STATES LARGEST MEDICAL-POT CLUB CLOSED BY US

The Oakland group's appeal of a federal judge's contempt ruling goes nowhere.

OAKLAND- California's largest remaining medical-marijuana club was closed
Monday by a court order obtained by the Clinton administration's Justice
Department.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, without comment, denied a request by
the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative to remain open during an appeal of
a federal judge's ruling that held the club in contempt of court for
continuing to distribute marijuana in violation of federal law.

Shortly before the 5 p.m. deadline, leaders of the organization started
carrying out boxes of files and said they were closing voluntarily and
cooperating with federal marshals.

Jeff Jones, executive director of the club, issued a statement saying
Californians who backed Proposition 215, the November 1996
medical-marijuana initiative, "have had their votes nullified today by the
efforts of a heavy-handed and misguided federal
government."

"We fear for our patients," Jones said. He said he would work with city
officials to try to find a way to distribute the dug to patients who need
it and would form a political-action committee to lobby the federal
government to lift restrictions on medical marijuana.

The club, which claimed 2,200 patients as members, was one of six in
Northern California sued by the Justice Department for violating the
federal law against distribution of marijuana. Of the six, only clubs in
Ukiah and Fairfax remain open, along with a handful of others around the
state.

Prop. 215 allowed patients and their caregivers to possess and grow
marijuana without prosecution under California law, if recommended by a
doctor to relieve the pain from AIDS or cancer treatment, glaucoma or other
conditions.

The initiative had no effect, however, on federal laws against distribution
of marijuana. The federal government puts marijuana in the same category as
the most dangerous drugs and says it has no medical use.

Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson