CALIF. POT CLUB CLOSED BY FEDS

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- 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 finding 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.''

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.

Proposition 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.

Checked-by: Don Beck