FEDS CONTINUE CALIFORNIA PATIENT CRACKDOWN

The federal government continued its crackdown on sick and dying
Californians last week when regional task force officials acting on a
federal warrant raided the home of Steve McWilliams and Barbara MacKenzie -
co-directors of San Diego's Shelter From The Storm, a small medical
marijuana collective that served six patients. Federal agents seized
approximately 20 plants in the raid.

No criminal charges have yet been filed in the case. Both McWilliams and
MacKenzie possess doctors' recommendations to use medical pot, and had been
working closely with local officials to abide by the city's pending medical
marijuana guidelines. McWilliams had previously served as a member of the
City Council's medical marijuana task force.

Under state law, the possession, use and cultivation of marijuana for
medical purposes are legal in California. Federal law prohibits possession
of the drug for any purpose. However, federal law enforcement typically only
becomes involved in cases involving several hundred marijuana plants.

"I've never seen a case with such a small amount [of marijuana,]" said NORML
Legal Committee member Patrick Dudley, who is representing McWilliams and
MacKenzie. "It's getting ludicrous. They're being targeted [by the
government] because they're speaking out."

McWilliams is a longtime advocate for medical marijuana, and had sponsored a
medical marijuana giveaway last week outside San Diego's City Hall. Two days
later, he received a letter hand-delivered by the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) and signed by U.S. Attorney Carol Lam warning him to
stop cultivating marijuana or face arrest.

"This case raises serious questions about the misuse of federal power to try
to silence a vocal critic of federal policy," NORML Executive Director Keith
Stroup said. "It is inconceivable that the Feds would become involved in
this case were it not for Steve McWilliams' effectiveness as an advocate for
the medical use of marijuana."

Since September 11, 2001, federal drug enforcement officials have taken
actions against more than 35 California medical marijuana patients, growers
and cooperatives - including raiding a pair of Northern California
dispensaries earlier this month.

For more information, please contact NORML Foundation Legal Director Donna
Shea at (202) 483-8751. A summary of federal medical marijuana cases in
California since September 11 is available online at:
http://www.canorml.org/news/fedmmjcases .