ACTIVISTS PROTEST MEDICAL MARIJUANA RAIDS AND ARRESTS

The dragnet that was dropped over San Diego County medical marijuana
dispensaries Thursday has prompted deepening concern among patients
who rely on the plant to relieve their symptoms.

Most of the dispensaries targeted by the drug task force stayed
closed yesterday, but some were open despite a terse warning from
officials that they might be next.

Dozens of medical marijuana activists protested yesterday outside the
federal courthouse, where one day earlier local and federal law
enforcement leaders announced the results of a raid on area pot dispensaries.

Fifteen people were arrested on various state and federal charges
after an 18-month investigation into the dispensaries, which are
legal under state law but remain forbidden under federal drug rules.

California's landmark 1996 medical marijuana law allows patients to
grow and use marijuana, but a follow-up bill that tried to clarify
the legislation does not fully spell out guidelines on the commercial
sale of the drug.

The resulting confusion has left patients and local officials in a lurch.

"How can you bust people for breaking the law when there are no
rules?" wondered Dion Markgraaff, a medical marijuana advocate who
helped organize the demonstration. "That's what everybody wants regulation."

Motorists driving by the protest along Broadway honked in apparent
support of the protesters, who stayed at the corner for nearly an
hour before marching to the Hall of Justice.

They hoped to meet with District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, who vowed
at a news conference Thursday to continue raiding dispensaries if
they do not shut down.

Courthouse security teams refused to allow all the protesters to
enter the building, permitting only a handful of them to drop off a
letter to Dumanis.

The rejection did not sit well with Richard Hertz, a medical
marijuana advocate from Clairemont who was among those left outside.
"Our local officials aren't following state law or the will of the
people," he said.

The letter to Dumanis urged her to develop local rules governing pot
dispensaries so patients would have reliable and safe access to their
pain-relieving medicine.

Dumanis was out of her office yesterday but had an aide read her the
letter by telephone before issuing this response: "Legitimate
patients and/or their real care providers can grow reasonable amounts
of marijuana as prescribed by actual treating physicians. That's not
what's happening here."

Dumanis was unavailable for follow-up questions.

Medical marijuana activist Rudy Reyes, who suffered severe burns
across his face and body in the Cedar fire, wants to know what
options exist for patients like him if they are unable to grow plants
on their own or buy pot from dispensaries.

"There are no guidelines for the county," he said outside the federal
courthouse. "What am I supposed to do?"

In an unrelated development yesterday, three advocacy groups
petitioned a state court to intervene in a lawsuit brought by San
Diego County that seeks to overturn California's medical marijuana laws.

The ACLU, Americans for Safe Access and the Drug Policy Alliance
filed court papers to join in defending the pending case.