cannabisnews.com: Santa Barbara Supes Approve Marijuana ID Card





Santa Barbara Supes Approve Marijuana ID Card
Posted by CN Staff on April 14, 2004 at 20:09:17 PT
By Nora K. Wallace
Source: Santa Barbara News-Press 
On a split vote, the Board of Supervisors approved the creation of an identification card for chronically ill people needing marijuana for pain relief -- but it is still wrestling with how to pay for the program.With Supervisors Joe Centeno and Joni Gray dissenting, the board majority instructed the county Public Health Department to start work on the program, following in the footsteps of counties such as Humboldt, Marin and San Francisco.
"The bottom line for me is, people are suffering," said Supervisor Susan Rose. "This is a serious human need here. This system works elsewhere. We're not the first people to do this."It is estimated that about 200 people in Santa Barbara County would apply for a card as either a patient or caregiver.Mark Bohnett told the board his 18-year-old son has greatly benefitted from the use of marijuana to tone down his Tourette's syndrome and various violent behaviors."I am one of many people who have really seen the benefits," he said. "We need help. We are not criminals. It is safe. It is the most efficacious drug we've ever tried."Because County Public Health Director Roger Heroux said his department does not have the estimated $12,000 to start the program, the board almost stalled in its negotiations over a general fund allotment for the concept.Eventually, Mr. Centeno voted with Ms. Rose and Supervisors Naomi Schwartz and Gail Marshall to have County Administrator Mike Brown explore funding options and report back in two weeks.Ms. Gray said she understands that people are in pain, but for her, it came down to money."I can't support spending $12,000 of the county's money, nor can I tie up police time or public health time to have to learn the system," she said. "The state has spoken. The state is in charge. This is not the time to use the county's dollars for this."The county is trying to get its program started by July 1; a similar state program appears unlikely to start before then.Under Proposition 215, approved by California voters in 1996, patients with chronic or serious medical conditions may, with physician approval, grow and use marijuana to alleviate nausea or other conditions.Senate Bill 420, signed last October, requires the state Health Department to establish and maintain a voluntary program for identification cards, but there is no indication when that will happen.Lompoc Police Chief Bill Brown, chairman of the Santa Barbara County Law Enforcement Chiefs, said his group wanted the board to wait until the state program is running."It is unnecessary, it is a waste of precious staff time and money, and would not serve the public's interest," Chief Brown said.To address some law enforcement concerns, the county's Office of Vital Records will create a database to track information required for the cards. Law enforcement officers encountering someone with a medical marijuana card will be able to check its validity at any time by calling the sheriff's dispatch center.Applicants will have to show proof of county residency; provide written documentation for the attending physician; provide name and duties of the primary caregiver; be photographed; and pay a fee.The card will eventually contain a photograph, an identification number and the person's height, weight and hair color to make it more difficult to be counterfeited or misused.Ms. Schwartz said the safeguards established by the county could end up better than the state's."We could be the model," she said. "Not only can we provide access for patients, but we can provide law enforcement greater safeguards . . . For those people that desperately need it, I think we need to move ahead, and we can do it responsibly."Complete Title: Santa Barbara Supes Approve Medical Marijuana ID CardSource: Santa Barbara News-Press (CA)Author: Nora K. WallacePublished: April 14 2004Copyright: 2004 Santa Barbara News-PressContact: sbnpedit newspress.comWebsite: http://www.newspress.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmLaw Enforcement Miffed by Approval of ID Cardshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18637.shtmlMedical Marijuana Card Decision Delayed http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18477.shtmlCops Ask County To Nix ID Project http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18470.shtml
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