cannabisnews.com: Rogers On The Run 










  Rogers On The Run 

Posted by CN Staff on August 10, 2002 at 14:18:26 PT
By Laura Smith  
Source: Chico News & Review 

Canada. Mexico. Kern County. To Mike Rogers, anywhere looks better than the Butte County area right now. Rogers, a fervent medical-marijuana advocate, made a hasty exit from his Live Oak trailer home last week, hours after a surprise visit from a Department of Justice agent. Rogers, who acknowledges growing dozens of marijuana plants in plain view of anyone passing by the house, said that he's "terrified" of bring arrested for cultivation. He's guilty of growing, he admits, but said that the medicinal intent of his crop makes him innocent. 
Rogers wasn't home when Agent Michael Shane Redmond came calling. When he got word that Redmond was looking for him, Rogers divvied up his plants among his supporters and split town. It took him less than an afternoon to leave. Calling from King City Monday afternoon, Rogers, 45, reported that life on the lam is nothing to boast about. He's had trouble finding hotels that will accept him because of his disheveled appearance. "We just look like a little stoner hippie family," Rogers said. He's hungry, dirty, running out of money and "sick and tired of living like a dog--just because I smoke pot." He's traveling with his girlfriend, Liberty, and reported that they're considering moving to Canada with her toddler son, Sativa, and his teenage son, Vinnie. "These feds, man, they'll do whatever they have to do to bring people like me in," Rogers said. "That's why I'm not coming back until I know they're not going to bring me in like Bryan." He was referring to Bryan Epis, a medical-marijuana advocate who last month was convicted of federal marijuana cultivation charges and now faces up to 10 years in prison. Epis is a casual friend of Rogers', and Rogers was one of the activists who picketed during Epis' Sacramento trial. Rogers is sure Redmond was visiting him for a procedural pre-arrest interview, but Redmond claims he was there for nothing of the sort. Redmond said he knocked on Rogers' door on the request of the assistant U.S. attorney, who wanted to ask Rogers a couple of questions. He declined to reveal what the questions were. "That's all it was," Redmond said. "I can't believe the guy is running away from me, terrified, because of that. ... I mean, come on." But Rogers' fear illustrates a larger story--the confusion of medical-marijuana users and supporters over the dichotomous state and federal laws that govern medical pot. Rogers, who holds a recommendation for marijuana use for his back pain, points out that he's followed the county's rules for the use and possession of medical marijuana. He hasn't been afraid of being arrested by the state, which recognized medical marijuana with Prop. 215, but is petrified by the federal government, which doesn't. Increasingly, state law enforcement officials, fed up with medical-marijuana users they claim are just recreational users and dealers using Prop. 215 as a cloak, are referring large cultivation and possession cases to the feds for prosecution. A conviction, as in the Epis case, can result in at least 10 years in prison. And that's what Rogers fears most. He's already tired of running but says he won't come home until he knows that he's not going to be arrested. "Right now, we just need a place to crash," he said. "This all just needs to go away, because these law enforcement officers just need to get off my back. I'm a patient, for God's sake." Newshawk: Mike RogersSource: Chico News & Review, The (CA)Author: Laura Smith Published: August 8, 2002Copyright: 2002 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.Website: http://www.newsreview.com/Contact: chicoletters newsreview.comRelated Articles & Web Sites:Americans for Safe Accesshttp://safeaccessnow.org Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmMedical Marijuana Proponents Protest Convictionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13428.shtmlFirst Federal Medical Marijuana Conviction http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13398.shtml

Home    Comment    Email    Register    Recent Comments    Help







 


Comment #5 posted by Joseph Rogers on August 13, 2002 at 11:05:34 PT:

Redman Snitch Weed
The current incarnation:Shane Redmond
Special Agent
State of California
Department of Justice
office (916)263-4321
FAX (916)263-1999
shane.redmond doj.ca.gov
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 10, 2002 at 16:58:03 PT

Paul
What you just said was so kind. I hope he reads this post. I don't even know how he emailed the article to me as a submission but maybe a library. Thank you!
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on August 10, 2002 at 16:45:27 PT

Who is this guy kidding? Only himself I guess
Rogers is sure Redmond was visiting him for a procedural pre-arrest interview, but Redmond claims he was there for nothing of the sort. Redmond said he knocked on Rogers' door on the request of the assistant U.S. attorney, who wanted to ask Rogers a couple of questions. He declined to reveal what the questions were. "That's all it was," Redmond said. "I can't believe the guy is running away from me, terrified, because of that. ... I mean, come on.Right, who on Earth would be scared of a possible ten years in prison?I mean, come on. It's only ten years!If Redmond is a real agent and not just some glorified process erver or errand boy then he know should know about PTSD and he ought to know that Rogers is no doubt very traumatized by what happened to Brian Epis.The hurt just keeps on hurting.And our government doesn't want people to heal.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #2 posted by paul peterson on August 10, 2002 at 16:44:03 PT:

MIKE ROGERS-COME TO CHICAGO
Hey Mike-Come to Chicago, I'll put you up (for a while, that is). I was a lawyer, I've got a medical necessity, also (for Attention Deficit Disorder & Anxiety Disorder). We have a world class medical marijuana law in Illinois, I've even corresponded with the feds-NANCY NEEDLES, DOJ lawyer in the Chicago office, told me point blank THEY DON'T BUST FOR MERE "POSSESSION" UNDER FEDERAL LAW ANY MORE-She was, of course, purposely "vague" as to the level they would bust at, like she said "If you have a thousand pounds and we can't get you for distribution, well, we would then bust you for possession"-DUH!Hey, I even talked with the state people about this-they seemed quite curious (that was a year ago). At first they didn't know we even had such a law-THEN WHEN OUR GOVERNOR GOT IN TOUCH WITH THEM-You guessed it, the governor'r wife came up with a "THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN" angle and the state guy sent me a "get outa town" letter. But the state TROOPERS seem cool, with me, that is (I think they still have these task force people combing the state for anything that even smells like a pot user, oh well).But you see, since I was a lawyer and all, nobody has hassled me here (except the LAWYER POLICE-THEY CALL EM ARDC). When I reported my "valid advocacy" efforts to them, etc., all very valid under our statute, they started committing FRAUD, PERJURY, MAIL FRAUD, EVEN INTO THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT-Now that really hurts, really-That is specifically why I want to help you, you see, I have lived with the anxiety of knowing what the law says, what medicine says, and yet seeing PUBLIC EMPLOYEES BREAK THE LAW MERELY BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN BIAS AND BIGOTRY AND INSENSITIVITY-LIKE THAT TORTURE THING SOME OTHER ARTICLE TALKED ABOUT TODAY-That, in a nutshell, if why I want to help you, OK? I've got a place for your family, safe and all, either here or in a state somewhere nearbye (I won't tell you the name of that state on-line- that would be stupid, since that state doesn't yet have a valid medical marijuana law UNLIKE ILLINOIS, remember. I've got to get a few doctors to go forward for me in my CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT-SOON I AM GOING TO FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT AND THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT AGAIN.  It sucks not having a law license right now (for the last 7 months, while these dickheads dick around with me). Yeah, right, these dickheads in California were just going to "ask you a few questions, huh?" THEY NEED TO KEEP YOU IN FEAR FOR CONTROL PURPOSES-THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T LIKE POT FOR THAT VERY REASON-THEY HAVE KNOWN FOR EONS THAT POT HELPS PEOPLE OVERCOME FEAR-Like those German Mouse Scientists proved last week! THAT IS WHY THEY WON'T LEGALIZE IT, BECAUSE THEY DESPERATELY NEED FEAR FOR THOUGHT CONTROL! "May I see your passport, please?"-you get the idea. So if you want a place to crash let me know, ok? PAUL PETERSON, I know, I have been disinfranchised myself-312-558-9999 
http://ILLINOIS-MMI.org
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #1 posted by p4me on August 10, 2002 at 16:31:56 PT

Press release from New Zealand- 8/9/02
Link of origin: http://www.scoop.co.nz/archive/scoop/stories/b3/e7/200208091141.a5faf2e4.html
Labour Coalition Clinched On Cannabis Hate Crime
9 August 2002, 11:41 am
Press Release: Mild Greens8/8/2 Press Release: MILD GREENSElection 2002: Labour Coalition Clinched On Cannabis Hate CrimeLabour has shafted New Zealanders in an incomprehensible and despicable cow-towing to the "anti cannabis lobby" - as 3-year coalition supply and confidence deals were signed today amongst Helen Clark, Peter Dunne and Jim Anderton's "Progressive Coalition".The Mild Greens are calling Helen Clark and Parliament into contempt, for pre-empting their cannabis review process and imposing an unethical 3 year moratorium against "legislative moves to alter the legal status of cannabis" - ENGENDERING HATE AMONGST NEW ZEALANDERS in defiance of the evidence.All who made submissions on health strategies for cannabis to the Health Select Committee legal status review (2000- 2002 Cannabis Health Inquiry, lapsed) should protest the breach of faith and wholesale abuse of civil liberty, democracy and due process to the Clerk of the House, say the Mild Greens. "and people should ring MPs and make their feelings known".Drug regulations "based on evidence, not politics" became NZ law in November 2000, but the promise of a fair adjudication on marijuana has been stolen away today by Helen Clark and Right-wing coalition tail-wagger Peter Dunne of the United Future party.While one conservative nine-member caucus appears to have pushed for this unprecedented and illiberal "drug user apartheid" move, Government has, without explanation or debate, pre-judged New Zealand's half-million cannabis consumers as guilty - remanded another 3 years.Contrary to all evidence heard by the Judy Keall chaired health promotion inquiry, the policy analysis has not even been discussed. (Health Professionals where are you??)Judy Keall, now a former MP, admitted to Mild Greens during the Christchurch hearing of the Inquiry, that according to the evidence she was hearing on cannabis-related health strategies, "all drugs should be legalised".The coalition agreement requires a "drug education strategy", but the Mild Greens point to the previous 1998 Health Select Committee inquiry into the Mental Health Effects of Cannabis, which concluded that "the double standards surrounding cannabis [alcohol and tobacco] are an impediment to effective anti-drug education" (page 39).Labour representatives have compromised every principle of good faith and conscientious governance in appeasing the Jim Anderton's and Peter Dunne's aversion to drug reform ("let's not look at the evidence about the discrimination, harms and unintended consequences of prohibition/criminalisation - doh!")Prohibitionists 120 - Legalisers Nil. Labour MP's be ashamed.(Ironically, the coalition "bottom line" is technically artificial, and at all times subject to the whim of political favour...Government retains the supreme ability to remove cannabis from the misuse of drugs schedule by order in council. Therefore with Parliament's consent, cannabis may be decriminalised "expeditiously" without the legislation that United Future are so irrationally fearful of.)Prohibition is damaging NZ - and Cannabis may bring down the government yet, say the Mild Greens.In making the moratorium part of its written coalition agreement, Helen Clark has signalled something has gone terribly wrong in the Labour Party - and the spirit of Government.The Mild Greens say people should defend their right to conscientiously object to the law, and the imposition of a right- wing moral paradigm posing as legitimately developed policy.What silly bloody game are the politicians playing?"Treat this law with the contempt it deserves" say the Mild Greens.The New Coalition is Out of Order. Helen Clark, you have no right to do this.Come on Greens - where's your opposition??mailto:initiatives mildgreens.com Web site http://www.mildgreens.com Mild Green Initiatives phone ++64 3 389- 40651,2
[ Post Comment ]





  Post Comment