I find this very disconcerting that the people of this state voted to enact these laws, yet the federal government will stoop to its lowest levels to destroy "we the people" and our votes.

Siezed them right from the Courtroom!

NEWS ADVISORY – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: William Dolphin (510) 919-1498 or asa@williamdolphin.com

Feds Grab Medical Marijuana Patients from California State Courtroom

Couple Arrested As Attorneys and Judge Meet in Chambers; State Charges Dismissed

Press Conference, Emergency Action at Sacramento Federal Building at Noon Friday

Sacramento (Wednesday, January 14, 2004) – In a stunning display of duplicitous double dealing, federal agents yesterday seized two medical marijuana patients from a California state courtroom after the local prosecutor lured the couple’s defense counsel into the judge’s chambers to dismiss the state charges filed against them.


David Davidson and Cynthia Blake were in state court on a motion seeking to have charges of marijuana cultivation and distribution dismissed, based on the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 which made medical use of marijuana legal in California. Both Ms. Blake and Mr. Davidson have doctors’ authorizations to use marijuana for medical conditions. Fewer than 30 plants, little more than a pound of dried marijuana and some cuttings were seized by the Tehama Sheriff’s Department during the July 29th raid on the Red Bluff home of Ms. Blake that resulted in her and Mr. Davidson’s arrest.

As Davidson and Blake’s attorneys, Omar Figueroa and Shari Greenberger, met in the judge’s chambers with prosecutor Lynn Strom to discuss the details of dismissing the charges, prosecutor Strom informed them that she was dropping the charges only because federal officers were at that moment arresting Davidson and Blake in the courtroom.

“These federal arrests are utterly outrageous,” said Steph Sherer, Executive Director of Americans for Safe Access, a national medical marijuana coalition. “The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has already said they are violating the Constitution when they arrest patients. And now they are tricking defense attorneys to separate them from their clients. How many rights have to be trampled before we fix this?”

Americans for Safe Access has called for emergency actions on Friday at noon at federal buildings across the country. Demonstrations are currently planned in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Cincinnatti, and Spokane, with more in the works.

A press conference with Ms Blake, Mr. Davidson, attorney Tony Serra, and Steph Sherer will also take place in front of the Sacramento federal building at 5th and I.
David Davidson and Cynthia Blake were released yesterday on $50,000 bond each, and will be arraigned Friday at 2 pm in Sacramento. The government alleges that they were conspiring to cultivate and distribute 1000+ plants (a 10 year mandatory minimum if convicted); and that they were in actual possession of 100+ plants.( a 5 year mandatory minimum if convicted)

Their lawyers are confident they will be exonerated. You may recall that Bryan Epis was convicted in this same court of conspiracy (based on some misrepresented computer files).

Please organize something locally for tomorrow if you can - sample press release, flyers, and Citation orders can be downloaded from: ASA


WHAT: Press Conference and protest of the federal arrest of David Davidson and Cynthia Blake.

WHO: David Davidson and Cynthia Blake. Attorney Tony Serra. Steph Sherer, Executive Director of Americans for Safe Access.

WHEN: Friday, January 16, 2004 at Noon

WHERE: Federal building in Sacramento (5th and I). Federal buildings across the country.

A grassroots coalition of 5,500 patients, doctors and advocates, Americans for Safe Access is the leading national organization working on medical marijuana. For more information, contact William Dolphin (510) 919-1498.