T
The420Guy
Guest
Under tentative action the San Diego City Council took Tuesday, the city
will set up a program to issue identification cards to people who use
medicinal marijuana -- so they can avoid arrest.
Those with the ID cards will be allowed to possess up to an ounce of
marijuana under the "Medicinal Cannabis Voluntary Verification Card Program"
that the city's Medical Marijuana Task Force recommended.
The city will hire another agency to verify a patient's eligibility. To
prevent fraud, the card will include a photo and a 24-hour hot line number
so police can make sure the card hasn't been stolen.
Juliana Humphrey, who chairs the task force, said the ID cards will provide
a "safe harbor" for patients, and ease the burden on law enforcement.
The city council decided the cards would allow an ounce, and include a
sentence saying it isn't meant to reduce what is allowed by Proposition 215.
Police already evaluate larger amounts on a case-by-case basis, Humphrey
said.
Proposition 215, approved by voters in 1996, sanctions marijuana use by
patients with a doctor's permission, but federal law grants no such
exemptions.
Some patients with cancer, AIDS (news - web sites) and other diseases say
smoking marijuana eases their suffering, eliminating the nausea that
prevents them from eating properly. A second reading of the ordinance will
be necessary before it goes into effect. Councilmen Brian Maienschein and
Jim Madaffer voted against the card program.
The program costs would be offset by charging the patients $25 for the
cards.
will set up a program to issue identification cards to people who use
medicinal marijuana -- so they can avoid arrest.
Those with the ID cards will be allowed to possess up to an ounce of
marijuana under the "Medicinal Cannabis Voluntary Verification Card Program"
that the city's Medical Marijuana Task Force recommended.
The city will hire another agency to verify a patient's eligibility. To
prevent fraud, the card will include a photo and a 24-hour hot line number
so police can make sure the card hasn't been stolen.
Juliana Humphrey, who chairs the task force, said the ID cards will provide
a "safe harbor" for patients, and ease the burden on law enforcement.
The city council decided the cards would allow an ounce, and include a
sentence saying it isn't meant to reduce what is allowed by Proposition 215.
Police already evaluate larger amounts on a case-by-case basis, Humphrey
said.
Proposition 215, approved by voters in 1996, sanctions marijuana use by
patients with a doctor's permission, but federal law grants no such
exemptions.
Some patients with cancer, AIDS (news - web sites) and other diseases say
smoking marijuana eases their suffering, eliminating the nausea that
prevents them from eating properly. A second reading of the ordinance will
be necessary before it goes into effect. Councilmen Brian Maienschein and
Jim Madaffer voted against the card program.
The program costs would be offset by charging the patients $25 for the
cards.
