[420 Girl]

CA - Members of a Monterey cannabis club held a demonstration Monday afternoon, protesting a recent court order that prohibits them from dispensing medical marijuana at 554 Lighthouse Ave.

Marc Rowland said the court order is forcing club members to get their medication on the street instead of in a safe environment, which their center provided.

"We are trying to raise the public's awareness in a positive manner," Rowland said of the protest.

He and other members say they want the medical marijuana ban lifted to conform with state law. Voters approved medical marijuana use in 1996.

"The city needs to respect California state law and let us continue what we are doing because we are not hurting anyone," said cooperative member Michael Cacioppo, of Monterey.

The court order was issued March 12 after the city sued the members of MyCaregiver Inc. alleging zoning code violations and that the nature of their business was not fully disclosed. It was listed only as "Health care Cooperative/Individual & Family Services" in a business license application.

The members of MyCaregiver are appealing the court order. They argue the cooperative is a private nonprofit that complies with state law, and a business license or permit is not needed.

Rowland said that in the meantime, they are complying with the order. The center remains open, providing other services to existing members, such as Internet access and neck wrap treatments.

The cooperative is not currently accepting new members, Rowland said, because it is short-staffed.

The city has adopted a moratorium on applications for medical marijuana dispensaries, and the City Council has directed staff to draft proposed regulations.

http://www.420magazine.com/forums/in...s-protest.html