NORML Foundation 1001 Connecticut Ave., NW Ste. 710 Washington, DC 20036 202-483-8751 (p) 202-483-0057 (f) www.norml.org foundation@norml.org Today's topics: * Federal Judge To Bar California Dispensaries From Distributing Medical Pot * U.S. Drug Czar Continues To Wage War On Canadian Drug Policies June 13, 2002 Federal Judge To Bar California Dispensaries From Distributing Medical Pot San Francisco, CA: United States District Judge Charles Breyer has decided to grant the Justice Department's request for a permanent injunction prohibiting three northern California medicinal marijuana dispensaries from distributing the drug to patients. Attorneys for the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative, one of six dispensaries initially named in the Justice Department's original 1998 civil suit to shut down the clubs, plan to appeal Breyer's decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Breyer determined that, "in the absence of an injunction, the defendants are likely to resume distributing marijuana in violation of the Controlled Substances Act." Breyer further found: "Given the amount of marijuana distributed by the clubs, the potential prison time faced by the individual defendants under the United States Sentencing Guidelines is significant. Furthermore, the fact that the defendants were distributing marijuana to seriously ill patients is not a defense" under federal law. "In light of the serious penalties faced by the individual defendants in a criminal proceeding and the unavailability of a medical necessity defense, the Court concludes in its discretion that civil enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act in the circumstances of these related cases is appropriate," Breyer concluded. Since October, federal law enforcement officials have busted prominent medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Rosa and Sacramento. It is expected that Breyer's decision will spawn additional raids by federal officials. NORML Executive Director Keith Stroup called the ruling expected, but unfortunate. "By targeting these dispensaries, the federal government is forcing seriously ill Californians to obtain their medicine on the street from the black market," he said. "While the government's actions may result in driving the use of medicinal marijuana underground, they will do nothing to stop the use of medical cannabis by those who require it and have a legal right to it under state law." Stroup added that Breyer's decision does not in any way invalidate California's Proposition 215, which legalizes the use, cultivation and possession of marijuana by qualified patients. For more information, please contact either Keith Stroup at (202) 483-5500 or NORML Foundation Legal Director Donna Shea at (202) 483-8751. Full text of Judge Breyer's order is available online at: http://www.rxcbc.org/legal/. U.S. Drug Czar Continues To Wage War On Canadian Drug Policies Quebec City, Quebec: U.S. Drug Czar John Walters announced yesterday that the U.S. government strongly disagrees with Canada's plans to liberalize its laws regarding the recreational and medicinal use of marijuana. Walters made his remarks while speaking at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Inc.'s 64th Annual Meeting in Quebec City. Last May, the Canadian Senate's Special Committee on Illegal Drugs published a preliminary report concluding that marijuana is a relatively harmless drug that has little impact on public safety. The committee is expected to recommend decriminalizing pot later this year. Walters implied that such a decision could "certainly become a problem" for the U.S. government if it leads to an increase in marijuana trafficking. The Czar had previously threatened trade sanctions against Canada if Parliament relaxed the country's pot laws, according to Canadian press reports. "The United States has a history of exporting its failed drug policies throughout the globe, and using strong-arm tactics to ensure that other nations do not depart from those policies," said Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director of The NORML Foundation. Earlier this year, Canadian Health Minister Anne McLellan announced that U.S. officials had sabotaged Canada's federal medicinal marijuana distribution program by denying Health Canada access to the U.S. government's supply of research-quality seeds. Health Canada legalized the possession, use and cultivation of medicinal cannabis by qualified patients last July. Walters and U.S. federal drug policy reject any use of marijuana as a medicine. Last year, U.S. government officials similarly threatened to withhold foreign aid from Jamaica if that country moved forward with a Parliamentary recommendation to decriminalize marijuana. For more information, please contact either Allen St. Pierre or Paul Armentano of The NORML Foundation at (202) 483-8751. REMINDER: NORML Foundation To Discontinue Hard Copies Of Weekly Fax, Will Be Converting To All Electronic Format Starting July 1st The NORML Foundation will be converting its weekly media release to an all electronic format starting on July 1, 2002. AFTER THAT DATE, THE NORML FOUNDATION WILL BE RELYING ON E-MAIL FOR DISTRIBUTION OF ITS THURSDAY PRESS RELEASES. All future releases will continue to be posted on Thursday afternoons on the NORML/NORML Foundation website (http://www.norml.org), and will be distributed electronically via NORML's free weekly e-zine. Those media outlets that currently receive The NORML Foundation's weekly releases via fax and would like to continue are asked to please contact NORML's media coordinator Nicholas Thimmesch at: normlmedia@earthlink.net. 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