Pubdate: Wed, 13 Jun 2001
Source: San Francisco Bay Guardian (CA)
Copyright: 2001 San Francisco Bay Guardian
Contact:  http://www.sfbg.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/387
Author:  Steve Robles
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/ocbc.htm (Oakland Cannabis Court Case)

THE CHILL FACTOR

Court Ruling Causes Cutbacks At Local Pot Clubs

Although last month's Supreme Court ruling against the Oakland Cannabis 
Buyers Cooperative was relatively narrow in scope, the threat of more 
crackdowns has driven some northern California medical marijuana providers 
to scale back their operations, and at least one club has closed.

Just days after the ruling, which upheld a federal injunction against the 
Oakland club's distribution of marijuana, came down May 14  the Howard 
Street Harm Reduction Center closed its doors permanently. And at one of 
San Francisco's most established providers of medical cannabis, 
Californians Helping Alleviate Medical Problems, all but one of the 
dispensary's board of directors resigned on the advice of the club's 
attorney. Further, CHAMP has placed what it calls a "temporary and 
indefinite" cap on new membership requests.

"We will continue to offer our services to the community," CHAMP's voice 
mail greeting proclaims, "but sadly, we are unable to take new members 
until further notice." Nobody at either the now-defunct HSHRC or CHAMP 
would return the Bay Guardian's phone calls.

In fact, none of the major medical marijuana dispensaries in San Francisco 
seemed to want to discuss the state of their operations with us. A 
spokesperson at one provider, who declined to be identified, stated that 
the club had been instructed by its attorneys not to speak to the media.

"It's terrible," San Francisco district attorney Terence Hallinan, who has 
supported the local dispensaries, told us. "There are about 2,000 people 
who could be affected by these two clubs' interruption in service, and I 
don't want to see these sick patients having to go to Dolores Park or 
wherever to try to get their medicine."

Hallinan said that he believes the clubs' actions have been "a bit 
premature" but that he understands the gravity of their decisions and is 
concerned about a domino effect.

"The ruling is absolutely having a chilling effect," he said. "Look, people 
aren't very excited about facing the prospect of mandatory minimum jail 
sentences here," Hallinan said.

Still, some legal observers say it's highly unlikely, with the OCBC case 
still waiting to be remanded to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals 30 
days after the date of the ruling (in accordance to Supreme Court 
practice), that any further injunctions would come down soon, if at all.

"It's paranoia, plain and simple," the club staffer told us. "This ruling 
has nothing to do with Prop. 215 or the issue of medical marijuana at 
large. It's important that we, as providers, remember that."
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MAP posted-by: GD