Pubdate: Thu, 04 Oct 2001
Source: Sacramento Bee (CA)
Copyright: 2001 The Sacramento Bee
Contact:  http://www.sacbee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/376
Author: Jim Wasserman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

FEDERAL MAGISTRATE SETS OCT. 22 HEARING IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA CASE

SACRAMENTO (AP) -- A federal magistrate will hear arguments Oct. 22 to 
decide if records for more than 5,000 northern California medical marijuana 
users can be viewed by federal authorities.

Chief Magistrate Gregory Hollows set the hearing Thursday in a courtroom 
packed with medical marijuana users, several in wheelchairs.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency seized thousands of records Sept. 28 from 
the California Medical Research Center in El Dorado County in what was 
portrayed as an investigation into alleged marijuana distribution. Clinic 
owners Dr. Mollie Fry and her attorney husband, Dale Schafer, deny selling 
marijuana or certificates to buy it.

Neither was arrested and the seized records of their clients remain sealed.

The two-year-old clinic in the town of Cool charges $200 to determine if 
people can use marijuana for medical conditions from cancer to chronic 
pain. If they qualify under 1996's Proposition 215, which bars criminal 
prosecution for using marijuana for medical conditions, they are referred 
to cannabis "clubs" elsewhere for marijuana.

Agents seized 32 marijuana plants that Fry keeps for personal use. She is a 
breast cancer survivor and medical marijuana patient.

U.S. Attorney Anne Pings argued Thursday that the records are relevant to 
her department's investigation and a possible case that clinic 
recommendations of eligibility represent "aiding and abetting" marijuana sales.

Clinic attorney J. David Dick, who specializes in marijuana cases, said he 
will ask that the records be returned.

"This, in essence, is the seizure of every single case file in an 
attorney's office," he said. "This is why there are so many people here. 
They're concerned with their privacy rights."

Pings, citing a "crime-fraud exception," told the chief magistrate that 
traditional attorney-client privilege does not apply to the records.

"Theoretically, the government is entitled to know what individuals 
purchased marijuana or were informed about the opportunity to purchase 
marijuana," she said.

After the hearing, Schafer told more than 60 people who attended, "Nobody 
has a right to look at your records." He said, "It's going to be over my 
dead body."

Heather Schafer, a clinic worker and daughter of Schafer and Fry, said "We 
anticipated that our lines were tapped, that the government didn't like 
what we were doing."

Wheelchair-bound Dee Blanc of Placerville said she dropped to 81 lbs. 
before she began using marijuana to gain weight.

"I'm a chronic pain patient," she said.

Kimberly Craft of Placerville said,"We have a state law that protects us. 
I'm afraid they're going to put us on a list and decide who's next."
- ---
MAP posted-by: GD