POT CLUB FOUNDER VOWS TO CONTINUE

Peron hopes plan avoids legal clash

Following a court decision to dose the state's largest medical marijuana
center, San Francisco pot club founder Dennis Peron said Thursday he has
found, a way to "avoid an ugly confrontation" - and continue ~ operate.

Peron, who founded the controversial San Francisco Cannabis Club in 1994,
said he will comply with Wednesday's order by San Francisco Superior Court
Judge David Garcia to close down the center.

The founder of Oakland's cannabis club, which also faces legal attempts to
shut it down, said he is closely monitoring the scenario in San Francisco.

"If they're going to force us underground, then so be it," said Jeff Jones.
"If we have to dive back under the rug to help patients, we will."

San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey plans to close the operation Monday
or Tuesday. Peron said he will then reopen the five-story, 9,000-member
medical. marijuana center under another name and a new leader.

The facility will be called the San Francisco Cannabis Healing Center, and
Hazel Rodgers, a 7-year-old club member, will take over the reins from
Peron. The new operation will begin one day after Hennessey takes action,
Peron said.

Hennessey said Thursday he simply will enforce the court order to shut down
the current operation. "We're treating it like an eviction," he said.
"We'll make sure everyone's moved out."

A spokesman for Attorney General Dan Lungren - who has been seeking the
club's closure for two years - declined to comment on Peron's plans.

Garcia's latest ruling had appeared a significant victory for Lungren,
whose agents raided the Market Street marijuana center in 1996 - shutting
it down and arresting Peron and several other members.

Just a few months later, 56 percent of California voters passed Proposition
215, the medical marijuana initiative. Two months later, in January 1997,
Garcia ordered that the club be allowed to reopen.

The judge's decision Wednesday cited Peron's admission that he sold pot to
people who cared for medical marijuana patients, which is not covered under
Proposition 215.

Garcia did not rule on whether the club itself could be considered a
"primary caregiver." The answer to that question will help determine if
such facilities, which also operate in Oakland, Hayward and San Jose, are
legal under the embattled initiative.

Peron said he hoped to find a way to continue providing marijuana to those
who need it.

"This avoids the ugly scene that Lungren wants," he said. "We will carry on
the functions to bona fide patients and not their agents."

The federal government also has moved to close California's medical
marijuana sales clubs in a civil action.

Essentially, the federal postilion is that the citizen-passed initiative
has no standing because it conflicts with federal law that designates
marijuana an illegal drug.