CHARGES STILL TO BE DECIDED IN BROWNIE CASE

The District Attorney's Office Is Investigating The Case Of Alleged
Marijuana At SLO Hospital

It could take another week or two for the county District Attorney's Office
to determine what, if any, charges to bring against the suspected baker of
brownies believed to be laced with marijuana that were eaten by a dozen
hospital workers two weeks ago.

An employee's family member allegedly brought the treats to Sierra Vista
Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo on April 20, according to
hospital spokesman Ron Yukelson. Staff members, including on-shift nurses,
reported feeling strange half an hour after eating them, he said.

Neither Sierra Vista nor local police have identified the employee or
relative. No arrests have been made, and the case has been turned over to
the DA's office, police spokesman Rob Bryn said earlier this week.

"We're taking it very seriously," said Chief Deputy District Attorney
Stephen Brown.

Deputy District Attorney Linda Luong, who specializes in narcotics cases,
is reviewing the incident with the San Luis Obispo Police Department, Brown
said. Luong will help complete the narcotics investigation and decide what
charges, if any, to press.

"The most obvious charge is furnishing marijuana," a misdemeanor, Brown said.

That the alleged brownie baker distributed a controlled substance to
unknowing, on-duty medical workers may, however, warrant a stronger charge,
he said.

One possibility is that of willfully mingling a poison or harmful substance
with food, drink or medicine, Brown said. That felony charge carries a
sentence of two to four years in state prison.

Marijuana's status as a controlled substance under state and federal law
makes it likely that it would considered harmful, Brown said.

If the District Attorney's Office decides to press charges, Brown said the
office would either send a notice asking the suspect to appear in court or
ask a judge to issue an arrest warrant.

The state Department of Health Services is looking into an incident that
occurred at the hospital the same week, according to spokesman Robert
Miller. But he wouldn't say whether the investigation was connected to the
pot-laden brownies.