Pubdate: Fri, 15 Mar 2002
Source: Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News (NY)
Copyright: 2002 St. Lawrence County Newspapers Corp
Contact: http://www.ogd.com/letter.htm
Website: http://www.ogd.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/689
Author: Martha Mendoza
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?194 (Hutchinson, Asa)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)

DEA BOSS, AUDIENCE CLASH OVER POT

San Francisco CA (AP)-"Liar! Liar!"  Came the voices from the crowd.

Drug Enforcement Agency Adminstrator Asa Hutchinson stopped short, caught 
midsentence.  He had started by saying:  "Science has told us so far there 
is no medical benefit for smoking marijuana..."

Hutchinson pushed on with his message, reiterating President Bush's newly 
aggressive anti-drug use to terrorism and objects to state laws like 
California's that allow the medicainal use of marijuana.

Just hours before Hitchinson's appearance Feb. 12, federal agents, with no 
help from San Francisco police, seized more that 600 pot plants from a 
medicinal marijuana club.  They also arrested the group's executive 
director and three suppliers, including pot guru Ed Rosenthal, author of 
"Ask Ed:  Marijuana Law, Don't Get Busted."

The federal raids have angered and alarmed local officials in San Francisco.

On the day Hutchinson spoke, a half-dozen city officials joined a 
boisterous street protest against the DEA.  Even District Attorney Terence 
Hallinan grabbed a bullhorn and criticized the raids, as demonstrators, 
some in wheelchairs and on crutches, chanted, "DEA( Go away!" and pot smoke 
wafted through the air.

Opponents of Washington's stand on marijuana said the raids may be a 
precursor to showdowns in at least seven other states that have also passed 
laws in conflict with the federal ban on pot.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom