cannabisnews.com: S.F. Considers Growing its Own 





S.F. Considers Growing its Own 
Posted by CN Staff on July 23, 2002 at 07:22:48 PT
By Rachel Gordon & Ilene Lelchuk
Source: San Francisco Chronicle 
San Francisco could become the first city in the nation to get into the pot-growing business to supply patients with medicinal marijuana, under a measure headed for the November ballot. The measure would urge city officials to explore growing cannabis and distributing it to seriously ill patients who have an OK from their doctors -- in apparent defiance of federal law. 
Supervisor Mark Leno drafted the measure out of frustration with the Drug Enforcement Administration's determination to close down clubs that distribute medical marijuana in California. He said state voters made it clear when they approved Proposition 215 in 1996 that they support medicinal marijuana. "If the federal government insists on standing in our way locally, we must take matters into our own hands and protect the lives of our community members and protect their right to access life-saving medicine," said Leno, Democratic nominee for the state Assembly seat representing the eastern half of San Francisco. He and Supervisors Sophie Maxwell, Tom Ammiano and Matt Gonzalez joined forces Monday to place the proposal on the Nov. 5 ballot. Leno envisions growing cannabis on vacant city property and says the program could double as agriculture job training for the city's unemployed. He mentioned the grounds of Laguna Honda Hospital -- the city's long-term care hospital -- as a possible location. "We have a lot of land. That's not going to be a problem," Leno said. What could be a problem is Uncle Sam. Federal authorities insist San Francisco would have no right to get into the business of farming pot. "Cultivation, possession and distribution of marijuana is illegal under the Controlled Substances Act -- federal law," said Richard Meyer, spokesman for the DEA's regional office in San Francisco. "Unless Congress changes the law and makes marijuana a legal substance, then we have to do our job and enforce the law, whether or not it's popular," Meyer said. But San Francisco has a history of creativity when it comes to bucking the law. For instance, the city found a way to thwart the state prohibition on needle exchange programs for drug addicts by declaring a public health emergency. That has allowed the distribution of clean needles, which slows the spread of AIDS, hepatitis and other communicable diseases. The state isn't likely to intervene if the city grows pot. Attorney General Bill Lockyer has supported Proposition 215 and has left its implementation to the discretion of cities and counties. Note: Ballot measure will ask city to cultivate pot for medicinal use. Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2002/07/23/MN169580.DTL Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)Author: Rachel Gordon, Ilene Lelchuk, Chronicle Staff WritersPublished: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 Copyright: San Francisco Chronicle - Page A - 1 Contact: letters sfchronicle.comWebsite: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/Related Articles & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmMedical Marijuana Users Can Get Some Immunity http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13463.shtmlState's Pot Laws Provide Protection for Patientshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13462.shtmlCalifornia Justices Look at Medicinal Pot Ruleshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13052.shtml 
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Comment #2 posted by boballen13 on July 23, 2002 at 15:41:50 PT:
San Francisco Busted!
United Stated Navy invades San Francisco Bay as United States Army tanks take positions in city. City held in state of Martial Law until a new city gov't can be installed to negotiate cease fire. Bushit claims national emergency to suppress citizen resistance to Military invasion and threatens use of small nuclear weapons if necessary to re-establish domestic tranquilty. State of California prosecutors rally support of bushit decision to reclaim treasonous city. 
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Comment #1 posted by Windminstrel on July 23, 2002 at 07:26:01 PT
better not buy realestate in San Francisco
How long 'till the Feds try to seize the whole city?
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