cannabisnews.com: Ordinance To Dispense Medical Marijuana Considered





Ordinance To Dispense Medical Marijuana Considered
Posted by CN Staff on February 09, 2005 at 10:09:25 PT
By Sacramento Union Staff
Source: Sacramento Union
Sacramento Supervisors inched toward developing an ordinance that would permit a limited number of medical marijuana dispensaries to operate within county boundaries. Most of Tuesday afternoon was taken up with a largely-rational discussion of a much debated topic that convinced supervisors the proposed ordinance was not ready for public scrutiny.
Board members received a report from a county task force that outlined details of how the county might safely permit the operation of two dispensaries to serve medical needs in the region. The report covered topics such as licensing care providers, hours of operation, location restrictions, and how the cannabis could be dispensed to people with authorized medical prescriptions. The county is about mid-way into a 12-month moratorium on implementing any changes to current ordinances. Central to the discussion was a case pending in the U.S. Supreme Court that will rule on a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals injunction that stopped the federal government from interfering with Angel Raich’s use of medical marijuana. Under California law (The Compassionate Use Act passed in 1996) her use of the substance was legal, pitting state law against federal law. Raich vs. Ashcroft, closely watched by states and medical marijuana advocates, should be decided sometime this summer. Supervisors voiced concern that an ordinance adopted now would ultimately be impacted by the outcome of the federal case. “I would not want to see people invest money that might be seized by the federal government,” said Supervisor Susan Peters of providers who could establish distribution centers. Although much of the afternoon’s discussion avoided testimony about the merits or drawbacks of using marijuana to relieve some physical conditions, representatives from law enforcement were on hand to object to any proposal that would permit dispensing the substance. Arguments ranged from increased street crime to negative impacts on businesses near dispensaries. “We firmly believe this threatens the public safety in our community and fosters criminal activity,” said Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully. A representative from the Drug Enforcement Agency, however, said marijuana use and distribution would get tough treatment from federal authorities. “It is no longer a harmless or soft drug,” said Gordon Taylor from the DEA. “Marijuana remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance.” He warned that purveyors of medical marijuana, growers and even users would be subject to arrest and prosecution. In addition, he said that owners of property where dispensaries are located could have their property seizes by the feds. Supervisor Illa Collin asked if earlier testimony that marijuana is a bigger priority for the DEA than stopping the production and sale of methamphetamines is true. Taylor responded that his agency is “charged with enforcing federal laws” and agreed that meth is a serious issue in the Central Valley. Advocates of medical marijuana mainly focused on the details of the draft ordinance. A Carmichael pharmacist told the board that marijuana should be handled like other drugs – with requirements for quality, potency and purity, and proper labeling. A dispensary owner from Oakland testified that his business had no negative effects on nearby businesses and others talked about the unmet needs of suffering patients in the Sacramento region. So much new information was presented to supervisors that they directed the task force to add more detail to its proposed ordinance and to expand its membership. The pending Supreme Court decision also swayed supervisors to postpone outreach to community groups about the ordinance. Board chairman Roger Dickenson, however, felt an urgency about the measure. “I think we ought to move ahead. I don’t think the Supreme Court decision is likely to resolve this,” he said. “As we wait there are real people out there, suffering real pain.” The task force was directed to report back to the board in three to four months. Note: Supervisors hear details of draft plan.Source: Sacramento Union (CA)Published: Wednesday, February 9, 2005Copyright 2005 - The Sacramento Union, Inc. Contact: editor sacunion.com Website: http://www.sacunion.com/Angel Raich v. Ashcroft Newshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/raich.htmCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by mayan on February 09, 2005 at 15:17:11 PT
Nice Guys
“It is no longer a harmless or soft drug,” said Gordon Taylor from the DEA. “Marijuana remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance.” He warned that purveyors of medical marijuana, growers and even users would be subject to arrest and prosecution. In addition, he said that owners of property where dispensaries are located could have their property seized by the feds.At least Gordon Taylor admits that it's a priority of the DEA to lock up the sick and dying in cages just for using a plant. Such nice guys!THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Popular Mechanics Attacks It's "9/11 LIES" Straw Man:
http://911research.wtc7.net/essays/pm/Oh, the places you go (when you follow the money):
http://911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=454&mode=thread&order=0&thold=09/11 Truth:
http://www.911truth.org/9/11 Was an Inside Job - A Call to All True Patriots:
http://www.911sharethetruth.com/
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Comment #4 posted by siege on February 09, 2005 at 13:27:03 PT
businesses and citizen 
What has Dr. Andrea Barthwell been feeding you 
Jan Scully??????????
Jan Scully. Have you been blindsided by state law 215 that has been put in place by the citizen of cal. I belive it is yours and the police Dept. JOB to see that public safety in our community is upheld and the businesses of the dispensaries are under police  protection like the rest of the businesses and citizen of the community, and if you think it fosters criminal activity, then it is time for your police to GO after the criminals, and not the Medical Marijuana Patents. And since when doze the DEA
Pay your wages Jan Scully. It is time you are put out of office. And the representatives from law enforcement and Gordon Taylor are SO Sorry that they can not go after the Real criminals and the     methamphetamines makers.. and half to pick on the sick and disabled and have their property seizes by the feds! 
 jail them, and keep the jails in business. 
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Comment #3 posted by potpal on February 09, 2005 at 13:14:59 PT
Brouhaha
It is no longer a harmless or soft drug,” said Gordon Taylor from the DEAIf they say it, it must be true...NOT.Some levity for us freedom fighters...
http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/21206/
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 09, 2005 at 12:54:02 PT
ekim
I went to NPR to try to find what the show will be about and found this one. I will listen to this later on tonight. I'm sure it will be good.Political Humorist Bill Maher: Four More Years By Terry Gross Fresh Air from WHYY, February 8, 2005 · The weekly HBO program Real Time with Bill Maher begins its new season Feb. 18. Previously, Bill Maher created and hosted the late night political round-table show Politically Incorrect.That show ended in the wake of complaints over Maher's depiction of the terrorist attackers of Sept. 11, 2001. More recently, Maher has set his sights on the priorities of President Bush, the foibles of the Democratic Party, and two long-argued causes: personal responsibility and the war on drugs.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4490632*** Probe Dropped of CIA's Role in Plane's Downing : http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread20202.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by ekim on February 09, 2005 at 12:30:44 PT
“It is no longer a harmless or soft drug,”
A representative from the Drug Enforcement Agency, however, said marijuana use and distribution would get tough treatment from federal authorities. “It is no longer a harmless or soft drug,” said Gordon Taylor from the DEAlast nite on Joe Scarlburg (sorry Joe on MSNBC) had on a lawmaker from FL. he was jumping on the cia and how the investigation of the Bowers, the case of the missionary couple and their children were shot down in Peru. Was just stopped with no explanation. I just caught the end and Joe said that he would be following this case. Joe did say he feels that the people should be able to have a full account from the gov't. i just heard something on NPR National public radio]about a upcoming story at 4pm on the drug war i do not know if the Missionary story is it.
http://www.leap.cc/events
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