cannabisnews.com: Feds Move To Seize L.A. Cannabis Resources Center Feds Move To Seize L.A. Cannabis Resources Center Posted by CN Staff on June 08, 2002 at 12:35:30 PT Editorial Source: Advocate Five medical marijuana advocates in West Hollywood, Calif., some of whom have AIDS, on Wednesday began a hunger strike and encampment protesting the federal government's efforts to seize a building in the city that houses the Los Angeles Cannabis Resources Center, which distributes medical marijuana, the Los Angeles Times reports. Federal officials last week filed a motion in U.S. district court in Los Angeles to seize the $780,000 property at 7494 Santa Monica Blvd. The center was shut down in October 2001 when agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency raided the facility, seizing records and computers and uprooting marijuana plants being grown by center staff. The long-term hunger strikers will be joined each day by supporters who will fast for 24 hours at a time, said Scott Imler, executive director of the center. The strike and encampment will take place in a parking lot across the street from the main property, which is also owned by the Cannabis Resources Center. One of the five activists participating the in open-ended hunger strike said protestors will consume only water, juice, and small amounts of milk so that those who are HIV-positive can continue to meet the dosing recommendations of their anti-HIV medications. Hunger striker Mary Lucey said the protest will continue until the federal government ends its effort to seize the property. She said the activists also may file a federal civil suit against the government for violating their civil rights.The center operated under California's voter-approved Proposition 215, which authorized medicinal use of marijuana. Most of the center's clientele were AIDS patients, who used the drug to ease symptoms of the disease and the antiretroviral drugs they take to treat HIV infection, according to Imler. But in May 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that there is no exemption in federal drug laws that allows for legal use or distribution of marijuana, which prompted the October raid on the center and another raid on San Francisco's Harm Reduction Center in February 2002. Imler, Lucey, and other protestors speaking at a news conference Wednesday said the federal government is violating states' rights by challenging laws in California and other states that allow the use of marijuana as a medical treatment. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles declined to comment. Source: Advocate (CA)Published: June 8–10, 2002Copyright: Advocate.com 2002 by Liberation Publications Inc. Contact: letters advocate.comWebsite: http://www.advocate.com/Related Articles & Web Site:LACRC http://www.lacbc.org/Calif, US Medical Marijuana Laws Clash http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13058.shtmlCannabis Center Members Try To Carry On http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12854.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by gloovins on June 18, 2002 at 22:14:34 PT THIS IS FOR REAL ALL I drove by there today & honked my approval for the poor souls fasting/striking.This is so real everyone, & its VERY hot & smoggy lately in LA, it only is clear here when its very windy or if its just rained-- the worst in the heat, often you cannot even hardly breath. Their health is at risk out there, I will join them this week for my 24 hr duty, I think.Its sick the DEAth machine & the US Government need some more blood on their hands, maybe the sheeple will then get sick of it dropping off & splattering their all over their faces & speak up against the feds obvious violation of these US citizens LIFE, LIBERTY & THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS FOR CHRIST SAKE. That's a civil right, right? Cause I know I 've heard it somewhere before..... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment