cannabisnews.com: Appeals Court Approves Marijuana as Medicine 





Appeals Court Approves Marijuana as Medicine 
Posted by FoM on August 15, 2000 at 08:23:34 PT
By Josh Richman, Staff Writer
Source: Oakland Tribune
An appeals court has denied the federal government's request for a temporary emergency order to keep the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative from dispensing marijuana as medicine. That means the cooperative can abide by a federal judge's rules and begin handing out the drug to people who meet certain medical and legal requirements. Robert Raich, the cooperative's attorney, would not say Monday whether that was happening yet. 
"The Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative is complying fully and faithfully with the amended injunction," he said, declining further comment. U.S. Justice Department spokeswoman Gretchen Michael could not be reached for comment Monday. The Oakland cooperative has been at the forefront of California's medicinal marijuana debate ever since it was the only one of six Northern California clubs to appeal a federal judge's 1998 closure order. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year told that judge to reconsider, and the judge last month ruled the cooperative could start dispensing again because the government failed to dispute a medical necessity for marijuana despite its prohibition under federal law. The government is appealing that ruling, but the 9th Circuit on Friday refused to stop the cooperative from dispensing during the appeal process. Raich said the government must file its brief by Aug. 22, and the cooperative must file its answer by Sept. 19. The government will have two weeks after that date to file an optional reply., and then the appellate court will decide whether it wants to schedule oral arguments. Published: August 15, 2000Contact: eangtrib newschoice.comAddress: 66 Jack London Sq., Oakland, CA 94607© 2000 by MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG NewspapersRelated Articles & Web Site:Oakland Cannabis Buyer's Cooperativehttp://www.rxcbc.org/  Feds Appeal Area Judge's Pot Decision http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6525.shtmlGovernment To Appeal Court Ruling http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6522.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on August 15, 2000 at 13:36:09 PT:
There's a fine line that they're walking.
And they know it.There's several kinds of stupidity. There's the low cunning kind, that is narrowmindedly bright in one way and downright brainless in all others. That's the pols and the bureaucrats like McCaffrey. Then there is the callously banal sort of stupidity. The kind that doesn't have a moral bone in its' body, doesn't care how many people get ground up in a stupid law just so long as it does the grinding. That fits many cops who get their jollies from busting obviously sick MMJ users. And then there's the truly breathtaking insanity that is the kind that merits revolutions. The kind that is so outrageous even the sheep start growling, taking up arms and fighting back. That's the kind I am refering to. We have seen the barest hints of this kind of stupidity with Bob Barr's attempt to prevent the votes for Initiative 59 in DC from being counted. Enough of that, and the very safeguards meant to ensure freedoms get trashed. And then all bets are off.The top leadership of the antis know this. They know that so long as the sheep can remain tranquellized, they can continue to nibble away at your freedoms. But if they make the wrong move at the wrong time, they can awaken something they can't hope to put back to sleep.Picking on the Shadow Conventioneers is a perfect example of the Powers That Be nudging to see how far they can go before they provoke a reaction. And then they carefully gauge it to see how far they can push the next time.Push too hard, though, and they might start getting even more people active in the various organizations that are present at the SC. Push too hard, against too many people, and they will justify the very criticisms being levelled at them. Like any self-fulfilling prophecy.
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #3 posted by fivepounder on August 15, 2000 at 12:36:34 PT
we win, they lose
They are stupid enough or fanatical enough or whatever way you want to describe it that they will fight to the very end. And then the moment we rest they will be right back to it. Here in Humboldt they are not charging a medical grower who had 839 plants. They blew the arrest and don't want to take it to court. They are losing but only as slow as possible. BUT THEY ARE LOSING!! 
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #2 posted by Rainbow on August 15, 2000 at 09:19:14 PT
not that stupid????
Kap, I might disagree with you on their stupidity.Look at the police action in LA against the shadows etc. Look at their stupidity in Columbia, Vietnam etc.No I think they have shown that military might can be used in the USA - see Waco, Ruby Ridge, Kent state.They are stupid, it has been how many years of prohibition?They are stupid enough to take the next step.Rainbow
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on August 15, 2000 at 08:49:34 PT:
One step closer...
'...the government failed to dispute a medical necessity for marijuana despite its prohibition under federal law. 'The denial of the temporary emergency order is a very good sign, indeed. The Feds have been rebuffed - twice. How many more times before this gets to the point where it becomes necessary for the feds to face public humiliation? Humiliation caused by revealing the fact that they have never *had* any medical rationale for prohibition? That it was all based upon racist bigotry? Once this gets aired publicly, in a court of law, it's all over. It won't be exactly like the Ontario Court of Appeals; the DrugWarrior culture is too ingrained into society. But the result will roughly be the same. If the Feds are rebuffed in their final appeal, then they have no place left to go...save martial law. And, despite the many disparaging things I've said about them, I have to admit that they are not that stupid.
[ Post Comment ]

Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: