cannabisnews.com: Merced County Lacks Medical Pot Guidelines
Merced County Lacks Medical Pot Guidelines
Posted by CN Staff on September 19, 2004 at 10:03:20 PT
By David Chircop, Merced Sun-Star
Source: Merced Sun-Star
Charles Igou, a 70-year-old retired Air Force veteran, never smoked pot in his life. Until a few years ago. Igou suffers chronic pain from service-related injuries, and, the Merced County resident says, he uses marijuana to relieve his discomfort.He's had three surgeries on his left foot and has tried several different types of medication. None works as well, with as few side effects, as marijuana, he says.
Even though state law allows him to use marijuana for medical purposes, the county has no policies outlining how much he can carry or how many plants he can cultivate.Monday, he will join a group of medical marijuana advocates who will address the Merced City Council with their concerns with local law enforcement agencies.In 1996, 56 percent of voters in California voted for Proposition 215, which legalized the use of pot as a prescribed medicine.But inconsistent application of the law has resulted in a patchwork of policies in counties and cities across the state.While places like Merced have no guidelines for local law enforcement agencies to follow, places like Sonoma County allow people to possess three pounds of marijuana, and cultivate up to 99 plants.That inconsistency can be frustrating, medical marijuana advocates say.Igou has a local doctor's recommendation, which he uses to buy pot at a dispensary in the Bay Area, but there are no local places where he can purchase it."There should be a place locally," he said. "We've got people here who need to have access to it and can't necessarily drive to Oakland or San Francisco."A group does want to open a cannabis club in Merced County, but its members say a lack of local guidelines are blocking their efforts.They say a local club will help spare poor or elderly medical marijuana users the time and expense of driving to distant counties.Law enforcement and health officials in Merced County say they are working on guidelines, and should have something ready for the Board of Supervisors to consider by the end of the year.John Volanti, public health director for Merced County, said under SB 420, signed into law last year, the state is required to come up with uniform standards for implementing the medical marijuana law.But those standards won't be ready until April 2005.In the meantime, he said, the county is gearing up to issue identification cards so that if somebody with a valid prescription is stopped, they can present the card to police.Information on the cards would be similar to a driver's license, with a photograph, identification number, an expiration date. They will also include a 24-hour telephone number for the local health department.Merced Police Chief Tony Dossetti said part of the problem of enforcement now is checking the legitimacy of medical marijuana prescriptions.He said officers have found people carrying pot who present dubious prescriptions.With no uniform statewide identification to distinguish forged documents from legitimate prescriptions, he said, police often confiscate marijuana and detain suspects.If prescriptions are legitimate, he said, that puts the Police Department in a bind.If they give back the seized marijuana, they could be violating federal drug trafficking laws, he said."The state has passed this law without regard to the federal law," he said. "Now, local law enforcement agencies are kind of stuck in the middle of this thing."Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin agreed."Proposition 215 was an ill-conceived plan that was passed by the voters, and now the chickens have come home to roost, because it's so convoluted," he said.Pazin said city and county officials are doing their best to honor state law."People are just going to have to be patient," he said.But people like Dustin Costa say local agencies have had eight years since Proposition 215 passed, and they are tired of waiting.Costa faces charges stemming from a February drug raid that netted close to 1,000 plants at his Winton home.He claims the plants were for medicinal use and that he was supplying marijuana to people with doctors' recommendations.The outspoken advocate for medical marijuana has recently been lobbying local elected officials to shape policy on the issue.He is also taking aim at the sheriff with complaints he's filing with the Merced Civil Grand Jury.He accuses Pazin of violating his oath of office, the California Constitution and medical marijuana statutes.Pazin says the allegations are "totally unnecessary and outlandish."Meanwhile, even if Costa and his fledgling group do get their wish and they open a medical marijuana dispensary in Merced County, it could still fall under the hammer of the federal government.Since the California medical marijuana laws contradict federal drug law, the Drug Enforcement Administration has continued to seize property from medical marijuana clubs.Earlier this month, a dispensary in Roseville was raided and cleared out by DEA agents.The agency claims large-scale drug traffickers hide behind medical marijuana claims, taking advantage of confusion surrounding the state law.In a Sacramento Bee story about the raid, an unnamed federal prosecutor said the high-profile proprietor was "tugging on Superman's cape."To that, Costa said he's willing to face the scrutiny."I'm tugging on your cape," he said. "I'm tugging. I'm right here."Note: Marijuana prescription holders call for legal protection. Source: Merced Sun-Star (CA)Author: David Chircop, Merced Sun-StarPublished: September 18, 2004Copyright: 2004 Merced Sun-StarContact: editor mercedsun-star.comWebsite: http://www.mercedsun-star.com/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on September 20, 2004 at 08:41:59 PT
JustGetnBy
That's funny a nervous finger! I call it a hiccup! LOL!
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Comment #13 posted by JustGetnBy on September 20, 2004 at 08:33:50 PT
FOM
Never would think you would do anything mean or thoughtles. I just had a nervous finger. Thanks for fixing it, lol.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #12 posted by FoM on September 20, 2004 at 07:38:38 PT
JustGetnBy
I wanted to mention I removed the extra post so no one would think I deleted a comment of yours.
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Comment #10 posted by JustGetnBy on September 20, 2004 at 06:46:05 PT
Governers Veto
The governater says he won't sign a bill that takes away options and decision making ability from the local level.
Good decision Guv., now how about doing something about the FEDS coming into Ca and taking away our options and decision making ability in the area of health care. ie
med MJ.
Oh yes, Guv. would you also do something about the FEDS coming into Ca and stealing our homes, jobs, children, and bank accounts, cars and ability to get an education or job, WHILE YOUR AT IT. Somehow, hooded, jackbooted thugs, kicking in doors, screaming obscenities, throwing people to the ground ,handcuffing dis-abled people to their bed, and generally treating innocent citizens worse than convicted murderers on death row are treated, just doesn't seem to belong in the same discussion as limiting our ability to makes medical decisions at the local level. But, then again, we wouldn't want to send the wrong message to the CHIIILDRUUUUN would we?
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Comment #9 posted by breeze on September 19, 2004 at 17:55:09 PT
If you wonder about cancer-
and what politicians ARE doing in your best interest, follow this link...http://greenvilleonline.com/news/specialreport/2004/09/18/2004091839450.htmIt seems that even before medical cannabis becomes an issue, people in power don't give a damn about the sick and dying to begin with- even when they have resources available to them.Funny, I saw the word republican mentioned a lot in this article.Here is even more information on breast cancer and what is NOT being done about it...http://greenvilleonline.com/news/specialreport/breastcancer/
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #8 posted by siege on September 19, 2004 at 17:03:56 PT
order pot
Canada Post shipping cannabis
Legality of mail order pot investigatedhttp://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=a1de49ab-f23f-4854-83b4-124cfce53533
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Comment #7 posted by John Osbourne on September 19, 2004 at 15:16:34 PT
test
Just testingThis is just me FoM
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #6 posted by siege on September 19, 2004 at 13:31:32 PT
FORCED MENTAL HEALTH
FORCED MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING FOR YOUR CHILDREN
In his September 14, 2004 commentary, Congressman Ron Paul blasted the latest Communist ideology being put forth by President Bush:http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd64.htm
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on September 19, 2004 at 12:12:45 PT
Schwarzenegger Vetoes Anti-Drug-Testing Bill
I just got this in my e-mail from DPFCA and I thought I should post it.http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/10800743p-11718806c.html
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on September 19, 2004 at 10:46:11 PT
Thanks EJ
I checked out the Sacramento Bee and there isn't any new news articles. The SB doesn't come up in google or other news search tools.
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Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on September 19, 2004 at 10:37:24 PT
They mention it in this story
Other than that, I don't know.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on September 19, 2004 at 10:34:47 PT
Is It a New Sacbee Article?
EJ should I go look for the article you mentioned? It sure is hard to keep my focus on our issues these days. I have my blinders on as best as I can.On a good note. I watched the whole Farm-Aid concert last night. It only ended at 2:30. They had a really cool commercial about voting. It shows people with November 2 on their T-shirts. Many many people and no words. At the end of showing all these people wearing a November 2nd T-shirt it shows a cool looking guy standing by the ocean and all it said is We Decide! It was a great commercial. Jerry Lee Lewis was great. Heck I'm surprised he's still alive! They even sang that song Okie From Muskogee! It was a welcome relief the Farm-Aid concert.
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Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on September 19, 2004 at 10:18:56 PT
Narcissism is a mental disorder
"In a Sacramento Bee story about the raid, an unnamed federal prosecutor said the high-profile proprietor was "tugging on Superman's cape."
"The unnamed federal prosecutor needs psychotherapy and a remedial course in Constitutional law. The enforcement branch of the federal government is not Superman and neither is he.And if there were a real Superman, since he fights on the side of truth and justice, the unnamed federal prosecutor is the one who should worry.
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