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Politically Motivated Persecution of Hemp Activists

Officers from the Portland Police Bureau's "Marijuana Task Force" paid Diane Densmore an early morning visit on September 24th. Densmore, the director of Portland's "Alternative Health Center", was taken to the Center where police proceeded to break doors and seize cannabis and confidential patient records. Police say the bust stemmed from the sale of cannabis to several undercover agents who had no medical condition. The Center counters that the officers all had letters signed by doctors who were accessories to the investigation.

While the sudden crackdown on the clinic was covered several times in the local news media, they failed to point out a possible explanation for the timing of the raid. At that time, activists were finalizing petitions to get a pro-hemp initiative on the ballot in 1998, and to overturn legislation criminalizing possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. Both the police and DA's office are ardently opposed to such legislation.

When Densmore was arraigned weeks later, the judge accepted a not guilty plea and ordered her released. Deputy District Attorney Thomas Smith-Cupani then added several new charges and kept Densmore in jail for over 7 days without medical attention (Densmore is seriously ill). A 48-hour vigil at the Courthouse organized by the Anti-Prohibition League and attended by over 100 people resulted in Densmore's release.

January, 1998
Also in PPR #13

Portland Copwatch
PO Box 42456
Portland, OR 97242
(503) 236-3065/ Incident Report Line (503) 321-5120
e-mail: copwatch@portlandcopwatch.org

Portland Copwatch is a grassroots, volunteer organization promoting police accountability through citizen action.

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