Pubdate: Tue, 1 Jul 2008
Source: El Dorado Hills Telegraph (CA)
Copyright: 2008 Gold Country Media
Contact: http://forms.placeropolis.com/?form=letter
Website: http://www.edhtelegraph.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4781
Author: Roger Phelps, The Telegraph
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/John+Conyers
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Proposition+215
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

DEA TO ANSWER QUERIES ON MED-POT RAIDS LOCALLY, STATEWIDE

A federal lawmaker concerned with medical-marijuana raids in El 
Dorado, Sacramento and Placer counties has forced Drug Enforcement 
Administration officials to answer questions in writing.

The written response could serve to prevent live Congressional 
hearings on the propriety of the raids. U.S. Rep. John Conyers, 
D-Mich., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has fielded 
numerous complaints and requests for hearings on the matter, 
according to Conyers' April 29 letter to the DEA.

DEA spokesman Randy Payne said acting Director Michele Leonhart will 
answer Conyers' questions, which generally ask for a cost-benefit 
analysis on the California raids.

"We will respond to the congressman's request -- it is imminent," Payne said.

Payne said he could not provide details until Conyers has the response.

Federal drug convictions have come against a total of five area 
residents, and many more statewide, who claimed protection under the 
California Compassionate Use Act. The 1996 voter initiative legalized 
growing marijuana for use by medical patients. Around the state, a 
total of around 60 additional raids are also of concern, according to 
Conyers' letter. Conyers requested a DEA response by July 1, and will 
get it, Payne said.

"I am writing to you because I have received a number of letters from 
Californians, including mayors and city councils, expressing concerns 
about DEA enforcement tactics, and urging me to hold oversight 
hearings in the Judiciary Committee," Conyers wrote to Leonhart. 
"Please provide an accounting of the costs, in dollars and resources, 
used to conduct law-enforcement raids on the attached list of individuals."

He also questioned allocation of DEA resources away from combating 
the domestic effects of international drug cartels.

DEA officials have maintained the federal Controlled Substances Act 
"trumps" California's voter-passed legalization of medical marijuana. 
Controversy has existed since Prop. 215 passed in 1996. A joint 
California Assembly and Senate Resolution of Jan. 10 reads in part, 
"The Legislature respectfully memorializes the President of the 
United States and the Congress to enact legislation to require the 
Drug Enforcement Agency and all other federal agencies and 
departments to respect the compassionate-use laws of states."

Payne said DEA's general response to such requests is that it is 
DEA's "job to enforce laws -- we don't apologize for it."

Elaine Roller, a volunteer at Medical Marijuana Caregivers of El 
Dorado County, said she was pleased the DEA will respond to Conyers.

"What he wants is answers -- 'Can you justify this money? For raids? 
For court time?'" Roller said. "This congressman has stood up and 
spoken the truth."

Conyers' vocal opposition to several policies of the George W. Bush 
administration is well publicized. Conyers May 30 said he supported a 
nationwide movement for Bush's impeachment.

If Conyers elects to call hearings of the House Judiciary Committee 
on the raids, DEA officials could be required to testify.

The DEA's response might or might not work to prevent House committee 
hearings, said Jonathan Godfrey, Judiciary Committee spokesman.

"I'm not sure we'll know until we see the response," Godfrey said. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake