Activists Successfully Defuse Raid on UMCC

Medical Marijuana Activists Defuse a Police Raid on United Medical Caregivers
Clinic in Los Angeles

On March 15, 2005, the Los Angeles Police Department raided United Medical
Caregivers Clinic (UMCC), a medical marijuana dispensing collective in Los
Angeles. The Clinic's equipment and medicine was confiscated and two of its
staff were arrested. At the time, the police were heard saying that they were
not aware of Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act.

What immediately ensued was a highly effective response from the community --
thanks to all who took action! Due to that response as well as meetings with key
elected officials, reminding them of legal consequences if the city decided to
press charges, it appears that the DA has withdrawn the case against UMCC. The
DA reserves the right to file charges in the future and UMCC is in strained
negotiations around the return of their property, but regardless we have won an
important fight in an ongoing battle.

Best of all, as of Wednesday, UMCC is back open for operation.

This is a huge victory for patients and safe access to medical marijuana! Good
job! Let's hope that this kind of effective work against raids will not be
needed again, but if so it's good to know that we can quickly and effectively
respond.

Cheers,

Kris


--
Kris Hermes
Legal Director
Americans for Safe Access
http://www.SafeAccessNow.org
1322 Webster Street, Suite 208
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: 510-251-1856 x307
Fax: 510-251-2036
Email: kris [at] SafeAccessNow.org