Source: KNBC - MSNBC affiliate in Los Angeles
Contact:  http://www.msnbc.com/local/KNBC/default.asp
Pubdate: Tue, 28 Jul 1998

MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATE PLEADS INNOCENT TO CONSPIRACY CHARGES

LOS ANGELES, July 27 - A Los Angeles medical marijuana advocate pleaded
innocent Monday to charges that he conspired with several others to grow
massive amounts of the drug to sell to Cannabis Buyer's Clubs.

Peter McWilliams, who claims he is suffering from AIDS and cancer, is
accused of conspiring with Todd McCormick to supply the clubs, which
distribute marijuana to those who say they use it as medicine.

McCormick, another medical marijuana advocate, was arrested nearly a year
ago, after authorities discovered 4,116 marijuana plants growing in his
rented Bel-Air mansion. McCormick was charged last year with one count of
manufacturing marijuana.

He and six others are set to be arraigned next week on the new conspiracy
charges, and David Richards, who also is accused in the alleged scheme, was
arraigned Monday with McWilliams. In court, McWilliams, an outspoken
Libertarian said he no longer had an attorney and planned to represent
himself.

He also claimed that he is being denied a complicated regime of drugs he
takes to treat his AIDS virus. After some prodding by U.S. Magistrate Judge
Virginia Phillips, McWilliams agreed to hire an attorney.

A status conference was set for Aug. 24 in front of U.S. District Judge
George King. Last week, McWilliams was granted $250,000 bail. So far, he
hasn't come up with the money to post it.

Meantime, Assistant U.S. Attorney Fernando Aenlle-Rocha said he hopes
officials from the Metropolitan Detention Center will "take steps to remedy
the problem" of the defendant not receiving all of his medications. Linda
Thomas, a spokeswoman for the downtown lockup where McWilliams is being
held refused to discuss the case.

She did say that the policy is to provide inmates with doctor-prescribed
medications "consistent with community standards."

McWilliams claims he is not being given all of the medications that go into
his "cocktail," a strict regimen of as many as 30 pills a day that must be
taken a specific times.

According to Dr. Ronald Mitsuwasu, the director the UCLA AIDS Clinic
Research Center, the "very potent anti-HIV drugs require they be given on
schedule without missing doses or their effectiveness will wear off."

"While I don't know the particulars of this case, these drugs are the
common therapy for HIV-infected patients," he said. "Failing to take them
properly can jeopardize the patients well-being."

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Checked-by: Mike Gogulski