IS KUBBY'S FIGHT ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA, OR SELF PROMOTION?

Placer County and Tahoe have had a five year reprieve, but last week
the Kubby circus rolled back into town.

After being deported from Canada, where Steve Kubby and his family
were living after he was convicted on drug charges in 2000, the
medical marijuana activist and former gubernatorial candidate is
serving his 120-day sentence in the Placer County jail in Auburn. He
contends he will die if not given marijuana to keep his adrenal
cancer at bay. So he and his wife and attorney are urging his
supporters to call the Placer County Sheriff's Office and District
Attorney's office so he can get the "proper medical treatment."

Kubby's lawyer has also asked that Kubby be allowed to serve his
sentence under house arrest in Marin County.

We say enough is enough.

The court allowed Kubby to serve his sentence at home with electronic
monitoring in 2001, but he opted instead to flee to Canada stating at
the time he believed his sentence was a "direct threat to my life."
He also acknowledged that he may face jail time as a result of his decision.

Kubby has been given ample opportunity to serve his sentence at home
and we believe that he could have been done with this ordeal five
years ago if he followed the court's orders.

Although we sympathize with Kubby's medical condition, it seems that
his antics are more about self promotion than advocating for medical
marijuana. It seems that he really believes he will die if not given
cannabis while in jail, but one look at his Web site, www.kubby.com ,
and it is clear this is more about the Kubby crusade than an effort
to advance medical marijuana.

On Friday, the spectacle that has become hopefully the last chapter
in Kubby's case continues in Auburn at the Placer County Court House
at 8:30 a.m. when the judge decides whether Kubby may serve his
sentence under house arrest, again. Already this past week protestors
turned up outside the courtroom advocating that Kubby be allowed to
use marijuana while in jail. However, deputies are treating Kubby
like any other inmate in their custody - as they should. On Friday at
least, the community has one more opportunity to watch the show.

We recommend bringing some popcorn along in case one gets the munchies.