MARIJUANA ADVOCATE IS INDICTED ON CONSPIRACY CHARGE

LOS ANGELES -- Todd McCormick, the medical marijuana advocate who says he
was growing pot at a mansion to help relieve chronic cancer pain, was
actually part of a conspiracy to cultivate large amounts of marijuana for
commercial sale, according to a federal grand jury indictment unsealed
Thursday.

The nine-count indictment charges McCormick and eight others with
conspiracy and possession of marijuana for sale. Several defendants,
including McCormick, had been indicted previously.

The new indictment says that more than 6,000 marijuana plants were
cultivated for illegal sale using elaborate equipment at four homes,
including the mansion in the Bel-Air area of Los Angeles.

At the center of the scheme, according to the indictment, was Peter
McWilliams, 48, owner of Prelude Press, a West Hollywood publishing house,
who allegedly advanced more than $100,000 to rent the properties and
purchase indoor lights, pots, soil, fans and seeds used to grow the plants.

Some of the marijuana was raised at McWilliams' home, the indictment charged.

The group allegedly tried to negotiate a deal to sell their crops to the
Los Angeles Cannabis Buyer's Club, which has been dispensing marijuana
since Californians voted to legalize the drug for medical usage in 1996.

Scott Imler, executive director of the Buyer's Club, said Thursday that his
organization has never purchased marijuana from outside sources. ``We grow
everything here,'' he added.

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)