OAKLAND WRITES UP SUPPORT FOR POT CLUB

OAKLAND - The city is ready to fire off a strongly worded response to the
Clinton administration's crusade against California cannabis dubs but it
stops short at offering tangible support to medicinal pot users.

The Oakland City Council, which has already directed its police to give a
wide berth to medical marijuana users, is likely to go on the record
tonight opposing federal lawsuits to shut down six clubs in Northern
California.

The federal action, filed by U.S. Attorney Michael Yarnaguchi earlier this
month, threatens the health of medicinal pot users and encourages street
narcotic peddlers to sell cannabis to Oakland's ill citizens," according to
the council resolution.

Councilmember Nate Miley (East-mont-Seminary) said he wants to beef up the
resolution with some kind of legal or funding support for cannabis clubs.
"I want us to do what is morally and ethically right," Miley said.

Even before voters approved the medicinal marijuana initiative -
Proposition 215 - in November, the council had agreed to support the
Oakland Cannabis Buyers Club.

The club operates a low-key facility downtown, carefully screening members
and requiring both identification and a doctor's note. Marijuana for
medicinal purposes is sold on the premises, but is not used there.

In addition, the council resolution calls upon the Alameda County Board of
Supervisors to declare a state of medical emergency that would allow sales
of medicinal marijuana to continue.

County Supervisor Mary King said she was unclear about specifics regarding
such a declaration, but It seemed applying It to the use of medical
marijuana would be "irresponsible."

King, however, said she opposed the federal litigation against medicinal
pot clubs, calling it a "waste of taxpayer time and money.

At the Oakland Cannabis Club, one of six named In the lawsuit, staffers
said they were hoping for a more substantial show of support - such as
funding for legal defense.

But the city's resolution is a start, said Jeff Jones. "It's hard to get
mad at the city for not doing enough," said Jones, who helped found the
Oakland club in 1995 as a distribution service to patients who use
marijuana to suppress the side effects common to AIDS treatments, glaucoma,
cancer and other debilitating diseases.

"I'm a little disappointed it's not more strongly worded," Jones said. The
club established offices in downtown Oakland In July 1996 and now has 1,100
members.

The U.S. Attorney's office in San Francisco filed suit earlier this month,
directed at clubs in Oakland, San Francisco, Marin and Santa Cruz. It's the
first time federal officials have attempted to use national drug laws to
supersede state laws, such as the November 1996 voter-approved initiative
that legalized medical marijuana in California.

Last year, the state's 1st District Court of Appeal sided with Lungren in
saying cannabis clubs are not protected by Prop. 215.