MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS ARRESTED

SAN DIEGO - Angry medical marijuana patients were arrested Tuesday
when they staged a protest at a convention of federal Drug
Enforcement Agency agents at the San Diego Marriott in Mission Valley.

Officials from Americans for Safe Access, an Oakland-based group that
has advocated on behalf of medical marijuana patients, said seven
people were arrested, and one man cited, when the protesters refused
to leave the hotel after demanding to see DEA Chief Karen Tandy.

A San Diego Police Department spokesman confirmed that there was an
incident at the convention that involved arrests.

Local medical marijuana patients have been angered by a crackdown by
federal agents - supported by county law enforcement officials - that
has essentially shut down marijuana dispensaries.

California voters approved the Compassionate Use Act in 1996, which
makes it legal for seriously ill people to use marijuana to ease
their pain or symptoms.

However, federal law says all marijuana use is illegal, and San Diego
County supervisors are suing to overturn the Compassionate Use Act.

Vista resident Craig McClain, who said he has used marijuana for
years to ease severe spasms from having his spine crushed in a
construction-related accident, was the protester who was cited and released.

"I can't believe I'm having to go through this all over again,"
McClain, who, though relegated to moving around by electric scooter
because of pain, lobbied for the Compassionate Use Act 10 a decade
ago. "I feel like my vote never counted."