SIMPSON LAWYER TO DEFEND POT CLUB CHIEF

San Jose Former O.J. Simpson defense attorney Gerald F. Uelman has signed
on to defend a cannabis club director against drug charges.

Uelman and Tom Nolan were named Wednesday to represent marijuana advocate
Peter Baez, founder of a now-defunct medical marijuana club.

Baez, a cousin of singer Joan Baez, was the director of the Santa Clara
County Medical Cannabis Center that opened in early 1997 and closed May 8,
faces several drug charges and a lengthy prison term if convicted.

Uelman, a former dean of Santa Clara University School of Law, is an expert
on constitutional law who won national attention as a member of O.J.
Simpson's "dream team" of attorneys.

Nolan, a criminal defense attorney based in Palo Alto, is widely considered
one of the best in his field.

The Santa Clara County district attorney filed seven felony charges against
Baez in May, accusing him of selling marijuana to people without a doctor's
recommendation, operating a drug house, grand theft and housing fraud.

Deputy District Attorney Denise Raabe said she expected the issues at trial
to be limited to Baez's alleged drug trafficking violations.

But others involved in the medical marijuana movement hope the jury will be
allowed to consider broader issues related to Proposition 215, which
legalized medical marijuana use in California.

Baez's trial, originally scheduled to begin Monday, has been postponed
until Sept. 28.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski