cannabisnews.com: Sheriff Protects Medical Pot Users





Sheriff Protects Medical Pot Users
Posted by FoM on May 17, 2001 at 07:05:16 PT
By Glenda Anderson, The Daily Journal
Source: Ukiah Daily Journal 
Local law enforcement officials don't think Monday's Supreme Court ruling against medical marijuana use will affect county residents. But Sheriff Tony Craver isn't taking any chances. He's already taken measures to protect medical marijuana card holders. The data base of patients, Craver said, has been removed from the agency's computers. He and District Attorney Norm Vroman devised the cards shortly after California voters approved medical marijuana use. 
The cards are intended to prevent sick people from having their doctor-prescribed marijuana confiscated or them being hauled off to jail. At last count, there were nearly 500 card holders, around 100 of whom are categorized as care givers - people who grow marijuana for others. Craver said he didn't want to chance the identification system being used against patients or caregivers. "I haven't said I won't give it to 'em (federal agents). We'll have to wait and see if they ask for it. Then I'll tell them I won't give it to 'em," he said. Craver said he's not worried about repercussions of the purge. "What can they do to me?" he said. Craver said he could get arrested, but he'd be viewed by the public more like Joan of Arc than a criminal. He said he doesn't really think he'll be called upon to make any sacrifices, however. "I don't see there will be any effect ( of the court ruling ) locally," Craver said. He said he doesn't think federal agents will bother with small-time growers and even cannabis clubs that keep low profiles shouldn't have a problem. "It's difficult to get the feds to do anything unless it's a huge spectacular case. They seem to be driven by the media," he said. Vroman agreed there's unlikely to be local repercussions from the court ruling. It changes nothing, he said, noting federal law already said marijuana use is illegal and there are no valid medical reasons to use it. The Monday Supreme Court ruling basically upheld Congress' ability to make that determination. And it's determination supersedes California's law to the contrary. What happens next depends on the U.S. Attorney's Office, and it's not saying. Numerous calls made to its Washington D.C. press office went unanswered. But the court case stems from the office's efforts to shut down California cannabis clubs. It's possible it will revive those efforts, said Dave Nelson, who represented the Ukiah Cannabis Club during the initial shutdown effort in 1998. He said the injunction issued against the club at that time will go back into effect when the Supreme Court decision is finalized. If it is caught distributing marijuana, it will be in violation of that injunction, Nelson said. If a judge agrees the injunction was violated, the club managers can be fined or put in jail, Nelson said. While elected state judges would be unlikely to prosecute, federal judges are a different matter because they're not beholden to California citizens, he said. "They are a law unto themselves," Nelson said of federal judges, who are appointed for life. State, as well as local officials decried the Monday ruling, even though it's status quo. "The responsibility for determining what is necessary to provide for public health and safety has traditionally been left to the states. It is unfortunate that the court was unable to respect California's historic role as a laboratory for good public policy and a leader in the effort to help sick and dying residents who have no hope for relief other than through medical marijuana," California Attorney General Bill Lockyer said Monday. Vroman said the federal law prohibiting marijuana for any use is just plain dumb. "We have a society that's got far more pressing problems than a person who's sick using medical marijuana," he said. "We've got people killing each other in the streets, people starving to death. I just don't understand it." Source: Ukiah Daily Journal (CA)Author: Glenda Anderson, The Daily JournalPublished: May 15, 2001Copyright: 2001, Ukiah Daily JournalContact: udj pacific.netWebsite: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/O.C.B.C. Versus The U.S. Government News http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/mj.htmCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #3 posted by Revolutionary30.06 on May 18, 2001 at 00:57:26 PT
Good Cop
I am glad to hear stories like this. My belief is that the only reason they have those registries is to bust growers and smokers. Don't try and tell me it doesn't happen. By the way Sheriffs are ALWAYS friendlier than city cops, it's a proven fact.
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Comment #2 posted by mayan on May 17, 2001 at 16:45:18 PT
Right on Sheriff!
 This is proof that not all cops are assholes all of the time. Just 99.9% of them!
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Comment #1 posted by Cuzn Buzz on May 17, 2001 at 10:27:24 PT
Support Your Local Sheriff
It is good to hear of a man with the intestinal fortitude to stand for what is right.The people of Tony Cravers county have reason to congratulate themselves for voting for a true champion of Freedom.Thank you Sheriff Craver!A true "Friend and Protector". 
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