U.S. AGENTS RAID PERON'S POT FARM

250 Plants Seized On Eve Of Replanting Ceremony

Federal drug agents seized 250 marijuana plants yesterday morning from a
rural Lake County ``resort'' run by gubernatorial candidate Dennis Peron.

The 2- to 5-foot tall cannabis indica, in pots, were supposed to be planted
in gardens during a ceremony today. The potent bushes were to be grown for
sick people who stay at the 20-acre farm for free, said Peron, founder of
San Francisco's biggest medicinal marijuana club.

``Every plant was assigned to a patient who has letter from a doctor,''
Peron said. ``It was their plant. It was documented.''

Four people in the house -- patients with illnesses such as AIDS, multiple
sclerosis and glaucoma -- were handcuffed for about a half- hour, said
Lynne Barnes, a nurse and volunteer at Peron's Cannabis Healing Center in
the city.

More than three pounds of processed pot also was seized, according to
Joycelyn Barnes, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. She
said the raid was part of a continuing investigation, not related to the
closure of Peron's Cannabis Cultivators Club last month.

The Lake County raid took place the day after a federal judge in San
Francisco ruled that California pot clubs must stop selling medical
marijuana, which violates federal law. Peron vowed the club will proceed
with the marijuana planting in Lake County today. At least 100 new plants
had been donated by yesterday evening.

``We're standing strong,'' Peron said. ``If the DEA wants to come (to the
ceremony), they are welcome. There will be 100 patients there to greet
them, at least.''

Peron opened the farm six months ago as a ``collective resort'' for sick
and dying people, with eight bedrooms, 10 small gardens and a two-acre pond.

``This is very much like the time in the '60s when they were bringing out
the fire hoses and the dogs,'' said Barnes, the marijuana club volunteer.
``It's a civil rights issue. Marijuana has never killed anyone, and yet
there are people who die because they cannot get access to marijuana.''

California's 20-odd medical marijuana clubs have been battling officials
over interpretations of a 1996 state law, saying they provide seriously ill
patients with a safe way to obtain the drug.

Federal officials, in their case against six Northern California clubs, say
the groups are using the state law as a smoke screen to peddle marijuana to
the public.

©1998 San Francisco Chronicle Page A15