cannabisnews.com: DEA Marijuana Madness 





DEA Marijuana Madness 
Posted by FoM on November 10, 2001 at 22:01:25 PT
By David S. Broder
Source: Washington Post
Asa Hutchinson, the former Republican representative from Arkansas now serving as head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, has a reputation as a straight shooter. When he was up for confirmation a few months ago, even Democrats who had strongly opposed his views as a manager of the impeachment proceedings against Bill Clinton testified in support of his nomination.The other morning, Hutchinson was the guest at one of the breakfast interviews arranged by Godfrey Sperling Jr. of the Christian Science Monitor. Asked what the events of Sept. 11 had done to the war on drugs, Hutchinson readily admitted that the diversion of government resources to the anti-terrorism campaign had left his agency stretched thin.
A significant number of FBI agents who had been working drug cases have been pulled off to assist in the dragnet for suspected terrorists, he said. Coast Guard vessels that had been patrolling the Caribbean to intercept drug smugglers are now protecting harbors. Customs agents are focusing on bioterrorism.Hutchinson assured reporters that he agreed with the new priorities, but acknowledged that the DEA is struggling to "pick up the slack."All of which makes it very strange, in my view, that on Oct. 25 about 30 DEA agents spent six hours in a raid on the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Center, a source of marijuana for patients with doctors' prescriptions for its use as a painkiller.There was nothing illegal about the raid. The agents had a search warrant signed by a visiting federal judge from Florida. Scott Imler, the president of the center, told me the agents "were very polite. They did not pull guns or put anyone on the floor or handcuff anyone, or physically or verbally abuse anyone. They just gathered us together and went about collecting stuff."They took marijuana plants, processed marijuana, 3,000 medical records and all the business documents on the site. The next day, Imler said, they seized the organization's bank accounts, effectively shutting down its normal operations.In turn, Imler and his staff did not try to conceal anything; in fact, they opened the safe and allowed the agents to take away the contents. This was no clandestine operation.Five years ago, when California voters overwhelmingly approved a medical marijuana initiative financed by George Soros and two other multimillionaires, the Los Angeles County sheriff, Sherman Block, and officials of West Hollywood encouraged Imler and his associates to set up operations, even finding them a building they could use.John Duran, the center's attorney and a city councilman, said the organization has worked hand-in-glove with local officials, acceding to their requests that patients' status be verified every three months and that they carry identity cards attesting to their eligibility for marijuana possession."We've had nothing to hide for five years," Duran said. Indeed, DEA agents visited the center on Sept. 17 and were given a tour of the premises and a full explanation of its operations.The authority for the raid rests on a Supreme Court decision last May that the passage of medical marijuana initiatives in California and seven other states does not override federal law classifying marijuana as an illegal drug.The question raised by Imler, Duran, civil liberties attorneys and even some conservative editorial pages is why such a raid would command the resources of the DEA at a time when it is clearly being stretched to the limits.When I asked Hutchinson, he replied that carrying out the federal marijuana ban "is our responsibility, but not a high priority." He acknowledged that he prefers to work with elected officials and local law enforcement, rather than opposing them, as in this case, but said that "when there is a gap" between state and federal law, his job is to enforce the congressional statutes.That answer does not satisfy local officials. At the time of the raid, 960 people -- most of them with AIDS, the rest with cancer, Lou Gehrig's disease and other serious illnesses -- were alleviating pain and nausea with marijuana from Imler's center. No arrest warrants have been issued since the raid, and a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office told me it will be "some time" before any prosecutions are decided. But the center has closed its dispensary because, as Imler said, "we do not want to distribute black market products." Now, Duran added, "we have 960 patients out in the parks, looking for drug dealers to get their marijuana, which is exactly what the city didn't want."No one has alleged -- let alone proved -- that anyone obtained marijuana without a medical prescription. Why in the world is the Bush administration fighting this battle, when there are so many more important wars to be won?Source: Washington Post (DC)Author: David S. BroderPublished: Sunday, November 11, 2001; Page B07 Copyright: 2001 The Washington Post Company Contact: letterstoed washpost.comWebsite: http://www.washingtonpost.comRelated Articles & Web Site: Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmFeds Are Busting The Wrong `Drug Ring'http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11284.shtmlThe Feds Crack Down -- on Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11283.shtml Monitor Breakfast: Asa Hutchinson http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11282.shtml
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Comment #17 posted by kaptinemo on November 13, 2001 at 06:02:54 PT:
Thank you, goneposthole
I went to the link you supplied, and was gratified to see many of the same sentiments concerning what I had been reading about (literally) as the "Fourth Reich of the Rich" for many years.(Yes, there's a very good - but heavily Fundamentalist-slanted - book by that same name which goes into astonishing detail just how much of an incestuous relationship exists between governments, corporations and certain shadowy organizations whose unConstitutional influence is felt daily.)I wish everybody would be as diligent in their research.
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Comment #16 posted by E_Johnson on November 11, 2001 at 19:28:20 PT
Wow, more than I hoped for
David Broder talked to Scott Imler and confronted Asa Hutchinson and it got printed in the Post.This is progress.The DEA has severely overplayed their hand. Asa Hutchinson is not going to have a social life in Washington without having to hear about this. He can't insulate himself from this now. It's hit the mainstream.This is in the Post. It's going to be A list cocktail and dinner party conversation in Washington DC.It sounds stupid but that actually means a lot.
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on November 11, 2001 at 18:00:04 PT
My 2 cents
I am quiet about how I feel about this war because I still don't know how I feel. I wish they would quick do what they have to do and end this war but all the wishing in the world won't make that happen. I don't know if there is a right way to have a war. I try to keep my mind on how will all of this make our lives different and try to plan for hard times. I don't get upset about the new war. I cried the other night and had to turn this program off that was about Dogs of War. That was too much for me to take. On the light side South Park was good last night. They even had towlie on if you know the character. My husband loves South Park. 
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Comment #14 posted by goneposthole on November 11, 2001 at 17:40:40 PT
just to be fair
another opinion
http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl listserv.aol.com/msg78521.html
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Comment #13 posted by goneposthole on November 11, 2001 at 17:08:35 PT
that's 4d
You are being pretty tough on those guys; I will with hold any judgment.Maybe we should drop off Osama bin Loafin' at Firehouse One in downtown New York City. Peace would be just around the corner.
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Comment #12 posted by dddd on November 11, 2001 at 16:28:26 PT
then and now
..one of the really sickening things about the VietNam war,was how the veterans were treated when they came home,,,,,alot of people treated them as if it was the soldiers that were to blame,,,,,,,,,and the politicians who were responsible,,hid and pretended it wasnt their fault.........this new,fraudulent "war on terror",will be different,,we know exactly who to blame for the bloody insanity this time.....and the day will come,when alot of these assholes will be called to answer for the senseless slaughter of innocent people in Afghanistan,, and most of them will try to hide,,and claim they didnt know what was going on.....the US government war mongers are criminals,,that are as bad,or worse than bin Laden....The terror from the US warpigs is alot more scary than any Al-Quida,or Taliban ever dreamed of,,,,and I could easily become a victim of the new, special brand of US "anti-terror",just for writing this..............And I say Thank You,,again,to all the Veterans,both dead,and alive,,,who have fought under the American flag....I salute you............. and...If I had my way,,,I'd drop the shrub,,cheney,,and the rumsfeldster off in downtown Kabul....dddd
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on November 11, 2001 at 12:31:04 PT
Thanks dddd
That was nice of you. I'm glad that I met my husband after two years in Nam. I was sheltered and he taught me a lot about what life was like from his perspective. Even though he grew up on a farm he has never wanted to pick up a gun to hunt deer. I asked him why way back then and he said after he had to hunt people for a living he never wanted to hunt an animal. He doesn't say much about those days but he has beautiful pictures that we spent many hours going through years ago. We still have his big 150 watt wood stereo speakers he bought over there. They work great still too.
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Comment #10 posted by dddd on November 11, 2001 at 09:28:11 PT
Veterans Day
Please allow me to also thank all Veterans out there .I salute you,and greatly appreciate you putting your ass on the line for our country.......Sincerely...dddd
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on November 11, 2001 at 08:57:14 PT
Patrick
My husband says thank you. He did two tours in Vietnam. When I met him he wore a camouflage jacket and a boonie hat and on his jacket it said, When I die I'm going to Heaven because I spent my time in Hell. 1969-1971I fell in love with him right away! LOL! He was so cool and still is.
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Comment #8 posted by Patrick on November 11, 2001 at 08:37:36 PT
Hi FoM
All is well, considering the turmoil in the world we live.I just want to say... HAPPY VETERANS DAY! to all veterens. 
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Comment #7 posted by dddd on November 11, 2001 at 06:49:00 PT
I think you're right Kap
...Perhaps Broders realizes,that there exsists a hefty crowd of angry Sheeple,with pitchforks and torches in hand, who are gathering outside the bejeweled gates of the grotesque edifice that is home to the taleban drug warriors...I think,and hope,,that there are alot more people out there who are really,way more pissed,than one would think..............And you are wise to avoid commercial television Kap,,,,as you know,,it is one of my hobbies to disgust myself by following the network/media spin,,,,but it's getting to a point,where I can barely stand to watch anymore...I'm startin' to get really concerned,and upset by the manipulation of the populace in the "ads" that are supposed to be "news",concerning this fraudulent "war".....it's not funny anymore..in the world of the government/media symbiotic relationship,,,the "host",and the "parasite",are now indistinguishable...The infection of the media is chronic,and it appears to be terminal.It's almost too advanced to imagine recovery..........it's getting to the point where the only good thing,that I can count on,,is that I'm getting old,and will be dead before things get really f*cked,,that sounds like a sorta sick thing to say,,,,but,things dont be lookin' very good...it aint pretty......so the only good thing I can balance that with,,is to say that I highly recommend trying to have as much fun as one can,and go out and smell flowers,and try to be happy,,even if ya gotta pretend,,,,,it's good to try and make the best of each day before it turns into yesterday...........because yesterday is something that will never happen again..?...Far Out man.....wish I knew where to get some LSDddd
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Comment #6 posted by goneposthole on November 11, 2001 at 06:20:24 PT
drugs
The pharmaceutical companies advertise on the televsion with dogged determination to get you to go and buy their fancy sounding and probably very addicting 'legal' drugs". If you listen to the potential side effects you would have to be crazy to partake in any way.Cigarettes cannot be advertised, however pills have taken over. This is OK.They probably should be run out of town on a rail. They are the real drug pushers, and their profits handsomely display their so called success. Enough of this 'EL TORO POOP-O'.BUD-IS- WISER --------L-EAGLE EYES
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Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on November 11, 2001 at 05:38:41 PT:
Something even more interesting about this
Is who wrote it. Broder is no friend of the referndum process. You'd think he'd be turning handsprings at the Feds trashing the results of a popular referendum being made into law...because it goes against his (rather presumptive) personal misgivings concerning the possibility of direct democracy like this being corrupted by powerful interests - like the brewery and distillery and pharmaceutical companies do, lobbying on Capitol Hill every day to screw you out of cheap medicines.Perhaps Mr. Broder has begun to faintly whiff the strong stench of brimstone the rest of us have been smelling about this latest and very dangerous threat to freedom posed by 'our' public servants.As usual, the chattering class is accustomed to parroting what their corporate masters have to say on a matter with little thought to the ramifications of them. Then, when the hard edged reality of the situation bites them on the arse, they express seemingly genuine surprise at the results not matching what they were told was going to happen.Which is one of the prime reasons why I rarely watch commercial television any more; the lies are so disingenous that they immediately provoke disgust and channel flipping.
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Comment #4 posted by qqqq on November 11, 2001 at 01:34:04 PT
If you wanna take a few minutes...
..to read this thing,,,you will know why dddd is so concerned......this is an excellent explanation of propaganda. ....dddd has trouble explaining his simplisticly complex messages,,,fortunately,,the inverted dddd,(qqqq),is sufficiently imbalanced,,to prudently direct any interested parties,to a link of substance that will hopefully clarify the clouded ramblings of the confused 4d....This is worth reading,even if you think you know.........  http://www.africa2000.com/PNDX/theory.htm
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Comment #3 posted by dddd on November 11, 2001 at 00:43:58 PT
It's indeed encouraging..
..to hear someone like Broder,in the WP,,to be talking this way....that's the good part,,,but......in the big picture,,things still look quite f*cked.......It's really weird,,,I keep wondering how many Sheeple are aware of what's going on in our country.   ..I wonder how many Americans are stupid enough to actually be believing what the government is telling them....and when we see articles like this; http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/nyt/20011110/ts/in_the_war_on_terrorism_new_life_for_propaganda_1.html  ...it becomes somewhat mystifying,as to the question of why no one seems to be alarmed about the exsistance of government sponsored propaganda....Propaganda,,that Americans are paying their tax dollars,to be used upon themselves??....I mean,,it's a long way from when our government was being formed,,,,,and the sayings were;"No taxation without representation",,and "Dont Tread on Me",,,""Give me liberty,or give me death" ..to the absurd notion of having a government that uses tax dollars to hire advertising firms,to spin propaganda to maintain support for the ruling powers,and their insane,and covert "wars"....dddd
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 10, 2001 at 23:17:51 PT
Hi Patrick
I know Patrick I was pleasantly surprised to see this in the Washington Post and for the Sunday Paper! Just when things get discouraging we get news from Canada and the UK and then this article that renews our hope. Good to see you! Hope all is well. 
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Comment #1 posted by Patrick on November 10, 2001 at 23:06:53 PT
Washington Post?
This article was really in the Washington Post? Maybe the Post should have asked Mr. Hutchinson to address the following situation..."Now, Duran added, "we have 960 patients out in the parks, looking for drug dealers to get their marijuana, which is exactly what the city didn't want."
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