Protect the Will of California Voters

The raid on Santa Cruz’s Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana on September 5, 2002 was in violation of California state law Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act authorizing marijuana for medicinal use and overwhelmingly approved by Californians.  Furthermore the raid demonstrates a gross misappropriation of federal efforts and monies focusing on punishing sick and dying patients during this national security crisis.  Senator Boxer and Senator Feinstein should advocate for California law and advocate for federal hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee.  

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: DEA Raid of Santa Cruz Medical Marijuana Co-op In Violation of CA Law

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I'm outraged by the DEA's continued raids on California's medical marijuana clubs and co-operatives. The September 5th medical marijuana raid on Santa Cruz's Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana (WAMM) was an unjustified and gross violation of the 1996 California state law that legalized medicinal marijuana for the truly sick and dying. WAMM not only served as a non-profit cooperative for over 300 medical marijuana patients (approximately 80% of them terminally ill) but was also commonly referred to as a hospice by patients and supporters. On the eve of the anniversary of the September 11th attacks, the DEA decided to waste scarce law-enforcement resources victimizing patients and their loved ones. Since 2001 the DEA has targeted medical marijuana clubs throughout the state including those in Los Angeles and San Francisco. These actions disregard the will of California voters and the ability of the state of California to handle its internal affairs relating to health care. I urge you to stand up for patients and democracy by opposing this raid.

Sadly, the DEA's cruel actions have left WAMM's members (and thousands of patients from prior raids) without access to their medication - many suffering from AIDS wasting syndrome, nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy, and multiple sclerosis.

Medical marijuana laws have been enacted in nine states in recent years. Hawaii passed a law through the state legislature in 2000. Prior to that, medical marijuana initiatives were approved in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. A recent Gallup poll shows that 73% of Americans support allowing seriously ill patients access to medical marijuana.

I urge you to hold public hearings on medical marijuana and support California's Proposition 215. The federal government's unconscionable targeting of seriously ill and dying patients raises profound questions about patients' rights, states' rights, and the enforcement priorities of federal agencies during a time when America is at war. This is a time to build unity in our nation rather than to pursue divisive policies against our own citizens. Please do everything in your power to oppose this raid and support California's right to use medicinal marijuana.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
September 09, 2002


Background Information

In 1996, California voters passed Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act that legalized under state law marijuana for a medicinal use with a doctor’s recommendation.  Since then Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada and Maine have approved medical marijuana laws.   Although these states are recognizing and approving the therapeutic use of cannabis, the federal government still refuses to accept that the drug has medicinal value. 

Since 2001, the Drug Enforcement Agency has been raiding medical marijuana clubs and providers throughout California.  In the early morning hours of September 5, 2002, Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana (WAMM) in Santa Cruz became the latest target of the DEA.  WAMM founder and medical marijuana patient Valerie Corral and her husband were handcuffed and arrested on federal charges of intent to distribute marijuana.  Suzanne Pfeil, an alliance member and paraplegic staying with the Corrals was also handcuffed and arrested.  Pfeil described waking up to two-dozen DEA agents with automatic weapons aimed at her.  The cooperatives’ plants, which were near harvest, were confiscated leaving members without medicine. 

Seen throughout the state as an exemplary model for cannabis clubs and frequently described as a hospice, WAMM’s cooperative numbered over 300 members.  WAMM estimated that 80% of members were terminally ill.  Acceptance into the cooperative was extremely strict.  Only those patients with a doctor’s recommendation whose doctor agreed to monitor their progress were admitted or permitted to join.  Furthermore, Corral served on the California Attorney General’s Task Force on Proposition 215. The cooperative had the support of local officials including the mayor, district attorney and Chief of Police in Santa Cruz.  WAMM also worked closely with the local government officials to properly comply with California law. 

The federal government has chosen to spend resources and priorities targeting sick and dying patients who use marijuana to relieve their suffering, while failing to focus on more important issues including terrorism and homeland security.  Furthermore, the federal government refuses to recognize California’s 1996 state law that legalizes marijuana for medicinal use. 

California Attorney General Bill Lockyer has requested hearings with Attorney General John Ashcroft and Drug Enforcement Agency Director Asa Hutchinson to discuss the recent California raids.  In a recent press statement, Lockyer states, “A medicinal marijuana provider such as the Santa Cruz collective represents little danger to the public, and is certainly not a concern which would warrant diverting scarce federal resources away from the fight against domestic methamphetamine production, heroin distribution or international terrorism to cite just a few far more worthy priorities."

We are urging Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein to hold public hearings NOW.  We are also demanding Attorney General John Ashcroft and Drug Enforcement Agency Director Asa Hutchinson to end the attacks on the sick and dying.  Please contact your senators today.