POT GIVEAWAY PROCEEDS

SANTA CRUZ -- Calling Santa Cruz a "sanctuary" from federal authorities,
medical marijuana advocates -- joined by city leaders -- passed out pot to
about a dozen sick and dying people Tuesday at City Hall.

"Santa Cruz is a special place, and today we're letting the world know how
compassionate we can be," said Mayor Christopher Krohn. "We're taking a stand."

More than 1,000 community members jammed into the garden-like courtyard for
a supportive demonstration during the giveaway.

Several people in the crowd lit marijuana cigarettes, but it was mostly an
alcohol- and drug-free gathering, which was what organizers requested.

"Please do not confuse our message. Our message is not about defiance, our
message is about peaceful assembly," said Valerie Corral.

The enthusiastic crowd included many pet dogs, a pet snake, dancers,
drummers, and protesters holding signs including: "DEA Go Away" and "U.S.
Out Of Santa Cruz."

No law enforcement was present, except for a helicopter without clear
markings that hovered above the event for almost an hour. Local officials
did not know who was inside the helicopter.

Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Richard Meyer said he would not
confirm nor deny that it was an agency helicopter.

Meyer did say he was appalled by the event, and feared that the community
was sending a dangerous message to its children.

"Marijuana is an illegal drug in this country," he said.

But Mike Corral, who helped distribute the marijuana, said the only message
sent Tuesday was that "marijuana is medicine."

Marijuana is illegal as a medicine or as a recreational drug under federal
law. But state law, and county and city ordinances, say it's legal if
recommended by a doctor.

In Santa Cruz and many California communities, local law enforcement works
closely with growers and distributors who help sick people obtain
marijuana. Krohn and his colleagues didn't handle the marijuana, but stood
in solidarity with the clinic workers and users.

The City Hall pot distribution comes less than two weeks after DEA agents
arrested the owners of a local pot farm and confiscated 130 plants that had
been grown for use as medicine at the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana.

Santa Cruz Police Chief Steve Belcher said his officers work closely with
WAMM, and that they did not plan to arrest registered, legitimate members
picking up their medicine.

However, he said, "This is not going to be a smoke-out at City Hall."

People who show up to smoke pot for fun, without a doctor's recommendation,
could face arrest, Belcher said.

There was no official city sponsorship of the event. Council members and
medical marijuana advocates simply acted on their own in a public space,
said City Attorney John Barisone.

Hal Margolin, who said he suffers chronic back pain, said he was relieved
to receive his weekly marijuana dose. He said he smokes between 18 and 22
puffs a week in lieu of painkillers.

"We don't buy it, we don't sell it, we don't ship it in interstate commerce
and we don't give it to children," he said.

Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington also allow
marijuana to be grown and distributed to people with a doctor's
prescription. But the DEA has focused its raids on medical marijuana
growers and distributors in California.

Community members in this liberal community repeatedly have supported
medical marijuana. In 1992, 77 percent of Santa Cruz voters approved a
measure ending the prohibition of medical marijuana. Four years later,
state voters approved Proposition 215, allowing marijuana for medicinal
purposes. And in 2000, the city council approved an ordinance allowing
medical marijuana to be grown and used without a prescription.