Pubdate: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 Source: Bakersfield Californian, The (CA) Copyright: 2006 The Bakersfield Californian Contact: http://www.bakersfield.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/36 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) COUNTY'S POT USER ID SYSTEM OK FOR NOW The Board of Supervisors' reluctant approval of a medical marijuana user card is probably good -- at least for the moment. Even if one disagrees with the medical marijuana law, the issuance of a user ID card by the county Health Department based on a definable need is better than the 1996 grossly lax voter-passed proposition's original form. The law allows possession for personal use of small amounts of marijuana for such medicinal uses as suppressing nausea and pain that is not amenable to standard treatment. It does not excuse crimes committed under the influence or illegal acquisition, such as smuggling and drug pushing. The board's reluctance in approving ID cards is understandable. The ID system is a legislative follow-up to the proposition. But there are problems: * The federal government does not recognize legitimate medicinal use, and still treats marijuana possession as a crime. The conflict between state and federal law has yet to be resolved. * Several counties are suing the state in opposition to the ID card requirement. Some police departments are opposed to legal medical marijuana use because it blurs the distinction between illicit drugs and FDA approved prescription pharmaceutical products, possibly inhibiting vigorous anti-drug enforcement. The ID card was designed partly to mitigate that concern by having at least minimal standards in place to be overseen by a public agency. Even if the law is eventually goes up in smoke, the county has wisely brought stability to the process for the present. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom