Pubdate: Fri, 07 Jun 2002
Source: Daily Californian, The (CA Edu)
Copyright: 2002 The Daily Californian
Contact:  http://www.dailycal.org/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/597
Author: Nate Tabak

ARMED ROBBERS TAKE OVER MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLUB

Assailants Make Off With Almost A Pound Of Cannabis

A central Berkeley medical cannabis club was robbed Wednesday afternoon 
after armed assailants held those inside hostage and made off with 
marijuana and cash.

The robbery occurred at about 2:40 p.m. after two Latino males, armed with 
a gun and a knife, entered Medical Herbs, located on the 1600 block of 
University Avenue, Berkeley police Lt. Cynthia Harris said.

Two others were waiting outside in a car during the robbery, Harris said.

No arrests have been made, but the investigation is ongoing, Harris said.

The robbers made off with $1500 in cash and just under a pound of 
marijuana, said Dorrit Geshuri, the club's director of special services.

Two patients and five employees were inside Medical Herbs when the two 
robbers forced their way past a security guard into the club, Geshuri said.

"It was unfortunate that there were patients there," Geshuri said. "They 
have it hard enough as it is."

The assailants forced everybody inside the club on the floor, except for 
one wheelchair-bound patient, and then searched the club, Geshuri said. The 
ordeal lasted less than 10 minutes, she said.

Geshuri said the two men were denied access to the club after they failed 
to present the security guard with a medical marijuana users' card. The 
card, issued by the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative, ensures that only 
legitimate patients are given access to the marijuana, she said.

The two men claimed they came to see the club's owner, prompting the 
security guard to fetch the manager, Geshuri said. The manager came 
outside, but did not recognize the men and returned to the club; but the 
men followed, she said.

When the security guard asked the robbers to wait outside, one of the men 
pulled out a gun, Geshuri said.

Police said the assailant armed with a gun is described as a Latino male 
between 26 and 30 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 250 pounds, 
with a thick mustache. He wore a reddish-brown plaid button- down shirt 
during the robbery, Harris said.

The knife-wielding man is described as Latino male between 22 and 23 years 
old, with a height of six feet. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt 
and blue jeans, Harris said.

Anybody with information about this robbery can contact the Berkeley 
Robbery Detail at 981-5742.
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MAP posted-by: Beth