Breaking News Advisory: 12/20/2005, 11:15 pm
Contact: Hilary McQuie 510-333-8554

The directors of Hopenet, a San Francisco medical cannabis cooperative, are currently under detention in an ongoing pre-dawn federal raid on their home and the cooperative. Steve and Cathy Smith run the highly regarded
1000-member collective, which provides free medicine to over 40 seriously ill low-income patients on an ongoing basis. DEA officers have reportedly confiscated 126 starter plants, dried medicine, and computers.

Patients and supporters are gathering outside Hopenet at 223 Ninth st (&
Howard) at this writing, and a press conference is planned for 1 pm,
including speakers from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Hopenet
Cooperative, Americans for Safe Access, and the San Francisco Patients'
Union.

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Americans for Safe Access
www.SafeAccessNow.org
1322 Webster Street, Suite 208
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: 510-251-1856
Fax: 510-251-2036