cannabisnews.com: Bay Area News Roundup: WAMM Lawsuit Bay Area News Roundup: WAMM Lawsuit Posted by CN Staff on April 23, 2003 at 09:56:58 PT Bay City News Report Source: SF Gate.com The City and County of Santa Cruz and a medical marijuana cooperative that received national attention after a federal raid last year have announced plans for a federal lawsuit that would bar future raids. The lawsuit is scheduled to be filed today in U.S. District Court in San Jose. Santa Cruz city and county officials have said they will join the suit being filed by a group of terminally ill medical marijuana users and the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana. The plaintiff's attorney, Santa Clara University law professor Gerald Uelmen, said that the terminally ill patients will assert that they have a legal right to control the manner of their death, including using marijuana. Uelmen said most of his clients believe they will not live to see an ultimate resolution of the issue by the U.S. Supreme Court but believe the suit needs to be filed for the benefit of future patients who may need to use medical marijuana. In a 1997 Supreme Court case five of the current justices, a majority, signaled that the support the concept of individuals being able to chose the circumstances of their own death, according to Uelmen. Uelmen believes that control includes being able to chose to use medical marijuana. Santa Cruz public officials have been staunch supporters of medical marijuana for years. In September 2002, city officials allowed the Wo/Men's Alliance to distribute medical marijuana on the steps of city hall after federal drug agents had raided the alliance's marijuana farm. Numerous members of the city council, including then-Mayor Christopher Krohn, and the county board of supervisors attended the distribution rally. California voters legalized medical marijuana usage in 1996 with the passage of Proposition 215. However, federal law continues to ban almost all uses of marijuana and since President George W. Bush took office federal authorities have stepped up their enforcement efforts against medical marijuana clubs and cooperatives. Source: SF Gate.com (CA)Published: Wednesday, April 23, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Bay City News Contact: feedback sfgate.comWebsite: http://www.sfgate.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:WAMMhttp://www.wamm.org/Pictures from WAMM Protesthttp://freedomtoexhale.com/eventpics.htmCity, County Join Pot Lawsuit Against DEA http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16028.shtmlCalif. Locale To Sue Feds Over Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16023.shtmlSanta Cruz To Sue Feds Over Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16020.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment