SmokeyMacPot
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So much for Prop. 215 as a medical-marijuana magic bullet. After the Supreme Court ruled in June that state law doesn't protect prescription-pot users from federal drug prosecution, advocates in cities statewide have seen their progress stall—and the prognosis is not good.
Just ask Jim Lohse, who is trying to organize a patient cooperative in Santa Clara County, where there are virtually no legitimate channels to get medical marijuana.
Lohse recently met with San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis to see if he could work with the department in the hopes of keeping things clean. Davis, apparently, wasn't open to the idea, and he says he isn't even sure if state law on the subject is still valid after this summer's Supreme Court decision.
"My attitude is that we need to wait and see what the federal government is going to do," the top cop told Fly. That approach doesn't sit well with Dale Gieringer, head of the statewide medical cannabis group California NORML. "When local police do that, they're trying to cop out of their responsibility and play the anti-drug game," he said.
"State officials are supposed to enforce state law." But doesn't the real responsibility fall on City Hall? Gieringer says dozens of local governments have passed moratoriums on pot distribution efforts in the past six months. Federal raids have started to pick up after a lull in 2004 and 2005, during which time California encouraged patient collectives with S.B. 420.
In December, the feds clamped down on a popular San Francisco dispensary just before the city began the process of licensing over 30 cannabis clubs. Meanwhile, San Jose officials have been very quiet on the issue. "Everyone is wondering how to handle this," said Davis, pointing to need for City Council to come forward.
David Vossbrink, spokesman for Mayor Ron Gonzales said the council hasn't dealt with medical marijuana because it simply "hasn't come up." But while local leaders turn their heads the other way, South Bay advocates are growing more frustrated.
"What are we supposed to do?" asked Mara, a five-year medical marijuana patient who asked not to give her full name. "They're running in circles with this."
From the January 11-17, 2006 issue of Metro, Silicon Valley's Weekly Newspaper.
Source: Metro (San Jose, CA)
Published: January 11, 2006
Copyright: 2006 Metro Publishing Inc.
Contact: letters@metronews.com
Website: Metroactive | Metro Newspaper Silicon Valley | News, Events, Movies, Clubs
Just ask Jim Lohse, who is trying to organize a patient cooperative in Santa Clara County, where there are virtually no legitimate channels to get medical marijuana.
Lohse recently met with San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis to see if he could work with the department in the hopes of keeping things clean. Davis, apparently, wasn't open to the idea, and he says he isn't even sure if state law on the subject is still valid after this summer's Supreme Court decision.
"My attitude is that we need to wait and see what the federal government is going to do," the top cop told Fly. That approach doesn't sit well with Dale Gieringer, head of the statewide medical cannabis group California NORML. "When local police do that, they're trying to cop out of their responsibility and play the anti-drug game," he said.
"State officials are supposed to enforce state law." But doesn't the real responsibility fall on City Hall? Gieringer says dozens of local governments have passed moratoriums on pot distribution efforts in the past six months. Federal raids have started to pick up after a lull in 2004 and 2005, during which time California encouraged patient collectives with S.B. 420.
In December, the feds clamped down on a popular San Francisco dispensary just before the city began the process of licensing over 30 cannabis clubs. Meanwhile, San Jose officials have been very quiet on the issue. "Everyone is wondering how to handle this," said Davis, pointing to need for City Council to come forward.
David Vossbrink, spokesman for Mayor Ron Gonzales said the council hasn't dealt with medical marijuana because it simply "hasn't come up." But while local leaders turn their heads the other way, South Bay advocates are growing more frustrated.
"What are we supposed to do?" asked Mara, a five-year medical marijuana patient who asked not to give her full name. "They're running in circles with this."
From the January 11-17, 2006 issue of Metro, Silicon Valley's Weekly Newspaper.
Source: Metro (San Jose, CA)
Published: January 11, 2006
Copyright: 2006 Metro Publishing Inc.
Contact: letters@metronews.com
Website: Metroactive | Metro Newspaper Silicon Valley | News, Events, Movies, Clubs
