O.C. CANNABIS CO-OP KEEPS ITS CAUSE IN FOCUS

It has been more than four years since California's medical marijuana law
passed.

More than three years since Orange County's first cannabis co-op volunteer
was arrested.

Two years since its director went to state prison, and nine months since he
was released on bail pending appeal.

"All this time, and they are still denying us the right to use Proposition
215," said Marvin Chavez, director of the Orange County Patient, Doctor,
Nurse Support Group Cannabis Co-op, who was convicted of selling pot after
a judge denied him the right to mount a defense based on the medical
marijuana law.

"I knew this was going to be a hell of a war, but the question is, for how
long?"

Eight other states approved medical marijuana laws in the wake of
California's -- and many are far ahead of California when it comes to
implementation.

In California, activists wait. After years of lying essentially dormant for
fear of the law, Orange County's cannabis co-op is taking tentative steps
forward. It no longer has a business license and a meeting place in Garden
Grove, as it did in 1997. It no longer distributes "medicine" in exchange
for "donations," the practice that landed Chavez in jail.

But it has a new phone number, directs potential patients to doctors in Los
Angeles and Santa Barbara who are not afraid to recommend the drug,
counsels them on how to grow their own pot once they have a doctor's
permission and funnels them to cannabis clubs in Hollywood and Inglewood if
they lack a green thumb.

"The organization does exist, and I'm here to guide patients and doctors,"
Chavez said. "I refuse to allow the authorities to imprison my mind or
spirit. Prop. 215 is the law."

The Orange County cannabis co-op's new number is (714) 836-6997.