cannabisnews.com: Ukiah Pot Club Awaits Decision 





Ukiah Pot Club Awaits Decision 
Posted by FoM on September 01, 2000 at 10:39:29 PT
By Ucilia Wang, Press Democrat Bureau 
Source: Press Democrat
For three years, the Ukiah Cannabis Club has operated quietly, attracting far less attention than medical marijuana clubs in the Bay Area.The club, which has the support of politicians and law enforcement officials in Mendocino County, has seen its membership grow to about 500 since the 1996 passage of Proposition 215, which allowed seriously ill patients to use marijuana for medical reasons.
But club officials recognize that their low profile and public support do not guarantee immunity from the legal battle that revolves around the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes and the power of the state and federal governments.The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday barred an Oakland clinic from distributing marijuana until it decides the legality of the practice when it convenes next month.The case also threatens the Ukiah club's existence."If the Supreme Court sides with the (federal) government, then they can turn back the medical marijuana movement, and that would be an outrage for anyone who is concerned with their constitutional rights," Marvin Lehrman, director of the Ukiah Cannabis Club, said Thursday.The club was barred by a federal judge in 1998 from dispensing marijuana, but it has remained open to provide information to its members, Lehrman said.When asked if the Ukiah club is distributing marijuana, the club's attorney, David Nelson, declined to comment.Nelson also downplayed the importance of the pending Oakland case, saying the justices will focus simply on the Bay Area club and its activities.Nelson said the Justice Department, which has tried to close some medical marijuana clubs, is primarily interested in setting an example."The Justice Department is more interested in setting a precedent than stopping someone from doing this," Nelson said. "It's very political. It's largely symbolic."The federal government, which considers marijuana an illegal drug, doesn't recognize the state's medical marijuana law. But it has never brought criminal charges against people who distribute marijuana to patients and who are technically protected by the state law.In fact, the only injunction against medical marijuana distribution was issued in California, even though seven other states have similar medical marijuana laws, said Gretchen Michael, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department.Michael refused to explain why other states have not received the same scrutiny by the Justice Department, saying she couldn't discuss ongoing investigations or operations, nor even confirm that there were any.Michael said what the Supreme Court justices decide won't affect other medical marijuana clubs in California."Nothing will be different. Marijuana remains an illegal substance," she said.The Oakland clinic was one of the six clubs barred by a San Francisco federal judge in 1998 from distributing marijuana. The other five clubs are in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Marin County and Ukiah.Only the Ukiah and Marin County clubs remain open.The Oakland club not only challenged the judge's decision but also continued to distribute marijuana. A federal appellate court ruled last year that marijuana should be allowed for medical use.Following the appellate court decision, the San Francisco federal judge issued a new order in July allowing the Oakland club to dispense marijuana.The U.S. Supreme Court will consider the appellate court decision, which was appealed by the Justice Department.Although the Ukiah club doesn't provide marijuana, Lehrman said, it provides classes to help members plant their own marijuana gardens.A one-year-old program by the county sheriff's office that protects medical marijuana users and patients' suppliers also has become popular.Both the users and suppliers can apply for photo identification cards from the sheriff's office so that they aren't prosecuted when they are found in possession of marijuana. But the program limits the number of marijuana plants and the amount of processed marijuana the card holders can have.The sheriff's office has issued 417 cards so far, said Undersheriff Gary Hudson.Lehrman said he hopes for the day when medical marijuana clubs won't have to fight the government to stay open."I look forward to better days and an end to the marijuana Dark Age," Lehrman said.You can reach Press Democrat Staff Writer Ucilia Wang at 462-6473 or e-mail at uwang pressdemocrat.com.Published: September 1, 2000Source: Santa Rosa Press Democrat (CA)Copyright: 2000, The Press DemocratContact: letters pressdemo.com Website: http://www.pressdemo.com/index.htmlRelated Articles & Web Site:Oakland Cannabis Buyer's Cooperativehttp://www.rxcbc.org/States' Rights Isn't Just for Reactionarieshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6895.shtmlOfficial Reefer Madnesshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6894.shtmlFeds' Needless Pot War http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6889.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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