[420 Girl]

Subsequent to the Obama administration's adoption of a non-interference policy with medical marijuana suppliers who follow state law, a Santa Cruz marijuana advocacy group has dropped its lawsuit that stemmed from a raid by federal agents in 2002.

The Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, a group that purports to provide free marijuana to terminally ill patients, filed the suit eight years ago after agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration seized the organization's marijuana plants, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Santa Cruz city and county governments later joined the Alliance as plaintiffs in the case.

U.S. District Judge Jeremy Gogel refused to dismiss the lawsuit in 2008, believing the marijuana collective could demonstrate that the federal government was attempting to force California to repeal a 1996 law allowing individuals to grow and use marijuana with a doctor's approval.

In October, the U.S. Department of Justice advised federal prosecutors to refrain from charging any medical marijuana user who was clearly following state law.

Allen Hopper, a lawyer from the American Civil Liberties Union and legal representative for the Alliance, told the news source, "The policy provides lawful medical marijuana patients and providers a very welcome, if incomplete, measure of security."

Medical marijuana is currently legal in 14 states, including California.


http://www.420magazine.com/forums/in...overnment.html