cannabisnews.com: Got Pot? Identification Cards Available Today





Got Pot? Identification Cards Available Today
Posted by CN Staff on July 01, 2004 at 11:13:27 PT
By Erin Carlyle, Staff Writer
Source: Santa Maria Times 
Dr. David Bearman is sold on the value of medical marijuana. The Santa Barbara family practitioner says it is an effective treatment for a variety of problems - from asthma to attention deficit disorder to epilepsy and depression. Bob Lewis, a patient of Bearman, swears by it for depression and anxiety. Legal in California since 1996 for medical purposes, the drug has been hailed as a compassionate treatment for painful diseases such as cancer and AIDS.
Starting today, Lewis and other Santa Barbara County residents who use the drug for medical purposes may apply for a temporary identification card to serve as a line of defense if they face questioning from police. A state law passed last year sets up guidelines for a statewide program to provide legitimate medical marijuana users - and their caregivers - with identification cards as a form of immunity against arrest. The cards are to be administered by counties and are voluntary for patients. The county's temporary identification cards are designed to fill the gap until the statewide card program is implemented. Originally scheduled to begin in January, the state's program is not expected to be operating until next April, according to Michele Mickiewicz, deputy director of county Public Health. Approved by a 3-2 vote by the county Board of Supervisors, the temporary county program was strongly opposed by law enforcement, who feared the interim cards would be difficult to verify and easy to counterfeit. Senate Bill 420 calls for a statewide system of protocols and application forms, as well as a 24-hour hot line for law enforcement to verify that cards are valid. In response to concerns of the County Law Enforcement Chiefs (CLEC) association, Public Health will provide card information to Sheriff's Department dispatchers so that deputies and officers on the street can verify the cards, Mickiewicz said. Although he would have preferred to wait for the statewide program, Lompoc Police Chief William Brown - initially an adamant opponent of the county's plan - says he is pleased that there will be a way to verify the cards. "My sense is that the cards will be a tangible piece of the puzzle to determine if someone's really in legal possession," said Brown, adding that each law enforcement agency would determine its own policy. "I'll be encouraging officers to take the card as evidence that someone has gone through the process," Brown said. However, he noted that the cards will not be a carte blanche excuse for breaking the law. Brown also said he is uncomfortable with the ongoing conflict between state and federal law about the legality of the drug. Federal law does not recognize marijuana as a legitimate medical treatment. The Public Health Department has received about 20 calls since the temporary county cards were approved in April, and is expecting as many as 500 people to apply for the ID cards in the first year, Mickiewicz said. But Bearman calls that a conservative estimate, and expects interest will be higher. In addition to requiring a statewide system, the state law also specifies how much of the drug a user or caregiver may possess: eight ounces in dried form or six mature or 12 immature plants at a time. The county spent $12,200 for start-up costs, including a card scanner and a printer and two digital cameras, and expects the program to cost $22,400 in subsequent years. Patients who use medical marijuana may apply in person for an ID card starting today. Valid photo identification, proof of residency in Santa Barbara County, a doctor's letter, completed application form and $64 fee are required. Fees for MediCal recipients are $32. To apply for the cards in Santa Maria, visit the Clerk-Recorder-Assessor's office at 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Suite 115. On the South Coast, cards are available at the Public Health Department Office of Vital Records, 345 Camino del Remedio, 3rd Floor, Building 4. Information and forms are available at: http://www.sbcphd.org/Complete Title: Got Pot? Medical Marijuana Identification Cards Available TodaySource: Santa Maria Times (CA)Author: Author: Erin Carlyle, Staff WriterPublished: July 01, 2004 Copyright: 2004 Pulitzer Central Coast NewspapersContact: smtletters pulitzer.netWebsite: http://www.santamariatimes.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmCA Rejects Subpoena for Marijuana Recordshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18577.shtmlMarijuana Maven Lectures at MCChttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15624.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on July 01, 2004 at 12:25:16 PT
News Article from Travelvideo.TV 
Bed & Breakfast in Santa Cruz California Embraces Medical Marijuana MovementJuly 01, 2004In a creative achievement that celebrates hemp, history and hospitality, two Santa Cruz entrepreneurs have lovingly restored an elegant antique home into a medical marijuana-friendly bed & breakfast. Adorned with hemp leaf imagery and packed with decorative splendor, the Compassion Flower Inn is drawing rave reviews from local historians and medical marijuana advocates alike. The opening of the Compassion Flower Inn four years ago conveniently coincided with the Santa Cruz City Council’s vote to approve a local ordinance sanctioning the distribution of free weed by collectives that serve individuals whose illnesses can be relieved by the illegal drug. The city has long been known for its laid-back sensibilities and progressive initiatives.Longtime activists for medical marijuana and hemp cultivation, Maria Mallek-Tischler and Andrea Tischler spent three years and a half-million dollars establishing the Compassion Flower Inn, which opened on April 20, 2000. Guests with a physician’s clearance are allowed to smoke Marijuana on site, ensuring that the inn will be known as the first “bed, bud and breakfast.”Built in the late 19th century, the structure was originally owned by a prominent local judge. Decades later it became a boarding house, and was subsequently targeted for razing by a neighboring mortuary that wanted to expand its parking lot. Yet the elegant abode was destined to outlive such predatory short sidedness.After purchasing the property, Tischler and Mallek-Tischler initiated a full-scale restoration, gutting walls and floors, adding rooms, and installing a hydronic floor heating system. Their work has been praised for its attention to detail and elegance.The Compassion Flower Inn now features an exquisite selection of rooms, including the Hemp Room and the Lovers’ Suite. Hemp-based products, such as shampoos, soaps and, are also available. Each morning, a delicious, healthful breakfast menu is freshly prepared from the finest organic ingredients, including freshly baked muffins and breads. The inn's full flavored coffee is organic and a fair trade coffee. Vegetarian, vegan, and special diets are gladly accommodated. Breakfasts are included in the room rates.The opening of the Compassion Flower Inn was followed by the third annual Santa Cruz Industrial Hemp Expo. Created to advocate the commercial cultivation of hemp, the celebration will included the Pacific Avenue Hemp Parade, as well as live music and a hemp fashion show.A private, non-profit corporation, CVC exists to enhance tourism and the economy by positioning Santa Cruz County as a visitor, conference and film destination. For more information about local tourism, contact the Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council at 831-425-1234 or 800-833-3494. Or visit CVC's web site at: http://www.santacruzca.org/ Travelvideo.TV - your news source for the travel and tourism industry.http://travelvideo.tv/news/more.php?id=2220_0_1_0_M
Compassion Flower Inn Pictures
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Comment #2 posted by E_Johnson on July 01, 2004 at 11:57:57 PT
Mental health screening for law enforcement
I think police officers who obsess over the marijuana laws should be screened for job-related personality disorders.How can anyone who deals with rapists and murderers obsess over potheads? That's not right. I think they can't take dealing with murderers and rapists so they obsess over potheads as a way of living in a fantasy world where the worst thing in the world is just pot.I think anyone who wants to live in a fantasy world where the worst thing in the world is pot needs some kind of treatment, especially if that person carries a gun on the job.
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Comment #1 posted by Virgil on July 01, 2004 at 11:34:50 PT
You've got to be kidding.
Approved by a 3-2 vote by the county Board of Supervisors, the temporary county program was strongly opposed by law enforcement, who feared the interim cards would be difficult to verify and easy to counterfeit.Don't they have telephones?
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