STAFF OF W. HOLLYWOOD MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLINIC PROTEST DEA RAID

Operators of a medical marijuana clinic raided by federal agents blasted
the action Friday as a "death sentence" for people who use the facility.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents searched the Los Angeles Cannabis
Resource Center Thursday afternoon, seizing computers, financial documents,
400 marijuana plants and medical records of some 3,000 current and former
patients, said Scott Imler, resident of the resource center.

"This action is effectively a death sentence for patients all across Los
Angeles County," Imler said. "Our immediate concerns are our 960 patients
who have no place else to go for marijuana."

The center, which has been open since 1996, provides marijuana to patients
suffering from AIDS, epilepsy, glaucoma, cancer and other serious
illnesses, he said. To receive the marijuana, patients must be referred by
their physicians and undergo a screening process.

The raid is the latest in an ongoing battle between states and federal
courts over the medical use of marijuana.

Eight states including California have passed legislation allowing the use
of marijuana for medical purposes only. In May, the Supreme Court upheld a
1970 law that says marijuana has no medical benefits.

That ruling was cited in the search warrant, which allowed officers to look
for evidence of the manufacture of marijuana and the possession of the drug
with intent to distribute.

"It is a felony violation of federal law to cultivate, distribute or
possess with intent to distribute marijuana," said U.S. Attorney John S.
Gordon in a written statement.

At a press conference on Friday, Imler was joined by members of the West
Hollywood City Council and a representative of the Los Angeles County
Sheriff's Department, who both expressed support for the resource center.

"Our city is going to stand with our residents and this club," said
Councilman John Duran, who also provides legal representation for the
center. "These people will be forced once again into the streets to deal
with drug dealers."

Sheriff's Capt. Lynda Castro said she was disappointed when she heard about
the raid because the department has worked hard over the past five years to
be understanding and sensitive to the issue.

"This is going to hurt a significant population in this community," she
said. "I respect them for doing it, for operating a significant service. To
turn around and have them targeted is a hard pill to swallow."

Marlene Rasnick, who suffers from ovarian cancer, urged her fellow patients
to protest the federal government's action against the center.

"Medical marijuana made it possible for me to sit in my garden and enjoy my
friends," she said. "If the federal government wants to say life is over, I
don't accept that."


Newshawk: http://www.cannabisnews.com/
Pubdate: Fri, 26 Oct 2001
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Copyright: 2001 Associated Press
Author: Christina Almeida, Associated Press Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)