cannabisnews.com: Supervisors Approve Marijuana Dispensaries Supervisors Approve Marijuana Dispensaries Posted by CN Staff on February 08, 2005 at 09:04:15 PT By Vanessa Turner Source: Calaveras Enterprise Kim Cue can legally open up her medical marijuana dispensary in San Andreas now that the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors introduced an ordinance allowing them in professional office zones. "I'm so nervous I can't talk," Cue said after the board's meeting Monday.Cue first applied to open a dispensary in September but hit some roadblocks when the county passed and later extended a ban on such facilities saying it needed to study the issue further. County Counsel Jim Jones looked into the legal issues while Planning Department Deputy Director Bob Sellman went to work on drafting a zoning ordinance regulating where the dispensaries could be located.California's Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, passed in 1996 allows patients to use medical marijuana with a physician's recommendation but federal law still considers marijuana an illegal substance.A case on this very issue is before the U.S. Supreme Court and a decision is expected sometime in July.Sheriff Dennis Downum is unhappy with the board's decision saying the situation puts law enforcement at odds."I guess we have to see whether the feds trump the state," Downum said.He anticipates the federal government will be coming to Calaveras County to seize the dispensary building like it did at a Roseville dispensary last October.Cue said she has two potential sites picked out in San Andreas. One is at Highway 49 and Mountain Ranch Road near the county Surveyor and 4-H office and the other is near Anchor Printing and Hemptation."Supervisor Lucy Thein had it exactly right," Downum said. "All San Andreas needs is a strip club to make it complete," since it already has a tattoo parlor, a piercing parlor and a head shop. "You don't see that happening in Murphys," he added. "People down there would probably raise hell.""The residents and voters voted for the Compassionate Use Act," Supervisor Merita Callaway, who represents a portion of Murphys, said. "This tries to fill that commitment. … I don't know why we're even talking about it. The issue is so much bigger than little Calaveras County."Supervisors Steve Wilensky and Tom Tryon sided with Callaway.Wilensky said he lost his father-in-law to pancreatic cancer. "He died from starvation," he said. "He rejected this (medical marijuana) option."The decision should be between a patient and a doctor, not government, Wilensky concluded.Supervisor Victoria Erickson, who had a brother die of AIDS, said she couldn't find an appropriate location for the dispensaries in the county.Supervisor Bill Claudino agreed and said Proposition 215 was not written well and dispensaries have a poor history of compliance.Cue told supervisors she would implement numerous safety measures including hiring two security guards for in the store.Now with the green light she will meet with Sellman and Downum to go over her security plans as called for in the new ordinance.Formal passage of the ordinance will take place next week.Beverly Holst of Arnold urged the board to allow the dispensary and said it's getting dangerous to get her marijuana."It forces me to become involved in illegal activities, which puts myself at risk," Holst said. "That's just not the kind of person I am."Kelly Caverley of Angels Camp said it takes six hours round trip to fill her husband's prescription and three days for him to recuperate from the trip."I'm extremely excited," she said. "I get some of my life back."John Wiles of Copper Cove added the dispensary would bring more tax dollars to the county.Source: Calaveras Enterprise (CA)Author: Vanessa TurnerPublished: Tuesday, February 08, 2005 Copyright: 2005 Calaveras EnterpriseContact: editor calaverasenterprise.comWebsite: http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmPot Law Back on Board Agendahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20195.shtmlPot Issue Simmers on Divided Boardhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19884.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #18 posted by Hope on February 09, 2005 at 08:18:48 PT Remember how people wanted to gather somewhere by the thousands and turn themselves into the law? Overwhelm them with the amount of criminals they had created with misbegotten laws. To ovewhelm their jail space and paper work. It could have been a great thing. I'm glad we didn't do it though. They'd have probably microwaved or gassed us and killed some of us.Anyway.I am so thankful to everyone and Him that we are finally a "hot topic". [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by Hope on February 09, 2005 at 08:13:54 PT Like I said earlier I'm pretty sure horrible stuff like that, from what I've seen of life in my time...is more "par for course" than not.There have been many,many horrors. I have not forgotten. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on February 09, 2005 at 07:57:39 PT Patrick I'm glad you understand too. I am beyond shock and all I want to do is see change in our current laws concerning cannabis. That doesn't mean I don't care but it means it isn't new and it doesn't upset me. It makes me determined to see change so no more good people like Tom and Rollie will ever have to suffer that horrible fate at the hands of our system. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by Patrick on February 09, 2005 at 07:42:52 PT FOM I hope the man gets a good lawyer and sues them. Ever since Tom and Rollie were shot and killed nothing that happens shocks me much anymore. I am with you on that one! I never knew Tom & Rollie but your site was the only place covering their plight with the Michigan police and a corrupt politician's attempt to steal their land. The stand off wasn't even a blip in the mainstream media. Then 911 happened a week later insuring that the tragedy and injustice would not become national news. I too am no longer "shocked" by anything to keep cannabis as the evil scapegoat. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by kaptinemo on February 08, 2005 at 19:04:38 PT: A very sick version of a Cheech and Chong skit "Sign zee paypuhsss, old man!" "I will not sign the papers."After repeated refusals from the victim leading to worse brutality, the infuriated interrogator asks, "And vhy vill you not sign zee pypuhssss?""Because you have broken both of my hands."The skit came from a movie, which purported to be a dramtization of actual Nazi interrogation.I say again: NAZI interrogation.As we can see, Life is imitating Art again...in the sickest, most disgusting way possible. You can bet that this news item is being flashed around the world as proof that Abu Ghraib was not an aberration but a daily reality in Amerika.Ever since the imporatation of Nazis into the US with Operation Paperclip http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=operation+paperclip the intell agencies and the military seem to have been infected with the fascist germ...and here's the proof. The poisoned fruit doesn't fall far from the tree. And now that fruit's rot has found it's way into law enforcement."Sign zee paypuhsss, Herr, uh, er, Mister Siler!" [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on February 08, 2005 at 17:32:02 PT siege I hope the man gets a good lawyer and sues them. Ever since Tom and Rollie were shot and killed nothing that happens shocks me much anymore.http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/rb.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by siege on February 08, 2005 at 17:06:59 PT over cannabis 3. Five police officers in Campbell County, Tennessee, are pleading guilty to beating and torturing a 42-year-old man they suspected of selling drugs. As they tried to force Lester Eugene Siler to sign a form stating he had consented to let them search his home, the officers were caught on tape brutally beating him and threatening to kill him. The officers are heard on the tape threatening to attach a battery charger to Siler's testicles, to shoot him, and to burn him with a lighter."We're going to take every dime you have today and if we don't walk out of here with every piece of dope you got and every dime you got, you're (expletive) ass is not going to make it to the jail," one officer says on the tape. Another officer is heard saying, "Shoot his (expletive) ass." [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by cloud7 on February 08, 2005 at 16:56:04 PT Marijuana Makes Blood Rush to the Head http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6975 [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on February 08, 2005 at 14:48:56 PT Ohio News The possibility of Ohio having Medical Marijuana allowed is for me a dream come true. I wondered if Ohio would be considered and it is. I hope other states are moving in the same direction. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on February 08, 2005 at 14:30:34 PT Ohio Senator Seeks Co-Sponsors For Med Marijuana Take Action Now! http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=6937921&type=STDear Friends:NORML is pleased to announce that Sen. Robert Hagan (D - 33rd District) will be introducing legislation next week (Wednesday, February 16, 2005) to protect bonafide medical marijuana patients from criminal arrest and state prosecution. Now is the time to contact your state Senator and urge him or her to co-sponsor this important legislation.The use of marijuana as medicine is a public health issue; it should not be part of the war on drugs. Modern science suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief, particularly of neuropathic pain (pain from nerve damage); nausea; spasticity; glaucoma; and movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant, specifically for patients suffering from HIV, the AIDS wasting syndrome, or dementia. Emerging research suggests that marijuana's medicinal properties may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors and act as neuroprotective agents. That it why, according to a recent national survey of U.S. physicians conducted for the American Society of Addiction Medicine, nearly half of all doctors with opinions support legalizing marijuana as a medicine.To deny patients access to an effective medication in order to "send a strong message to kids" against drug abuse is needlessly cruel, and improperly interferes with the relationship between a patient and his or her physician. We already allow the medical use of many drugs, such as cocaine and morphine, which can be abused in a non-medical setting. Basic compassion and common sense demand that we allow the seriously ill to use whatever safe medication is most effective.Please take two minutes of your time to write your state Senator and tell him or her how important it is that they co-sponsor Sen. Hagan's forthcoming legislation. NORML has created pre-written letters that you can send to your Senator by visiting: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=6937921&type=STThank you for your help.Sincerely,Paul Armentano Senior Policy Analyst NORML [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on February 08, 2005 at 11:33:16 PT Just Some Stats These 4 links are the most accessed on my FTE web site. There isn't a day that goes by that people from around the world don't check out these links. France, Germany, Australia, Canada, The USA and more. What people search for and read tells me medical marijuana issues are still very important to most activists.http://freedomtoexhale.com/eventpics.htmhttp://freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htmhttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmhttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on February 08, 2005 at 11:20:27 PT Oh Sam! Thank you! I was beginning to think I was the only one who thought that way. It might be boring to some but not to me and boredom has no place in how I see the big picture. This isn't how I entertain myself. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Sam Adams on February 08, 2005 at 11:15:13 PT Cue EJ, it may not be "due recognition", but I'm sure Kim's work will be appreciated by every patient that walks in the door, I hope some will remember to thank her.FOM, your comment perfectly articulates my thoughts also. I agree that it seems ridiculous to move on to legalization when medical marijuana is not finished yet. I think it's tough for some activists, and also donors, to understand that just because they've worked their butts off for 10 years, or donated millions of dollars, they still haven't won! Unfortunately, just because you're tired of medical marijuana, or it's not exciting enough, doesn't mean that you're going to be able to win legalization.I've heard that a big reason for MPP's legalization iniatives is that Peter Lewis is only willing to spend big bucks on legalization. As a businessman, I can't understand how he feels that way. If the setting is not ripe for legalization, you're just pouring money down the drain. MPP spent $400K to win medical MJ in Montana, and they were about to spend $3.4 million on legalization in Nevada. Why not wait 2 more years for legalization & ram medical MJ down the throats of another 12 states, all in the same election? I think we'd finally get some recognition in mainstream media if 10 or 12 states all legalized medical MJ in the same year. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on February 08, 2005 at 10:40:37 PT Just Some Thoughts I wasn't online when the medical marijuana movement got started so I always think of 96 as the beginning. Here we are almost 10 years since it all started and my hope is that soon we will see change in many more states and ultimately change the laws concerning Cannabis. I am a person that likes to finish a project before I do another project. I'll keep my focus on our issue and maybe if I'm lucky and keep on kickin I'll live to see the day that change finally happens. That's my goal and hopes. Nothing else as far as reform goes interests me. One project at a time. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by siege on February 08, 2005 at 10:39:37 PT Supreme Court Tuesday, February 8, 2005 Supreme Court begins hearing arguments regarding state medical marijuana laws By The Associated PressWASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court took a first look at prescription pot Wednesday, hearing arguments on an issue that has pitted the federal government against cancer, AIDS and other patients who sometimes regard marijuana as a wonder drug.http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2001/03/29/News/Supreme.Court.Begins.Hearing.Arguments.Regarding.State.Medical.Marijuana.Laws-699462.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Max Flowers on February 08, 2005 at 10:16:16 PT Low-I.Q. sheriff "I guess we have to see whether the feds trump the state," Downum said.Hey Sheriff, if you can read, try reviewing the US Constitution and California state Constitution and see what you conclude from them regarding your above musing. Unless of course your "trumping" comment is a disingenuous position that you already know to be wrong but are holding in hopes of supporting illegal federal raids if they come. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 08, 2005 at 10:13:51 PT EJ I Hope That Too! I agree! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on February 08, 2005 at 10:07:23 PT Some day Some day the heroism of people like Kim Cue will receive its due recognition in our country. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment