Pubdate: Wed, 13 Feb 2002
Source: Orange County Register (CA)
Copyright: 2002 The Orange County Register
Contact:  http://www.ocregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/321
Author: Margie Mason, Associated Press

DEA RAIDS MEDICAL-POT CLUB

Federal Agents Continue Crackdown On The Centers -- Against The Wishes Of 
Local Authorities

SAN FRANCISCO -- Federal agents raided a medical-marijuana club and 
arrested four people Tuesday amid an ongoing tug of war between local and 
federal officials over the sale of pot for medicinal purposes.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized 630 pot plants from the Harm 
Reduction Center and arrested the group's executive director, Richard 
Watts, said David Witty, the marijuana club's chief of security.

Kenneth Hayes of Petaluma was arrested in Canada, and Edward Rosenthal of 
Oakland was also arrested on charges of cultivating more than 100 pot 
plants and maintaining a place to grow the drug, according to the U.S. 
Attorney's Office. Each face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.

A fourth man, James Halloran of Oakland, was arrested in a separate case 
and charged with growing more than 1,000 marijuana plants and also keeping 
a place to grow pot. He faces life in prison if convicted.

DEA spokesman Richard Meyer said the arrests were part of an investigation 
by the DEA, Customs Service and Internal Revenue Service targeting 
marijuana trafficking and smuggling.

"They all are connected with marijuana smuggling," Meyer said. "We've said 
all along the cultivation and distribution of marijuana is illegal, 
regardless of state or local law. Our job is to enforce federal law."

The U.S. Supreme Court said last year that it is illegal to distribute 
marijuana for medical purposes.

San Francisco law enforcement officials have said their job is to enforce 
the laws of California, where voters overwhelmingly approved 
medical-marijuana use.

Voters in Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and 
Washington have all approved ballot initiatives allowing the use of medical 
marijuana. In Hawaii, the Legislature passed a similar law, and the 
governor signed it in 2000.

District Attorney Terence Hallinan has been outspoken in his support of the 
clubs, and Police Chief Fred Lau has said his officers wouldn't take part 
in any raids.

Workers at the pot club raided Tuesday said they were questioned by DEA 
agents about their relationship with Hallinan.

"They asked us if he was receiving monies from us or drugs," Witty said.

"This is insane. What kind of city do you think we're operating here, to 
think that we're smugglers?"

The center serves about 200 patients a day, all with doctors' 
recommendations to get the drug. Many suffer chronic pain from AIDS and 
cancer, Witty said.

Tuesday's raid is just one in a series of recent federal crackdowns in 
California. Agents shut down a West Hollywood cannabis club in October. 
Other federal actions include raiding a Ventura County garden operated by 
patients and seizure of medical records from a Northern California doctor 
who is a prominent medical-marijuana proponent.
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