cannabisnews.com: Santa Cruz Pot Ordinance Allows Medical Marijuana Santa Cruz Pot Ordinance Allows Medical Marijuana Posted by FoM on March 29, 2000 at 07:57:50 PT By Martha Mendoza, Associated Press Writer Source: Sacramento Bee Santa Cruz residents no longer need prescriptions to medicate themselves with marijuana under a new ordinance approved unanimously late Tuesday."This is the compassionate thing to do," said City Council member Mike Rotkin, who cosponsored the ordinance, expected to take effect in early May. The law, modeled on a successfully defended law in Oakland, says that people who are being treated for cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine headaches "or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief" will be allowed to grow and use pot.The ordinance specifies that the marijuana must be organic.Prescriptions are not required, a way to get around federal laws that ban doctors from prescribing pot. Doctors risk losing their medical licenses if convicted.In 1996, state voters -- including 74 percent of those in Santa Cruz -- approved an initiative allowing medicinal marijuana.But medical marijuana clubs in Santa Cruz and a handful of California cities that opened after the 1996 law's passage were soon shut down by the U.S. Justice Department under federal anti-drug laws. Since then, several cities have passed ordinances to try to implement the state law.In Santa Cruz, city attorney John Barisone and former O.J. Simpson defense attorney Gerald F. Uelman helped shape the new ordinance to withstand federal challenges."The federal government has placed us in this huge contradiction," said Rotkin. "It's insane."More than 100 residents -- many with AIDS and cancer -- came to the City Council meeting to offer support and testify. Local Chamber of Commerce and law enforcement officials also support the law."I look forward to a future where people who use this herb to stay healthy will not be targeted anymore," said Theodora Kerry, a longstanding local proponent of medical marijuana and industrial hemp, which is banned because of its similarity to marijuana.Mimi Carroll, who has lost all her hair during chemotherapy treatments for ovarian cancer, said drinking marijuana in a milk form helps her with nausea, pain and emotional stress."People think we just want to sit around and smoke dope, but that's not what's going on," she said. "We're talking about very sick people receiving legal medication that helps them feel better."The ordinance requires city officials to recognize membership cards for a medical marijuana provider association as well as certificates given to growers of medical marijuana.Published: March 29, 2000Santa Cruz, Calif. (AP)Copyright © The Sacramento BeeRelated Articles & Web Site:WAMMhttp://www.wamm.org/Santa Cruz Considers Medicinal Marijuana Ordinancehttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5213.shtmlMarijuana as Arthttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2094.shtmlPot Farm: Group Serves Ill and Offers Supporthttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread1636.shtml CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives:http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by justincase on April 11, 2001 at 08:44:51 PT: I agree This goes out to all the people out there who have worked very hard to get Prop.215. Thank you, being a adult male with arthritis in my wrist, I am limited to certain activities. People think that 215 is a joke, I'm just a simple case of chronic pain. What about HIV, the word just scares me, it is a very physically and mentally depletting diesese. To deny these people from the treatment THEY feel is helpping them is insane. How does anybody in their right mind allow one to suffer to the very end? I have often wondered, "Do any of the head hanchoes running OUR system really understand what goes on in everyday America? Most likly not, they have been "sheltered" from the real with political games, money money money. Just something to think about [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by MMMM on March 30, 2000 at 00:52:44 PT Why isn't THIS making media headlines? Bravo to Santa Cruise. Boo for the media. This story was worth it's weight in gold, but if it's only published in a CA. newspaper, the story won't make too many ripples. Personally, I think it should be headlines on every Net portal on earth. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on March 29, 2000 at 18:08:36 PT: Barry's Worst Nightmare is someone like Diana. Because she gives the lie to all the flaming bulls**t that McCaffrey and Compnay spew with such alacrity and run before someone demands they look at what their policies have done to people like her. She and so many others are the human face that they try so very hard to avoid looking at. Because their twisted sense of puritanical righteousness doesn't allow for human compassion except in a very rarified form.My prayers go with you, Diana. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on March 29, 2000 at 14:08:26 PT Great News! Thank You Diana!I wish you and Santa Cruz the best! This is a great victory!I hope the day will come that this will happen in all the states!Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by diana on March 29, 2000 at 12:38:03 PT: Santa Cruz !YES! Thank You, to the City of Santa Cruz!!! and WAMM!!!I feel so blessed to be living in Santa Cruz, and to be a member of WAMM. I attended the Santa Cruz City Council meeting last night, (March 28,2000) when this Ordinance passed. I was overwhelemed from the support from the City's Leaders. And again thank you Mayor and Council members, and for all of the hard work done by WAMM and many other members of the community, who have supported this issue for so many years. Your compassion was felt, a feeling I will never forget..I have aids, you woulden't know it to look at me, though I live daily in pain. In 1985, during a surgery I recieved a blood product that also contained HIV. In 1997, I developed full blown aids and nearly died from toxoplasmossis. I am here today due "mostly" to Love the use of the many drugs I have managed to keep down.. and have to keep down everyday. I have migrain's that last days, neuropathy, joint pain, and frustraition caused by well let's see what is it today well my finger's are stiff and slow and don't want to hit the keys so this is not easily typed. Medical Marijauna help's me, first to keep the meds down, it works fast, is short lived, and helps my mood. I use Marijauna Milk for joint pain, and the burning shooting pain from the nuropathy. It also helps to ease the pressure of my migrines. Basically it helps me manage this illness. Thank YOU ! Every One, dianaJust a comment on post #2 Please respect this issue, it is about compassion not lifestyle. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by fivepounder on March 29, 2000 at 08:19:54 PT The Santa Cruz Ordinance Well I think this is a BIG event. I can't wait to get down there with my medical marijauna recommendation and be able to smoke in puiblic! There will surely be some clubs opening. This is fantastic. Everyone is Santa Cruz is going to be growing... everyone. This is a big step toward recognized medical use and ulitmatelly lower police priority. I'm up in Northern Cal. Arcata and even here, one of the few other liberal enclaves in California implementing prop 215, our situation is nowhere's as broad as this... This is great!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by dddd on March 29, 2000 at 08:18:29 PT OUTSTANDING! I am astounded!This is hopefully a harbinger of things to come.....dddd [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: