From: [C upi] at [clari.net] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.alcohol+drugs
Subject: Cannabis Buyers Club arrests
Keywords: legal, illegal drugs, health
Organization: Copyright 1996 by United Press International
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 1996 16:30:36 PDT
                                         
        SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- The six people alleged to be the  
operators of San Francisco's Cannabis Buyers Club, an organization that 
provided marijuana to people suffering from a variety of illnesses, were 
arrested Friday by state narcotics agents. 
        The arrests came more than two months after agents staged a  
controversial Sunday afternoon raid on the club, seizing marijuana, cash 
and records of those who purchased the illegal substance. No arrests 
were made at the time. 
        The raid touched off a dispute with San Francisco authorities, who  
had taken a hands-off policy because they felt the club's humanitarian 
efforts outweighed any violations of federal, state and local drug laws. 
        Among those arrested was Dennis Peron, the club's founder and a vocal  
supporter for the legalization of medical marijuana use. Peron was 
allowed to remain free on his own recognizance and ordered to appear in 
Alameda County Municipal Court on Tuesday for arraignment. 
        Also named in the indictment were: Peter George Veilluex, Antonio  
Aguirre Martinez, John Wayne Hudson, Elizabeth Gail Moore and Adam 
Mitchell Perry. 
        The grand jury indictment listed the charges as conspiracy,  
possession of marijuana for sale and the large scale transportation of 
marijuana. 
        California Attorney General Dan Lungren said the action was being  
taken because the club did not limit its sales to the ill. He claims a 
lengthy undercover operation revealed that healthy individuals and 
minors were buying marijuana from the club. 
        At a Los Angeles press conference, Lungren told reporters he could  
not go into the specifics of the case. 
        San Francisco District Attorney Arlo Smith criticized Lungren for the  
indictments, questioning whether or not they were politically motivated. 
California voters will go to the polls in November to decide if 
Proposition 215, which would legal medical use of marijuana, should be 
passed into law. 
        Lungren was successful in gaining a temporary restraining order from  
a San Francisco judge on Aug. 5 which has shuttered the club's doors. An 
Oct. 30 hearing will be held to determine if the closure order should be 
made permanent. 
        The raid grabbed further headlines earlier this month when the comic  
strip ``Doonesbury'' attacked Lungren. At the time, the attorney general 
asked California newspapers to refrain from running the strip.