SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15 (UPI) San Francisco District Attorney Terence
Hallinan says patients may still be able to buy medical marijuana despite a
court ruling that prevents sales at outlets. Hallinan says potential
loopholes in Friday's appellate court ruling may allow the order to be
circumvented because it makes it nearly impossible for qualified users to
obtain marijuana. Hallinan told the San Francisco Chronicle, "I don't
really see how people deathly ill with fullblown AIDS can be expected to
cultivate their own marijuana."

The 1st District Court of Appeals ruling bars San Francisco Cannabis
Cultivators Club owner Dennis Peron from selling marijuana because he does
not meet the criteria for a primary caregiver. Hallinan says, however, that
the definition of "caregiver" remains broad since last year's passage of
Proposition 215. He says an arrangement could be worked out for a system
where specific plants are designated for specific people.

Peron told the newspaper that his club, the largest in the nation with more
than 5,000 members, has some "wiggle room" on the definition of primary
caregiver. Peron says, "The ruling said we can't sell marijuana, but it
also said that people who provide it to a patient can be remunerated for
production costs." California Attorney General Dan Lungren says his agents
will close down Peron's club and other medical marijuana outlets at the end
of 30 days.

Copyright 1997 by United Press International. All rights reserved.