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A well-known local medical marijuana advocate is considering a lawsuit after getting caught with the drug at a Southern California airport in late July.
Valerie Corral said she was at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank when security officials found about "5 or so grams" of pot in her bag. She had a Santa Cruz County medical identification card and a doctor's recommendation, she said.
That didn't keep her from being detained for about 45 minutes, having her pot taken and getting a citation.
Corral, co-founder of Santa Cruz's Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, said she is fighting the charge, and may sue to ensure state medical marijuana laws are followed in the city. She is getting help from the Drug Law Reform Project of the American Civil Liberties Union based in Santa Cruz.
"We intend to plead not guilty," said ACLU staff attorney Christina Alvarez of Santa Cruz.
A court hearing on the misdemeanor charge is set for Aug. 29. Alvarez said a decision on a civil suit would be made after that.
"Our primary concern is the police appeared to be under the impression the Compassionate Use Act was no longer in effect in California," Alvarez said.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that the federal government can charge people for marijuana possession even if they have a doctor's recommendation and live in a state that has approved medical marijuana.
After the ruling, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer issued a statement saying the ruling had no impact on the validity of the California law.
Calls to the Burbank Police Department were referred to Bob Hope Airport, which has a separate police force. An airport spokesman declined comment, except to say citations issued by airport police are forwarded to city police.
Corral said she typically takes marijuana with her when traveling in California, but not to other states.
After a bust of WAMM's Davenport garden in September 2002, the group sued the U.S. Attorney General's office in U.S. District Court in San Jose, eventually winning an injunction barring raids on its Davenport garden by federal agents.
Newshawk: SirBlazinBowl (420Times.com)
Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA)
Copyright: 2005 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Contact: editorial@santa-cruz.com
Website: Santa Cruz Sentinel
Author: Brian Seals
Valerie Corral said she was at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank when security officials found about "5 or so grams" of pot in her bag. She had a Santa Cruz County medical identification card and a doctor's recommendation, she said.
That didn't keep her from being detained for about 45 minutes, having her pot taken and getting a citation.
Corral, co-founder of Santa Cruz's Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, said she is fighting the charge, and may sue to ensure state medical marijuana laws are followed in the city. She is getting help from the Drug Law Reform Project of the American Civil Liberties Union based in Santa Cruz.
"We intend to plead not guilty," said ACLU staff attorney Christina Alvarez of Santa Cruz.
A court hearing on the misdemeanor charge is set for Aug. 29. Alvarez said a decision on a civil suit would be made after that.
"Our primary concern is the police appeared to be under the impression the Compassionate Use Act was no longer in effect in California," Alvarez said.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that the federal government can charge people for marijuana possession even if they have a doctor's recommendation and live in a state that has approved medical marijuana.
After the ruling, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer issued a statement saying the ruling had no impact on the validity of the California law.
Calls to the Burbank Police Department were referred to Bob Hope Airport, which has a separate police force. An airport spokesman declined comment, except to say citations issued by airport police are forwarded to city police.
Corral said she typically takes marijuana with her when traveling in California, but not to other states.
After a bust of WAMM's Davenport garden in September 2002, the group sued the U.S. Attorney General's office in U.S. District Court in San Jose, eventually winning an injunction barring raids on its Davenport garden by federal agents.
Newshawk: SirBlazinBowl (420Times.com)
Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA)
Copyright: 2005 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Contact: editorial@santa-cruz.com
Website: Santa Cruz Sentinel
Author: Brian Seals
