PROTESTERS SUPPORT MEDICAL MARIJUANA RIGHTS

PONTIAC - Medical marijuana patient Leah Reeves of Clarkston stood
along the sidelines at a protest at the Oakland County Courthouse Wednesday.

Behind her, speakers were condemning officials for conducting an Aug.
25 drug raid that resulted in nearly 20 people being arrested on
various charges involving possession of medical marijuana.

"If I can't use (medical marijuana), then I have to take another
medicine that has side effects," she said.

"I don't want this," she said, referring to the raids, "to be
something I have to be afraid of."

The rally, which drew about 100 people to the courthouse's south side
just before noon, was sponsored by the Michigan Medical Marijuana
Association, patients and caregivers. People wore buttons, plastic
marijuana leaves and T-shirts to indicate their beliefs.

Neil Yashinsky of Troy held signs that said "Stop Arresting Patients"
and "Bouchard Hates Patients," a reference to Oakland County Sheriff
Michael Bouchard.

"I think it's awful the way the sheriff is ignoring the will of the
people of Michigan," Yashinsky said.

"There should be more important priorities for the sheriff than
arresting patients and their caregivers."

Tim Cope, a medical marijuana patient from Fort Gratiot, drew stares
wearing a giant marijuana leaf costume.

"They need to start leaving the patients alone and let them do their
thing," he said.

Several people addressed the crowd, including Joe Cain, chief
executive officer for the Lansing-based Michigan Medical Marijuana Association.

"Do not kick in our doors, and leave our children alone," said Cain.

People in the crowd shouted approvals.

"We're tired of it," said one.

At times, the crowd whistled and chanted in unison, "Stop arresting patients."

Some supporters turned their homemade signs toward the courthouse,
where county employees were watching from inside the building.

Walking through the crowd, Donnis Reese, executive director for the
Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities, said she was at the
rally to urge that medical marijuana be dispensed as the voters had
originally intended.

"We would really like ways of talking and working together so our
communities can stay safe and healthy," she said.

Supporters hovered near Barb Agro, the widow of Sal Agro. Sal Agro of
Lake Orion complained to a reporter that his family had been targeted
in the Aug. 25 raid, and he walked around his home showing places
where police had torn up bedding and removed marijuana plants. His
wife and sons worked at the Clinical Relief medical marijuana
facility in Ferndale, which also was part of the raid.

Sal Agro had hip surgery Aug. 31 and died Sept. 2 of heart failure.

His son, Nicholas, held a framed photograph of his father.

"It's been heart-breaking for my family," said Nicholas of Lake
Orion. "My father wasn't intending to be the poster child for medical
marijuana."

Michael Komorn, a criminal defense attorney and board member of the
Michigan Medical Marijuana Association, said to the crowd that "we
are here to show that Sal's death was not in vain."

"The unnecessary raids and arrests of patients and caregivers needs
to stop, and the only way we can do that is through education,
dialogue and understanding," he said. "This is what the community
wants - to work with law enforcement, to see patients treated
properly and the recognition of medical marijuana as a legitimate
means to help those who may be suffering."