POT CLUB TRIAL TO REMAIN IN OAKLAND

A federal appeals court has struck down a request by Cannabis Cultivators
Club owner Dennis Peron to move a marijuana sales and possession trial from
Alameda County to San Francisco.

The trial -- now pending -- resulted from indictments issued against Peron
and several other medical marijuana advocates following an Aug. 24, 1996,
raid on the San Francisco club by state agents.

California Attorney General Dan Lungren chose to prosecute Peron in
Oakland, stating some of the crimes occurred in Alameda County. Peron said
Lungren's move was designed to find jurors sympathetic to prosecutors.

Attorney general's office spokesman Matt Ross said the decision by the
First District Court of Appeals in San Francisco to keep the trial in
Oakland is appropriate ``because some of the overt acts occurred in Alameda
County.''

Peron said he is unconcerned about the denial of the change of venue
request because he expects to be acquitted of all charges.

``The people of Alameda County are not going to convict someone for selling
medicine to sick and dying people,'' he said.

)1998 San Francisco Chronicle Page A19