This is an interview with San Diego Assistant District Attorney, Steve Walter from the local Public Broadcasting Service's local station.
(A link to the original source, which includes an audio version can be found after the full text.)
MAUREEN CAVANAUGH (Host): Now what constitutes the difference between a drug dealer and a legitimate provider of medical marijuana?
WALTER: It’s a very difficult question. The law itself, when I say the law I’m talking about Prop 215, SB-420, and the AG’s guidelines, as well as the case law. In essence, you have to be either a user or a qualified patient or a caregiver for such a patient.
Wow. So according to the San Diego District Attorney's Office, "a user" is "a legitimate provider of medical marijuana." That's really disturbing as I have obtained/do obtain all of my medical cannabis from Medical Cannabis Caregivers/ Legal Patients. These are the ones that Walter himself oversaw the aggressive arrests of. I guess going on the above quote, he believes that any one ELSE, just so long as they 'use marijuana' is a responsible, law abiding, trustworthy source for the medication I use for my healthcare. Great.
This is the first time I've heard of a representative of the law enforcement agencies involved speaking publically on the matter (with exception to the San Diego District Attorney.) Once again I'm hearing the same lie that the City of San Diego is spreading to the citizens and performing horrific illegal acts based upon: District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis claims that the collectives, co-ops and other medical cannabis organizations are illegal, profiteering criminals and not legal medical cannabis patients nor are they caregivers to their fellow legal medical cannabis patients.
I am a legal, medical cannabis patient. As such, I am a member of a few collectives, but most active in one called the Beneficial Care Collective. I do not receive any pay for my work, my only reward is being able to share my feelings, thoughts, expierences and medical treatment stories with my fellow patients. The Beneficial Care Collective was raided and shut down by armed forces on 9/9/2009, a patient that I consider a friend and fellow caregiver was wrongly arrested and the medication was illegally stolen by the City of San Diego.
Here is another report/ piece of insight on the situation currently going on in San Diego, California:
Craig Beresh of S.Cal NORML reports that at least 14 San Diegodispensaries received "cease and desist" visits by the S.D. policeyesterday. They were told that a written notice would followshortly. Numerous other dispensaries remain closed in the wake ofthe recent raids. As the following report indicates, police arefalsely spreading the notion that collectives can't operate legallyunder state law. S. Cal NORML is contemplating legal action againstSan Diego. - Dale Gieringer, Cal NORML>From: "Southern California NORML" <craigberesh@normlsc.org>>To: <dale@canorml.org>>>The San Diego police will be visiting all collectives over the next>few weeks...>>At Pacific Beach town council meeting Wed 9/16>PBTC handed out fliers to everyone with every collective's name and>address. The inference is to call the police and complain, although>that is not written. The theme of the night was to call police and>complain about everything, including motorhomes, street repair,>floatillas on the bay, alcohol, smoke shops and medical marijuana.> Then Shelli Zimmerman spoke. She was just promoted to Asst. Chief of>Police from the Northern Division which includes PB:>"All collectives are for profit. There has been no change in the>law. Collectives are illegal. Props 215 and SB420 do not make>medical marijuana legal. It just gives people an 'affirmative'>defense. Growing for your own medical use is ok and the cops won't>bother you. They are only going after illegal collectives (which are>all of them) We are using the same strategy as in 2005 and 2006. We>worked with SDPD, sheriffs, DA, and DEA. Seized product, multiple>handguns, and hundreds of thousands in cash. We don't have enough>resources to shut them all down. We went after the ones with most>complaints. Community vocality helps. Especially all the noise,>vandalism, intimidation, threats and profit complaints. All the rest>of the collectives will be getting personal visits by the police>informing them they are breaking the law and to shut down over the>next few weeks. If they>don't, they will get cease and desist letters. If they stay open they>will be raided. Just like in 2005 & 2006, all the collectives got the>message. Another strategy may be going after the landlords.">>A few personal comments:>I'm not sure what affirmative defense means other than a legal defense>or medical defense...>It sounds like people are organized and complaining to police with>multiple, anonymous, and false reports of noise and vandalism, like>PB town council, <http://savepb.org>savepb.org, and><http://discoverpb.org>discoverpb.org Is>this legal?>This is from a person just promoted to Asst Chief of SDPD which should>worry the medical community in SD. How can she even say that ALL>collectives are for profit without investigating them first. Send in>state auditors not SWAT!> - Craig Beresh, S. Cal NORML Source Visit California NORML for more information
Craig Beresh of S.Cal NORML reports that at least 14 San Diegodispensaries received "cease and desist" visits by the S.D. policeyesterday. They were told that a written notice would followshortly. Numerous other dispensaries remain closed in the wake ofthe recent raids. As the following report indicates, police arefalsely spreading the notion that collectives can't operate legallyunder state law. S. Cal NORML is contemplating legal action againstSan Diego. - Dale Gieringer, Cal NORML>From: "Southern California NORML" <craigberesh@normlsc.org>>To: <dale@canorml.org>>>The San Diego police will be visiting all collectives over the next>few weeks...>>At Pacific Beach town council meeting Wed 9/16>PBTC handed out fliers to everyone with every collective's name and>address. The inference is to call the police and complain, although>that is not written. The theme of the night was to call police and>complain about everything, including motorhomes, street repair,>floatillas on the bay, alcohol, smoke shops and medical marijuana.> Then Shelli Zimmerman spoke. She was just promoted to Asst. Chief of>Police from the Northern Division which includes PB:>"All collectives are for profit. There has been no change in the>law. Collectives are illegal. Props 215 and SB420 do not make>medical marijuana legal. It just gives people an 'affirmative'>defense. Growing for your own medical use is ok and the cops won't>bother you. They are only going after illegal collectives (which are>all of them) We are using the same strategy as in 2005 and 2006. We>worked with SDPD, sheriffs, DA, and DEA. Seized product, multiple>handguns, and hundreds of thousands in cash. We don't have enough>resources to shut them all down. We went after the ones with most>complaints. Community vocality helps. Especially all the noise,>vandalism, intimidation, threats and profit complaints. All the rest>of the collectives will be getting personal visits by the police>informing them they are breaking the law and to shut down over the>next few weeks. If they>don't, they will get cease and desist letters. If they stay open they>will be raided. Just like in 2005 & 2006, all the collectives got the>message. Another strategy may be going after the landlords.">>A few personal comments:>I'm not sure what affirmative defense means other than a legal defense>or medical defense...>It sounds like people are organized and complaining to police with>multiple, anonymous, and false reports of noise and vandalism, like>PB town council, <http://savepb.org>savepb.org, and><http://discoverpb.org>discoverpb.org Is>this legal?>This is from a person just promoted to Asst Chief of SDPD which should>worry the medical community in SD. How can she even say that ALL>collectives are for profit without investigating them first. Send in>state auditors not SWAT!> - Craig Beresh, S. Cal NORML
Source
Visit California NORML for more information
Terrorist Attacks On Medical Cannabis Patients Continueby 921 » Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:34 pm Unfortunately it appears that despite her claim to care about "Medical Marijuana Patients", San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and her armed militia continue to wage war on San Diego's most defenseless...I received this report from an anonymous Medical Cannabis Patient/ Co-Op Member just today:A narcotics officer came in last night and demanded the administrators personal information. he would not leave until we gave it to him. he said he was getting all admins personal info for records and that the "task force" was going to be sending letters, that's why he needed it. I know he went to Mother Nurture and a couple others in SD. I feel it is a ploy to get their personal info so they can raid their houses along with their businesses. If you could post this all over for me, it would help others.I fear that those suspicions may be correct. In addition to above report and what I perceive are truly medical cannabis patients asking for help, I have noticed a whole new influx since 9/9/2009's raids. People I have never met or even "chatted with online" are emailing me asking where to get medical cannabis, asking where I live and telling me about buying marijuana off the street. People are posting "reviews" on the BCC section on WeedMaps insinuating that the Collective was anything but a legitimate Medical Collective. I post about BCC possibly opening back up and the suspicious emails increase instantly and the forum is hit with what I assume are links to possibly illegal, pornographic websites. And even though I've done countless hours of volunteer work to support local law enforcement families & officers and even though I may not live to see next year thanks to Cirrhosis (and other currently fatal health issues) - I am afraid that at any moment the door to the apartment I can't afford will be kicked in and I will be put in a jail cell even though I have not knowingly broken any California State Law.If this is how Bonnie Dumanis CARES for me and other Medical Cannabis Patients, I'd rather she ignore us, because she's far worse than any of the diseases that are killing me.~ "921"
Terrorist Attacks On Medical Cannabis Patients Continue
by 921 » Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:34 pm
A narcotics officer came in last night and demanded the administrators personal information. he would not leave until we gave it to him. he said he was getting all admins personal info for records and that the "task force" was going to be sending letters, that's why he needed it. I know he went to Mother Nurture and a couple others in SD. I feel it is a ploy to get their personal info so they can raid their houses along with their businesses. If you could post this all over for me, it would help others.
http://www.sandiegobcc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=50
Organizing for America,
While the President was expressing the need for our nation to reform its' inhumane Health Care system, some of San Diego, California's most vulnerable, suffering citizens were subjected to organized terrororism inflicted upon them by their own City and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies.
I am referring to San Diego District Attorney, Bonnie Dumanis' continued persecution (not a mis-spelling) of those who benefit from legal medical cannabis. Lies are being told about the Collectives operating for profit and not being caregivers to its' members.
Please Mr. Stewart and OFA, we're already victims of our ailments, diseases, handicaps and inflictions. Members of these particular Collectives, at least one that I know, is an amputee U.S. Soldier. Isn't the pain he brought back from the war enough punishment and sacrifice for his country? Does he really need to suffer through prescription opiates that are highly addictive and less effective than medical cannabis? These voices need to be heard. Please look into the facts of this. People's lives are at stake.
The corporate news channels are awash with news that "white women" are charging into the McCain camp in record numbers. Supposedly they are being lured there by the nation's newest rock star, Sarah Palin, McCain's VP choice. To this I say - horse manure!
None of my friends or loved ones have ditched Obama simply because Palin is a woman. Of course, my friends and loved ones are mostly lesbians, mothers and grandmothers, middle-aged, white, Southern, Appalachian, and poor. I don't believe any of us are storming toward the McCain camp. Hillary fans are not now drawn to McCain. I am sick to death of the "women's vote" being treated as a monolith by the corporate media. Hmmm...let's see, is Gloria Steinem an equivalent of Phyllis Schlafly? Anita Hill and Kay Bailey Hutchison? Rosie O'Donnell and Elizabeth Hasselbeck? Mary Daly and Ann Coulter? Puhleez.
I received the email below from my friend Meg Riley who lives in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Brought back very ugly memories of Seattle's police brutality during WTO in '99. Am still mystified how it is that fully armored and armed people can feel threatened enough to brutalize unarmed grandmas and parents with strollers.
--------------------------------
Well, the RNC is wrapping up tonight and thank God they are finally leaving town. I want to shout from the rooftops that I have been living in a police state for the last five days. Hundreds of peaceful protestors have been maced, tasered, and are still in jail days later. As usual most of them are young, people of color, poor, queer, and otherwise vulnerable folks. Also a number of journalists. It is, thanks to the Patriot Act, now an arrestable offense to *document* police doing 'anti-terrorism' work. Also legal observers, minors, and St. Paul residents who were in the wrong place at the wrong time are in jail. Medical treatment is not forthcoming for those who were tasered. One 13 year old was sentenced to a month in an adult facility. The (elected Republican) sherriff in Ramsey County has been especially horrible but so have the St. Paul, Minneapolis, and surrounding area police. The national guard and others have also come in. Folks who are veterans of the NAFTA protests, etc., say that this is the worst they've ever seen. Independent media headquarters have been raided twice now, with computers and cameras seized.The front page of the paper today explained that the (Democratic) St. Paul mayor demanded, as part of bringing the RNC here, that the RNC finance 10 million dollars worth of insurance for wrongful arrest lawsuits, medical expenses, and damages. They will probably need most of it and to my knowledge virtually none because of damages from protestors. You may have seen recently that the protestors from the last RNC in New York City just won several million dollars in lawsuits for wrongful arrests.I am telling you this because these stories are not being told. I urge you to go to the independent media of your choice to learn more. I recommend Amy Goodman and www.DemocracyNow.org ; Amy and two other Democracy Now journalists were among those arrested. You can also witness her arrest on YouTube. Here in MN, there's a great website called the Twin Cities Daily Planet that features many independent bloggers, etc. But get info from your favorite reliable sources and then write to the newspaper in your town and demand some coverage of this. At least here in the Twin Cities, the coverage is all featuring the sherriff explaining how well his folks are doing, protecting the innocent protestors who must have been terrified by the violent criminals who came to town to wreak havoc. No, sir, we're all terrified of YOU.Despite news coverage to the contrary, I'm not sure if there really have been instances of "out of control anarchists" because every case I know of is ludicrous and fabricated. There are always a few, some infiltrators and some just idiots, but honestly I have not seen any protestors be violent. (Stupid, yes, insolent, yes, obnoxious, yes...but none of those are crimes!) On the other hand, I have avoided the largest events. I don't even like the crowds at Renaissance Faires and no one there has riot gear, mace, bean bag bazookas, tasers, horses, hoses, etc.I am talking to friends here about somehow cleansing the city. St. Paul, a lovely river town, feels spiritually horrid now. Murdered. The hatefulness of the delegates and speakers at the RNC pale beside the brute violence of the police. I truly feel that I have now seen a police state up close, complete with doublespeak and blatant lies from law enforcers. It is a crummy feeling to live here and not know how to have any impact in the machinary that is solidly in place. Keep in mind that we're in a progressive state here, with Democratic mayors in both St. Paul and Minneapolis, Democratic control of the house and senate...and then there's our Republican governor, Tim Pawlentey, most famous recently for being rejected as McCain's VP.I should say that it has been wonderfully amazing to have so many incredible, brave, creative, smart activists in my hometown to protest. The actions taken have been thought-provoking, funny, beautiful, and deeply moving. Probably the most moving for me was that I accompanied about 100 Iraq War Veterans and parents of dead soldiers in a small, quiet, early morning march to give the McCain folks a list of demands for soldiers after they return from war...basic things like counselling and support for PTSD. The stories told there were absolutely amazing, of the lack of support which greets vets upon their return. (I don't mean lack of support from evil anti-war lefties, but from those troop-adoring Republicans. The Disabled Veterans group gave John McCain a D in his votes on supporting vets services, and Barack Obama a B plus.) Those of you who know that I spent part of my summer organizing actions here in the Twin Cities for a Gulf Coast friend's FEMA trailer that was on its way here for the RNC will be disappointed, as I was, that this trip was cancelled due to Gustav. Given Gustav, we could have had stunning media impact. But that's water under the bridge...and thank God not over the levees.Anyway, I urge you to please speak up from wherever you have a voice, about how unacceptable this police violence is. Right now the silence is deafening.Love,Meg
