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Fri Sep 24 2004
Medical Marijuana Advocates to Demand Rescheduling of Marijuana
10/5/2004: Fourteen people were arrested in civil disobedience on the steps of the Department of Health and Human Serviecs today.
Medical Marijuana activists took their message to the nation's capital just a month before the presidential election. On Tuesday, October 5th at 10am there was a rally at the US Department of Health and Human Services, at 200 Independence Avenue, SW, in Washington, DC. Events during the week have included use of a community center for art making, meetings, and trainings; a press conference at the National Press Club; a town hall meeting of patients' unions and participants; and the rally at HHS. The week was envisioned to be a truly regional gathering- planning meetings were held in several cities, and people traveled to DC by bus and carpool from such cities as Philadelphia and Providence.
Background: Americans for Safe Access says that marijuana must be rescheduled, and its medicinal value recognized on the federal level, in order to ensure safe access for all those who need its medicinal benefits. The government would then be able to focus on the question of how to get the medicine to patients, rather than instead of still debating whether or not marijuana is medicine. Health and Human Services (HHS) has the power to make this change. If HSS allows that marijuana has medical value, the DEA must recommend rescheduling. In 2001, HHS ruled that marijuana had, "no currently accepted medical use in treatment". They did not address the data recognizing cannabis as a useful treatment, by itself or as an adjunct to other therapies. This allowed the DEA to reject rescheduling and gave them implicit permission to raid patients. Six months later, the DEA started raiding and closing California dispensaries. Recent Indybay stories about raids and arrests: Tom the Nurse | Eddy's Medicinal Gardens
Activists chose October as the time for this rally for several reasons. They want to educate the American public on Bush's record before the election. The Bush/Ashcroft attack on patients was so unpopular that they have retreated in this election year. "We will be there to remind those voters with short memories about Bush's war on patients." Activists want to show the next administration and Congress that there is a way to end the war on patients outside of the legislature. There is a petition for rescheduling cannabis in front of Health and Human Services right now. Also, the Supreme Court will hear the Raich/Monson case after October. More info on the Americans for Safe Access website.
Medical Marijuana activists took their message to the nation's capital just a month before the presidential election. On Tuesday, October 5th at 10am there was a rally at the US Department of Health and Human Services, at 200 Independence Avenue, SW, in Washington, DC. Events during the week have included use of a community center for art making, meetings, and trainings; a press conference at the National Press Club; a town hall meeting of patients' unions and participants; and the rally at HHS. The week was envisioned to be a truly regional gathering- planning meetings were held in several cities, and people traveled to DC by bus and carpool from such cities as Philadelphia and Providence.
Background: Americans for Safe Access says that marijuana must be rescheduled, and its medicinal value recognized on the federal level, in order to ensure safe access for all those who need its medicinal benefits. The government would then be able to focus on the question of how to get the medicine to patients, rather than instead of still debating whether or not marijuana is medicine. Health and Human Services (HHS) has the power to make this change. If HSS allows that marijuana has medical value, the DEA must recommend rescheduling. In 2001, HHS ruled that marijuana had, "no currently accepted medical use in treatment". They did not address the data recognizing cannabis as a useful treatment, by itself or as an adjunct to other therapies. This allowed the DEA to reject rescheduling and gave them implicit permission to raid patients. Six months later, the DEA started raiding and closing California dispensaries. Recent Indybay stories about raids and arrests: Tom the Nurse | Eddy's Medicinal Gardens
Activists chose October as the time for this rally for several reasons. They want to educate the American public on Bush's record before the election. The Bush/Ashcroft attack on patients was so unpopular that they have retreated in this election year. "We will be there to remind those voters with short memories about Bush's war on patients." Activists want to show the next administration and Congress that there is a way to end the war on patients outside of the legislature. There is a petition for rescheduling cannabis in front of Health and Human Services right now. Also, the Supreme Court will hear the Raich/Monson case after October. More info on the Americans for Safe Access website.
Wed Sep 8 2004
Eddy's Medicinal Gardens Raided by DEA
11/1/2004: Today's court date report suggests that Eddy Lepp could lose his land: the prosecutor announced that asset forfeiture proceedings have begun against Eddy. However, he will be allowed to travel to Amsterdam for the Cannabis Cup. His next court date will be Monday, December 13th, 2004 (changed from 12/6, likely at 11am).
Report from Eddy's October 18th Court Date Report from October 4th courtdate in Federal Court in San Francisco: The criminal case has been merged with Eddy's civil suit against the government for $68 million. Eddy Lepp is free on bond.
On August 18th, 2004, federal agents raided Eddy Lepp’s medicinal garden, ministry, and home, known as Eddy's Medicinal Gardens, in Lake County. Lepp was growing 32,524 Medicinal Cannabis plants on 25 acres of land in Upper Lake, California, for the patients whom his ministry is helping. Lepp's ministry is seen as part of a fight for patients’ rights to safe and affordable medicine. All of the patients the ministry helps have valid medical conditions and legal recommendations from their physicians to use Medicinal Cannabis.
In the raid, government officials took personal computers, souvenirs, and other artifacts that had nothing to do with EMG, items that EMG says have no real significance to be considered evidence. They also confiscated a total of 2,300 dollars from members of EMG, never admitting it into evidence. The home is missing all of Lepp’s files and paper work for his civil case against the DEA for a 2002 raid on the gardens.
The raid came just days after Americans for Safe Access released a report about law enforcement violations of the rights of medical marijuana patients in California.
Statement from Eddy's Medicinal Gardens supporters | Statement from the US Department of Justice about the 8/18 raid | One witness's account
9/25/2004: A defense fundraiser was held at Eddy's Medicinal Gardens today.
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | Report
9/8/3004: A protest was held at the federal building in San Francisco in response to recent DEA raids, and another protest was held in Sacramento.
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3
Report from Eddy's October 18th Court Date Report from October 4th courtdate in Federal Court in San Francisco: The criminal case has been merged with Eddy's civil suit against the government for $68 million. Eddy Lepp is free on bond.
On August 18th, 2004, federal agents raided Eddy Lepp’s medicinal garden, ministry, and home, known as Eddy's Medicinal Gardens, in Lake County. Lepp was growing 32,524 Medicinal Cannabis plants on 25 acres of land in Upper Lake, California, for the patients whom his ministry is helping. Lepp's ministry is seen as part of a fight for patients’ rights to safe and affordable medicine. All of the patients the ministry helps have valid medical conditions and legal recommendations from their physicians to use Medicinal Cannabis.
In the raid, government officials took personal computers, souvenirs, and other artifacts that had nothing to do with EMG, items that EMG says have no real significance to be considered evidence. They also confiscated a total of 2,300 dollars from members of EMG, never admitting it into evidence. The home is missing all of Lepp’s files and paper work for his civil case against the DEA for a 2002 raid on the gardens.
The raid came just days after Americans for Safe Access released a report about law enforcement violations of the rights of medical marijuana patients in California.
Statement from Eddy's Medicinal Gardens supporters | Statement from the US Department of Justice about the 8/18 raid | One witness's account
9/25/2004: A defense fundraiser was held at Eddy's Medicinal Gardens today.
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | Report
9/8/3004: A protest was held at the federal building in San Francisco in response to recent DEA raids, and another protest was held in Sacramento.
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3
Tue Aug 17 2004
The Ongoing Trials of Tom the Nurse
Tom Juzbasic, also known as "Tom the Nurse" was arrested in UN Plaza in San Francisco, the "Sanctuary for Medical Cannabis", on June 6th, 2003. In a major victory for local med-can patients, a considerate Judge Charles Haines dismissed the possession for sale (of cannabis) charge against Thomas W. Juzbasic in San Francisco Superior Court. Story On the date of his arrest, he was booked and held overnight in jail, and the police seized thousands of dollars from his bank account. He has faced numerous court dates related to his current charge of "possession of marijuana for sale," ever since. Tom is both a Licensed Vocational Nurse and a medical marijuana patient. He has refused to waive time, which means that the D.A. has to bring his case to trial within sixty days or drop the charges against him. Tom had a court date on Friday, August 20th. His next court date was scheduled for September 1st.
Report from August 12th Court Date Report from July 14th Court Date Clark Sullivan's Report of the arrest More Indybay Coverage of Tom's case
Report from August 12th Court Date Report from July 14th Court Date Clark Sullivan's Report of the arrest More Indybay Coverage of Tom's case
Mon Aug 9 2004
Medical Marijuana Prisoner Bryan Epis Freed
8/10/2004:Bryan James Epis was the first medical marijuana patient convicted in federal court after the passage of California’s Proposition 215. Butte County sheriff's officers discovered marijuana plants growing in the basement of his home in Chico and arrested him on June 25, 1997. He was convicted of growing medical marijuana for himself and other patients, and served two years of a ten-year sentence. He was released from prison on Monday afternoon at about 4:30pm (he is shown here moments after his release, with the federal prison at Terminal Island in the background behind him).
A press conference and rally, which featured an emotional reunion between Bryan Epis and his daughter, were held on Tuesday, August 10th at the Federal Building, at the corner of 5th and I streets in Sacramento. Speakers included Bryan Epis, his daughter, Ashley Epis, who is now 11; and his attorney, Brenda Grantland. More info about the case | Text of the Appeal | Previous coverage
NORML's Bryan Epis Info | Americans for Safe Access | Compassionate Medical Marijuana Billboard Campaign | Angel Justice | Raich v. Ashcroft
A press conference and rally, which featured an emotional reunion between Bryan Epis and his daughter, were held on Tuesday, August 10th at the Federal Building, at the corner of 5th and I streets in Sacramento. Speakers included Bryan Epis, his daughter, Ashley Epis, who is now 11; and his attorney, Brenda Grantland. More info about the case | Text of the Appeal | Previous coverage
NORML's Bryan Epis Info | Americans for Safe Access | Compassionate Medical Marijuana Billboard Campaign | Angel Justice | Raich v. Ashcroft
Fri Jul 30 2004
Narco News Back for Round II: "Authenticos" Meet in Bolivia
7/30/2004: Tomorrow begins the second round of the ground-breaking School of Authentic Journalism, sponsored by Narco News, in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Since last year's meeting of over 40 revolutionary minds, including students, scholars and professors from all over América, the J-School has doubled in size, with 35 authentic journalists receiving scholarships to muckrake their way straight through the barriers set up by transnational corporate media plunderers. Several IMCista journalists will be on the teaching staff this year, with the curriculum fanning out into a true multi-media frenzy. Radio, video, print, philosophy, investigation & fact-checking, interviewing, and web workshops will be offered around the clock.
Last year's J-School coverage of the "Out from the Shadows" Drug Policy Summit in Mérida, Mexico, worked hard to uncover the realities of the US-led War on Drugs, straight from the mouths of the campesinos, policy makers, government aides, and activists in the belly of the beast. This year's campus will be split between Cochabamba, Bolivia and the Chapare region, with students hearing straight from the cocaleros who have been most affected by the US's aggressive eradication policies. Stay tuned tonight at midnight, or 9 pm PST, for the first of several LIVE radio programs from somewhere in América, with interviews with former Brazilian drug czar Walter Fanganiello Maierovitch, radical feminist, author and coca-leaf expert Silvia Rivera Cusicanqui and indigenous leader Evo Morales. LISTEN HERE.
Update - 8/4/04: NarcoNews will be broadcasting its final dispatch this eafternoon, starting at 3pm PST. Join J-School radio students Manuela Aldabe, Daniel Fleming, Karla Aguilar, Maria Eugenia Flores Castro, Vladimir Flores García, Gissel Gonzales, Leny Olivera Rojas, Quetzal Belmont and Litzie Escobar as they air their first compilations. Tonight's webcast will begin with a two-hour long broadcast from yesterday. NarcoNews students put together a special broadcast for Radio Soberania, the radio station beamed into the homes of 95% of the jungle population in the Chapare, at 250,000 watts. The students crammed into the tiny offices of the radio studio, and as Karla Aguilar skillfully hosted, their voices drifted out to the children playing in the skeleton of what will soon be a new local television station next door. We will replay their broadcast this afternoon, and follow it with updates and interviews by the students themselves.
First Dispatch from the J-School: "The War for Defense of the Truth" |
IMC Coverage of Last Year's J-School & "Out from the Shadows" Summit | The Fund for Authentic Journalism | The NarcoSphere | Salón Chingón | Recent Free Speech Radio News Story about Coca Farmers Organizing
Wed Apr 21 2004
Million Marijuana March
Saturday May 22nd in Sacramento: Million Marijuana March
Medical Marijuana supporters had good news to celebrate at worldwide annual Million Marijuana March fetes on May 1st. A California appelate court has ruled that the Justice Department may not raid or prosecute the 250 members of the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana. WAMM was raided in 2002 by the DEA. Since the 2002 raid, over 25 of WAMM's seriously ill members had died. Marijuana afficionados recently celebrated the "420" holiday with a rally for more allowed medicinal plants in Berkeley, a concert in San Francisco, and a picnic in Cupertino.
There was some bad news during the 420 season, as the city of Oakland ruled that the city must reduce its number of medical cannabis clubs from 7 to 4 in June. Hearings about permits were held at the City Manager's office the week of April 20th.
On May 1st, San Franciscan's celebrated Cannabis Freedom Day in Civic Center Plaza. Photos
Medical Marijuana supporters had good news to celebrate at worldwide annual Million Marijuana March fetes on May 1st. A California appelate court has ruled that the Justice Department may not raid or prosecute the 250 members of the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana. WAMM was raided in 2002 by the DEA. Since the 2002 raid, over 25 of WAMM's seriously ill members had died. Marijuana afficionados recently celebrated the "420" holiday with a rally for more allowed medicinal plants in Berkeley, a concert in San Francisco, and a picnic in Cupertino.
There was some bad news during the 420 season, as the city of Oakland ruled that the city must reduce its number of medical cannabis clubs from 7 to 4 in June. Hearings about permits were held at the City Manager's office the week of April 20th.
On May 1st, San Franciscan's celebrated Cannabis Freedom Day in Civic Center Plaza. Photos
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