APPEAL COURT HEARS MEDICAL POT CASES

Attorneys for the Santa Cruz-based Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana
were in court Wednesday asking a U.S. 9th Circuit Appeals panel to overturn
a lower-court ruling denying the group the return of its pot.

The group was seeking the return of more than 160 marijuana plants uprooted
during a raid in September 2002 by federal drug agents.

Joining WAMM were the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Club and the Marin Alliance
for Medical Marijuana. The group's cases were combined because of similar
constitutional arguments.

The groups contend the federal government is overstepping its bounds trying
to shut them down, and that there is a constitutional right to ameliorate
one's pain. The federal government counters federal law trumps state laws
such as California's medical-pot statutes.

Ben Rice, a WAMM's lawyer, estimated the three-judge panel would rule
within two months.