cannabisnews.com: Sonoma County Moves Ahead on Medical Pot IDs





Sonoma County Moves Ahead on Medical Pot IDs
Posted by CN Staff on September 27, 2005 at 07:51:40 PT
By Paul Payne, The Press Democrat
Source: Press Democrat
California -- Sonoma County intends to charge $80 a year for identification cards that will shield medical marijuana patients from arrest by state and local authorities.The fee, expected to be approved today by the Board of Supervisors, will cover annual administrative costs to supply ID cards to the county's medical pot users, who may number in the thousands.
The county will begin taking applications for the cards in November."I encourage people to participate if they feel comfortable," said Doc Knapp, spokesman for the Sonoma Alliance for Medical Marijuana. "The bar to arrest is the main benefit. And just not having to worry.""That's why I'm doing it," he said.The cards were mandated by the Legislature two years ago in an effort to clarify the voter-approved Compassionate Use Act of 1996. That initiative allowed marijuana for medical purposes but had few specifics about how people could legally obtain it.The ID cards will have the user's photograph and a serial number, and list a Web address that authorities can check for verification.No names will appear on the cards.However, county health officials will require a photo ID before issuing a card. They'll also require proof of county residence and will check doctors' notes, said Mary Maddux-Gonzalez, Sonoma County's public health officer.The information will be sent to the state, which will issue the cards, which must be renewed annually.Medi-Cal patients will get a discount, paying $40 annually for the card.According to a county Health Services Department report, the program will cost about $54,000 a year to operate, mostly for employee time and some office equipment.About 710 applications are anticipated this fiscal year, eventually increasing to 1,900 in three years. Officials said they may adjust the fees based on use.Medical pot advocates, who say there are least 3,000 medical pot users in Sonoma County, estimate half of those will get cards. Those who don't may fear the government could use the information to prosecute them under federal law, which does not recognize medical marijuana. Or they might consider $80 too high a price, Knapp said."I think that's a lot of money," he said.The fee includes a $13 state charge.Mendocino County, which began its ID card program in June, charges $50 a year, $25 for Medi-Cal patients, said Dan Taylor, assistant public health director. So far, Taylor said the county has processed about 200 cards.Note: $80 cards intended to shield users from state, local arrest.Source: Press Democrat, The (CA)Author: Paul Payne, The Press DemocratPublished: Tuesday, September 27, 2005Copyright: 2005 The Press DemocratContact: letters pressdemo.comWebsite: http://www.pressdemo.com/Related Articles & Web Site:SAMMhttp://www.samm.net/ Sonoma County Prepares for Pot Cardshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21035.shtmlCalifornia Resumes Medical Marijuana Programhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20972.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #8 posted by FoM on September 27, 2005 at 10:17:59 PT
Thanks EJ, I Hope You Are Right
I have it pre-ordered but it hasn't shipped yet. I'm listening to it on Neil Young's web site. Did you see the video of Walking To New Orleans from Country Music Television? Here's a link to this absolutely remarkable video. When Neil sings you used to be my honey they show Bush. When Neil sings no time for talking they show Bush at that first Photo Op. It's truly a great video.PS: My Neil Young web site hits are more then I ever thought they would be. It's fascinating to see people from all around the world checking it out.http://www.neil-rocks.de/farmaid/fa2005.html
Neil Young: Prairie Wind
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by E_Johnson on September 27, 2005 at 10:10:34 PT
I'm listening to Prairie Wind
I bought it online. It's pretty good. A lot of heart. A lot of poetry. A lot of technical skill too.Yes, I can see this doing quite well come Grammy time.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by jose melendez on September 27, 2005 at 09:41:45 PT
Meanwhile, in Canada . . . 
"CANADA - Max Cornelssen, 63, will be in Court of Queen's Bench, Edmonton, on Oct. 13 to demand the charges against him - cultivation and possession with intent to distribute - be dropped, because Parliament has not re-enacted a section of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act that prohibits people from growing ganja.His argument is based on a 2002 case in which the Alberta Court of Appeals upheld a ruling that said the section of the CDSA prohibiting marijuana cultivation was in violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms . . ."http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1540/a10.html?397 related:Parliament only legislates, courts only abrogatehttp://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1320/a06.html?119151
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by FoM on September 27, 2005 at 09:31:25 PT
Runruff
You're welcome. How can I mind my balance when I have never been balanced? LOL! La La La La!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by runruff on September 27, 2005 at 09:17:15 PT:
Thanx FoM.
You are really on the ball there. Mind your ballance now!
Yuk Yuk
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 27, 2005 at 09:10:32 PT
Runruff and Everyone, Here It Is
Tell Congress It Is Time to Research Medical MarijuanaHelp Break The Federal Monopoly On Marijuana Cultivation
 
 
The Food and Drug Administration will never be able to consider marijuana as potential medicine until clinical trial research takes place. This kind of research requires multiple, readily available strains of marijuana. But one producer holds a monopoly over production of marijuana for FDA-approved research - making clinical trials impossible.Don't see the logic?Neither do we. The monopolizing producer and creator of this Catch-22 is none other than the federal government. NORML Board Member and MAPS Executive Director Rick Doblin is leading a suit against the DEA to correct this ridiculous injustice, but we need your help!The law requires adequate competition in the manufacture of Schedule I drugs - such as marijuana - to be used for research purposes. But the single source of marijuana for FDA-approved marijuana research is the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Marijuana is grown under contract to NIDA at the University of Mississippi, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is trying to make sure that no other institution in the country can produce or import marijuana for research purposes. This is the only drug in which the federal government has a monopoly over production.But the current rules are being challenged! Members of Congress are now rallying support to send a letter to DEA head Karen Tandy, asking the DEA to end the monopoly and approve an application to grow research marijuana submitted by the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. This is where you come in: contact your Representative and urge him or her to support that letter!Let your Congressperson know that it is not acceptable to let politics stand in the way of legitimate scientific research. Marijuana should get the same consideration by the Food and Drug Administration as any other medicine seeking approval! http://capwiz.com/norml2/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=8062366
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by runruff on September 27, 2005 at 09:05:01 PT:
Contact you Rep.
Please take a minute and go to Drug War Rant and fill out the form to contact your rep. concerning the hearing on 
research for MM. Thanx
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on September 27, 2005 at 08:33:48 PT
Another angle on the prosecution issue
I don't believe the feds would try to fit 1,500 medical marijuana patients through the federal court system. Think of what the judges would do. The judges are already feeling conflicted about prosecuting medical growers. Think of how snarly and contentious they'd get if 1,500 individual patients landed on their dockets. There'd be a riot or something.In light of that, it seems like the more of us who have these IDs, the safer we are. If 1,500 patients would be hard to prosecute, what would they do with 15,000?I don't know, what do people think about that?
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment