S.J. area pair begin talks to open medical pot club

The operator of a smoke shop in the Burbank District and her activist
supporter in the venture have begun talks with the county to open a medical
cannabis club in the rear of the shop.

Suzie Andrews and Paul Robles propose to sell the medicinal weed for $20
for an eighth of an ounce, which Robles said is onethird the common street
price of $60. Andrews, who says she's in her 30s, operates Rainbow Gifts
and Balloons at 1522 W. San Carlos St. and plans to call the new operation
the Rainbow Cannabis Club.

While there is no zoning barrier to a medical marijuana club at that
location, which is in a retail business area, Jim Lanz, a zoning
investigator for the county, emphasized that Andrews and Robles are just
beginning the approval process.

``I believe this is something the board (of supervisors) will want to have
input on before we say, `Go ahead and sell pot the same way you would sell
candy,' '' Lanz said. ``There are a lot of hoops to jump through before you
can sell marijuana out of a head shop.''

He also referred them to the sheriff's and district attorney's offices,
saying there is likely to be a review of the entire issue, including
coordination with the city of San Jose ``so we're all on the same page.''

The Burbank District, an unincorporated pocket of Santa Clara County, is
surrounded by westcentral San Jose.

``At this point, I couldn't typify their encounter as anything but real
preliminary,'' Lanz said, but added, ``Is it OK to conduct this kind of
business here? Yeah.''

Sheriff's Sgt. Jim Arata said his agency's vice unit will meet early next
week with the county counsel's office to establish a policy for medical
marijuana clubs that is consistent with the city's and with guidelines from
the state Attorney General's Office.

If they get clearance for their club, said Andrews and Robles, they would
not charge a monthly membership fee or charge for a membership card
which reportedly could increase costs for individuals up to $1,700 a year.

``A lot of people have a problem paying the street value,'' said Robles,
19. ``Let's get realistic. Somebody is making money off this. There's no
reason for them (patients) to pay that much money.''

The door was opened to the legal sale of the drug for medical purposes by
passage of Proposition 215 in November. But cities and counties are
struggling to implement it while ensuring that marijuana is dispensed only
to those who have a legitimate medical need. Proponents of its use contend
it eases the symptoms of some debilitating diseases, such as cancer and
AIDS.

There are buyers' clubs operating in 14 cities, including San Francisco,
and the Santa Clara County Medical Cannabis Club in San Jose is dispensing
the drug by courier while it awaits city approval of its chosen location.

City Attorney Joan Gallo said earlier this month she will draft the state's
first law regulating marijuana dispensaries to make sure neighborhoods are
protected from problems that might arise from such trade. The ordinance
could come before the city council this month.

Andrews said the idea for a marijuana shop arose out of talks between her
and Robles and other customers.

``We have a very kickback atmosphere here. We actually talk to people,''
she said, ``and a lot of people were outraged'' when plans for a marijuana
club on Race Street were dropped because it is in a residential
neighborhood.
``Paul (Robles) was one of them.''

Robles said he helped Dennis Peron, who initiated Proposition 215, set up a
marijuana buyers club in San Francisco. He became involved in the issue
because he has two friends who use marijuana medically. Robles said he
acted as a ``runner,'' obtaining marijuana for the friend in San Francisco.

``My nextdoor neighbor has terminal cancer. He can't understand why he has
to pay street value for something that's so easy to grow,'' Robles said.

As for possible criticism that they're using the marijuana club to attract
business to Andrews' smoke shop, Robles said the clubs in San Francisco
also sell smoking paraphernalia.

``If there is a problem with having it in a smoke shop, we'll just have to
relocate,'' he said. ``We're doing this to cut down on cost.''

Initially, they plan to buy their marijuana from a legal source, Robles
said, but eventually they hope to acquire a warehouse and begin growing
it.

Andrews has operated the smoke shop, the secondoldest in the county, for
two years. With bars on the windows, surveillance cameras and motion
detectors, she already has good security, she said, but she said they also
will have guards.

``Paul will be my partner in the growing business,'' she said, ``instead of
purchasing it at ridiculous prices. Then we can sell it cheaper.''

``I see it as a fight to provide medicine to chronically ill people,''
Robles said.

Published Friday, March 21, 1997, in the San Jose Mercury News