Berkeley Mayor Joins Call for Hearings into DEA Tactics

MEDIA ADVISORY: BAY AREA MAYORS CALL FOR CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT HEARINGS INTO DEA TACTICS

April 29, 2008 – 3 p.m.

BERKELEY, CA – Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates this week joined Oakland’s Ron Dellums and San Francisco’s Gavin Newsom in urging Representative John Conyers, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, to hold Congressional oversight hearings into attempts by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to undermine state and local medical marijuana laws.

The letter calls Berkeley’s three medical marijuana dispensaries “regulated, tax-paying members of our community,” and says they “maintain clean, safe properties and play an active role in Berkeley’s civic life.” It then cites the DEA’s “aggressive tactics” and Berkeley’s “strong opposition” to federal interference as reasons for swift hearings.

Since 2007, more than 50 dispensaries have been raided by federal agents and their assets forfeited—including, in many cases, sales tax collections due to the state. In July 2007, landlords renting to dispensaries began receiving letters from the DEA, threatening them with forfeiture and imprisonment. Many have chosen to evict, although no federal action has been taken against a landlord since the letters went out.

“With Mayors Newsom, Dellums, Bates and others unified in their opposition to federal interference, the message should be clear,” said Kris Hermes of Americans for Safe Access. “It is past time for Conyers to hold Congressional hearings to scrutinize the DEA’s harmful tactics.”

Bates’ letter references a unanimous City Council resolution on January 29, 2008 declaring Berkeley “a sanctuary for medical marijuana patients, providers, and landlords,” and mentions that other cities have taken similar steps.

Berkeley needs the DEA to help fight “serious drug trafficking,” says the letter, “…but we urgently need help from our Congressional leaders to stem… federal interference in state health care law.”

In addition to Dellums, Newsom, and Bates, Mayor John Duran of West Hollywood has also sent a letter urging Conyers to set a date for Congressional hearings.


For more information contact:

Kris Hermes, Americans for Safe Access 510-681-6361
Becky DeKeuster, Berkeley Patients Group 510-540-6013 ext. 0