The Compassionate Coalition

Subject: Press Release
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007
From: mailmgr

PRESS CONFERENCE
Contact: Steven Schectman - 213-626-2730
James Shaw - 310-709-1544
When: Thursday December 6, 2007 at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Roybal Federal Building- Fountain Courtyard

255 E Temple Street, Downtown Los Angeles

UNION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROVIDERS SUES THE DEA IN FEDERAL COURT

For the first time since California had passed its Medical Marijuana Law in 1996, several groups including the newly formed Union of Medical Marijuana Providers, will file a lawsuit this Thursday December 6, 2007 in Federal Court against the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency. Up to this time the DEA has never been named in any lawsuit regarding their heavy handed "War on Medical Marijuana".

The lawsuit seeks an order from the Federal Court, which would require that the DEA stop sending threatening letters to California Commercial Property Owners who rent to Collectives and Co-Operatives that provide Medical Marijuana to their members. Additionally the lawsuit will seek damages for civil rights violations and court protection from the DEA?s improper use of its police powers to seek search warrants in order to interfere with Medical Marijuana Advocates using the Courts.

The press conference, which will begin at 1:00 p.m., will feature a group of patients and their supporters entering into the federal building in order to serve the DEA with the complaint and voice their concerns. The Union of Medical Marijuana Providers is joined in this lawsuit with downtown LA?s Arts District Healing Center, the group who filed a claim in State Court last week regarding the DEA's letter campaign.

All the pleadings will be made available, as will the Union Organizers and their counsel to answer questions and provide further information.