Pubdate: Thu, 05 Jan 2006
Source: Lompoc Record (CA)
Copyright: 2006 Lee Central Coast Newspapers
Contact: http://www.lompocrecord.com/contact/lettertoeditor.html
Website: http://www.lompocrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/242
Author: Randi Block, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

CHANGES MADE TO MEDICINAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM

Based on a mandate requiring Santa Barbara County to align its medical
marijuana program with the state, participants will have to pay almost
twice as much for an identification card.

The county Board of Supervisors approved the change Tuesday, which
will take effect in February and should affect about 350 county residents.

Fifth District Supervisor Joe Centeno, who represents Santa Maria,
said while he did not agree with the basis for the marijuana program,
he supported the changes because they would make it easier for law
enforcement to identify legitimate identification cards.

"The way it is now, there is too much room for abuse, so I'm not in
favor of the project as constituted today, but it will be easier for
our law enforcement people," he said.

Proposition 215 was passed in 1996 and allowed people to use marijuana
if it was deemed necessary for medical purposes. However, concerns
about inadequate regulation of this program, led to Senate Bill 420 in
2003, requiring identification cards for participants.

When California delayed the start of its program, the county initiated
its own in April 2004 and 362 people have signed up since its inception.

Within the last few months, however, the state has implemented a
program that all counties are required to join.

Starting in February, when identification cards expire people will be
required to apply for the new state program. Each person's information
will be entered into a database that officials can access statewide.

This is an advantage to police who previously had trouble verifying
the validity of cards that were not issued in the county, since each
jurisdiction had a separate system.

Under the new program, the state will produce the identification cards
and handle the appeals and denial processes.

The cost of participating in the voluntary marijuana program almost
doubled due to the need to replace equipment and recoup lost revenue,
said Michael Harris, deputy director of the Public Health Department.

Non-Medi-Cal eligible patients will now have to pay $108 instead of
$64 and those eligible for Medi-Cal will be charged $54, up from $32.

This increase is partially an attempt to recoup lost revenue, because
the county had estimated that 500 people would participate in the
program, but only 362 did, amounting to a $20,000 shortfall, Harris
said.

The county hopes to make up the money within four years, and will
reduce the fee if the effort is successful.

Also included in the price hike is money to pay for the equipment
required to switch to the new program and a state portion of the fee.

Although a lot of money has to be spent on new equipment, Harris said
many of the cameras would have to be replaced soon anyway since they
are aging.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake