Update 6/8/05: Compassionate Caregivers closed down voluntarily for the day, not due to a notice from the DEA.

On June 7th, protests and vigils were held in cities all over California to oppose Monday's Supreme Court decision against medical marijuana. Medical cannabis patients and advocates gathered in front of the Federal court building in Sacramento to urge Congress to pass the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment to the Justice Appropriations bill. The question of states' rights versus having a strong federal government was clearly on protesters' minds. Photos People also gathered in Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Francisco (Photos)-- in the latter two cities, candlelight vigils were held to honor medical cannabis patients’ struggle for safe access to medicine, and to memorialize the people who will die because of the federal government’s refusal to recognize cannabis as medicine.

Protesters in Sacramento pointed out that the Supreme Court Decision does NOT affect the medical marijuana voters’ initiatives in any way. Legally, patients are in the exact same place they were in before the Ninth Circuit decision, state law can exist in conflict with federal law. Politically, the Justices have now joined patients, doctors, medical associations, 80% of Americans and policy makers in urging Congress and the FDA to reschedule marijuana. They also said that according to the Attorney General of California, state courts can only consider state law when dealing with medical marijuana. Marijuana advocates pointed out that the decision does not say the federal government MUST prosecute patients.

Angel Raich's supporters are encouraging people to attend noontime demonstrations at U.S. representatives' local district offices at noon on Wednesday, June 8th, exactly 50 hours after the announcement of the Court’s decision. A host of medical marijuana groups and activists will come together all over the country to tell Congress to stand up for patients. Demonstrators will be urging the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment to the Science, State, Justice, and Commerce Appropriations bill, which would bar the DEA from spending any funds to raid, arrest, or prosecute patients using medical marijuana in compliance with state laws. People are also urged to call their representative and urge their support of the Amendment.

Raich Action Website