DEA CHIEF FACES PROTESTS AFTER AGENTS BUST MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLUB IN SAN
FRANCISCO

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- In the latest tussle between local and federal
officials over medical marijuana, the head of the Drug Enforcement Agency
was jeered by city leaders hours after his agents raided a club that
provides pot to the infirm.

DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson was denounced Tuesday while delivering a
speech outside the Commonwealth Club of California. Demonstrators blew
kazoos and chanted "Go away D-E-A" while the smell of marijuana wafted
through the air.

Earlier in the day, federal agents seized more than 600 pot plants from the
Harm Reduction Center and arrested the group's executive director. Three
other men also were arrested.

The raid coincided with President Bush's announcement of a stepped-up war
on drugs, with a goal of cutting drug abuse by 25 percent in five years, in
part through improved law enforcement.

California, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Maine, Oregon and
Washington allow the infirm to receive, possess, grow or smoke marijuana
for medical purposes without fear of state prosecution.

However, the U.S. Supreme Court said last year that it is illegal to
distribute marijuana for medical reasons -- setting the stage for conflict
with local officials.

During the raid on the Harm Reduction Center, the group's executive
director, Richard Watts, was arrested and two other men were charged with
growing more than 100 pot plants. In a separate case, a fourth man was
charged with growing more than 1,000 marijuana plants.

"They all are connected with marijuana smuggling," said DEA spokesman
Richard Meyer. "We've said all along the cultivation and distribution of
marijuana is illegal regardless of state or local law."

The center serves about 200 patients a day, all with doctors'
recommendations to get the drug. Many suffer chronic pain from AIDS and
cancer, said David Witty, the marijuana club's chief of security.

San Francisco District Attorney Terence Hallinan has been outspoken in his
support of such clubs, and Police Chief Fred Lau has said his officers
wouldn't take part in any raids. City leaders declared San Francisco a
sanctuary for medical cannabis use last year.

"This is a decision to be made by the voters of California and the people
of the city and county of San Francisco," Hallinan said through a bullhorn
at the site of Hutchinson's speech.

Board of Supervisors President Tom Ammiano went one step further, calling
the DEA an "obnoxious, grandstanding" agency. "I don't want somebody in my
house that's not invited!" Ammiano shouted.

In his speech, Hutchinson said "science has told us so far there is no
medical benefit for smoking marijuana." He also defended the arrests,
saying "We have to enforce the law."

Tuesday's raid is just one in a series of recent federal crackdowns in
California. Agents shut down a West Hollywood cannabis club in October.
Other federal actions include raiding a Ventura County garden operated by
patients, and seizure of medical records from a Northern California doctor
who is a prominent medical marijuana proponent.