San Francisco Narcotics Officers Turn Medical Marijuana Patients Over to the Feds

San Francisco patients and caregivers have filed a formal complaint with the Office of Citizen Complaints and will be testifying at the weekly Police Commission hearing Wednesday July 23rd. At issue are the activities of San Francisco Police and Narcotics officers who refuse to abide by state laws and local resolutions regarding the cultivation and use of medical marijuana.

In December of 2001, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution declaring the city a “Sanctuary for Medical Cannabis”. The resolution urges the San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department not to assist in the harassment, arrest or prosecution of patients or their primary caregivers attempting to comply with Proposition 215.

Several defendants currently in federal court are there due to direct action by local officers. Medical marijuana patients Stephanie Landa, Kevin Gage and Tom Kikuchi were indicted in federal court following a local investigation of a grow on Brannan St., which culminated in their detention and subsequent release. The release was per an SFPD department bulletin regarding medical marijuana first issued by former Chief Fred Lau and re-issued by acting Chief Alex Fagan. At the time of the incident, no federal officers were present so the only way for the feds to get the case was to have a local officer point it out to them. Landa, Gage and Kikuchi are in Judge Alsup's courtroom at 450 Golden Gate on July 30th for sentencing. They each face up to seven years.

Michael Foley and Robyn Few had evidence from a local case in which the charges were ultimately dismissed, turned over to the federal government by the SFPD. Federal indictments were issued two years after the original incident occurred. “At the time of the original incident in May 1999, Officer Valdez told me that the way we get around Prop 215 is to take you over to the feds. I guess he meant it,” said Foley.

“Patients and caregivers have come out to work with the local police since 1996 and we expect to be protected in our sanctuary, not to be thrown to the wolves. Perhaps we need a stronger resolution of SFPD non-compliance with the DEA from our Board of Supervisors,” said Robyn Few, spokeswoman for Americans For Safe Access San Francisco.

WHO: San Francisco medical marijuana patients, providers and supporters, Americans For Safe Access
WHAT: Rally and press conference followed with the filing of an official complaint with the Police Commission regarding local law enforcement cooperation with the DEA on issues of medical marijuana.
WHERE: On the steps of the Hall of Justice, 850 Bryant.
WHEN: Wednesday July 23, 2003 at 5:00pm.