cannabisnews.com: City Council Names Medical Marijuana Task Force 





City Council Names Medical Marijuana Task Force 
Posted by FoM on May 23, 2001 at 10:15:25 PT
By Caitlin Rother, Union Tribune Staff Writer
Source: Union Tribune
After years of impassioned pleas from sick residents, the San Diego City Council agreed yesterday to appoint a task force to find a way to implement the 1996 ballot measure that legalized the medical use of marijuana. The primary problem with Proposition 215 for San Diego and other California cities has been that the measure conflicts with federal law, which prohibits the sale and distribution of marijuana. 
On May 14, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-0 that federal drug laws, which ban the use and distribution of marijuana, do not exempt patients suffering from cancer, AIDS or other painful diseases. But it did not strike down the California law. Proposition 215 allows the cultivation and use of marijuana for some medical conditions with a doctor's recommendation. In a May 18 report on the ruling, City Attorney Casey Gwinn stated there is no way to "legally harmonize" the state and federal laws. "Therefore, local municipalities should exercise caution in adopting any laws or policies that address the distribution of marijuana for medicinal use," Gwinn wrote. Still, Gwinn said yesterday, the ruling does not preclude the city from forming the task force. With that, the council unanimously approved a list of 12 members for the Proposition 215 Implementation Task Force, which is charged with making recommendations on how to resolve the conflict between state and federal laws, if possible. Its other responsibilities will include: Investigating what local advocacy groups exist and determining whether relevant information is getting to patients. Keeping track of local law enforcement efforts, including activities of the San Diego County District Attorney's Working Group. Monitoring medical research efforts that are germane to the ballot measure. Following and supporting state legislation that seeks to help municipalities to respond to Proposition 215. The task force is composed of physicians, as well as law enforcement officials, patients, public-interest legal advocates and representatives from nonprofit organizations that provide services to cancer, AIDS and other patients that use marijuana for relief of pain and other symptoms. On the task force are Dr. Drew Mattison, Dale Kelly Bankhead, St. Clair Adams, Dennis Triglia, Michael Bartellmo, Jerry Meier, Al Best, Dr. Daniel Pearce, Juliana Humphrey, Steven McWilliams, Ann Shanahan Walsh and Larry Chaidez. Before the vote, Adams, who said he has been HIV-positive for 16 years, urged the council to form the task force so that patients don't have to put themselves in danger trying to obtain marijuana. He said people are at risk when they buy the drug on the black market because it can be laced with designer drugs or covered with mold. Beverly Walker, who said she was born with a rare connective tissue disorder, said she lives each day in pain. Her voice broke as she encouraged the council to approve the task force. "I personally have not sought out (marijuana) because it's illegal," she said. "Would it have helped? Probably." Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA) Author: Caitlin Rother, Union Tribune Staff WriterPublished: May 23, 2001Copyright: 2001 Union-Tribune Publishing Co. Contact: letters uniontrib.com Website: http://www.uniontrib.com/Related Article & Web Site:OCBC Versus US Governmenthttp://www.freedomtoexhale.com/mj.htmMedicinal Marijuana Task Force Approvedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9837.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #1 posted by Dan B on May 23, 2001 at 14:46:06 PT:
Alert: Congressional Report on Intl Drug Policy
I realize I may be a bit behind on this matter, but on January 19, 2001 the Congressional Research Service issued its report titled "Drug Control: International Policy and Options. Its section titled "Current International Narcotics Control Policy" has the following subheadings:Eradication of Narcotic CropsInterdiction and Law EnforcementInternational CooperationSanctions/Economic AssistanceInstitution DevelopmentLest anyone think that "institution development" has anything to do with treatment of addicts, here's the entire paragraph devoted to that subject:A fifth element of U.S. international narcotics control strategy increasingly involves institution development, i.e., strengthening judicial and law enforcement institutions and assisting in developing host nation administrative infrastructures conducive to combatting the illegal drug trade. (emphasis mine)And that's it for that section. With the dirth of discussion regarding treatment or any other options for combatting the drug trade other than destruction of crops, law enforcement and interdiction in this section, one would think that the section titled "Policy Options" would at least make mention of alternative possibilities. Think again; here are the subheadings under that category:OverviewExpansion of Efforts to Reduce Production at the Source. . . Political and Economic Tradeoffs. . . Use of Sanctions or Positive IncentivesExpansion of Interdiction and Enforcement Activities to Disrupt Supply Lines/Expanding the Role of the MilitaryExpansion of Efforts to Reduce Worldwide DemandExpansion of Disincentives for Illicit Drug TraffickingOf the above list, only one item is particularly cryptic, so I'll again quote the paragraph on that section--"Expansion of Efforts to Reduce Worldwide Demand"--in its entirety:Another commonly proposed option is to increase policy emphasis on development and implementation of programs worldwide that aim at increasing public intolerance for illict drug use. Such programs, through information, technical assistance, and training in prevention and treatment, would emphasize the health hazards of drug use, as well as the danger to regional and national stability. The State Department's Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and AID currently support modest efforts in this area. Some believe these programs should be increased and call for a more active role for the United Nations and other international agencies in development and implementation of such demand reduction programs.This is, as far as I can tell, the only mention of treatment, and it is couched in the language of increasing channels for propaganda. In short, treatment is just another form of propaganda for them, and they are openly admitting as much in the above paragraph.I think that should be enough to get everyone interested. I encourage everyone to read the report in its entirety, then write his or her senator about the glaring omission of alternative ideas to current policies in this report. They must be made aware that we know what they are up to.Dan B
Drug Control: International Policy and Options
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