cannabisnews.com: Medical Pot Fight Wafts Into Valley Medical Pot Fight Wafts Into Valley Posted by CN Staff on July 08, 2003 at 09:42:16 PT By Lisa Aleman-Padilla Source: Fresno Bee Chowchilla -- Police Chief John Robinson found himself in state and federal crossfire Monday over the use of medical marijuana. And when the smoke cleared, Chowchilla resident Michael Celli still didn't have his marijuana back.Nearly a pound of pot sits in a Chowchilla Police Department evidence locker awaiting seizure today by federal drug agents, despite a Madera County Superior Court order to return the marijuana to Celli, who uses the drug to cope with chronic migraine headaches. Robinson planned Monday to return the large bag of marijuana taken from Celli, 42, during his April 25 arrest in possession.But the chief was uncomfortable handing it over. So Celli and his attorney, William McPike, waited nearly 90 minutes while Robinson made a conference call including federal Drug Enforcement Agency officials, Madera County District Attorney Ernest LiCalsi and Chowchilla's city attorney.When the call was over, Robinson stepped from his office and told Celli he wasn't getting his pot back."Basically, it goes against federal law," Robinson said. "Federal law takes precedent over state law when it comes to these type of operations."California voters in 1996 legalized marijuana for medicinal use. The law has been challenged in state and federal courts.Robinson said he's following a U.S. Supreme Court decision two years ago that declared the state law does not take precedence over federal law. Basically, he said he's refusing the Madera County court's order to comply with state law because the Supreme Court says he must follow federal law.Richard Meyer, a DEA spokesman, said marijuana use of any kind is illegal in the eyes of the federal government: "The DEA does not recognize medical marijuana because there is no such thing. Marijuana is a dangerous drug that should remain illegal."Robinson's worried that he could be charged unless the marijuana stays in police hands. Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/7088864p-8021770c.htmlSource: Fresno Bee, The (CA)Author: Lisa Aleman-PadillaPublished: Tuesday, July 8, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Fresno BeeContact: letters fresnobee.comWebsite: http://www.fresnobee.com/O.C.B.C.http://www.rxcbc.org/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by FoM on July 12, 2003 at 09:48:30 PT afterburner One more thing. Needless to say I loved Greendale. When I was talking to Richard Lake the other night I told him how much I enjoyed seeing Neil Young and he told me that he was lucky enough to get to go to Neil Young's place and meet him years ago. He said he is really a nice person. Cool eh?PS: We're even going to buy a DVD player when Greendale is released that how much I want to see the whole thing. Greendale Video Might Work Now But Maybe Not [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on July 12, 2003 at 09:32:12 PT That's Priceless afterburner I hope your connection will allow you to see and hear the second song that is being premiered tonight starting at 8pm on Neil Youngs's web site. This is the second song on the lyrics page. When we saw it live they showed Ashcroft and the Patriots Act and everyone cheered when this song was sung. It will only be up for 4 hours. This is the link where it will be shown.http://www.neilyoung.com/premiere.htmlhttp://www.freedomtoexhale.com/young.htm Greendale - Lyrics [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by afterburner on July 12, 2003 at 08:53:03 PT: Another Funny Story. "President to the starsNixon and SatchmoWhile vice-president, Nixon had a strange encounter with jazz great Louis Armstrong. Armstrong was on a 'goodwill tour' for the US state department, and was waiting in the VIP Lounge of the Paris airport with his troupe of musicians. The story, as told by Armstrong's keyboard player Tommy Flanagan, is that Nixon walked into the lounge with his secret service guards, saw Armstrong, and immediately rushed up to him. Nixon effusively praised the pot-smoking jazz trumpeter, telling him he was 'a national treasure... like the Statue of Liberty!'It turned out that they were all on the same plane, going to Moscow. Nixon claimed to be Armstrong's 'biggest fan,' and repeatedly asked if there was anything he could do for his musical hero. Armstrong said 'Yeah! Would you mind carrying these?' and handed Nixon a few pieces out of their large pile of luggage. Nixon happily agreed, never knowing that he had proudly carried the whole band's pot stash right through Russian customs."--Nixon the narc by Dana Larsen (12 Sept, 2002)http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/2500.htmlego transcendence follows ego destruction, we're just regular people like you, we just see life a little differently. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on July 09, 2003 at 08:20:58 PT You're Welcome afterburner That is the truth. I listened to it a couple times this morning. It helps me think happier thoughts! That song is one of the overall best songs ever! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by afterburner on July 09, 2003 at 07:59:56 PT: Thanks, FoM for the Tune I like it, too. Not bad for a "dope fiend," eh what? [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on July 09, 2003 at 07:32:12 PT afterburner You mentioned Louie Armstrong and it made me think about how much I love this song!What a Wonderful World - Louie Armstronghttp://www.rmo.com/2beers/Louis%20Armstrong%20-%20What%20A%20Wonderful%20World.mp3 [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by afterburner on July 09, 2003 at 07:29:43 PT: ''We're the Real Ambassadors'' "As we always used to say, gage is more of a medicine than a dope. But with all the riggermaroo going on, no one can do anything about it. After all, the vipers during my haydays are way up there in age - too old to suffer those drastic penalties. So we had to put it down. But if we all get as old as Methusela our memories will always be of lots of beauty and warmth from gage." - Louis Armstrong, in a letter to his biographers - [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 09, 2003 at 07:01:51 PT News Brief -- Associated Press Man Goes To Court to Get His Drugs BackPolice Are Keeping Medical Marijuana As EvidenceThe Associated Press Chowchilla, Calif. July 9 — Usually people go to court to fight a drug rap. But one man says he's going to court to get his drugs back.Michael Celli, 42, who had a pound of medicinal marijuana seized by police, says he needs it to ease chronic migraine headaches. Celli had hoped to receive his stash on Monday after a judge ordered Chowchilla police to return it, citing a 1996 California referendum legalizing marijuana for medicinal use.But Police Chief John Robinson called the Drug Enforcement Agency instead. The freezer bag full of pot will remain in an evidence locker until federal agents pick it up."It was suggested by the district attorney's office to confer with the DEA," Robinson said. "If I release it to (Celli), I can be arrested for a felony, which is trafficking and distributing."Celli was booked on suspicion of drug possession with intent to sell while being issued a citation for illegal parking April 25. He said an officer laughed when he showed a card to prove he had medical reasons for using marijuana.Robinson said Celli had "one of these cards you can buy on the street corner in San Francisco," not a doctor's prescription as mandated by state law.Robinson also said he's following a 2001 U.S. Supreme Court decision that declared the state medical marijuana statute does not take precedence over federal drug laws.Copyright: 2003 The Associated Press [ Post Comment ] Post Comment