top
East Bay
East Bay
Indybay
Indybay
Indybay
Regions
Indybay Regions North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area California United States International Americas Haiti Iraq Palestine Afghanistan
Topics
Newswire
Features
From the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Thu Aug 2 2007 (Updated 08/04/07)
Patients and Supporters Rally for Sanctuary City in Berkeley
Patients Protest Seizure of Medical Cannabis Dispensary's Funds
Some 75 medical marijuana supporters rallied at a July 31st Berkeley City Council meeting to protest the LAPD's seizure of the bank account of the Berkeley Patients' Group. The supporters had gathered to urge the City Council to adopt a Sanctuary Resolution similar to one that San Francisco had previously adopted. Local medical cannabis activists spoke about the need to protect patients and providers from federal interference both in Berkeley and across the state. Due to laws related to public notice and the absence of Mayor Tom Bates, a vote to adopt a Sanctuary Resolution was not possible. City Council members assured the patients and their supporters that this issue will be taken up when the City Council reconvenes in September.

The LAPD's action was a follow-up to the recent DEA raids in LA, where the BPG's sister facility, California Patients' Group, was raided. The CPG has reportedly closed, but the BPG is remaining in operation along with another sister facility in West Hollywood, the Los Angeles Patients' Group, whose bank was also account seized. California NORML writes, "Contrary to the report in the Chronicle... the LAPD appears to have acted on its own without DEA in seizing the BPG's assets." At issue now is whether the LAPD will turn the assets over to state or the federal authorities. Ironically, the seizure of these assets deprives California sales tax funds that BPG had been planning to pay to the state Board of Equalization this week. The DEA's medical marijuana raids have cost California millions of dollars in tax revenues and hundreds of paying jobs.

The BPG is one of the oldest and most respected patients' groups in the state, as are its sister clubs in LA and West Hollywood. In addition to providing cannabis, they provide other health and social services to their members. They have played a leadership role in lobbying for safe access to medical marijuana, working with local officials in support of sensible regulations, and encouraging and training other providers in responsible dispensary operation.

Reports from California NORML and Americans for Safe Access | Corporate articles: 1 | 2 | 3
2024-03-20 Victory! EFF Helps Indybay Resist San Francisco Police Warrant and Gag Order Front Page | Police State & Prisons | Media Activism & Independent Media | San Francisco2024-02-09 Catholic Anti-Choice Marchers Get an Earful from Abortion Rights Activists in San Francisco Front Page | Health, Housing & Public Services | Womyn | San Francisco | South Bay | U.S.2024-01-10 Wall of Shipping Containers Intended to Keep the Public Out of People's Park Front Page | Police State & Prisons | Environment & Forest Defense | Global Justice & Anti-Capitalism | East Bay | California2023-12-08 Largest Ever Pro-Palestine Marches in NorCal Demand End to US Aid for Israel's War on Gaza Front Page | Anti-War | Central Valley | San Francisco | South Bay | Peninsula | U.S. | International | Palestine | Santa Cruz Indymedia2023-10-31 Three Activists Detained at Climate Protest for Crossing Beale Air Force Base Gate Front Page | Environment & Forest Defense | Anti-War | Central Valley | California | U.S.2023-09-29 California Climate Justice Actions in Coordination with Massive New York City March Front Page | Environment & Forest Defense | Central Valley | California2023-08-19 Environmentalists Speak Out Against Airport Expansion as Climate Disasters Accelerate Environment & Forest Defense | East Bay2023-08-12 Starbucks Bus Tour Stops in San Francisco, Rallies with Allies to Support Unionization Labor & Workers | San Francisco | Peninsula | California | U.S.2023-07-19 Halt to Fossil Fuel Funding Demanded as Wells Fargo Operations Shut Down Environment & Forest Defense | Global Justice & Anti-Capitalism | San Francisco | U.S.2023-07-13 Demonstrations Wrack France, Boiling Over After Police Murder of Youth Police State & Prisons | Health, Housing & Public Services | Global Justice & Anti-Capitalism | LGBTI / Queer | International | Government & Elections | Immigrant Rights2023-07-02 A Call for Pride to Return to its Roots as a Riot in Defense of LGBTQ+ Rights Health, Housing & Public Services | LGBTI / Queer | Womyn | San Francisco
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!

Donate

$110.00 donated
in the past month

Get Involved

If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.

Publish

Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.

IMC Network