TESTIMONY BEGINS IN TRIAL OF A MAN ACCUSED OF GROWING MARIJUANA

SAN ANDREAS, Calif. (AP) -- Testimony was set to begin today in the
trial of a Calaveras County man charged with growing pot to supply a
medical marijuana club in Oakland.

Robert Michael Galambos, 34, was arrested after authorities seized 382
plants and six pounds of processed marijuana during a raid near Paloma
in July 1997.

Some believe Galambos' case is important because it'll clarify
provisions of Proposition 215, which passed in 1996.

Although the initiative legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal
purposes, it doesn't specify how it can be grown or furnished to
patients in need, said Matthew Quirk of the Oakland Cannabis Buyers
Cooperative.

Supporters of medical use of marijuana say it can relieve pain and
suffering for people diagnosed with cancer, AIDS and glaucoma.

"We're hoping that (Galambos' case) establishes, once and for all,
that you can distribute medical cannabis to sick people," Quirk said.
"We're trying to establish that there should be a method of
distribution that is sensible."

According to court documents filed by defense attorney Tony Serra,
Galambos believed cannabis clubs were lawful and therefore he could
legally grow marijuana for them.

During jury selection, Serra admitted his client did grow pot, but
argued he was supplying it for people who had a legal right to have
it.