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| Pot Put Back in Spotlight |
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Posted by FoM on July 11, 2001 at 07:36:27 PT By Thomas Schultz, News-Press Staff Writer Source: News-Press 
The Santa Barbara City Council should lobby state and federal officials to clarify rules governing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes but refrain from creating its own local guidelines, the city's Ordinance Committee recommended Tuesday.The council is expected to consider the suggestion within a month. If the council concurs, the decision could effectively squash efforts by local citizens to establish guidelines on medicinal marijuana use, cultivation, arrests or seizures within city limits. A local cannabis club, which distributed medicinal marijuana in Santa Barbara, was disbanded earlier this year, but activists are trying to resurrect the club. Medicinal marijuana supporters led by mayoral candidate and Westside activist Bruce Rittenhouse came to City Hall a year ago urging an ordinance to implement Prop. 215. The 1996 statewide initiative earned supported from 70 percent of city voters. It legalized marijuana for treatment of cancer, AIDS and other debilitating diseases and their side effects with a doctor's recommendation. But in the past five years, officials in jurisdictions across California have waded through a murk of confusion on what the proposition, which conflicts with federal rules that ban pot use, actually guarantees. The Ordinance Committee -- comprised of City Council members Gil Garcia, Marty Blum and Gregg Hart, who was absent Tuesday -- has debated the issue at four public hearings and approached county law enforcement officials for cooperation in recent months. The county Sheriff's Department and District Attorney's Office would not support a proposed memorandum of understanding on local medicinal marijuana protocol, however. "No general consensus was reached in those discussions," according to a city report. Mr. Garcia, also a candidate for mayor, voted for the recommendation Tuesday, expressing concern that city guidelines enacted without regional cooperation might give ill patients who use marijuana locally a false sense of security. "I think it would," Mr. Garcia said, adding that "I have urged our Police Department that we have to be somewhat lenient." Assistant City Attorney Bob Pike on Tuesday told Mr. Garcia and Ms. Blum, also a candidate for mayor, that the city should instead urge passage of a proposed state law, SB-187, which would set up statewide protocols. "If this were to go through, it seems like it would be very helpful," said Ms. Blum, who also voted for the recommendation. Those pushing for city rules said patients who use or grow marijuana already do live with security concerns, mainly fear of arrest. "I recognize that this ought to be taken care of by the state government," said Dr. David Bearman, a local physician who has prescribed the controlled substance. "They have not stepped up to the plate." Still, "No one is asking you to try to make everything right for the whole county," Dr. Bearman told the Ordinance Committee. "A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step." "If our (city police) officers don't cite people in the city of Santa Barbara, the district attorney doesn't get involved," Mr. Rittenhouse said. "We're back where we were on Day 1. It's shameful." In other City Hall action, the council voted to spend public money on several fronts, including: * A $1.2 million contract with Lash Construction, Inc., for water main replacement at several sites across the city, including portions of Mission Ridge Road, Mountain Drive, Carrillo Street and Calle Alamo. The contract "includes all labor, material and equipment to install 12,500 linear feet of water main, water valves" and other hardware, according to a city report. * A $102,000 contract with Lash to build intersection improvements at Laguna and Mission streets. "For many years, Roosevelt School officials and parents observed many stop sign violations at the intersection," according to a city report. "The violations were likely caused by Mission Street being oriented with Laguna Street at less than a right angle. This made it easier for southbound vehicles to roll through. A plan was developed that 'bubbled out' the northeast corner so the two streets would intersect at more of a right angle." * In addition, the council authorized $509,000 contract with Lash for sewer improvements along Las Positas Road. * An agreement with Decision Management Company, Inc., for the acquisition and installation of a document imaging and management system for the the City Clerk's office -- an expenditure not to exceed $57,052. The system will permit the clerk's office to efficiently index, digitally archive and electronically share documents. * A $411,000 agreement with the Downtown Organization for sidewalk cleaning, landscaping and surface maintenance of the 00-1200 blocks of State Street and several cross streets -- effective July 1 through June 30. The organization will wash sidewalks at least once a month, clean and painting kiosks, planters, fountains and telephone booths. In addition, the organization will pick up trash, remove graffiti and replace certain plants. Source: Santa Barbara News-Press (CA) Related Articles: Medical Marijuana Ordinance Delayed Case For Medical Marijuana Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 13, 2001 at 10:20:38 PT |
| PUC Won't Give Officers Quick Access To Records Source: San Francisco Chronicle Compiled from Chronicle Staff Reports The California Public Utilities Commission swiftly and unanimously turned down a petition yesterday that would have given narcotics officers access to utility company records without a warrant or subpoena. The commission's 5-to-0 opposition was led by Commissioner Jeff Brown, who retired as San Francisco's public defender this year. Sharply increased power use can sometimes point to illegal drug operations, such as indoor marijuana farming. "It's a clear invasion of privacy," Brown said yesterday. "If police want the right to look at your utility bill, they should be able to get a warrant. I think there is an issue of privacy here. Do we really want narcotics officers, police officers, rummaging the records of utilities to find out how much gas we burned in our own homes or how many kilowatts we've used? We shouldn't just let anyone with a badge go snooping through these records." In a petition filed in August, the California Narcotic Officers' Association argued that 'the ability to obtain utility user information upon request is critical to law enforcement." [ Post Comment ] |
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