Pubdate: Fri, 31 May 2002
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Page: A-24
Copyright: 2002 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact:  http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer

MEDICAL POT CLUB CLOSES DOWN AFTER DEA RAID

A Santa Rosa medical marijuana club reportedly halted operations Thursday 
as its owner and another man appeared in court on drug charges in the 
aftermath of the latest federal raid on a California marijuana provider.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents searched the Aiko Compassion 
Center on West College Avenue on Wednesday. They then arrested Daniel H. 
Nelson, identified by a DEA agent as the owner, and Edward M. Bierling of 
Santa Rosa, described by his lawyer as a patient.

Both men appeared before a federal magistrate in San Francisco on charges 
of cultivating more than 100 marijuana plants, charges that carry a 
mandatory prison sentence of at least five years. Nelson is also charged 
with maintaining a place where marijuana was cultivated. Both were released 
on bond.

Attorney Richard Ingram said Bierling has a certificate from a doctor, 
reviewed by a medical panel established with approval of local law enforcement,

entitling him to grow and use marijuana for his medical condition. The 
lawyer declined to discuss the condition.

The Aiko center, which has more than 100 patients as members, halted 
operations Thursday after being served with a three-day eviction notice by 
its landlord, said Ernest Knapp, spokesman for the Sonoma Alliance for 
Medical Marijuana. Knapp said the landlord had gotten a letter from a DEA 
lawyer warning that the government would seize the property if the landlord 
didn't stop the illegal activity.

"Patients have been coming in all day, panicked. Some are disabled and have 
a hard time getting to the three other clubs in the county," Knapp said.

DEA spokesman Richard Meyer said the agency is not going after marijuana 
clubs. "We target marijuana traffickers," he said.
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