cannabisnews.com: San Francisco Adopts Rules To Regulate Pot Clubs










  San Francisco Adopts Rules To Regulate Pot Clubs

Posted by CN Staff on November 15, 2005 at 19:08:24 PT
By Lisa Leff, Associated Press 
Source: Associated Press  

San Francisco, CA -- San Francisco supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt regulations governing medical marijuana clubs after allegations of abuse at several of the city's 35 facilities.The proposed rules, crafted with input from Mayor Gavin Newsom, require pot dispensary operators to apply for permits that include criminal and employment background checks. Club owners would have to pay $6,610 for a permit along with $3,100 for a business license.
The regulations also would govern where and how the clubs could do business, prohibiting them from opening in industrial or residential areas. The zoning guidelines would prevent dispensaries from operating within 500 feet of schools or within 1,000 feet if pot-smoking is allowed on the premises.The crackdown came as elected officials in this liberal city grappled with how to balance their compassion for patients who smoke pot to ease pain with the logistical realities of an unregulated industry that deals in a federally illegal product. Until now, the dispensaries have operated without government oversight.Noise, traffic and odor complaints from neighborhood groups, along with the realization last spring that a pot dispensary was getting to open in a city-operated residential hotel for substance abusers, led the mayor and Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi to step in."There is always a fine line - do you restrict or just allow - and we erred on the side of allowing," Newsom said. "We said to the clubs, 'Do what you do and do it appropriately,' but they got a little out of control."California is one of 10 states where medical marijuana is legal. Under the Compassionate Use Act approved by voters in 1996, people with a doctor's recommendation are supposed to be able to smoke pot without fear of state or local prosecution.In June, however, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that medical marijuana patients could be prosecuted for illegal pot possession under federal law, regardless of state ordinances.The San Francisco permits will include a bold-faced disclaimer: "Issuance of this permit by the City and County of San Francisco is not intended to and does not authorize the violation of state or federal laws."When the city started crafting the regulations last spring, San Francisco was home to an estimated 40 dispensaries, far more than any other California city. Since the state's voters adopted the act in 1996, the San Francisco Department of Public Health has issued identification cards to nearly 8,000 people who claimed they needed the drug to ease symptoms for afflictions ranging from AIDS to arthritis.Mirkarimi, a member of the Green Party, said his goal in crafting the new rules was to make sure that irresponsible clubs did not jeopardize the rights of patients or invite federal drug agents to shut down dispensaries that operated legitimately. Officials estimated that the zoning rules and fees would probably force a handful of clubs out of business."There have been days when I would have been OK not being the front man trying to push this, but what caused me not to abort the process was I couldn't allow neglect or indifference threaten the very gains the medical marijuana movement has made," he said.Under the new rules, clubs that were operating as of April 1, when the city imposed a moratorium on new clubs, would have 18 months to obtain a permit. Their applications then would have to be approved by the city's planning director with input from the police on the adequacy of proposed security measures and the backgrounds of the people running the clubs.Kris Hermes, legal director for the medical marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access, said after the vote that most patients and dispensary owners were generally pleased with San Francisco's regulations and regard them as a stamp of approval from the city."It will send a message to cities and counties throughout the state that are currently deliberating this issue that now is the time to act, follow San Francisco's lead," Hermes said. Source: Associated Press (Wire)Author: Lisa Leff, Associated PressPublished: Tuesday, November 15, 2005Copyright: 2005 The Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:Americans For Safe Accesshttp://www.safeaccessnow.org/Pot Club Debate Nears Endhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21216.shtmlVote on Pot Clubs Postponedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21204.shtmlCannabis Club Debate Vigorous in S.F.http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21068.shtml

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Comment #29 posted by Richard Zuckerman on November 17, 2005 at 13:20:09 PT:
FEINSTEIN AND HARMON ARE DIE HARD GLOBALISTS!!
PLEASE BEWARE: Dianne Feinstein, United States Senator (D-California), is also a member of the Bilderberg, Trilateral Commission, and Council on Foreign Relations, whose objectives are to continue the "drug war" and firearms confiscation. Don't think for a minute that she has your best interests at heart!! DID YOU VOTE FOR HER??!!PLEASE BEWARE: Jane Harmon, United States House of Representatives (D-California), is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, too.PLEASE BEWARE: David Dreier, United States House of Representatives (R-California), who publically announced around four years ago that he wants to "break the back" of the Marijuana movement by utilizing "Gestapo tactics", after I protested in front of his branch office, is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. PLEASE BEWARE: Thomas A. Arainiega, President, California State University, Bakersfield, Albert Carnesale, President, CEO, of UCLA, Steven B. Sample, President, CEO, of USC, are members of the Council on Foreign Relations. Bill Gates, CEO of Microsoft, is a Bilderberg. It is no surprise the miles per gallon of our automobiles have not been improved and alternative sources of fuel are not being used in our automobiles, because the CEO of EXXON, Lee R. Raymond, is a Bilderberg, a member of the Trilateral Commission, and the Council on Foreign Relations!!! You can get a chart of "Who Controls America", for only $2, addressed to F.R.E.E., P.O. Box 293339, Kerville, Texas, 78029.Our enemies of freedom are within, people!!! These organizations are the enemies of individual freedom, initiative, growth!!Richard Paul Zuckerman, Box 159, Metuchen, N.J., 08840-0159, richardzuckerman2002 yahoo.com.
www.copvcia.com [discussing the C.I.A. drug money laundering thru Wall Street in the amount of $6 billion per year, with impunity]; www.john-loftus.com [discussing the Grandfather and Great Grandfather of U.S. President George W. Bush financed 40% of Adolph Hitler's steel manufacturing; provided Standard Oil of New Jersey shipments during an oil embargo, thru Brown Harriman and Brothers, on the 300 block of Broadway, in New York City, and Allen Dulles hid the assets from Congress. Either Allen Dulles or his brother sat on the Warren Commission to Whitewash the truth about the assassination of U.S. President John Kennedy...I remember the day he was shot I sat on the stairs of my childhood house and cried!!]. www.vaticanassassins.org. 
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Comment #28 posted by Max Flowers on November 16, 2005 at 22:21:24 PT
On pot magazines
Not sure if you guys are aware of a couple of magazines out there (besides Cannabis Culture) that can sometimes be a bit soothing for those of us alienated from High Times for whatever reason. They are "Heads" and "Skunk" and they are evidently both Canadian, and both out of Quebec I think.They aren't bad, but have the same weird ads for fake pot ("herbal smoking mixtures"). Those, and especially the ads for phone sex lines, for me tend to cheapen these publications and raise associations that don't need to be there in print in my opinion.Last thing I heard about High Times though was that they apparently realized their error and the last (?) issue was a good one, filled with strain/breeding info and focusing entirely on good useful cannabis facts. 
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Comment #27 posted by FoM on November 16, 2005 at 19:53:29 PT
global_warming and everyone
Thank you for saying such a nice thing.I have been working on a short wedding video clip for my sister when I'm not looking for news. I am uploading it now and if it turns out ok I will post it for you all to check out if you want to.It's hard work when you have to figure out how to do it yourself. If it works at least now I won't have as much trouble the next time. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
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Comment #26 posted by FoM on November 16, 2005 at 19:11:55 PT
runderwo
Is that what happened to Hightimes. I know it got weird and we just didn't like it anymore.
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Comment #25 posted by runderwo on November 16, 2005 at 18:29:34 PT
High Times
I always found this lyric from Truckin' to be an interesting parallel to the evolution of High Times:What in the world ever became of sweet jane?She lost her sparkle, you know she isn*t the sameLivin* on reds, vitamin c, and cocaine,All a friend can say is ain*t it a shame?
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Comment #24 posted by global_warming on November 16, 2005 at 18:10:55 PT
Cannabis and Salvation
There are many who awaitThe day when this prohibitionWill end.So that it may be buriedInto the pits of hellFrom which it was born.The Dead are easily banished,That have not the LightNor the water to wash,This disease of prohibitionRecieve Stand WitnessSupportThe Light of understandingSend a messageWith force from The fires of hellReflected From the bosomsOf your soulsArmored platesThat are connectedTo the stepsThat are illuminatedTo the bloodied footstepsThe martyrs have shedgood night
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Comment #23 posted by mayan on November 16, 2005 at 18:07:36 PT
siege
I can't believe they actually ran an article on chemtrails! I saw some planes criss-crossing over the town I live in a few months back. Once the planes got past the town they would do a u-turn and the trail would reappear. I watched them for at least 15 minutes and then drove to the other side of town. When I got out of my car I looked up and they were still at it so I watched them for another 20 minutes. A training excercise? I seriously doubt it. There were several C-130 type aircraft that you don't see at the small local airport. They are definitely up to something.Chemtrails DataPage:
http://www.rense.com/politics6/chemdatapage.html
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Comment #22 posted by global_warming on November 16, 2005 at 17:40:40 PT
Thank You Fom
For being you.
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Comment #21 posted by global_warming on November 16, 2005 at 17:38:07 PT
Lest I Forget Vinegar
Sour wine describes my lifeThe bitterness and angerWill haunt my soulThrough EternityThe sweetness of CompassionEternaly shall be shadowed By sour wine.One blink,In a twinkleThat Light of MercyWill transport youSo that you witnessParticipate,In the place and powerIn this forever and wonderful worldEternity is Forever
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on November 16, 2005 at 17:28:24 PT
global_warming 
Thank you. I don't quite understand it because I really don't know much about capitalism, socialism, communism or any ism.
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Comment #19 posted by global_warming on November 16, 2005 at 16:53:56 PT
Hey FOM
Bills that have to be payedIs the foundation of capitilism,That bright and sunny victor over that Dark child of CommunismDo you believe in God?Do you have a soul?Are you a witness?Can you hammer that first nailInto the flesh of your brother?Your child?There is so much pain in this worldWe are all childrenThat see the skyDo you accept the power of Pilate?One blink of your eyesCan revealOur bondsThat have historyThat reaches throughout The tapestry of this universeOur souls are part of this majestic splendourTwinkleOne blinkCan fill your soulYou ' all can knowYour journey andThe load you carryTwinkleInto this NightPeace and Understanding
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on November 16, 2005 at 16:17:12 PT

Hope
It's always ads that can turn us off. That's the way I am with TV. Ads pay bills and since money is necessary to market a product it's hard to be selective particularly because of the legal status of cannabis currently. Maybe someday things will change. I keep hoping!
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Comment #17 posted by global_warming on November 16, 2005 at 16:09:59 PT

My Apologies
For drifting far away from high times,(Joh 19:10) So Pilate said to Him, "You're not talking to me? Don't You know that I have the authority to release You and the authority to crucify You?"(Joh 19:11) "You would have no authority over Me at all," Jesus answered him, "if it hadn't been given you from above. Joh 19:28 After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said, "I'm thirsty!"Joh 19:29 A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on hyssop and held it up to His mouth. Joh 19:30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!"
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Comment #16 posted by Hope on November 16, 2005 at 15:43:31 PT

High Times Story
Couldn't bear to read it. Has the scent of a plan to end High Times.Desperate for drug war news, I used to subscribe to it. The last few months...the discreet brown envellpe was very tampered with. Opened and taped back once or twice. I didn't renew. They had some good articles about what was going on in seriously under reported news. Their news was good and usually way ahead of the mainstream media on a lot of important matters.It had a bunch of stupid ads. But...they said it was to pay bills when people complained. It was a pretty interesting read for the most part.
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Comment #15 posted by global_warming on November 16, 2005 at 15:29:27 PT

The Sign Says, Thank You Lord
[Originally by The Five Man Electrical Band)And the sign says "Long-haired freaky people need not apply"
So I put my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him whyHe said you look like a fine outstanding young man, I think you'll doSo I took off my hat, I said "Imagine that, huh, me working for you"[Chorus:]Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs
Fuckin' up the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the signAnd the sign says "Anybody caught trespassing will be shot on sight"So I jumped the fence and I yelled at the house
Hey! What gives you the right!To put up a fence and keep me out, or to keep Mother Nature inIf God was here, he'd tell it to your face, man, you're some kind of sinner[Chorus]Oh, say now mister, can't you readYou got to have a shirt and tie to get a seatYou can't watch, no you can't eat, you ain't supposed to be hereAnd the sign says "You got to have a membership card to get inside" - uh![Solo]And the sign says "Everybody welcome, come in, kneel down and pray"But then they passed around a plate at the end of it all
And I didn't have a penny to paySo I got me a pen and a paper and I made up my own fuckin' signI said, "Thank you Lord for thinking 'bout me, I'm alive and doing fine"
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on November 16, 2005 at 12:46:18 PT

News Article About The Netherlands
 Netherlands Remains Opposed to Legalization of Cannabis Cultivation ***     
November 16, 2005 The Dutch government has said that it would not defer to the wish of a parliamentary majority that the production of cannabis be legalized in the country, Dutch newspaper "De Volkskrant" reported on Tuesday. Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner told the parliament on Monday that the government has major practical and legal objections and will not tolerate any exceptions. He said municipalities that experiment with "legal weed" will be prosecuted. According to the newspaper reports, the MPs supporting the legalization hold the view that the current Dutch soft drugs policy is halfhearted: the sale of cannabis in coffee shops has been tolerated for years but the cultivation of cannabis and its supply to coffee shops is illegal. The parliament hopes that legalization can put cultivation on the right track and end the criminal side-effects that illegal cultivation brings with it. At the moment, cultivation is largely controlled by organized crime. Illegal home cultivation of cannabis is on the rise and this too leads to a deterioration in neighborhoods, the parliament feels. It would be better if the police officers that are now busy trying to tackle illegal cannabis cultivation could focus on other forms of crime, said the MPs. Donner in fact supports an even stricter approach to coffee shops than the current regime and he does not plan to change his position. "It is putting the cart before the horse," the minister was quoted by the newspaper as saying. Copyright by People's Daily OnlineSource: Xinhua
 
http://english.people.com.cn/200511/16/eng20051116_221637.html
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on November 16, 2005 at 12:30:16 PT

About High Times Magazine
I remember when I first saw Hightimes when it was a new magazine. We enjoyed it at first then something changed and we didn't like it anymore. I think it went too far off track and we lost interest.
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Comment #12 posted by Hope on November 16, 2005 at 12:15:04 PT

Dispensary
is alright, probably.Cannabis people generally have handled all this well, and behaved exceptionally gracefully, for the most part. I'm honored to be among them for the mega most part.
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Comment #11 posted by Hope on November 16, 2005 at 12:12:46 PT

Universer...Clubs...Clinics...
I so agree.
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Comment #10 posted by E_Johnson on November 16, 2005 at 12:01:40 PT

They should fire him
High Times hired a man who hates marijuana, hates marijuana users, and blames people for whatever the police do to them?********************************************************I can imagine sinking deep into the morass, waking up a decade later, red-eyed and bleary, after using my résumé to roll an Olympic-caliber joint. But while this is somebody's dream job, it's not mine—and it may be the pot talking, but I expect a certain magazine may soon be hiring.********************************************************What was his last job? Abnd who did he blame for losing that one?
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on November 16, 2005 at 11:48:17 PT

An Article About Hightimes Magazine
I don't ever see Hightimes since you need to go to an adult book store to buy a copy around this area so the article doesn't make sense to me but I thought others here might like to check it out.http://www.nypress.com/18/46/news&columns/scottindrisek.cfm
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Comment #8 posted by Universer on November 16, 2005 at 11:20:07 PT

Clubbed To Death
I wish we could use the term "clinic" instead of "club." Nomenclature counts for something, particularly in eliciting imagery in the minds of those learning about such places for the first time.
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Comment #7 posted by Hope on November 16, 2005 at 09:11:17 PT

Neat
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/15/science/space/15find.html
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 16, 2005 at 07:54:51 PT

Just a Note
I haven't found any news to post so far today. Hopefully some will be available soon. I'll keep checking. The weather is starting to get really cold out our way. Tomorrows lows are to be around 18 degrees. Burr. Time to get a lot of fire wood in. I had the windows opened yesterday and it was in the upper 60s! 
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Comment #5 posted by Dankhank on November 16, 2005 at 07:40:43 PT

Another good one ...
A lobotomyhttp://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/16/arts/16lobo.html?pagewanted=print
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Comment #4 posted by siege on November 16, 2005 at 04:47:39 PT

O T Chemtrails Are Over Las Vegas
Marcus K. Dalton
Tribune Media GroupPart 1http://www.lasvegastribune.com/20050819/headline1.html
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on November 15, 2005 at 21:21:19 PT

Related Article from The San Francisco Chronicle
Supervisors OK S.F.'s First Fules on Medical Pot ***Compromises allow neighbors' input, limits on salesCharlie Goodyear, Chronicle Staff Writer 
November 16, 2005
 San Francisco's first-ever medical marijuana regulations, approved Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors, will allow most of the city's 33 dispensaries to stay open while limiting the amount of pot a patient can buy and giving residents a say in where the clubs can operate. The new rules, pushed through by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, appeared stalled at City Hall just a few weeks ago. An earlier version of Mirkarimi's legislation would have forced the closure of many clubs. He faced criticism from pot club advocates and fellow Supervisor Chris Daly that the ordinances would have limited access for about 8,000 medical marijuana patients registered in San Francisco. At the same time, Mayor Gavin Newsom and his political allies expressed serious reservations about clubs' selling marijuana near schools. But after a flurry of amendments, Mirkarimi's critics changed their tune, and Tuesday supervisors voted unanimously to approve his legislation on a first reading of the ordinances. Medical marijuana advocates hailed the vote. "I think this is historic," said patient Michael Aldrich after the vote. "San Francisco is the place where the medical marijuana movement started. It's a landmark piece of legislation. I am very proud." Advocate Wayne Justmann, who had criticized earlier versions of Mirkarimi's bill, said, "Nothing is perfect, but I tell you, it's going to work for San Francisco. I think this is a giant step for San Francisco." Supervisors had debated for months a series of proposals to regulate pot clubs, including at one point a suggestion to cap the number of dispensaries at eight. City officials were concerned by the increased proliferation of clubs, with some operating just a few blocks of each other. The amendments to the legislation will give the city's Planning Department the right to hold public hearings on the location of all clubs, with residents encouraged to voice their opinions. Patients will be allowed to buy one ounce of marijuana per visit to a club, instead of a pound as previously proposed. Clubs will be required to include in any advertising a notice that patients need an identification card to purchase marijuana. And the number of marijuana plants that clubs, patients or their caregivers could grow will be restricted to 24, down from 99. Any new club will be prohibited from opening within 1,000 feet of a school, youth center or similar facility. Clubs in business before April 1 could stay within that boundary provided that marijuana is not smoked on the premises. Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/16/POTRULES.TMP
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 15, 2005 at 20:55:26 PT

BCN: Supervisors Vote To Save S.F. Pot Clubs

November 15, 2005(BCN) In a surprising change of heart, the Board of Supervisors Tuesday evening amended and unanimously passed San Francisco's first set of medical marijuana regulations, allowing nearly all of the city's 30-plus clubs to remain open instead of closing or relocating more than a dozen, as initially considered."We should all be very proud of what we were able to achieve today," said Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, eliciting cheers from a large crowd of people who had come to witness the historic vote.A vote on the legislation was delayed last month after Bill Barnes, a former aide to Supervisor Chris Daly, filed an appeal, arguing the ordinance would pose a serious problem to marijuana patients, who would be forced to travel significant distances when clubs in their neighborhood closed or moved across town.Daly had shown support for removing the Planning Department's role in the legislation altogether, arguing that it unfairly pushed most of the clubs into his and Supervisor Sophie Maxwell's districts.While new clubs and old clubs wanting to relocate will be subject to stricter rules, Daly got part of his wish tonight when supervisors voted to "grandfather" in all clubs in operation prior to April 1. Barnes agreed not to fight the appeal after he heard about the board's decision.Existing clubs, currently estimated at about 35, would be exempt from all of the city's zoning requirements, but would still have to abide by the legislation's health provisions and state law, which prohibits pot clubs that allow smoking on their premises, from operating within 1,000 feet of schools.City planner Dan Sider said he could think of two clubs that were in residential areas that would have to close or relocate, and Mirkarimi said there could be an additional two or so clubs that would also have to shut down or move.Mirkarimi acknowledged that although the legislation would allow most clubs to remain open, it would make it harder for new clubs to come to the city and for existing clubs to relocate. For instance, all new and relocating clubs would have to be at least 1,000 feet away from a school whether there is smoking on the premises or not. Previously, the legislation allowed clubs with no smoking on club grounds, to operate with only a 500-foot buffer from schools.In addition, the legislation, as amended today, contains stricter provisions for patients, including a maximum cannabis purchase of one ounce, as opposed to the eight ounces previously proposed, although patients could still possess up to eight ounces at a time. Patients would also be allowed to grow only 24 cannabis plants, down from 99 as originally proposed.All clubs would still have to go through a permit process, first at the Department of Public Health and then at the Planning Commission, where officials could limit hours or create other restrictions based on city recommendations or input from residents.San Francisco resident Suzi Chang, a medical marijuana patient and activist, said she was thrilled with the legislation's passage and relieved that a very small number of clubs would be forced to close or move."I'm very concerned with patient rights," said Chang. "I don't see myself as a criminal. The only thing I do is medicate myself. We are San Francisco, California, are we not? Why are we even fighting about this stuff?"After the legislation receives secondary approval from the board next week, it will be sent to Mayor Gavin Newsom for his signature. The mayor's spokesman Peter Ragone said Tuesday that the mayor was pleased with the legislation."We feel quite confident that this legislation will become law," he said.Pot clubs began to bud in San Francisco after California voters passed Proposition 215 in 1996, allowing patients with permission from a doctor to purchase medical marijuana. As the number of clubs continued to grow, at one point reaching more than 40, San Francisco enacted a temporary moratorium in March to allow city officials time to draft and adopt regulations. Bay City News Copyright: MMV, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. http://cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_319234043.html

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Comment #1 posted by FoM on November 15, 2005 at 20:50:10 PT

Off Topic: New York Times 
Young, Assured and Playing Pharmacist to Friends http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/16/health/16patient.html
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