OPERATORS OF CANNABIS CLUBS PLEAD GUILTY

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Two men who said they operated a couple of San Diego
County cannabis clubs to provide people legal, medicinal marijuana pleaded
guilty Tuesday to maintaining a place for distribution of a controlled
substance.

In exchange for their plea, prosecutor David Songco dropped seven other
felony charges against Steven McWilliams, 44, and Dion Markgraaff, 29. They
each face up to three years in prison when they are sentenced April 20, but
lawyers on both sides said they will likely receive probation.

"There's nothing to be won here," Markgraaff said after the Superior Court
hearing. "I've been conspiring to help people. I pleaded guilty."

McWilliams and Markgraaff said they smoked marijuana before entering their
pleas.

McWilliams was arrested Jan. 12, 1998, at a Border Patrol checkpoint near
Warner Springs in eastern San Diego County. Agents seized 11 potted
marijuana plants in his van. A later search of McWilliams' home netted an
additional 450 plants.

McWilliams, who operated with Markgraaff the Cannabis Caregivers Club in
Ocean Beach and Hillcrest, claimed he was protected under a new state law
that allows a patient or designated caregiver to cultivate and possess
marijuana for medicinal purposes.

The California Supreme Court has ruled that cannabis clubs are not
protected by the law.

"All along the D.A. said this conduct was illegal and this plea change
supports that," Songco said. "Our main concern was to demonstrate this was
illegal."

A trial for McWilliams and Markgraaff was set to begin Tuesday. They faced
up to four years in prison if convicted of all charges. They remain free on
bond pending sentencing.