MEDICAL POT PARADE SET FOR JULY 16

SANTA CRUZ -- Members of the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana
plan a July 16 march through downtown Santa Cruz -- while carrying
some pot plants.

The group hopes to attract 1,000 like-minded supporters to
participate in the noon march down Pacific Avenue as a protest
against an adverse U.S. Supreme Court ruling and recent raids of
medical marijuana operations in Northern California.

WAMM wants to make the statement that people who use marijuana as
medicine have legitimate health reasons, they are not just a bunch of
potheads and the general public supports the use of marijuana as medicine.

The "solemn event," added WAMM co-founder Valerie Corral, will also
commemorate 154 members who have died since the group's inception.

Whether the group will be allowed to carry plants will be part of its
parade permit review, which is still in the process, said Santa Cruz
Police Deputy Chief Kevin Vogel.

The march comes at a time when the federal government has stepped up
raids on medical marijuana operations in California. Drug Enforcement
Administration agents recently raided three pot clubs and more than
20 homes and businesses in San Francisco, saying they were fronts for
illegal drug operations, and arrested a Sacramento area couple on
marijuana-related charges.

Those raids followed a June 6 Supreme Court ruling that held federal
drug laws supersede state medical marijuana laws.

A DEA spokesperson wouldn't discuss any potential interest from the
agency in the march.

WAMM has made public statements in the past. Following a September
2002 raid on its Davenport garden, the group conducted a medical pot
handout to about a dozen of its patients on the steps of Santa Cruz
City Hall. For the past two years, it has held a family day picnic in
August at San Lorenzo Park.