VIRGINIA RESNER -- STRONG ADVOCATE FOR REFORM OF NATIONAL DRUG POLICY

Virginia Resner, a longtime advocate for drug policy reform and the
families of imprisoned drug offenders, died July 18 after a lengthy
battle with breast cancer. She was 60.

Ms. Resner was co-author of the book "Shattered Lives: Portraits from
America's Drug War," which won the Robert C. Randall Award for
Achievement in the Field of Citizen Action from the Drug Policy
Foundation in 2001. The book documents how families are affected by
federal drug enforcement policy.

She was also president of Green-Aid, an Oakland medical marijuana
legal defense fund that champions the plight of Ed Rosenthal, a
former High Times columnist who twice has been convicted of violating
federal drug laws for growing medical marijuana.

"She was a very compassionate and very caring person," said
Rosenthal. "Some people get bogged down in the intricacies of issues,
but not Virginia. She had a good strong sense of herself and what she
believed in."

Ms. Resner was born in San Francisco and graduated from Galileo High
School. Her father was Herbert Resner, a prominent labor lawyer who
worked with longshoreman union activist Harry Bridges.

"She was a real red-diaper baby," said Ms. Resner's brother, Hillel
Resner. "A lot of her values and interest in social justice came from
our father."

In the early 1990s, Ms. Resner's boyfriend, Steven Faulkner, was
arrested for drug dealing and sentenced to five years in prison. Even
though Ms. Resner did not know about Faulkner's activities, federal
agents raided her house searching for evidence. She became involved
with a group that helps families of drug offenders and fought against
mandatory drug sentencing minimums.

She also helped gain clemency for Amy Pofahl, a Los Angeles woman who
was sentenced to 24 years in prison for conspiracy in her estranged
husband's ecstasy operation. President Bill Clinton granted Pofahl
clemency in 2000 after she served nine years.

To all her activist endeavors, Ms. Resner brought energy, a strong
sense of purpose and outstanding organizational skills, Rosenthal said.

"Virginia had a very strong commitment to social justice and was very
well loved," said Mikki Norris, Ms. Resner's co-author on "Shattered
Lives." "She had a real solid inner strength and wisdom."

She is survived by her brother.

A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday at Temple
Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., San Francisco.

Donations can be sent to Coming Home Hospice of San Francisco,
Green-Aid or Temple Emanu-El.