cannabisnews.com: Medicinal-Pot Raid To Be Remembered Medicinal-Pot Raid To Be Remembered Posted by CN Staff on September 10, 2003 at 15:55:39 PT By David L. Beck, Mercury News Source: Mercury News While its lawyers gird for their next round in court, the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana is planning a party in the park. Alliance founder Valerie Leveroni Corral said Sunday's WAMMfest -- billed as the ``first annual'' -- has two functions: ``to share with the community our gratitude for their support'' and ``to show how we're regular people.'' But the WAMMfest posters and souvenir buttons make it clear there is a third aspect to it. They show a green ribbon decorated with marijuana leaves and the words, ``Remember the Garden.''The party also commemorates the Sept. 5, 2002, raid by agents of the federal Drug Enforcement Agency on WAMM's cooperative marijuana farm near Davenport. Agents held patients at gunpoint -- and sometimes handcuffed -- and seized 167 plants.The raid boosted WAMM's community support, already strong.The Santa Cruz City Council underlined its support of the group by allowing the cooperative to make its regular distribution on the City Hall steps, and by deputizing Valerie and Michael Corral. The county board of supervisors approved an official Medical Marijuana Identification Card.And the city and county both joined WAMM as plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking to block such raids by federal agents. While California voters have approved using marijuana for medicinal purposes, the federal government considers pot an illegal drug.Federal Judge Jeremy Fogel dismissed the lawsuit late last month, while expressing sympathy for WAMM and granting the plaintiffs permission to amend and refile it. Fogel had also rejected an earlier WAMM lawsuit seeking the return of the seized marijuana plants.An appeal of the seizure decision is to be heard by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on Sept. 17. Rather than appeal the second suit as well, WAMM lawyer Gerald Uelmen said the legal team will amend that complaint and refile it ``to keep it in front of Judge Fogel until we get a ruling from the 9th Circuit.''Uelmen, one of a team of high-powered lawyers working on the case for free, said he was disappointed but not surprised by Fogel's decision, which was announced in a 28-page opinion that confirmed the supremacy of the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, which bans marijuana, over California's Compassionate Use Act, which approves it for use under a doctor's supervision.``If he had ruled in our favor, it would've been a first,'' he said. ``Our hopes were up, but it's a long shot, especially at the district court level, because district court judges really feel they have to follow the precedent . . .``He didn't really stick it to us. He wrote a very friendly and favorable opinion.''Uelmen said he will speak briefly at noon at Sunday's WAMMfest.The party will include music by half a dozen bands, including Harmony Grits, Bullfrog and Fruity Flavors. There will be vendors selling clothes, glassware, snacks and industrial hemp products. There will be massage and palm-reading. There will be barbecue, and bagels with cream cheese.There also will be a place where WAMM's approximately 220 members, who have HIV and AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other severe medical problems, can smoke marijuana in private.All WAMM functions have such a place, Corral said, adding that this is not an invitation for recreational marijuana users to light up for pleasure or protest. ``This is not a smoke-out.''Under city park rules, however, the WAMMfest will be alcohol free. And city police can cite non-medicinal marijuana users.Corral, 51, was a plaintiff in the lawsuit that Fogel recently dismissed, along with several other medicinal marijuana users. Her use stems from an automobile accident more than a decade ago that left her epileptic. She says marijuana helps her control seizures and live a normal life. ``We want to be regular,'' she said. ``We want to be ordinary'' -- something she said marijuana makes possible.She possesses County of Santa Cruz Medical Cannabis User Identification Card No. 3. Betsy McCarty, who heads the county's public-health program, wouldn't say who has No. 1, except that it was a man very eager to be first after the board of supervisors approved the cards June 12.As of early this week the county had issued about 20, McCarty said, with more appointments already scheduled for applicants. The cards identify medical users to police and other authorities.Corral thinks the cards are ``a great thing'' because they're anonymous. Once county health authorities have checked references and credentials and issued a card, the paperwork is destroyed. ``There is no `list,' '' Corral said.Santa Cruz WAMMfest, a benefit for the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in Santa Cruz, in San Lorenzo Park, behind the County Government Center. Free admission. Visit -- http://www.wamm.org/ -- or call (831) 425-0580.Note: Advocates plan Santa Cruz Festival.Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)Author: David L. Beck, Mercury NewsPublished: September 10, 2003 Copyright: 2003 San Jose Mercury NewsContact: letters sjmercury.comWebsite: http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/Related Articles & Web Sites:WAMMhttp://www.wamm.org/Marijuana Arthttp://www.marijuana-art.com/WAMM Raided - September 5, 2002 http://freedomtoexhale.com/valc.htmPictures from WAMM Protesthttp://freedomtoexhale.com/eventpics.htmJudge Refuses To Block Raids of Marijuana Farm http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17175.shtmlWAMM Plans Family Dayhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17153.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by The GCW on September 10, 2003 at 18:20:13 PT Only through prohibition can this happen... ARMED 'COPS' BUSTED http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1360/a04.html?397"Six heavily armed "cops" were taken down by the real thing at an OPP stakeout of an $18-million grow operation in the Kawarthas." ... The fakes were trying to steal the goods... because of the high inflated prices of the superplant due to the sequel...This also happened during the original prohibition, and now, We don't see fakes, zeroing in on Busch, Miller, or Johnny Walker...Regulation makes the world a safer place."They were probably seconds from a gunfight," There could have been perhaps 12 people open fire... Wow. And the cops welcome it again and again by perpetuating the sequel, and for the honor of caging their brother for using a plant.Tough guys. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by mayan on September 10, 2003 at 18:15:21 PT Santa Cruz Patriots "The Santa Cruz City Council underlined its support of the group by allowing the cooperative to make its regular distribution on the City Hall steps, and by deputizing Valerie and Michael Corral. The county board of supervisors approved an official Medical Marijuana Identification Card.And the city and county both joined WAMM as plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking to block such raids by federal agents. While California voters have approved using marijuana for medicinal purposes, the federal government considers pot an illegal drug."Hats off to the city of Santa Cruz! They just became the first to pass a resolution calling for the impeachment of the moron & they were the first of many to pass a resolution opposing the Patriot Act. They are the true patriots!The way out is the way in...Open letter to be delivered to the U.S. embassy in Berlin, to members of the U.S. government, to the German Chancellery and to officers of the European Union on 9/11: http://www.911truth.org/openletter.html9/11 Film Forum Kicks Off "Reframing 9/11" Citizens Inquiry: http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=16&mode=thread&order=0&thold=09/11 International Investigative Film Exhibition & Roundtable: http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=14&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0Former British environment minister vindicates FTW's position on 9/11: http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/090803_meecher.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on September 10, 2003 at 17:38:11 PT Friendly Reminder PBS: The Sacred Balance Tonight - Wednesday, September 10th watch "The Matrix of Life", Episode Two of The Sacred Balance TV Series on PBS (please check local listings). What else is new? Our Community Education Guide - 24 pages of environmental, earth science activities for use in classrooms, after-school programs, museums and in your own backyard! http://www.sacredbalance.com/ [ Post Comment ] Post Comment