Subpoenas worry users of medical marijuana

Monday, August 13, 2007 - Page updated at 02:04 AM


Subpoenas worry users of medical marijuana


By The Associated Press



PORTLAND — Federal subpoenas seeking medical records of 17 Oregon medical-marijuana patients have growers and users upset and nervous even as a federal judge considers whether to throw the subpoenas out.

"It's crazy. It's really scary. If they can get my records, they can get Gov. [Ted] Kulongoski's, they can get yours," said Donald DuPay, a former Portland police officer and 2006 candidate for Multnomah County sheriff.

DuPay says his records are among those subpoenaed.

A federal grand jury in Yakima issued the subpoenas in April as part of an investigation of some growers in Oregon and Washington.

The patients are not targets of the grand jury.

A Seattle spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Administration declined to comment.

The subpoenas were served on the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, which issues permits to patients and their authorized growers.

A second subpoena went to The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation, a private Portland clinic where doctors determine whether a patient's condition would be eased by marijuana.

The DEA raided DuPay's Portland home in June and seized 135 marijuana plants DuPay said he was growing for patients. DuPay, who hosts a local cable-access program on medical marijuana, says he has not been arrested.

On Aug. 1, lawyers from the state and from the ACLU, representing the Hemp and Cannabis Foundation, asked Chief U.S. District Judge Robert H. Whaley in Yakima to throw the subpoenas out.

James Hagerty, the assistant U.S. attorney who convened the grand jury, acknowledged that the subpoenas were written too broadly. What the grand jury wants, he said, is not "medical records" but current addresses and phone numbers for the 17 patients.

He said the grand jury is investigating four or five people for growing marijuana to sell under the medical-marijuana law.

The 17 get or got medical marijuana from the people under investigation, he said

Oregon voters enacted the state's program in 1998, and 14,868 Oregonians hold patient cards. An additional 7,115 have state permission to grow medical marijuana. They can't sell it but can accept donations to defray costs.

Eleven other states, including Washington, have medical-marijuana laws and at least two more are considering them.

But federal law forbids the use or cultivation of marijuana. Federal authorities have attacked California's program by raiding marijuana dispensaries and prosecuting growers there for years.

Last month, the DEA sent letters to landlords of dispensaries in Los Angeles warning of possible prison sentences.

But the Oregon subpoenas apparently are the first time the DEA has come after medical records, "and of course, it is very worrisome," said Bruce Mirkin, a spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, an advocacy group in Washington, D.C.

"People have an expectation of medical privacy, and I think they have a right to expect medical privacy," Mirkin said.

"It's one thing to talk about people selling a product that is in fact not legal under federal law. We may think that's stupid. But that's in a whole different realm than obtaining people's medical records."

The Web site for the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program promises patients and caregivers that their medical records are legally protected.

Kris Hermes, a spokesman for the advocacy group Americans for Safe Access, said the subpoenas suggest the DEA is looking beyond prosecuting dealers.

"It sends a message to the other states and their programs that they're vulnerable to federal interference," he said.

Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003833815_marijuana13m.html?syndication=rss


DaBronx

Sign Up for Instant DEA Raid Alerts!

Sign Up for Instant DEA Raid Alerts!


Join ASA's Raid Emergency Response Network Today


Dear ASA Supporter,

The DEA's increasing attacks on patients and providers in California needs to be combated. Medical cannabis patients, providers, and supporters need to organize together to prevent, stall, and bring attention to the federal government's raids on dispensary collectives and providers in medical cannabis states. ASA has developed a real-time emergency response service that alerts supporters of local federal raids while they happen. Sign up for this service now by visiting www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/RaidAlert.

Just two weeks ago, ten Los Angeles medical cannabis dispensaries were raided by federal agents. As DEA agents broke down dispensary doors, terrorized patients, and stole medicine, the Emergency Response Network turned out hundreds of protesters on the day of the event and two days later at a citywide protest. During the actual raid, members of the Raid Emergency Response Network were able to blockade the DEA agents from leaving the premises. Since its implementation, the Raid Emergency Response Network has turned out thousands of protesters, supporters, and activists throughout the state of California and nationwide.

Sign up today for ASA's raid alert text messaging system at www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/RaidAlert. This service will provide you with an immediate alert via text message to your cell phone with information about the raid, as soon as ASA confirms a raid is occurring. Immediate emergency raid response and protest helps stall the DEA, demonstrates support for the patients and providers, and also brings the issue to the attention of the media and community.

To learn more about ASA's Raid Emergency Response Campaign and for instructions on what to do in case of a raid, please visit www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/EmergencyResponse. If you have questions or need further information please contact Sonnet: Sonnet@AmericansforSafeAccess.org.

Thank you for your commitment to safe access.

Sincerely,

Sonnet Seeborg Gabbard Field Coordinator Americans for Safe Access

Americans for Safe Access is the nation's largest organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.

____________________________________________________________

For all list information and functions, see:
http://lists.safeaccessnow.org/lists/info/asa-ca



DaBronx

MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROTEST AT VAN NUYS FRIDAY AUGUST 3, 2007

:::::::::PROTEST AT VAN NUYS FRIDAY AUGUST 3, 2007:::::::::


PROTEST/RALLY FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND PATIENT RIGHTS!


WHEN: Friday August 3rd. 9:30 am.-1pm.

WHERE: Van Nuys Civic Center
14410 Sylvan Street
Van Nuys, Ca.

WHY: Protest the DEA actions and local police involvement in recent raids and fear letter campaign

The recent times have been difficult for everyone, especially owners and patients who have had their collectives closed or raided, so we must stand together if we are to get anything done.

There will be drinks and food provided to the protesters that come, and we are looking for all ideas that we can use, such as perfomance art as protest. and things that will be creative and different then ways before.

We will be having a large funeral for States rights, with a large coffin built with a California Flag covering it, and RIP STATE'S RIGHTS, written on the coffin.


FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP, CONTACT PATRICK at 818-386-2998 (12 PM-8 PM or leave message) or email "patrick_duff2000 [at] yahoo.com"

Sheriff comments on predicted closure of final pot shop

Sheriff comments on predicted closure of final pot shop

Last Update: Jul 30, 2007 9:07 PM

Posted By: Megan Trihey


Video: Watch This Video

BAKERSFIELD - As predicted by Sheriff Donny Youngblood, the last remaining pot shop in Bakersfield is out of business, leaving those who rely on marijuana for medicine out of luck.






“This is not about what I can tell people they can and cannot do,” said Youngblood. “This is about the law, and they have a responsibility to know that possession of marijuana with certain restrictions can be a felony with the feds. It is a felony with the feds.”

The owners of California Compassionate Services on Bernard Street in northeast Bakersfield closed late last week.

They said they were caught in a pinch between state and federal law.

A month ago, Bakersfield had six medical marijuana shops, but after a series of DEA raids and federal indictments, each shut down.

Youngblood said he doesn’t plan on issuing licenses for any more pot shops to open.

“People have to do what they think they need to do,” said Youngblood. “I just thought it was a little bit unfair to issue licenses to someone, take their money, and then help put them in federal prison.”


http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=45bb3b6c-4c36-45a0-a1f8-99df30285641&rss=91


DaBronx


GO NY YANKEES!