OAKLAND DECLARES EMERGENCY OVER POT-CLUB CLOSING

OAKLAND -- Voting 5-4, the city council declared a local medical state
of emergency Tuesday night after the federal closing of the Oakland
Cannabis Buyers Club. Such a step by a U.S. city is believed to be
unprecedented.

The club, which supplied medicinal marijuana to registered and
identified patients, closed its doors by federal order Monday.

The city council vote does not reopen the club but puts the city
behind the club.

Robert Raich, the club's attorney, said other cities have declared
states of emergency for needle exchange programs but not for medicinal
marijuana.

Council members John Russo, Henry Chang, Nancy Nadel and Nate Miley
and Mayor Elihu Harris voted to declare the emergency.

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady