GROUP CHALLENGES CALIFORNIA POT CLUB BANS

Group Challenges California Pot Club Bans

SAN FRANCISCO - A patient advocacy group on Thursday filed
lawsuits against three California cities, charging that bans on
medical marijuana illegally restrict the rights of patients and their
doctors.

The suits by Oakland-based Americans for Safe Access follow a similar
lawsuit the organization filed against Fresno this April challenging
that city's clinic ban.

"These bans clearly conflict with state law,'' said Joe Alfred, the
group's lead attorney.

The suits against Concord, Pasadena and Susanville charge that the
bans have forced patients to drive to other, often remote cities to
obtain medical marijuana.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that people who smoke marijuana
because their doctors recommend it to ease pain can be prosecuted for
violating federal drug laws, even in the 10 states that have laws
permitting medical marijuana use.

Since then, numerous California cities have banned cannibis
dispensaries from opening and even politically liberal San Francisco
has called for a moratorium on new marijuana clinics. ``We hope this
litigation will help local officials realize that permanent bans are
unacceptable not just legally but morally, since they punish the sick
and suffering in their communities who mainly rely on dispensaries,''
ASA Legal Campaign Director Kris Hermes said Thursday.