MEDICAL POT WAR RAGES ON

Shaw To Galvanize Supporters To Attend The Meeting.

To her relief, the commission voted unanimously to continue the permit
until its August meeting to allow time for the club to provide a belated
financial audit which, Commissioner Steve Shaiken said, the club is trying
to do.

Neither the review, nor the decision, he said, bore any tie to the
injunction. The commission did seek guidance from Town Attorney Joe Brecher
on the matter, and was advised that municipalities have neither the
obligation nor the right to enforce a federal injunction, Shaiken said.

"By continuing the permit process we're not in any way stopping the federal
government from doing what they're going to do," Shaiken said.

"So long as they're in compliance and there's no legal impediment to their
operation, the majority of the commission is supportive of it."

Among the people of Fairfax, he added, the alliance is widely supported.
"Rarely does anyone complain, but numerous people have come forward to
support them."

Despite the injunction, the Fairfax Planning Commission's decision and the
county's new medical marijuana program were cause enough to celebrate for
the Marin Alliance, which hosted a victory party over the weekend at Pete's
881 Club in San Rafael, featuring music by "4 Pot Peace." The band
continued the celebration last night with a performance at 19 Broadway in
Fairfax.

"They have a pretty weak case," Shaw said of the federal government. "I
think they haven't pursued us because they know it's a can of worms."