cannabisnews.com: Schwarzenegger Vetoes Medical Marijuana Changes





Schwarzenegger Vetoes Medical Marijuana Changes
Posted by CN Staff on July 20, 2004 at 18:48:33 PT
By Reuter
Source: Reuters 
San Francisco -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill on Tuesday that would have eased rules on how much medical marijuana patients could possess in California. State voters approved a measure in 1996 to allow medical marijuana, but the initiative has been subject to a continuing battle pitting it against federal rules. The bill that Schwarzenegger vetoed would have removed quantity limits on the drug for California patients.
"Reasonable and established quantity guidelines allow medicinal marijuana patients to seek relief from symptoms free from legal questions and permit law enforcement to carry out the law," Schwarzenegger wrote in a note to the State Senate explaining his veto. "Enactment of this bill would create uncertainty in this area of the law thereby making it more difficult for law enforcement to determine when a person was in possession of marijuana for medicinal purposes." Schwarzenegger has previously spoken out in favor of medical marijuana. Source: Reuters Published: July 20, 2004Copyright: 2004 Reuters Related Articles & Web Site:Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmState Sets Marijuana Standardshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17583.shtmlMedical Marijuana IDs Go Statewidehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17563.shtml Davis Signs Adjunct To Medical Pot Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17562.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #9 posted by FoM on July 21, 2004 at 22:22:49 PT
Excerpt from Article from The San Jose Mercury New
Soakers, Tokers Socked by VetoesSo California, So Not HappeningSACRAMENTO - Talk about a buzz kill.Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took aim Tuesday at proposals affecting Californians who soak at a Northern California hot springs resort and who smoke marijuana to ease their pain.The governor also rejected a second Vasconcellos bill meant to clarify California's pioneering medicinal-marijuana laws by allowing users to grow at least six pot plants and keep at least eight ounces without facing the arrest.Schwarzenegger essentially told the 72-year-old Santa Clara Democrat he'd gone one toke over the line."Enactment of the bill would create uncertainty in this area of the law, thereby making it more difficult for law enforcement to determine when a person was in possession of marijuana for medicinal purposes," wrote the former Hollywood star in his veto message.Someone get Cheech and Chong on the line. Complete Article: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/9204718.htm
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by Treeanna on July 21, 2004 at 17:21:31 PT
Arnold is an idiot
And he sure as hell isn't a lawyer.It is obvious from that press release that he doesn't know jack about any of the subject matter.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by Druid on July 21, 2004 at 12:47:04 PT
Good or Bad seems Stoners can't decide 
Schwarzenegger Medpot Veto Applauded by AMMASAN FRANCISCO - The American Medical Marijuana Association said today that it applauds Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for vetoing a bill that would have further complicated the rules on how much medical marijuana patients could possess in California. State voters approved a voter initiative in 1996 to allow medical marijuana, but the initiative was modified by SB 420, authored by Senator John Vasconcellos, who later discovered that his new law was unconstitutional."The American Medical Marijuana Association has insisted from the beginning that SB 420 is an unconstitutional modification. Although AMMA favors ID card systems, it opposed SB 420 as poorly written, "said Steve Kubby, AMMA National Director.After the passage of SB 420, AMMA notified Senator John Vasconcellos, that they intended to file a suit regarding the validity of SB 420, under the California constitution, which specifically prohibits the modification of a state initiative. Vasconcellos finally realized his error and then submitted a "clean-up bill" to try to resolve the unconstitutional initiative.As explained in his clean up bill, Vasconcellos admitted that, "This bill is a clean-up bill and intended to correct a drafting error in my medical marijuana bill signed into law last year. It was brought to our attention at the tail end of session by law professor Gerry Uelman that the language may be problematic because it states that all qualified patients (with or without identification cards) are subject to guidelines provided in statute. Despite intent language in our bill stating that the program is intended to be voluntary, many advocates argued that it amends the initiative by making the guidelines mandatory - therefore making it unconstitutional. In order to avoid any legal challenges, it is important to make a distinction between 'qualified patient' (which applies to all patients) and 'persons with identification cards'. "Robert J. Ornelas, Mayor, City of Arcata, Mayor Ornelas officially opposed the clean up bill because it "creates two classes of patients, through purportedly providing immunity from arrest (and seizure) to patients voluntarily registering with the state and complying with certain limits, but failing to establish equivalent legal processes with police in the field for unregistered, non-complying patients, an unlawful partition of patients' status."On Tuesday, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed Vasconcellos' clean up bill, arguing that it would further complicate the issue. "Reasonable and established quantity guidelines allow medicinal marijuana patients to seek relief from symptoms free from legal questions and permit law enforcement to carry out the law," Schwarzenegger wrote in a note to the State Senate explaining his veto."Governor Schwarzenegger has previously spoken out in favor of medical marijuana and the patients, doctors, nurses and supporters of the American Medical Marijuana Association appreciate the governor's wisdom in vetoing a bad bill," Kubby said.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by FoM on July 21, 2004 at 08:30:42 PT
EJ I Didn't Hear About It Either
It shocked me when I saw the article because I didn't recall anything concerning this bill at all. I hope I didn't miss any articles but maybe I did.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by ubas on July 21, 2004 at 07:54:42 PT
Text of Veto Message
Text of Veto Message (July 19, 2004)
I am returning Senate Bill 1494 without my signature.This bill reverses an agreement that led to the passage of SB 420 (Vasconcellos) in 2003. That statute established quantity guidelines which gave patients and law enforcement clarity in the law with respect to possession of medicinal marijuana under Proposition 215. Reasonable and established quantity guidelines allow medicinal marijuana patients to seek relief from symptoms free from legal questions and permit law enforcement to carry out the law.Senate Bill 1494 removes the limitation on the amount of marijuana a qualified patient, person with an identification card, or primary caregiver can possess. Since the passage of Proposition 215, local governments have grappled with the interpretation of the voters' intent with respect to how much marijuana a patient may possess for medical use. Senate Bill 420 resolved this issue.Enactment of this bill would create uncertainty in this area of the law thereby making it more difficult for law enforcement to determine when a person was in possession of marijuana for medicinal purposes pursuant to Proposition 215.For these reasons, I am unable to sign this measure.Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by E_Johnson on July 20, 2004 at 23:07:08 PT
Whose bill was it?
Actually I haven't really heard about this before. Has it been covered in the press?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by shrox on July 20, 2004 at 22:24:17 PT
Read the bills!
Never judge a bill by it's title, always read it! Take the time to investigate, you could end up saving your all butt!shrox
http://www.shrox.com/spiceflow.html
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by Treeanna on July 20, 2004 at 20:11:32 PT
Good riddance to a bad bill
I read that bill.It removed the protections from non-cardholder patients and caregivers granted in SB420.It stank, and I am glad it was vetoed. If they want to expand and improve SB420, then all good, but this was sloppy work.We are protected by People v. Trippet and can grow any amount we need for medical use anyway.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on July 20, 2004 at 19:51:49 PT
He's a Girlie Man
He hasn't been able to stand up to the prison guards either.
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment