cannabisnews.com: Men Arrested in DEA Raid Appear in Court Men Arrested in DEA Raid Appear in Court Posted by CN Staff on May 31, 2002 at 15:06:20 PT By The Associated Press Source: Associated Press Two men who say they use marijuana to treat chronic illnesses were released on $100,000 bail Thursday, the day after federal drug agents arrested them in Santa Rosa on suspicion of growing more than 100 pot plants. Drug Enforcement Administration agents raided a Santa Rosa medical marijuana club Wednesday and arrested Dan Nelson, 41. Agents also arrested Edward Bierling, 44. At a hearing Thursday in U.S. District Court, a judge unsealed a criminal complaint that alleges each man broke federal law by growing more than 100 pot plants. Nelson and Bierling face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years if convicted. According to a DEA spokesman, marijuana, cash, a car and a weapon were seized during a search of Bierling's home and the Aiko Compassion Center. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that it is illegal to distribute marijuana for medical purposes. But some California law enforcement officials have said their job is to enforce the laws of the state, where voters overwhelmingly approved medical marijuana use in 1996. Richard Ingram represented the men and protested that, in accordance with Sonoma County law, they have peer-reviewed recommendations from doctors to use marijuana for chronic medical problems. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Bevan said that confirms the men use marijuana -- illegally. "That is a violation of federal law, regardless of local agreements, which I'm finding are a sham," he said. "I'm not going to assume they're a sham," Magistrate Elizabeth D. Laporte responded, "but as you know, there is a conflict between state and federal law on this issue." Both men are scheduled to appear June 18 for arraignment. Complete Title: Men Arrested in DEA Raid on Santa Rosa Medical Marijuana Club Appear in Court Source: Associated PressPublished: Thursday, May 30, 2002 Copyright: 2002 Associated Press Related Articles & Web Sites:Americans for Safe Accesshttp://safeaccessnow.org Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmPatients Push Back After DEA Raids in Santa Rosa http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13016.shtml Evicted: Medical Pot Club Loses Its Home http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13011.shtmlDEA Raids Santa Rosa Pot Club, Arrests 2 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13000.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment