cannabisnews.com: 200 Join Santa Rosa Protest of Federal Pot Laws 200 Join Santa Rosa Protest of Federal Pot Laws Posted by CN Staff on June 07, 2002 at 09:22:42 PT By Mary Callahan, The Press Democrat Source: Press Democrat There was surprisingly little smoke in the air as close to 200 people marched on federal offices in Santa Rosa on Thursday to protest U.S. laws that conflict with California's medical marijuana law.The most obvious among a few to light joints was Charles "Eddie" Lepp, whose health problems helped him win acquittal on marijuana cultivation charges from a Lake County jury in 1998. Lepp said he wasn't smoking to underscore a point. "I light up any goddamn time and any goddamn place I want to," he said, strolling before the entry to the Sonoma Avenue building that houses the local office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.The demonstration, which began with a march from Juilliard Park, succeeded in closing the federal building's front entrance for about 90 minutes."DEA, go away!" protesters chanted."Arrest terrorists, not patients," one sign said."Arrest my suffering, not me," said another.One woman used a walker. Some were in wheelchairs, including Gary LaBonte, an 11-year-old cancer patient who said he has been using Marinol to help ease his pain and improve his appetite during chemotherapy. Marinol is a legal, prescription pill that contains the active ingredient of marijuana."This is an issue that goes across age lines," said LaBonte's adult friend, Michael Ellenwood, who said he uses marijuana to ease the pain and muscle contractions of muscular dystrophy. "It goes across economic lines. It goes across social lines. It's a medical issue and should be treated as such."A single counter-protester carried a sign highlighting "the flaw in the law." Doug Bowman said he voted for Proposition 215, the 1996 initiative that legalized medical marijuana use in California, but now believes it's exploited by criminals without legitimate medical claims.The demonstration was one of at least 55 DEA offices around the country, but organizers said the Santa Rosa protest had added momentum because the agency shut down a marijuana-buyers club on West College Avenue last week.Two men were arrested there on suspicion of cultivating marijuana.California juries have acquitted defendants who claimed medical necessity under Proposition 215, but federal courts have refused to recognize a medical defense to marijuana charges.A federal judge recently ruled that clubs like the Aiko Compassion Center in Santa Rosa have no constitutional right to distribute marijuana.More litigation is expected.Six of the Santa Rosa protesters had planned to seek arrest through undisclosed acts of civil disobedience but were thwarted by the building's closure.Acting Santa Rosa Police Cmdr. Nick Sensley persuaded them not to go through with the plan, saying police would only make arrests if federal officials asked for them."They're not going to do that, so we're not going to do that," Sensley said.Note: Medical marijuana advocates close entrance to U.S office building.Source: Press Democrat, The (CA)Author: Mary Callahan, The Press DemocratPublished: June 7, 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.htmMedical-Pot Backers Protest To Fedshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13067.shtmlFed Records Show Focus on Pot Clubs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13046.shtmlMany PHOTOS. 10 Arrests at Washington D.C. DEA. http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13062.shtml#8 Video. 10 D.C. DEA arrests at Medical MJ Protest. http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13063.shtml#1 News Reports from Richard Lake, Mapinc. Senior Editorhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13065.shtml#12 Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by The GCW on June 07, 2002 at 13:29:58 PT Retired Police Officer / testimony I am neither for nor against marijuana. I do know that pot smoking causes law enforcement zero problems. The prohibition of pot causes police officers and others to die every day. And for what? Howard J. Wooldridge Retired Police Officer GCWGCWGCWGCWCanada: PUB LTE: Smoke Screen Pubdate: Fri, 07 Jun 2002 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1055/a03.html?397 If this were pursued more, we would see more of these! We know these people are out there! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment