Pubdate: Tue, 20 Jun 2000 Source: Santa Barbara News-Press (CA) Section: The County Lines Copyright: 2000 Santa Barbara News-Press Contact: P.O. Box 1359, Santa Barbara, CA 93102 Website: http://www.newspress.com/ COUNCIL TO HEAR PROPOSAL FOR MARIJUANA CLUBS The City Council will consider tonight a local activist's proposal to legalize medical-marijuana clubs. Westside resident Bruce Rittenhouse is asking the council to adopt an ordinance similar to one in Santa Cruz that legalizes the clubs in that city. Police Chief Jacque McCoy has recommended that the council kill the proposal. Rittenhouse is seeking to legalize the clubs under Prop. 215, a 1996 statewide ballot measure that made the growing and use of marijuana legal for medical purposes. Marijuana is used by some AIDS patients to combat the "wasting-away" effect of the condition and by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to counter chronic nausea. Since the passage of Prop. 215, law enforcement agencies statewide have consistently fought the measure's implementation. The council's evening session starts at 6 at City Hall, 735 Anacapa St. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D