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Feds escalate war on sick

Educated jurors key to victory

By Kevin Zeese, President, Common Sense Drug Policy

The battle developing in San Francisco around the recent arrests for medical marijuana could be the key fight in the war against the war on drugs. The DEA could not have picked more of a stronghold of reform for this battle, nor as strong an issue. The medical marijuana issue may come down to a SF jury - drawn from a pool where 8 out of 10 voters support medical marijuana. A handful of jurors can make the local government's claim of SF as a medical marijuana sanctuary a reality.

The role of the jury in political change predates the birth of our nation. Our founders knew that sometimes it comes down to 12 human beings who can stop the abusive power of the state. The renowned play, "Twelve Angry Men," dramatized how the jury is a shield against the state and that a citizen playing that role is an honorable person.

While a trial, if there is one, is a ways off we need to begin now to further educate the jury pool. If it comes to a trial, be present to make our position known, and picket lines outside the court urging an end to the marijuana war will be needed. Public displays will be especially important because the federal courts will not allow jurors to be told that the case is a medical marijuana case.

While the trial stage is down the road we must begin to lay the groundwork now. The NORML conference scheduled for SF is an opportunity - attending the conference becomes more important now. But we all need to seek opportunities and create events in SF to continue to educate and activate the public.

San Francisco has a history of leading the nation on social issues. If SF becomes a safe haven for medical marijuana, it impacts California- the biggest and most influential state in the country. Twelve jurors can drill a big hole in the drug war dike.

The feds could not have picked a better battleground or better issue for this battle-at least from the reform perspective. This is an opportunity to make SF drug war free-a first step to the nation becoming free of the war on drugs.