California's cannabis clubs after Proposition 215
August 1996 -- The San Fransisco Cannabis Buyers' Club was shut down following a raid by state agents.
November 1996 - California voters approved Proposition 215 with a 56% majority.
January 1997 -- Superior Court Judge David Garcia ruled that the San Fransisco Cannabis Buyers' Club was protected under Proposition 215 as a primary caregiver.
December 1997 -- The 1st District Court of Appeal overruled Garcia's decision, saying that state law prohibited anyone from selling marijuana and the club did not qualify as a primary caregiver.
January 9 -- The U.S. Justice Department filed suit against six California cannabis clubs.
January 15 -- Marvin Edward Chavez, founder of the Orange County Cannabis Co-op, was arrested and charged with seven counts of selling marijuana and one count of conspiracy to sell marijuana.
January 23 -- Garcia took no action on Attorney General Dan Lungren's request that he order the San Fransisco Cannabis Cultivators' Club, formerly the Cannabis Buyers' Club, to shut down because of the 1st District Court of Appeal ruling. Garcia said he would delay action while the state Supreme Court considered the issue.
February 2 -- Ventura County prosecutors filed a civil lawsuit against the operators of the Rainbow Country Ventura County Medical Cannabis Center, alleging that the center is a public nuisance.
February 3 -- The Thousand Oaks City Council voted to write an ordinance regulating medical marijuana dispensaries and declaring that medical marijuana dispenceries are not permitted in any zone.
February 25 -- The California Supreme Court denied review of the 1st District Court of Appeal decision to overrule the Garcia decision.
February 26 -- Garcia ordered the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers' Club to shut down.
March 16 -- San Fransisco District Attorney Terence Hallinan filed friend-of-the-court papers saying that the city might use its own workers to distribute marijuana if the federal government closed the clubs.
March 18 -- The mayors of San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Cruz and West Hollywood sent letters to President Clinton asking him to block the federal suit against the six California cannabis clubs.
March 24 -- San Jose Police raided the Santa Clara County Medical Cannabis Center and arrested director Peter Baez, charging him with the illegal sale of marijuana.
March 24 -- The U.S. Justice Department requested a permanent to shut down four California cannabis clubs they say sold marijuana to federal agents.
April 3 -- Garcia denied a state lawyer's request to shut down the San Fransisco CCC, saying it was unclear whether or not the CCC was protected under Proposition 215, as they no longer charge for marijuana.
April 6 -- Peter Baez stepped down as director of the Santa Clara County Medical Cannabis Center after being charged with five new counts of illegally selling marijuana.
April 7 -- The Santa Cruz Cannabis Buyers' Club shut down after a supplier refused to extend further credit and an associate took the club's patient list, said Fred Seike, founder of the club.
April 8 -- Orange County Cannabis Co-Op director Marvin Chavez was arrested for violating a January court order not to distribute marijuana.
April 15 -- The San Fransisco CCC was ordered closed after Superior Court Judge David Garcia ruled they overstepped the provisions of Proposition 215 for a primary caregiver.
April 16 -- Peter Baez was charged with a new count for mailing 7 ounces of marijuana.
April 20 -- The San Fransisco CCC was shut down by Sheriff Mike Hennessey. After the closing, a new club, the Cannabis Healing Center, opened in the same spot under the direction of 79-year-old medical marijuana advocate Hazel Rogers. Hennessey said he would not move against the new club.
April 29 -- Superior Court Judge William Cahill refused Attorney General Dan Lungren's demand for a restraining order against the new Cannabis Healing Center.
May 8 -- The Santa Clara County Medical Cannabis Center closed. The club's director said it may reopen if a judge orders the return of $29,000 prosecutors have seized from the club.
May 12 -- San Mateo County officials proposed a three-year study as a means to provide marijuana to medical patients without legal complications faced by the cannabis clubs.
May 14 -- U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that federal drug laws supercede Proposition 215 and ordered the closing of the cannabis clubs.
May 14 -- David Lee Herrick, a volunteer at the Orange County Cannabis Co-Op, was convicted of selling marijuana after a judge refused to allow Proposition 215 as a defense.