cannabisnews.com: Imler: Best Days Still Ahead










  Imler: Best Days Still Ahead

Posted by CN Staff on January 07, 2004 at 21:18:44 PT
By Rosanna Mah, The Independent Staff Writer 
Source: Los Angeles Independent  

To many, Scott Tracy Imler’s life might have seemed over. He had lost his job, been branded a felon and undergone lung surgery without knowing if he would survive. But Imler begs to differ and looks ready to take on the world again, albeit one slow breath at a time. Imler, 45, who was head of the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Center in West Hollywood, gained notoriety when Drug Enforcement Agency agents raided the center on Oct. 25, 2001 and shut it down.
At the time of the raid, the center was serving 960 patients, of whom 80 percent were HIV/cancer sufferers.Imler and two other center officers pleaded guilty to maintaining a drug establishment, a felony that led up to 30 months of federal prison time. However, the U.S. District Judge Howard Matz cited a “lesser harm doctrine” and ruled that Imler, along with Jeff Yablan and Jeffrey Farrington “committed a crime to avoid the harm of the greater suffering of patients” by giving them marijuana.Much to his own surprise, Imler was given a lowball sentence to serve one year of probation and 100 hours of community service. Despite his felony conviction, Imler remains an advocate of medical marijuana legislation and says he’s proud of what he accomplished.“I knew what the risks were [in setting up the center],” insists Imler, “and I felt the risks were worth taking in order to try and do something good in the community.”In 1996, Imler set up the center after voters passed Proposition 215, a state-wide initiative authored by Imler which legalized the medical use of marijuana and was adopted by eight other states.“The letter and spirit of the initiative was medical use, if you didn’t have a legitimate medical reason, you didn’t get into the center.” But unlike other cannabis resource centers up in Northern California which operate in an incognito fashion, says Imler, he was meticulous about legitimate paperwork, even filing taxes with the IRS and applying for drug manufacturing licenses with both the Food and Drug Administration and the DEA. “He was a workaholic,” said Leddy, his partner of 16 years and a geography lecturer. “I could never get him to leave the house.” Ironically, despite all of Imler’s efforts, it was his open-book policies that gave the federal government the arsenal to prosecute, ultimately leading to both the center’s and Imler’s demise.“We were too open, too honest, too forthcoming with the government who didn’t know how to deal with us except to crush us like a bug,” said Imler. “But what could you do?” he questions. “Be secretive, be dishonest? That’s not who we were.”At times during the year after the raid, Imler felt like abandoning everything and taking flight — but deep down he knew he could not act on those thoughts. What kept him going, he said, was his faith in God, the support of his clergy, friends and family and a sense of responsibility.“We could have walked away after the raid...but we didn’t. I didn’t think it was the right thing to do.”A couple of months later Imler suffered another setback: He discovered he had advanced-stage lung cancer. “That was a blow on top of a blow,” recalls Imler. The intensive and painful chemotherapy treatment that ensued eventually took its toll on Imler’s health and led to hospitalization.Ever the eternal optimist, he fought to survive.“I definitely wanted to get rid of it,” he said, “I wanted to live.” But when lead prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald argued in court that Imler’s medical condition was “not an extraordinary impairment” and that the Board of Prisons would provide adequate health care, Imler was sure he was going to die in prison.“From the minute I was diagnosed, I was concerned with it,” he said. “I was scared.”For a cancer survivor and a convicted felon who relies on state disability —Imler agrees that his future appears bleak but he feels no regret.“I think that was worth the price — ultimately, because whenever you follow your heart to do what’s right and to make a positive difference in people’s lives, it is its own reward. “I wouldn’t have done it in any other way,” he said.He now looks forward to new fights: Advocating for Senate bill 420 which clarifies and enforces the guidelines of Prop. 215, and serving his community as a local minister.“There are a lot of good things to do in this world, and I hope I’ll be able to contribute to that.”Source: Los Angeles Independent (CA)Author: Rosanna Mah, The Independent Staff WriterPublished: January 7, 2003Copyright: 2004 Los Angeles Independent Newspaper GroupContact: editor laindependent.comWebsite: http://www.laindependent.com/Related Articles & Web Site:LACRC http://www.lacbc.org/ Helping The Sick Should Not Be a Crimehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17887.shtmlThere's a Word for People Who Try To Assist Sickhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17862.shtmlProbation Granted To 3 Who Grew Pot as Medicine http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17860.shtml

Home    Comment    Email    Register    Recent Comments    Help





Comment #20 posted by Rev Jonathan Adler on January 12, 2004 at 21:10:20 PT:
The job continues, thankless, yet fulfilling.....
I am amazed that many others have been jailed for less than Jeff and some others have been jailed for crimes they did not commit. Jeff was honest and deserved better, yet I did 6 months in jail, even after winning my case!? There was no outcry from "brother and sister" activists when I was incarcerated while campaigning for the office of Governor in Hawaii!? No fund raising for my defense or family; no letters or media coverage of the 1st court validated religion in US history! Only bars and fellow inmates for 180 days, without medicine prescribed to me by law. I can handle all that, but now I am out and wish to inform you all, the war on US is still going on. We had better unite and defend each other or we shall not prevail. It is lonely in this legal niche I have carved out. Please join me at www.sacramedicine.com *Legal from any angle! Peace and Blessings in this unique New Year! Box 742 Hilo, Hi. 96721
Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute
[ Post Comment ]

 


Comment #19 posted by FoM on January 08, 2004 at 11:30:35 PT

EJ I Hope So Too
I'll never forget walking down thru the main street in West Hollywood and the open air restaurants and the kind people there. I just got words that my sisters surgery went well. I'm relieved to say the least. 
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #18 posted by E_Johnson on January 08, 2004 at 11:16:26 PT

The city government was wonderful FoM
The city government of West Hollywood viewed the LACRC as a vital element in their redevelopment plans for the eastern end of Santa Monica Blvd. In the context of West Hollywood, the LACRC was completely mainstream and was viewed as an essential part of the city's vision for taking good care of their residents.The LACRC did a lot of mainstream community outreach. Scott was really good at working with mainstream organizations like the Jewish community center and the Spanish language TV stations and stuff like that. In LA politics is all about community outreach and it's a hard thing to accomplish because there are so many different communities involved. But the LACRC was gaining acceptance from everyone. It was all so beautiful, and then the DEA came and ruined it all.I'm relieved that there's another club going. I hope they're going back to the community outreach portion of the mission too.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #17 posted by FoM on January 08, 2004 at 10:41:51 PT

EJ About West Hollywood
My son worked at a restaurant in West Hollywood called The Greenery. It is a Gay and Lesbian Community. I felt so out of place when I was in West Hollywood. I was a nervous wreck but after a little while and meeting different people they made me feel welcome. My memories of West Hollywood are good. They're good because I changed my thinking about Gays from that experience. Everyone treated me with such respect and that was all it took for me. I respect people that respect me and they did. They were so kind too.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #16 posted by Virgil on January 08, 2004 at 10:22:51 PT

Thanks RC
The question on my mind when I woke up was how much did that full page ad cost. I found my comment on the subject at the time with the term I remebered using on the subject "money well spent." Since the comment was mainly about NORML not getting us poll numbers and we have no national poll numbers of note from all last year, I will copy the paragraph from I cannot understand why there is no NORML poll every month. Couldn't NORML call 100 people a month and ask them a few questions. They ought to be calling a 100 people a week in every state. They spent a half a million on the Bloomberg ads and it was money well spent. How about spending the next money setting up a monthly poll for all states. Their are no other poll numbers out there that I can see. Not even the Lindesmith website has any numbers. By having a NORML Poll every month it would help spread the recognition of the NORML Organization but when everyone is painting pictures with numbers, we need a painter we can trust.http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/12/thread12764.shtml#2I sure would like to see a poll with the question, "Should marijuana be regulated like alcohol and tobacco."
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #15 posted by FoM on January 08, 2004 at 09:39:32 PT

Thank You Richard
It's good to see you and I appreciate your comment.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #14 posted by RCCowan on January 08, 2004 at 09:35:54 PT:

NORML New York Times Ad
For the record, the NORML ad cost just over $100,000, not half a million.
The money came from a gift for that purpose.
I think that the ad was successful in that it got millions in free publicity on Leno et al.
Richard Cowan
How the Success of NORML’s New York Ad Campaign Demonstrates The Failure of the 
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #13 posted by Max Flowers on January 08, 2004 at 09:35:46 PT

NORML
Virgil wrote: - You would think that NORML would be investing in more professional broadcast and equipment and personnel to archive all of these shows and make them available on the Internet. Of course with a thousand channels and all kinds of local shows all over the country, a person might think that a representative of NORML would have access to media to advocate a platform that would obviously make the world a better place. But once you learn that media is about controlling the thoughts of people instead of informing them, it all makes sense. NORML will have to develop its content and delivery system over the Internet. - Yes, and what is taking them so damn long to do that? A lot of people feel that NORML does not much more than sit around and collect money. I won't go that far since I don't have all the facts, but I will say that for as long as they have been around, and as long as the internet has been with us now, it seems that something that basic should have been done years ago now. From my angle it looks like individual activists like Forchion and the Kubbys get more done with a video camera in a day than NORML accomplishes in a decade.

[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #12 posted by FoM on January 08, 2004 at 08:06:20 PT

Virgil
Thank you. I try to make web pages of important events like the NORML ad and WAMM's raid not to mention Rainbow Farm. We need to have a lot of information to help us and at least in this way I hope I can help a little. 
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #11 posted by ekim on January 08, 2004 at 06:25:22 PT

unity thought
Thank you Scott for giving example of how to care for one another. In this spirit a new years wish of comming together will happen. I have missed Richard. Please let the guiding light of love be in all our hearts.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #10 posted by Virgil on January 08, 2004 at 02:48:45 PT

You are right FoM
It was a half a million dollar campaign featuring Bloomberg that had a full page ad in the NYT.There is something called amplification that comes with having the Internet. The Bloomberg campaign where he said he enjoyed laughing grass would be all but forgotten if it were not for people like FoM and the Website FreedomToExhale. People seeking full expression of there position can recover these resources and amplify the original message.You would think that NORML would be investing in more professional broadcast and equipment and personnel to archive all of these shows and make them available on the Internet. Of course with a thousand channels and all kinds of local shows all over the country, a person might think that a representative of NORML would have access to media to advocate a platform that would obviously make the world a better place. But once you learn that media is about controlling the thoughts of people instead of informing them, it all makes sense. NORML will have to develop its content and delivery system over the Internet.I started a thread at DU on their webcast with a link to NORML and here to Cnews and included the top 10 list for the events of 2003. We can all amplify what NORML is doing over the Internet and by word of mouth. 
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #9 posted by E_Johnson on January 08, 2004 at 00:30:22 PT

LA police are a very mixed bag
There are different police organizations in LA. The LAPD has a past reputation for brutality, racism and corruption and their narcotics people have been harassing Sister Somyaha with dedication and zeal. The anti-gang unit of the LAPD was involved in the infamous Ramparts scandal where the narks shot people in cold blood and planted guns and drugs on them and also stole drugs and sold them on their own. Some of them moonlighted as security for rapper/ganster Suge Knight and may have been involved in the Tupac Shakur murder.The LAPD, luckily, does not operate in West Hollywood, which is a city on its own, separate from the city of Los Angeles. West Hollywood is basically a gay and lesbian city. The West Hollywood city government is very favorable towards medical marijuana and willing to put their money behind it. The West Hollywood police are very liberal and enlightened and are as supportive as the city government. The police agancy of most importance is the LA County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Lee Baca was elected partly on a platform of supporting 215. Sheriff Baca stood behind the LACRC as an ally.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #8 posted by E_Johnson on January 08, 2004 at 00:19:49 PT

I wish people could have been there
I'm still remembering the courtroom during the sentencing.It was so validating emotionally to hear Judge Matz declare that we were avoiding a greater harm by breaking the federal law.It was very validating to hear someone finally say that the lives of the patients were worth more than the federal law.It was very Biblical in the courtroom. The room was packed with Methodists in collar and people were quoting the Old Testament.If I were the prosecutor I would have been afraid of going to Hell for trying to get them prison time.It almost looked like God was there Himself supporting the LACRC.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #7 posted by Max Flowers on January 08, 2004 at 00:01:45 PT

That's good news
I used to live down in the L.A. area and I know how conservative the cops down there can be. This new club opening will be an interesting test of police cooperation with 215 down there because with SB420 passing, it's now codified that they have to protect and not harass medical cannabis patients. If this new outlet can hang in there for a little while with no trouble, then many more will start to pop up as people see it's safe to do so (safer than it was previously anyway). I hope it all goes well.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #6 posted by FoM on January 07, 2004 at 22:36:46 PT

DPFCA: New L.A. Medical Cannabis Facility Opens 
  A new medical cannabis facility has opened in West Hollywood. This should be welcome news to the many under-served patients in Los Angeles, the nation's largest county (pop. 9 million), which until now has had fewer medical cannabis providers than the city of Berkeley (pop. 125,000).Compassionate Caregivers - 1209 N. La Brea, W. Hollywood (323) 850-9121 (in a little yellow house between Santa Monica and Fountain which used to be part of Charlie Chaplin's movie studios) Hours: 10 - 7 Tues - Sat
  Dale Gieringer (415) 563-5858 // canorml igc.org2215-R Market St. #278, San Francisco CA 94114  
 
CaNORML
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #5 posted by FoM on January 07, 2004 at 22:00:49 PT

Virgil
They did the ad campaign that cost that much and that might have included a NYT ad. That was a successful ad campaign to get the attention on marijuana I always thought.http://freedomtoexhale.com/ad.htm
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #4 posted by Virgil on January 07, 2004 at 21:53:16 PT

The Bloomberg ad cost a half a million
When Bloomberg said he inhaled and enjoyed, either NORML spent a half a million dollars on a full page ad in the NYT - http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread12570.shtml
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on January 07, 2004 at 21:33:44 PT

Just for the record -- his tumor
The tumor began outside of his lung between his lung and heart, but then spread inside of the lung. Doctors have determined it was not a smoking related cancer.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #2 posted by FoM on January 07, 2004 at 21:33:27 PT

Virgil
You've lost me a little. What do you mean about Norml buying ads in the NYT? They don't support either party. If they did that wouldn't be right. I stay neutral too even though I hope Kucinich does well. 
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #1 posted by Virgil on January 07, 2004 at 21:28:40 PT

Things are upside down when....
a conviction for a federal felony is a badge of honor in witness to personal sacrifice for the advancement of mankind.Kucinich has announce that their will be regular webcast of his campaign. It looks like the day of the webcast has arrived and NORML will not be buying half million dollar ads in the NYT and rewarding the parties responsible for this hideous, dreadful, sinful, carnage and injustice known as CP.
[ Post Comment ]






  Post Comment