Bill seeks to provide medical pot defense

Santa Cruz Sentinel ^ | February 20, 2003 | Brian Seals

[MrLeRoy]

Medical marijuana users and growers in California could cite state law as a defense against federal prosecutors who criminalize their actions, under a bill planned by three federal lawmakers.

U.S. Reps. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, and Lynne Woolsey, D-Petaluma, plan to co-sponsor the bill next month with Rep. Dana Rohrbacher, an Orange County Republican.

The proposed legislation comes in the wake of stepped-up federal raids on medical marijuana gardens over the past year, including one at a Santa Cruz County cooperative last September.

The legislation also comes after marijuana guru Ed Rosenthal was convicted on federal charges of growing pot in Oakland in a trial during which his lawyers weren’t allowed to mention he was growing it for Oakland’s medical marijuana patients.

"The purpose of this bill is to allow defendants in federal criminal trials to introduce evidence that their marijuana-related activity was performed for a valid medical purpose under state law," Farr said in a written statement.

Farr is to be honored today in Sacramento during a press conference hosted by the marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access. He was to be joined by family members of people recently convicted on federal marijuana charges.

Eight states have approved medical marijuana use, but the bill recognizing state marijuana law is likely to face an uphill battle in a Republican-controlled Congress.

Rohrbacher said the bill was a reasonable approach to settling the conflict between federal and state laws.

"As far as I know, it is the people of the state who are supposed to be determining criminal laws," he said by telephone Wednesday. "I just think that if the majority of people in a state vote to permit people to use marijuana for medical purposes, the federal government should not interfere with that."

The tension between federal enforcement and state laws was highlighted in Santa Cruz County during last September’s raid of the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana’s Davenport garden.

About 167 plants were uprooted by federal drug agents, and co-founders Mike and Valerie Corral were briefly jailed. No charges have been filed.

Ben Rice, an attorney for the cooperative, said that while he wasn’t optimistic a federal measure would pass, he welcomed the proposed legislation.

"The WAMM and Rosenthal cases have really galvanized national attention to the problem we have here," Rice said. "I think this is a terrific move."

While the DEA hasn’t filed charges, WAMM has gone on the offensive, filing suit against the feds.

Having lost the first round of a court battle to get the marijuana back, the group is appealing the decision.

The group also plans to seek an injunction prohibiting similar raids in the future. The county and city have voted to join that suit as plaintiffs.

[cinFLA]

Neither did I claim that all on your side thought the same things. My claim is that I have had had several post that "I do not use drugs nor would recommend them .." and then go on to push the drug legalization agenda. It does not compute to me that so many would go out of their way to say so and then promote drugs. I said every since I had not seen an anyone post that they were promoting drugs so that they could use them legally. At least I could understand that.

[cinFLA]

Show me a post where one says he uses drugs.

My point exactly. Why would the pro-druggies use TJ as an ICON when he was against illecit drugs.

[cinFLA]

Blessed are the Peace Makers

Blessed are those that destroy evil. (an anti-communist)

[cinFLA]

Quoting the bible is easy. All you have to do is cut and past from the nearest web site.

[PaxMacian]

I have not seen a "pro-druggie" here.
Anti-WODdies sure, and God bless them.
AMERICAN CITIZENS are being warred upon by an EVIL spirit of unconstitutional nature bent on controlling the minds of the populace through FALSE PROPAGANDA and DEADLY FORCE directed by a CZAR.

[PaxMacian]

"Quoting the bible is easy. All you have to do is cut and past from the nearest web site."

You have a flair for the obvious.
But, wisdom takes effort to acquire.

[PaxMacian]

Matthew 5:
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

[PaxMacian]

Ephesians 6:
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

[unspun]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/848792/posts?page=14#14

[cinFLA]

These spammers are preaching less government and local control all the while the leaders have a different plan. Of course it is just a coincidence that Soros runs the worlds largest hedge fund which has destroyed several countries through his currency manipulations. Is he attacking the US now?

"For example, Patrick V. Murphy, perhaps the most visible law enforcement official in the movement, has pushed throughout his long career for both legalization and a national police force."

"The legalization kingpins, few in number, but highly visible and with powerful backing may be considered as part of a "counter hegemony" movement that continues to work to abolish limited government and democratic capitalism by undermining their moral foundation."


http://www.culturewars.com/CultureWars/Archives/cw_recent/legalization.html

[PaxMacian]

Spam? Your numerous pointless or provocative posts to this thread are the closest thing to spam I've seen. The conspiracy theory "culture war" article certainly qualifies for a meatless spamming argument for a fascist future for America. Finally, there is no moral foundation to an unconstitutional war upon citizens of these United States.

[jmc813]

That is to say, why is it illegal? Because society mandates it be illegal.

"Society" mandated Klinton serve the country as president for two terms. "Society" mandates the Assault Weapons Ban as well. Do you support it?

[robertpaulsen]

"I have a $100.00 that says you can't convince a doctor to sign an authorization."

"Doctor Phillip Leveque, a physician at the Compassion Center for two days each month, also works at a variety of other OMMA centers across the state, including Voter Power in Portland. He has signed medical marijuana applications for more than 4,000 patients and said that the law's "strange" criteria cause confusion."
--dailyemerald.com

I'll go easy on you and say only half of those were bogus. Do you need a mailing address on where to send my $200,000.? Better yet, send it to John Walters with my regards.

[bigfootbob]

""I have a $100.00 that says you can't convince a doctor to sign an authorization."

We've been down this street before. I don't care if he has signed every single one of these. This is a grey area in medicine and not every physician has taken the time to study the benefits from medical marijuana.

Doctors in practice learn about medications from pharmaceutical sales representatives. There isn't PRESENTLY a pharmaceutical company manufacturing medical pot other than the US government in Mississippi.

I still contend you can't wily-nily get medical authorization and will give you or the other poster a $100.00 to prove otherwise. Try to obtain a letter from a doctor for medical pot without having a debilitating disease.

Take the challenge, your talk is cheap and has absolutely no merit. Walk the talk.

[cinFLA]

Spam? Your numerous pointless or provocative posts to this thread are the closest thing to spam I've seen.

I have NEVER started an anti-drug, pro-WoD's thread.

[cinFLA]

He asked why it was illegal. That does not mean that I supported Clinton. Your logic is only meant to confuse the argument.

[jmc813]

He asked why it was illegal. That does not mean that I supported Clinton.

True enough. You have in the past, however, stated that the reason you support the WOD is for the good of "society". I was trying to point out examples of when "society" is wrong. Confusion was not my intent.

[Hacksaw]

"Funny thing you NEVER see them on the threads about riots fights accidents etc where ALCOHOL is the factor "

>>Our New Years Eve celebration in Pittsburgh (sponsored by the city) is alchohol free. They decided to go dry because it caused less problems - and it is a pretty good celebration.

[Hacksaw]

"Possibly so, but I think it's kinda girly of him (and prohibitionist) to call Mom everytime someone disagrees with him. "

>>In defense of LeRoy, who I have heartily flamed in the past, he posts the same warning to the pro-legalization crowd.