Feature Archives

In a major victory for San Francisco medical cannabis caregivers, Thomas Juzbasic LVN was acquitted on all cannabis charges stemming from his bust in June 2003. After over 39 months and a week long mistrial, the second trial lasted only two and a half days before the jury came back with the not guilty verdict in under two hours. Photos

On July 19th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed by voice vote a bill that could lead to more wide-scale drug searches in public schools across the country. It would allow schools to search large groups of students on the mere suspicion that just one of them has drugs. Despite the bill's controversial nature, House leaders skipped the committee deliberation process and brought the bill directly to the floor, effectively giving its sponsor, Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY), a victory to help his reelection bid this November. The bill, "The Student and Teacher Safety Act of 2006," H.R. 5295, mandates that school districts adopt written policies allowing expanded searches, under threat of losing federal anti-drug funding. There is not yet a Senate version of the bill, so it might not become law.

A rally and press conference for Ed Rosenthal and Richard Watts were held on Wednesday, October 25th at 1pm outside of the SF Federal Building. Updates and reports Supporters are upset that Watts, who is ill, has been on pre-trial probation since 2002, contradictory to his right to a speedy trial. Rosenthal was sanctioned under city and state laws to grow cannabis and sell the plants to dispensaries. Report and Photos from Sept. 13th appearance. A grand jury hearing that had been scheduled for the next day was cancelled-- it could still reconvene to hear more evidence at a future date.

At a July 13th public hearing, San Francisco's Planning Department denied the Green Cross's application to operate a medical cannabis dispensary at 1701 Leavenworth Street in the Marina/North Beach/Fisherman's Wharf area. A public hearing before the Appeals Board is scheduled for November 1st at 5pm, at City Hall, Room 416. The Green Cross and medical marijuana backers are being asked to write letters of support in advance, and to attend and voice their support.

California registered Medical Marijuana provider Roger Mentch was arrested last August 2005 for legally dispensing medical marijuana to registered patients and his hearing is scheduled for October. His arrest followed a previous conviction and sentencing in May of 2005 for providing medical marijuana to registered patients. His conviction was based on federal law and ignored California Compassionate Caregiver law. In spite of this, the judge in the case gave Mentch legal permission to continue to sell Medical Marijuana.

Mentch's arrests appear to be part of a trend of federal harassment of medical marijuana providers. He is only one of three registered Medical Marijuana providers in Santa Cruz County.

A Medical Marijuana Question and Answer Session with Attorney Ben Rice and a local ACLU Drug War representative was held on August 17th in the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors chamber, 701 Ocean St., Room 525.

On August 25th, the first Friday of the new school year at San Jose State University, there will be a protest action against the university's expelling of legal medical cannabis patients. A homeless woman on campus was woken in the middle of the night, searched by a male officer, and held until 4:30am. Her medical cannabis was seized. This began a campaign to raise awareness of SJSU cops' lack of recognition of the state's medical marijuana laws. The protest on August 25th will be at 4:20pm at the San Jose State University Police Department, 377 S. 7th St., San Jose, at the parking garage at 7th and San Salvador. A patient training will be conducted at 5pm.

Independent journalist Mike Rhodes reports that he was recently asked to sign a petition to legalize marijuana. Once he had signed, the signature gatherer asked if it she could register him as a Republican. She told him that she would be paid extra for Republican registrations, but she also told him that she was paid hourly. Victor Salazar, the Fresno County Clerk, said that the process sounded deceptive, and referred Rhodes to the Secretary of State fraud investigation unit. Mike was unable to reach anyone at the fraud investigation unit by phone, despite repeated calls.