MMP ID Cards in Contra Costa County

[Pinch]

So I started research and this is the response I got from my county health system. I'm not sure from his response that the good Doctor knows what's going on. Email response sent today. Interesting reading though...


Dear Dr. Brunner,

Thank you for your timely response to my query. I
thought MMP, the ID Program was spelled out in H&S
Code, Section 11362.7-11362.83. I also believe the
California AG rendered an opinion (July 25, 2005).
Please see the following:

https://167.10.5.146:81/ISYSquery/IRLE069.tmp/1/doc.

I am aware of the legal ramifications. My only
concern is with the CHP. The only document CHP will
accept from Prop 215 patients is the State-issued
Medical Marijuana Identification Card (and they know
there are only 124 in existance).

The pilot program in 4 counties was successful and 124
people were issued ID cards. The Feds don't worry me.
It's the CHP. I have a letter recommending MMJ use
for my MS and I carry a miniturized copy in my wallet
along with my Oakland CBC card. Ah, but one issued by
the State.. nothing can beat that.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please
keep me posted. I would like to be the first of many
patients to receive a Contra Costa County issued MMP
ID Card.

Sincerely,
Pinch

--- wbrunner@hsd.co.contra-costa.ca.us wrote:

> Dear Mr. Pinch,

> The medical marijuana identification cards will be
> issued through Contra Costa County, Public Health
> Division, when the State develops guidelines for
> those
> cards. So far, the state has implemented a very
> small pilot program in a few rural counties.
> Development of the state guidelines was also halted
> for a
> period of time by the Supreme Court decision;
> however, the state attorney general has ruled that
> the state should proceed with the program, and
> Contra Costa
> will follow the state direction on this issue.
>
> I do not know when the program will start in Contra
> Costa. That will depend upon when the state issues
> guidelines and instructions to the counties.
> Although
> you quote the law as saying these cards indicate
> authorization to posses, grow, transport and/or use
> medical marijuana , I want to warn you that the law
> is
> unclear on the actual situation with these cards.
> Contra Costa Health Services is a health care
> agency, and we will issue cards as directed by the
> state
> health department and state attorney general.
> However, I don't know what the legal status of the
> possession of marijuana is even for holders of these
> cards.
> We would advise you to consult your attorney on that
> issue.
>
> As a practical matter, I understand that the law
> enforcement officials in Contra Costa have placed a
> very low priority on the enforcement of laws against
> possession of marijuana for persons like you, who
> appear to have a bonified reason to use medical
> marijuana. I suspect that a letter from your doctor
> indicating your diagnosis would keep you out of
> significant difficulty with our law enforcement
> agencies, for the cultivation or possesion of modest
> amounts
> of the drug.
>
> Sincerely
>
> Wendel Brunner PhD, MD
> Director of Public Health
> Contra Costa Health Services
> 597 Center Avenue, Suite 200
> Martinez, Ca 94553
> 925-313-6712 Fax 6721
>
> Visit our website at https://ccpublichealth.org
>

 

[Thepurplem0nkey]

Nice Pinch! I'm in the process of preparing my letter to the LA DOH. I susoect my response letter, if I even get one, wont be as nice or personalized as yours was ;-P
-PM

 

[SmokeyMacPot]

yeah like the doc said. "I suspect that a letter from your doctor
indicating your diagnosis would keep you out of significant difficulty with our law enforcement agencies, for the cultivation or possesion of modest amounts of the drug." this is pretty much a good thing but its been like that for a while. they still take your stuff. also chp are messed up freakers.

 

[Pinch]

Nice Pinch! I'm in the process of preparing my letter to the LA DOH. I susoect my response letter, if I even get one, wont be as nice or personalized as yours was ;-P
-PM

Pretty cool folk up here. My initial email went out yesterday and today.. bam!
I only hope it comes together quickly.. all these same quoted items pretain to LA County too so feel free to use them. Good luck Mr PM!

 

[Pinch]

yeah like the doc said. "I suspect that a letter from your doctor
indicating your diagnosis would keep you out of significant difficulty with our law enforcement agencies, for the cultivation or possesion of modest amounts of the drug." this is pretty much a good thing but its been like that for a while. they still take your stuff. also chp are messed up freakers.

Mr. S, right you are but with this State-issued ID card the local, county and state law enforcement agencies will have to leave us alone. The CHP issued a State-wide directive on this saying they will continue to bust anyone without a State-issued ID Card.. well, here we go, the final frontier!

 

[SmokeyMacPot]

yeah. did they make the state cards harder to get or something?

 

[Thepurplem0nkey]

[/QUOTE]did they make the state cards harder to get or something?

From my understanding of prop 215 and SB420, all you would need to get a DOH card is a doctors recomendation...nothing more. Since all the card is is confirmation that you have a doctors recomendation for the medicinal use of marijuana. Pinch, is this a correct interpretation, or are there specific requirements, above and beyond a doctors recomendation, required for acquiring a card?
-PM

 

[Pinch]

Mr PM.. the ID Program is spelled out in H&S Code, Section 11362.7-11362.83 (9 pages of interesting reading). Yeah, it's basically as easy as you stated. The one thing that bothers me is that even though it is a state authorized program you are only able to get the card in your county. For instance, although Mendicino County has a program in place, being that my residence is in Contra Costa County, I can't get a card from Mendecino, only CC county. So this means we 215ers are at the mercy of our county health officials. And as evidenced in my letter to the Director of Health Services for Contra Costa County they aren't always in tune with the latest events and I'm sure the majority of County Health Services will put the ID Cards on the back burner as no date for the new program to be instituted in each county is written into the law.. they can take their sweet time. (I've read that all counties must have a program in place by year's end but I don't see it happening.) That is a weak point of the legislation. It will probably take a lawsuit to get the ball rolling. I'll be paying very close atttention to this matter.

 

[Pinch]

Rightoeous

Maybe.. but here it is November and I haven't heard a word from Contra Costa County Department of Health.. not that I'm concerned .. after all this is the Bay Area and medical marijuana is as good as legal with all law entities except the anal feds.

We'll see if our County carried out their mandated duty to organize and impliment a medical marijuana ID program.. right! :jerkit: