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| ID Cards Approved for Medical-Pot Users |
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Posted by FoM on February 14, 2002 at 08:19:11 PT By Ray Huard, Union-Tribune Staff Writer Source: Union-Tribune 
People who use marijuana on their doctor's advice will get identification cards meant to protect them from arrest under a program approved by the San Diego City Council yesterday. "This is a very modest response to an immediate and real need," said Councilwoman Toni Akins, who joined Councilman Ralph Inzunza Jr. in leading the drive for a medical marijuana ID card program. The program, approved by the council on a 7-2 vote, will allow sick people or those who care for them to obtain picture ID cards allowing them to carry up to one ounce of marijuana without fear of arrest. Under the plan, put together by a citizens Medical Cannabis Task Force, cardholders found to be carrying more than an ounce could be detained by police until they proved their need for the extra marijuana. The task force was created by the council in May to implement Proposition 215, a 1996 measure allowing the medical use of marijuana. The program will include a 24-hour hotline that police can call to verify the identification of cardholders. Councilmen Brian Maienschein and Jim Madaffer voted against the plan. No one from the public objected to the plan during a council hearing yesterday. Medical marijuana patient Susan McNichols of Hillcrest told the council a card program could have prevented her detention by police last summer when she was stopped for transporting marijuana plants in her car. McNichols said she was taken in handcuffs to police headquarters and interviewed by narcotics officers before being released. "This was a very painful and humiliating experience," she said. Maienschein said told his colleagues that it is improper for the city to issue marijuana ID cards until the courts resolve a conflict between state and federal law. Proposition 215 authorized the medical use of marijuana in California, but federal law still prohibits it. "I can't imagine this is not going to be settled by the courts," Maienschein said. The city-issued cards will offer no protection against arrest by federal authorities, nor will they be valid outside San Diego city limits. Atkins said it likely will take about six months to get the program operating. She said the task force must raise $20,000 to $30,000 in private money to pay for the program and will work with the city manager to find an agency to run it. Normally, the city manager could then implement the program without further council action. But Atkins said she will ask City Manager Michael Uberuaga to get council approval of his decision on who will administer it. Inzunza said San Francisco, Oakland and several other California cities and counties have similar marijuana card programs. "This is the right time to do this," Inzunza said. Note: San Diego council vote on plan is 7-2. Related Articles & Web Site: Medical Marijuana Information Links San Diego Council Approves Pot ID Cards Panel Pitches City ID Cards for Medical Pot Users ID Card for Marijuana Patients Urged Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #2 posted by isobar2000 on February 15, 2002 at 19:06:11 PT |
| Beware folks, the feds don't like people who follow state and local laws. Once your name and address is on record the feds can get it and use it to get you. Yes, it would be great if people could govern themselves through democracy, but our leaders in Washington tend to disagree. But it is still a reliefe that there are people trying to do the right thing in dark times. Try and keep up the good work. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by p4me on February 14, 2002 at 12:27:30 PT |
| This was on a Charlotte television station on Tuesday. The only other time they even said marijuana is when research came out about 6 weeks ago for a drug to help lose weight that was similar to a chemical in MJ. I think they realize that information is trickling down and they will be saying marijuana more often outside of drug arrest. That was real exciting in the article above this one about the Sheriff of Long Horn County. It made my day. VAAI [ Post Comment ] |
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