Pubdate: Sun, 24 Sep 2006
Source: Reporter, The (Vacaville, CA)
Copyright: 2006 The Reporter
Contact:  http://www.thereporter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/472
Author: Greg Moberly, Times-Herald

SUPES SET FOR VOTE ON POT CARD PROGRAM

Medical marijuana supporters will have their day before  Solano 
County leaders Tuesday, but if they're expecting  definitive action 
they'll be disappointed.

The Board of Supervisors is expected only to receive a  report on a 
voter-approved state medical marijuana card  program. Program 
supporters, along with at least a  couple supervisors, thought the 
board would decide  Tuesday whether to administer the card program.

Members of Solano Patients' Group and Safe Access Now,  who support 
medicinal marijuana, have for several  months publicly lobbied 
supervisors to implement the  program.

"I am somewhat hopeful we'll have some kind of  direction that's 
positive," said Aaron Smith with Safe  Access Now. He said he hopes 
board members will  indicate support Tuesday for a future yes vote.

The state card program that Smith and backers want  specifically 
allows California counties to track residents who receive 
physician-prescribed marijuana.

At least 20 of the state's 58 counties have established  the card 
program, but other counties are hesitant to go  against federal drug 
laws that don't allow medicinal  marijuana, according to a county staff report.

Still, Supervisor Duane Kromm, whose district includes  Fairfield, 
said supporters deserve a board decision on  the program.

"My expectation is the board should take a stand,"  Kromm said. 
Despite that perspective, Kromm says he's  still struggling with how 
he'll vote.

"Is there real medicinal aid offered by smoking  marijuana?" Kromm 
said. He said he hasn't yet been  convinced. Supervisor Barbara 
Kondylis, whose district  covers Vallejo, is also disappointed the 
board isn't set to vote on the card program.

Kondylis is the only board member publicly supporting  medical marijuana.

"You'll probably hear some screaming about it Tuesday,"  Kondylis 
said, referring to herself and card program  supporters.

Waiting for the issue to be resolved in the courts  isn't what county 
staff should be deciding, Kondylis  said. "That's a decision the 
board should make."

In 1996, by a 56 percent to 44 percent margin, state  voters approved 
Prop. 215, which allowed for medicinal  marijuana.

Three years ago the state passed legislation specifying  how 
medicinal marijuana should be tracked.

Galen Lawton, president of the Solano Patients' Group,  says his 
members are being needlessly arrested by law  enforcement.

"Really, it's harassment," Lawton said.

Lawton said all who use medicinal marijuana might not  have the 
financial means to go through court  proceedings. He said he has a 
chronic nerve injury that  causes headaches which can be soothed by marijuana.

Supporters of medicinal marijuana say they need the  drug to relieve 
an assortment of ailments including  chronic pain, cancer and AIDS, 
or other  life-threatening illnesses.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine