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. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman