Posted on 10/29/2001 10:11:34 PM PST by LloydofDSS
STAFF OF W. HOLLYWOOD MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLINIC PROTEST DEA RAID Operators of a medical marijuana clinic raided by federal agents blasted the action Friday as a "death sentence" for people who use the facility. Drug Enforcement Administration agents searched the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Center Thursday afternoon, seizing computers, financial documents, 400 marijuana plants and medical records of some 3,000 current and former patients, said Scott Imler, resident of the resource center. "This action is effectively a death sentence for patients all across Los Angeles County," Imler said. "Our immediate concerns are our 960 patients who have no place else to go for marijuana." The center, which has been open since 1996, provides marijuana to patients suffering from AIDS, epilepsy, glaucoma, cancer and other serious illnesses, he said. To receive the marijuana, patients must be referred by their physicians and undergo a screening process. The raid is the latest in an ongoing battle between states and federal courts over the medical use of marijuana. Eight states including California have passed legislation allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes only. In May, the Supreme Court upheld a 1970 law that says marijuana has no medical benefits. That ruling was cited in the search warrant, which allowed officers to look for evidence of the manufacture of marijuana and the possession of the drug with intent to distribute. "It is a felony violation of federal law to cultivate, distribute or possess with intent to distribute marijuana," said U.S. Attorney John S. Gordon in a written statement. At a press conference on Friday, Imler was joined by members of the West Hollywood City Council and a representative of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, who both expressed support for the resource center. "Our city is going to stand with our residents and this club," said Councilman John Duran, who also provides legal representation for the center. "These people will be forced once again into the streets to deal with drug dealers." Sheriff's Capt. Lynda Castro said she was disappointed when she heard about the raid because the department has worked hard over the past five years to be understanding and sensitive to the issue. "This is going to hurt a significant population in this community," she said. "I respect them for doing it, for operating a significant service. To turn around and have them targeted is a hard pill to swallow." Marlene Rasnick, who suffers from ovarian cancer, urged her fellow patients to protest the federal government's action against the center. "Medical marijuana made it possible for me to sit in my garden and enjoy my friends," she said. "If the federal government wants to say life is over, I don't accept that."
Geez, our tax money goes to this when we have a war going on? They have their priorities screwed up!!!
I understand that Canada and Britain are close to allowing "medical pot smoking" if it hasn't actually been done. The US will probably follow in a decade or so; it's just too hard to police, the case for its harm in and of itself as compared to permitted things like tobacco is nebulous at best, and the financial strain on the Treasury of combating terrorists will make cost cutting by curtailing the Federal pot pursuit more attractive.
It's not like they had to look. This clinic was operating with the full knowledge and cooperation of the West Hollywood City Council and the LA County Sheriffs. Very much like other clubs around the state. The feds are clearly operating against the will of the people here. They will not charge anyone with a crime because they know that no jury on the state would convict. This is pure harrassment of the sick and dying.
I agree with your politics, but you are wrong on this one. This raid was ordered by the Republican lead DEA direct from Washington. No California politician will support it, but they will mostly just keep a low profile. They are hoping we the people don't get too upset and work to get them fired.
Recently Canada made the medical use of marijuana legal, but it is almost impossible to get it anyway. They are immersed in a government run system and the government is not about to start growing medical marijuana in Canada.
Britain on the other hand just changed the rules concerning when they make an arrest for pot possession. The change has effectively made the possession of small amounts of pot virtually legal, although not technically legal. This is much like the way the Netherlands treats pot.
Oh, come off it. They would have done
this anyway. The lifestyle police know
no rest, take no shelter, give no quarter.
God forbid they spend their time
doing anything useful (=dangerous).
The Californians voted to leave medical marijuana alone.
It's the Republican lifestyle police you see in action here.
I know that West Hollywood is a haven for homosexuals, but this clinic is not related to that except for the large number of Aids patients who benefit greatly from medical marijuana. This is part of a pattern. The DEA has recently busted a similar clinic in El Dorado County California and they also busted a medical marijuana farm in Ventura County north of Ojai. These are the first medical marijuana busts since the Oakland Buyers club was busted several years back, which lead to a Supreme Court case.
These clubs have been operating openly without being harrassed for the last two years. Why did the feds wait until Oct. 2001?
You are technically correct, but if it has something to do with them being republican, then why did Clinton and his DEA chief bust the Oakland Club two years ago?
When did California make them legal?
1996. It was the year Clinton took California by a pretty good margin over Dole. But Prop 215 got an even wider margin than Clinton. Medical Marijuana is legal in California, and about 7 other states.
Did the Californians vote for the 2nd amendment to protect themselves from such raids! I do not think so. Potemkin victims who are victimizing themselves. The holocaustic writting is on the wall for Californians because they hate the lifestyle of owning and shooting guns. Without a second amendment your vote does not count! DUH!!!!!
Thanks for the concession. The Republicans generally come down on drugs because "drug abuse is immoral", while the democrats come down on drugs because they are trying to "protect the children". Both sides are equally immoral. The war on some drugs is simply a war on Americans. Pretending drug users are not part of a good America is like denying your right arm is part of your body.
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