060705: Santa Cruz, CA: More than 200 Santa Cruz residents including approx. 100 of the 200 members of WAMM (Wo/Mens Alliance for Medical Marijuana) demonstrated on street corner in central Santa Cruz. Most of the demonstrators wore black, morning the 6/6/05 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the federal government may prosecute people who use marijuana for medical reasons, even in states like California that have state laws protecting residents who are using marijuana under the recommendation of a physician. The demonstrators also held placards labeled R.I.P. (Rest In Peace) and bearing the portrait and name of each of the 155 WAMM members who have died from their illnesses since 1993.
WAMM was founded by Valerie and Michael Corral in Santa Cruz, CA, in 1993 and has grown and distributed medical marijuana to members suffering from epilepsy to AIDS and a number of other serious illnesses. WAMM came to national attention in 2002 when Federal Drug Enforcement agents raided the organizations marijuana garden and destroyed the plants growing there.
At the weekly WAMM meeting in Santa Cruz, immediately following the demonstration, WAMM distributed marijuana to its members.
Photo shows Valerie Corral speaking to the demonstration.
Photo by Chuck Nacke
