Pubdate: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 Source: Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA) Copyright: 2009 The Press-Enterprise Company Contact: http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/letters_form.html Website: http://www.pe.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/830 Author: Imran Ghori Note: Imran Ghori for the The Press-Enterprise Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY TO ISSUE MEDICAL MARIJUANA ID CARDS San Bernardino County will begin providing identification cards to medical marijuana patients within 45 days, officials announced Tuesday. The Board of Supervisors agreed in closed session to begin implementing the state program, which sets standards for counties to review applications and distribute medical marijuana user cards, county spokesman David Wert said. The announcement comes a month after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the county's legal challenge of the state's medical marijuana program, effectively ending the battle by upholding lower court rulings. "We're glad to see them finally doing the right thing," said Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project. "It's unfortunate it took this long." Most other counties, including Riverside, already issue cards. San Bernardino County is in the process of settling lawsuits by medical marijuana advocates seeking to force the county to comply with the law, County Counsel Ruth Stringer said. She said she expects a settlement agreement soon. Employees at the county's public health department will receive training next week from state officials on procedures for distributing the cards, Wert said. The county sheriff's department is planning training for its deputies for identifying and dealing with medical marijuana patients. California voters in 1996 approved Prop. 215, which allowed people to obtain marijuana for medical purposes with a physician's approval. The Legislature in 2003 approved Senate Bill 420, which provided legal guidance to medical marijuana users and led to dispensaries opening. Marijuana has been to treat symptoms of cancer, AIDS and glaucoma. Three years ago, San Bernardino joined San Diego in filing a lawsuit over the law, contending that it conflicts with federal law that classifies marijuana as a dangerous drug with no medicinal purpose. The courts rejected those arguments. Chalmadge Robinson, 60, of Redlands, was glad to hear of the decision. He has been diagnosed with glaucoma and has been exploring possible use of marijuana for treatment, he said. "I really don't know if it will help or not but I'd at least like to have it available," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Doug