Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Legislation proposed by a San Francisco supervisor would make the city by the bay the first city with the Mary Jane.
Supervisors Ross Mirkarimi proposed legislation on Tuesday that would create a pilot program for the city to get into the medical marijuana business, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Mirkarimi said he has asked city attorney to craft a measure that would allow the Department of Public Health to distribute medical marijuana.
Federal law does not recognize California's legalization of medical marijuana. But U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said last month the federal government would no longer conduct raids on legal medical marijuana facilities, a move Mirkarimi believes opens the door to the city getting more directly involved in the sale and distribution of legal, medical marijuana.
"We're spending much more money keeping marijuana underground, trying to hide a fact that is occurring all around us," Mirkarimi said. "Now is the time to take responsibility for something we've deflected to others and to test our ability to take responsibility."
San Francisco is also the home turf of state Assemblyman Tom Ammiano who has legislation in committee in Sacramento this year to legalize all marijuana sales in the state, a move that could make the state more than $1 billion in annual tax revenue and save the state the same amount from its prison costs.
Mirkarimi authored legislation in 2005 that regulated medical marijuana dispensaries in the city, which led to the closure of more than a dozen such facilities. His latest foray into legal marijuana is not designed to put more facilities out of business, he said, but to "alleviate the burden on neighborhoods," according to the Chronicle's report.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Examiner.com
Copyright: 2009 Clarity Digital Group LLC
Contact: Contact Us
Website: California Statehouse Examiner: San Francisco supe makes push for city to sell marijuana
Supervisors Ross Mirkarimi proposed legislation on Tuesday that would create a pilot program for the city to get into the medical marijuana business, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Mirkarimi said he has asked city attorney to craft a measure that would allow the Department of Public Health to distribute medical marijuana.
Federal law does not recognize California's legalization of medical marijuana. But U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said last month the federal government would no longer conduct raids on legal medical marijuana facilities, a move Mirkarimi believes opens the door to the city getting more directly involved in the sale and distribution of legal, medical marijuana.
"We're spending much more money keeping marijuana underground, trying to hide a fact that is occurring all around us," Mirkarimi said. "Now is the time to take responsibility for something we've deflected to others and to test our ability to take responsibility."
San Francisco is also the home turf of state Assemblyman Tom Ammiano who has legislation in committee in Sacramento this year to legalize all marijuana sales in the state, a move that could make the state more than $1 billion in annual tax revenue and save the state the same amount from its prison costs.
Mirkarimi authored legislation in 2005 that regulated medical marijuana dispensaries in the city, which led to the closure of more than a dozen such facilities. His latest foray into legal marijuana is not designed to put more facilities out of business, he said, but to "alleviate the burden on neighborhoods," according to the Chronicle's report.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Examiner.com
Copyright: 2009 Clarity Digital Group LLC
Contact: Contact Us
Website: California Statehouse Examiner: San Francisco supe makes push for city to sell marijuana
