cannabisnews.com: County May Join WAMM Suit County May Join WAMM Suit Posted by CN Staff on February 10, 2003 at 06:55:56 PT By Jeanene Harlick, Sentinel Staff Writer Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel The county may decide Tuesday to join a medical marijuana club in suing the federal Drug Enforcement Agency. Supervisor Mardi Wormhoudt has asked the board to approve signing on as plaintiffs with the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana’s suit against the DEA, to be filed in two weeks. Participation comes at no cost to the county. In September, the DEA raided WAMM’s Davenport-area pot garden, uprooting 167 plants. Michael and Valerie Corral, cooperative founders, were arrested and later released but face five years in prison and the forfeiture of their land. The lawsuit will seek a federal court order prohibiting the DEA from future raids — to WAMM or any medical marijuana club — on the grounds the government lacks the jurisdiction and authority to conduct them."It’s a request that the federal government respect the democratic process and the will of the people," Valerie Corral said. In 1996, California voters passed Proposition 115, the Compassionate Use Act, which legalized medical marijuana. More than 70 percent of county voters also passed a similar local initiative."If we were to win, it would affect thousands of patients throughout the sate of California, and perhaps in other states as well," Corral said.Santa Cruz signed on as plaintiffs last month. Local attorney Ben Rice, one of the lawyers representing WAMM, said county participation would send an important message of support to federal judges. Corral agreed."It shows solidarity in the community — that this community will not allow the DEA to violate our city, county or state laws," she said."It adds the status of a public agency to WAMM, and I think that’s an important consideration for" federal judges, Wormhoudt said.Prominent civil rights lawyers are lending their hand to WAMM’s battle, including Gerald Uelmen, former dean of the Santa Clara University School of Law, and the firm of Bingham McCutchen in San Francisco. Uelmen represented the Oakland Cannabis Club in front of the Supreme Court. Thirteen WAMM patients have died since the federal raid. "They died earlier and much less comfortably than they would have" had the raid not occurred, Rice said. "(The raid) has had a profound negative effect throughout our community." Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA)Author: Jeanene Harlick, Sentinel Staff WriterPublished: February 10, 2003Copyright: 2003 Santa Cruz SentinelContact: editorial santa-cruz.comWebsite: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:WAMMhttp://www.wamm.org/News Articles -- WAMM Raidhttp://freedomtoexhale.com/valc.htmIn Calif., Medical Marijuana Collective Loses Hopehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15402.shtmlCouncil Deputizes Pot Club Foundershttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14941.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by Rainbow on February 10, 2003 at 19:49:04 PT Join?? How can we all join a class action suit against the terrorist activities of the DEAth.Remember Ridge posted an increase in alert level and in the past that has meant a DEAth squad coming after sick people.Tom [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Truth on February 10, 2003 at 08:50:30 PT Santa Cruz A county of compassion. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment