cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Card Program Launched





Medical Marijuana Card Program Launched
Posted by CN Staff on August 21, 2003 at 08:12:57 PT
By Brian Seals, Sentinel Staff Writer
Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel 
A county-operated program to issue identification cards to medical marijuana users was launched this week, and backers hope it will ease concerns of patients and police. The effort is aimed at helping police identify patients and caregivers legitimately using marijuana.County Supervisor Mardi Wormhoudt said the cards mean patients and caregivers will have less to worry about when they possess marijuana for medical use.
"People feel very vulnerable," Wormhoudt said. "To add to that burden to people who are already suffering is adding another layer of difficulty that shouldn’t be there."Patients are required to offer documentation before obtaining a card:* A photo identification card.* Proof of Santa Cruz County residence.* An original doctor’s recommendation, signed by a physician licensed in California.* $35 in cash, check or money order.The cards are valid for three years and the program is self-funded.Three cards were issued this week as sort of a trial run."We had some brave souls come forward who helped us work out the kinks," said Betsy McCarty, county chief of public health.One of them was Valerie Corral, co-founder of the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana. The alliance issues cards for its members, but the county program offers identification for people unable to be served by the group.Corral lauded the program for not keeping records of the patient or doctor after a card is issued, offering protection for doctors and patients from federal scrutiny. But some medical marijuana advocates are skeptical of the promise of anonymity."There’s no way anybody can convince me there’s not some kind of record," said Andrea Tischler of the Compassion Flower Inn in Santa Cruz.The county will only keep track of the money taken in and the number of cards issued and denied, McCarty said.The program’s supporters also say it helps prevent patients from needless or mistaken police attention."This offers an opportunity for any Santa Cruz County resident to have some immediate protection," Corral said.The county Sheriff’s Office supports the cards. Deputies say there has been confusion since Proposition 215 passed in 1996. The voter-approved initiative provided for medical marijuana in the state."We’re cops, we’re not health-care providers," sheriff’s spokesman Kim Allyn said. "One of the issues (we face) is who is a bona fide medical marijuana patient. That makes this piece of identification viable."McCarty said the cards can be processed within a day, though that depends on the timelines of the physician responding for verification.Appointments for the cards can be made by calling the county Health Services Agency at 454-3431. Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA)Author: Brian Seals, Sentinel Staff WriterPublished: August 21, 2003Copyright: 2003 Santa Cruz SentinelContact: editorial santa-cruz.comWebsite: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:WAMMhttp://www.wamm.org/Pictures from WAMM Protesthttp://freedomtoexhale.com/eventpics.htmSanta Cruz County Approves Pot ID Card Programhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16588.shtmlMedical-Marijuana ID Card Sought http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16062.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by MOTAVATION on August 26, 2003 at 14:00:00 PT:
Card or not, they want our pot!
Maybe first make work with the local law to accpet these cards, if not it's a waist of money to print. I got a OCBC and it didnt help, they took pot even after proof, what can I am other patients do in that case?It's value is worth more then gold! It's demand is greater then the supply! :) they want our lucky charms.I believe and have faith in Santa cruz to show california how it is done! SF cards are not safe, now OCBC, I cannot say but they must keep some records..and then thinking of the clubs they all got the computer programs:(Anyways, I would love info as to the cost of the cards for the department, cost of equipment,ect.I believe why should Chico and other patients go to the bay for a card, and pay yearly..:( good to see Santa cruz do it every 3 years:)They can't stop us! They can only slow us down.The few fighters, patients and doctors are working daily to educate and infom others of there rights. The other's are smoking and paying the price of the bay area while forgetting the main goal.Now we must work to help un-educated and scared citizens to speak freely with there doctors. Then work on a new larger list of doctors and grow as the community gets stronger and approaches the medical needs a alternative way. A co-op community center is the next thing in California.Is Medical MJ for you? Are you a patient?
We are looking for help in media,legal, and medical fields.. We must contact the doctors that are not speaking freely and openly. Then educate them as well as get there thoughts and support on prop 215.
California Primary Caregivers and Consultants! working on a N. Cali Card system!
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