SEBASTOPOL OKS POT RESOLUTION

Police Force Encouraged To Withhold Aid To DEA In Medical Marijuana Cases

November 20, 2002 By PAUL PAYNE Stepping into a conflict over medical
marijuana, the Sebastopol City Council on Tuesday discouraged their police
force from cooperating with federal drug agents.

By a 3-1 vote, the council passed a resolution in support of the 1996
ballot initiative that allowed people to grow and use marijuana with a
doctor's recommendation.

The medical exception to state laws against growing or using marijuana
isn't recognized by the federal government, which prohibits any use of the
drug. Backed by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, federal agents in recent
months have raided many marijuana buyers clubs and pot gardens, one of them
near Sebastopol.

In response, medical marijuana advocates asked Sebastopol and Santa Rosa
council members to adopt resolutions urging police to withhold assistance
from the Drug Enforcement Administration.

"What the resolution is doing is affirming our support for California law,"
said Councilman Larry Robinson, who voted yes. "There is ample
documentation for why that is important."

Councilman Bob Anderson voted no, and Councilman Bill Roventini was absent.
Sebastopol Police Chief Gordon Pitter said it's rare for his officers to
work with DEA agents, adding he was comfortable with the resolution. After
stripping out the language about noncooperation with the DEA, Santa Rosa
council members indicated they would approve the resolution, which is
expected to come up for a vote in two weeks.

The resolution struck a chord with Santa Rosa Councilwoman Sharon Wright,
who told of her late husband's battle with cancer. She said "we took
advantage of the use of marijuana" when other medications failed to ease
his pain. "I was totally amazed at the benefits," Wright said. But
residents of a quiet neighborhood outside Sebastopol complained bitterly
about the resolution, telling the Sebastopol council about a neighbor who
grew more than 3,000 marijuana plants, employing armed security guards and
attack dogs to watch the garden. They said as more residents grow marijuana
for medical uses, the need for assistance from federal agents increases.

"We pleaded with the county to do something and wound up calling the feds,"
said Mary Roth, a neighbor to Robert Schmidt's huge marijuana garden, which
was raided in September. "We were so grateful they came." Staff Writer Mike
McCoy contributed to this report.