PLACING BLAME FOR CLOSING

Pot club leader lambastes authorities

Organizers of the Santa Clara County Medical Cannabis Center on Thursday
blasted police and prosecutors for the legal and financial problems they say
will force them out of business next week.

Executive director Peter Baez, who faces six felony charges of selling
marijuana, said the county's only medicinal-marijuana dispensary will be
open today, Monday and Wednesday before shutting its doors for good next Friday.

The move will leave many of the center's 270 clients with few ways to obtain
the marijuana they use to ease the effects of cancer, AIDS and other
ailments. ``Right now the only ones who will benefit from our closing are
the street dealers who the San Jose police don't seem interested in
arresting,'' Baez said.

Before the center closes for the final time, Baez said, many clients plan to
dress in black and hold a memorial service to protest authorities giving the
organization ``a death sentence.'' He said he hoped his cousin, folk singer
Joan Baez, would attend.

Peter Baez and co-founder Jesse Garcia said the decision to close was
difficult but unavoidable after officials froze the center's assets and
accused Baez of an array of misconduct. Authorities, however, reiterated
their support of Proposition 215, the 1996 initiative that allowed medicinal
use of marijuana.

``It sounds to me like it was a business decision,'' said Deputy District
Attorney Denise Raabe. ``I don't see how our action against Peter Baez would
necessitate the closing of the center.''

``It's his decision to close,'' added Lt. Chris Moore, a San Jose police
spokesman. ``If anyone is willing to step up and run a club according to
the permit process set forth by the city, they may do so.''

Unlike some counterparts in other cities, Baez and Garcia had enjoyed a
cordial relationship with officials since opening the San Jose center about
a year ago.

But in March, police arrested Baez, suspecting he sold marijuana to a client
who had not obtained a legitimate recommendation. Authorities angered many
customers of the center by seizing files and freezing $29,000 in assets.

Since the seizure, Baez said, the center has accumulated massive debt --
$1,200 in rent, $15,000 in legal bills and $17,000 owed to what he described
as ``legitimate Bay Area growers.''

Jonathan Holt, a client of the center, said he hoped to try to raise money
to pay its debts. ``In my mind, it's absolutely vital to the health of the
community.''