SANTA CRUZ DOLES OUT MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

Defiant Demonstration Called Kind By Some, Criminal By Others

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

"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 area residents jammed into the courtyard for a supportive
demonstration during the giveaway.

Anton Wilson, who says he has post polio syndrome, received marijuana
Tuesday at City Hall in Santa Cruz.

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

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 would neither
confirm nor deny that it was an agency helicopter.

Mr. 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.

There is no official city sponsorship of the event, and Mr. Krohn and his
colleagues didn't handle the marijuana.

The City Hall pot distribution comes less than two weeks after agents from
the federal Drug Enforcement Administration 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.