AGENTS NAB MEDICAL MARIJUANA FARMERS

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) -- Federal agents raided a marijuana farm Thursday
and arrested the owners, who helped write the state law legalizing medical
use of the plants.

Officers seized more than 100 marijuana plants, three rifles and a shotgun,
said Richard Meyer, a spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Valerie and Michael Corral were arrested on federal charges of intent to
distribute marijuana and conspiracy, he said.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorney did not know whether formal charges had
been filed.

"These are incredibly compassionate people who've worked closely with law
enforcement to help the sick and dying in our community," said Ben Rice, an
attorney for the Corrals. "This is absolutely outrageous."

The Corrals helped write the 1996 law that allows patients and their
caregivers to grow marijuana for their own medicine. They work with local
authorities to dispense their pot to people with doctors' recommendations
to use marijuana.

The raid surprised local medical marijuana growers and advocates, as well
as the Santa Cruz County sheriff.

The farm, about 15 miles north of Santa Cruz, is known to local law
enforcement. "The DEA didn't tell us they did this, not before, and not
after," said sheriff's spokesman Kim Allyn.

DEA agents have recently cracked down on high-profile medical marijuana
advocates and distribution clubs and bypassed local law enforcement
agencies that have condoned them.