cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Supporters Demand Meeting with DEA Marijuana Supporters Demand Meeting with DEA Posted by CN Staff on May 17, 2003 at 07:21:50 PT Press Release Source: U.S. Newswire Americans for Safe Access and patient advocates have demanded to know if Karen P. Tandy, President Bush's expected nominee for head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), intends to continue the DEA campaign against medical marijuana patients. Advocates sent a request to Tandy's office for a meeting to discuss her views. They argue that Tandy's confirmation hearings should include the nationally debated issue of medical marijuana. Recent polls show that as many as 80 percent of Americans support medical marijuana and eight states have passed effective laws condoning its use. Despite growing approval of medical marijuana, the DEA has continued its crusade against people who use and provide medical marijuana. Tandy recently made national news for her role in masterminding the investigation known as Operation Pipe Dreams which resulted in the indictment of 50 individuals and businesses that sell or manufacture water pipes and other devices that could be used to consume marijuana. Advocates are asking if her leadership of this operation indicates that she will waste resources on other areas of little concern to the American public, such as medical marijuana. Defendants in federal medical marijuana cases, regardless of their compliance with state law, lack recourse in court. Currently, federal court regulation does not allow any mention of state laws allowing for use and distribution of medical marijuana. If H.R. 1717, the Truth in Trials Act, became law, then patients and caregivers will be allowed to present evidence that they were acting in compliance with state law. Until then, they are heavily reliant on the DEA changing their policy on prosecution of medical marijuana cases to keep them out of prison. "Karen Tandy should be expected to stop the arrests of medical marijuana patients and their caregivers. This is an opportunity for the DEA to change its priorities and stop these attacks," says Steph Sherer, Executive Director of Americans for Safe Access. Contact: Steph Sherer, 510-872-7822 -- Hilary McQuie, 510-333-8557 both of Americans for Safe Access.Complete Title: Medical Marijuana Supporters Demand Meeting with DEA Nominee; Will Karen Tandy Continue the Raids on Patients and Providers? Source: U.S. NewswirePublished: May 16, 2003Copyright 2003 U.S. Newswire Contact: info usnewswire.comWebsite: http://www.usnewswire.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:Americans For Safe Accesshttp://www.safeaccessnow.org/Bill Would Allow Medical Defense in Trials http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15937.shtmlBill Allows Medical Marijuana Defense http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15930.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by 2Spooky on May 17, 2003 at 07:45:51 PT Study on drug testing Here's an interesting story in case you missed it..Gotta love it when a govt study cuts the legs from the anti bs.http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/17/national/17DRUG.html?thOh, and I wonder if Supreme COurt Justice Breyer has read it yet given this related story:http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-scotus/2003/may/16/051601259.htmlEnjoy. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment