Pubdate: Wed, 07 Nov 2001
Source: San Luis Obispo County Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2001 The Tribune
Contact:  http://www.thetribunenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/391
Note: Many articles about the center and Mr. Imler's efforts may be found 
at http://www.mapinc.org/people/Scott+Imler Efforts are under way to raise 
concern about the DEA's actions as shown by the Focus Alert at 
http://www.mapinc.org/alert/0223.html - the CA NORML website at 
http://www.canorml.org - and the new legal actions by the Oakland Cannabis 
Buyers' Cooperative posted at http://www.druglibrary.org/ocbc - and by 
other groups.

STATE VS. FEDS IN POT LAWS

Under normal circumstances, there would be no question about supporting the 
federal government in its crackdown on marijuana offenders in California. 
After all, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that distribution 
of the weed through cooperatives is illegal.

But the latest wave of federal arrests has clashed with Califonia law, 
which allows the use of marijuana for medical purposes, and we have to 
wonder what's really going on, why the sudden outburst of enforcement.

Caught in the federal-state crossfire is the city of West Hollywood, 
amongst others. A cannabis club there was raided, to the dismay of more 
than 900 individuals who were treated for illnesses like cancer and AIDS by 
doctors acting with the approval of city officials.

A West Hollywood councilman bitterly accused the feds of "forcing sick 
people to become criminals." In the small community of Cool, northeast of 
Sacramento, federal agents seized a marijuana garden planted by patients 
and seized the files of a doctor and a lawyer who had recommended the drug 
for thousands of sick patients.

The project even had the approval of the California Medical Association, 
prompting a spokesman to complain that law enforcement authorities "had no 
business interfering with the doctor-patient relationship."

When California approved using marijuana for medical purposes, The Tribune 
voiced uneasiness that the law would be administered improperly. We feared 
there would be too many instances where doctors might be too permissive.

But the experience has demonstrated that hundreds of sick men and women in 
the state have been helped  under medical supervision  and for some time 
the marijuana front in California has been quiet.

It was, that is, until the feds went into action.

The law is the law. But there is federal law, and there is state law, and 
it seems that some kind of compromise might well have been worked out, so 
that doctors and legitimate patients would not be thwarted.

Marijuana cooperatives may not be the answer. But strong-arm tactics aren't 
the answer, either.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D