San Francisco Assemblymember Tom Ammiano today reacted to a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) raid on a San Francisco marijuana dispensary—only a week after the Obama administration signaled it would cease the federal government’s practice of harassing cannabis clubs in states that have legalized the plant for medical use. Ammiano, who in February announced plans to present legislation to legalize and tax marijuana in California, said that the move may have been a warning to him and the Obama administration by what he called the “paramilitary” and “institutionalized” mentality of the DEA.

DEA agents raided Emmalyn’s California Cannabis Clinic on Wednesday, emptying the dispensary of marijuana, cannabis plants, grow lights, and other equipment along with patients. The agency would not cite a specific reason for the raid, saying the warrant is under court seal, but suggested that the dispensary violated state and federal law. Emmalyn’s, which had been operating with a temporary permit issued by the Department of Public Health, had been providing free marijuana to the poor on Wednesdays.
When Examiner.com asked if he thought the raid was a warning because of his legalization bill, Ammiano said he thought it was—but not just to him. He thinks the DEA was also challenging the Obama administration because of Attorney General Eric Holder’s pledge last week to leave cannabis clubs alone.

“They’re going to be very obstinate and very stubborn and do a lot of power tripping around this issue, so even though Eric Holder, the AG, said no more raids of marijuana dispensaries, they’re just going to take that on and see how serious everybody is,” Ammiano said. “It’s infuriating, and it’s also very dehumanizing for the patients who were there, and they just like to rub our nose in it because it’s San Francisco. I find it childish, but I also find it very dangerous.”

No-one was arrested in the raid, but Ammiano still thinks damage was done. He thinks Obama can counter out-of-control agencies like the DEA if he chooses too, but in any case he intends to put up a fight. “We’re dug in. If they’re dug in; they’re the one’s who are going to lose, but in the meantime there’s a lot of suffering and anxiety that goes around about this, and that’s what I find criminal,” he said.

Quintin Mecke, Communications Director for Assemblymember Ammiano, said in an interview prior to the raid that he didn’t think the feds would interfere unless both state and federal laws were being violated. According to a federal agent on the scene Wednesday, Emmalyn’s had violated state law, but the agent didn’t specify what the violation was although it might have been related to the free distribution of marijuana to the poor.

Ammiano says he intends to intercede on behalf of the club and plans to write some letters to the Obama administration to sort out any “mixed messages” that are being communicated. He does not intend to let the federal government interfere with San Francisco’s internal affairs.

“You have to remember that this is San Francisco law—our law—and not just California’s Proposition 215, and we have very well researched policies on the medical cannabis dispensaries, so I’m sure you’ll see a lot of supervisors etc at these rallies because they’re coming into our homes and fouling our nests, and that’s not acceptable,” Ammiano said.

Nathan Sands, vice president of The Compassionate Coalition, a cannabis-related patients' rights group in Sacramento, said he felt dismayed by the actions of the Drug Enforcement Agency. "It's tragic that DEA raids continue despite the Attorney General's statements; we plead with President Obama to fulfill his campaign promise by issuing an executive order that formally protects our rights," Sands said.

Ammiano’s marijuana legislation, Assembly Bill 390, was scheduled to be heard in the Public Safety Committee on March 31st, but through an arrangement with supporters and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, the legislation has become a two-year bill, which altered its timetable. It should be assigned to its first committee within a couple of weeks.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-4172-Sacramento-Statehouse-Examiner~y2009m3d26-Assemblymember-Tom-Ammiano-Reacts-to-DEA-Raid-of-SF-Cannabis-Medical-Dispensary


Examiner: Assemblymember Tom Ammiano Reacts to DEA Raid of SF Cannabis Medical Dispensary - March 26, 2009 | The Compassionate Coalition

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When the government fears the People, that is Liberty. When the People fear the Government, that is tyranny. ~Thomas Jefferson



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