cannabisnews.com: Evicted: Medical Pot Club Loses Its Home 





Evicted: Medical Pot Club Loses Its Home 
Posted by CN Staff on May 31, 2002 at 07:39:28 PT
By Mary Callahan, The Press Democrat
Source: Press Democrat
One day after it was raided by federal agents, a medical marijuana club was evicted Thursday from its west Santa Rosa storefront. Attached to a three-day eviction notice served by the landlord was a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice threatening to confiscate the property if its owner allowed the club to continue operations.But the Aiko Compassion Center already was effectively out of business under a cease-and-desist order issued Wednesday by the Drug Enforcement Administration. 
Agents reportedly seized two trays of small marijuana plants and arrested two members, including one of the 100-member club's organizers.Advocates said finding someone willing to rent space is the hardest part of establishing a cannabis club.Until now, said Doc Knapp, a spokesman for the Sonoma Alliance for Medical Marijuana, potential landlords could be assured they didn't risk losing their property under asset forfeiture laws."I just find it a troubling tactic," Knapp said.A woman who recently inherited the West College Avenue property said she didn't know it was being used as a marijuana buyers club.Aiko is one of four such clubs in Sonoma County, according to marijuana advocates. Two others are in Guerneville and a third is in Petaluma.Spokesmen for the other clubs couldn't be reached or declined to comment on the federal raid.Many of the buyers clubs have opened around the state since 1996 when California voters approved medical use of marijuana.The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that the clubs aren't exempt from federal law and several have since been raided by the DEA.The men arrested Wednesday -- Edward Bierling and Dan Nelson, both of Santa Rosa -- appeared in federal court Thursday. They were charged with cultivating marijuana and released on bail.Word of the raid was still filtering out Thursday to those who rely on the club to obtain what many call their "medicine."One woman arrived, a roll of bills in hand, stunned and disappointed to learn the dispensary was closed, though the scent of marijuana smoke still lingered in the air.Another said she'd heard about the closure but came anyway, "just hoping." She was left trying to assemble a marijuana cigarette from the "leftover crumbs from yesterday" in a tray on the front seat of her car."I don't know what I'll do," said the woman, Patricia Edwards of Santa Rosa, who said she uses marijuana to treat symptoms from fibromyalgia and mercury poisoning.Two men in wheelchairs were among about 10 people circulating in front of the building Thursday afternoon, several smoking cigarettes or drinking beer. Hamburgers sizzled on a grill nearby.One of the disabled men, left unable to walk or speak because of a 1976 head injury, is authorized by his doctor to use up to 8 grams of marijuana a day, which would cost $1,600 a month if he could afford to buy that much, according to his caretaker, Robert O'Brien.It would cost even more if he had to buy it somewhere else, O'Brien said.Advocates said they're angry that the federal government -- which is running ads that say drug use fuels terrorism -- is going after sick people who grow their pot in the relative open instead of going after terrorists."In the context of the times we live in, it's like, what are we doing?" Knapp said.DEA spokesmen say they aren't actively pursuing clubs but merely following leads developed while investigating drug trafficking.John Sugg, an Aiko manager who was detained briefly Wednesday and subpoenaed to appear in front of a federal grand jury, said five raids on local medical marijuana users in recent months made him apprehensive about a potential raid on the club.The operation is a year-and-a-half old. It moved to College Avenue from Fourth Street in January.Until now it's operated in relative peace under an agreement with Sonoma County authorities that set up a board of physicians to review medicinal marijuana cases and allowing approved patients to possess up to three pounds.The Sonoma County Narcotics Task Forcedeclined an invitation to assist with the Aiko raid, citing other priorities and investigations, sheriff's Sgt. Chris Bertoli said.But Sheriff Jim Piccinini said he would see no conflict if the county had participated, despite its relatively lenient position on medicinal use."I don't think anyone has said we're going to allow cannabis clubs in Sonoma County," he said.Source: Press Democrat, The (CA)Author: Mary Callahan, The Press DemocratPublished: May 31, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Press DemocratContact: letters pressdemo.comWebsite: http://www.pressdemo.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Americans for Safe Accesshttp://safeaccessnow.org Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htm DEA Raids Santa Rosa Pot Club, Arrests 2 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13000.shtmlDEA Raids Santa Rosa Medical Marijuana Club http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12999.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on May 31, 2002 at 11:49:46 PT
Listen harder then
"I don't think anyone has said we're going to allow cannabis clubs in Sonoma County," he said.
The voters said it. But obviously he is determined not to listen to them.
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Comment #2 posted by null on May 31, 2002 at 11:11:57 PT
and meanwhile...
DEA spokesmen say they aren't actively pursuing clubs but merely following leads developed while investigating drug trafficking.Sure... in the same way the 9/11 pilots weren't actively pursuing terrorism but merely investigating the structural engineering of the WTC.Of course, one of the major roots of the whole government resistance to Medical Marijuana is that they say there aren't enough clinical studies on it's use. [Meanwhile they block almost all access for would-be studies.] And yet what happens today?????? The Food and Drug Administration will allow some drugs and vaccines designed to counter bioterrorism to be approved
without being tested in people. F(da)-ers.
Anti-Terror Drugs Get Test Shortcut 
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Comment #1 posted by greenfox on May 31, 2002 at 08:48:39 PT
Closing cannabis clubs
This is a sly move because it's happening whilist war is taking place. Very "bold" move by the government, I must say. But the people who elect our leaders are catching on. Already, certain areas of Cali. are NOT giving the DEA anymore help. If you research the history of the downfall of prohibition, you will know that the states, not the feds, cracked first. I think New York was one of the first states to plain say "we are not enforcing anti-alcohol laws anymore". Change cannot come from the feds because, like any business that promotes commisions, (ie forfet.), cannot be allowed to "loose" its business. And make no mistake- the drug war is a business.
FBI gets more power
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