SAN FRANCISCO A club that openly sold marijuana to people withAIDS, cancer and other diseases reopened its doors on Monday, a dayafter state drug agents cleaned out its cupboards.
"We don't have any marijuana, but we have each other," saidvolunteer Gilbert Baker as a dozen people lined up outside. "We havelove and compassion. That's what the club's been about from thestart."
The Cannabis Buyers' Club has sold marijuana to the seriouslyill since it was founded in 1991. With 11,000 members, the cluboperated from a storefront on busy Market Street.
Club leaders made no secret that they sold the illegal drug, andcity police, under orders from elected officials, didn't disturb theoperation.
On Sunday, state agents burst into the club, seizing more than40 pounds of marijuana, documents and an unspecified amount of cash.
The raid came after a two-year investigation during whichundercover agents said they saw marijuana being bought by minors anddrugs being sold to people with alleged doctor's notes scribbled onnapkins or scrap paper.
State Justice Department spokesman Steve Telliano said the clubhelped distribute large quantities of marijuana throughout the SanFrancisco Bay area.
"This clearly was not a not-for-profit operation," he said."We're still counting" the money.
State attorneys will move to shut the club permanently, Tellianosaid.
No arrests have been made.
Club founder Dennis Peron said the club has rigid restrictionson who may buy marijuana and said he has thousands of doctors' notesas proof. Some marijuana users say it can stimulate appetite andrelieve the nausea caused by chemotherapy.
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