cannabisnews.com: Some Patients Find Pot is an Arresting Experience Some Patients Find Pot is an Arresting Experience Posted by FoM on January 12, 2000 at 13:43:18 PT By Doni Greenberg Source: Record Searchlight Just for principle's sake, I'll be glad when those 41 marijuana plants are returned to Richard Levin — even if they are dead.We, the voters, approved Proposition 215 in 1996, allowing patients to use marijuana with a doctor's approval. I voted for it. It seemed the compassionate thing to do. I figured what happened next was between doctors and their patients. Since its passage, Proposition 215 has reminded me of when Cinderella's stepmother said yes, Cinderella could go to that high-falutin' ball. (Wink, wink). Glory be, what do you know, first Cinderella had to clean the castle with cleanser and a toothbrush. Next, she was locked in her room. Finally, she had nothing but rags to wear. But sure, she could go to the ball.Well, for patients who need marijuana to ease their symptoms, the good news was the voter approval of Proposition 215 ensured they could use marijuana. (Wink, wink). What followed was a steep uphill battle for those patients who actually tried to take advantage of Proposition 215.First, they had to find a doctor willing to prescribe marijuana. Next, they had to tiptoe around the long arm of law enforcement that hated Proposition 215 and continued to view pot as the stepping stone leading to heroin and all evils — not a potential medicinal aid. Finally, Lord help the patients who did get a doctor's OK, only to learn they live in counties where officials had done nothing but scratch their heads since 1996 regarding handling the initiative.In Tehama County, officials established Proposition 215 standards in November, which is better late than you-know-what. They set their guidelines after conferring with marijuana experts, the state attorney general's office and Proposition 215 proponents. Consequently, Tehama County marijuana patients know the rules: they can grow 18 seedlings, but can only possess six vegetating, budding plants. If Tehama officials discover patients with more pot than they're allowed, drug agents will remove the excess. Nobody gets in trouble.In 1998, the city of Oakland passed a resolution supporting the use of medical marijuana and gave the go-ahead for patients to have a three-month supply.Here in Redding, 49-year-old Levin was arrested in May 1998 by Shasta County sheriff's deputies after they found 1 pounds of pot in his bedroom and 41 marijuana seedlings growing in his back yard. On Dec. 15 a jury's verdict to acquit Levin marked the first time in Shasta County history — perhaps even the state — that a medical marijuana defendant was acquitted since Proposition 215's approval.Here in Shasta County, law enforcement deals with marijuana-using patients on a case-by-case situation. But on a case-by-case situation, how in the world are patients to know how many seedlings are too many seedlings — more than law enforcement would consider reasonable?It would be terrific if California adopted statewide Proposition 215 guidelines. This would avoid the possible scenario of having next-door counties with conflicting Proposition 215 regulations: In one county it might be okey-dokey to grow an acre of marijuana, while the next county's regulations might require that patients possessing 1 ounces of pot are handcuffed and hauled to jail.Regarding statewide guidelines about seedling standards, I can't help but put on my gardening hat and recall that I always plant more basil seedlings than I'll really need. While I may only want four bunches of basil, I assume not all the seedlings will make it, so I'll plant eight, just for good measure. Maybe growing marijuana is similar. Maybe some patients are better gardeners than others.Personally speaking, though I've never cottoned to the idea of using mind-altering substances, I've always believed the use of marijuana should be an adult, personal decision — just like tobacco and alcohol.Just think, if adults' use of marijuana had never been criminalized, we'd have more room in jails and prisons for real criminals. And most of all, if adults' use of marijuana had never been criminalized, Proposition 215 would never have been necessary in the first place. Doni Greenberg's column appears each Wednesday and Sunday. She can be reached at dgreenberg redding.com or 225-8237.©2000 Record Searchlight - E.W. Scripps. Related Articles:Patient Doesn't Get Pot Back Yet - 1/12/2000http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4281.shtmlPatient Will Get His Pot - 1/12/2000http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4279.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by Jeff Christen-Mitche on January 12, 2000 at 18:49:27 PT: Three Million By 2010 At the start of the WOSDs in the early 1970's we had about 200,000 in prison. Without the war we'd have about 400,000 now. With our 2nd millionth coming up Feb. 15th that would mean that 1,600,000 American men, women and children are behind bars because of the (Dorian Grey) Greatest Generation. Let's all pray for the future of our once beautiful country. Bob Dylan said it 40 years ago with:...."for each unharmful, gentle soul misplaced inside a jail. As we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing." 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