The Sacramento Chapter of the ACLU said it has formally written the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors about its reluctance to implement a medical marijuana ID program required by state law and recent court decisions, and suggested further non-compliance could lead to costly lawsuits that would spend scarce tax dollars.
A hearing is set for 2:45 p.m. Monday before the BOS to reconsider its position.
"(We) have concerns that Sacramento County is not in compliance with state Health & Safety Code provisions authorizing a Medical Marijuana Program (MMP)," said the ACLU in a letter to members of the BOS this week.
Sacramento County has resisted attempts to provide the cards — although at least 40 of California counties have done so — and in March again rejected starting a MMP.
In the letter (available upon request), the ACLU of Sacramento pointed to recent court decisions, including one where San Diego County lost two appeals aimed at overturning the law that created medical marijuana ID cards, as reasons for Sacramento to comply.
"The failure of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to enable the county health officer to comply with state law could lead to needless litigation that would misappropriate scarce county staff resources.
"(T)oo many medical marijuana patients and their care providers are on the front lines of too many battles in this mass conflict without apparent end," said the ACLU it its missive, noting the ACLU has been a "longstanding dissenting voice in the government's ongoing drug war, which has squandered tens of billions of taxpayer dollars."
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: California Chronicle
Contact: California Chronicle
Copyright: 2008 California Chronicle
Website: Sacramento ACLU Notes "Concerns" Over Sacramento County's Failure To Comply With State Laws
A hearing is set for 2:45 p.m. Monday before the BOS to reconsider its position.
"(We) have concerns that Sacramento County is not in compliance with state Health & Safety Code provisions authorizing a Medical Marijuana Program (MMP)," said the ACLU in a letter to members of the BOS this week.
Sacramento County has resisted attempts to provide the cards — although at least 40 of California counties have done so — and in March again rejected starting a MMP.
In the letter (available upon request), the ACLU of Sacramento pointed to recent court decisions, including one where San Diego County lost two appeals aimed at overturning the law that created medical marijuana ID cards, as reasons for Sacramento to comply.
"The failure of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to enable the county health officer to comply with state law could lead to needless litigation that would misappropriate scarce county staff resources.
"(T)oo many medical marijuana patients and their care providers are on the front lines of too many battles in this mass conflict without apparent end," said the ACLU it its missive, noting the ACLU has been a "longstanding dissenting voice in the government's ongoing drug war, which has squandered tens of billions of taxpayer dollars."
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: California Chronicle
Contact: California Chronicle
Copyright: 2008 California Chronicle
Website: Sacramento ACLU Notes "Concerns" Over Sacramento County's Failure To Comply With State Laws
