Dear Medical Marijuana Supporter,

The Madera County Department of Public Health has completed its plans to administer the statewide medical marijuana ID card program. Unfortunately, there is still a hold-up in making the voluntary ID cards available to patients. At this point, the county’s program is under review by the County Executive Committee. Since there are many other items under the committee’s consideration this month, it is extremely important that we put pressure on them to prioritize the ID card program.

Please take a few minutes today to contact the Madera County Board Chairman, politely and briefly urging him to support the medical marijuana ID card program in Madera County and to submit it to the Board of Supervisors as soon as possible:

*Supervisor Frank Bigelow, email: fbigelow1@madera-county.com or phone: (559) 675-7700

Please feel free to use the talking points listed at the end of this message when addressing Supervisor Bigelow. After your call or email, please contact me with the information listed below to let me know what kind of response you received and to find out more information about meetings or events in your area.

Thank you for your support of this important program. Once implemented, not only will it reduce patients’ risk, it will also further strengthen California’s decade-old medical marijuana law.

Sincerely,

F. Aaron Smith
Safe Access Now
fa_smith@yahoo.com
Ph: (707) 291-0076
Fax: (866) 204-1341
www.safeaccessnow.com

WHY WE SUPPORT THE CALIFORNIA MEDICAL MARIJUANA ID CARD PROGRAM:

* The ID card protects patients and caregivers from lengthy detainment, arrest, seizure of property or unnecessary court proceedings. While patients are not required to participate in the ID card program, many choose to because they cannot afford the personal risk of wrongful prosecution that those without ID cards face.

* The ID card program will greatly assist law-enforcement in distinguishing patients with legitimate medical marijuana recommendations from those who are using false or counterfeit documentation. The county-administered ID program clarifies the current patchwork of patient documentation and frees our law enforcement and judicial system to focus on genuine criminal activity.

* Voters’ support of safe and legal access to medical marijuana has only grown stronger since the passage of the Compassionate Use Act (Prop. 215) in 1996. According to an independent field poll conducted in 2004, 74% of Californians believe that patients should not be arrested for using marijuana as medicine. The statewide Medical Marijuana ID card program simply provides additional protection to qualified patients and further solidifies our state law and the will of the voters.

* The county will not incur any additional costs by implementing the ID card program because the county is allowed to set its own fees to recoup the start-up and operating costs. For example, the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, implemented in 1999, was able to realize a $986,000 budget surplus after two years of operation. This also allowed the state to significantly reduce the fees imposed on patients.

* The county has a legal responsibility to the State of California to implement the program.