Pubdate: Fri, 06 Sep 2002
Source: Bergen Record (NJ)
Copyright: 2002 Bergen Record Corp
Contact:  http://www.bergen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/44
Author: Martha Mendoza

'MEDICAL MARIJUANA' FARMERS ARRESTED BY FEDERAL AGENTS

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Federal agents raided a marijuana farm Thursday and 
arrested the owners, who helped write the state law legalizing medical use 
of the plants.

Officers seized more than 100 marijuana plants, three rifles, and a 
shotgun, said Richard Meyer, a spokesman for the Drug Enforcement 
Administration in San Francisco.

Valerie and Michael Corral were arrested on federal charges of intent to 
distribute marijuana and conspiracy, he said. A spokesman for the U.S. 
attorney could not determine Thursday afternoon whether formal charges had 
been filed.

"These are incredibly compassionate people who've worked closely with law 
enforcement to help the sick and dying in our community," said Ben Rice, an 
attorney for the Corrals. "This is absolutely outrageous."

The Corrals helped write the 1996 law that allows patients and their 
caregivers to grow marijuana for their own medicine.

They work with local authorities to dispense their pot to people with 
doctors' recommendations to use marijuana.

The raid surprised local medical marijuana growers and advocates, as well 
as the Santa Cruz County sheriff.

DEA agents have recently cracked down on high-profile medical marijuana 
advocates and distribution clubs and bypassed local law enforcement 
agencies that have condoned them.

Andrea Tischler, owner of the Compassion Flower Inn, where guests with 
doctors' recommendations are allowed to use medical marijuana, said she was 
outraged.

"We're absolutely shocked that the DEA would step in like this at harvest 
time when so many patients would be able to benefit from this medication," 
she said. "This is the one crop of the year they were growing." 
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MAP posted-by: Beth