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.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom