cannabisnews.com: Fresno County Pushed to Consider Medical Marijuana





Fresno County Pushed to Consider Medical Marijuana
Posted by FoM on March 02, 2000 at 10:10:40 PT
By Donald E. Coleman, The Fresno Bee
Source: The Fresno Bee
Jonathan Richter wants Fresno County to become the third government body in the state to develop guidelines for cultivating and possessing marijuana for medical purposes. "Since Proposition 215 passed, people are being victimized by the government," said Richter, director of the Fresno County Chapter of the American Medical Marijuana Association, who will make his pitch to the Board of Supervisors today. 
In November 1996, state voters approved Prop. 215, which allows the use of marijuana for medical purposes. However, specific criteria for implementation of the ballot measure haven't been established in jurisdictions across the state, and several legal challenges have been mounted. "Since the state, more than three years later, has failed to set up a patient health system and say how much you can grow or have, there are dozens of people who have had their lives turned upside down when they thought they would be protected," said Richter, a Libertarian who said he became involved in the issue because of the plight of people who have been prosecuted since the law's passage. The road to marijuana guidelines in Fresno County may be a lot more rocky than in the cities of Arcata in Mendocino County or Oakland in Alameda County. Each has passed a local ordinance regulating use of marijuana for medical purposes. "Proposition 215 implies certain things, but it doesn't cover certain things," said Gary M. Carozza, director of the Fresno County Department of Community Health. This is the county's first request for such guidelines as far as he knows. Carozza said the the proposition, also called the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, was meant to ensure that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use marijuana for the treatment of cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief. In his report to the board, Carozza said another purpose of Prop. 215 is to ensure that patients and their primary caregivers cannot be criminally prosecuted or sanctioned. The proposition also asks federal and state governments to implement a plan to provide for the safe and affordable distribution of marijuana to patients in medical need. Although Prop. 215 allows for the cultivation and possession of marijuana for patients with a doctor's recommendation, it fails to provide specific language regarding the amount of marijuana that can be cultivated or possessed and transported by the patient or the patient's primary caregiver without violating state laws. "It sounds like a very confusing problem," Carozza said. "Law enforcement is in a real quandary because the city may or may not agree." Carozza said the proposition appears to conflict with federal law that prohibits the manufacture, distribution or possession of marijuana. It also doesn't address the sale, transportation or distribution of marijuana as prohibited by state law. District Attorney Ed Hunt says he isn't confused: "There's no way I'm going to support a standard which somebody deems acceptable, a blanket policy. If there is a doctor who will testify under oath that he prescribes it, we will dismiss. That person then has met the requirements of Proposition 215." Published February 29, 2000Copyright ©2000, The Fresno Bee Medical Marijuana Archives & Web Site:215 NOW!http://www.215now.com/http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtmlOver 350 News Articles on California's Prop 215:http://www.alltheweb.com/cgi-bin/asearch?type=all&query=cannabisnews+215
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Comment #3 posted by kaptinemo on March 02, 2000 at 12:36:32 PT
Not so far-fetched as it looks
Greenfox's little jaunt into a possible future history is not as implausible as some might carelessly dismiss it. For example, due to a clause in the GATT, two years ago we almost lost the right to take Vitamin C without having to get a doctor's prescription. Had it not been for the activism of certain health-food advocacy groups, our sometimes pork-brained legislators might have signed a trade agreement with the European Union which would have done exactly that. When the word got out in the natural foods community (largely thanks to the Internet and some radio talk show hosts such as Zoh Hieronimus at LibertyWorks) the measure was stopped in the House, and that was the end of it. So far, anyway...What Greenfox has written is *not* all that off-the-wall; it's the logical conclusion of an illogical policy.A link you might find of interest (You'll need either Windows Media Player or RealPlayer): http:\\www.libertyworksradio.com
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Comment #2 posted by greenfox on March 02, 2000 at 11:17:10 PT
Drug War: 2022
Samantha looked down at the plate. "Again?" she asked in disgust. The familiar face that sat directly across from her nodded slowly, releasing silent frustration and anguish within the answer. "Well, I'm tired of protein capsules. Isn't there anything else?" He frowned at her, and sighed softly. "Samantha, you know there isn't anything else. Yet, every night, you ask. Why do you ask when you know the answer is always the same?""I don't know," she sighed in return. "I just wish there was something else. Every night I come home and every night it's the same damn thing; protein capsules with organic supplements, and that's only if we're really lucky.""I know, honey, I know." They continued to eat in silence. Eating was no longer something that took much time. However, for old time's sake, meals had a tendency to draw themselves out. One could effectively eat an entire meal in under a few seconds. It's unnecessary to cut the capsules, as they can be swallowed. They both knew this. Yet, something strange and nostalgic embraced them both, each and every evening. Instead of routinely swallowing their supplements, they took gracious time to sit and discuss the day's events. They both knew that it was unusual to do so, and probably frowned upon by the rest. They were, on the other hand, not like the rest.	After a few moments of silence, he looked at her. "Samantha, I have something to show you." Shocked by the break in routine and silence, her eyes darted towards his in anticipation."What, Daddy? What is it?""It's something that I've been saving for a long time. I didn't want to show it to you yet, but I think this is for the best. Come with me, dear." He slowly withdrew himself from his chair and stood up slowly. She was by his side, helping him to his feet. He placed his hand on hers and smiled tenderly. Without words, the two retreated to his quarters. Out of respect, she hadn't been in his room that often. She had, of course, seen it before. However, she knew that he wasn't proud of the way he was living nor was he happy that he couldn't provide for his daughter better. Slowly making his way to the small bed, he fumbled aimlessly with the mattress. "I know it's around here somewhere," he mumbled to himself. She wondered what he could be doing, but declined to ask. She simply sat in silent expectation, waiting patiently for the surprise. After some shuffling, he found what he was looking for. Within a few seconds, the entire bed had lifted from its place. As the bed elevated from its standing point, Samantha's expression changed from one of excitement to horror. Strapped to the underside of the bed was a long florescent tube. It was emitting a strange glow. Her horror did not originate from the sight of the tube. It came from what was underneath the tube. It was a plant. On its branches were fresh tomatoes. She was shaking her head and, despite his attempts to explain, she started crying. "Dad, do you know what will happen?" she said, sobbing slightly. "Honey, you always wanted something different. Remember when you were young? Do you?" She was still crying. "I did this for you. When was the last time we had real food? Probably not since you can remember. And besides, I thought it would make you happy." He wrapped his arms around her. She was, at this point, blubbering like a child. "Dad, do you know what they'll do to you?" "Honey, they can't find me. I've had this for a very long time. If they found about it, they would have by now.""Mr. Sanders," a strange voice sounded, "who says we haven't? You were foolish to do this." Screaming interrupted the strange voice. It was Samantha's scream. Three men stood guarding the doorway to her father's room. One of those three men was a high commander. He was the one who spoke. "You have no right to be here!" the old man screamed. The high commander looked back at him and approached him slowly. "I have every right to be here. You are guilty of high treason. You've done a grave injustice to your family; or should I say, what little family you have left.""You bastard!" "Now, now, Mr. Sanders. That's a violation, but I think we have more important matters to attend to. Usually I would have my men hand down the sentence, but in this case, I think it's a matter of duty that I do it. After all, we go back such a long way." He pulled out his standard issue .45 and pointed it at the old man's head. "Please," Samantha's father spoke, "I have to raise my daughter. You can't do this to me. Not over a plant! Please, I beg you!"The commander groaned, "You're right. It would be unfair to your daughter. She must learn a lesson from this." He moved the pistol from the man's head to his arm, and pulled the trigger. Blood spurted out from the back of the man's arm and covered one of the walls. He screamed in agonizing pain. Methodically, he moved the pistol to the other arm and pulled the trigger. The other two men were holding Samantha back. She was in ravenous tears of anger and rage. The commander then moved down and, without pause, put a hole in each leg. The man had almost fainted from pain, but the commander grabbed the man's neck and injected adrenalin into his system. It woke the man up briefly, giving him the energy to spit blood on the commander's uniform. As if in retaliation, he pointed the barrel at the man's head once more. Then, he looked over to the young lady on the other side of the room."Well Samantha, it seems that you've learned a very valuable lesson today. Don't ever make the mistake your father did, or we'll be back for you." Subsequently, he turned his attention back to the dying man and put the final bullet in his head. Blood spewed from the back of his cranium, spattering the walls and leaving Samantha covered in her father's blood. A piece of brain tissue fell along side her tears. The commander put the weapon away, seized the plant, and left with the other two men. Samantha was thrown in a corner, dirty, crying, and covered in her father's blood. Right before the last man walked out, he turned to her almost in concern, and as if to explain his actions, he muttered to her that he was just doing his job. Apathetic and uncaring, she continued to cry into the night.
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Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on March 02, 2000 at 11:13:32 PT
Catch-22, again
Carozza said the proposition appears to conflict with federal law that prohibits the manufacture, distribution or possession of marijuana. It also doesn't address the sale, transportation or distribution of marijuana as prohibited by state law. District Attorney Ed Hunt says he isn't confused: "There's no way I'm going to support a standard which somebody deems acceptable, a blanket policy. If there is a doctor who will testify under oath that he prescribes it, we will dismiss. That person then has met the requirements of Proposition 215." Mr. Hunt's slip of the lip says it all. He and his cronies have the doctors in California (with a few exceptions, like Dr. Mikuriya) so spooked that few will sign anything stating their recommendations. So few *will* testify. Nice little racket, Mr. Hunt. That is, until enough people out there realize what is actually happening and get ticked at the Feds' behavior. 
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