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A Santa Cruz medical marijuana collective shut down by federal agents two years ago can grow and distribute marijuana for its patients while its civil lawsuit against the federal government is decided by the courts, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel in San Jose marks the first time a court has granted a medical marijuana organization the right to grow the federally outlawed herb without interference from federal drug agents.
The ruling clears the way for the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Santa Cruz to challenge the federal government's authority to raid medical marijuana gardens operating within the boundaries of California law.
"This is an incredible victory for us, though we do realize that everything is temporary," said Valerie Corral, the founder and director of the collective. "We are so pleased to be able to begin our garden again."
Federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents raided the collective's marijuana farm on Sept. 5, 2002, seizing 167 plants and detaining several of the group's members.
At the time of the raid, the collective had been operating openly for several years with the explicit support of Santa Cruz city and county officials, including local law enforcement. The group's approximately 250 members, suffering from a variety of serious illnesses, collectively grew marijuana and distributed it to members free of charge.
The federal raid was denounced by Santa Cruz officials, who responded by allowing the group to distribute marijuana from the steps of City Hall -- as an unmarked helicopter repeatedly circled overhead.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Author: Maria Alicia Gaura, Chronicle Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, April 22, 2004
Copyright: 2004 San Francisco Chronicle
Contact: letters@sfchronicle.com
Website: Home
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel in San Jose marks the first time a court has granted a medical marijuana organization the right to grow the federally outlawed herb without interference from federal drug agents.
The ruling clears the way for the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Santa Cruz to challenge the federal government's authority to raid medical marijuana gardens operating within the boundaries of California law.
"This is an incredible victory for us, though we do realize that everything is temporary," said Valerie Corral, the founder and director of the collective. "We are so pleased to be able to begin our garden again."
Federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents raided the collective's marijuana farm on Sept. 5, 2002, seizing 167 plants and detaining several of the group's members.
At the time of the raid, the collective had been operating openly for several years with the explicit support of Santa Cruz city and county officials, including local law enforcement. The group's approximately 250 members, suffering from a variety of serious illnesses, collectively grew marijuana and distributed it to members free of charge.
The federal raid was denounced by Santa Cruz officials, who responded by allowing the group to distribute marijuana from the steps of City Hall -- as an unmarked helicopter repeatedly circled overhead.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Author: Maria Alicia Gaura, Chronicle Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, April 22, 2004
Copyright: 2004 San Francisco Chronicle
Contact: letters@sfchronicle.com
Website: Home
