Medical Marijuana Protest THURSDAY NOON DENVER
Medical Marijuana Protest THURSDAY NOON DENVER
Sensible News: Medical Marijuana Protest
Join us Thursday in Denver !!
Solidarity Protest Tomorrow
Join Sensible Colorado tomorrow for a protest of the continued brutal DEA raids on medical marijuana
patients.
WHO: Medical Marijuana patients and activists
WHAT: Protest against DEA
Raid on Medical
Marijuana
Collective
WHEN: Thurs, March 16th at noon
WHERE: The federal building in Denver at 1961 Stout Street, Denver, CO
80294.
**Please see below press release for more information**
DEA
Raids Small Medical Marijuana Collective-
Advocates Protest Excessive Force,
Intimidation at Denver Federal Building
Denver, CO - On Thursday, March 16, 2006 Colorado medical marijuana patients and advocates will be taking part in a national protest of the
federal government's continued raids on seriously-ill patients. This action is a response to a March 14 DEA raid on a small patient collective
in Riverside County, CA. When the DEA knocked on the door, 53 year old Gary Silva went to let them in. As he was unlocking the door, DEA agents
proceeded to kick it in, dislocating Mr. Silva's shoulder, cracking a bone, and causing lacerations to his face. Mr. Silva cultivates and uses
medical marijuana for degenerative disk disease and nerve damage.
Agents confiscated fewer than 80 plants and dry medicine, which were grown
for several patient collective members. Patient records and equipment were also seized. No arrests were made. DEA agents repeatedly told Gary that
they would not be arresting him, and that he would only be arrested if he grew again.
"Colorado, like California, has a citizen-enacted law
to protect medical marijuana patients," noted Brian Vicente, Sensible Colorado Executive Director. "It is vital that medical marijuana advocates in
Colorado and elsewhere call for an end to this senseless, government-sanctioned violence."
Some members of Congress are also
questioning the federal actions taken to prosecute medical marijuana patients. Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) this week led a group of
lawmakers in calling for a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation of how much money the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) spent each
year over the past decade to enforce federal medical marijuana laws. See this request at: www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=3142
In response to the federal government's failure to respect the state laws that permit the use of medical marijuana for the seriously ill,
patients and supporters will engage in a protest and a press event at 12 noon at the Byron G. Rogers Federal Building in
Denver.
WHO: Colorado Campaign for Safe Access
WHAT: Protest against DEA Raid on Medical
Marijuana Collective
WHEN: Thurs, March 16th at noon
WHERE: The federal building in Denver is
located at 1961 Stout Street, Denver, CO 80294.
Dozens of additional protests are planned around the country on Thursday, March 16 in front
of federal buildings. Since federal raids on dispensaries started in 2001, thousands of people nationwide have participated in protests at DEA
offices in over 50 cities.
####
The Colorado Campaign for Safe Access (CCSA) is a patient and activist group that advocates for medical marijuana rights. The CCSA is
a shared project of Sensible Colorado (http://www.sensiblecolorado.org/) and
Americans for Safe Access (http://www.safeaccessnow.org/).
**Please help Sensible Colorado continue its important work on behalf of medical marijuana patients by making an easy online donation.
Sensible Colorado | PO Box 18768 | Denver CO 80218
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DEA Raids Small Medical Marijuana Collective -- Puts Patient in Hospital; Advocates Protest Excessive Force, Intimidation
To: National Desk
Contact: Hilary McQuie of Americans for Safe Access, 510-333-8554
PALM DESERT, Calif., March 14 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Despite assertions from federal officials that they would not be going after medical marijuana patients or small cooperatives, DEA agents, along with Riverside County Sheriff's officers, this morning raided a small medical marijuana collective cultivation outside of Palm Desert that had recently been pictured in the press, injuring a 53 year old medical marijuana patient.
When the DEA knocked on the door, Gary Silva went to let them in. As he was unlocking the door, DEA agents proceeded to kick it in, dislocating Mr. Silva's shoulder, cracking a bone, and causing lacerations to his face.
"Everything I was doing was within California law. I grew for myself and a few other patients, and donated the excess to a nearby dispensing collective. There was no need for our California sheriffs to call in federal agents to injure me and harass my family," said Mr Silva after his release from the hospital for treatment of his injuries. Mr. Silva cultivates and uses medical marijuana for degenerative disk disease and nerve damage.
Agents confiscated less than 80 plants and dry medicine, which were grown for several patient collective members. Patient records and equipment were seized as well. No arrests were made. DEA agents repeatedly told Gary that they would not be arresting him, and that he would only be arrested if he grew again.
"This sounds like pure harassment by the DEA and by a local sheriff that isn't happy to uphold state law," noted Rebecca Saltzman, Americans for Safe Access Field Director. "It was just a matter of time before a patient would be injured from a federal raid, and if this hostility by the DEA continues, it's going to happen again."
Some members of Congress are also questioning the federal actions taken to prosecute medical marijuana patients. By the request of Americans for Safe Access, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) this week led a group of lawmakers in calling for a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation of how much money the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) spent each year over the past decade to enforce federal medical marijuana laws. (The request may be viewed at http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=3142
Medical cannabis supporters plan to rally in opposition to this latest DEA raid and violent attack on a California-legal medical marijuana patient at noon on Thursday, March 16th in front of local federal buildings and DEA offices. So far, protests are planned in Austin, TX; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Los Angeles, CA; Missoula, MT; Riverside, CA; San Francisco, CA; and Washington, DC. Please check our web site www.safeaccessnow.org or call the ASA office (510) 251-1856 for location updates and other information.
---
A national coalition of 25,000 patients, doctors and advocates, Americans for Safe Access is the largest organization working solely on medical marijuana. To learn more, see http://www.SafeAccessNow.org
http://www.usnewswire.com/
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