PNN reports on the DEA racist and classist prosecution of medical cannabis.
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by Brother Y?/PNN I have long held the belief and verbalized on many occasions that the war on drugs, the war on terror and the war on the poor[not to be confused with the war on poverty] are all one and the same. I believe that the United States has a very hypocritical drug culture, and the recent threat of closing down the city's medical cannabis clubs is a perfect example of this country's blatant hypocrisy. Another example is the treatment of Barry Bonds for his alleged steroid use. On Friday, December 7, 2007 Barry Bonds was arraigned in the San Francisco federal courthouse, on charges that he lied to federal prosecute about using steroids. I arrived to take photos and possibly interview him at 10:30. I was in a hurry to make an appointment and didn't have much time. When I attempted to take a photo of the courtroom composite sketch a young man who I believe was somehow connected to the case, the artist rudely and abruptly placed a folded newspaper in front of my camera lens and asked me who I was. When I presented him with my POOR Magazine business card he then told me it would cost me $250.00 the same feeling of embarrassment came over me that a poor kid gets when a snooty security Guard snatches something out of his hand in one of those upscale mall stores. Not that I don't think artist should be compensated, but let's face it I'm on welfare. If I had $250.00 on me to spare I would probably spend it on groceries, not a sketch of a wealthy black man being racistly attacked by the system. There is no forensic evidence connecting Barry to alleged steroid use but after all he is not the great white hope that many were vying would break the home run record of Hank Aaron. Steroid use is very prominent in baseball more so than any other major sport. If all of the pitchers who ever pitched to Barry aren't being probed than neither should he. I firmly believe in " my body my rules." In college sports and in the minor leagues athletes make little or no money and so there is no incentive to use performance enhancers. If authorities truly wanted to stop steroid use in sports they would end multi- million dollar contracts. Of course this will never happen because the wealthy team owners who make far more than any of the athletes who fill the stadiums would lose income. The second best way to deal with this problem, I feel would be to make steroids illegal in college and minor league sports, adopt a don't ask don't tell policy for major league sports. For those who wish to remain drug free they could stay in the minor leagues and get higher pay for better performance, or just prove themselves in the majors. Of course, this will never happen either because although so called "American freedom" is based on individual freedom the truth is politicians embrace families and families embrace the politicians who tell them the things they want to hear. Many parents have used drugs but they don't want their children to, so they pressure politicians to make harsher drug laws. Barry Bonds hold your head high black man, and keep you eyes on the prize, After all no one said it would be easy to be a black man in Amerikkka even if you are the home run king, and especially if you're wealthy. On the very same day of Barry Bond’s hearing, Axis of Love hosted a press conference at noon, mere yards away from the same spot where I was rudely interrupted from taking a photo. The focus of the press conference was the Drug Enforcement Agency’s latest scare tactic to shut down medical cannabis dispensaries. That tactic is sending the landlords of these various facilities property forfeiture letters. It took the DEA 11 years to come up with this plan. Shona Gochenar, Activities Director of Axis of Love [and as far as I’m concerned the forefront of the medical cannabis movement in San Francisco], coordinated the press conference. "Patient advocates are in a state of medical emergency to try to fend off attacks by the DEA in addition to preparing to care for the critically ill who will die if safe access is shut down. Our cry has never been louder to the judiciary committee of Congress to open congressional hearing and to protect the regulatory system that is already in place," she said to the crowd. Supervisors Chris Daly and Ross Mirkarimi, as well as police commissioner David Campos, were in attendance of this event and spoke addressing this urgent matter. Also in attendance and speaking on their behalf were representatives from the offices of California State Senator Carole Migden, California State Assemblyman Mark Leno, and San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano. While I listened to the speakers at the press conference, I began to think about the basis for the government’s attempt to close down medical cannabis facilities, RICO laws. RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) laws are nothing new. They were started in the 1970s as a way "to eliminate organized crime by concentrating on illegal monies made from crime through the use of new criminal and civil forfeitures, rather than by the old means of attempting to dismantle the mob by imprisoning gang bosses." (For a more detailed explanation of RICO laws go to http://www.fsu.edu/~crimdo/rico.html) It is quite interesting that the acronym RICO was chosen in the '70s because at that time the federal government blamed all organized crime on the so called Italian Mafia. Rico is the Italian word for rich and it is claimed that individuals within this crime syndicate were getting wealthy by breaking the law. Later the blame was shifted to so called Central and South American "drug lords," who the government claimed were responsible for all of the illegal drug trade in the U.S.; coincidently rico is also the Spanish word for rich. Many of the people who will be impacted by this latest technique by the DEA are people of color who speak Spanish, some as a first language, some as an only language, and most are far from wealthy. If the DEA follows through with this action completely, they should also follow through by confiscating military vehicles (Many illegal drugs are smuggled into the country by way of military vessels. and police stations that house police evidence rooms where illegal drugs routinely "go missing." I have often encouraged patients to try to be as self sufficient as possible and continue to do so especially at this most critical time in our history. This can and does include such measures as learning to make cannabis edibles, concentrates [hash, kief, goo, and tinctures.] and growing your own, provided that you stay within state and local limits and it does not jeopardize housing or other necessities. Proposition 215 only protects us from criminal prosecution at the state and local levels. For further information on becoming more self-sufficient consult your local phone book for urban gardening centers as well as progressive and liberal bookstores. The following are copies of letters that I have sent to local, state and federal lawmakers and government officials. I encourage you to do not only the same, but to also expand on this modest list of individuals.
Dear Mayor Gavin Newsom, As I'm sure you are aware, the DEA has recently begun issuing forfeiture letters to landlords who rent facilities to medical cannabis dispensaries. This is an issue that will not only impact poor people of color but also many physically, and mentally disabled individuals, as well as, many terminally ill people. I have long held the belief that the war on drugs, the war on terror and the war on the poor [not to be confused with the war on poverty] are all one and the same but not at all for the reasons stated by the federal government In part of your inauguration you stated “ We all know that a job is the greatest weapon against poverty” Actually wealth is the greatest weapon against poverty, but rather than split hairs with you, I would like to point out that you have also gone on record as stating that the war on drugs is a losing battle, or words to that effect. This latest technique by the DEA to battle in the war on drugs against medical cannabis dispensaries is worse than shooting fish in a barrel, and it is worse than fishing with dynamite, in fact it is like throwing dynamite into a barrel with fish in it. Not only does it destroy the barrel, but it also renders the fish useless. Axis of Love S.F. as well as several other medical cannabis advocacy organizations have urged you to make a statement regarding this matter, and now I do. Not only is America in dire need of leadership that walks it like they talk it, but so is local and state government. You are a good, charismatic speaker but actions speak louder than words, and sometimes speaking is an appropriate action. This is one of those times. Sincerely
Dear Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger As I’m sure you are aware recently the DEA has sent forfeiture letters to the landlords of facilities that are rented to medical Cannabis dispensaries located in the City of San Francisco. Not only will much needed revenue for the City and County of San Francisco and the state of California be lost, but also so will the lives of many terminally ill people. Although anabolic steroids were not illegal during your bodybuilding career, you were able to use them in safety, regardless to how many or how few you used. Marijuana was illegal on the local state and federal level yet you were able to use it in safety. How do I know these things? I was and am one of your greatest bodybuilding fans. As Abraham Lincoln the great emancipator once said “ You can fool some of the people some of the time, you can fool most of the people most of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.” Now is the time to stand for the people no foolin.’ Sincerely,
Dear Esteemed Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, Of course as of now you know of the DEA’s latest tactic of sending forfeiture letters to the landlords of properties rented to medical cannabis dispensaries. The closure of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries will have extremely detrimental effects on seriously ill cannabis patients. I urge you to correspond with the author and sender of these letters to convey that although the DEA and local government do not see eye to eye on this issue, the local government is still a government that must be structured, and have credibility. To this end it would stand to reason one way of demonstrating credibility would be to verify each of these letters individually as well as dismantling the permitting process by issuing rebates, as well as destroying documents that could potentially cause double jeopardy for dispensary owners who thought they were working within the perimeters of the law. Sincerely,
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