Red Bluff IOOF Leader Evicted

CARETAKER OF HALL OUSTED FOR ENDING MARIJUANA CLINIC

RED BLUFF -- A leader of a fraternal organization has been evicted from his
quarters for breaking up a medical marijuana clinic Friday at the club's
hall here.

''Richard (Atchison) knew what was going on. I regret it turned out the way
it did.''

John Ennis, Independent Order of Odd Fellows member

Richard Atchison, noble grand for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows'
(IOOF) Red Bluff chapter, was removed Sunday as live-in caretaker of the
club's Oak Street hall, IOOF member John Ennis said Monday.

Atchison stormed into the hall Friday night after he said he heard
complaints from downtown merchants about a medical marijuana clinic being
conducted by Dr. Tod Mikuriya of Berkeley. Atchison ordered Mikuriya and
his patients to leave.

Mikuriya then saw patients from Weed to Chico on Saturday at a home in Red
Bluff. The doctor said he gave about 45 medical marijuana recommendations
Friday and Saturday. Proposition 215, approved by voters in 1996, makes it
legal for those with certain illnesses to smoke marijuana with a doctor's
recommendation.

Ennis said he called IOOF district deputy Harlan Hart of Red Bluff on
Saturday and reported what happened on Friday. On Sunday, Atchison was removed.

''I told him (Hart) we got a couple of complaints that Richard got a little
belligerent and threw everybody out,'' Ennis, the Odd Fellows' secretary, said.

Ennis remains mystified by Atchison's actions. He said the two had agreed
to allow Mikuriya to practice at the hall.

''Richard knew what was going on. I regret it turned out the way it did,''
Ennis said.

Atchison was elected noble grand last month, said Ennis, who didn't know
where Atchison is living now.

Atchison didn't return a phone message left Monday at his father's house in
Red Bluff.

On Saturday, Atchison defended his actions and said he was forceful but not
obnoxious on Friday night when he confronted Mikuriya and his patients.

''I was a little loud. I know that,'' Atchison said Saturday.

According to Ennis, the Odd Fellows will hold a meeting next week to
discuss Friday's incident. Ennis wouldn't say whether the group will
consider removing Atchison from office.

A message left Monday at Hart's Red Bluff home wasn't returned.

The Red Bluff IOOF chapter has about 28 members. Odd Fellows is a
nationwide nonprofit organization. Its goals include visiting the sick and
relieving distress, Ennis said.

Red Bluff Police cmdr. Ed Sisneros said his department received one call
Friday complaining about Mikuriya's visit.

''We were aware that they were meeting somewhere, but we didn't take any
action or get directly involved,'' Sisneros said.