cannabisnews.com: Medical-Pot Supporters Fight Feds





Medical-Pot Supporters Fight Feds
Posted by CN Staff on September 23, 2002 at 06:41:14 PT
By Susan Tom, Statesman Journal 
Source: Statesman Journal 
The last time Wendell Basye felt such outrage, it was over a new communist regime in Cuba, and he joined the Navy with the intention of going after Fidel Castro himself. Debilitating arthritis, retirement and the passing decades haven’t dulled his passions or convictions. His outrage now, however, is directed at a different government — the U.S. government — and what he and others see as federal attempts to usurp states’ medical marijuana laws.
A recent raid on a Santa Cruz, Calif., medical marijuana dispensary has raised fears that Oregonians will be the next target.“They’re terrorizing our own people. Many victims are the very vets who defended our country,” said Basye, the assistant director of Salem’s Medical Cannabis Resource Center.The fast-talking, hyper-kinetic Vietnam veteran said he’ll go to jail if necessary to defend the rights of Oregon medical marijuana patients. On Sept. 5 the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration cracked down on the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana, which serves hundreds of sick patients. Since then, medical marijuana patients and advocates around the country have responded with a fervor some say hasn’t been seen since the Boston Tea Party.Supporters railed, editorial writers went wild and members of the Santa Cruz City Council invited the dispensary to distribute marijuana to patients in the City Hall courtyard.Fearful that the DEA will do the same in other states with medical marijuana laws, some Oregonians are joining protests at the California state Capitol in Sacramento and the DEA office in Portland today.Mark Cummins, who uses marijuana to control the nausea from his HIV medications, said he’s there with them in spirit.“If one state goes down, then all the states go down,” said Cummins, 40, of Salem.Oregon is one of eight states that has passed medical marijuana laws in recent years.The Santa Cruz incident followed raids earlier this year on cannabis clubs in Oakland and San Francisco. Advocates see the incidents as part of a stepped-up effort by the Bush Administration to put an end to the growing medical marijuana movement. In November, Nevada voters will decide whether to become the first state to legalize the use of marijuana for recreation.The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that “medical necessity” isn’t a defense against federal prosecution because federal law recognizes no medical benefit in marijuana. Shortly thereafter, DEA agents started raiding California marijuana co-ops and arresting prominent marijuana activists.Federal officials say they are enforcing the Controlled Substances Act, which regulates the manufacture and distribution of drugs. Marijuana falls into Schedule 1, the group of drugs considered to be the most dangerous.The spate of clashes between federal and state law led to the introduction of a bill in Congress this summer that would reclassify marijuana so that doctors can legally prescribe it for patients. The bill also would give those living in states with medical marijuana laws immunity from federal prosecution. The bill is still pending.Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of Justice is assessing its role in light of recent DEA actions.“We have previously defended statues that Oregonians adopted by initiative against the federal government’s efforts to overturn them, assisted suicide in particular, and certainly we would defend the choice Oregonians made in the medical marijuana act,” said Pete Shepherd, deputy attorney general.The office also is determining if the state’s medical marijuana act and its unique physician-assisted suicide law, challenged by U.S. Attorney John Ashcroft last year, involve the same legal question — that of states’ rights.“Many perceive it as being similar,” Shepherd said. “It doesn’t necessarily follow that the fate of one of those will decide the fate of the other.”While the federal situation appears to be coming to a head in California, not all advocates and patients see the DEA action in California as a threat in Oregon.Mary Leverette, administrator of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, said she has no reason to believe Oregon’s law is at risk.If anything, new rules adopted last March have made the program more efficient, boosting the number of card holders to about 3,600.Stormy Ray, one of the petitioners for Oregon’s law and a patient herself, said the state law is safe because it was written to avoid the thorny issue of state sovereignty by setting up the patient registration system.“Everything we do goes through the state and that gives us protection that other states don’t,” Ray said.Note: A raid on a clinic in California raises Oregonians' fears.Protest planned At 4:30 p.m. today, Oregon medical-marijuana patients and advocates plan to protest the DEA’s raid on a California cannabis club. The protest will be in front of the Portland DEA office, 220 SW Third St., Portland.The rally is set on the same day that protesters plan to converge at the California state Capitol in Sacramento.For more information, call the National Organization For Reform of Marijuana Laws, Oregon Chapter, at (503) 239-6110.Source: Statesman Journal (OR)Author: Susan Tom, Statesman Journal Published: September 23, 2002Copyright: 2002 Statesman JournalContact: letters statesmanjournal.comWebsite: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/WAMMhttp://www.wamm.org/Stormy Rayhttp://www.stormyray.org/Americans For Safe Accesshttp://www.safeaccessnow.org/Mass Demo Set for Sacramento Monday http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14189.shtmlThousands To March On Sacramento Mondayhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14188.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #13 posted by FoM on September 23, 2002 at 16:47:19 PT
DdC , A Trip Down Memory Lane
I've posted over 14,000 articles on Cannabis News. I get very very tired when I think of it. Matt told me a while ago when he fixed something that whatever it was he fixed that it was good until I hit 100,000 articles and then he's need to do something then. I said What! 100,000 I'll be dead! LOL!All those years on the Political Board helped me get the foundation that I have now. I stay close to breaking news but you taught me why it is called Cannabis and not Marijuana. I didn't know any difference. You taught me about food, fuel, fiber and farmaceuticals. Eco taught me the importance of deep linking, the prison industrial complex and why it's important to give a web page a good title. I thank you for the fun we had. Even the nights of eating too many reeses pieces and would be up until 5 am trying to figure out how to make a darn web page! Those were the days my friend, I thought they'd never end but here we are now and closer to victory then ever.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #12 posted by DdC on September 23, 2002 at 16:27:50 PT
4 YEARS??? Geesh FoM thats a lotta Cannabis News!!
Seems like only yesterday....Or maybe its just the same news with different characters. ¶8)
 
4523 1/07/99 U.S. DRUG LAWS HARMFUL, NEED THOROUGH REFORM (Thread) DdC 
http://boards.marihemp.com/boards/message.shtml?1x4523 
4516 1/07/99 Million Marijuana March Webcast Today! (Thread) FoM 
http://boards.marihemp.com/boards/message.shtml?1x4516 4387 1/04/99 Republican Drug War Links compiled for first time! (Thread) Tom Paine 
http://boards.marihemp.com/boards/message.shtml?1x4387
                                       
The days with you, Ron, Cryote, Pat, Tom Paine, Rod Grey, UaN & ZZ, 4mymarijane, Herb, Hempity, Ceyala, pud420 and so many others I lost track were special. Thanks for Hangin In There!!!Congrats...This page accessed 1661528 times since Dec 1998.Peace, Love and Liberty or the Merchants of D.E.A.th!DdC
 
3630 12/01/98 Cannabis News now open!! 
http://www.cannabisnews.com (Thread) http://boards.marihemp.com/boards/message.shtml?1x3630
                                           
Message #3630 posted by Cannabis News (Info) December 01, 1998 09:47:06 PTI'm pleased to announce that Cannabis News is now open and operating. Providing cannabis related news in an interactive format. Updated frequently!Cannabis News
http://www.cannabisnews.com/p.s. Interested in becoming a Cannabis News volunteer...email admin cannabisnews.com for details.Message #4257 posted by FoM (Info) January 01, 1999 21:30:26 PTHello Den de Cannabist,
When I was in Ron's guest book for cannabis news I found this post that made me think of you about medical marijuana in your state so I thought I'd post the link for you to look at it and see if it is anything you might be interested in.
Peace, FoM!
It's record 15! Saturday 11/28/1998 0:45:10am 
Name: FoM
Homepage Title: My Network Page
Homepage URL: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com
Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Location: Ohio
Comments: Ron,
Very nice page. I wish you luck with your new adventure! I liked it so much I linked it to my page. Thanks for all that you are doing to help reform our outdated laws!Saturday 11/28/1998 0:11:40am 
Name: Den de Cannabist
E-Mail: dendecannabist yahoo.com
Homepage Title: Legalize
Homepage URL: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/ddc.htm
Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Location: Cannafornia
Comments: Another weapon to fight the WoD Whack'os. 
Thanks Ron!
Food,Fuel,Fiber,FARMaceuticals
Den de CannabistFriday 11/27/1998 4:37:35am 
Name: Ron Bennett
E-Mail: admin cannabisnews.com
Homepage Title: Cannabis News
Homepage URL: http://www.cannabisnews.com/
Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Location: Wyomissing, PA
Comments: Welcome to Cannabis News!Whenever you see a cannabis related news item, etc of interest please submit it.Hope everyone enjoys our new service and bear with us during the first few weeks as we get the service up to speed.Ron
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #11 posted by FoM on September 23, 2002 at 13:33:02 PT
Pictures from Washington D.C. Protest
I haven't found any news but I found pictures from the east coast protest and had the time and got them on a page while I'm waiting for news. Here you go. I'll expand this as the day goes on.http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/protestpics.htm
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by idbsne1 on September 23, 2002 at 13:21:01 PT
Asscroft doesn't learn.......
They need to go back and remember that Republicans are supposed to be for State's Rights. I hope all their stupid and ludicrous actions eventually topple this fascist Government. When are Americans going to FULLY realize the horrible state of affairs. Most importantly... what are we/they going to do about it?Can California declare War? Who would think after our history, succession might be a good thing?idbsne1
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by CorvallisEric on September 23, 2002 at 11:47:13 PT
Feds attack Oregon AGAIN in civil war
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23— The federal government resumed its bid to ban Oregon doctors from helping terminally ill patients commit suicide, filing papers Monday with an appeals court in an effort to strike down the only such law in the nation. 
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20020923_985.html 
New, improved Google News from 4000 sources: 
http://news.google.com/
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by FoM on September 23, 2002 at 11:39:49 PT
diana2030 
I am hoping as the day goes on and the protests are organized that we will see news on tv. I'll keep looking until I find news to post here. Plus today they are talking about marijuana legalization in Canada and I haven't found any news about it yet either. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by diana2030 on September 23, 2002 at 11:13:09 PT:
sac/demo
I keep looking on the news for anything nothing 11am on national... nothing.. i am to sick to go... why no coverage....???? with Bill Lockyer supporting us why no coverage.....???? it makes me sicker....... im outraged at the media.. well we will see what happens at noon if it is picked up ...... the news conference was to happen at 9am i expected a lead in... a mention ... somthing... they don't get it......... we are not getting second chance to die.... its happening now i want relief now... 
where is the media? sacramento medical marijuana demo.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by FoM on September 23, 2002 at 10:15:18 PT
John Tyler 
It's very slow but we probably won't hear anything until later in the day. It won't get the coverage that the medical marijuana giveway did but it should receive some news coverage depending on the size of the events. I hope it goes really well today. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by John Tyler on September 23, 2002 at 10:00:31 PT
Cannabis Issue
I think this issue is coming to a head in the West. Not much is really happening here in the Southeast. Only people interested in this issue are keeping up with it. We can't let up though. We have to keep on until everyone is free.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by FoM on September 23, 2002 at 08:50:30 PT:
Just a Note
The news is slow but I'll keep looking. Even the newsgroups are slow and that's a good sign. That tells me many people are getting involved in their local protests. Canada is also talking about marijuana laws today so I expect as the day goes by we will learn more.PS: Maybe I shouldn't mention this but I will. Cannabis News will be 4 years old the first of December and we have grown far beyond what I ever dreamed and it is because of all the good people who have worked so hard and cared so much and I thank you. With growth comes problems and some are very hard to deal with. Through much thought and because so many abuses have occurred in our registration things need to be changed. Registration is now closed when during the week it is normally open. I will need to approve registration from now on. That's a lot of extra work but repeated registration to just cause problems isn't worth it for me anymore. So if someone reads this and really wants to become a part of Cannabis News email me at: comments cannabisnews.com and I will see what I can do. It's a real shame that people don't care but that's reality. Thank you all so much and lets hope when the day is over we will hear wonderful reports of the days events!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by p4me on September 23, 2002 at 07:54:22 PT
Friday- Day 10 of The DEfenders trial
From x-ile at the DE messageboard:DE trial day 10sorry 4 the late posting....you're not the only one's in suspenders over the weekend...read on & you'll find out why........As predicted, Friday morning was taken up with legal arguments from the defence barristers as to why particular counts (charges) should NOT go forward to the "second half" of the trial i.e. there's "no case to answer".On most of the arguments Judge Fish has said he will announce decisions on Monday morning.... BUT 1) The prosecution agreed with the defence that Roo's supposed "offer" of a reefer to Perkins and Jacko was unsustainable and shouldn't go forward - so Roo now only faces charges from 20th Novemberand
2) Judge Fish said on Friday that the Lannigan supply charge against Steve was "out" - commenting on the fact that he couldn't tell if the person who served him was white or black!So, Monday morning sees the possibility of one, two or three of the DEfendants walking free and then Colin will give his evidence. Could be interesting!woof,woofBilly Barker
news'ound1,2
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by Dark Star on September 23, 2002 at 06:55:42 PT
Yes, It's Fast
However, it's not over 'til it's over.The Drug War situation is quite akin to the situation that developed with the fall of the Iron Curtain. No one expected the dominoes to fall so quickly, or that the biggest domino of all, the USSR, could really break up and abandon communism.We cannot be complacent. The beast of prohibition is wounded and lashing out. It still needs to be launched off the cliff to its doom, and that will only occur with concerted and relentless effort.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by Windminstrel on September 23, 2002 at 06:45:55 PT
This really does seem to be coming to a head
It really seems that the whole marijuana prohibition thing is coming to a head -- rather rapidly at that. Is that just because I'm paying attention to the issue now, or do the rest of you agree?
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment