cannabisnews.com: Berkeley May Raise Pot Limit Berkeley May Raise Pot Limit Posted by CN Staff on April 22, 2004 at 10:38:41 PT By Kristin Bender, Staff Writers Source: Oakland Tribune Berkeley -- Medical cannabis users and advocates are lobbying city leaders to increase Berkeley's indoor marijuana plant limit from 10 to 72, which is the amount allowed in Oakland. Advocates say residents with cancer, AIDS, chronic pain, anorexia, glaucoma, migraine headaches and other severe illnesses need more than 10 indoor plants to cultivate marijuana for medical treatment. Berkeley allows 10 indoor and outdoor plants under a March 2001 ordinance that was brokered under political compromise. The Berkeley City Council will consider an increase proposal on Tuesday. "It's not unreasonable to have 72 (plants)," said Mayor Tom Bates. "What people have told me is that this is what is needed and necessary and it's worked out well for Oakland. I am supportive of 72 plants even though it sounds like a ton. I think the people in Berkeley overwhelmingly support (medical cannabis)." California voters legalized medical cannabis in 1996, although the federal government still considers it an illegal drug with no medical purpose and continues to prosecute those who distribute it. Proposition 215 was supported by more than half of state voters and garnered 86 percent of the vote in Berkeley. That support, advocates said, goes to show that sick patients should be allowed to have more than 10 plants in order to alleviate pain. One marijuana plant can yield anywhere from 5 grams to 1 ounce, depending on its size, maturity and quality, said Don Duncan, director of the Berkeley Patients Group, one of the city's four cannabis clubs that dispense marijuana as pain medicine. Others say one plant can yield up to four ounces. Patients vary in their use of medical cannabis. Someone with glaucoma might use a gram a week to relieve pressure in the eyeball whereas a cancer patient with nausea, could use an ounce or more weekly, Duncan said. "Ten plants really is not enough," said Charlie Pappas, a quadriplegic who used a wheelchair in 1973 following a gunshot wound. The 56-year-old Pappas, who was once known nicknamed "Bronco" because he suffers from chronic spasticity, said he tried a bevy of anti-spasm drugs, but they left him feeling moody and anxious. Pappas said medical cannabis "loosens" him up enough to use the control on his motorized wheelchair with his fingers. Berkeley also allows qualified patients with a "recommendation" from a doctor to keep 11/2 pounds of dry cannabis. Oakland allows medical cannabis patients to keep 32 square feet of growing area with no more than 72 small plants, plus 3 pounds of dry cannabis. Oakland patients can also keep 20 outdoor plants. Berkeley police brass have declined to take a position on the potential to increase indoor pot plants until after the City Council considers the item Tuesday night. However, for decades, the department has made enforcement of laws against possession, use and cultivation of marijuana the lowest priority. But officials said that does not apply to juveniles or those who possess marijuana for sale or distribution. The Drug Enforcement Agency takes a different stance. "I find it incredible that a person would need 72 plants to grow marijuana for himself or herself, said DEA Special Agent Richard Meyer. "There is something wrong there. Under federal law, marijuana is an illegal substance." While the DEA targets large-scale distributors and not small users, they do not condone the use of medical cannabis, Meyer said. The California Medical Association supports the use medical cannabis in the case of medical necessity. "If someone is sick they should get medicine that is proven to be safe and effective, and that is not the case with marijuana," Meyer said. "I think the council is misguided in (considering) raising the limit to such a large limit." If the limit isn't raised, people will continue breaking the law, advocates said. "We want (patients) obeying the law and that's why we need reasonable limits," Duncan said. What's more, advocates claim growing plants indoors is challenging because of insects, mold, mildew and artificial light. "I do not have a green thumb. If someone told me I could only have 10 plants, I would probably kill nine of them," said City Councilmember Kriss Worthington, who is proposing the increase. Worthington is also proposing a "peer review committee" that would require the medical cannabis collectives and dispensaries to designate at least two representatives to serve on the review committee. In addition to the council's consideration of plant increases Tuesday, James Blair with the Cannabis Buyers Cooperative of Berkeley has submitted paperwork to the city to begin circulating a petition to put an initiative on the November ballot to make changes to the municipal code that governs medical marijuana use.Note: Medical marijuana patients, supporters want city to match 72-plant rule in effect in Oakland.Kristin Bender covers Berkeley. Source: Oakland Tribune (CA)Author: Kristin Bender, Staff WritersPublished: Thursday, April 22, 2004 Copyright: 2004 MediaNews Group, Inc. Contact: triblet angnewspapers.com Website: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmProtest Demand Increase of Marijuana Limithttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9651.shtmlBerkeley Marijuana Ordinance Jeered http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9225.shtmlCity Sets Limits for Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9213.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by Max Flowers on April 22, 2004 at 14:37:28 PT Do it Go Berkeley! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by mamawillie on April 22, 2004 at 11:13:55 PT Sounds like a lot... BUT It is all in how you slice it:****"I find it incredible that a person would need 72 plants to grow marijuana for himself or herself, said DEA Special Agent Richard Meyer. "There is something wrong there. Under federal law, marijuana is an illegal substance."*****Many people prefer cloning from a mother plant, root those clones and then send them straight to flower. It is called "budsickle". Budsickles are easier to handle because you can grow them in 20 ounce cups instead of heavy pots. Some people with Fibro or other ailments can't handle heavy soil laden pots. So you can easily take 70 clones from one mother and get the same amount as 10 big tree plants that have been SOG or have been topped multiple times.Not to mention the fact that many people with chronic pain make oils, tinctures, capsules, etc... so while 72 plants *sounds* like a lot, it isn't to a chronically ill person.Also, vaporizer tend to use less bud while joints use more... etc...So how much theraputic medicine a person gets from 72 plants is totally dependent on 1) how they choose to grow the plant and 2) how they choose to ingest/inhale the medicine.If these FEDS would just research this kind of stuff, they wouldn't be so confused.Sheep. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 22, 2004 at 10:50:29 PT Heads Up: MSNBC - Can MJ Help Kids with ADD Countdown With Keith Olbermann Thursday at 8 p.m. ET Can marijuana help kids with A.D.D.? Keith has the controversial story of one doctor who says prescribing pot is a good idea. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677Transcript: Hearing on Marijuana: http://freedomtoexhale.com/hearing.htmMarijuana Too Risky for Pediatric Care: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18700.shtmlCannabis 'Scrips To Calm Kids?: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18676.shtml [ Post Comment ] Post Comment