For the second time in two weeks, law enforcement officials have raided and shut down operations of a cannabis buyers’ club.
Police sparked a wave of citizen outrage when Special Operations detectives raided a cannabis buyers’ club in Key West and arrested two people, including club founder Zvi Baranoff. Both individuals were charged with possession of felony amounts of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. The Key West club serviced approximately 90 patients and has existed for one year. It is one of an estimated 30 underground clubs throughout the United States that distributes marijuana as a medicine to seriously ill patients who possess a doctor’s recommendation.
“It seems like shabby treatment of someone who’s trying to do something good,” said a former Key West city commissioner who spoke anonymously with the Key West Citizen. “Where’s the compassion? These people were dispensing medicine to people who can’t eat, sleep, or hold food in their stomachs. [The raid is nothing more than an] inhumane witch hunt.”
Detective John Elmore defended the raid by saying that police have no choice but to enforce the law. Elmore further alleged that marijuana was sold to some individuals who did not suffer from valid medical illnesses.
Local citizens appeared to be strongly supportive of the club and many club members voiced their discontent to the local media. “We’re just trying to extend our lives a little bit,” said one HIV-positive club member. “Maybe these officers should attend every funeral, or read the newspaper which would be stuffed with obituaries” if we didn’t have underground access to medical marijuana.
The Key West bust comes on the heels of a raid by California state narcotics agents last Sunday on the 11,000 member San Francisco Cannabis Buyers’ Club. No arrests have yet to be made in connection with the raid, but a temporary injunction has been granted to keep the club closed. The decision by state Attorney General Dan Lungren to order the bust has outraged many members of the San Francisco community — including Mayor Willie Brown, Sheriff Michael Hennessey, District Attorney Terence Hallinan, former Police Commissioner Jo Daly, and several members of the city’s Board of Supervisors — and cast harsh criticism upon state politicians and law enforcement.
“With the recent raids of cannabis buyers’ clubs in Cincinnati, San Francisco, and now Key West, the message is clear: law enforcement is targeting the sick and dying,” said NORML Deputy Director Allen St. Pierre. “Our sympathy goes out to the individuals and patients affected by these unfortunate incidents.”
For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre of NORML @ (202) 483-5500.