Pubdate: Sun, 10 Jul 2005
Source: San Francisco Examiner (CA)
Copyright: 2005 San Francisco Examiner
Contact:  http://www.examiner.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/389
Author: Justin Jouvenal
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

S.F. MEDICAL POT USERS NOT AFFECTED BY STATE PLAN

A plan by the state to stop issuing identification cards for medical 
marijuana users should not affect patients using the drug in San 
Francisco, a city supervisor said.

After reviewing the recent Supreme Court decision that reaffirmed the 
federal government could prosecute people for using medical 
marijuana, California Department of Health Services officials became 
concerned that they could be aiding and abetting a federal crime by 
issuing cards and therefore be open to prosecution.

"In light of a recent Supreme Court decision, I am concerned about 
unintended potential consequences of issuing medical marijuana ID 
cards that could affect medical marijuana users, their families and 
staff of the California Department of Health Services," state Health 
Director Sandra Shewry said Friday.

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi said San Francisco patients would not see 
much difference since the state program was experimental and The City 
issues its own ID cards.
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MAP posted-by: Beth