Pubdate: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Copyright: 2014 San Jose Mercury News Contact: http://www.mercurynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/390 STATE OVERDUE TO REGULATE MEDICAL POT Google "medical marijuana California Legislature," and the paid listing that pops up promises a swift medical assessment - apply online! - for just $ 20. Is this an industry that needs oversight, or what? The Legislature has not regulated dispensaries since Californians passed Proposition 215 in 1996, in part because police chiefs and the League of Cities have opposed legitimizing them. Now that has changed, and no wonder. It's crazy out there. Regulating city by city hasn't been good for dispensaries or their neighbors-or for law enforcement. State Sen. Lou Correa is sponsoring a bill, SB 1262, but it is still a work in progress. The Legislature should make it a priority to get regulations on the governor's desk this year. Statewide rules for medical dispensaries also would give California a head start if voters approve general use of marijuana in this decade. That seems to be the trend. Twenty states allow medical pot, and Colorado and Washington state have legalized use, period. Last week at the California Democratic Party convention, Democrats added a platform plank supporting legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. Polls now indicate a majority of California voters support legalization. Californians passed Proposition 215 to allow victims of cancer, AIDS and other horrific diseases the medicinal benefits of cannabis. Many people are alive today because marijuana restored their appetites so they could survive harsh chemotherapies and other treatments when no other drug helped. We won't second guess the compassionate progress this brought, but things have gotten out of hand. ( Note that $ 20 diagnosis.) San Jose found itself with more than 100 dispensaries at one point, indicating it was either a cancer cluster of epic proportion or it needed to get a grip. It passed some regulations and a tax on the clubs. But a move to put more restrictions on dispensaries this year, banning them near homes and schools, for example, has riled pot advocates. The Silicon Valley Cannabis Coalition is gathering signatures for a ballot measure preserving all existing dispensaries, setting a minimum number the city must allow and establishing an oversight board. It's aiming for the November ballot if the city doesn't back down. No wonder some cities have banned pot clubs outright. Marijuana distributors generally have wanted the state to get involved. For any industry, the only thing worse than onerous statewide regulation is wildly varying rules from city to city. This is why a statewide plastic bag ban finally is on its way to passage with industry support. It may be difficult for marijuana distributors to reach agreement on Correa's bill, which is based on a proposal by the police chiefs. But at least everybody is at the table. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom