COUPLE RAISES MONEY FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA DEFENSE

TEMECULA -- The messages on the signs weren't as familiar as "Will work for
food," but they were enough to catch the attention of passers-by Monday
afternoon. That is, until police shooed the sign-holders from a busy offramp.

A Temecula couple arrested a year ago for cultivating marijuana -- both
have medical prescriptions for the drug -- took their plight to the streets
Monday, hoping drivers would donate money to their legal defense fund.

Martin and Lavonne Victor and a few of their friends made about $50 in 20
minutes as they stood along the offramp at the Highway 79 South exit of
Interstate 15. They all held signs detailing the couple's arrest and need
for money to pay their attorney.

Less than 20 minutes after the group arrived and began soliciting drivers
for donations, California Highway Patrol officers pulled up and asked them
to move away from the ramp, which falls under state jurisdiction.

CHP Lt. Dennis Brunette said the department had warning of the couple's
plans to solicit drivers. Martin Victor said he notified the Temecula City
Hall of his plans for solicitation.

Victor spent most of his time along the freeway looking at and pointing out
the presence of Temecula police officers watching the activities from down
the street. Once the CHP officers pulled up, he went quickly to speak to them.

"My wife and I want no problems, no arrests," Victor told the officers.

Until the police showed up, many of the drivers tried to avoid looking at
the group and instead stared straight ahead. A few, though, rolled down
their window and kicked in a dollar or two.

One young man, Todd White, took a look at the signs and dropped $10 in the
bucket.

"It's for medical reasons," White said of the couple's marijuana use. "I
don't see why they should be put to jail."

The Victors are among those who have received a medical doctor's written
authorization to use pot under Proposition 215, a 1996 California
initiative that legalized the use of medicinal marijuana. Lavonne Victor,
45, suffers from multiple sclerosis and panic attacks. Her husband, Martin,
50, was diagnosed with optical edema.

Eric Shevin, the Victors' West Hollywood-based attorney, was surprised
Monday to hear of his clients' methods for raising defense funds. Shevin,
who specializes in medical marijuana cases, said that he has not quoted the
couple a fee, but that $15,000 should get them his services "up until trial."

Shevin and the couple will be in court Friday for another arraignment. They
were ordered Sept. 27 to stand trial on charges of cultivating marijuana
and possessing marijuana for sale. The couple were arrested Oct. 17, 2001,
after police raided their Temecula home and seized 15.7 pounds in mason
jars, another 6.2 pounds in trash bags and eight plants being cultivated on
the couple's property.

Shevin has in court countered that authorities seized only six or seven
pounds of marijuana and that the remainder of the seizure consisted
primarily of leaves, stems and plants with soil still attached.

The county prosecutor assigned to the case, Cynthia Brewer, could not be
reached for comment Monday.

Each county in the state sets its own standard on how much people are
allowed to grow under Prop. 215. Riverside County allows the amount
possessed to not exceed that necessary for medicinal purposes, although the
county does not define what that amount is.