Date: Tue, 06 Aug 1996 07:08:40 -0500
From: "Carl E. Olsen" <[c--l] at [dsmnet.com]>
Subject: SF Buyers' Club Raided

              Californians for Medical Rights
                        Yes on 215

For Release: August 4, 1996
CONTACT: Dave Fratello at (310) 394-2952

Buyers' Club Bust Underscores Need for Prop. 215
------------------------------------------------

SANTA MONICA, August 4 -- Reacting to news this morning that 
the "Cannabis Buyers' Club" (CBC) in San Francisco has been 
raided by police, Californians for Medical Rights, the Yes 
on Prop. 215 campaign, issued the following statement:

"The Cannabis Buyers' Club, one of the many groups in 
California supporting Prop. 215, has suffered a serious blow 
this morning. For some, the San Francisco CBC was a beacon 
of hope.

"Our hearts go out to the 10,000 seriously and terminally 
ill people served by the CBC.  These patients were willing 
to risk arrest to use a medicine that reduced their pain and 
suffering.  Many of them will now be deprived of that 
medicine, which their doctors agreed was beneficial.

"The arrests this morning underscore the need for passage of 
Prop. 215 this November.  The seriously and terminally ill 
people of California who find medical benefits from 
marijuana are not criminals.  Prop. 215 will make that fact 
explicit under state law.

"Surely the dozens of police officers who participated in 
this morning's arrests can be better employed chasing hard 
criminals, even on a Sunday morning."

                           ###

Californians for Medical Rights (CMR) -- YES ON 215 is a 
non-partisan, non-affiliated committee formed in 1996.  
CMR's focus is on protecting the legal rights of doctors and 
patients who find marijuana useful in medical treatment.  
CMR was instrumental in gathering sufficient signatures to 
place Prop. 215 on the ballot -- over 775,000 were turned 
over to county registrars on April 24.

       125 Sixth Street #202, Santa Monica, CA 90401
            (310) 394-2952 Fax: (310) 451-7494

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 *  Carl E. Olsen               *  [c--l] at [dsmnet.com]                    *
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