T
The420Guy
Guest
EUREKA -- Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos' controversial
medical marijuana guidelines will remain in effect, at least for the time
being.
That was one clear decision that came out of Tuesday's Board of
Supervisors meeting -- a session that showed the public is still widely
divided over the issue of medical pot.
After nearly three hours of public debate, the board voted unanimously to
table an ordinance that would essentially recognize Gallegos' guidelines
as county law. Instead, the board called for a task force comprising law
enforcement, medical marijuana patients and caregivers, schools, business
and physicians.
But until the county decides on an ordinance, the county's two top law
enforcement agencies will continue to uphold Gallegos' guidelines, Sheriff
Gary Philp and Deputy District Attorney Wes Keat told the board.
Gallegos last year introduced guidelines allowing medical pot patients to
have up to 3 pounds of dried buds per year. Cultivation is restricted to
what will fit within a 100-square-foot vegetative canopy.
Then in January, a new state law went into effect calling for uniform
guidelines. The state law would allow patients to have no more than 8
ounces of dried marijuana and no more than six mature or 12 immature
plants. But the law allows counties and cities to retain or enact medical
marijuana guidelines that exceed the state's limits, and physicians can
also prescribe a greater amount.
Tuesday's public debate featured representatives from schools and law
enforcement, as well as physicians, medical marijuana patients and
caregivers.
The law enforcement and school representatives pushed the board to adopt
the state's more restrictive guidelines.
"The problem is the permissive attitude (toward marijuana) we're
advocating in this county as a whole," Fortuna Police Chief Kent Bradshaw
said.
The city of Fortuna has opposed Gallegos' guidelines, and Bradshaw said he
favors the lesser amounts allowed by the state, noting that physicians can
prescribe more.
Mary Scott, president of the Humboldt County Board of Education, said
exceeding the state's limits sends the "wrong message" to the community,
especially students. Educators are concerned with what they call possible
unintended consequences of a too-liberal policy, such as students possibly
having access to their parents' medical pot. Also, concerns over medical
pot being used or distributed on campuses could jeopardize federal funding
schools receive.
"We as a community have a responsibility to protect our children," Scott
said. "And being in conflict with federal law could jeopardize funding,
which could have a drastic impact on our schools."
Medical marijuana patients and advocates cited a recent ruling by the 9th
District Court of Appeals, which they say forbids the federal government
from bringing charges against medical marijuana users.
Also, patients defended the use of marijuana as a viable treatment drug
for a number of ailments, saying it is much healthier than using
prescription drugs.
Dr. Jay Cavanaugh, director of the American Alliance for Medical
Marijuana, urged the board to approve Gallegos' guidelines. He argued the
state's limits aren't sufficient for most patients' needs. He also said
while he understands the concerns of parents and educators, there must be
a distinction between legitimate treatment and drug abuse.
"The message we need to give our kids is there's a difference between
medicine and drugs," Cavanaugh said. "Children need to understand
(abusing) drugs is a person self administering to escape reality, that's
bad. A medicine is taken under the supervision of a physician and provides
relief and that's good."
All five members of the board, after listening to the debate, said the
task force would help draft a compromise. Second District Supervisor Roger
Rodoni and 3rd District Supervisor John Woolley will put together the task
force that will have 90 days to submit a report with recommendations.
Rodoni, who brought the ordinance forward, said he hopes the task force
can find a solution that will bring the community together. But he also
said the bigger debate over marijuana won't be solved until the drug is
legalized. He alluded to the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s, and
mentioned a shrine on Briceland Road dedicated to a man who was murdered
over a pot deal, as well as the hugely inflated prices marijuana fetches
because it's illegal.
"If you could find a mechanism to legalize marijuana, you'd eliminate all
the problems," Rodoni said.
Author: James Tressler, The Times-Standard
Source: Times-Standard
Contact: letters@times-standard.com
Website: Times-Standard
Pubdate: Wednesday, January 21, 2004
medical marijuana guidelines will remain in effect, at least for the time
being.
That was one clear decision that came out of Tuesday's Board of
Supervisors meeting -- a session that showed the public is still widely
divided over the issue of medical pot.
After nearly three hours of public debate, the board voted unanimously to
table an ordinance that would essentially recognize Gallegos' guidelines
as county law. Instead, the board called for a task force comprising law
enforcement, medical marijuana patients and caregivers, schools, business
and physicians.
But until the county decides on an ordinance, the county's two top law
enforcement agencies will continue to uphold Gallegos' guidelines, Sheriff
Gary Philp and Deputy District Attorney Wes Keat told the board.
Gallegos last year introduced guidelines allowing medical pot patients to
have up to 3 pounds of dried buds per year. Cultivation is restricted to
what will fit within a 100-square-foot vegetative canopy.
Then in January, a new state law went into effect calling for uniform
guidelines. The state law would allow patients to have no more than 8
ounces of dried marijuana and no more than six mature or 12 immature
plants. But the law allows counties and cities to retain or enact medical
marijuana guidelines that exceed the state's limits, and physicians can
also prescribe a greater amount.
Tuesday's public debate featured representatives from schools and law
enforcement, as well as physicians, medical marijuana patients and
caregivers.
The law enforcement and school representatives pushed the board to adopt
the state's more restrictive guidelines.
"The problem is the permissive attitude (toward marijuana) we're
advocating in this county as a whole," Fortuna Police Chief Kent Bradshaw
said.
The city of Fortuna has opposed Gallegos' guidelines, and Bradshaw said he
favors the lesser amounts allowed by the state, noting that physicians can
prescribe more.
Mary Scott, president of the Humboldt County Board of Education, said
exceeding the state's limits sends the "wrong message" to the community,
especially students. Educators are concerned with what they call possible
unintended consequences of a too-liberal policy, such as students possibly
having access to their parents' medical pot. Also, concerns over medical
pot being used or distributed on campuses could jeopardize federal funding
schools receive.
"We as a community have a responsibility to protect our children," Scott
said. "And being in conflict with federal law could jeopardize funding,
which could have a drastic impact on our schools."
Medical marijuana patients and advocates cited a recent ruling by the 9th
District Court of Appeals, which they say forbids the federal government
from bringing charges against medical marijuana users.
Also, patients defended the use of marijuana as a viable treatment drug
for a number of ailments, saying it is much healthier than using
prescription drugs.
Dr. Jay Cavanaugh, director of the American Alliance for Medical
Marijuana, urged the board to approve Gallegos' guidelines. He argued the
state's limits aren't sufficient for most patients' needs. He also said
while he understands the concerns of parents and educators, there must be
a distinction between legitimate treatment and drug abuse.
"The message we need to give our kids is there's a difference between
medicine and drugs," Cavanaugh said. "Children need to understand
(abusing) drugs is a person self administering to escape reality, that's
bad. A medicine is taken under the supervision of a physician and provides
relief and that's good."
All five members of the board, after listening to the debate, said the
task force would help draft a compromise. Second District Supervisor Roger
Rodoni and 3rd District Supervisor John Woolley will put together the task
force that will have 90 days to submit a report with recommendations.
Rodoni, who brought the ordinance forward, said he hopes the task force
can find a solution that will bring the community together. But he also
said the bigger debate over marijuana won't be solved until the drug is
legalized. He alluded to the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s, and
mentioned a shrine on Briceland Road dedicated to a man who was murdered
over a pot deal, as well as the hugely inflated prices marijuana fetches
because it's illegal.
"If you could find a mechanism to legalize marijuana, you'd eliminate all
the problems," Rodoni said.
Author: James Tressler, The Times-Standard
Source: Times-Standard
Contact: letters@times-standard.com
Website: Times-Standard
Pubdate: Wednesday, January 21, 2004
