Source: Oakland Tribune Contact: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 Author Kathleen Kirkwood, Staff Writer OAKLAND WRITES UP SUPPORT FOR POT CLUB OAKLAND - The city is ready to fire off a strongly worded response to the Clinton administration's crusade against California cannabis dubs but it stops short at offering tangible support to medicinal pot users. The Oakland City Council, which has already directed its police to give a wide berth to medical marijuana users, is likely to go on the record tonight opposing federal lawsuits to shut down six clubs in Northern California. The federal action, filed by U.S. Attorney Michael Yarnaguchi earlier this month, threatens the health of medicinal pot users and encourages street narcotic peddlers to sell cannabis to Oakland's ill citizens," according to the council resolution. Councilmember Nate Miley (East-mont-Seminary) said he wants to beef up the resolution with some kind of legal or funding support for cannabis clubs. "I want us to do what is morally and ethically right," Miley said. Even before voters approved the medicinal marijuana initiative - Proposition 215 - in November, the council had agreed to support the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Club. The club operates a low-key facility downtown, carefully screening members and requiring both identification and a doctor's note. Marijuana for medicinal purposes is sold on the premises, but is not used there. In addition, the council resolution calls upon the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to declare a state of medical emergency that would allow sales of medicinal marijuana to continue. County Supervisor Mary King said she was unclear about specifics regarding such a declaration, but It seemed applying It to the use of medical marijuana would be "irresponsible." King, however, said she opposed the federal litigation against medicinal pot clubs, calling it a "waste of taxpayer time and money. At the Oakland Cannabis Club, one of six named In the lawsuit, staffers said they were hoping for a more substantial show of support - such as funding for legal defense. But the city's resolution is a start, said Jeff Jones. "It's hard to get mad at the city for not doing enough," said Jones, who helped found the Oakland club in 1995 as a distribution service to patients who use marijuana to suppress the side effects common to AIDS treatments, glaucoma, cancer and other debilitating diseases. "I'm a little disappointed it's not more strongly worded," Jones said. The club established offices in downtown Oakland In July 1996 and now has 1,100 members. The U.S. Attorney's office in San Francisco filed suit earlier this month, directed at clubs in Oakland, San Francisco, Marin and Santa Cruz. It's the first time federal officials have attempted to use national drug laws to supersede state laws, such as the November 1996 voter-approved initiative that legalized medical marijuana in California. Last year, the state's 1st District Court of Appeal sided with Lungren in saying cannabis clubs are not protected by Prop. 215.