cannabisnews.com: He Thought His Medical Pot was Legal He Thought His Medical Pot was Legal Posted by CN Staff on January 31, 2004 at 08:23:21 PT By Marjie Lundstrom -- Bee Columnist Source: Sacramento Bee Ron Brownlow of Roseville didn't make any secret of his medical marijuana use when he flew from Sacramento to San Diego this month, but his candor at the airports proved costly. He got busted. Brownlow's legal predicament highlights the confusion -- make that the mess -- that remains in California over medical marijuana, and how much legitimacy its patients really have. This was supposed to be clarified this year, with the signing of a new law by outgoing Gov. Gray Davis. The measure followed Proposition 215, the groundbreaking initiative passed by voters in 1996 that allowed medical use of marijuana. But upholding the law proved tricky as jurisdictions enacted their own guidelines, and it ran afoul of federal authorities.The new law, which took effect in January, includes the creation of state-issued identification cards for medical marijuana patients and caregivers.Those cards aren't out yet, but Brownlow, a 48-year-old former welder with debilitating back problems, figured he was good to go. He packed carefully for his post-holiday trip to San Diego to visit his daughter and grandson, bringing along his doctor's paperwork authorizing his use of the drug, which he says he smokes three to four times daily.As he tells the story, he volunteered all this Jan. 16 to a Transportation Security Administration screener at Sacramento International Airport. The worker summoned a supervisor and, after some consultation, Brownlow was allowed to check his bag and board the plane.The return trip on Jan. 21 began similarly. At the San Diego airport, he again identified himself as a medical marijuana patient to a TSA security worker, who also summoned a supervisor. But this time, the supervisor notified local authorities.After being detained for about an hour by Harbor Police, whose jurisdiction includes the airport, he was issued a citation for misdemeanor possession. His medicine was confiscated."They told me, 'We don't recognize the medical marijuana law in San Diego,' " he said. "I started laughing. I couldn't believe it."How can a county not recognize a state law?"Complete Title: He Thought His Medical Pot was Legal -- Until He Reached The AirportSnipped: Complete Article: http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/8191141p-9122378c.html Source: Sacramento Bee (CA)Author: Marjie Lundstrom -- Bee ColumnistPublished: Saturday, January 31, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Sacramento BeeContact: opinion sacbee.comWebsite: http://www.sacbee.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:California NORMLhttp://www.canorml.org/Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmBacking for Law on Medical Pot Climbs in Pollhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18267.shtmlMedicinal Marijuana Law Gains Favorhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18262.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by rollnburn on February 01, 2004 at 11:40:17 PT I too travel pray for the ignorant! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by gloovins on February 01, 2004 at 01:28:01 PT this song says alot about the plauge of the WoD & people like this get caught in the middle -- its by supertrampWhen I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful, a miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical. And all the birds in the trees, well they'd be singing so happily, joyfully, playfully watching me. But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible, logical, responsible, practical. And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable, clinical, intellectual, cynical. There are times when all the world's asleep, the questions run too deep for such a simple man. Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned I know it sounds absurd but please tell me who I am. Now watch what you say or they'll be calling you a radical, liberal, fanatical, criminal. Won't you sign up your name, we'd like to feel you're acceptable, respectable, presentable, a vegetable! At night, when all the world's asleep, the questions run so deep for such a simple man. Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned I know it sounds absurd but please tell me who I am [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by OverwhelmSam on January 31, 2004 at 12:43:00 PT: So, Change The Federal Law The DEA professes marijuana's illegality in the US, so change the law and, Viola, it's not illegal anymore. Simple solution to a complicated problem. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Patrick on January 31, 2004 at 11:27:25 PT What united states From the above snipped source…"Our job is to keep prohibited items off (airplanes), not illegal items," he said, suggesting I check with the Drug Enforcement Administration. DEA spokeswoman Rogene Waite was curt: "Marijuana is illegal in the United States." But what about airplanes flying within California? "It's in the United States, isn't it?" she snapped, saying to check with the TSA -- which, of course, had already said the legality of medical marijuana was not its concern.Let's just dissolve the 50 states altogether since they are ALL within the United States and there by subjects of blanket federal authority. Imagine the money we could save on state politicians, state public services, state parks, state roadways, state and county hospitals. Heck we could eliminate the state income tax too. All things "state" now should no longer exist since the feds have control over everything. In fact I could buy one fishing license and go anywhere in the United States - - I mean Federal America for one fee! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment