SirBlazinBowl
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A program to distribute state medical marijuana cards to qualifying Sonoma County residents is expected to be in place by mid-October, according to public health officials.
The cards will shield holders from arrest for marijuana possession by state and local law enforcement officers.
But how many people will sign up, knowing that they still could be subject to arrest by federal authorities, is unknown, said Dr. Leigh Hall, deputy health officer for Sonoma County.
"We don't really know," Hall said. "It is a voluntary program .. . so it will depend on what identification is needed at dispensing sites, how scared people are by the legal stuff going on. But we are gearing up, we will hire extra people."
Doc Knapp, spokesman for the Sonoma Alliance for Medical Marijuana, an advocacy group, said there are about 3,000 medical marijuana users in Sonoma County.
"Half the people will jump through the hoops and say we want to do this," Knapp said. "The other half won't for a variety of reasons, either rebellion or more importantly they are elected officials or high-paid executives and they don't want to get on a list and threaten their career."
Using, growing and dispensing of marijuana is allowed under Proposition 215, which was passed by California voters in 1996. It allows people to obtain and use marijuana with the recommendation of a physician.
Under a program adopted after the initiative passed, Sonoma County residents could apply for a special permit. Their eligibility was verified by the Sonoma County Medical Association and honored by local law enforcement.
The county allows qualified users to keep three pounds of marijuana and up to 25 plants in a 100-square-foot garden.
Under a state law that took effect last year, medical marijuana users and caregivers will be able to get state-issued identification cards that give them immunity from arrest by local and state law enforcement officers.
But the U.S. Supreme Court ruled for a second time in June that the federal ban on marijuana supersedes state laws allowing medical use.
Although it didn't overturn California's medical marijuana law, the ruling left open the possibility that medical marijuana users could be arrested by federal law enforcement officers.
The decision prompted state officials to temporarily halt the marijuana card program. It has since been restarted, with participants being warned about the conflict between state and federal law.
The cards, which already are available in Mendocino, Del Norte and Amador counties, have pictures, identification numbers and expiration dates.
If cardholders are stopped, police can check a database that will verify the information.
"If you possess a valid SB420 card ( named for Senate Bill 420 ), it is a bar to arrest," Knapp said. "Even if the cop has a bad attitude, the cop can't arrest you, and that is valuable. For patients and caregivers, the most important thing is not to get arrested, because then you have jail, you have to get lawyers, it is costly."
Hall said that under the state program, residents will be able to bring identification and information from a doctor that they are being cared for and have a condition or disease that is eligible for medical marijuana treatment.
Local health workers will verify the information and send it to the state, which will issue the card, Hall said.
Hall said the program will be presented to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors in mid-September and should be in operation in mid-October.
Newshawk: SirBlazinBowl (420Times.com)
Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)
Copyright: 2005 The Press Democrat
Contact: letters@pressdemo.com
Website: Home, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Bay Area Newspaper, CA news
Author: Paul Elias
The cards will shield holders from arrest for marijuana possession by state and local law enforcement officers.
But how many people will sign up, knowing that they still could be subject to arrest by federal authorities, is unknown, said Dr. Leigh Hall, deputy health officer for Sonoma County.
"We don't really know," Hall said. "It is a voluntary program .. . so it will depend on what identification is needed at dispensing sites, how scared people are by the legal stuff going on. But we are gearing up, we will hire extra people."
Doc Knapp, spokesman for the Sonoma Alliance for Medical Marijuana, an advocacy group, said there are about 3,000 medical marijuana users in Sonoma County.
"Half the people will jump through the hoops and say we want to do this," Knapp said. "The other half won't for a variety of reasons, either rebellion or more importantly they are elected officials or high-paid executives and they don't want to get on a list and threaten their career."
Using, growing and dispensing of marijuana is allowed under Proposition 215, which was passed by California voters in 1996. It allows people to obtain and use marijuana with the recommendation of a physician.
Under a program adopted after the initiative passed, Sonoma County residents could apply for a special permit. Their eligibility was verified by the Sonoma County Medical Association and honored by local law enforcement.
The county allows qualified users to keep three pounds of marijuana and up to 25 plants in a 100-square-foot garden.
Under a state law that took effect last year, medical marijuana users and caregivers will be able to get state-issued identification cards that give them immunity from arrest by local and state law enforcement officers.
But the U.S. Supreme Court ruled for a second time in June that the federal ban on marijuana supersedes state laws allowing medical use.
Although it didn't overturn California's medical marijuana law, the ruling left open the possibility that medical marijuana users could be arrested by federal law enforcement officers.
The decision prompted state officials to temporarily halt the marijuana card program. It has since been restarted, with participants being warned about the conflict between state and federal law.
The cards, which already are available in Mendocino, Del Norte and Amador counties, have pictures, identification numbers and expiration dates.
If cardholders are stopped, police can check a database that will verify the information.
"If you possess a valid SB420 card ( named for Senate Bill 420 ), it is a bar to arrest," Knapp said. "Even if the cop has a bad attitude, the cop can't arrest you, and that is valuable. For patients and caregivers, the most important thing is not to get arrested, because then you have jail, you have to get lawyers, it is costly."
Hall said that under the state program, residents will be able to bring identification and information from a doctor that they are being cared for and have a condition or disease that is eligible for medical marijuana treatment.
Local health workers will verify the information and send it to the state, which will issue the card, Hall said.
Hall said the program will be presented to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors in mid-September and should be in operation in mid-October.
Newshawk: SirBlazinBowl (420Times.com)
Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)
Copyright: 2005 The Press Democrat
Contact: letters@pressdemo.com
Website: Home, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Bay Area Newspaper, CA news
Author: Paul Elias
