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The420Guy
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OAKLAND -- The fight for access to medical marijuana continued Tuesday
across the nation and in downtown Oakland, as demonstrators demanded the
eviction of the Drug Enforcement Administration from the Ronald V. Dellums
Federal Building.
Members of Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and medical marijuana supporters
protested government actions preventing patients from using marijuana to
treat illnesses.
Protesters gathered from noon to 1 p.m. outside the building waiting for
the DEA to respond. Fake eviction notices from the protesters were posted
on the building's front doors.
"The government is overreaching something that is supported by 80 percent
of Americans," said Hilary McQuie, ASA campaign coordinator. "I think it's
incomprehensible ... what kind of priorities are these?"
Guards would not allow protesters or reporters inside the building and the
DEA did not issue any statement about the protest.
Although California and local laws permit medicinal use, federal law still
bans any and all cultivation, possession and use of marijuana. ASA
representatives held rallies in 40 cities around the nation Tuesday in
honor of Medical Marijuana Week.
"The DEA has been attacking medical marijuana use ... trying to keep people
from getting their medicine," said protester Don Konechy. "The DEA needs to
stop busting patients."
Protesters, dressed up as furniture movers and using a makeshift desk and
boxed supplies, pretended to evict Assistant U.S. Attorney George Bevan.
Bevan, who recently prosecuted medical marijuana supplier Ed Rosenthal of
Oakland, has prosecuted medical marijuana cases "without showing remorse,"
Konechy said.
Medical marijuana supporters sent cease-and-desist orders to the DEA office
last year, but received no acknowledgment.
Charles Stevens, 70, of Berkeley said he has needed marijuana treatment
since he was age 12. He said he will need to purchase it illegally if he is
denied legal treatment.
"I'll just have to buy it undercover," he said. "They can't arrest me
without arresting everyone else. The feds should do the right thing."
Angel McClary of Oakland has filed a civil lawsuit against the DEA and U.S.
Attorney General John Ashcroft, requesting an injunction so marijuana can
be grown and used for medicinal purposes without being confiscated by the
government.
"I feel strongly that I'm not a criminal," McClary said. "I'm very angry my
government would come and try to take my life from me when my doctor says I
need it."
McClary says she suffers from an inoperable brain tumor, a life-threatening
wasting syndrome, a seizure disorder and several chronic pain conditions.
She said she could lose a pound a day if she is not treated with cannabis.
"I could die," she said.
Pubdate: Wed, 19 Feb 2003
Source: Oakland Tribune, The (CA)
Copyright: 2003 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
Contact: triblet@angnewspapers.com
Website: East Bay Times - Contra Costa and Alameda county news, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and commentary
across the nation and in downtown Oakland, as demonstrators demanded the
eviction of the Drug Enforcement Administration from the Ronald V. Dellums
Federal Building.
Members of Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and medical marijuana supporters
protested government actions preventing patients from using marijuana to
treat illnesses.
Protesters gathered from noon to 1 p.m. outside the building waiting for
the DEA to respond. Fake eviction notices from the protesters were posted
on the building's front doors.
"The government is overreaching something that is supported by 80 percent
of Americans," said Hilary McQuie, ASA campaign coordinator. "I think it's
incomprehensible ... what kind of priorities are these?"
Guards would not allow protesters or reporters inside the building and the
DEA did not issue any statement about the protest.
Although California and local laws permit medicinal use, federal law still
bans any and all cultivation, possession and use of marijuana. ASA
representatives held rallies in 40 cities around the nation Tuesday in
honor of Medical Marijuana Week.
"The DEA has been attacking medical marijuana use ... trying to keep people
from getting their medicine," said protester Don Konechy. "The DEA needs to
stop busting patients."
Protesters, dressed up as furniture movers and using a makeshift desk and
boxed supplies, pretended to evict Assistant U.S. Attorney George Bevan.
Bevan, who recently prosecuted medical marijuana supplier Ed Rosenthal of
Oakland, has prosecuted medical marijuana cases "without showing remorse,"
Konechy said.
Medical marijuana supporters sent cease-and-desist orders to the DEA office
last year, but received no acknowledgment.
Charles Stevens, 70, of Berkeley said he has needed marijuana treatment
since he was age 12. He said he will need to purchase it illegally if he is
denied legal treatment.
"I'll just have to buy it undercover," he said. "They can't arrest me
without arresting everyone else. The feds should do the right thing."
Angel McClary of Oakland has filed a civil lawsuit against the DEA and U.S.
Attorney General John Ashcroft, requesting an injunction so marijuana can
be grown and used for medicinal purposes without being confiscated by the
government.
"I feel strongly that I'm not a criminal," McClary said. "I'm very angry my
government would come and try to take my life from me when my doctor says I
need it."
McClary says she suffers from an inoperable brain tumor, a life-threatening
wasting syndrome, a seizure disorder and several chronic pain conditions.
She said she could lose a pound a day if she is not treated with cannabis.
"I could die," she said.
Pubdate: Wed, 19 Feb 2003
Source: Oakland Tribune, The (CA)
Copyright: 2003 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
Contact: triblet@angnewspapers.com
Website: East Bay Times - Contra Costa and Alameda county news, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and commentary
