cannabisnews.com: Council Invites Marijuana Users to Distribute Pot 










  Council Invites Marijuana Users to Distribute Pot 

Posted by CN Staff on September 11, 2002 at 16:35:02 PT
By Martha Mendoza, AP National Writer  
Source: Associated Press 

City leaders plan to join medical marijuana users at a pot giveaway at City Hall next week. Their goal is to send a message to federal authorities that, in this town, medical marijuana is welcome.The invitation comes one week after agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency arrested the high-profile owners of a pot farm and confiscated 130 plants that had been grown to be used as medicine.
"It's just absolutely loathsome to me that federal money, energy and staff time would be used to harass people like this," said vice mayor Emily Reilly, who with several colleagues on the City Council plans to help pass out medical marijuana to sick people from the garden-like courtyard at City Hall next Tuesday.City Attorney John Barisone said that although the City Council did pass a resolution denouncing the raid, there is no official city sponsorship of the event, but that council members and medical marijuana advocates are acting on their own accord in a public space.DEA spokesman Richard Meyer was surprised at the plan."Are you serious? That's illegal. It's like they're flouting federal law," he said. "I'm shocked that city leaders would promote the use of marijuana that way. What is that saying to our youth?"On Thursday, federal agents - acting without support from state and local law enforcement - raided a small pot farm located on a quiet coastal road about 55 miles south of San Francisco, arresting the owners - Valerie and Michael Corral.The couple, leading activists for medical marijuana, have not been indicted. Their attorney, Ben Rice, said he was informed by the DEA that the U.S. attorney has declined to prosecute the case. A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office said she could not comment on the case, and DEA spokesman Meyer said his agency isn't involved in decisions on whether to prosecute.State law in California, as well as Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, allows marijuana to be grown and distributed to people with a doctor's prescription. Federal law, on the other hand, prohibits marijuana use under any circumstances.California medical marijuana growers and distributors work closely with local law enforcement, and are quite open about their programs. In fact, the farm raided Thursday morning by DEA agents had been featured in national media, and the program is listed in the local telephone book.But in recent months, federal agents - working strictly without local support - have been busting pot clubs and farms in Northern California."The DEA has gone too far with these cruel and utterly pointless actions," said Robert Kampia, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project. "The courage of the Santa Cruz City Council and the growing anger in Congress are signs of a genuine grassroots rebellion all across this country that will put an end to these attacks on the sick and vulnerable."In 1992, 77 percent of Santa Cruz voters approved a measure ending the medical prohibition of marijuana. Four years later, state voters- including 74 percent of those in Santa Cruz - approved Proposition 215, allowing marijuana for medicinal purposes. And then again, in 2000, the city council approved an ordinance allowing medical marijuana to be grown and used without a prescription.Complete Title: Council Invites Marijuana Users to Distribute Pot at City HallSource: Associated PressAuthor: Martha Mendoza, AP National Writer Published: Wednesday, September 11, 2002Copyright: 2002 Associated PressRelated Articles & Web Sites:WAMMhttp://www.wamm.org/Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/News Articles on WAMM Raidhttp://freedomtoexhale.com/valc.htmCounty, City Condemn DEA Marijuana Raidhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14077.shtmlDEA Raid Ends With No Charges, Many Questions http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14066.shtmlThe DEA in Chains: Bound by a Patient in a Chairhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14036.shtml 

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Comment #25 posted by neice on September 18, 2002 at 10:22:01 PT:
where can i find a doctor for a perscription?
i need a perscription from a doctor and cant seem to find on in my area can some one help me?
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Comment #24 posted by druid on September 12, 2002 at 10:37:23 PT:
FUBAR and other musings
Hey TecHnoCult one of my best friends in the world is a pot smoking ex-marine. He served during the gulf war. On another note terms like FUBAR, SNAFU, RTFM and other terminology mostly developed at MIT and since MIT has such a close working relationship with the military and government it was natural for the terms to transfer to the military. The terminology also transferred to the computer industry. Programmers like to use variables like foo and bar for strings. Foo comes from fubar which was wwII military. It was brought by the airforce into the Multics project mid '60s with ATT, GE, and MIT from which it changed into foobar and foo (boo, goo, coo, etc are found all over multics systems code) and moved into Unix and onto campus and out into the world. Slang fubar means 'f***** up beyond all recognition'. Etymoligically, it's related to the term 'snafu', which means 'situation normal - all f***** up'. In order to avoid offending the less salty among the civilians in the post-war defense industry, where computers spent their toddler years, it was modified to 'foo bar', which hid the 'dirty words' from all but the veterans, from whence it became a kind of cult joke among engineers.foo /foo/ /interj./ Term of disgust. 2. Used very generally as a sample name for absolutely anything, esp. programs and files (esp. scratch files). 3. First on the standard list of metasyntactic variables used in syntax examples. See also bar, baz, qux, quux, corge, grault, garply, waldo, fred, plugh, xyzzy, thud. The etymology of hackish `foo' is obscure. When used in connection with `bar' it is generally traced to the WWII-era Army slang acronym FUBAR (`Fucked Up Beyond All Repair'), later bowdlerized to foobar. (See also FUBAR.) I just know this stuff because I am computer geek and I also did a major research project for a class on folklore created by the introduction of computers into the world.
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Comment #23 posted by kaptinemo on September 12, 2002 at 10:18:17 PT:
FUBAR, SNAFU etc.
Aren't terms exclusively used by the US Marine Corps. I heard and used them when I was a CAP cadet Field Force grunt in the 1970's.But FUBAR describes the rationale of Fed actions with regards to the attacks on the sick and dying quite well. How they can equate protecting children by causing the sick and dying to suffer even more misery is about as FUBAR as it gets...
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Comment #22 posted by TecHnoCult on September 12, 2002 at 08:31:29 PT
FUBAR
FUBAR is a common jarhead term, however, I was actually asking "Cannabis Jarhead" from comment #12.However, I guess we are all potheads, and a pot is like a jar. LOL.THC
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Comment #21 posted by TroutMask on September 12, 2002 at 08:18:49 PT
Nada Marine
I'm not a former or current marine. I assume you were asking me, and I assume you were asking because I used "FUBAR". I think I've heard the term a few times and I know I've seen it in at least one movie.-TM
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Comment #20 posted by Morgan on September 12, 2002 at 07:43:30 PT
Showtime
This should be interesting.In a perfect world, there should be a convoy of media trucks from all the major networks lined up around the City Hall with all the talking heads jostling for position, ala The OJ trial. But it ain't gonna happen, as they know that this isn't in the corporations' best interests to give other cities the idea to do the same.And from one former jarhead to a few others... OOHRAH!
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Comment #19 posted by TecHnoCult on September 12, 2002 at 07:13:51 PT
Cannabis Jarhead
Does that mean you are a dope smoking former Marine? If so, then I am glad I am not alone!Simper Fi and keep smokin'!THC
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Comment #18 posted by TroutMask on September 12, 2002 at 06:57:16 PT
Thanks
Thanks for clearing up the DEA/DOJ connection. So the DEA arrests 'em and the DOJ prosecutes them. How handy. So it will remain the DEA's duty to arrest them and the DOJ's duty to NOT press charges. Sounds like FUBAR to me. I see DEA batons on peaceful heads in the near future...-TM
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Comment #17 posted by kaptinemo on September 12, 2002 at 05:56:45 PT:
The rubber band is about to snap
Remember when you were kids, and your Mom would tell you nonsense about not stretching a rubber band to breaking point, because you might put your or someone else's eye out?Well, in this case, for the Feds, it's true. The Feds have pushed too far...and some California public servants (as opposed to pols, who serve only themselves and their rich friends) are finally pushing back. Like the proverbial rubber band, the DEA stretched and stretched the bounds of human decency - stealing medicine from the sick and dying - and now? Twang...SNAP! right back in their eyes. It will prove very interesting when other City Councils begin to follow suit. What are the Feds going to do? As has been mentioned, they could pursue legal actions. That would keep them largely out of the limelight. But the actions of the DEA of late spell out one word: hubris. They have arrogantly assumed that this would be a cakewalk...and have been given a black eye publicly for their depredations. Have they learned from their lessons? I sincerely doubt it. Which is why I fully expect the DEA's goons to arrest anyone distributing cannabis to patients at City Hall. But this time, the TV cameras will be waiting. Any attempt by the Feds to prevent the televising of their attack will be thwarted by those present. And, if the Sheriff's Office does its' duty as mandated by California law, the goons might themselves be spending time behind bars.Push has finally come to shove...and this time, Freddie the Fed isn't going to dance away from this one without some scars to remind him of just who possesses the moral high ground...and it ain't him.
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Comment #16 posted by qqqq on September 12, 2002 at 02:23:32 PT
...not a small point....
jvthc;;;;.."Not a big point, but...      The DEA wasn't the entity that refused to press charges - that was the Justice Department! The DEA conducted the
      arrest, but the DOJ wouldn't follow through with prosecution.
"
 
from the article: 
"The couple, leading activists for medical marijuana, have not been indicted. Their attorney, Ben Rice, said he was
      informed by the DEA that the U.S. attorney has declined to prosecute the case. A spokeswoman for the U.S.
      attorney's office said she could not comment on the case, and DEA spokesman Meyer said his agency isn't involved in
      decisions on whether to prosecute."
 
 
....So..one wonders just who it was that ordered these raids?..No one DARES put their ass directly on the line for this federal terrorism!.....That's one of the things that really fries my ass,,is that there is no one accountable for these things!,,I mean,,of course,we can try to hold Ashcroft,or Hutchinson responsible,,but you gotta wait in a long line to try and hold them accountable for anything......In fact,,that's one of the main basic problems of our grotesque,bloated,de-mock-krassy,,is that no one is held directly responsible for anything.....I think it's about time to have the same scrutiny applied to the appointed republican regime,and all the ghosts in their closets,,as the republicans applied to slick Willie in felatiogate!
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Comment #15 posted by BGreen on September 12, 2002 at 00:07:44 PT
It doesn't give a time
said vice mayor Emily Reilly, who with several colleagues on the City Council plans to help pass out medical marijuana to sick people from the garden-like courtyard at City Hall next Tuesday.
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Comment #14 posted by delta9 on September 11, 2002 at 23:32:30 PT
missing details...
so what day(s) next week will this be taking place? anyone know?
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Comment #13 posted by freedom fighter on September 11, 2002 at 23:16:02 PT
Dear Mr. DEA
What did you just said? Did you just said, "But, But, what is it saying to our Youth?"Oh dear, you seemed confused. Can you hear the laughter in the air? Can you hear the YOUTH laughing??????? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! We got grown kids in a city flouting your silly laws! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! What are you, Mr. Meyers gonna do? Hit the road Jack and don't come back!ff
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Comment #12 posted by cannabis jarhead on September 11, 2002 at 21:40:25 PT
wish i was there
I would love it. it's about time someone has enough courage to take on the Bush Regime. I have resently discovered mmj and pissed off about the crap going on in
America everyday.I Love My Country but I Don't trust the Government.
Cannabis jarhead
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Comment #11 posted by VitaminT on September 11, 2002 at 21:38:42 PT
California!
BE THERE en masse! Don't let DEAth anywhere near City Hall! Sing songs, Speak Poems, Wave signs, Beat drums, Blow horns, Chant chants, Play games, Tell stories, Shout slogans, Hold hands, - Put flowers...in machine guns.These councilmembers are standing up for you! Stand up for them! whether you use Medical Cannabis or not! Show up and say, DON'T TREAD ON ME!
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Comment #10 posted by jvthc on September 11, 2002 at 19:54:38 PT
First, a small correction...
Not a big point, but...The DEA wasn't the entity that refused to press charges - that was the Justice Department! The DEA conducted the arrest, but the DOJ wouldn't follow through with prosecution.Small matter, but perhaps interesting to note there's a difference between TWO agencies at work here, not that I'm any fan of the DOJ these days (and neither is congress).Now, passing out marijuana at city hall is just priceless, gutsy and wonderful. Here is the REAL America showing some life, for the love of God! Richard Meyer may not realize he's playing the role of King George's minions, pressing the rule of the crown over the will of the people. It's the very essense of what we once were to disobey with civil display, and having this particular demonstration at city hall is not LIKE flouting federal law, it IS flouting the federal law, with a direct message that simply must be delivered.I was beginning to think America had been struck dumb, but California just might have a little spark left in her yet!Please take pictures! Give the patients a huge, and if the DEA shows up, piss on 'em!
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Comment #9 posted by lag on September 11, 2002 at 19:38:32 PT
Wow! I haven't been this outraged in a while
I can't believe the Richard Meyer said what he said.What it teaches the youth is that compassion is more important than the law when the law is evil. Next thing you know our government will be denouncing the acts of Miep Giess for helping house Anne Frank, family, and friends because she flouted the federal law requiring all Jews to die.I still am stunned at the stupidity of the statement...Santa Cruz is flouting federal law? What about state law? Federal law wouldn't exist if it wasn't for the states giving them the right to exist.And yet I am sitting here speechless(as in spoken word, I can still type) because I am so stunned at what the DEA's spokesman said about our youths and state rights vs. federal rights.I am stuck in an infinite loop here reliving every few moments the horrific revelation of reading such a terrible statement. But, I will break out of it now and post this annoyed and rambling post.Sorry...I am just shocked and dismayed and if I didn't have to work I would be down in Santa Cruz in a second to witness such an historic event as what will happen next week.Richard Meyer you suck as a human being. Now go sit in the corner.
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Comment #8 posted by prop203 on September 11, 2002 at 19:32:08 PT
DEA 
I think they will have the local police standing by to imediatly aresst the DEA agents.. I think its an automatic 90 days in jail for what the dea is doing acording to cal law..I think its a nutralizer.. I dont see anyway way the dea can get around this.. pretty smart if u ask me..PeaceProp203-YES-AZ
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Comment #7 posted by TroutMask on September 11, 2002 at 18:55:28 PT
Interesting...
It is my understanding that the DEA didn't press charges in recent raids because they know they'll lose a jury trial. Do these politicians know this, too? Are they counting on it? Do they hope to make the DEA blink first? The DEA can't just keep spending time running around arresting these people and then letting them go. Hmmmm, I wonder what's going to happen?-TM
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Comment #6 posted by p4me on September 11, 2002 at 18:46:00 PT
Alexa cannabisnews rating
The first time I posted the alexa.com rating for cannabisnews it was over a hundred thousand. The second time it was around 80,000. Today the alexa cannabisnews rating is 72,394 which is pretty remarkable really. And I think the chanters have lost a lot of participants and enthusiam is lacking in their still constant chants. We in North Carolina just shout back "T&A" when those cavedwellers start in with the Children Chant and I think our "Shut up" yelling and chanting saddens them when they start on that Mixed Message Chant or Wrong Message Chant. We are three times louder than they are when they start that stupid It Isn't Medicine, It's No Better Than Dirt, or any other wore out badmouthing of MMJ. Sometimes we outnumber them 4 to 1 because the chanters don't even want to hear those anti-MMJ chants. I think we might even get some of those cavedwelling chanters, but we really hope they don't start yelling with us but they are good at chanting. We will see when it happens, but I bet they cannot yell or they already would have done it, don't you think.I know some people don't know what I am talking about exactly, not being from the foothills area of North Carolina. If you ever want to do some yelling, and we chant to, just look us up. I could be very helpful to some because I am a member in good standing with the Extremist Choir.1,2
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Comment #5 posted by Jose Melendez on September 11, 2002 at 17:53:37 PT
grin
How've you been?!?!?!Stoned.
:)...and all my dreams are coming true!!! 
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Comment #4 posted by idbsne1 on September 11, 2002 at 17:41:57 PT
I love this!!!!
Kudos to the politicians!!! Oh yeah, well we're shocked you would cause sick and dying people to suffer and put them and those who help in jail.Lame ass... soon you all will be frying when Congress asks why you have been doing this... just ask Johnny boy....because the funny thing is when the politicians finally realize that this is pissing off citizens... they'll be the first to sell you guys out....."we're enforcing the law" won't cut it....not anymore.... not when people are tired of seeing white collars get off with nothing but a slap on the wrist.Kudos Santa Cruz!!!!!!!!! Nor Cal will be the Feds worst nightmare!!!!idbsne1PS.. Good to see you back Jose!!!! How've you been?!?!?!
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Comment #3 posted by VitaminT on September 11, 2002 at 17:31:56 PT
They're giving it away!
So it's not commerce! The DEA may say it's illegal but they don't have the right to intervene.That is, if the constitution means anything.
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Comment #2 posted by BGreen on September 11, 2002 at 16:51:06 PT
Ooh!
This is getting good. The DEAth doesn't know what it's like to have opposition from politicians. Will the gov't attempt to seize the entire town and its assets? We know the DEAth isn't going to ignore this. Will Ashcroft deem these council members terrorists and hold them in a secret location without trial or council?
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Comment #1 posted by Jose Melendez on September 11, 2002 at 16:44:39 PT
What "that" says to our youth
"What is that saying to our youth?"The truth! Cannabis is relatively safe, demonstrably effective, non-toxic and immorally criminalized. 
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