Pubdate: Thu, 10 Nov 2005
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA)
Copyright: 2005 The Media News Group
Contact:  http://www.chicoer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861
Note: Does not print letters from outside circulation area
Author: Roger H. Aylworth, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

OROVILLE SUPERVISOR TAKING HEAT OVER POT ID CARD VOTE

OROVILLE - Butte County Supervisor Bill Connelly says he is "getting 
hammered" over medical marijuana identification cards, an issue - at 
least from his perspective - that has yet to be decided.

Tuesday, the county Department of Public Health asked the supervisors 
to approve a package of proposed fee increases for a number of services.

The only item in the package discussed in the meeting was a $56 fee 
to cover the cost of processing applications for medical marijuana 
identification cards.

A law that went into effect in 2004 compels counties to process the 
applications that also have to be approved by the state.

After a lengthy discussion that saw representatives of the Sheriff's 
Office and the District Attorney's Office endorse the cards, Chico 
Supervisor Jane Dolan offered a motion approving the entire package 
of fees, including the pot ID cards.

The motion died for lack of a second, and that's where Connelly stepped up.

The Oroville supervisor offered a motion, asking the board to approve 
everything in the package but the marijuana cards.

That motion was approved on a 3-2 vote with Connelly, Dolan and 
Supervisor Mary Anne Houx of Chico in favor, and Board Chairman Kim 
Yamaguchi of Paradise and Supervisor Curt Josiassen of Chico opposed.

However, according to Connelly, that wasn't supposed to be the end of 
the discussion.

He said he thought, after voting on the other fees, the pot cards 
would be presented as a separate item, but that didn't happen.

With the vote as taken, county Chief Administrator Paul McIntosh and 
Phyllis Murdock, director of the Public Health Department, both said 
the county would still have to issue the cards, but the cards would 
be free to the applicants.

Murdock predicted that would cost the county about $5,800 a year.

Connelly said when the story appeared in Wednesday's paper, he found 
himself both being "hammered" and getting thanked for arranging for 
the free marijuana cards.

"I'm getting hammered as being the supervisor of medical marijuana," 
said Connelly.

"When I go to the local store and I get hammered and then I get 
hammered by my mother and my wife, then I know people aren't getting 
it," he added.

What the people aren't "getting," according to Connelly, is his intent.

"From my point of view we took no action on that item," said Connelly 
of the Tuesday vote.

He said Dolan's motion, which would have approved the total fee 
package, never made it to a vote.

"It died for the lack of a second. It was my intent to bring that 
(the pot ID cards) back as a separate item for discussion," he said.

He explained he doesn't now and never has supported the idea of 
medical marijuana.

His intention was to make it plain, in the extended discussion, that 
he would vote for the cards only because law enforcement sees them as 
a benefit.

During Tuesday's meeting Chief Deputy District Attorney Poncho Zarate 
and Butte County Sheriff's Capt. Jerry Smith, both told the board the 
cards would be a significant timesaver for cops in the street.

With the cards, law enforcement officers will be able to rapidly and 
authoritatively determine if somebody in possession of marijuana has 
it legitimately, they both explained.

While that discussion never took place, Connelly is trying to see that it does.

"There was no action taken by the board. It died for lack of a 
second. That's the point," he said.

Connelly said he has already formally asked McIntosh to put the pot 
ID cards back on the agenda, hopefully for the Dec. 13 meeting.

"I want to make sure the people have a different perception," he explained.

BACKGROUND: A vote taken Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors 
apparently had the effect of making medical marijuana ID cards free 
in Butte County.

WHAT'S NEW: Supervisor Bill Connelly says he is "getting hammered" 
over the vote, but it came out much differently than he intended.

WHAT'S NEXT: Connelly wants the ID cards back on the supervisors 
agenda to correct the confusion.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman