Pubdate: Tue, 6 Jan 2009
Source: Reporter, The (Vacaville, CA)
Copyright: 2009 The Reporter
Contact:  http://www.thereporter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/472
Author: Brian Hamlin
Cited: Board of Supervisors http://www.co.solano.ca.us/depts/bos/default.asp
Cited: Health and Social Services Department 
http://www.co.solano.ca.us/depts/hss/default.asp
Cited: Americans for Safe Access http://www.americansforsafeaccess.org
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Americans+for+Safe+Access
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROUP TO FILE SUIT

A Bay Area organization supporting medical marijuana users said it's 
filing suit against the Solano County Board of Supervisors and the 
county's Health and Social Services Department to force them to 
implement a state-mandated medical marijuana identification card program.

The group, Americans for Safe Access, announced Monday that it would 
be seeking a writ of mandate -- basically an order to comply with 
existing law -- from Solano County Superior Court requiring that the 
county comply with California's Compassionate Use Act for medical 
marijuana users.

The suit also lists medical marijuana users identified as Linda 
Jimenez and "John Doe" as petitioners in the case.

Americans for Safe Access spokesman Kris Hermes reported that 
California law adopted in 2003 requires all counties in California to 
offer a marijuana ID card program to assist medical marijuana users 
and to make it easier for law enforcement to identify legitimate 
patients and their caregivers.

Since then, Hermes said, 40 of California's counties have put 
together medical marijuana ID programs, and another 11 are on their way.

The Solano County Board of Supervisors first discussed implementing a 
medical marijuana identification card program in 2006 but voted not 
to do so. Americans for Safe Access reported that letters requesting 
compliance were sent to the Board of Supervisors on Aug. 11 and Oct. 
28, 2008, but neither the supervisors nor the county Health and 
Social Services Department complied.

In a prepared statement issued Monday, Oakland attorney Joe Elford, 
chief counsel for the group, said it was time for Solano County to 
comply with state law.

"Solano County cannot simply flaunt its obligation under the law," 
Elford stated. "This lawsuit is aimed at forcing counties like Solano 
to fully implement state law and to stop denying medical marijuana 
patients their legal rights and protections."

Solano County Counsel Dennis Bunting said he had been informed that 
the group had been preparing to file an action on the medical 
marijuana ID issue, but had not yet received a copy of the petition 
for writ of mandamus and could not comment on it.

The Board of Supervisors, he said, is scheduled to revisit the 
subject during a closed session discussion next Tuesday. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake