cannabisnews.com: City To Consider Pass-Card For Legal Pot Users 





City To Consider Pass-Card For Legal Pot Users 
Posted by FoM on November 06, 1999 at 17:22:43 PT
By Peter Hartlaub, Of The Examiner Staff 
Source: San Francisco Examiner 
Supervisor Leno suggests IDs to aid police, cut hassles. Medical marijuana users could pull out a card and prove their legal right to the drug under a citywide program that Supervisor Mark Leno plans to introduce Monday for legislation. 
Leno said the San Francisco program would expand on similar programs already in Oakland, Arcata in Humboldt County and Mendocino County. Supporters hope the cards will reduce the potential for hassles between law enforcement and those who can legally use the drug under Proposition 215, the medical marijuana initiative approved by California voters in 1996. "The goal is to make sure people who have a medical need for cannabis can demonstrate that to police," said Mitchell Katz, director of the Department of Public Health. The cards would be distributed by the Department of Public Health, and Leno said the program would be voluntary. "Both primary caregivers and medical marijuana users can qualify for a card," Leno said. "The cards are completely confidential -- there are no names or addresses anywhere on the card." The cards, good for two years, would have a photo and identification number instead, along with a holographic seal to deter forgeries. Leno said the legislation will be introduced at City Hall on Monday, go to a supervisors committee in 30 days and move quickly from there. "There's a chance we may get this approved by the end of the year," Leno said. Arcata has had a similar program run by the police department since August 1997. Mendocino County and Oakland also issue medical marijuana ID cards. Leno said District Attorney Terence Hallinan and Police Department officials support the initiative and are scheduled to show their support at a Monday rally, Leno said. "Physicians, providers, patients and their caregivers came to me expressing a desire to be able to recommend, provide and use cannabis without fear of prosecution," Leno said. "The police also asked us to distinguish legitimate users from illicit ones. This legislation achieves all those goals at the same time." By Peter Hartlaub OF THE EXAMINER STAFF Saturday, November 6, 1999 ©1999 San Francisco Examiner Related Articles & Web Sites:215 NOW!http://www.215now.com/PeterTrialhttp://www.petertrial.com/ Todd McCormick's Grow Medicinehttp://growmedicine.com/Renee Boje's Legal Defense Fundhttp://thecompassionclub.org/reneeJudge Rules Against Medical Necessity Defense - 11/06/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3579.shtmlProp. 215: Three Years Later But Law Still Ignored-11/05/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3574.shtml Extradition Hearing Adjourned for Woman - 11/03/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3549.shtml
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