cannabisnews.com: Davis Moves Away From OK of Card For Marijuana Use Davis Moves Away From OK of Card For Marijuana Use Posted by FoM on July 14, 1999 at 13:47:18 PT Robert B. Gunnison, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau Source: SF Gate Gov. Gray Davis probably will veto a bill to create a state identification card for users of marijuana for medical reasons, his spokesman said yesterday. The announcement by the Davis office came as the Assembly Health Committee approved a bill backed by Attorney General Bill Lockyer intended to implement a 1996 ballot measure that legalized pot for medicinal use. The bill would allow quasi-underground marijuana shops in many Northern California counties to do business in the open. ``This is clearly in conflict with federal law,'' Davis' press secretary, Michael Bustamante, said of the measure by Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-Santa Clara. Davis campaigned against the marijuana measure, Proposition 215, along with law enforcement officers and Gen. Barry McCaffrey, the U.S. drug czar. ``Given the governor's long-standing position, I would be hard pressed to see him sign it,'' Bustamante said. ``Until the federal government legalizes its use or growing, state government should not put itself in a position of sanctioning it.'' The statement was a change from Monday, when Bustamante said Davis had no position on the bill, but added: ``If good science and good medicine dictate that this is reasonable, the governor will look at this very seriously.'' The developments left Vasconcellos sputtering in anger. ``I'm really offended,'' he said in an interview. ``This defies anything I've seen in 30 years here.'' ``I thought the people of California elected the governor -- not Barry McCaffrey,'' he said. He said he was offended because Davis's staff had breached protocol by making the governor's position known first to a reporter, and not to him. The position of the new Democratic governor puts him in the same camp with former Gov. Pete Wilson and former Attorney General Dan Lungren, both foes of medical use of marijuana. Wilson twice vetoed Vasconcellos' attempts to legalize marijuana for medical use in legislation more limited than Proposition 215. Lungren's agents raided the Cannabis Buyers' Club in San Francisco in 1996. Davis has repeatedly said elected officials should respect the will of voters when they approve initiatives like Propositions 187 and 209, which limited government programs for illegal immigrants and outlawed government affirmative action programs. Asked why Davis did not similarly follow voters' wishes on Proposition 215, Bustamante only repeated, ``This is clearly in conflict with federal law.'' The bill includes the recommendations of a 30-member task force of prosecutors, police and marijuana advocates who tried to find a way to legalize medical use of pot, even though its cultivation, possession and sale are outlawed by state and federal laws. ``We believe the bill provides for responsible implementation of Proposition 215,'' Attorney General Lockyer told the committee. The vote was 9 to 3 to send the measure, SB848, to the Appropriations Committee. The bill would create a statewide identity card that would be issued to anyone whose physician found to be afflicted with a ``serious medical condition,'' including AIDS, anorexia, arthritis, cancer, chronic pain, glaucoma, migraine or other ``chronic or persistent medical symptom.'' Bearers of the card would not be subject to prosecution for possession, transportation or growing marijuana -- if the amount is less than will be established later by state regulations. A separate card would be provided to qualified caregivers. Assemblyman Howard Wayne, D-San Diego, asked Vasconcellos to reconcile his bill with federal law outlawing pot possession. ``The federal government is so hysterical and unresponsive on this issue that I am not going to let them dictate policy,'' Vasconcellos responded. Wayne apparently was unpersuaded. He voted no. Also approved by the committee, 11 to 1, was a second Vasconcellos bill, SB847, which would appropriate $1 million for the University of California to study the medical effects of marijuana. ``This is simply to find out the truth,'' Vasconcellos said. Pubdate: July 14, 1999©1999 San Francisco Chronicle Page A11 Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by Jeaneous on July 15, 1999 at 12:05:48 PT: True I see your view on SB 848. What I did see in SB 848 was that the police could not arrest you once you were registered and had their card. With the way it stands.. I see that there will be more arrests in which the police can state they have to honor federal law. I have been arrested and am serving my sentence at this point which is to do without my medication. I do understand that the government and law officials should honor Proposition 215, but that is certainly not being done. I do not know the answer, but I do know that I am sickened by the way the people's votes are being ingnored and over-ruled. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by jdd on July 14, 1999 at 23:05:59 PT messing with our lives.... I must disagree with Jean. If this bill was to pass, it would, in my opinion violate the true spirit of Prop. 215. Prop. 215 was created with the idea of freedom and privacy of medical treatment. It assumed that our physicians know best how to treat their patients. If this bill is passed into law, it would put politicians in a position of violating doctor/patient confidentiality. It's nobody's business to know what ails me, or what treatment my doctor is giving me. If this were an AIDS registry, there would be a massive outrage by various advocacy groups, and rightly so. Let's just tell our 'leaders' in Sacramento that we just want Prop. 215 to be the "law of the land". It's such a simple law. Don't screw it up! My doctor knows what is or isn't best for me, not some bureaucrat in Sacramento!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Jeaneous on July 14, 1999 at 15:38:55 PT: Messing with Our Lives.... I would not doubt that Davis could veto it... he's been too quiet on the issue. He has no backbone to stand up and actually uphold the will of the people. This is what I sent...I am writing regarding Mr. Bustamante's statement that Governor Davis will probably veto SB 848. If this does occur, I feel that Mr. Davis will be betraying many of his constituents that have looked to him for a change in attitude from the previous leadership of Wilson.The people of California voted Proposition 215 into Law in 1996, and as our Governor, it is Mr. Davis's duty to uphold the laws that the majority of Californians have voted for.We did not want a police government, or else Dan Lungren would have been the governor. We want a man that is willing to work to uphold his constituents will. I personally will withdraw from the Democratic Party if this occurs. And I will encourgage others to do the same. For if he vetos this bill, he will not be representing more than 56% of his constituents.It is sad that there seems to be no politician that the people of this country can count on to uphold their wishes. Once elected, they impose their personal views and opinions on the citizens. That is not how this government was to be handled according to our forefathers of this country.Another sad day for Californians...Jean Cowsert [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on July 14, 1999 at 14:59:28 PT: We Sure Need Clarification! Jean,The article above this one was released more recently. The one above is time stamped but this one isn't. I find this apalling to say the least and I'm shocked too. I hope the above article is more current then this one because it seems this will not be taken lightly. As I find more news I'll post it. It really messes with my head. We wonder why people don't trust the government! This is one big reason why!FoM [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Jeaneous on July 14, 1999 at 14:11:11 PT: OUTRAGE!!!! This is exactly the kind of betrayal I have been speaking out against. This is like drawing a line in the sand, daring us to cross it. It has already been crossed by the voters of California that voted medicinal marijuana a law by a 56% majority.Maybe it's time for a true Impeachment!Everyone must speak up now. We are the ones that vote the law of this state. It is in our corner now. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: