U.S. ORDERS CALIFORNIA MARIJUANA CLUB CLOSED

OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 14--The end may be near for California's
embattled medical marijuana movement.

In a surprise injunction, a federal judge on Tuesday ordered the
Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative to close by Friday for violating
federal narcotics laws. Two other clubs still struggling to distribute
the drug under the terms of California's 1996 state law that legalized
medical marijuana use are under similar pressure.

In a news conference today, Oakland city officials and patients of the
cooperative said U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer's decision against
the club would have a devastating effect.

"Closing the cooperative will force patients with AIDS, cancer and
other debilitating diseases to turn to street dealers for the medicine
they need," said Oakland City Council member Nate Miley.

Breyer, while noting that closing the club would likely cause "human
suffering," said club lawyers had failed to demonstrate that enforcing
a federal ban on marijuana distribution would violate the
constitutional right of sick people to relieve pain -- a cornerstone
of the medical marijuana movement's legal strategy. Lawyers for the
club said they would appeal.

Ten of the original 13 clubs have closed under federal
pressure.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry