MAN GROWING MARIJUANA FOR HIS AIDS TREATMENT IS ROBBED OF CROP

A Sacramento man legally growing marijuana in his back yard has been robbed
of the crop he used as part of his treatment for AIDS.

"I think my career as a grower is over," said Steve Connell, a former
reporter and editor with the Sacramento Union. "I can't go through
something like that again. I thought he was going to put a bullet in the
back of my head." The robbery occurred about 1 p.m. Friday at the modest
home in the 2200 block of 57th Street, police said. Connell grows marijuana
in a back yard garden along with corn and tomatoes.

Connell said the robber came up to him on a patio, showing a badge and
pretending to be an undercover police officer searching for a woman
suspected of a crime.

Connell said he saw through the ruse and was trying to get back into his
house when the man pulled a gun.

The robber then took Connell inside, tied him to a refrigerator, handcuffed
his hands and asked where the marijuana was kept.

Connell said he told the robber, but begged him to leave some marijuana for
his teatment. Connell said he takes 30 pills a day and uses marijuana to
treat pain and nausea and to improve his appetite. The robber loaded
harvested marijuana worth an estimated $30,000 into a duffel bag but left
four plants in the garden.

Before leaving, the robber retrieved his handcuffs and tied Connell down
with an electrical cord. Connell was able to work his way free and call
police.

Police left Connell with the remaining plants.

"People need to know what's going on so maybe we can prevent this in the
future," Connell said. "It's a shame when you have a totally legitimate
reason and right to grow, yet you still have to worry about your life."

Connell said he didn't know how the robber heard about his plants.