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Quick Hits (page 2)

Marijuana given out at City Hall

By: Kathryn Gillick (Register-Pajaronian)

The crowd at the medical marijuana giveaway outside city hall in Santa Cruz Tuesday was light- hearted, but the message given by the speakers was not. They spoke of pain, muscle spasms, severe weight loss and the trauma of having the federal government raid the farm where they grow the one medicine they say takes care of all of those symptoms without the side affects of conventional drugs - marijuana.

"I was in a surfing accident about two years ago," said 23-year-old quadriplegic Levi Castro, who is a member of the Wo/men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, which was raided Sept. 5 north of Santa Cruz. "I have involuntary muscle spasms, I lost about 50 pounds when I was in the hospital and I have a lot of nerve pain. It helps with all that."

WAMM provides medical marijuana, grown by members on a farm owned by Michael and Valerie Corral, to about 280 patients with recommendations from their doctors. The collective operates under a law approved by California voters in 1996. Although growing and distributing medical marijuana is legal under state law, the Supreme Court ruled last year that collectives like WAMM are not free from prosecution under federal law.

The Drug Enforcement Agency has already raided marijuana clubs in San Francisco, Oakland, Sebastapol and West Hollywood.

"I'm in pain all the time," said Tim Chambers, who has had colon cancer three times since 1988. "I don't use it (marijuana) recreationally. It is my medicine. If the DEA will take away my cancer, I'll never smoke pot again."

Doctor Arnie Leff, a general family practitioner who serves many local HIV/AIDS patients, has written many recommendations for medical marijuana for his patients. He only writes recommendations for existing patients who either suffer from extreme weight loss, an inability to eat or a terminal illness.

"We're here because City Hall is a sanctuary to us because some federal agencies have taken a harassment position against us," he said. Often, many of his patients use Marinol, a concentrated form of THC, the active chemical in marijuana, before turning to the plant itself.

"For some reason, Marinol, which I can prescribe, doesn't always work," he said. "There are chemicals in the plant that aren't in Marinol."

One patient, who identified himself only by the name Van, said, "Medical marijuana has enabled me to stop taking medications that affected my heart." The 83-year-old glaucoma and epilepsy patient added, "It's helped me for almost seven years."

The Corrals have been in hiding since DEA agents raided the farm at their Davenport home. The raid netted 167 nearly mature plants.

"We are not the enemy," Valerie Corral told the crowd. "We are the hungry, we are the infirm, we are the dying ... and when we speak to the federal government, they have no ears for us."

Onlookers chanted slogans, played guitars, and after the distribution of the marijuana to WAMM patients, members of the street performance group Art and Revolution re-enacted the raid of the farm with a military-looking man harassing a female doctor and a blue-haired patient in a wheelchair.

Plainclothes officers could be seen wandering among the crowd of more than 1,000 city and county officials, including Mayor Christopher Krohn and much of the Santa Cruz City Council, members of the press, onlookers and patients, however no arrests were made and the rally went smoothly.

A green helicopter with unreadable markings circled over City Hall during the rally, pausing directly overhead when the 13 members chosen by pulling names from a hat went up one by one to collect their weekly ration of the drug, which was baked into muffins and brownies and other products.

"We monitored the situation carefully and we take all violations of the law seriously, but we decided not to confirm or deny our presence at the rally," DEA spokesman Richard Meyer said when asked about the helicopter.

He would not say whether any arrests would be made, but implied that some action would be taken.

"We're still very concerned about the drug problem in Santa Cruz and we're willing to work with local law enforcement," he said. "It is regrettable that the mayor and the city took part in this action ... the mayor is not above the law."

When asked if any more raids were planned, Meyer said, "Anybody that is distributing marijuana, that is trafficking marijuana, should be worried about the DEA."

Suzanne Pheil, a post-polio patient who was woken up by DEA agents at the farm during the raid, said WAMM was not trafficking marijuana - its members grow marijuana for their collective use and does not charge any of its members.

"We are not the victims of drug traffickers - we are victims of the DEA," she said. "With a gun to my head the DEA stole the medicine that over 250 sick and dying people worked to grow."

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Growin' Our Own (page 2)

City Leaders Help Pass Out Free Marijuana Medicine at City Hall

By: Bud Life Reporter

Santa Cruz, CA (BL) - While a shiny unmarked green helicopter circled over city hall, city leaders showed compassion for seriously ill and terminal patients and support for local marijuana growers Mike and Valerie Corral by passing out free marijuana to a dozen local patients. We haven't seen a rally like this since the National Guard was called out to protect Berkeley's People's Park in 1971. Over 20 news cameras lined up on the left to record this historical event, while patients already lined up in wheelchairs waited for their medicine. From a crowd of over 1,000 came familiar whiffs of smoke and repeated loud chants of, "DEA GO AWAY!" Picket signs were everywhere, "I'm a patient not a criminal." "Feds let me get my medicine," and many others. After an hour it was apparent that this ceremony and free marijuana medicine giveaway in the city hall courtyard wasn't going to be busted by armed DEA agents. "This is not defiance, this is compliance with our state compassionate use law. California voters provided for marijuana as a medicine, but the feds keep fighting it," announced one speaker. The Mayor and many others spoke over the PA system. The Santa Cruz city attorney had announced that this was not a city function, but was one put on by city leaders in their individual capacities. The DEA stated that the mayor and others are not above the law.

What brought this DEA raid on Valerie and Mike Corral about? Well, a few months ago High Times featured the local medical marijuana growers, Valerie and Mike, including photos of their outdoor crop destined for terminally ill patients. In early September the DEA arrived armed with a search warrant, automatic weapons, and with roaring chain saws to cut down the Corral's crop of medicine. "Agents were pointing guns everywhere and our medicine crop was taken away as evidence." From Washington, D.C. to Santa Cruz the long arm of the DEA lashed out in its War on Drugs. The DEA didn't extend any courtesies to local law enforcement who weren't given advance warning of the fed's raid. Under federal law since 1971 marijuana is not recognized as having any medical value, while under California law it does. Only seriously ill patients can qualify for a doctor's recommendation to use marijuana for pain relief, weight gain, and other benefits. The Corrals were handcuffed and arrested. Again the feds targeted helpless, innocent California medical patients and their growers. Without growers like the heroic Corrals these patients would be forced to score their medicine from criminal drug dealers. You can understand that it isn't safe for a terminal patient in a wheelchair to buy their medicine from criminals. The patient is helpless and might get ripped off at gun point. Care givers provide a non criminal safe supply of medicine to qualified patients, as do membership cooperatives.

The Corrals deny receiving any payments for growing the medicine. The Corrals as care givers made no profits and gave away their medicine crop. The lack of payment is an important issue. Defense attorneys claim that with no payments there is proof that there was no trade in interstate commerce and that the feds don't have any argument for their jurisdiction. Feds usually have no jurisdiction in local matters, but have used the interstate [over the state borders] commerce argument to act within state jurisdictions.

To give you an example of these different jurisdictions, we offer a hypothetical situation:

A federal building is on land leased from the state. Two private attorneys inside this federal building get into an argument, ending with one knocking the other one out. Where will the criminal trial be held? The trial will be in state [county] court as it didn't happen on federal land. The feds have jurisdiction in Washington, D.C., national parks, military bases, possessions, land they own, etc. This is limited jurisdiction, although they try to claim unlimited jurisdiction with the commerce clause. It appears to us at Bud Life that the DEA will lose as they had no federal jurisdiction over the Corrals. Had they brought in the local sheriff they could operate under his jurisdiction, but they never notified the local sheriff. The Corrals are filing motions in U.S. District Court for return of their medicine crop, [probably based on lack of jurisdiction]. The DEA said, "We confiscate illegal drugs, we don't supply drugs." However the DEA is on "thin ice" and will be forced to prove its jurisdiction for the Corral raid. The Corrals also announced that they are intending to file a civil action against the DEA.

While many politicians and judges will openly state that the constitution is just a piece of paper, educated Valerie Corral was quick to announce that this ceremony was held on 9/17, the anniversary date of the signing of the U.S. constitution. "The constitution is a very important document. It's more than just a piece of paper." Valerie Corral is director of WAMM which stands for Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana. The Corrals are care givers to 300 seriously ill, terminal and qualified patient/members of WAMM.

The brave politicians in Santa Cruz wanted to send a message to Washington, D.C. that they won't tolerate the DEA's interference in local affairs. Although the city attorney denied that this was an act by the Santa Cruz political body, it was clear that almost the entire city council was involved in the free distribution. NORML called this the second Boston Tea Party. Nobody could identify the unmarked helicopter that was above the event and it must be assumed that it was the DEA circling from a safe distance to record the rally. While terrorists and lapses in national security are supposed to be Homeland Security's priority, the feds are attacking medical farmers in California. Going after patients in wheelchairs and their care givers seems to be a stepped up and favorite priority for the DEA.

From Bud Life Headquarters we traveled to Monterey. In Monterey we went to our favorite local shop, Mary Jane'z. At the shop we were asked about the free medicine give away in Santa Cruz. One shop owner is a WAMM member and was on the random lottery list for the ceremonial medicine give away. It was confirmed for 3 o'clock. After a night in Carmel including an abalone dinner at Anton & Michelle's, we left Carmel Beach for Santa Cruz. After a Caesar salad and a few Bloody Marys at the Shadow Brook in Capitola, we traveled to Santa Cruz City Hall where we saw news vans with towers up broadcasting live via satellite back to TV stations. People were everywhere. It took about 20 minutes of driving around 3 blocks to find a parking place. As we walked to city hall we could feel the increase in electricity and adrenaline from the assembling crowd. It was like the old rallies in Golden Gate Park or Berkeley's People's Park. For you youngsters it's like how you feel walking into a baseball or football stadium. It's pure excitement!

Tables were set up and a PA system so the crowd could hear the speakers. The WAMM banner was hanging under the city hall sign. People from all over attended hoping to get a sample of the medicine. A male Santa Cruz employee with a pony tail and orange vest held back the crowd and explained to Oakland Cooperative members that they could not participate in the giveaway as it was strictly limited to local WAMM members. Occasionally he would allow a person in a wheelchair to cross his protected barrier for a closer look. Reporters were everywhere taking statements from onlookers. Flyers were passed out from www.safeaccessnow.org announcing the 9/23 rally in Sacramento. One rally was to protest the federal court conviction of another grower who faces 10-40 years in prison. Since his case was prosecuted in federal court he was denied presentation of any medical defense under California law.

Brian Epis is this convicted medical grower. The Sacramento rally was held in front of the State Capitol Building to support Brian and to request passage of a state resolution demanding that the feds stay out of state matters - specifically the medical marijuana issue. A candle light vigil was later held outside the jail where Brian has been incarcerated since June. The DEA has denounced these rallies. It is expected that there will be another rally on 10/7, which is Mr. Epis' continued sentencing date. Check the Safe Access site for updated information on California rallies.

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Pipeline (page 2)

Cowards

By: Elmore Stone

Or, cock-suckers by any other name.

It made me sick. Down right sick. Reading about the "raids" by agents of (purportedly) our federal government.

While we've got murders, kidnappers and rapists being let out of prison and others committing the same kind of crime, 'cept they haven't been caught, our big and bad DEA agents are invading and raiding the property of the sick and dying. The crimes these sick and dying have committed? Why, they smoke pot of course ... to stay alive.

Yeah, these DEA thugs, bastards or worthless slugs that some misguided fools - mostly congressmen - call law enforcement officers are completely out of control. Kind of like a bunch of rabid dogs. You know, by the way, that there is only thing you can do with a rabid dog.

In fact, anthropologists are torn as to whether or not DEA agents are indeed human. Well, by their very actions in Santa Cruz September last, it becomes quite obvious that DEA agents are not at all human. Without doubt, calling them rabid dogs is a put down on ... rabid dogs.

It takes a real act of courage on the part of DEA agents (he said, dripping with venomous sarcasm) to break into a home, waving and pointing automatic weapons at people in wheel chairs and ordering them to stand up. As Suzanne Pfeil, a member of the Santa Cruz alliance (who had automatic weapons pointed at her) put it:

' "They told me to stand up," said Pfeil, who suffers from post-polio syndrome and uses a wheelchair. "I told them I'm sorry. I can't stand up." '

Suzanne showed courage. She showed backbone. Something DEA agents are sorely lacking.

People have a right, an inalienable right, to live. Believe it or not, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on that. If pot works for Suzanne and others like her, so be it. It is rather clear that conventional medicines do not.

The inscription on the Statute of Liberty:

"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

Breathing free is a great idea. Though I suspect these folks at the Santa Cruz Alliance would be happy to be able to continue breathing - period.

DEA agents have shown, by their pattern of actions, absolutely no respect for the sovereignty of the several states, the citizens who reside within the several states, liberty, the Constitution or life itself. They are, and this is being quite complimentary, a criminal street gang.

So, what can we smokers and tokers do about these criminals, these worthless slugs, these rabid dogs ... these DEA agents? In one word:

vote.

Yeah, what a concept. The general election is fast approaching, November 5th to be exact. All the seats in the House of Representatives are up for sale. 1/3 of the seats in the Senate are also up for sale. Yes, I meant what I said, up for sale.

But wait, there is more to it than that. Don't just vote for any old Democrat or Republican. Think about it. It was a Democratically controlled Congress and White House that first outlawed pot. Ain't that right -- FDR. Further, it was a Democratically controlled Congress who passed the legislation, at the request of a Republican President, which formed the DEA. Don't you lie to me -- Nixon. And the rest, as we know, is history.

Have either of the two main political parties legalized pot? Have either of the two main political parties put down, as in permanently, the DEA? No. And neither one of them will. There is just way to much money in it for our current crop of political representatives to legalize pot and kill off the DEA. Money from the cop shops and associations, pharmaceutical companies, turn key associations (prison guards), private prison companies and those idiotic, holier than thou Christians. Money equals votes and votes equal power which equals more money. Guess where your favorite Democrat or Republican is going? To those that have the most bucks and everybody else, like Suzanne Pfeil, be damned.

Therefore, instead of contributing toward making the problem even worse (if that is possible), we smokers and tokers can contribute to solving the problem (and that is possible). Vote third party. After all, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Now I'm not going to say which third party candidate to vote for, that is not my business, only yours. But give it a try. If all of us do that, we, not the companies, corporations, associations or religious freaks will, at long last, own Congress. I like that.

Oh, and before I forget, pertaining specifically to the DEA cowards, Asa Hutchinson and cohorts, just because you do not swallow does not mean you are not a cock-sucker.

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Dakota Joseph Arts