cannabisnews.com: Group To Protest Medical Marijuana Arrests





Group To Protest Medical Marijuana Arrests
Posted by CN Staff on August 24, 2006 at 07:01:44 PT
By Jeremy Barousse
Source: Spartan Daily
California -- Members of the downtown community are organizing a protest against the San Jose State University Police Department on Friday. The protest is following the arrest of three medical marijuana patients who were possession of marijuana on the university campus."Protesting the arrest for legally possessing marijuana is not our original intent," said Jim Lohse, president of the Silicon Valley Cannabis Patients Union. "The reason why we are so active in this is because UPD doesn't know the law and isn't interested in finding out."
Sgt. John Laws of UPD said the arrests were standard procedure and thinks the protest will have a low turnout of support."I don't anticipate that the protest will have any effect on the campus," Laws said.The union is a local chapter of the Compassionate Coalition, whose main goal is to protect the rights of medical marijuana patients. Christine Flora, a homeless woman and medical marijuana patient, was arrested on the morning of July 26 for sleeping on campus and cited for possessing four ounces of marijuana.In protest, Lohse and another union affiliate were arrested Aug. 4 on SJSU campus and cited for possession of marijuana despite showing their government-issued medical marijuana identification card.Lohse, who was arrested for his first time, claims that he was the victim of willful and illegal misconduct by the UPD."(UPD) can't get it through their thick heads that we can possess marijuana legally," Lohse said. "I want police to know that when they don't follow the law, they aren't doing their job."Lohse expects to have about 50 people at the protest."I understand (Lohse's) perspective, but I simply disagree with his interpretation of the law," said Laws.Laws added that Lohse and Flora can fight their case and get their marijuana back in court."It's standard for us to arrest somebody on campus for possessing a controlled substance," Laws said. "But they can go to court and present their right to possess marijuana with proper documentation and have their citations waived. We had them detained while we wrote up their citations, and released them when we were done." Flora, who serves as secretary-treasurer for the union, argues that her rights were still violated."I get very upset when people step on my civil rights," Flora said. "And (UPD) was denying me the right to use my medicine."Lohse, who has been advertising the protest through various websites, hopes to teach the university students to know the letter of the law."I understand why (UPD) does what they do," Lohse said. "But they need to know the law. (The UPD) acts like over-protecting parents."The protest is scheduled at 4:20 p.m. Friday at San Salvador and Seventh streets, in front of the parking garage and the UPD.Source: Spartan Daily (CA Edu)Author: Jeremy BaroussePublished: August 24, 2006Copyright: 2006 Spartan DailyContact: sdaily jmc.sjsu.eduWebsite: http://www.thespartandaily.comCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by Bryan on August 24, 2006 at 20:11:34 PT
Shame shame shame
We need better ID cards. This inconvenience and detaining is a way of bending the law and getting revenge on marijuana smokers who are innocent. 
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Comment #2 posted by OverwhelmSam on August 24, 2006 at 13:37:51 PT
Turn The Tables, Sue The University
Take THEM to court. Maybe someone will even get fired. See how they like it. What's good for the goose...
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Comment #1 posted by Max Flowers on August 24, 2006 at 10:31:52 PT
University is a microcosm of USA
"I understand why (UPD) does what they do," Lohse said. "But they need to know the law. (The UPD) acts like over-protecting parents."This is a microcosm of the national situation. Congress, federal agencies, and cops nationwide are all acting like overprotective parents, when what they need to do is let go and accept the fact that people are going to do what they need to do medically, recreationally and personally; and as long as they do not harm others in doing so, their individual liberty should be respected.Oh, but I forget... then the cops would all lose their cushy anti-pot federal money and the fancy equipment it brings... can't have that...
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