Dear Friend,
On Monday,
April 2, my school -- Oaksterdam University in Oakland -- was raided by
the DEA, IRS, and US Marshals. Oaksterdam provides training to the
medical cannabis industry, and is fully compliant with state and local
law.
President Obama promised at the beginning of his administration to
respect state medical marijuana laws. He has broken this promise time
and time again -- and the consequences have been devastating.
This
was a senseless act of intimidation. But I've been an activist far too
long to become intimidated -- and with the majority of Americans and
common sense on our side, I know this is a fight we can win.
With our government trillions in debt, why is our government using
taxpayer dollars to come after me, Oaksterdam, and the thousands of
patients who need medical marijuana just to get through the day?
Tell
President Obama and the DEA: Enough is enough. Keep your campaign
promise, and stop the raids on the medical cannabis industry!
Thanks for your support,
Richard Lee
National Cannabis Industry Association
Six National Drug Policy Organizations Call on President Obama to End Unnecessary Assault on Medical Marijuana Providers
Coalition to President Obama: “It is time for a new approach on marijuana policy.”
Contact: Aaron Smith, NCIA executive director, (707) 291-0076,
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In
the wake of recent attacks on medical marijuana providers and patients
by multiple branches of the federal government, including Monday's raids
on Oaksterdam University in Oakland, CA, a coalition of six national
drug policy reform organizations is appealing to President Obama and his
administration to follow its own previously stated policies respecting
state medical marijuana laws. In the letter, posted in full below, the
organizations call on the Obama administration to bring an end to the
federal government’s ongoing campaign to undermine state efforts to
regulate safe and legal access to medical marijuana for those patients
who rely on it.
Oaksterdam Get Down Slideshow
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Oaksterdam Get Down
Come join the fun!
Last Sunday of every month.
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Every last Sunday of the month means the totally peaceful, completely awesome Oaksterdam Get Down hosted by our friends at OaksterdamNews.Com. Visit 375 15th Street in downtown Oakland between noon and 6 p.m. every last Sunday of the month, for the event that cures racism: namely, a police-sanctioned, marijuana-friendly block party. Any bad bones in your body will be cured by cannabis-infused hamburgers and barbecue sauce, and the good bones will be nothing but magnified. Come early for the live music, and stay late for the love.
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Oakland riots after verdict in police shooting of Oscar Grant
Officer who shot dead unarmed African American cleared of murder but
found guilty of involuntary manslaughter
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A year later, San Diego area patients still resist county, federal oppression |
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Written by Deg? Coutee
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Thursday, 08 March 2007 |
Twelve medical cannabis dispensaries in San Diego city and one in San Diego County were raided by DEA and local authorities on Dec. 13, 2005. All medicine, cash and many electronics such as computers, security equipment and cell phones were seized. No one was arrested and agents reportedly told operators they were welcome to reopen within minutes.
Later, in June of 2006, eight of those patient collectives received indictments, two on federal charges and six on state charges. Soon after those indictments were served every other collective in the city and county was visited by local and federal agents and advised to close their doors or face the same fate as their colleagues.
By mid-summer every cannabis dispensary in San Diego was officially closed, forcing indigent patients to the streets and able-bodied patients traveling for hours.
“Patients feel betrayed, by their local government and San Diego police,” states Wendy Christakes, a patient advocate in San Diego. “Local police worked in collaboration with the DEA. This is the breaking down of our democracy.” She said at least four San Diego patients have died as a result of the loss of medical access. All were unable to keep down food or other safe-saving medications and died ultimately of starvation or dehydration.
Of the 18 or more providers eventually arrested last summer, almost all have been given the option to plead guilty or face having charges moved into federal court where medical defense cannot be entered and harsher sentencing applies.
“The US Supreme Court has had the opportunity to strike down California’s medical marijuana law but has failed to do so,” said Allison Margolin, counsel for of the Native Sun Dispensary. “I’m sickened by the collusion between state and federal authorities in their unrelenting war against these patients and those who seek to provide safe access to their medicine.”
None of this is preventing patients from moving forward though.
San Diego Cedar patient and burn victim Rudy Reyes filed a lawsuit against the county for damages resulting from the county’s reluctance to uphold state law as well as a misuse of public resources. His garden was raided and seized by local drug agents days before the first DEA raids in the area. He was never arrested or charged but lost his entire garden to police.
“I was put out of medicine for months. If I had had the county card, this would not have happened,” Rudy argues. Since filing his suit, Rudy has learned that several other patients have had very similar incidents and are now considering a class action suit against San Diego County.
Christakes, along with other advocates, has presented a patient resolution to the city council requesting safe access for the city’s patients again. Barbara McKenzie, a long-time patient advocate and one of the first medical cannabis providers in San Diego, is working on a collective model that adequately provides for patients while remaining within the city’s guidelines.
McKenzie is also trying to get the city’s medical marijuana task force to resume but admits that movement within the city is slow. “They keep delaying and delaying,” she said. “We’re waiting on a report by the city attorney for an answer about the task force and the resolution.” Barbara and Wendy both urge more patients to get involved by speaking at city council and county board of supervisor meetings. Christakes argues that education of local patients is key, and is scheduling workshops and trainings to prepare patients to be effective advocates.
* Coutee is with the Patient Advocacy Network
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Last Updated ( Friday, 06 April 2007 )
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The Men's Wearhouse George Zimmer
