T
The420Guy
Guest
SACRAMENTO, CA -- Should California Governor Gray Davis call out the
National Guard to defend medical marijuana patients from federal agents?
That's the question Libertarians will be asking today as thousands of
medical marijuana advocates descend on the state Capitol in Sacramento to
send the federal government a message.
"The National Guard is charged with defending lives and property when
disaster strikes =AD and the federal raids on medical marijuana clinics have
been a complete disaster," said Libertarian Party Political Director Ron
Crickenberger, who is attending the rally.
"These DEA bullies with badges have ransacked clinics, brutalized helpless,
dying people, and trampled state law. Now the only question is whether Davis
will live up to his responsibilities as the state's chief law enforcement
officer or continue to kowtow to the federal government."
Agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration have raided dozens
of marijuana clinics over the past few months, despite the fact that the
possession, use, and cultivation of medical marijuana was legalized
statewide with the passage of Proposition 215 in 1996. But now Californians
are fighting back. Santa Cruz and other localities are making "medipot"
available during public rallies at City Hall as protesters chant, "DEA, go
away!"
Monday's Medical Cannabis Freedom Day rally, which kicks off at noon on the
south steps of the Capitol, was created as a way for medical marijuana
supporters statewide to demand an end to federal interference.
But will calling out the National Guard be necessary? Libertarians hope not.
"No such confrontation would be needed if Davis and Attorney General Bill
Lockyer had the backbone to speak out more forcefully against this
unwarranted federal intrusion," Crickenberger said. "Davis has asked the
federal government to stop the raids. And last week, Lockyer sent a letter
to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and DEA head Asa Hutchinson
'questioning the ethical basis' for the raids.
"But meekly asking the DEA to stop hasn't worked. Davis and Lockyer should
publicly and unequivocally demand that the raids stop. They should remind
Ashcroft and Hutchinson that their boss, President George Bush, pledged
during the campaign to 'respect states' rights' on medical marijuana. And
they should inform the federal government that any future harassment of
medical marijuana patients will be treated as an assault under state law.
"If Davis lacks the courage to stand up to the federal bully when lives are
at stake, he should have the decency to resign."
Other groups participating in the rally include the Marijuana Policy Project
(MPP); the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML);
Students for a Sensible Drug Policy; and the Drug Policy Alliance.
Organizers are also demanding a federal pardon for Bryan Epis, a Libertarian
Party member who faces 10 years in prison for cultivating medical marijuana.
Copyright =A9 1994-2002, Libertarian Party, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved worldwide.
National Guard to defend medical marijuana patients from federal agents?
That's the question Libertarians will be asking today as thousands of
medical marijuana advocates descend on the state Capitol in Sacramento to
send the federal government a message.
"The National Guard is charged with defending lives and property when
disaster strikes =AD and the federal raids on medical marijuana clinics have
been a complete disaster," said Libertarian Party Political Director Ron
Crickenberger, who is attending the rally.
"These DEA bullies with badges have ransacked clinics, brutalized helpless,
dying people, and trampled state law. Now the only question is whether Davis
will live up to his responsibilities as the state's chief law enforcement
officer or continue to kowtow to the federal government."
Agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration have raided dozens
of marijuana clinics over the past few months, despite the fact that the
possession, use, and cultivation of medical marijuana was legalized
statewide with the passage of Proposition 215 in 1996. But now Californians
are fighting back. Santa Cruz and other localities are making "medipot"
available during public rallies at City Hall as protesters chant, "DEA, go
away!"
Monday's Medical Cannabis Freedom Day rally, which kicks off at noon on the
south steps of the Capitol, was created as a way for medical marijuana
supporters statewide to demand an end to federal interference.
But will calling out the National Guard be necessary? Libertarians hope not.
"No such confrontation would be needed if Davis and Attorney General Bill
Lockyer had the backbone to speak out more forcefully against this
unwarranted federal intrusion," Crickenberger said. "Davis has asked the
federal government to stop the raids. And last week, Lockyer sent a letter
to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and DEA head Asa Hutchinson
'questioning the ethical basis' for the raids.
"But meekly asking the DEA to stop hasn't worked. Davis and Lockyer should
publicly and unequivocally demand that the raids stop. They should remind
Ashcroft and Hutchinson that their boss, President George Bush, pledged
during the campaign to 'respect states' rights' on medical marijuana. And
they should inform the federal government that any future harassment of
medical marijuana patients will be treated as an assault under state law.
"If Davis lacks the courage to stand up to the federal bully when lives are
at stake, he should have the decency to resign."
Other groups participating in the rally include the Marijuana Policy Project
(MPP); the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML);
Students for a Sensible Drug Policy; and the Drug Policy Alliance.
Organizers are also demanding a federal pardon for Bryan Epis, a Libertarian
Party member who faces 10 years in prison for cultivating medical marijuana.
Copyright =A9 1994-2002, Libertarian Party, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved worldwide.
