cannabisnews.com: Medical Pot Rallies Held Across State Medical Pot Rallies Held Across State Posted by CN Staff on September 17, 2002 at 06:48:57 PT By Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer Source: San Francisco Chronicle Medical marijuana patients and advocates held protests in San Francisco and several other cities Monday against the latest federal raids on their supplies. Outside the federal court building in San Francisco, about 30 demonstrators chanted, "We're patients, not criminals," and carried "Wanted" posters for President Bush, Attorney General John Ashcroft and Drug Enforcement Administration chief Asa Hutchinson. "This is a life-and-death issue," said Randi Webster of San Francisco, who uses medical marijuana to ease pain from arthritis and a degenerative condition in her knees, and hobbled along the march on a brace. "The federal government doesn't see it that way. They think we're drug pushers and terrorists." Protests were also held in Oakland, Santa Rosa, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Sacramento, Santa Ana and a number of cities outside California, said Steph Sherer, executive director of Americans for Safe Access, which organized the events. The rallies were in response to DEA raids this month in Sebastopol and Santa Cruz, where City Council members plan to be on hand Tuesday as members of the raided organization distribute marijuana publicly outside City Hall. The DEA's actions against the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Santa Cruz on Sept. 5, particularly angered advocates. Federal agents seized and destroyed plants and arrested the organization's founders, Valerie and Mike Corral. Note: Patients protest U.S. raids on supplies. Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/09/17/BA146950.DTLSource: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)Author: Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff WriterPublished: Tuesday, September 17, 2002 Copyright: 2002 San Francisco Chronicle - Page A - 16 Contact: letters sfchronicle.comWebsite: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/Related Articles & Web Sites:WAMMhttp://www.wamm.org/Cannabis Action Network http://www.cannabisaction.netAmericans for Safe Access http://www.safeaccessnow.orgNews Articles on WAMM Raidhttp://freedomtoexhale.com/valc.htmMarijuana for Aids Patients http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14133.shtmlMarijuana Showdown Looms in Santa Cruz http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14091.shtmlCity Leaders Back Medical Pot Giveawayhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14085.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment