Hundreds Nationwide to Disrupt DEA Business-as-Usual to Protest Expected Raids on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in 9 States

WASHINGTON, DC – Under the banner “Americans For Safe Access”, activists in 55 cities nationwide will attempt to disrupt business-as-usual on Thursday, June 6th at local outposts of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). In Washington, DC patients and their supporters will ratchet up the fight for existing state medical marijuana laws by protesting at multiple locations, including at the DEA Headquarters located at 700 Army Navy Drive in Arlington, VA near the Pentagon City Mall at 5:00 PM on Thursday, June 6th. Earlier that day activists will risk arrest to post a “Cease and Desist” on an unnamed DEA office. Members of the media are encouraged to call with questions.

WHO: Patients, Marijuana Policy Project, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Drug Reform Coordination Network, Unitarian Universalists for Drug Policy Reform, NORML, Libertarian Party, DC Statehood Green Party.

WHAT: Direct Action and Protest Against DEA Raids on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

WHEN: Thursday, June 6, 2002 at 5:00 PM (Direct Action earlier in the day, call for details)

WHERE: DEA Headquarters 700 Army Navy Dr., Arlington, VA (call for Direct Action details)

Now legal in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, dispensaries are the only safe source for seriously ill patients to access medical marijuana. "I will risk arrest on behalf of my friend Mary Lucey in Los Angeles, who's been fighting AIDS since 1989," said MPP Director of Communications Bruce Mirken. "Medical marijuana is the only thing that's allowed her to tolerate the harsh anti-HIV drugs that keep her alive, but the DEA's raids cut off her safe supply. If our government insists on torturing the sick, we who are healthy have a responsibility to defend them."

Now, with new pressure from the Bush Administration to connect the ‘war on terror’ to the ‘war on drugs’ under the rubric of ‘narcoterrorism’ the Agency is aggressively targeting state laws that permit medical marijuana. The new push to crackdown on ‘renegade states’ will receive a final green light on June 7th when lawyers expect the United States District Court for Northern California to finalize a decision ruling that Federal drug prohibitions supersede state laws.

During the “day of direct action”, compassionate use advocates will employ a host of non-violent tactics to get their point across. In some cities scores of people will participate in a caravan with a large truck broadcasting from loud speakers around the local DEA office, while others will lock themselves together blocking entrances. Some demonstrations will engage in street theater and patients, doctors and supporters will speak out all day long. “The actions will be 55 more reasons why DEA needs to back off or the pressure is just going to build until they get the message,” says Brant Olson, Field Organizer with Americans for Safe Access. According to the “Cease and Desist” order that the group plans to post prominently at all 55 DEA offices across the nation, “effective immediately, any person who makes unauthorized entry into medical marijuana dispensaries operating lawfully under state jurisdiction will be subject to coordinated grass-roots resistance.”

To arrange interviews or to get details on the direct action locally, please call Adam Eidinger at 202-986-6186 or 202-744-2671 (cell). Additional information at www.safeaccessnow.org