cannabisnews.com: Citizens Protest at 50 DEA Offices Nationwide 





Citizens Protest at 50 DEA Offices Nationwide 
Posted by CN Staff on June 14, 2002 at 14:15:12 PT
Press Release
Source: U.S. Newswire 
Last week thousands of people who organized under the banner Americans For Safe Access (ASA) disrupted business-as-usual at 50 regional outposts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, including the Department of Justice in Washington, DC. The protests were organized to publicize an expected permanent injunction that was granted yesterday by US District Court Judge Charles Breyer which orders the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative plus other groups in Marin and Ukiah counties to stop distributing the medicine to certified patients.
The June 6th day of action, which called on the DEA to "Cease and Desist," resulted in the closure or slowdown of operations at numerous DEA offices and at least 18 arrests. It was the first coordinated nationwide day of protest against the DEA since the agency began raiding medical marijuana dispensaries in California last October. Thousands of people nationwide participated in the protests that were organized in less than three weeks. Over 1500 people have pledged to resist the federal crackdown by disrupting business-as-usual at DEA offices the day after the next raid. "In the coming weeks and months we expect the DEA to attempt to close more dispensaries which serve seriously ill people," says Hilary McQuie, Campaign Coordinator for ASA. "We are seeing rising enthusiasm to fight the government crack down." In addition to an emergency action plan to respond to the next raid, attorneys for the dispensaries plan to appeal the injunction to the Ninth Circuit Court on the grounds that the government lacks constitutional authority to intervene under the interstate commerce clause, 10th, 9th, and 5th amendments. No appellate decision is expected for another 10 months. In the meantime, medical marijuana supporters continue to mobilize for the worst. Now legal in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, dispensaries are the only safe source for seriously ill patients to access medical marijuana. Highlights from the Protests: San Francisco: More than 100 people staged a sit-in at the DEA's local office resulting in eight arrests. Washington, DC: Ten people were arrested for using chains and pipes to lock themselves to the main entrance of the Department of Justice while 50 supporters cheered. Los Angeles: Five supporters of the sale of marijuana for medical purposes at a West Hollywood building launched an "open-ended hunger strike and encampment" against federal authorities who last week filed a forfeiture action against the property. Santa Rosa, CA: 300 people attended a rally and march to the Federal Building. The group intending civil disobedience blockaded the building's entrance, but the Santa Rosa Police declined to arrest anyone for trespassing, as the DEA office had shut down for the day in anticipation of protests. Austin, TX: Activists hung a 34-foot banner from the Zilker Park moon tower. The banner read "Medicine" overlaid on a cannabis leaf. More details about each of the protests around the country can be found online at: http://www.safeaccessnow.org Americans for Safe Access is an aggressive grassroots campaign designed to force the federal government to stop its attack on patients and respect the rights of voters in States to choose medical marijuana policy. Our Demands: 1. We demand that all prosecutions of medical marijuana patients, growers, and dispensaries cease immediately! 2. We demand that President Bush & Attorney General Ashcroft declare a moratorium on the Federal anti-Medical Marijuana campaign. 3. We demand President Bush declare his support for HR 2592, the States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act. Contact: Steph Sherer or Brant Olson, 510-872-7822 or 208-484-6408 both for Americans For Safe Access. Complete Title: Citizens Protest at 50 DEA Offices Nationwide; Raids on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Will be Met With New Nationwide Protests Source: U.S. NewswirePublished: June 13, 2002Copyright: 2002 U.S. Newswire Website: http://www.usnewswire.com/Contact: http://www.usnewswire.com/contactusn.htmlRelated Articles & Web Site:Americans for Safe Accesshttp://safeaccessnow.org Federal Judge Rules Against Medical Marijuana Clubhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13127.shtmlProtesters Ask DEA To Change Drug Law http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13073.shtml200 Join Santa Rosa Protest of Federal Pot Laws http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13068.shtmlProtesters Target DEA Offices Over Medical Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13069.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on June 14, 2002 at 21:47:34 PT
Hi Jean!
It so good to read your comment. I was just thinking of you and lookinside today. I have always enjoyed what you say but I understand not having much to say. I miss Peter too. Peter died on what was my father's birthday and my parents anniversary. Tomorrow is our 29th wedding anniversary. It's been good and hope for 29 more. Just drop in and say hi when you want or email me sometime.
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Comment #3 posted by Jeaneous on June 14, 2002 at 21:30:44 PT:
FoM
It's amazing that it has been two years since Peter died. Feels like twenty. I miss him. Sometimes I go back through the correspondence between him and miss his encouragement to fight. I think Peter would like the protests that are starting to rise up. We aren't quite as fearful of the government, times have changed and we must protect our rights even more aggressively than two years ago.I miss you also FoM. But my opinions are not much to share at this point. I am as active as I can be personally, but sure can't seem to put my feelings into words. I read often but feel I can't say much more than what has been said.Thank you for reminding me of Peter today. Brings back so many feelings and memories.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on June 14, 2002 at 19:20:27 PT
It's Been 2 Years Today
It's been two years since we lost Peter McWilliams and I wanted to remind everyone of this day if you have forgotten. I remember when I read the email from Ann McCormick and I still can feel the shock and disbelief. He was a wonderful man. Rest in Peace, Peter. We are carrying on.Peter McWilliam's Memorial Page
http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/Peterm.htm
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Comment #1 posted by p4me on June 14, 2002 at 16:06:47 PT
High,Friday night on the Internet
I am starting a new life with the Opera Browser. I am going to erase Netscape on all those links and get organized for the November elections.I do not challenge this I want to the best footage came from Washington or at least came from Washington with Zeese showing them the beginning of the real war those that have and those who have not. The greatest truth I could say if I were a teacher is that your health is everything. Without health everything means nothing. First how dare the traitors that run the country for the benefit of the halves while making poor people hand over something so that their grandchildren might have some wind along their financial path. It is the old war between the haves and the havenots. It used to be before pills that even the peasants could have some medicine for pain but not in the land of the free and pee. The Pill industry is 2oo billion of what used to be a $10 trillion dollar economy. One in 50 dollars goes to the haves and they will not even let the peasants plant their seeds so their goes the gruel.I guess it is time for gruel parties with .000001% THC at the courthouse with our jury nullification shirts. I wonder what gruel tasted like. In regards to Robin Prosser's eight weeks without food and now having needle nutrient, you need to have some gruel and get better and spread your recipe. See if you had your strength you could tell us how the sole Montana member of the House that was a Republican got beat in the primary. I need someone to verify that we can mark one of those 535 bastards of the Extremist list. Now I wanted to add that Zeese actually listened to Paul Petterson about the Illinois medical marijuana laws so that is one more that knows of Paul's story. I would say that if I were Mr. Zeese I would have to call for the three-fourths majority should quit eating out. That you should stay home and have a thrifty meal and talk over how we can get us some gruel and how we are going to get rid of every member of Congress and when the peasants will be allowed to have their cannabis.
My peasant ancestors traded the seeds and breed varieties before the horse and after the steam engines. I want the rights that my ancestor's and everyone's ancestors. Marijuana wasn't some new plant from the new world. Yeah the haves first got the gold and silver and made slaves fo everyone but they must have had marijuana here too although the billions Washington spends of the Department of Education and they don't even write books. They don't have an encycolpedia and what you should Know and when you should know it. Everyone wants to know about marijuana so what does the Department of Education have up on its website about marijuana. Canada will probably be able to sell a lot of hay to the drought lands in America and beef should be cheap all summer. Some Canadian needs to bring a truckload of gruel to Robin Prosser and spread that gruel as part of the American protest. Maybe even get to pee in Washington. Then turn around and keep the Canadian version of democracy to work for the havenots of Canada. What is the value of a thrifty meal? What is more valuable than your health? Fix the air. (I think I am getting close to a new number-2.1,2
 
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