MEDICAL POT ACTIVIST MAY SUE OVER BUST AT AIRPORT

SANTA CRUZ -- A well-known local medical marijuana advocate is
considering a lawsuit after getting caught with the drug at a
Southern California airport in late July.

Valerie Corral said she was at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank when
security officials found about "5 or so grams" of pot in her bag. She
had a Santa Cruz County medical identification card and a doctor's
recommendation, she said.

That didn't keep her from being detained for about 45 minutes, having
her pot taken and getting a citation.

Corral, co-founder of Santa Cruz's Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical
Marijuana, said she is fighting the charge, and may sue to ensure
state medical marijuana laws are followed in the city. She is getting
help from the Drug Law Reform Project of the American Civil Liberties
Union based in Santa Cruz.

"We intend to plead not guilty," said ACLU staff attorney Christina
Alvarez of Santa Cruz.

A court hearing on the misdemeanor charge is set for Aug. 29. Alvarez
said a decision on a civil suit would be made after that.

"Our primary concern is the police appeared to be under the
impression the Compassionate Use Act was no longer in effect in
California," Alvarez said.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that the federal government can
charge people for marijuana possession even if they have a doctor's
recommendation and live in a state that has approved medical marijuana.

After the ruling, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer issued a
statement saying the ruling had no impact on the validity of the
California law.

Calls to the Burbank Police Department were referred to Bob Hope
Airport, which has a separate police force. An airport spokesman
declined comment, except to say citations issued by airport police
are forwarded to city police.

Corral said she typically takes marijuana with her when traveling in
California, but not to other states.

After a bust of WAMM's Davenport garden in September 2002, the group
sued the U.S. Attorney General's office in U.S. District Court in San
Jose, eventually winning an injunction barring raids on its Davenport
garden by federal agents.