MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLINIC PULLING OUT OF CHICO

Chico, CA -- A medical clinic that specializes in marijuana recommendations
is pulling out of Chico after putting down roots early this year.

According to the company's founder, MediCann is closing its doors after
business hours today, at least temporarily, in response to concerns from
the Butte County District Attorney's office.

Mike Ramsey confirmed Tuesday that he spoke with MediCann representatives
shortly after the company opened its Chico branch. One of his primary
concerns was that the recommendations were coming from physician's
assistants, rather than doctors.

Ramsey said he told representatives it was his opinion that examinations
and recommendations by assistants violated Proposition 215 - the California
law allowing qualified patients the use of medical marijuana.

"We're concerned that if we're going to have this law, we'd better do it
the right way," the district attorney said.

MediCann's operations concerned others as well. Ramsey said he'd received
calls from a medical marijuana advocacy group that agreed the
recommendations were invalid.

The group's concern, Ramsey said, was that recommendations by physician's
assistants would tarnish those that comply with Proposition 215.

MediCann opened its Chico branch on Nord Avenue exactly 10 weeks ago. It's
there where company founder Dr. Jean Talleyrand will be taking patients for
the last time today.

In a letter to the Enterprise-Record, Talleyrand said the company plans to
staff any future clinics within Butte County with a licensed physician for
all initial patient evaluations. The action comes as a result of the
concerns of the district attorney's office.

Talleyrand said the Chico clinic is closing because MediCann doesn't have a
large enough staff to place doctors at each of its 12 locations.

He added that MediCann appreciates the discussion with the District
Attorney's Office and that the company plans to staff its other locations
with doctors as well.

"This discourse helps to ensure that recommendations for the therapeutic
use of medicinal marijuana remains accessible, affordable and within the
bounds of the law," Talleyrand wrote.