cannabisnews.com: Pitching In For The Cause Pitching In For The Cause Posted by CN Staff on June 12, 2002 at 09:42:55 PT By Howard Jacobs Source: Los Angeles Independent I thought of Suzanne's smile as I read an update on the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Center. Scott Imler, president of the LACRC, was being interviewed. The article suggested the center would not reopen and Scott could face criminal charges. I wondered if he would be put in jail.This is wrong, I muttered, as Suzanne's image became stronger. She and I volunteered at AIDS Project Los Angeles, and suddenly I really missed her. I remembered getting together a few weeks before she died. That night, after watching a video, Suzanne complained about her lack of appetite and the pain in her body. "Just a couple hits of pot," she said, "may give me the munchies and ease my neuropathy." I called a close friend. He said, "Don't worry. Suzanne is very sick. I'll bring over a joint."One hour later, with smoky haze in the room, Suzanne was eating Chinese food and laughing about a lobbying visit we made to a Republican staffer during a HIV Advocacy Day event in Sacramento. He could not believe a straight, white woman could have AIDS. "I hope I made a difference in his life," she said.I was getting angry as I continued to read Scott's story. The article led me to believe he was giving up his battle to fight for the implementation of Proposition 215, the voter-approved initiative that allows for the lawful distribution of medicinal marijuana.I don't know Scott well, I thought, but interacted with him in my job as deputy to Councilman Jeffrey Prang. He occasionally asked our office for help. In addition, members of the West Hollywood City Council supported their request for funds to purchase a building in our city.Furthermore, I knew the LACRC operated in cooperation with the West Hollywood Sheriff's Station and provided dignity for patients. They distributed medicinal marijuana just as any prescription drug was sold and did not force sick people down alleyways endangering their safety or encouraging a black market trade. Many elected officials agreed the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Center is the model for clubs of this sort.I gave Scott a call to see what I could do. We met the following week. Scott, a tall, thin man, smiled nervously as we shook hands. His face was pale. "Scott," I said, "I read Karen's article. It seems like you're giving up, and I have always admired your courageousness and perseverance."He said, "I've resigned myself this may be over, but I am encouraged you want to help. I am afraid the federal prosecutor may seize our building and forfeit all the proceeds. I have a buyer who would rent me some space if that doesn't happen. I will know more in a few days." We continued to talk with optimism, but knew there should be a backup plan."There was a successful hunger strike at UCLA," I said naively. "Students wanted a Chicano studies program, and people fasted with them." He told me his mother went on a hunger strike for 31 days. "She almost died. A hunger strike is very, very serious," he reiterated, uncertain about the idea.I decided to contact Mary Lucey, an LACRC board member. She is a well-known AIDS activist who participated in many civil disobedience actions. We met serving on the L.A. County Commission on HIV Health Services and became closer friends after our mutual appointment to the California State HIV Advisory Board.She is smart and tough. She is also very sick.On Friday, May 31, Scott called with bad news. "Papers were filed to take the building. The feds indicted the club, as well as the lien holders, Wells Fargo Bank and the City of West Hollywood." Club supporters were contacted. We met that Sunday.I was afraid after the meeting. Everyone had a personal war story about a community action. I'd never been arrested. Screaming in the streets during the AB 101 rallies did not count. For God sakes, I work for a local council member. I am a suit activist. I could not believe I even had the idea of a hunger strike.The group agreed to begin community vigils starting the following Wednesday. Too soon, I thought, yet, timidly raised my hand when the question was asked who is willing to hunger strike. I volunteered to organize the press events, too. A day later I knew better. I am a diabetic; I could not do the open-ended hunger strike. Organizers agreed I could be a one-day hunger striker instead.I was anxious Wednesday morning. Experience taught me press conferences are a crapshoot. What if no one showed up? It would be disappointing if the first day's events were a flop. Thankfully, I worried for naught.Supporters, participants and my boss, Jeff Prang, came and spoke eloquently. Television cameras filmed. Reporters wrote down information. Photographers snapped pictures. People heard the report on news radio. The L.A. Times printed a story as well. The message got out.It was a short day of hope and a long, tough night of unrest. Sleeping on the street is difficult. The impacts of HIV, diabetes and the elements took its toll, but I was not alone. I slept with four very courageous people.I am proud to show my support for the LACRC, but I am scared. LACRC patients are not criminals, and their lives should not be put at risk. The Bush Administration must not treat the LACRC, the City of West Hollywood, and Wells Fargo Bank like they treat foreign drug lords. It is wrong.Until the prosecutions are stopped, supporters are planning more protests. They need your help. For more information, call the LACRC at (323) 874-0811. Also, contact your elected officials, be they local council members or state and federal representatives. Tell them to demand Attorney General John Ashcroft stop attacking sick and suffering people. Let them know they need to act quickly.For me, this experience continues to be very challenging yet I know Suzanne is watching. I can see her smiling.Howard Jacobs is on a temporary leave of absence. He expects to return to work as deputy to West Hollywood City Councilman Jeffrey Prang by next month.Source: Los Angeles Independent (CA)Author: Howard JacobsPublished: June 2002Copyright: 2002 Los Angeles Independent Newspaper GroupContact: editor laindependent.comWebsite: http://www.laindependent.com/Related Articles & Web Site:LACRC http://www.lacbc.org/LACRC Members Go on Hunger Strike http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13102.shtmlFeds Move To Seize LA Cannabis Resources Center http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13081.shtmlCannabis Center Members Try To Carry On http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12854.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 15, 2002 at 22:49:51 PT plantsheal I understand the frustration. Sometimes it seems we take one step forward and two steps back but when I look at how far we've come since 1996 I know our day will come. If it doesn't at least we can tell the next generation that we gave it our best shot. Please tell Robin I wish her the best. She is in my thoughts and prayers. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by plantsheal on June 14, 2002 at 20:17:10 PT: pot nation.... i guess i'm just frustrated with all the machinery in place. sometimes i feel like all of this political activism is a waste of time -- we should just take a hunk of real estate and secede from the union and declare our own nation...... pot nation ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on June 13, 2002 at 22:30:51 PT plantsheal I wanted to say hello and hope you stop by to read the comment. I wish Robin the best and I am concerned her health must be failing. I know many people have written to Robin and that is good. I believe I've posted every article that was published about Robin. I can't speak for large organization because I don't know how they operate and what they focus on. I just do news. As far as Dr. Russo he is out of the country doing an important research project. Have your local news channels done an interview? I don't know how to answer you about why the pro cannabis community hasn't rallied but like I mentioned each organization must have a focus and they can't get to far from their own personal issues. That's what I think. I hope Robin achieves what she was hoping to achieve by the hunger strike. I hope she doesn't get sicker then she is. I don't want her to die. Too many people have died already ( Peter McWilliams, Tom and Rollie ) and we don't need to have another martyr because we, the activists, are the only ones who will care and shed tears for the lost person. Hang in there and know many people care but many probably don't know how they can help. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by plantsheal on June 13, 2002 at 05:27:39 PT: 55 day hungerstriker gets NO media coverage i am the webDiva for Robin Prosser, the Montana woman who has been on a hunger strike for 55 days - i repeat - she has gone without food for 55 days seeking federal exemption from the laws prohibiting her use of medical marijuana. WHERE IS THE MEDIA COVERAGE FOR HER? WHERE ARE THE PRO-CANNABIS ORGANIZATIONS AND MEDICAL USERS? WHERE IS HER DOCTOR, ETHEN RUSSO?i certainly don't mean to diminish the efforts of the brave souls in LA who stood up against the DEA. it's just that i can't understand why the pro-cannabis community has not rallied in support of Robin. this morning i woke up to an email from Robin in which she states, "... i'm just ....dumbfounded. rolling stone wants to know if i will still be doing this in july when they publish.....what in the world is this??? i can't believe no one is going to cover this, norml completely turned their back on me....i'm really ....confused and hurt right now...not a word out there...they just don't seem to understand at this point my health and life is at risk.....unexpectedly at any time......nothing is sure right now and the bad physical things are not getting better.....and won't....i'm just really really saddened that they have done this...norml chose to regard my life and my efforts as meaningless...."many individuals have been wonderfully supportive of Robin and have participated in email campaigns, etc. but what about the national organizations like NORML, MPP, etc. surely they have access to the media. i'm sure there are people in the know who could hook Robin up with reporters sympathetic to this issue. WHY HAVE THEY NOT STEPPED FORWARD AND HELPED? this is an opportunity to finally get this issue before the American public... Robin has offered herself up. but judging by how things stand at this moment it will be a lost opportunity.how sad.sincerely, p.h. CannabisNow.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on June 12, 2002 at 10:31:57 PT My reply to my rep. I just composed and sent a reply email to my representative's reply to my email of 6/6. Hopefully, I won't be getting another copy of the exact same form letter sent back, but I wouldn't bet on it. Oh well. Here's what I wrote: -------- I appreciate your speedy reply to my email of June 6th regarding medicinal marijuana. I am glad to know that you are aware of the Institute of Medicine report. However, I think you may be overlooking a large part of the issue. You wrote:"I think that the most important conclusion was the need for more research into the medical value of marijuana. Whatever decision is finally made about the efficacy of marijuana and cannabinoids, its acceptance by the government and public at large will have to be based on good science." True enough, but it ignores the actions taken by the government in the meantime. Do you support the DEA's continued harrassment of AIDS and cancer patients? People are suffering right now because the federal government has the attitude that, until all the research is done, we should continue to arrest and jail sick people. There is no research showing the effects of jail on seriously ill people. So why do we continue this policy? I remember recently reading a story about an Indianapolis woman who was bedridden. Police found a small amount of marijuana in her house, and forced her to come to court - in a wheelchair, no less. The court reporter had to pry open her fingers in order for her to be able to sign legal papers. Everyone in the building could hear her screams. Yet this type of behaviour is totally acceptable to our government, and rarely reported by the mass media. I do agree with you that more research in the area would be beneficial. But not when it is used as a stalling tactic by a bloated bureaucracy full of people who would rather harass the sick than chase the truly dangerous. In our current climate, true science is often ignored or distorted for political reasons. Only after the stigma is removed will we be able to have a truly scientific debate on the subject. Recent polls indicate that 73% of Americans support letting sick people have access to marijuana without fear of reprisal from the government. How can an issue have such wide popular support and almost no support in our government? ------- I can't wait for her reply - there's a number of things I didn't touch on in here for brevity's sake. States' rights, the gigantic WOD budget (in our state which is trying to avert bankruptcy), etc. etc. etc. Plus, by then, I hope to have had time to dig in to the IOM report and be able to use parts of that in reply. Write your elected representative! Tell them what you think!! It seriously feels like a pre-revolutionary time to me, and I know it does to others as well, but there's still time for the feds to come to their senses! I know it's unlikely, but keep the pressure up! NORML makes it EASY to write to your representatives! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment