble [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by global_warming on August 20, 2005 at 11:31:05 PT White House Searches for Balance in Drug Fight Police rip out 24 pot plants near the river By Claudia Bigelowhttp://www.zwire.com/site/tab3.cfm?newsid=15056029&BRD=2553&PAG=461&dept_id=506078&rfi=6No arrests had been made as of Tuesday after police in a helicopter last week discovered 24 marijuana plants growing near the Shenandoah River, said Sheriff Tony Roper.-They have been busy in good old Vigini"a",..--For your information Thursday, August 18, 2005 Huntsville TimesAgents say arrests shut down drug ringDrug agents have seized 152 pounds of marijuana following a seven-month investigation that spanned the area. Imagine, 7 months and how many of our proudest men in the blue, our money and our tax dollars, being sucked down this air shaft of prohibition against this ditch weed.http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/11243566616150.xml&coll=1-- Concert results in 34 marijuana arrests(Published Thursday, August 18, 2005 11:23:34 AM CDT)EAST TROY-Authorities from the Walworth County Drug Unit arrested 34 people for possession of marijuana at the Coldplay concert Aug. 13 at Alpine Valley Music Theater.One individual was confined on state charges for possession of the drug and resisting arrest. Another was confined for possession of both marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms, according to the Walworth County Sheriff's Department.Dang, them terrorists aint never gonna escape the long arms of the law..http://www.gazetteextra.com/alpinearrests081805.asp--Finally something from Mark Souders backyard, there is always Hope,Posted on Thu, Aug. 18, 2005 Courtesy of Indiana State PolicePolice took 25 marijuana plants in northwest Allen County.Local police uproot pot plants amid cornBy Amanda IaconeThe Journal GazetteAllen County police removed 25 marijuana plants from a farm in northwest Allen County on Wednesday.A Felger Road farmer called county police about 10 a.m. Wednesday and reported that someone had come onto his property, removed stalks of corn and planted marijuana in their place, a county police report said.The plants covered about one acre of the farmer’s land. Police removed 25 plants that were between 5 feet and 6 feet tall. Each plant can produce about 1 pound of marijuana a year, the report said.Police are investigating, and no arrests have been made.http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/local/police/12413793.htm--Wish someone could explain to me, how so many people are going to jail for low level marijuana use/abuse, yet the price of gasoline is criminally at all time highs..Wish someone could explain to me, why we are at war with a large segment of the world population, yet a whore monger like Clinton, or that befuddled smirking chimp have eluded the gallows, may God Bless this American Constitution.Use them nails to make Houses instead of Crosses for Crucifixions,keeping the peace,gw [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Hope on August 20, 2005 at 11:30:06 PT This letter struck me hard. http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1357/a06.htmlI AM A CANADIAN. I have learned that alcohol does more harm in our society than pot. Pot is actually helpful as a medical aid to many people. Booze is not. I am not a Canerican. Please fight off America. They are the real terrorists of this world today. Who else runs around bombing cities? They are cut off the same cloth. What we need is peace in this world and Canadians can continue to manifest that peace, but not under the control of America. Are you a Canerican? Or are you a Canadian? Len Walke, Qualicum Beach [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by ekim on August 20, 2005 at 10:56:11 PT International Cannabinoid Research Society Meeting http://www.marijuananews.com/As usual, the inestimable Fred Gardner scooped the world with his report from this year's meeting of the International Cannabinoid Research Society, http://cannabinoidsociety.org and Gardner’s article was also posted on Counterpunch.org, a popular left of center website, but I have been unable to find a single instance of it being reported by a major news organization. Inasmuch as stories about any possible cause or cure for cancer are usually very popular, this omission is… well, typical of news coverage on cannabis, but not cancer.Excerpted from Pot Shots Study: Smoking Marijuana Does Not Cause Lung Cancer By Fred Gardner July 2 / 4, 2005 Full text http://www.counterpunch.org/gardner07022005.html Marijuana smoking -"even heavy longterm use"- does not cause cancer of the lung, upper airwaves, or esophagus, Donald Tashkin reported at this year's meeting of the International Cannabinoid Research Society. http://cannabinoidsociety.org Coming from Tashkin, this conclusion had extra significance for the assembled drug-company and university-based scientists (most of whom get funding from the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse). Over the years, Tashkin's lab at UCLA has produced irrefutable evidence of the damage that marijuana smoke wreaks on bronchial tissue. With NIDA's support, Tashkin and colleagues have identified the potent carcinogens in marijuana smoke, biopsied and made photomicrographs of pre-malignant cells, and studied the molecular changes occurring within them. It is Tashkin's research that the Drug Czar's office cites in ads linking marijuana to lung cancer. (MarijuanaNews note: Tashkin is THE accepted expert in the field. In 1998, the New Scientist magazine wrote, "The person to ask is Donald Tashkin, a lung expert at the University of California at Los Angeles.") http://www.cannabinoidsociety.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Hope on August 20, 2005 at 10:47:08 PT To people who think we "use" sick people to "further our agenda of legalization".Sure! That's why WE arrest, cite, persecute and take from them the medicine that works best for them.You evil people who say that we use them, while behind your backs you hold the keys to persecution of the sick and afflicted.I'm tempted to say, "Woe to you!", but there is enough woe in the world as it is. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 20, 2005 at 10:44:10 PT Hope I'll watch my blood pressure! Thanks. I guess I believe that we have people on CNews who need to be careful with letting the situation we have to deal with affect them too much. Unfortunately since many of us are getting older we need to put things in a proper perspective. If we stay angry for a long period of time it will hurt our health. What good can we do if we all die? None. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Hope on August 20, 2005 at 10:39:18 PT FoM I'm sure it will have you shouting at the TV! Watch that blood pressure. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on August 20, 2005 at 10:19:52 PT Hope That should be very interesting. Thanks! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Hope on August 20, 2005 at 09:55:43 PT C-Span...Monday Briefing on DEA Hearing on Medical Marijuana (12:30pm) - LIVE [ Post Comment ] Post Comment